Wednesday 19 December 2012

The role of libraries and librarians in managing digital information



Today the information is available in both physical materials and electronic version, so the process in retrieval has been changed. Electronic versions are more available and easier to use and access, especially because of the Internet. Today most users search the web as the first step, when they look for information. It is accessible everywhere. The electronic version include e-book, e-journal, online database, even videos and sounds and so on. As we know, the electronic information develop every day, so there is a serious requirement for the libraries and librarians to manage the information. In these huge changes of information, librarians are the main people in charge of the future of the libraries trend. Academic librarians should ask questions about social and academic exchange opportunities for discovering users' need to invent new scientific performance evaluation tools.

Because of the rapid development of information and communication technology (ICT) and the growth of digital information, librarians are responsible for providing access to information in any format, to assess existing sources of information, organization and structure of information to ensure the preservation of information and provide specialized work provide guidance and assistance in explaining the resources and access to resources.

Although librarians have learned the advanced search features and the subtleties of Boolean algebra, most users will type two or three words into Google’s query box and find that the simple search is ‘good enough’. Librarians have a virtual role in providing access to online subscription services. However, attempts to make access to such subscriptions seamless through integration with services such as Google Scholar mean that the user is often ignorant of the role of the librarian. There are still some users who make use of a librarian’s specialist skills, but few users get that far.

The role of librarians in managing the digital information can be summarized as having the knowledge and capability in organizing and providing digital knowledge and information resources. Librarians have to employ both print and digital resources to address research problems.  Part of the job involves teaching students how to think critically about the information they find online in order to evaluate its credibility and reliability.  In their new role as digital information experts, librarians are showing even experienced teachers how to better evaluate the reliability of the information they find online.  The role of the librarian grew from a collector and preserver of information resources to a professional involved in very complex issues of organization. They acquire information resources relevant to their user population in whatever format is available and appropriate; they organize the information within the library collection; they provide a means for users to access that information; and they educate users in accessing and interpreting information resources.

This is very important for the libraries and librarians that provide users the correct and accurate information. It requires having knowledge, know-how, skills and attitude, So they are able to create, store, analyze, organize, retrieve and disseminate digital information.

The librarians must have expert in navigation, browsing and filtering the digital reference services and electronic information resources from variety of digital information sources. Librarian should have a skill to select and incorporate appropriate information sources to be acquired by users.


They also should have knowledge in multimedia search and indexing for providing sub-document indexing and stigmatization techniques. These skills will assist users to retrieve reliable information needs and avoid information overload.


They should have knowledge in data mining and discovery of knowledge from digital library to extract information needs of users. Librarians also are required to have comprehensive knowledge in search and retrieval co-ordination in retrieval engines and indexing structure, so they can create information queries, respect to the search system.


Librarian should create users awareness in assist them to retrieve the digital information, so users will get accurate and reliable information. There is a variety of information retrieval techniques including metadata searching, full text document searching and others. In knowing what can or cannot be retrieved from digital information sources, librarians should acts as an expert in the acquisition of digital information.

So librarians and libraries should play their roles in order to make sure that users can retrieve reliable and accurate information, when they seek for physical materials as well as digital information.

Sunday 16 December 2012

Baby Storytime: Where is the Green Sheep?

Every Monday at 10:00, we offer a thematic storytime and craft for children ages 2 to 4.
Here is the story we enjoyed this morning:



Then we made a craft of a sheep:




News Alert: Happy Holidays!

Hello Library Friends,

I just wanted to let you know that tomorrow we will be making Holiday Cards for your friends and family. It is for children ages 6 to 10 and it starts at 4 p.m.

So bring your kids on time and let them enjoy.


Library Tour: Services for Children with Special Needs


Saturday 15 December 2012

Holiday Party for Babies!

The babies and their grown-ups had a great time.


We sang songs, played and had healthy snacks of juice and Cheerios. We sang 3 Little Snowmen Jumping on the Bed, I'm a Friendly Snowpal and These are my Glasses by Laurie Berkner.


The babies made a snowman picture to put on their refridgerators. They are very talented as you can see! A good time was had by all!

How To Encourage Your Child to Read

How can you encourage your child, whether a beginning reader or a reluctant reader, to read children's books on a regular basis? Here are some ideas that may help.


  1. Make a habit of reading to your child every day, whether she is a one-year-old or a 10-year-old.
  2. When your child is able to, have her read to you. You can take turns reading chapters in a simple chapter book, for example.
  3. Get a library card for your child. Go to the library every week and take out several books.
  4. Be aware of your child's interests and direct your child to related books.
  5. Try to find a series that she really likes and will want to continue reading.
  6. Provide a comfortable reading area, with good lighting, in your home.
  7. Discuss books with your child.
  8. Buy books for your child that are related to her special interests.
  9. If your child is a reluctant reader and not reading on grade level, buy her hi/lo books (books with a high interest level, low vocabulary).
  10. Talk to your child's teacher and ask for suggestions.
  11. If your child likes incentives and the computer, enroll in an online book group.
  12. If your child really enjoys a particular author, check with your librarian about other authors or books she might enjoy.
  13. Children also often enjoy the opportunity to read children's magazines.

Friday 14 December 2012

Site Introduction

This is a site that can help ypu a lot for your kid's books:

Children's Books

News Alert: eBook Workshop and other gadgets

Hello Library Friends,

Miss Maryam will be hosting an eBook workshop tomorrow on 6 to 8 pm.  She'll be showing you how to download eBooks from the library's Overdrive collection to ebook readers like the Nook and the Kindle or tablet computers like the iPad.  Just stop by the Computer Learning Lab any time between 6 and 8 for some help.

Signing off-
Leila

What does a Children's Librarian do?

Children's librarians select materials for the library's children's department, but they also do much more. They are responsible for planning a variety of programs and activities for young library patrons as well. They must conduct outreach, promote upcoming programs, help with reference questions, and create innovative book displays.






A librarian who works with children must be well-versed in children's literature — from toddler books to young adult novels. She should regularly peruse children's literature journals such as The Horn Book and School Library Journal. These journals contain extensive reviews of books currently available for young people. By studying these journals, she can make wise decisions on which books and materials should be included in the children's and young adult sections of the library.

A children's librarian must also plan programs for a wide range of ages. Many libraries can only afford to hire one librarian to work in youth services. Therefore, a children's librarian finds himself planning a preschool story time one moment and a teen program the next. Later in the day, he may lead a book club for school age children. It's important that he relate well to kids of all ages and executes programs they will enjoy. He must also plan crafts for the activities in the library. This involves making prototypes so that kids will have a model to follow when making their own art projects.

Thursday 13 December 2012

Library Game: Christmas tree relay game

Teaching teamwork without letting the kids know they are learning!

Today we had a game to teach the kids Teamwork and also Christmas Tree! The kids gathered in the library at 10:00 o'clock and played. Christmas is comming!


Christmas tree relay game: Each team was given a roll of green crepe paper and ornaments. They had to decorate one person from their team to look like a Christmas tree.

They enjoyed and learned.

Wednesday 12 December 2012

Book Introduction: Green Eggs and Ham

This is one of the best books for the kids:

  • Written by: Dr. Seuss
  • ISBN: 978-0-394-80016-5
  • Pages: 72 

 Overview

These unforgettable words that stay with you forever. “I am Sam, Sam I am” begins with this amazing tale. Only Only Dr. Seuss could compose such silly, yet elegant stories, and all with a simple thought. Kids and adults alike have loved and cherished the stories that have become a part of tradition. This is just one such story. With rhythm and rhyme that is easy to follow and a story that makes you want to say, “Just try the green eggs and ham, you may like them Sam I am!”, this is one story that may take you on adventures to read more tales by Dr. Seuss. Reading this book with a child may offer you more than you bargained for, especially when you try to read it faster and faster. An “I Can Read” book, this story for young children only contains fifty words, all of which are easily read and understood.


Tuesday 11 December 2012

Preschool Storytime: Penguin and Pinecone

Every Tuesday at 10:00, we offer a thematic storytime and craft for children ages 4 to 6.
Here is the story we enjoyed this morning:


Penguin and Pinecone, Yoon

Then we made a craft of a penguin:

Monday 10 December 2012

Baby Storytime: Bears and Hibernation


Every Monday at 10:00, we offer a thematic storytime and craft for children ages 2 to 4.
Here is the story we enjoyed this morning:

Bears and Hibernation

Polar Bear Night, Thompson
Bedtime for Bear, Helquist
Over and Under the Snow, Messner
Bear Snores On, Wilson

Sunday 9 December 2012

Choosing books for 3-7 year olds


Greta Paterson, expert children's librarian, explain ypu how to choose proper book for your kid:



1- Enjoy: Choose books you think your child will enjoy, or better still, let them choose themselves. Children who enjoy books are far more likely to keep reading. Remember they don’t have to finish a book if they discover they don’t like it and never make them read a book just because you think they ought to. Reading should be fun.


2- Interests: Some children will love scary stories, others prefer funny stories and many love to follow a series or favourite author. Some children, particularly boys, may prefer factual books. Children who struggle with reading may prefer comic books or short stories. Babies and toddlers will love bright colours, repetition of words or rhymes, or books that invite you to touch, scrunch and prod!

3- Age: Babies and toddlers will love board books and picture books, beginner readers like short stories with pictures and children around the age of 7+ will be ready for short chapter books. Some books have age guidelines on the back but remember that is just what they are, guidelines. They may be too easy for good readers or too hard for children who struggle. Either way it could put them off reading.

4- Ability: Are the words used appropriate for your child’s reading ability? Many teachers advise that if there are more than five hard words on a sample page in early reading books, the book is too difficult. It’s not a good idea to push your child to read books they are not ready for yet. That could put them off reading for good.

5- Favorite authors and series: If your child has a favourite author or is addicted to a series of books then choosing is easy but what happens when they have read them all? Your local children’s librarian or bookseller will be able to suggest similar books or you can try some of the suggested websites below.

6- Look at the book:Does the cover make you want to pick it up? Does the blurb make you want to read it? Is the print clear and well spaced on the page? Are the pictures bright and colourful? Is the story easy to read aloud? Try reading a page at random to see if you like the style. Try reading it aloud if you are choosing a bedtime story.

7- Book reviews: Newspapers and magazines sometimes have reviews of children’s books and there are specialist children’s book magazines which are listed in the websites below. Online booksellers like Amazon will have reviews and publishers’ websites are a good source for what’s new.

8- Book groups: Your local library, school or bookseller may have a children’s book group like Chatterbooks, where children can come together to talk about books and try new things. There may be a local Children’s Book Group in your area where you can meet people like authors, publishers and teachers who are interested in children’s books. You can find out from the Federation of Children’s Book Groups.

9- Recommendations: Talk to other parents, children and teachers or ask your local bookseller or librarian.

10- Libraries: It’s great to own books and have lots of books around the house but it can get expensive. If you join the library you can try out lots of different books free of charge or attend a storytime session. There may be displays or book lists to help you to choose and every year most libraries run the Summer Reading Challenge, a fun promotion with lots of rewards to keep children reading in the summer holidays.

News Alert: Dream Carver, Fantasy Animals

Hi Library Friends,

Tomorrow we have a very special art program at 11AM for children 6-10,  Dream Carver: Fantasy Animals presented by our artist friend, Siti Maryam Mouhammad. If you lived in KL, you might be a big dreamer like the character in this book! If your family carved little animals, would that be enough , or would you Dream Big and create big amazing fantasy creatures!


Children will work together to draw one huge patterned animal, and  a keepsake jugete to take home! There is still room so call the HCA Children's Library for more information!

Thanks,
Leila