Thursday, Oct. 15, 1998

9:30:00 AM

For a bi-monthly wrap up of NOLA news and information, be sure to check out NOLA Notes!
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1/2 Day Session
NOLA Training Center
11/3/98

Desktop Categories

Web Memories

You know the feeling. You go to a web site and find some useful information, the next day the site has changed and you can't find what you need. Recent efforts spearheaded by Alexa Internet may make this feeling a thing of the past. In an effort to demonstrate the effectiveness of their service Alexa Internet has donated at "snapshot" of the Web in early 1997 to the Library of Congress.

Want to know more?

An eye toward to the future

Want to glimpse into the future of computing? PC Magazine offers some predictions about the computing environment in the early part of the next century. A few of their suggestions: Internet access will take to the fast lane, computer monitors go flat, and home automation will be a big hit.

Want to know more?

NOLA Digital Collection Services Center Update

The NOLA Digital Collections Services Center is growing! We have recently added some new equipment including a new digital collections server and CD-RW drive. The Center is available to NOLA members with an appointment at any time. To schedule appointments please contact Brad Stephens in the NOLA office at 330.847.7744 x14.

Items submitted by:
Brad Stephens - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

Board Meeting

The NOLA Board meeting will be on October 20, 1998 at the NOLA office (4445 Mahoning Ave. NW, Warren, OH) at 10:00 a.m. All staff of member libraries are always welcome to attend Board meetings.

A Glimpse Into the Future
The Opportunities and Challenges for Tomorrow's Libraries

NOLA's Second Quarter Membership Council Meeting will be on November 17th. Come and hear Deborah O'Connor, Brad Stephens, Danny Wallace and Beverly Willis discuss challenges and opportunities for public and school libraries and library education. And stay as we celebrate the opening of the NOLA Digital Collection Service Center at our Open House Don't miss this chance to learn about the top trends facing libraries as we quickly move toward the next millenium. A Glimpse at Tomorrow's Libraries...While Not Forgetting Our Past. For more information and to register click here.

Girls Face a Technology Gap in Schools

While the gaps in math and science achievement have narrowed for girls in the past six years, a major new gender gap in technology has developed, according to a report released yesterday by the American Association of University Women (AAUW) Educational Foundation. Gender Gaps: Where Schools Still Fail Our Children documents the progress and failure of schools in providing a fair and equitable education since 1992 when the AAUW published How Schools Shortchange Girls. This latest report focuses on emerging gaps in areas such as technology that threaten to disadvantage girls as they confront 21st century demands. Girls have narrowed some significant gender gaps, but technology is now the new "boys club" in our nation's public schools. While boys program and problem solve with computers, girls use computers for word processing, the 1990s version of typing.

Some educators, such as Linda Roberts who is the technology expert at the U.S. Department of Education, acknowledge the problem but predict that the gap is temporary because of the increase in elementary school girls becoming proficient with
computers.

Internet Terminals at Airports

The Port Authority has installed five Internet terminals at New York's LaGuardia Airport and soon will add others at John F. Kennedy and Newark airports. By mid-1999 more that 100 terminals will serve these three busy airports. Travelerss can obtain airport information via a free connection to the Port Authority's home page but will have to use a credit card ($3.00 for 10 minutes) for other
information.

Virtual Assistant

From the October 19, 1998 issue of Newsweek comes this item: "Just when you thought you were completely organized, along comes something new. Portico's "virtual assistant" service is like calling a computerized secretary to access e-mail, faxes, your address book and calendar. It's voice-activated, and there's no voice training or menus. To hear your mail, you simply say "read e-mail." To reply, record your message and have Portico send it as a sound file. The text-to-speech technology isn't flawless but is a viable alternative to fiddling with styluses and keyboards when you're on the road."

Let Your Fingers Do the Walking - Use the Internet for Phone Numbers

Tired of paying for telephone directory assistance every time you need a number. Over 17 million people used one of 21 popular directory assistance Web sites during August. Although listings can be several months old, Internet users say they often prefer these sites where they use logic and patience to find numbers operators can't. For example, If you know that Jonathan Wallace lives near Columbus, but not necessily within the city, you can search the state of Ohio. You can even the entire country at once, something recommended only for names with uncommon spellings. Five popular directory Web sites include Switchboard, Infospace, Whowhere?, AnyWho and Bigfoot.
(information from USA Today, October 12, 1998, p. 13B)

Items submitted by:
Millie Fry - Email
NOLA Regional Library System

Education Station

Last week, NOLA sponsored an Assertive Communications training that was very well received by the participants in attendance. Sometimes we forget what the art of communication is really all about...we think of communication as one sided...what we want to say to others! We should think of communication also as the art of listening to what others are saying to us...

"The only listening that counts is that of the talker who alternately absorbs and expresses ideas."
             Agnes Repplier

As we have become a society of rush-hour communication, listening skills are declining. We cut people off in the middle of sentences. We assume we know what an employee or customer is going to say, and we act on that assumption. We can even become enamored with the sound of our own voice!

We must remember that good communication is more than a monologue. Good communication is a balance of speaking and sharing, listening carefully, and absorbing before we speak again.

Try practicing this silent art of communication...see any changes?


CE Online Survey Completed:

Thanks to everyone who participated in completing the 1998 Continuing Education Surveys! The results are being tabulated this week and will be reported in next week's edition of Desktop News.  Watch for the interesting and exciting programs that we are planning for the next year...the 1999 CE Catalog will be arriving on your doorsteps in January!

Items submitted by:
Lori Putt - Email
NOLA Regional Library System