LM_NET: Library Media Networking
Thanks to everyone who replied! Each person had good insights. I guess now I
just have to decide whether I want to continue the paper method or go electronic
and whether I want an electronic organizer for Christmas. Thanks again and
here's the responses I received!
Donna Walters, Media Specialist
Ben Franklin Middle School
605 Campbell St.
Valparaiso, IN 46383
dwalters@imail.valpo.k12.in.us
Phone: 219-531-3024 x. 210
Fax: 219-531-3026
WALTERS, DONNA wrote:
>
> Has anyone organized their job and personal life using an electronic
organizer?
> Which one do you use and why do you like it? Has anyone used the Palm Pilot
and
> do you feel its cost is merited? Do you still keep a daily paper "TO DO
LIST?"
> My daily planner becomes very cumbersome to carry back and forth when I'm also
> archiving books to read; have read, correspondence, addresses, anything I need
> centrally but don't know where else to file--and I'm wondering if an
electronic
> organizer would be better or would just be another expensive gadget
I use a Palm Pilot. I have a holder that allows it to fit in my DayTimer
binder, and I use DayTimer Organizer software. They interfact
beautifully! It took only a few days to learn the Graffiti script that
allows me to "write" into the pages. When I synch the material into my
computer, everything just goes back and forth without a hitch. I even
have a modem for it! Now you can get a pager option. I recommend it
HIGHLY. I can't think of doing without it.
Carol Simpson
University of North Texas
csimpson@tenet.edu
I use a Mac and Claris Organizer. It's a computer program that keeps
track of calendars, contacts (people), tasks and notes. I can print out
monthly/weekly/daily calendars in a variety of sizes. You can "attach"
a note or person to an appointment, so the calendar just shows the name
of the meeting, but the attachment shows the address, agenda, or other
information I need.
I print out the monthly calendar for several months, each month on one
8.5x11 sheet of paper and keep it in a heavy duty plastic sheet protector
envelope (the kind open only at the top.) I also keep agendas for this
week's meetings, and other notes in there. It's flat, easy to carry,
tuck in my totebag or in a notebook and, if I lose it, I just printout
another calendar. I write right on the pages, making changes and every
couple of days I update the computer file and print out a nice, clean
calendar!!!
This is one of the easiest and most useful calendar programs I've ever
used. While I think I'd like to play with the Palm Pilot, I've been
"paper trained" (as Alan November says) and use the paper print so much
easier than watching a little screen. Also, I'm almost 50 and need the
clearer, larger type than the screen on those small devices.
Susan Martimo Choi
Manager, Library Services
Educational Media Center
Santa Clara County Office of Education
San Jose, CA
smchoi@ix.netcom.com
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For years I have carried around a small spiral notebook in my purse
and as it's used up I tear out unneeded pages and trash them. I have a TO
ACCOMPLISH - SELF list near the front (I leave about three pages for it),
and then a TO ACCOMPLISH - C.E.M.S. (my school) list after that. I number
my list circling the numbers and put down everything I need to accomplish.
Then I star the priorities. I look at the list every few days if not
daily. As I do them I cross them out and add stars to the next priorities.
As soon as 1/3 to 1/2 are crossed out, I start a new list on fresh pages
further into the spiral and rip the old ones out after transferring what's
left on it. When the spiral is used up, I record any important info in
appropriate places - phone numbers and addresses, bibliographic info.,
creativity, etc. - and begin a new spiral. Cheap and it has worked well
for me for years! I got one of those electronic organizers a few years
ago, but it sits in a drawer because it took too much time to program stuff
in it, and it weighed down my purse too much. Not worth it in my opinion!
Oh, I also have a TO PURCHASE list for myself (clothing items, film, etc.
) and work (stationary items, etc.) Sometimes I add a grocery list.
Sandy P. in Philly
P.S. I also use this notebook to write down creative ideas, song lyrics
I'm working on, etc.
I have one and love it. I bought an extra cradle for my office and I have
one at home. Only only calendar to keep.
******************************
Elaine DeVoss
Katharine Brush Library
Loomis Chaffee School
Windsor, CT 06095
1-860-687-6285
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I bought a beautiful organizer for my husband, but he won't take
battery space to put important dates on it, addresses etc. He seldom looks
through all the data. The only function of use is the alarm because it
alerts him that somewhere in that vast organizer is a date he has
forgotten. Can you tell he is ADD? I end up organizing him, also.
I bought a cheap organizer for my 4th grader and he loves it. He has put
phone numbers of his friends, soccer teammates, etc. in it and uses the
calendar to plan all his events including when to remind mom to go buy
treats. Works well for him.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~~*
Diane R. Chen, Library Media Specialist
Hickman Elementary School
3125 Ironwood Drive Nashville, TN 37214
Telephone: 615 885-8956
ChenD@ten-nash.ten.k12.tn.us
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At 02:11 PM 9/22/98 -0600, you wrote:
>Has anyone organized their job and personal life using an
>electronic organizer? Which one do you use and why do you like it?
>Has anyone used the Palm Pilot and do you feel its cost is merited?
I got myself a Palm III at the end of August. Love it. The important thing
to remember is to sync it up with your desktop machine in case of
problems... I dropped mine this last weekend and broke it. :(
The good news is that 3Com's fairly good to work with about that... I
called their Tech Support line, they had me try two or three things to
confirm that it's dead (there was no obvious damage to the case); I gave
them a credit card number and a new one's on its' way... assuming I get the
broken one returned to them within 30 days, there's no charge for the
replacement other than the postage.
When the new one gets here, I just sync it up with the existing data on my
desktop and away I go.
It's so darn convenient, working without it for a week just reinforces how
much I like it! :)
...brig
--
Brig C. McCoy - Automation Consultant
Southeast Kansas Library System - BRIGC@WORLD.STD.COM
218 East Madison Street - 316 365-5136
Iola, KS 66749 - 316 365-5137, Fax
Home Page: <http://skyways.lib.ks.us/sekls/staff/brigc>
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have had 2 different organizers- one that plugs into my computer.
Neither was the palm pilot, but my 2nd was similiar. I personally found
that the organizer didn't meet my needs to "see" all the info I need at a
glance. I gave my first to my husband, who uses it mainly as a portable
address book. I waited to long to return the 2nd one so right now it's
sitting in a box. My older sister has one and absolutely loves it. I
like to see a month-at-a-glance which is virtually impossible to do with
the organizers I've seen. I don't know if the palm pilot has that option
or not. I think basically it's just personal preference. I've seen
others use them and love them. I bought my 2nd one at Office Max and got
a great deal.
Good luck.
Mary J. Soucie
Youth Services Consultant
Heritage Trail Library System
815-729-3345 x110
mailto:mjsoucie@htls.lib.il.us
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I haven't used a hand-held device, but I have a Charlie Brown calendar
system that I ran on my computer last year. Lots of nice bells and
whistles, but someone has to blow them! You know, you have to figure the
time you spend inputting things. Is it justifiable. I liked it because it
popped up each time I turned on my computer to do my grantwriting or
whatever, but as I grew busier, it had fewer and fewer entried. Now I have
a little red daily record book for school-related items and a calendar book
for life beyond 8-3:15.
Laura Mason, Librarian/Grant Coordinator
Shelby County C-1 Schools
Rt. 2, Box 142
Shelbyville, Mo. 63469
lmason@nshelby.k12.mo.us
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I used an electronic organizer faithfully and loved it when in a high
stress position. Now I'm back at an elementary school and don't keep it
up; just don't need it to keep everything as organized.
Pat Wende
Royal Oaks Elementary School
K-12 Library Media Director
Sun Prairie, WI 53590
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi!
Planners have never worked for me. Neither does list making. I
forget to write stuff down, or write it down and forget to take it
with me. What I use now is a Sony IC Recorder, which is just a palm
held digital recorder with two separate files. File A is
professional life and File B is my real life. This has kept me
organized since the first of the year and I love it. It was about
$100 and worth every penny.
Kim Carr
Elementary Library Media Coordinator
New Castle Community Schools
New Castle IN 47362
765-521-7255
carrk@nccsc.k12.in.us
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
I have been using electronic organizers for the last 7 years. Like
anything there are good points and bad points. I have used two
different models of Sharp organizers with good results. They have gone
down in price from what they were and most people really don't need the
most expensive. I was never very good at using a paper organizer and
the electronic ones were a life saver for me since I could program in a
meeting with the time it would start and approximate time it would end.
When I put in the start time I would take into consideration the length
of time to get there and deduct that from the start time so that when
the alarm went off I knew I had to go but with enough time to get
there. One disadvantage is the amount of space you have to put
information. I highly recommend the use of these tools, however if you
get one, be sure you can down load information from the planner to a
computer so that if it dies you have a backup. The ability to print
would be useful but not necessary. If you can download to a computer
you should be able to import that file into Microsoft Word or some other
word processer and print a hard copy of your data. Get a brand name
that has a good service policy and one with at least 128 K memory if not
more.
Jerry Kilmer
Library/Media Specialist
Ruidoso Middle School
Ruidoso, NM
kilmerj@ruidoso.k12.nm.us
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
My husband bought this for me for my b'day. I love it. I no longer keep a
manual calendar for the Media Center. Everything is kept in my ofice on
Microsoft Outlook and I sync my Palm Pilot everyday before I go home. That
Palm has rescued me many times when the server has been down but I am still up
an running with my Palm. I love that my school calendar is always with me at
home so if I have to make an appointment, I know what's going on in school
that day. I also send a monthly report to my principal of the center's
activities and classes, and the Palm has all classes and activities in the
center recorded. It was $400- now about $350- AND WORTH EVERY PENNY.
Karen Igelsrud, Media Specialist
Paul W. Bell Middle School
Miami, Fl
Kigelsrud@aol.com
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