The job I am interested in is Youth Services Librarian I at the Madelyn Helling Library in Nevada County, CA. The job announcement is located at: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/mynevadacounty/jobs/1409473/librarian-i/apply/jobdetails

 

As the Senior Library Technician at Hub Zemke Library I etablished and maintained cooperative working relationships with those contacted in the course of work, established and maintained priorities and objectives for myself and others, and developed and implemented library services consistent with community library's goals and objectives as well as patron's needs.

My cover letter is:

Dawn Marie Brindley  

15640 Ant Hill Rd

Penn Valley, California, 95946

530-913-7501

 

Dear Hiring Manager,

As a Youth Services Librarian I, I can provide excellent administrative support and communication skills.  I believe my skills would be a positive asset for the Nevada County Library system. My background and abilities in youth services, school library management, and program coordinator for youth programs lead me to be qualified both educationally and experientially.

I am skilled in performing professional library work in the Nevada County Library System; I currently manage, direct and implement major service areas at a community library.  I perform a variety of administrative and operational functions in support of a community Library Department.

I am prior military and Library management is my highest aptitude for employment.  I am proficient in writing, organizing, computer use, filing, record keeping, policy, and procedure maintenance.  I have attention to detail and a desire to ensure quality work and customer relations.  I have the discipline to succeed in all that I do and strive to meet goals with attention to detail.

The accompanying resume will provide you with additional details of my accomplishments and skills.  I would welcome the opportunity to meet with you and learn how I can make a positive contribution to Nevada County Library system.  I am convinced that a face to face meeting to discuss my qualifications would be mutually beneficial.  Should you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to contact me at the phone numbers above.  Transcripts are included and references are available upon request.

 

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Sincerely,

Dawn Brindley

Traditional vs. Learning Commons in Libraries

There are many ideas that our library would like to try, however, some of the users are not having it!  They want personal touch or at least communication face-to-face with a human.  They do not want the technology driven library with self-sign-in’s and self-check-outs. Some do not want the impersonal-ness in the library of the future.  Then you have those who thrive on the impersonal, and wish for the library to be a quiet space, non-distracting, and yet still comfortable.  How do we balance it out?  How can we please everyone?

We have many patrons who do not “feel” the need to explore our databases online and who shy away from the technology tools, whether they be eReaders, Playaways, or Computers in general to do their research.  Then we have the patrons who can do it themselves and want too, or at least try. 

As a library we want to shift to the Learning Commons Model and have so many users, of all ages, who prefer one way versus the other.  We try to slowly integrate the changes and yet give instruction to those who are uncomfortable or feel the “old” way was better.  I think either way the shift must be deliberate, keeping all informed, and updated on the shift with the users in mind.  The positive attitude of the staff will be key to the shift.  With a willing-ness to assist all users.

Life-Changing Seminar

I'm back!!   The past year has been a ride for me, with coordinating Women's Ministry events, completing my Bachelor of Arts in Library Science and Media through Ashford University and working almost full-time at my dream job.


I recently attended a Spiritual Warfare conference that Living Ministries International hosted with speaker Cecil Peasley.   I felt like I was in a revival, except the focus was on my walk with God and my diligence with my walk with God and how the "culture" around me affects my attitude and my decisions daily.


Remember the theme of this blog is "Living Love Outloud".  So with that being said here are the highlights of the conference that was presented in 5 sessions over the course of 4 days. 


In life we are responsible
In death we are accountable


Satan wants NO Christianity in our world and will do whatever he can to detour us in our lives


Corinthians 4:16-18     New International Version (NIV)
¹⁶ Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. ¹⁷ For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. ¹⁸ So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.


In the analogy if we are the boat, Jesus is our anchor and the Holy Spirit is connecting us.


In one day we are deposit from God 1440 minutes to spend.  Are we using or losing the time?  Are we wasting the time God gives us?
FAITH is our most valuable asset.


GREATER IS HE THAT IS IN ME THAN HE THAT IS IN THE WORLD!!




Psalm 139   New International Version (NIV)

Psalm 139

For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

¹ You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

~Radical Disease calls for Radical Surgery~

God is alive and active .... Is He in my life?


What must I do? 
                 Everyday submit to God.  RENEW...

Good Grief!

Grieving....


The past year has been, what I would consider, a year of loss for our family, friends, and church family.  I have kissed the cheek of many tear stained loved ones.  As I hold them in their grief, tasting their tears on my lips, I pray for strength, peace, and healing from this hole in their heart from the loss of their loved one.  My heart aches for the loss and though I personally have never lost (to death) anyone, who I has left a sizeable hole in my heart.  I have felt loss and felt that sizeable hole in my heart from losses of either friends and family who have chosen to not choose me.  I desired to please them, to be part of their lives, to do whatever to be "in" with them.  What I found was my conviction to Jesus Christ in my life being a stronger life commitment that any person on earth.  My loss OR My gain?  I choose life with Him over life dependent on pleasing any other person on earth.  I know my Father is pleased with this decision (maybe not other decisions in my life), but putting Him first should be my #1 priority. 


Our pastor recently spoke on "Let the Chips Fall".  In the process of our living here on earth we have a choice to speak up for what God wants, to lead our world in His path and trust Him to take care of the "Chips".  The decision to follow Him or to follow the world.  When we put our faith in human's and their choices, it will fail every time.  When we put our faith in God and trust Him with the repercussions of our words to stand for Him, He will take care of us.  He took care of Daniel, Shadrach, Medshach, and Abednego, Paul, Peter, and many others throughout the Bible.  He will take care of us.  The decision I made to put God first in my life and to follow Him has been a process and will continue to be.  I have watched the "Chips Fall" many times and know I am held in His arms first and foremost.  As a human I miss and sometimes look back to what choices I made, I do not long to live in Babylon and my desire to live with Him.  Can there be a balance?  I have questioned the balance of living in the world and not being of the world.  There are so many choices in this decision including gossip, drinking, partying, homosexuality, drugs, lying, lust, pro-choice, etc.  So if I compromise in one area then my life will be a compromise in all areas?  The grey will suck me in and I will be like the rest of the world.  There will be no light in me, there will be no difference.  I would have conformed to the life of the others, but I will fit in?  I will have lots of friends and family....but not have God.  I will be just like them... and not be like Him. 

Through the losses and through our choices we still have a will and a choice to live for Him or not.  The holes in our heart can and will be healed through our faith and trust in Him.  He will be our Abba, our Father, our Healer, our Protector, our Strength, and our Peace ALWAYS.  We do not need to look to the world for this only look to Him, on our knees, in humility, and reverence.  He holds us in life and in death.


Whatever grief we experience....

Pinterest Educational Tool

Pinterest Educational Tool.....

Animoto is an amazing Educational tool, you can create a video, post it, and share it.

https://www.pinterest.com/brindley7/educational-technology-tools/

Future of Educational Technology

The rapid progression of technology in our world has made and will continue to make a huge impact on education.  The trend that are noticeable to me and will continue to rapidly move through the educational field are:  Virtual learning, mobile capabilities, open content, ease of information access, and global or cloud access. (NMC. 2013)  The school districts should pay close attention to these trends, they are impacting schools, families, and communities already and will only become more prevalent in the next few years. 

The use of computers is in every home, workplace, and personal use and will continue to be an accessory in all of the above areas.  The schools must embrace and engage the students in learning the different technology tools out there.  Classrooms will become more virtual than they already are and in most high schools will be completely virtual in the upcoming years.  If the student is old enough to stay home and care for themselves, the need for physical classrooms will diminish.  The world is a mobile society, with devices in our hand to access content and information from anywhere, at any time, as long as there is wireless or data capabilities. (OEBd. 2013)  I see the wireless and data capabilities becoming an anytime/anywhere soon.  The areas that will be most affected by this will be rural areas with agricultural base and little or no service connection. 

Virtual learning will enhance the classroom environment and bring the world to their fingertips.  The teacher will be able to lead the students anywhere and at any time through online searches.  The accessibility of content and information being just a search away will bring a more engaging learning environment for all learners.  The idea of a flipped classroom is not new to many school districts and the idea of being able to attend school anywhere is going to increase in need and in functionality.  The students will desire to learn at their own time and in their own environment, such as this class does, and have the flexibility and to have the mobility and freedom to take their class with them anywhere.  Any curriculum can be enhanced by the virtual, mobile, ease of information and content access, and the global aspect of incorporating any culture, topic, and interest into the classroom to engage and teach the lessons needed to be taught.

References:

NMC.  2013.  Horizon Report.  Retrieved from:  http://www.nmc.org/pdf/2013-horizon-report-k12.pdf

OEDb.  2013.  7 Ed Tech Trends to Watch in 2014.  Retrieved from:  http://oedb.org/ilibrarian/7-ed-tech- trends-watch-2014/

Technology Standards in Education

No this is not a picture of me... I do not look quite that enthusiastic at this moment in my life.  

Many of my friends and family know I am completing my coursework for my Library Science Degree.  

This is one of the reasons my Blog has sat empty for the last few months.  You will see some action in the near future with my current class of Foundations of Eductional Technology.

This week I am assigned to blog on the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) and the standards teachers use as a guideline for their class.  

Unless you stay home and not go anywhere, you will need to utilize technology in some form or another. How soon is too soon to start promoting technology with our children?  I heard on the radio that no age is too young to teach how to use a digital device.  Then I was talking to a friend and she said her two year old granddaughter knows more about the iPad and how to navigate through it than she does.  Now she is 70 years old and kudos to her for trying her hand at the iPad, let alone keep up with the two year old.  I know many in that age bracket who would not touch an iPad, let alone desire to learn to use one everyday.  

Teachers today are taught and encouraged to incorporate the ISTE Standards for Students or Standards*S into their classroom.  

The standards are:

1.      Facilitate and inspire student learning and creativity.

2.      Design and develop digital age learning experiences and assessments.

3.      Model digital age work and learning.

4.      Promote and model digital citizenship and responsibility.

5.      Engage in professional growth and leadership.

With all of the newer standards being introduced with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), incorporating the Standards*S into the lessons should be a positive and enriching practice for the student and teacher.  When a teacher chooses a goal for the unit from the CCSS and then selects one or more forms of technology to teach with and use for practice and assessments the lessons can flow positively and improve learning in all students. 

When I was in school eons ago there were no computers, calculators were a new concept, and white boards weren't even a thought yet.  We had overhead projectors and teachers were still learning the uses for them.  We had chalkboards and much of our assignment tasking was listed on them.  We used the chalkboards for mathematics computation, vocabulary, and spelling words and not much else.  I do remember using a driving simulator for our practice driving exam.  It reminds me of the Atari driving game with the steering wheel between your lap and the controls to manuever.  I do not think it really helped me learn how to drive, though.  Nothing compares to the actual behind the wheel. 

For me I think the ISTE Standards for Teachers are great for today.  There are so many tools that a teacher can use to promote creativity, engage the students in the lesson, explore the world through digital tools and resources, increase in knowledge faster than ever before.  With the backward design of lesson planning the teacher can select the standard they wish to teach and for the students to master, then they can choose their tool to design, develop, and evaluate authentic learning and assessment for all learners in their class.  Students now are more educated and technologically advanced than I was in school for sure.  I think the standards now taught would have brought the digital age to the forefront, with faster thought processes, and deeper thought processing in my education and enhanced my education.  

References:  

EDU 352 Classroom Instructor Guidance.  2015.  Retrieved from:

      http://classroom.ashford.edu/re/DotNextLaunch.asp?courseid=11921658&userid=33531020&sessionid=89e436bac3&tabid=nNOqV0ANUpOFochjnA1lLsQ74rSEAKG5aHOLuO+tOBzEG2yjIIGp5uF9HTqw2skNpOTUKyJH52AogrJsXlU+1rIpLZEB/7jKgTaHSX096Gs=&sessionFirstAuthStore=true&macid=spbYa+d7DjF6dptJ2lZb/gGApI7GQPufyNtRV2PJ8D1/1Bv+NA6DcuGB/R52jHMYl2k8b7iQBSQGTKy4mMtszXDJARRE9tyj7GR6mocTUKHLFJR8Nt8mUKJOkcDpIZDEBy+0az4NJNFH++6CZM8V/jiTrE5MMnWiAunziQbFwD3QJ8Ps/W3AdFieAzfF2Z0mKOIOEP8ttE85uq/Y2INMfvuwCJQ2UHifZfRxfKX654rFu2yIV3JPclJRXHr+tTliRLmHElFuGRFeLY2+sWGZ+iziU35L/Zi7r1+bJ9Ubhg8= 

ISTE. 2015.  ISTE Standards Teachers.  Retrieved from:  http://www.iste.org/docs/pdfs/20-14_ISTE_Standards-T_PDF.pdf