Maps #31: Have Map, Will Travel: The Whereabouts of my family....

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I found the measuring tool useful when trying to locate something that was west of the river, so many miles south of this and east of that. Helped to narrow down the area. I am still trying to add pictures to the map. Google, Yahoo and Live Maps seem to be almost identical.

You could use this feature to make vacation itineraries or logs.

Spring Cleaning #30: Take a Load Off Our Drives

For the last few years I have been periodically weeding my z-drive and p-drive folder. I did go ahead and do an extra specially good job of cleaning them out this month. I also had new, stricter guidelines to follow when choosing to save, delete or move items. I have decided not to save timesheets farther back than 3 months. I could save them on floppy disc but I am sure that I would lose, collect or corrupt the discs.

I am sure that I had old files from "many" years ago. I did find that I was fairly well organized and understand the basics of the different drives (z, p and s).

Spring Cleaning #29: Email

I had lots of email saved that I wanted to be able to refer back to. I thought virtual computer space was supposed to replace hard paper copies. Oops, I was wrong. After carefully adding to my folders I had to go back in and delete all the emails with attachments! What a pain if you want to keep information. I ended up revising my theories on keeping files. My new theory is that if the information hasn't been saved to Harriet or a supervisor hasn't saved it to the p-drive, it really isn't important. I have now deleted thousands of emails or redirected them to my personal email account. For the time being I am keeping my organizational folders even if they are empty until I am sure I won't be using them.

I go through my old emails periodically during my down time at circ or in the drive-thru. There are always slow periods throughout the year for major weeding.

Spring Cleaning #28: Don’t Clutter Up Expensive Cyberspace

The online organizational tools were interesting but at this time not practical for me. I move from computer to computer constantly throughout my day. The time spent learning new programs is too costly. By putting all these new gadgets into our computer aren't we taking up space also? I do use the organizer/calendar in our library email account. This is one place I have to check several times a day anyway.

I do use set times and places or organize and deal with things at home. I believe I already use the technique of taking care of something rather than filing it for the future if it can be done in two minutes or less. My organizing techniques are quick and get looked through frequently.

I do tend to keep more filed away than I should. Today I noticed that I have IRS returns dating back to my first year of work as a 16 year old. Yes, for me that is a very long time. I have to admit that I actually had a use for them today that I never would have thought of. Now, the old cancelled checks and stubs can definitely go!........... Good thing I didn't get rid of those check stubs too soon! I actually needed them too! I will be going slow on weeding out old files at home.