About my Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus with 16GB Memory

I spent some time for comparing all Tablets before I chose to buy the Samsung Galaxy Tab 7.0 Plus with 16GB Memory. Finally I made my decision. Some of the reasons are:

1. The Samsung’s are known to have amazing screen quality.

2. The Samsung’s hardware has a great reputation in the business when it comes to quality.

3. This device is amazingly Thin, Light and Stylish

Once I get to use the Tab more, I'll update on books, music, movies and other uses for it. I've only had it for less than a week so hasn’t had time to get fully acquainted with it.

If you are looking to get a tablet now for yourself or someone else, you will not go wrong with the Samsung Galaxy Tab, no doubt. I know I am more than delighted about mine!

Smell of Books for ebooks

http://www.smellofbooks.com/

Now you can finally enjoy reading e-books without giving up the smell you love so much. With the Smell of Books, you can have the best of both worlds.

Smell of Books is compatible with a wide range of e-reading devices and e-book formats and is 100% DRM-compatible.

Smell of Books is available in:
New Book Smell
Classic Musty Smell
Scent of Sensibility
Eau You Have Cats
Crunchy Bacon Scent

Warnings and Legal Disclaimers: Please use in well ventilated area. May cause dizziness and hallucinations. May cause itching and runny nose. If symtoms persist for longer than eight weeks please consult your physician. Not for use on "real" books. Do not use while riding public transporation. Discard empty container with hazardous waste. Not for use as a room deodorizer. Not for use on burning books. Do not use on a Zune.

All, as I read my e-book each evening and long for the smell of that "real" book, this is an answer to my prayers. I am ordering the New Book Smell and the Scent of Sensibility. I'll let you know what I think of this revolutionary solution to our grieving noses and souls.

Cindy McFadden

Community Conversations Mentor

Hi, please note the Colorado State Library Special Populations Committee "Community Conversations" program that I just posted.

Congratulations to ALD's Jail Library for their successful award.

Just a couple of notes:

I am mentoring the Pueblo Library's "Books a la Cart" program. I've been to Pueblo and met with Barbara Brown and her staff. Barbara reports, "Jan. 24, 345 people attended the Satellite (Outreach Services) Saturday event at the Rawlings Library. We celebrated 20 years of the satellite program with a birthday party for satellite library schools in the Ryals room, student’s work was displayed in the 4th floor lobby area for the month of January, and a Tarzan movie was shown in the Infozone. There was a video presentation of North Mesa students performing a Skippyjon Jones skit. On the 3rd floor, Noreen Riffe hosted display panels of the 100 year history of the PCCLD Outreach (including 20 years of satellite libraries and 40 years of the bookmobile) with former bookmobile and Outreach Coordinators present to talk “memories”. On the 1st floor, Wilbur the pig greeted families in the Youth Services Department, children’s author, Lyn Bezek signed books, 3 R.E.A.D. dogs were available for children to read to, 4 Books a la Cart partners from the community had information tables(Boys & Girls Club, SRDA Meals on Wheels, Eastside Day Care, & El Pueblo Boys & Girls Ranch), the Risley Satellite Jazz Band played in the lobby. 4 Boy Scouts from Troop 20 helped with a variety of chores as they fulfilled requirements of their library badge. Efficient and dedicated event organizers were Anna Fox (Outreach Assistant) and Cathy Fox (North Mesa-Satellite Clerk).

Barbara will continue her "Books a la Cart" program until summer.


I am also mentoring Fort Morgan's "Women to Women" program. I've been in communication with Cathy Bosley and she reports, "The first meeting for Women to Women was well-attended, and very worthwhile. We had 35 women, including 7 Somalians and 6 Latinos. After introductions, the immigrants were asked what they would like to learn from this group, and they said that they would like to learn English, in their homes, one on one. They also would like to learn to cook American food (to which the Americans said they would like to taste Somalian food). So a cooking session is being planned."

I plan to attend the next meeting in March.

CO State Library: Special Populations Cmte

LIBRARIES BOOST SERVICES TO DIVERSE GROUPS


Ten libraries are boosting their services to diverse populations by being the first participatants in a new program sponsored by the Special Populations & Issues Committee of the Colorado State Library. The Community Conversations program capitalizes on the position that libraries hold in their communities as thriving and active locations where people mingle for education, entertainment and information.

To encourage libraries to mirror their communities’ composition and interests, the program supports the selected institutions with a $500 grant for library materials, mentorships, and technical advice.

Each of the libraries has designed a 'Community Conversations' project for 2009. The individual projects will engage an underserved or diverse community, create diversity awareness, or serve a particular customer group through an event or activity. Community leaders and partners will be involved, and the projects will foster dialogue and lifelong learning about cultural differences, as well as celebrate and encourage diversity.

The ten award winners include:

· Adams County School District 50, Clear Lake Middle School Library: Peace Banner International Night for students and families.
· Arapahoe Library District, Arapahoe County Detention Facility Library: Mental Health Connections, book talks and discussions.
· Auraria Library and Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library (Denver Public Library):First Editions & Sequels, exhibition of sculpture and discussions based on African-American women writers.
· Fort Collins Regional Library District, Harmony Library: Asian/Pacific American Outreach and Cultural Festival.
· Fort Morgan Public Library: Women to Women idea exchange and presentations.
· High Plains Library District (Greeley), Diverse Worlds Connect @your library, Somali outreach and cultural appreciation.
· Mesa County Public Library District (Grand Junction): Immigrant Outreach Film & Dialogue Series and community engagement presentations.
· Pueblo City-County Library District: Books à la Carte outreach to community sites.
· Rangeview Library District, Thornton Branch Library: New English Learners classes, conversations and events.
· University of Colorado (Boulder), Oliver Lester Math/Physics Library: Bilingual Education, panel presentation from the college, community and educators.

The Special Populations Committee leads a variety of statewide programs and projects to encourage quality library service to ethnic minority populations, persons with physical and mental disabilities, seniors, the under-served, and other groups. Community Conversations is supported by federal Library Services and Technology Act funding. For information, contact 303-866-6900, or visit www.cde.state.co.us/cdelib/librarydiversity.htm.

# # # # #

Communication Skills

How do we communicate with patrons that have sets of communication skills? What is considered polite or what are some things we shouldn't do.

This is a pretty broad topic so I came up with a few examples to get us started but hopefully this topic will grow.

Non English Speaking - Effective ways to let them know we are trying to understand them or getting someone who speaks their language and can help them more effectively without giving them a feeling that we are abandoning them.

Deaf - If they have an interpreter do you speak to them or the interpreter? Is it ok to tap them on their shoulder?

Adults with child level communication skills - Effective ways to share information with them in language they will understand.

I'll look for inforamtion on these topics but if anyone has information to share or other communication topics please share them with the group.

Reminder for the next Special Pops meeting on 1/28

Just a quick reminder that the next Special Pops meeting will be held in the public meeting room at Admin from 8:00 to 9:30 on Jan. 28. We expect to post the agenda to the blog ahead of the meeting.

See you there!

Diversity Committee and the Chamber

Holly Whelan and I have begun participating in the South Metro Denver Chamber of Commerce’s (SMDCC) Diversity Committee.

The Mission Statement of the committee is as follows: The SMDCC focuses on developing the diversity of our membership, as well as the diversity of the chamber leadership by raising the awareness of diversity issues and working to create a positive environment for business opportunities between minority owned, women owned, and all businesses in the South Metro Denver area.

The overriding goal of the committee is to serve as a resource on business-related diversity issues. This includes assisting minority-owned businesses, helping companies to diversify their work-force, and assisting in marketing to diverse populations. What is most surprising to me about the committee is that it is the only one of its kind in the area. As it stands now, there are no other regional groups or task forces devoted solely to the issues of diversity in business.
So what are we librarians doing on the committee, you ask? Well, there is the clear synergy between the committee’s goals and the library’s many business resources. We’ll be able to assist the committee in its efforts to serve as a resource. We can help find information, leads, stats, etc. We’ll also be joining sub-committees to help organize events. These events will help raise the visibility of the committee, not to mention the visibility of the library and its services for businesses.

The group is somewhat new and seems to be growing. Our involvement on the committee is new as well, so we’ll be learning a lot as we interact with area businesses and participate on projects.

Projects of the committee in 2009 will include a Leadership Breakfast, Business Roundtable, and the creation of articles for the Chamber's quarterly South Metro Denver Business Magazine. I’ll post again with updates as they arise.

Here is a link to the Diversity Committee’s web page (which will be expanded in 2009 too!): http://www.bestchamber.com/groups-committees/diversity-committee.html