Blogger: Michelle Ule
Location: Books & Such main office, Santa Rosa
“To do the writing, I have to have time to do research.”
Modern technology provides wonderful tools for research if you know how to harness them. And not just electronic texts, library catalogs, Google and microfilm.
How about your cell phone or digital camera?
It turns out many research libraries have embraced technology and encourage readers to take a photograph with their smart phones rather than run an elderly volume through the copy machine. It’s easier on the book, cheaper on the pocket and much faster. What a concept!
While wending my unwieldy way through microfiche, I thought about the photography process and the dimes falling out of my pockets as fast as I could grab them. If I owned an I-pad, I could just take a photograph of the entire microfiche in one setting, then enlarge the page I wanted to read. Think of the hours that would save.
A genius at the Apple store confirmed the process works beautifully–he had used it himself with parts fiche at a store where he worked. The ever-faithful media librarian at Sonoma State Library was intrigued and willing to give it a try–until he realized we’d need a back light. We couldn’t find a microfiche-reading app, but that doesn’t mean one hasn’t been invented.
Meanwhile, back at the public library, I was thrilled to order microfilm from a special collection back east. But I paused at the money and the manipulation I would have to do to review 650 items. When I mentioned my concern to the librarian, she brightened. “We have a new USB cord device. You still have to scan everything you want, but you can hook the machine up to your laptop, and the pages can go right onto your computer.”
Glory! I’m thrilled.
Even though I’ll still have to review all 650 items, I won’t have to shell out 650 dimes. It will still take hours to go through everything, but at least I won’t have to haggle with the photocopier–nor purchase an expensive I-pad.
I won’t be able to use a “find” program to look for specific words or items–everything will be written in 19th-century handwriting–but if it’s on my computer, I can read it at home. Not having to sit in a dark library for hours–as I did reading microfilm in the 20th century–will be wonderful.
What type of technology tools do you use in your writing and research? How do you save it and manipulate it?
Better question–do you think I can justify buying an I-pad? 🙂
I use Microsoft One Note as a digital portfolio for many research finds. Similar to the popular Pinterest app, I can create personalized pages and folders to organize clippings and photos and to make notes. When I paste something to One Note, I paste the source in the notes section so that I can find the original again if I need it.
Thanks so much for sharing about the new way to review library files! I’ll have to ask the libraries I use if they offer this feature.
Some technology is way beyond me. When we visited the Apple store a few months ago, my daughter had her iPad playing music before I figured out the first screen. 🙁 And yet, I still want an iPad. I think they are the way to go, and will allow me to have one deice versus numerous ones to handle what I need to do.
I think an I-pad is just what you need. 🙂
Depending on the program that you are using to read the documents, just try CTRL “F”. You should still be able to use the find program.
Also, you could always try applying for grants for the iPad. Of course, that takes away from writing/research time, but you may end up with a free iPad for your efforts. 🙂
I use the ipad my children gave me for Mother’s Day every day. EVERY DAY. I wonder what I did without it.
Isn’t technology great!