I am done!!!!!!

Let me start by saying ... I did give myself a pat on the back. About half-way through I got a little burned out and thought I wasn't going to finish, but here I am task number 23 done! Overall I learned a great deal of useful things and some not so useful. As for things I learned that I can use on the job ... library thing, del.icio.us, wikis, and google docs. I also enjoyed learning about rss feeds, flickr, and alternative blogging though I don't think I will be using these for work.

I do have to admit that I was surprised at how much I learned. Several of the tasks I already knew a little about but never went into any depth on. I think it would be interesting to look back at this program in say 6 months to a year to see how many of the tasks I am still using.

My biggest complaint/frustration is the lack of plug-ins installed on our computers. There were several tasks that took me longer to complete because I had to switch back and forth between Internet Explorer and Firefox and sometimes giving up completely because I was unable to do something as simple as play a video clip.

I did like the explore and learn at your own rate. It was also nice to have some "fun" activities that didn't involve any real thought other than playing around. Everyone's brain needs a little break now and then. I would be interested in more programs similiar to this. I think it would also be useful to have a program that is not so advanced. We have several employees who could never handle the extent of this program but would benifit from some of the tasks. Is it possible to make a mini version?

Thanks web 2.0 team ... I learned a lot!

Alternative Blogging

I like micro blogging soooo much more than an actual blog. I am a person of little words. I made a twitter and a tumblr account. I messed around with both. I liked tumblr. It was simple to post. I like how I can take a photo or video clip from my phone and send it to my tumblr account ... awesome!!! I do a lot of text messaging and this feels the same. Who knows, I might actually keep up with this one.

As for libraries ... mmm ... I don't know how helpful either of these tools would be. In all reality it is just another version of what we have been doing throughout this program.

Audio/Video - - video

So I tried searching for videos on "bookmobiles". I wasn't surprised that the video sharing websites that were listed either came up with nothing or a few picks with the expection of youtube. However I did find a video clip of something that I had read in a magazine some time back. Here is a newsclip of a camel delivering library service that I found interesting library camel.


I think it would be great if on our homepage had a video clip or two about our feature. For example right now we are promoting National Library Week. I think we should have a clip of perhaps mini tours of our libraries. Or a clip of Libraries through the years.

Audio/Video - - podcasting

Typically the only podcasts that I have used is through itunes. I played around with the podcast directories in this activity. Playing around with podcastalley I discovered a podcast from a high school in which it is all booktalks. Its on my feed list. I have always found podcasts interesting. Sometimes they are very interesting and I get lost in them like a good book and other times I can only say WHY???

Music and other audio

I have never used any of the websites for this activity. I liked pandora because it was straight forward and easy to use. I think Gutenberg would be a great resource for libraries especially if our patrons were able to download from our internet computes. I was amazed at how many audio books were available on the website. And are CDs dead?... YES! I do have to admit they make awesome drink coasters.

Sketchcast

My artistic abilities are horrible and they don't get much better online. Take a look at my books on the go (right side bar).

Google Docs ... Wow! I wish this was around when I was in school. This could be so handy for students. Just imagine if there is access to the internet you have access to your research paper. I can't tell you how many times I didn't bring my laptop or save my work to a disk to discover class got out early and I had time to work on my paper in the lab. With this there is no need to plan ahead. You have spare time, go to any computer with internet access and magically your research paper appears. Even better I could allow someone access to help with proofing (always needed with me). Google thinks of everything!

Wikis

I have not had any real experiences with wikis. When the YA wiki came out I had read parts of the wiki but unsure how it worked I had never contributed to it. After watching the wiki video clip I was amazed out how easy it is. I might go back to the YA wiki and give my input.

I think wikis would be most useful when a group of people are all trying to compile info when they are not able to physically meet together. I understand the concern of someone "messing" up the wiki but it sounds like you can always go back to a previous version of it. I also like the idea that you can make your wiki private or public. When I have more time I would like to go back to some of the wikis listed and try to add/change them.

Technorati

Ok, not a big fan. The website was overwhelming for me. I tried searching for "learning 2.0" under different search options. The results were too massive. I think the search option would have been more useful if I was searching for something I have an interest in. Maybe I will try it again. However I did play around reading some of the headlines that were preselected. I actually found this more interesting than trying to search "learning 2.0".

del.icio.us

A week ago I created a del.icio.us account and tagged the websites that I had bookmarked on my computer. To be honest since then I have only opened up my del.icio.us account once and that was to add something else. In saying this I don't know how helpful I would find it as a research tool. I can see how helpful it would be if you use multiple computers and always want access to your bookmarks.

IS has a lot on their del.icio.us account but how many staff members turn to the account before doing a general online search? I might be wrong but I would guess that instinct would be to do a google search and then pull up del.icio.us if you can't find something with your search. Don't get me wrong I think this is a great way to keep track of useful websites but at the same time I think it is kind of like that one reference book you pull off the shelf when you hit the wall for ideas.

This is dedicated to my younger sister and the hundreds of times she had to bite the bar of soap. I don't think she ever learned her lesson.

http://www.redkid.net/generator/soap/

Library Thing

Can I say "I love it!" I actually created two accounts. The first account is my personal this is what I read and would like to read account. The other account I created is my favorite storytime books which I posted here. I quickly marked some titles that I liked but I am going to go back and add more with tags. This is exciting for me because I am always planning at the last moment and can't come up with anything. I have tried to keep lists via paper and excel but they never seem to work for me because the lists are in one place and I am somewhere else ... not anymore!

If anyone has any great storytime books I should know about let me know. I do storytime for K/1st grade.

social networking

In order for libraries to network out to new users, libraries need to be where their patrons are. I think the YAAB myspace page shows just that. YAAB is able to reach out to wider variety of teens through the use of friends. Both teens and parents have the ability to find teen events, resources, and great reads. Not to mention the cool posting of things such as the robot videos :)

We must not forget that adults can benefit from a social networking page too. Access to the catalog and databases, events, booktalks, and video clips of library forums would be a couple of things to consider on a library networking page.

Meebo

Ok, I discovered meebo a couple years ago on vacation. Choosing to leave my laptop at home I was at the mercy of a foreign computer without any messengers installed. Low and behold this is when someone showed me meebo.

I think having a MeeboMe widget on our website would be great. I like the idea that a patron can "talk" with a staff member without actually picking up the phone. For a lot of patrons this would actually be an easier way of contacting the library. Just think ... no more using valuable minutes on your cell phone, no background noise interference (screaming kids), can save chat log to refer back to, and the option of not speaking directly to a staff member.

Finding RSS Feeds

So I tried hard to find feeds that were work related. I used some of the search tools to find feeds. The only work related feed I found that I would actually read on a regular basis was unshelved. I might go back and look into some of my favorite authors. I did find several feeds that I was personally interested in.

I think the library could use RSS feeds in a variety of ways. It could be used to send information about library programs, building projects, new materials, behind-the-scenes ...

I think it would also be good to have links to other RSS feeds such as authors and publishers, community news ...

RSS

I have heard the term RSS before better never really understood what it was. To my amazement I have been using RSS feeds without even being aware of it. My google toolbar has a strange orange icon labeled "Latest Headlines" that I check and read some of them on a regular basis ... who knew this was RSS! Now I am excited to know I can make a listing of stuff that I want to read not what someone has picked for me. I don't know how useful this will be for work but I can definately use it to organize my daily trash reading at home.

flickr

I can't believe how many people I see playing sudoku. A couple months ago I decided to give it a try ... after all the masses are always right. So now I am hooked. I stayed up all night on the computer trying to beat my measly time of 18 minutes and 35 seconds. Though I could not do any better and decided it takes me a long time to complete one I now love them. I was excited to see flickr sudoku ... another time waster!!!!! If you haven't tried it, go for it. Be warned it is harder than using numbers. http://www.beckysweb.co.uk/sudoku/flickrsudoku.asp

Cell phones

I found this interesting picutre on Flickr. I wonder if it was an accident that the "cell phone free zone" sign ended up on the same endcap as the "adult fiction" sign. Maybe this library realized that asking for patrons to turn 0ff their phones is a work of fiction!

7 1/2 lifelong learning habits

So I watched the video clip on lifelong learning habits. Most of the habits listed are no brainers. I think the easiest habit for me is the first habit ... begin with the end in mind. I can usually have the finished picture in my head and fully planned out. The hardest habit for me is the 4th habit ... Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner. This is difficult because I am always second guessing what I am doing.