podcast assignment

The Yahoo Audio Search was not working, so I looked in PodCastAlley and PodCast Directory. In both of those, I was able to do keyword searching and found some library related podcasts quickly. I subscribed to the Library Survival Guide and Open Stacks since they sounded interesting. I managed to remember how to add them to bloglines (Yea!) and started listening to some of the podcasts. They were really long, so I listened for a while and exited when I started to get bored. It sort of reminded me of being stuck listening to my husband's talk shows he likes when we're driving around in the car.

Some of the podcasts seemed to be geared toward teaching students how to use the library. It's the same sort of thing you could do with a YouTube video. I found another feed that discussed library events. It would be a quick way to update subscribers to current events happening at the library.

audio books assignment

I've looked at the audio downloads briefly before and noticed how much good stuff there is here. It was fun to look at what's available now. I had forgotten we have music and videos too. When you look at descriptions of the books, it even gives suggested titles you might also like to try. There are definitely titles I would love to listen to. This is a great addition for our customers.

YouTube assignment

YouTube seems like a really easy way to waste a lot of time. I checked the how to category, but did not see anything I really wanted to look at. So, I switched over to the education category and decided to look at the swine flu posting since that is big news currently.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsU1oulWT8Y

I suppose you could use YouTube videos for easily accessible training excercises or to watch a library event that we recorded.

Overall, YouTube is not something with which I want to spend too much time.

discovering web 2.0 tools assignment

I decided to look at some of the mapping tools listed in the award winners. I looked at Frappr, Wayfaring, and Community Walk and was not especially impressed. Frappr was not what I was wanting or expecting at all and the other two were okay for getting quick maps, but were not really any better than Google maps. Although, they could be helpful in creating a quick map for an event. So, I decided to look at Live Search Maps and had a little more fun with this one. I took a flying look over the Grand Canyon. It was fun, but again not especially what I wanted.

Yea! I found my Google account passw...

Yea! I found my Google account password! That was a challenge. I've now learned to keep track of all of these different passwords we are having to create for each new thing we're learning. Now, to figure out how to use this application.

The automatic save option is very helpful and it looks like I have several options to share. A lot of my options look very standard and don't seem very hard to use. I think I'll like this! It is handy to have it saved on the Web as opposed to having to open my Outlook account too.

The templates look interesting--everything from resumes, holiday letters, and calendars to research papers and book reports.

PB Wiki assignment

This one was a bit frustrating. I was in a hurry and the editing didn't make immediate sense to me. Luckily, I stumbled through it. I'll have to try it again later. In the meantime, on to the next thing.

Wiki Assignment

I can see how it would be easy to use a wiki to shape and reshape Web sites quickly. It's convenient to use when getting public input for book reviews and community events. It might be a faster way to make our subject guides and I could play around with it as I try to create a map page. I have to admit, since I'm a bit of a control freak, the idea of a wiki makes me a bit nervous, and so, I am glad we can limit access to editing the wiki. Guess I'll have to play with it a bit before I can become comfortable with the idea. I did find it interesting that they suggested using wikis for larger projects such as library policy manuals.

Library 2.0 assignment

As I read through these articles on Library 2.0 certain thoughts keep going through my head. Unfortunately, there seems to be a gap in the type of customers we serve. There are those who are familiar with and excited about new technologies and are ready for libraries to advance and there are those who are fearful of even using a computer. We have to be ready to serve customers at either end and in between. It sounds great to get so much information online, but not everybody is ready to embrace that.

I do agree that we have to be careful to choose technology that helps us to help our customers. Not every great new thing will be practical for the library, but the right technology will smooth the way for us to provide services to our patrons.

Here in our library, we do try to practice continual change and improvements. We test new technologies and try to respond to our customers' needs. Yea TCCL!

Technorati assignment

This one isn't for me. I'm just not finding that I want to spend time reading blogs. There are just too many other things for me to be doing. I'm glad to know about it so that if my customers are wanting a way to find blogs I can let them know, but I'll pass on it.

Delicious assignment

I've been playing with Delicious and I do think it will be helpful in organizing my sites. I'm starting to put together some of my favorite map sites, and this will help me to organize my thoughts. Plus, I'll be able to access these from any pc anytime I need them (as long as I can remember this password!).

rollyo assignment

Since I was asking Jackie for a list of event calendars just the other day, I decided that would be a good rollyo list to make http://www.rollyo.com/search.html?q=event+calendars&sid=518004. This could be a handy way to keep our favorite sites organized. I've been trying to organize folders to help with that. Now, maybe I'll explore this option and see how it works.

LibraryThing assignment

I forgot to link to my catalog. Here is my list so far. http://www.librarything.com/catalog/kmch&sort=stamp

LibraryThing assignment

I've added some titles now in LibraryThing http://www.librarything.com/home/kmch. I suppose this could be a way to keep track of my reading list. It seems very easy to use. Maybe when I have more time, I'll play with it more.

Image Generator Assignment

If you haven't tried Ben & Jerry's flavor generator http://www.benjerry.com/scoop_shops/dousaflavor/flavor_generator.cfm, it's a hoot. I had a lot of fun creating "All American Apple Pie" with apple cinnamon ice cream, walnuts, pie crust, and a caramel ribbon.

After looking through several other possibilities in the Generator Blog, I found the soft drink generator http://www.says-it.com/softdrink/can.php. It was also very amusing.

RSS searching

I've been looking through the RSS search tools and I think I like the set up of Technorati best. It allows for quite a bit of flexability while still providing some guidance if you are not sure where to start. Topix.net seemed very limited in its focus on the news. I really didn't like Syndic8 and I'm not sure why. Something about the layout and the random selections disagreed with me. You have to scroll down to find the searchline, and the results lists were unappealing or the search did not come up with any results. I will pass on that one. Bloglines search tool was fine for a quick search, but did not offer browsing options.

Overall, I would have to agree with Cara when she said in her blog that it is more fun to stumble on an RSS feed while you're browsing through Internet sites rather than just looking for one through these searches.

RSS Feeds

I think I am getting the hang of this, but I don't think I am going to get too attached to RSS feeds. It took me a few tries, and it didn't help that I started the whole process one day and finished another day. Now with all that trial and error, I have way too many feeds to keep up with. I hope one of our next lessons will be how to cancel feeds?

I can see how it could be helpful to receive notices on events and new books and the like. But, since I can't even keep up with email, I have little confidence that I will pay much attention to the feeds. At least, I'll know more about guiding our customers to our RSS feed links and will be able to tell them a little bit about what these are.

technology "tries"

I've been feeling better about learning to IM and to text. Since I was going to be doing the 23 things, I decided I would also sign up for Facebook and see what that is about. It has turned out to be a fun way to get in touch with a lot of friends I haven't seen in years. Now we'll see what 23 things has in store next!

Picassa assignment

http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?feat=tags&psc=G&filter=1&tags=italy#5281395744196970226

Now, here is a place I would love to go visit!

71/2 habits assignment

After watching the 71/2 habits of highly successful lifelong learners, I decided that habit 1, beginning with the end in mind, and habit 7, teaching or mentoring others are the easiest for me. I usually have a goal in mind or can come up with things I need to accomplish and I generally enjoy sharing knowledge with others-- especially things I've just learned.

Habits 6, using technology to my advantage, and 71/2, playing, are probably the hardest for me since I have trouble trying to find time to play and I often run into frustrating problems when using technology.

blogging assignment

The first step was easy. I now have my blog and we'll see how it goes.