Virtual is a patient

As a reference librarian, I am quite familiar with the databases we offer and use them quite frequently, as do my daughters. You don't know how nice it is to have the convenience of using these databases from home. I know that patrons appreciate them, also, especially students. I've used them to look up historic articles in the Chicago Trib, obituaries, census records, articles in magazines that I've missed, etc.

Podcasts, IM and Downloadable books

I have listened to podcasts and they're great if, say, there is a regular feature on a radio station that you enjoy listening to but aren't near a radio when it airs. One example is "Lin's Bin" on WXRT. It airs Monday and Friday mornings at 7:15 and, while I'm not always around a radio to hear it live, I can get the podcast whenever I have time. Just a few minutes of fun.

I kind of missed the IM boat. It seems as if most people started doing it in college or with their college-aged children as a way of keeping in touch. I do that now with texting on my phone, as do my kids. I would like to see us start using it at work throughout the building; it might be a quicker way of communication.

We used to have downloadable books at the library and, from what I hear, we will be carrying them again soon. This time, they will be iPod compatible, which they weren't before. I can't wait for that, and I'm sure our patrons can't, either! I have listened to books on CD in the car and now that I have an iPod dock in my car, I know I would really take advantage of downloadables.