Learning the Scary Technology

Boo!

I know technology can be scary. It's expensive; you don't want to break this expensive thing. But the only way to truly learn about your smart phone, your new computer, your tablet, what have you, is to use it. To explore it. To try new things with it.

Yes, you can break it. But there are ways to fix it again.

How to protect yourself.

Backup.

Your iPhone can be synced/backed up with iTunes. Put iTunes on your home computer. Plug in your iPhone to the computer and sync. This will back up your photos, contacts, and apps. Do the same with your iPad. Sync monthly if not more. If your device gets stuck, you can restore to a previous point.

Your Android can be used like a flash drive. Plug it in and copy your files to your computer.

Both offer Dropbox/Google Drive syncing of photos. Do that too. Better to have your info in more places than less.

You can also backup your computers.
I like the software SyncBack. It offers both a free version and a pro-version.
This will automatically back up your files that you decide, when you schedule it.

Windows machines offer back-ups that make images to backup.
Macs have time machine that backs up an image of your computer.
A computer image is like a snapshot of your computer at a certain point. When you restore to an image, your computer is returned to that point. No extra setup or installing. Computer Image backup of course take more time than file backups.

So, if you take precautions, you can play with your new technology. Learn it. Love it. Teach it to your patrons. ;-)

Audiobooks are the bees knees!

via GIPHY

Ok, so I was not alive yet when "the bee's knees"was popular terminology for the bestest of the best, but that doesn't mean I can't sling it around, right?

I love audiobooks. I listen to them while commuting and while driving to libraries for consulting/IT support. I listen to "my stories" while doing chores around the house to working in the garden. I can get so caught up in an audiobook that I will sit in the car when I get home just as I reach a good part. A few years back I was naive and actually PAID for audiobooks! Can you believe it? I had a standing subscription with Audible and had excellent selection of new releases and best sellers. And all I had to do was pay $15 a month. I finally got wise a realized my library could get me these books, on CD or online, at no cost. You would have thought I would have figured that out long before...you know as a working librarian and all. DUH!
So, Have you tried OneClickDigital? If you are a resident of Kansas, you can get a Kansas Library card and access their digital collection: OneClickDigital from State Library of Kansas.

The State Library of Kansas also offers many options for eBooks, if that's your thing: Digital Library

If you are a resident of the Central Kansas Library System, your local library card will give you access to Sunflower eLibrary, an Overdrive eLibrary. There are eBooks, Audiobooks, and a small but growing collection of Videos.

Your local library also has books on CD! And if your library doesn't have it, ask at the desk and a staff member can get it from another library through InterLibrary Loan.

This week I am listening to Poldark: Demelza 1788-1790 by Winston Graham.

I am also listening to Fragments by Dan Wells.