Safe Searching

We have a lot of children come to the library to use our internet. We always have a parent sign a consent form, and make them aware that we don’t have search restrictions. It’s up to them to monitor what they’re children are doing on the internet, just like it would be at home.

I came across this wonderful search engine just for kids that I might start recommending. It’s called KidRex and features colourful graphics and safe search options. What makes this so different?  The site is powered by Google’s SafeSearch and Google Custom Search technology that screens sites for unacceptable content. The site’s researchers plug in keywords everyday to make sure that no sexually explicit sites pop up, and so it is nice know it is monitored on a regular basis since sites often find ways to prey on unsuspecting youngsters.

Not sure how to get your kids to use it?  Why not set it as your homepage?  It’ll pop up right away and they won’t have to go searching for it!

You Had One Job!

Just a little extra fun this week (yes, I’m away on holidays). Sometimes, even though it seems obvious to us all, things don’t quite go right.  And so the website, YOU HAD ONE JOB! was born. Take a few minutes to scroll through the funny photos which are very self-explanatory. It’ll make you feel great about your own job and abilities!

Star Wars Fans—Prepare to Laugh!

For fans of Star Wars, Jeffrey Brown‘s latest graphic novel VADER’S LITTLE PRINCESS has arrived at the library! And I must say, all of us had a good chuckle over quite a few of the pages inside.  This isn’t really a children’s book, not because of any unsuitable content, but because the humour is something young fans of Star Wars might not get just yet. (Probably because many of the younger readers are smack-dab in the middle of their own “whatever” phases. Seeing Princess Leia say it to Darth Vader is something that shouldn’t be missed, however.)

If you’re looking for a few laughs and you’re a fan of Star Wars, this little book is one you need to pick up and read! Brown takes all the seriousness out of Star Wars, but leaves the ideas intact so that you’ll smile and identify with poor Vader’s problems.

LOVED IT!

Frivolous Friday. Not so Frivolous.

If you’ve ever done a Google search, you’ll know that when you begin to type in what you’re looking for, Google provides a simple drop down list of possible words you might be ready to type.  Where do these options come from?  From fellow users, of course.  So, when you see those five or six possible results below the search box, they’re actually questions people have typed into Google. The most popular searches, actually, not just random or recent searches.

When you think about it, it’s  insight into a culture.  Heartbreaking insight, actually.  Watch the video below and you’ll see what I mean. (Keep in mind, some of the search results are quite graphic. But even those say something about the state of our fellow human beings today.)

 

 

Frivolous Friday – May Edition!

For me, May is all about planning for our summer programs and displays. I can’t even begin to think about these things until all of my other programs are wrapped up and put away. And to keep things fresh, I like to look for new things to do each summer, so I scour the web looking for ideas. This week, I stumbled upon a great link for Scavenger Hunt ideas….including funny photo ideas and videos to make.

A few of my favourites?  Have the kids get their photo on a fire truck…with a fireman. (We did this last summer with our gnome mascot..okay, so he wasn’t exactly on the truck, but you get it).

Another funny picture?  At least two kids in a doghouse (and yes, make sure the dog is out of the house, first.)

And one more idea for a scavenger hunt?  Finding a buy one-get one free coupon.

If you’re looking for ideas for a fun summer program, or maybe just a tween birthday party, make up a list, grab some disposable cameras (or let them use their cellphones), and plan on laughing….a lot!

 

Disconnected?

I’m not a big fan of Twitter. There is too much pressure to post interesting, quote-worthy zingers that someone will not only like, but re-tweet.  It’s not enough to be famous and post about what you ate for dinner. If you have a million followers, your tweets better be entertaining, have insight and be share-worthy to the highest degree. It seems almost impossible for the average person, then, to be able to keep up with those standards.  Which is probably why many of us are “followers” and “re-tweeters” more than actual “tweeters”.

In cases like the Boston bombings, Twitter played a MAJOR part in getting information out to the public, and also allowing friends and family to know that a loved one was okay.  This type of usage is paramount. Amazing that we can learn about a world event in seconds, right from the source, and pass it on to others. This aspect of Twitter is incredible.

But more and more, we are seeing and even encouraged to Tweet during live events.  From an entertainment standpoint, tweeting during the finale of American Idol about your thoughts on each performer probably isn’t such a big deal. I find it appalling, however, that at a recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner, people were tweeting witty remarks during the event. There was even an article from Time Magazine posted the following day with the Best Tweets from the White House Correspondents’ Dinner.

All right, I understand the irony here….that I’m complaining about communication during a correspondents’ event, but this is just the latest example. Why are so many people attending events that should mean something to them, and texting on their phones? Can’t they put their phones away for a couple of hours to actually BE in the moment? Are these events so unimportant to them that they sit there composing the best one-liners they can think of, all the while ignoring what is happening right in front of them? If that’s the case, they’re the wrong people to be involved.

We are becoming too disconnected in our lives. We sit at our computers, with our phones in hand, texting, emailing, checking Facebook status, surfing……and we’re completely ignoring our actual flesh-and-blood lives. Will this stop?  I doubt it.  I’m sure it’s only going to get worse as social media becomes less about being social and more about media. Maybe people should be posting more thoughts about this on Twitter, to reach the people that really need it.

Do you tweet during important events in your life?