Reference Challenge - Week #3 - Learning Express Library

So we meet once again. I am actually doing a Reference Challenge weekly exercise in the week it is meant to be done! Yay for me!

I am sad to say that Overlord Google Chrome was displeased with his minion SurveyMonkey and would not let me go beyond question #5, and when it finally did, the it was once again displeased by an improper link. All hail the Overlord Google Chrome...

Anywho, moving on.

Let's start with #1 of this exercise. Check!

On to #2. I decided to take the cosmetology test, which I found interesting as I never would expected there to be a cosmetology exam. I was quite fascinated with one of the questions that referred to how much makeup a cosmetologist, and one of the options was to look prettier than your clients! :D This was the wrong answer.

The test experience was very interesting. I am not sure I am 100% crazy about how your test results are shown, with having broken down the different areas covered on that one test in different sections. Reviewing answered questions was fairly simple though, however I didn't see a way that one could get an explanation as to why the answer was incorrect. That would have been a bit helpful.

For #3, I decided to do some brushing up on my public speaking skills. I am quite a talker, and really have no issue about talking, whether in public or private, but felt that I might find some tips on how perhaps stop rambling....do you see where I am going with this? I found an interesting e-book called "Public Speaking Success in 20 Minutes a Day". Very interesting book, with lots of helpful tips and how to get over anxiety and planning out what you are going to say. Apparently, "winging it" is not really recommended. :D

I felt this also would play in to part #4, which was to look through an e-book. Very easy to maneuver around, looking at the pages. It's handy that it comes up in PDF format so that pages could be printed, and that text size could be changed. All in all, very handy.

Learning Express is one of those databases that you wish you could just inform every single high-school student about. Awesome test prep, great practice exams and some seriously helpful tips. I wish I would have had access to this when I was prepping for the GRE.

Reference Challenge - Week #2 - Mango Languages

Konnichi wa!

The second half of week #2 is Mango! I love mango. I love eating them. I like learning from it. I like all mangoes! Ok, in all seriousness, I love Mango language learner! Not only is it one of the very few language learner programs that include Gaelic, but is so easy to use as well.

Proud librarian moment here - one of my Manga/Anime club members is using Mango to learn Japanese!!! I am so thrilled!

We are asked to select a language for this lesson, and in the true spirit of my love of Japanese manga, I will of course go with Japanese. I like the information about where the language is spoken. For some reason, I am a bit surprised that Japanese is really only spoken in Japan. I would have thought that it would have worked it way into various other areas, at least as a secondary language. Over 130 million people speak Japanese, and I want to add to that number. Also, they say that the 2000s was the decade that the Japanese language has invaded America, and I have to agree with that! The manga/anime culture has grown exponentially in the last 20 years! Let's all thank Inuyasha, Naruto, and Bleach for this.

I went ahead and did lesson #1. That was really fun and quite simple to work through. I need to go back and make a user account; it was that easy, I want to do more. I really like the repetitive nature of the lesson. It really does help solidify and remember the words you said. I would have like to have seen a comprehensive overview of what was covered in each lesson as the last slide or so, but perhaps that was continued in the next lesson. I didn't go onto the next. That is for another day.

Ii tenki desu ne? I must say, no. The weather is not fine. It's snowing. Blech!


This is how I feel today.

Reference Challenge - Week #2 - ChiltonLibrary

Hello again! It has been so long since we have seen one another.....

Week 2 is all about the NEW!! databases that we have access too. YAY! I love, Love, LOVE both Chilton's and Mango, and was stoked when I found out the state was picking up both.

The highlight of ChiltonLibrary for me is the space saving aspect of this database. Our library has a small chunk of our Adult Non-fiction that is consumed by Chiltons, and nothing makes my day more than seeing someone over there looking at the shelves for the right year of their vehicle and doing my reference librarian duties of informing them of the new online database. Ok, we have no intention of eliminating any of the physical books any time soon and its not like we are going to stop getting the new ones, but still, its the principle of the matter! This information can be found ONLINE! And, when I do inform patrons of the ChiltonLibrary database, they are always amazed at how easy and streamlined it is, and the fact that they don't have to check out this huge monstrosity of a book for two pages. I love it!

Alright, onto the exercises. Here is where I get to share with the world that I am a Prius owner. Yay! Ok, let the Jeff Dunham jokes commence. I've heard them all....

#1. My maintenance schedule @30,000 miles
Oh joy! It looks like everything needs to be checked at 30k miles. Here are a few:

• air cleaner filter element
• ball joints & dust covers
• cabin air filter

#2. Most recent Technical Service Bulletin or Recall

Since the massive brake failure/accelleration issue about 3 years ago, Toyota has been on pins and needles when it comes to the Prius. I have owned my car for 3 years, and have received many, MANY free replacements and recalls for the tiniest of things. But, like the good little car owner I am, I go in and get the servicing done and the part replaced. If only there was a Toyota dealer closer than Rapid.

The most recent technical bulletin or recall is the Hybrid Electric Pump Replacement. It came out in November of 2013, and I don't think I have gotten this one taken care of yet....whoops!

#3. Repair Tab -> Brakes

Hahahah! I giggle over this one. There is ALOT.

Here are a few things of note:

• my car is equipped with a Brake Stroke Simulator Cylinder (I have no idea what this is, but before you can remove it, you must remove the windshield wiper motor)
• there is a shoe hold down spring and a shoe hold down spring cup in the rear brake drum assembly
• There is a massive red warning when bleeding the brakes. It states that -

WARNING

Bleeding without the intelligent tester may result in the air not being completely bled. As this can result in an accident, be sure to use the intelligent tester for air bleeding.

I am not an intelligent tester. I should probably not do this.

Good thing I know a few places to take my car if I am having issues. I have not a clue as to what goes on under the hood, except the fact that whatever witchcraft and wizardry that it is, it gives me phenomenal fuel mileage!

Reference Challenge - Week #1.B World Book!

Hey look! I am finally doing week #1.....in week 3.

I am a public librarian, therefore I will be working the 1.B public library questions.

Part 1, we are asked to research an animal. My choice for this way.....(drumroll please)....the PRAIRIE DOG!

Why, you may ask (or not but I will still tell you), is because I HATE these things. After driving by miles and miles of open stretches of HWY 212, I sincerely detest these wee scourges of the Earth. So, I figured I could research more into them. Get to know my enemy better.....

Here you shall see an image of this enemy of mine. I opted not to use the one they had, due to the overall cutesy factor of it (they are NOT CUTE), and I figured, "what the hey! it's a painting anyways! Let's show the REAL face of the wee devils."



This one is slowly plotting your and my demise. This image is courtesy of Google.

Here is some information I have found out about the rodent (not an insult, it's legit).

Prairie dogs are small animals that live underground in grasslands called prairies. Prairie dogs are not dogs (I REPEAT, THEY ARE NOT DOGS!). They are rodents, or gnawing animals, and they belong to the squirrel family. They get their name from their warning call (just run at this point), which sounds like a dog's bark. They live in large groups called colonies, or towns. Prairie dogs have short legs, sharp claws, and a short, flat tail. Adult prairie dogs have light-brown fur. There are two kinds of prairie dogs - black-tailed prairie dogs and white-tailed prairie dogs. Black-tailed prairie dogs are the most common. They live from southern Canada to northern Mexico. White-tailed prairie dogs live in areas from Montana to Arizona and New Mexico.*

*information is taken from World Book Online for Kids...every word, I promise. I added nothing. :D

Part 2 of this was to go research "prairie dogs" in the World Book Student. This site provides a bit more information on this critter, such as some in-depth detailing of the body shape and size and on its horrific fangs and claws...blood-thirsty little devils they are. It was also interesting to see some of the information about how the animal lives, such as the social nature of them, their birth numbers, and their natural enemies, as well as their taste for human flesh (ok, I added this one). It also included a sound, which is always good to know your enemy's battle cry.

I am also surprised that the article does detail some of the rancher beliefs and the struggle of dealing with these rodents, although it doesn't go as far into detail as I would like. However, the amount of information is quite appropriate for the level of user that the WB Student is designed for.

Part 3 was to search for a country. I opted to choose Ireland, as I believe I had to have been Irish in a previous life. I've been there, had lots and lots and LOTS of fun there, and will go back again. Am I Irish? Not a drop. However, doesn't stop me from pretending.

As for searching WB Advanced, there is a great deal of info! That is so cool! I found it pretty awesome that there were sound bytes that could be accessed, some really great encyclopedia articles, as well as some pretty stellar maps (I really like maps). I was a bit sad that there weren't any "antique" maps, but meh, beggars cannot be choosers. I have seen some awesome maps that show the ancient kingdoms of Ireland, and its old families that lived in areas (one is on the wall of a certain Irish pub in Spearfish), and I would have loved to have seen some older content in the maps section. Going further into the map feature, it was very cool to see links to individual counties along the left that would provided further details and information on those areas.The timeline feature was also cool, but it only went as far back as 400BC. I know for a fact that many, many things happened prior to then, such as Neolithic monuments being created (ahem, Newgrange, Pol Na Bron Dolman being erected between 4200 BC and 2900 BC, etc.). Just to name a few.

As for what OUR patrons would have found the most beneficial, I cannot say. However, the articles were great, as well as the maps. They would probably be used the most. Oh, and maybe the images. There aren't many, but they do hit the highlights of Ireland.....



I highly recommend this. It was fun.....and NO! I don't believe the staff of Blarney Castle pee on the stone. Urban legend - Ireland style.


Yay!!! Week #1 DONE!! That was fun!