week 9, Thing 23

This program has been great. I really like reading everyone's blogs! - and have learned a lot from them too. It is going to be exciting to see how we use these Web 2.0 technologies for both the library patrons and the library staff.

week 9, Thing 22

I checked out Project Gutenberg audio books. I enjoyed listening to some of the poetry - I prefer hearing poetry to reading it, so I think I will use this again.

week 9, Thing 21

I added the ASU Libraries: Library Channel podcasts to my Bloglines account. (The ASU Library Channel has lots of podcasts on topics like copyright, library events, grants and library innovations.) It took me a while to figure out how to do it, but I think it works.

I am pretty inspired by the ways some libraries are using podcasts - especially the story times for kids. (I can remember calling over the telephone for library story time when I was younger!) This might be a great way to provide a story time in Spanish for kids? I can also see elementary school teachers playing the a podcast of story times in class.

I'd like to create a quick podcast of my own just to practice - I will try to come back to that later.

widget - PacMan

I think I used to be much better at this game....

Week 9, Thing 20

The only music video I know of that's filmed in library (I think).
YouTube is all the rage right now and I don't see why libraries shouldn't jump in too. Post a video tour of the library, post 30 seconds of a library story-time, it seems like a great way to advertise the library and it's much more exciting than a brochure or powerpoint presentation.

Week 8, Thing 19

Web 2.0 Awards - www.pandora.com

Pandora is automated music recommendation service created by the Music Genome Project.

This is the coolest thing!! I typed in Prefab Sprout and the next thing they played was Elvis Costello's Little Fool and then Morrissey's Kill Uncle -- and then the Beautiful South. I am so hooked on this. (Haven't heard some of these songs in years!) Try it, you'll like it!

Thing 18, con't.

Here are 10 Ways NonProfits Can Use Blogs:

(List taken from http://www.netsquared.org/blog/britt-bravo/10-ways-nonprofits-can-use-blogs)

1. To report back from an event or conference.

2. To involve staff and take advantage of their knowledge.

3. To involve volunteers and document their work.

4. To provide resources and information to constituents.

5. To provide resources and information from constituents.

6. To give constituents a place to voice their opinion.

7. To give constituents support.

8. To create the media coverage constituents want.

9. To give constituents the power and tools to create change.

10. To reach potential donors.

***I think this list can be applied to libraries as well.

Libraries can use blogs:

1. To report back from a training or conference.

2. To involve staff and take advantage of their knowledge (Wicomico's programming blog is a great example - staff can bounce ideas of each other!)

3. To involve volunteers - by providing a blog just for volunteers, library staff can keep them informed of changes in the library (if the CDs have been moved), holiday closings, special events etc.

4. To provide resources and information to staff - library personnel can blog about their favorite reference websites or great reads to tweens

5. To provide resources and information to patrons - a special blog just for teens would be a good way to get them involved at their library

6. To give patrons a place to voice their opinion - allow teens to blog about their favorite books!

7. To give staff support - a private blog for staff can help share good news stories!

8. To create media coverage - a public blog can help advertise special events and share photos of past events

9. To give patrons the power and tools to create change - patrons can list comments about special events

10. To reach potential donors - share with donors the "library's story" and show them that libraries are on the cutting edge of technology

Week 18, Thing 18

Hmmm...I really like GoogleDocs! The uses seem similar to a wiki being able to work collaboratively. I was able to publish a document to my blog - took me a little while to figure out how to do that. I can see this kind of thing being used to for committees to create meeting agendas and for staff to work together on a brochure of flier.

Week 7, Thing 17

Ok, it looks like my blog has been posted to the MarylandLibrariesSandbox. Wasn't too hard to add it. I know I need some more practice, but I think wikis have some useful applications. I think the more specific you make the wiki - the better outcome you'll have.

I remember reading that Penguin books starting a wiki - A Million Penguins - in an attempt for a community to write a novel. Neat idea, but that's a pretty broad concept. Wikis definitely need to stay focused - so appointing a wiki moderator (similar to a meeting moderator) might be a solution.

Week 7, Thing 16

Check out this video, "Wikis in Plain English" for more info on what wikis are and how they are used. I think wikis are neat way to gather input from people - esp. in terms of major projects that require lots of planning. Setting up a wiki for strategic planning or summer reading planning might be a good way to generate lots of ideas and discussion - without having to hold a meeting!

Library Success: a best practices wiki is a neat resource - some of the categories are more detailed than others, but it's definitely worth a look. I came across an interesting document "The Angry Customer" from the Memphis Public Library.

Week 6, Thing 15

I am excited about the ways Library 2.0 expands services to patrons. I think many patrons would be interested in setting up their own Library Thing account and wanting to learn how to post their photos to Flickr. These tools can also be used to attract new patrons too - think about students who prefer chat reference to visiting the reference desk.

I especially appreciate what Michael Stephens writes in his piece Into a New World of Librarianship:

"Technology is put to the test: Does it meet the users need in a new or improved way? Does it create a useful service for putting users together with the information and experience they seek? These are some of the questions this librarian asks when planning for technology. This librarian creates and nurtures a living, breathing technology plan."

But librarians have always asked those questions - whether it be about technology or collection development or programming or library outreach. So, I think we're in good shape to face Library 2.0 and Library 3.0, 4.0... :-)

Week 6, Thing 14

Although I had heard a lot about technorati before, this is the first time I've really used it. Not sure if I understand its importance - but the search results I found weren't that helpful. I need to look into this more...

Week 6, Thing 13

Del.icio.us seems like a great tool for reference staff to use. Since the reference desk may have more than one computer, staff can still access their favorite reference websites by using del.icio.us. Del.icio.us is also a great tool to tell students about too (if they don't know already!). Most students prefer to research online and del.icio.us can help them track the websites they've used - which will make writing those bibliographies a lot easier.

One thing I don't want people to forget that just because a website has been tagged by a number of users doesn't automatically make that website the best source out there. A lot of people are using these social bookmarking sites to increase the activity/traffic on their own websites by adding tags, etc. That way their website has a better chance of being found on a Google search.

Is Web 2.0 all its cracked up to be?

Andrew Keen doesn't think so. I haven't read his book "The Cult of the Amateur" yet - but check out this review from NY Times.

Week 5, con't.

Amy from WICO blogged about a South Park Generator, so I had to make one too!

Week 5, Thing 12

Here is my Rollyo list. I think this could be useful to put together some good websites for children/students to search without having them run into inappropriate sites. Or, maybe a great list of websites for local research. I can forsee lots of uses with this tool as well.

Google has a similar feature available - it's called "customized search engines." There is a directory of CSEs available as well.

Week 5, Thing 11

LibraryThing is so fun! I can see so many uses for this - individual libraries can have an online "staff picks" list, teachers could use it too for their individual class book lists or for their summer reading book lists. Lots of potential here. This is a list of my favorite books I've read over the past few years:

Week 5, Thing 10

My yahoo avatar:

Week 4, Thing 9

Merlin is a great resource for MD libraries. I love that it has a state-wide training calendar! Just in case you haven't had a chance to see the website: http://merlin.lib.md.us/.

Now that I know the icons to look for, I think locating the the website address will be easy. With the astounding number of new blogs created each day, it's good to know that they are some search tools out there! I personally liked topix.net the best.

Week 4, Thing 8

First off I have to admit I do not have much experience with RSS feeds and appreciated the "RSS Feeds in Plain English" video! The feeds I subscribed to are work-related, so I am curious to see if the information I am getting will be useful for my job. I do worry about information-overload!

The Cincinnati Library has RSS feeds available for library news, library jobs, teens, kids - and more - http://www.cincinnatilibrary.org/feeds/. So does the Library of Congress, http://www.loc.gov/rss/. It would be interesting to see how many people subscribe to those feeds.

Week 3, Thing 7

Hmmm, technology related post...I'm still waiting for someone to invent the transporter, so I could go anywhere in a blink of an eye. The Jetsons really spoiled me - I thought we'd have flying cars and robot maids by now!

Back to reality - the technology I really use the most is my webmail. I know that's not very exciting, but I love being able to check my email from any computer, at any time. The only problem I have with my webmail is that it's hard for me to send large emails - something like a powerpoint presentation or .wmv file. In those cases I use something called Mega Upload (http://www.megaupload.com/) - it's a free service that lets you send files (up to 500 MB). It's helped me out on more that one occasion.

Week 3, Thing 6 con't.

My creation
Originally uploaded by jmrday

I tried to make a trading card!

Week 3, Thing 6

Indiana Jones
Originally uploaded by jmrday

This headstone can be found at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Berlin.

Still trying to figure my way around Flickr. Wondering how libraries could benefit from mash-ups? I was thinking about the summer reading theme - reading road trip. Maybe a library could create a mash-up with photos of children and their cut-out of sneaks on vacation? Although I think tweens and teens are more into this stuff. Anyways, I love exploring this!

Week 3, Thing 5

Snow in Ocean City, Maryland
Originally uploaded by crazysanman

"Snow in Ocean City, Maryland"
Here is photo I found on Flickr - I love seeing snow at the beach!

Week 2, Thing 4

Don't forget to fill out your 23 Things Tracking Log. I sent out the logs as an attachment in your Week 2 email. The log will serve to show that you have completed the program and make you eligible to win one of three iPod minis or the grand prize, a digital camera.

Week 2, Thing 3

Setting up a blog is so easy. The hardest part was choosing what template I wanted!

I just read this little fact from CNET.com:
"According to recent statistics from blog-tracking site Technorati, the blogosphere has doubled every six months for the last three years. That's 175,000 new blogs per day worldwide. Technorati added its 50 millionth blog on July 31, 2006."
http://news.com.com/2100-1025_3-6102935.html

Week 1, Thing 2

Lifelong learning - it's almost cliche these days. Still I think the real beauty of this program is that it is allowing me to incorporate learning into my work week. It can be so easy to think "I just don't have time for that" - but, as the online tutorial said, lifelong learning is attitudinal. I am going to start to schedule time in my work week just to explore. And that could mean all sorts of things - checking out some public library MySpace pages, reading a WebJunction blog, or figuring out a new software. Lifelong learning doesn't have to be just about the CEUs :-) !!!

Week 1, Thing 1

We have over 546 people from around the state signed up for the 23 Things program! There are 87 folks just from the eastern shore. That is so cool!

It seems like we've all been hit with this wave of new technology over the last five, six years and I am so excited about exploring it with all of you.

7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

The 7.5 Habits are:

1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
5. Create your own learning toolbox
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach/mentor others
7 1/2. Play!

The hardest habit for me is to "begin with the end in mind." I don't always have a specific goal in mind when I want to learn something and this makes me think I might not be learning as effectively as I could be. If I had a specific goal, I could work towards a more meaningful end.

The easiest habit for me to follow is to accept responsibility for my own learning. If I want to learn something new, I just try to play with it. MS Publisher is a perfect example for me, when I wanted to create a brochure, I asked a co-worker what program she used and then I just started playing around with the program. Trial and error works best for me!

Medieval tech support

For a laugh, check out this video: http://www.flixxy.com/medieval-tech-support.htm.

There's a learning curve for every new technology!