Spring Cleaning #30: Take a Load Off Our Drives

Lone Star College has similar drives. However, I had yet to save anything the S or P drives before this assignment. So, I saved a copy of the HCPL Map of Locations to the S drive. Then, I deleted it. In the past, I have appreciated it when people saved items to shared computer drives. As I have previously stated, I really don't like having space taken up by big emails. I created a folder under my initials in order to contain my things on the P drive. Here, I have saved my database training worksheet. This allows Freeman staff members to view my progress.

Being new and all, I do not have much on my personal drive - drive Z. I have organized these folders into relevant, work-related groups. I keep one for timesheets, another for training, etc. When I no longer need a document, I delete it from my Z drive. Otherwise, I want to be absolutely positive before I remove something from the other two drives.

Spring Cleaning #29: Email

When I worked at Cy-Fair, I was the worst email pack rat. I feared the minute I deleted an email, I would need said email. Often, I would receive this message telling me that my "mailbox was full." Thus, the ritual of deleting and/or saving emails to my personal drive would take place. While I possessed various email accounts for "friends & family," "iHCPL," and "school/organizational" items, I still struggled with lots of emails. Being subscribed to numerous work associated list-servs automatically and through no fault of my own, I received crazy amounts of email which had little relevance to my work. I had to make time during my work day for email maintenance.

Becoming a Harris County employee provided me with a new email account. I use it only for work related issues. I have color coded my messages and delete anything that is unnecessary to me or is outdated. Thankfully, hardly anyone emails me attachments.

Here is my planned course of action:

1. When I must share large files, I will email links to the Web or the P drive when possible.
2. I will comb through my email weekly and discard anything that I don't need.
3. I will not share my email with "forward happy" friends.
4. Anything which takes up a lot email space will be saved elsewhere, most likely, my Z drive or a USB drive.

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

Growing up, I saw my mom make all sorts of lists. There were "shopping lists," "to do lists," and "goal lists" among others. One of the first things I found myself doing when I left home for college was making "to-do" lists of my own. Yet, I haven't done that as much since my college days. Well, not much beyond making New Year's Resolutions, I guess. I do recall the satisfaction it gave me to cross things off my list. One of Mom's friends was notorious for adding things she actually did to her to do list to achieve that warm sense of accomplishment. Maybe I have done that a few times myself. (I'm looking sheepish right now.)


After reading the "GTD" article, I saw why I haven't done them as often. My lists were too detailed and ambitious. I see a need to differentiate in my lists. Of course, I don't want to go so crazy that making lists is all that I manage in a day. Yet, visiting the Eiffel Tower does not need to be on my daily list, either, if I live in Texas.


Per the suggestion of iHCPL Next Gen, I added a To Do list to my iGoogle desktop. I've already added that I must: 1) Work, 2) Send E-cards, and 3) Make phone calls.


I have physical calendars as well at home and at work. I even carry a small planner that I should use more. Another thing I added to my iGoogle desktop is a calendar. Already, I have posted birthdays and other things on my Google Calendar. Annually, it will remind me of birthdays, anniversaries. I can set it up to remind me to pay bills, too. In iHCPL, I was introduced to Library Elf which notifies me of due dates and holds. This provides much assistance for someone like me who enjoys requesting books, movies, and audio.

Ultimately, my goal is to set in place all reminders online. Planners haven't worked well for me at all. Yet, something as interactive as the Internet should alleviate this issue.

Time will tell, huh?