Dear Librarian, http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org Ask Your Librarian Anything.... Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:32:25 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 en How do I add an RSS feed to my portal page? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/19/how-do-i-add-an-rss-feed-to-my-portal-page/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/19/how-do-i-add-an-rss-feed-to-my-portal-page/#comments Tue, 19 Aug 2008 10:32:25 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/?p=29 It’s real easy to add an RSS feed to your personal ASB portal page.  Just follow these directions:

1.  Click on “Add an element.”

2.  You’ll be prompted to “select an element type.”

3.  Choose the “rss” option.

4.  A pop-up window will appear. 

5.  Post the url address for the feed in the space given.  (The address usually ends with a /feed)

(Paste this for the Dear Librarian: http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/feed/ and this for the Book of the Week: http://bookoftheweek.edublogs.org/feed/)

6.  Once you’ve pasted the url, click on “add the element,” and the feed will be added! 

This way you would automatically know when new posts have been added to your favorite blogs–like the Dear Librarian and Book of the Week!


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/19/how-do-i-add-an-rss-feed-to-my-portal-page/feed/ How do I use the online catalog? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/18/how-do-i-use-the-online-catalog/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/18/how-do-i-use-the-online-catalog/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:06:25 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/?p=28 The features of the new online catalog are very simple.  You can search by title, author, keyword, subject, or even series.  If you want to use the Boolean search terms, you can conduct a more effective search by clicking on “Power Search.”  This will let you add the terms “and,” “or,” and “not.”  Another handy feature you can search for is by “Award Winners.”  This might come in handy if you want to read the new o any old Caldecot, Printz, or Newberry winners.  When in doubt on using the new online catalog, ask your librarian! 


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/18/how-do-i-use-the-online-catalog/feed/ How do I get to the new online catalog? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/18/how-do-i-get-to-the-new-online-catalog/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/18/how-do-i-get-to-the-new-online-catalog/#comments Mon, 18 Aug 2008 08:00:39 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/?p=27 Currently there are two ways you can access the new online catalog for the ASB Library.  First, you can go to your Internet favorites, and look for the link to “ASB Library Catalog.”  Or, the second option is from the main ASB web page (www.asbindia.org), go to the “Quicklinks” in the upper right hand corner and click on the last option: “ASB Library Catalog.” 

What’s so great about having an online catalog is being able to access it anywhere!  Here’s a scenario for you: you’re vacationing in the United States for winter break, and you have a research topic you’re studying.  Well, before purchasing any books, you could check the online catalog to see if we already have books on the topic you’re thinking of buying. 


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/08/18/how-do-i-get-to-the-new-online-catalog/feed/ What should I read this summer? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/what-should-i-read-this-summer/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/what-should-i-read-this-summer/#comments Thu, 22 May 2008 04:32:50 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/what-should-i-read-this-summer/ Summer is the perfect time to enjoy leisurely reading–you have time, you’re on vacation, and you get to relax!  This summer you could choose among the list below for reading.  Or you could open up a Shelfari account to see what others are reading.  Become Eddie Reads’ friend–our library eagle, Ann Krembs’ friend, or Gizelle Rodriques’.  Once you all start joining you can make a network of your friends.  You can even add the Shelfari application to your Facebook profile! 

Here are two lists of the most popular, most recommended books read this year by ASB middle and high school students:

Middle School Recommended
Summer Reading Book List
High School Recommended
Summer Reading Book List
Chasing Vermeer  by Blue BalliettThe Dear Dumb Diary series by By Jim BentonThe Shakespeare Stealer by Gary Blackwood

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

All books by Meg Cabot like American Girl and Teen Idol

The Artemis Fowl Series by Eoin Colfer

The Gregor series by Suzanne Collins

All books by Cornelia Funke like Dragon Rider, Inkspell, and Inkheart

All Alex Rider Adventure Series by Anthony Horowitz like Snakehead

The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

Jane Blonde Series by Bill Marshall

The Amazing Days of Abby Hayes series by Anne Mazer

New Moon, Eclipse, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

All books by Donna Jo Napoli like Stones in Water and Beast

The Maximum Ride series by James Patterson

All books by Tamora Pierce like Wolf Speaker and Trickster’s Queen

The Golden Compass by Philip Pulman

The Percy Jackson and The Olympian series by Rick Riordan

All Harry Potter books by J.K. Rowling

Magic, Flyte, and Physik by Andie Sage

The Demonata series by Darren Shan

The Elle Woods series by Natalie Standiford

The Sammy Keyes series by Wendelin Van Draanen

The Book Thief  by Markus Zusak

 Speak by Laurie Halse AndersonIn the Time of Butterflies by Julia Alvarez

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

All books by Meg Cabot like Size 12 is Not Fat and Size 14 is Not Fat Either

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

The Inheritance of Loss by Kiran Desai

Born Confused by Tanuja Desai

All books by Sarah Dessen like The Truth About Forever and This Lullaby

All books by E.R. Frank like America and Life is Funny

All books by Maureen Johnson like 13 Little Blue Envelopes and Devilish

All books by Sophie Kinsella like Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic and Sister

The Rise and Fall of a 10th-grade Social Climber by Lauren Mechling and Laura Moser

New Moon, Eclipse, and Twilight by Stephenie Meyer

All books by Walter Myer like Hoops and Monster

All books by Donna Jo Napoli like Stones in Water and Beast

Bel Canto by Ann Patchett

7th Heaven by James Patterson

My Name is Asher Lev by Chaim Potok

The Godfather series Mario Puzo

Pretties, Specials, Uglies by Scott Westerfeld

Elsewhere  by Gabrielle Zevin

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

The A-List series by Zoey Dean

Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/22/what-should-i-read-this-summer/feed/ What’s Shelfari? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/20/whats-shelfari/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/20/whats-shelfari/#comments Tue, 20 May 2008 03:54:23 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/20/whats-shelfari/ Shelfari is a social networker for readers!  It’s awesome!  By creating an account you can add the books you’ve read to your shelf.  You can write comments about them.  You can star them according to their greatness.  You can make a new shelf of what you’d like to read.  But the best part…is you can add friends!  By adding friends you can see what they are reading, comment on what they are reading, and receive recommendations about what to read next.  Shelfari is perfect for creating a virtual connection to others who read great books just like you! 


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/20/whats-shelfari/feed/ How can I get a Netvibes page? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/how-can-i-get-a-netvibes-page/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/how-can-i-get-a-netvibes-page/#comments Mon, 12 May 2008 11:05:01 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/how-can-i-get-a-netvibes-page/ NetvibesGetting a Netvibes account is super easy.  You just need an email–which you all have.  And you just need to choose which applications you want to add to your page.  Once you’ve made your account and you’ve started to add your favorite widgets, you can go into the settings (in the upper right hand corner) and change your wallpaper and theme.  (That’s where I chose the chetah theme.  For summer, I’ve now switched to daisies!)  Once you get used to your first page, you can start adding tabs and create a del.icio.us type tab or even your favorite blogs tab.  The options are endless.  Click here to start your own Netvibes.


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/12/how-can-i-get-a-netvibes-page/feed/ Are there any rules for adding comments to blogs? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/are-there-any-rules-for-adding-comments-to-blogs/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/are-there-any-rules-for-adding-comments-to-blogs/#comments Fri, 02 May 2008 11:26:42 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/are-there-any-rules-for-adding-comments-to-blogs/ Yes!  In fact, there are.  In real life we have what’s called etiquette.  Of course you can guess the online word: netiquette!  There are special guidelines for adding comments to blogs.  First and foremost, know that adding comments to blogs is appreciated–especially since the blogger usually writes for a dialogue to occur.  Not all blogs need comments, but you could guess that all comments are appreciated.  But, it’s important to follow the same rules you would in person.  Let’s call them the three p’s: be polite, be positive, and be poignant.  That last one means you should always comment with a point in mind. 

If you want more reliable guidelines for commenting on blogs, you should definitely read the Lifehacker’s tips. 


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/05/02/are-there-any-rules-for-adding-comments-to-blogs/feed/ You posted about puzzles awhile ago, but I like impossible puzzles and riddles. Any ideas? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/30/you-posted-about-puzzles-awhile-ago-but-i-like-impossible-puzzles-and-riddles-any-ideas/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/30/you-posted-about-puzzles-awhile-ago-but-i-like-impossible-puzzles-and-riddles-any-ideas/#comments Wed, 30 Apr 2008 09:54:29 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/30/you-posted-about-puzzles-awhile-ago-but-i-like-impossible-puzzles-and-riddles-any-ideas/ Well, actually there is a site that has daily difficult puzzles and riddles that I often cannot solve.  It’s called Smartkit, and they consider themselves a “brain gym and puzzle playground.”  This site has tons of tricky riddles, fun games, interesting puzzles, and not to mention intriguing articles.  You can even subscribe to a feed from this site, so you can get the daily puzzle or riddle of the day.  Make sure to post a comment to guess at the answer, but be patient; they solution isn’t given until 24-48 hours later.  I’m still trying to solve the horse puzzle found on the home page in the middle of the first bar.  If you find the answer, please let me know!  Horse Riding Puzzle


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/30/you-posted-about-puzzles-awhile-ago-but-i-like-impossible-puzzles-and-riddles-any-ideas/feed/ What’s Visuwords? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/24/whats-visuwords/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/24/whats-visuwords/#comments Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:25:44 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/24/whats-visuwords/ Visuwords is as cool as the Visual Thesaurus–if not even more! It’s actually what the Visual Thesaurus used to be like. Now that Visual Thesaurus is a paid for subscription, it has gotten a little heavy and it’s not as user friendly. But Visuword on the other hand is totally easy. It’s my new recommendation for a graphic dictionary. Try it out!


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/24/whats-visuwords/feed/ What can I do virtually for Earth Day? http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/what-can-i-do-virtually-for-earth-day/ http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/what-can-i-do-virtually-for-earth-day/#comments Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:40:38 +0000 Your Librarian http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/what-can-i-do-virtually-for-earth-day/ Earth DayHappy Earth Day!  Besides being conscious about your water, paper, electiricity, recycling, and prodcut usage, you can also go to this link and become a part of the virtual Earth Day Network.  The EDN, which was started by the founders of Earth Day, is a network promoting environmental citizenship and year round, worldwide action.  By creating this network, Earth Day literally becomes worldwide on the WWW with over millions of people participating in making our Earth a better place. 


Authored by Your Librarian. Hosted by Edublogs. ]]> http://dearlibrarian.edublogs.org/2008/04/22/what-can-i-do-virtually-for-earth-day/feed/