Delicious Library Really is Delicious

If you are both a book collector and a Macintosh iSight camera owner, be sure to check out Delicious Library software at (http://www.delicious-monster.com). The software lets you enter your books into a database just by scanning the barcode using your iSight camera.

My Life is Full of Online Experiences

The last three months have been so full—teaching a five week online course, Effective Time Management for Library Staff, writing for and editing the CLENExchange, a quarterly newsletter of the Continuing Library Education and Networking Exchange Round Table of the American Library Association. Copies can be downloaded at (http://www.ala.org/ala/clenert/newsletter/newsletter.htm), taking an online course module on community analysis from Dalhousie University (Halifax, Canada), and preparing for the American Library Association Conference in Orlando.

For those who have struggled with weight and exercise programs, I highly recommend a website that has become a part of my daily life since November—Nutrawatch, (http://www.nutrawatch.com); it allows tracking of both exercise and diet. Not only have I lost 25 pounds, but for the first time I really feel I have a long term solution. When an injury prevented me from exercising, I once again found it difficult to keep my weight stable. I consulted a nutritionist and rehab chiropractor to help me set up a customized program I could follow. As usual, the best way to motivate oneself is to keep records of what you eat, what exercises you do and keep track of your results. NutraWatch provides an easy to use online solution.

March—What a Variety of Experiences

March really flew by. On the 12th, I coordinated a staff day for the Sonoma County Library at the San Francisco Public Library. I took Amtrak from Sacramento to San Francisco. I got off the connecting bus at the San Francisco Center, home of Nordstrom's and stopped in at one of my favorite travel stores, Going In Style (see the website at http://www.goinginstyle.com). After a great customer service experience, I transferred my belongings to a new suitcase, left my old one for disposal and continued on my way to my hotel. I even had time to visit the new Apple Computer store; what a fantastic place (see photos at http://www.apple.com/retail/sanfrancisco/gallery2.html).

On the 23rd, I coordinated a workshop entitled Reenergize Your Library’s Service Environment attended by seventy nine participants from ten states (see http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Workshop/155). The focus of the first half was the FISH! philosophy (see http://www.charthouse.com/product_film_fp.asp). The second half featured staff of the fantastic Cerritos Library (see photos at http://www.ci.cerritos.ca.us/library/photos/library.html).

The rest of the month I was hard at work at a variety of projects. A major new experience I am engrossed in is the design of my first online course, Effective Time Management for Library Staff. It is a five week course that begins April 20 (see the description at http://infopeople.org/WS/workshop/Workshop/153).

Public Library Association Conference in Seattle

I frequently attend library association conferences. The most recent one was sponsored by the Public Library Association from February 24-28 and held in Seattle. What a wonderful time I had—seeing the city (including the Pike Place Market Fish Company of the FISH! Philosophy fame), learning new things and spending time with old and new friends in the library field. One of my new friends is Michael Porter, creator of http://www.libraryman.com/blog

Video Chatting

Tonight brought another fun Macintosh computer experience. Bob Seigel, a friend who lives in Graettinger, Iowa and I used our iSight cameras and iChat software to view and talk with each other.

MacNexus—Sacramento's Macintosh Users Group

What a wonderful experience I had today at a computer user group workshop. I am one of the founders of MacNexus, the Sacramento Macintosh users group and I am always amazed at how willing people are to volunteer their time to help others become more computer literate.

Today, my first stop was Triage (the computer repair service), where I got answers to both hardware and software questions. My second stop was a class on understanding features of Microsoft Word for OS X.

Then I taught a class on how to use search engines to find information on the Internet; questions included finding downloadable karaoke music, what weather to expect when visiting Beijing during specific months and information about ministers of the Presbyterian Church in the U.S. in the 1800s!

To get an overview of what is available from a user group, see http://www.macnexus.org/

Detachable Feet for Laptops

One of my favorite computer related purchases of 2003 is the Postworx Speed Ball detachable feet for laptops.

I bought mine for $9.95 from one of my favorite vendors, Small Dog Electronics.

You can see them at http://www.smalldog.com/product/12653064

Introduction to Gail McGovern's Magical Things

My name is Gail McGovern. I am an independent consultant based in Sacramento, California. I specialize in planning and training for nonprofit organizations. My business card title is Planning and Training Wizard and my goal is to empower people to succeed.

This blog will describe anything I think may be useful or fun.

For more information about me, see my website at http://www.gailmcgovern.info