Elizabeth's blog /blogs/elizabeth en What Is a Simple Bot? /blog/what-simple-bot <!-- THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY. See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details. After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this HTML comment. --> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p><img alt="" class="media-image" height="360" style="float: left;" width="480" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/simple%20bot.jpg?itok=_CTMcIdj" />One of the staples of the making world is the robot.  Who doesn't want to make a robot?  For folks who are starting out in making, the simple bot is a good solution.  Taking robots down a notch, a simple bot is essentially a machine built with simple motors and mechanical components.  These materials are often repurposed from other tools, toys, or objects.  Whereas a robot relies on programming, a simple bot is usually autonomous, performing a simple action by default.</p> <p>A simple bot is more about experimenting with materials and ideas, is easily understood, and can be assembled quickly with readily available materials.  Many of the robotics projects we feature at Make It @ Your Library are <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/simple-bot">simple bots</a>, so check them out to get started!</p> <p>We'll be expanding on these ideas with something exciting, so stay tuned to Make It @ Your Library for more in the future!</p> <p> </p> </div> </div> </div> <!-- THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY. 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After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this HTML comment. --> <div class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"> <div class="field-label">Blog Tags:&nbsp;</div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/simple-bot-1" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">simple bot</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/robot-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">robot</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/robotics-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">robotics</a></div> </div> </div> Sat, 29 Mar 2014 17:35:41 +0000 Elizabeth 276 at http://makeitatyourlibrary.docksal I’ll Just Make It, Myself!--DIY Clip Art /blog/i%E2%80%99ll-just-make-it-myself-diy-clip-art <!-- THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY. See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details. After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this HTML comment. --> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This is a story of starting small.  I’m a librarian, and much like many of you reading this, I’ve had more than my fair share of run-ins with clip art.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s not that there is anything inherently wrong with clip art--I want simple graphics on a regular basis, and that’s what it’s for--great!  Maybe my expectations are too high, or perhaps I consider myself a little too sophisticated for what’s available.  Either way, I have decided that I am just going to make my own from now on, and if you have a smartphone and the drawing capabilities of a 6 year old, you can too!</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">A few weeks ago, I wanted something very specific.  I was creating a Valentine’s Day display sign at the library and got my mind set on a graphic of a book shot through with a cupid’s arrow.  Go ahead and do a quick search for that.  My options were….limited.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Enter </span><a style="text-decoration: none;" href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/jotnot-scanner/id310789464?mt=8"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; color: #1155cc; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Jot Not</span></a><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">.  I could have hand-drawn a sign, but again--I am aiming for a slightly higher air of sophistication.  Jot Not is an app billed as a document scanner, which uses your smartphone camera to create PDFs.  In between picture and PDF, the app processes and enhances your photo, so if you’re using a (perhaps childlike) drawing instead of a document, it can look like a rather quaint computer-generated graphic.</span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><strong> </strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Voila--any “clip art” your heart desires can be made a reality:</span></p> <p><strong><img alt="blind date with a book" class="media-image" height="223" style="border: 1px solid black;" width="288" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/Screen%20Shot%202014-03-10%20at%209.28.31%20AM_0.png?itok=xA8U2ctP" /></strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"> </p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Clip art robot selection got you down? Hand draw your own! </span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"> </p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="line-height: 1.15;"><img alt="drawn robot" class="media-image" height="280" style="border: 1px solid black;" width="216" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/photo%202_0.JPG?itok=jGb13Pib" /> </span></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"> </p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt; display: inline !important;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Combine your drawing with some colored paper and a button machine, and you’ve got a whole army of custom robot pins!  This happens to be one of our small prizes for a Teen Tech Week scavenger hunt we’re running, and so far, kids and staff alike are loving these guys:</span></p> <p><strong><img alt="army of robot pins" class="media-image" height="216" style="border: 1px solid black;" width="216" typeof="foaf:Image" src="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/robots_0.JPG?itok=ilGWDbOT" /></strong></p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"> </p> <p style="line-height: 1.15; margin-top: 0pt; margin-bottom: 0pt;" dir="ltr"><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you’ve ever thought to yourself, “I really want to get in on making, but I don’t have anything to get started!” don’t worry--that’s where a lot of people are right now.  Start small, then build your robot army, little by little.</span></p> <p><span style="font-size: 15px; font-family: Arial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p> </div> </div> </div> <!-- THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY. See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details. After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this HTML comment. --> <div class="field field-name-field-blog-tags field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-above"> <div class="field-label">Blog Tags:&nbsp;</div> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/drawing" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">drawing</a></div> <div class="field-item odd"><a href="/easy-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">easy</a></div> <div class="field-item even"><a href="/app-0" typeof="skos:Concept" property="rdfs:label skos:prefLabel" datatype="">app</a></div> </div> </div> Mon, 10 Mar 2014 15:42:34 +0000 Elizabeth 271 at http://makeitatyourlibrary.docksal A Very DIY Thanksgiving /blog/very-diy-thanksgiving <!-- THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY. See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details. After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this HTML comment. --> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>Make It @ Your Library is kicking off the holiday season in style.  The air is crisp, the leaves have fallen, and librarians everywhere are showing off their cookbooks to ever-ambitious patrons.  We’ve picked out a few stellar Thanksgiving-themed projects to highlight.  Some are more library-friendly than others, but all are things to keep in mind when planning autumn programs (and all simply smack of holiday joy).</p> <p><img alt="leaf bowl" src="http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/F2I/HN43/HO7XE4WT/F2IHN43HO7XE4WT.LARGE.jpg" style="height:200px; width:300px" /></p> <p>For the perfect DIY Thanksgiving, first you’ll need some décor.  Collect some autumn leaves (see, this project can even get folks to help you clean up the library lawn!) and make your own <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living/homemade-leaf-bowl#.Uo1sNRZV8VQ">Homemade Leaf Bowl</a>.  Add a little Mod Podge or epoxy and a balloon, and you’ve got the best looking leaf-mâché in town.</p> <p><img alt="thanksgiving spoon magnets" src="http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/F80/8GYF/GFRWRN68/F808GYFGFRWRN68.LARGE.jpg" style="height:377px; width:300px" /></p> <p>Looking for something a little more kid-friendly?  These <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living-play/thanksgiving-spoon-magnets#.Uo1rERZV8VQ">Thanksgiving Spoon Magnets</a> are a perfect simple craft to do with kids.  Got paper, glue, and some plastic spoons?  You’re halfway there. </p> <p><img alt="scarecrow" src="http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FFZ/F773/H8SVCEZ4/FFZF773H8SVCEZ4.LARGE.jpg" style="height:200px; width:300px" /></p> <p>For the hardcore amongst us, perhaps get a group going to make some <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living-outside/life-sized-scarecrow-stand#.Uo1uGRZV8VQ">Life-Sized Scarecrows</a>.  These guys are a little bit of a commitment, but the time is well-spent.  Then, surprise the turkey-maker in your life with a festive <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/living/thanksgiving-apron-old-pants-and-scraps#.UpS91RYrzTQ">handmade apron</a>.  (Mom can never have too many aprons, am I right?)</p> <p><img alt="cake" src="http://www.instructables.com/files/deriv/FC9/BTPT/GGMMIWKZ/FC9BTPTGGMMIWKZ.LARGE.jpg" style="height:210px; width:290px" /></p> <p>Last, on the day itself, you can delight (or perhaps horrify) your guests with <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/food/chows-thanksgiving-turkey-cake#.UpTENBYrzTQ">CHOW’s Thanksgiving Turkey Cake</a>.  This holiday <s>monstrosity</s> wonder will surely make an impression on just about anyone, even the surliest of grumpy uncles and impetuous children.  This is honestly a project I’ve wanted to attempt for a while, and I’m thinking of hijacking the family’s leftovers to try my own version. </p> <p>Let us know what you plan on making this holiday season!</p> </div> </div> </div> Tue, 26 Nov 2013 16:24:06 +0000 Elizabeth 237 at http://makeitatyourlibrary.docksal Tips for Contributing /blog/tips-contributing <!-- THIS FILE IS NOT USED AND IS HERE AS A STARTING POINT FOR CUSTOMIZATION ONLY. See http://api.drupal.org/api/function/theme_field/7 for details. After copying this file to your theme's folder and customizing it, remove this HTML comment. --> <div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"> <div class="field-items"> <div class="field-item even" property="content:encoded"> <p>We really hope that Make It @ Your Library will continue to grow with the help of librarians like you!  Each project added to the site comes from <a href="http://www.instructables.com/" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>Instructables.com</u></a>, and we need folks to curate them for the library world.  You can always suggest an Instructable for the site <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/contribute" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>here</u></a>, but we’re really hoping that you create your own account so that you can join our community and contribute Instructable projects yourself.</p> <p>To create an account, <a href="http://www.makeitatyourlibrary.org/user/register" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>register here</u></a>.  Once you’re in our system, you’ll be welcome to add projects.</p> <p><strong>What makes a good Instructable project?</strong></p> <p>First, we’re looking for projects that are suitable for libraries.  Maybe there’s one you’ve tried, and it was great.  Or perhaps you have some crafty expertise and can point us to the most fool-proof and practical how-tos out there.  The step-by-step instructions need to be detailed, be clear, and include pictures or video.  The best projects to add will also be unique, to avoid unnecessary duplication in our collection.</p> <p><strong>How should I tag my project?</strong></p> <p>Time to take you back to library school and talk….metadata!!  We have a number of set fields of data for our projects, so that librarians can evaluate them based on age level, category, cost per person, time per project, and very importantly--tools and space available to the library.  Take a look at <a href="http://makeitatyourlibrary.org/node/51#.UmByLBZV8VR" style="text-decoration:none;"><u>this blog post</u></a> to gain a deeper understanding of each of the options under the Tools and Space heading.</p> <p>The tags field is also very important.  Projects on Make It @ Your Library are full-text searchable, which is extremely useful, but we’re also counting on tags to help better identify projects.  On Instructables.com, each project has tags designated by its author, and those are a good idea to include, for the most part.  We also want to think about other ways people might use to find a project to try--for instance:</p> <ul><li> <p>What kinds of materials are used?  Is there another name for any of the items in the project?</p> </li> <li> <p>Is there a significant tool associated with the project, like a 3D printer or rotary tool?</p> </li> <li> <p>Is there a particular method or technique used to accomplish the project, like applique, engraving, or soldering?</p> </li> <li> <p>Are there any buzz words or further categories associated with the project, like STEM, upcycling, or fiber crafts?</p> </li> </ul><p>We can’t wait for you to dive in!</p> <div> </div> </div> </div> </div> Fri, 18 Oct 2013 00:09:29 +0000 Elizabeth 134 at http://makeitatyourlibrary.docksal