Sunday, November 4, 2007
Friday, November 2, 2007
More to Learn
OK, so I'm not quite there. But, in a short period of time, I am way further along than I ever imagined I'd be at blogging. When I started, I was pretty sure I was not going to know much within Library 2.0, considering I wasn't even sure what the whole 2.0 reference was (I'm very grateful for the Web 2.0 task, as you might have guessed).
Going back to my first post, the more I learned with each new task, the more I realized how little I knew. I would have to say that out of the nine weeks' schedule, I was unfamiliar with six weeks' worth of tasks. I plan on going on to learn more because I think that without a guide like Library 2.0, it will be difficult to get an overview of what's out there. How on earth do people find the time to keep up with what's on the Web? I know, I know. Through wikis and del.icio.us and Flickr mash-ups and podcasts and blogs and...
Thanks for sharing this, Louisa! I can't wait to pass on what I've learned to family and friends!
E-Books & Audio Books
Podcasts
Despite this, I did happen upon Steve Young's Hall of Fame acceptance speech, which I've been wanting to hear since he was inducted in 2005, so I was pleased with that. And, I added a feed to my Bloglines account for the San Fransisco Gate's Chronicle Podcasts about the 49ers. Now that I'll be regularly informed, I can help coach my team to another (long-lost) Super Bowl.
YouTube
This is a Web 2.0 element I actually used before starting the 23 Things! My younger brother and sister introduced me to YouTube and we have spent tons of time checking out cool clips together. That's the thing... you could spend all day in nostalgia land or silly mode looking up old TV shows or hilarious footage. The fact that the site is so easy to search contributes to the addiction-factor. Just pop whatever you're looking for into the box, and bam! There's your clip. If you're looking for a a funny comedian or a specific music video, narrow your search by going to categories or channels.
I like looking for clips from my current, favorite TV show, "The Office." The first clip I added to my blog is probably one of my all-time favorite television scenes. If every office had a Jim, work would instantly earn 1,000 fun points. Probably more. Fellow Library employees, let's laugh together!
I picked the next clip because I love cookies. And libraries. Good things belong together. That's all the monster's trying to say (I'm awful fond of him, too). Oh, and the scene takes me back to my childhood, cross-legged in front of the TV. I almost feel like I'm there again when I watch this.
Web 2.0 Award Winner
Zoho, Zoho, It's Off to Work I Go!
I love the idea of being able to write, write, write, right where you're at and then save it and pick it up later at any computer without any disks, CDs, flash-drives, etc. I have a lot of questions that I'll have to explore, though: can you convert a web-based application file into other programs, such as Word? If so, are there glitches? I'm imagining there will be some, considering I couldn't get Zoho Writer to do some things I know Word can. I believe there is a Microsoft web-based application (yep, I just double-checked: Windows Live Writer), so using that in lieu of Zoho might take care of potential conversion problems.
My previous post is a test document I published from Zoho. Some of the spacing got messed up, so the design I was going for is a bit lost. I know the Writer program isn't meant for designs, but I wanted to see if it would work anyway.
Frank Sinatra in Words
Frank SinatraTOPS
DREAMYdeadtough talker
SMOOTHE
DAPPER TIMELESS
silly TENDER
DEDICATED
DARING SLICK TUNES TALENTED
PBWiki
I Always Wondered What Wiki Meant
Anyway, before the wiki walk-through, I did not know there were other wikis out there besides Wikipedia. I feel kind of stupid for thinking that others would not take advantage of the opportunity to create a Web page for which HTML knowledge is not necessary. I'm not crazy about Wikipedia. You never know who's writing what on the page. For instance, I can post a bunch of nonsense definitions for computer jargon, and people would be in big trouble.
But, I do see the value of using wikis in other arenas where hard-core facts aren't as important. I love the idea of building a community wiki with reviews of local restaurants, attractions, shows, etc. Also, I've often wished that our Library catalog included book reviews, as I'm always clicking over to Amazon for more book information. I think the St. Joseph County Public Library system has the right idea for including more details about books in its online catalog; allowing patrons to write reviews, rather than summaries, doesn't promise the public exact synopses, but does give patrons a general flavor for the book. The Prince William Public Library online catalog provides book summaries (it looks like they come off of the jacket), Library Journal reviews and excerpts, but it would be time-consuming and costly for a library itself to insert such information into its catalog and, likely, costly to obtain a program that provides it. Patron reviews through a wiki seem to be the way to go.
I also think wikis would be a great tool for librarians who want to frequently update reading lists on our Library Web site.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
To a Temporary Place in Time
Library Lovers Unite (With Technorati?)!
I was also surprised that "library" is one of the site's top searches. Sure, a lot of people I know love libraries, but I can't imagine that library lovers everywhere sit around plugging the word "library" into Technorati's search box. I'm thinking it has something to do with the Library 2.0 craze. Maybe I'm wrong. I hope so. Library lovers unite!
Actually, even as I typed that cheesy last line that was supposed to end this post, I thought about this time when a friend of mine and I discovered that we both shared a fascination for libraries and books and being in and around them. We were thrilled to know another like-mind. In fact, that's always the way it is when I meet another bookworm. It's like this special, fabulous society. Well, at least I feel that way. Maybe I'm just kind of dorky. BUT, if I'm not (but I am) AND if every library lover wants to connect with other people who dig books, well, it would make perfect sense that "library" is a top search on Technorati. The end.
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
del.icio.us
I'm sure I'll use del.icio.us for many purposes. But, the first one that popped to my mind is the obvious... food! I think my family and I are going to have a blast sharing recipes with this tool. Mangiamo!
Publicity, Let's Rollyo!
Dew It Yourshelf
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/DewItYourshelf
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
So Glad for Task 9
RSS is A-OK
It's funny, because I took a short break from Library 2.0 to check my e-mail and a couple of my friends who have a blog about their new baby sent me a message telling me it's updated. So, I was clicking from page to page, photo to photo, when I realized the little orange RSS box on one of their pages. Of course, my friends were the first added to my Blogline! Knowing about this is going to make it so much easier for me to stay in touch with out-of-state friends and family who blog. One click and they're all there.
Also, I created a Feedster search for Web news about our Library, which is going to make finding any national stories about PLYMC way easier next time around. Last time, I was Googling left and right.
Sunday, October 28, 2007
The Techno Slide
Thanks to having a systems analyst for a father and a formal education that began in the mid-80s, I was introduced to computers at a young age. Home Internet, e-mail and instant-messaging started popping up during my high-school years and were staples throughout my college career. For coursework, we were required to communicate and learn with such tools, and we used them for keeping in touch with far-away friends and family, too. Then, there was Napster. The music downloading craze began.
This came along right when I first began distancing myself from computers; I was tired of relying on them so much. Dormmates would IM each other instead of walking a few feet across the hall to talk face to face. E-mail messages were misconstrued because tone could not be relayed. And, I spent hour upon hour in front of it for school, internships and work. I used it when I needed it and preferred socializing with real-life humans for entertainment. While I did learn the basics of music downloading, that was probably the last Internet technology with which I tried to become familiar. Thus, the Techno Slide (please see my definition below).
Techno Slide [těk'nō slīd] - n. A digression from the ever-expanding world of technology, whether by choice, circumstance or a combination of both, that results in no or little knowledge of the latest technological tools.
I'm thankful for Library 2.0 because it's an educational opportunity that has helped pull me out from the Techno Slide. What a move! Doo doo doodoo doo doo, doodoo doo doo doodoo doo doo. You've got to feel it. It's so TECHNIC! Shooby dooby dooby...
Flickr
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Village in Abruzzi Mountains
Access
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Time for a Laugh
What did the hot dog say when it crossed the finish line?
I'm a wiener!!!
Blog Set-Up
7 1/2 Lifelong Learning Habits
You'd think I'd have Habit 3, "View problems as challenges," down if Habit 1 is the easiest for me. After all, if I've got the big picture in mind, I should know problems aren't going to be around forever. Well, I didn't perfect Habit 1; I just said it's the easiest. Sometimes I allow problems to skew the view I started out with: "I can't see the end now!" When that happens, I don't always see problems as learning opportunities until later and I am stopped dead in my tracks. Paralyzed. This is especially so when I am rigidly stuck to a plan to get me from point A to point B. Plans change and I must remember this from the outset.
Bucky
Let me explain. I learned a lot throughout college. (I know, I know... "that's the point," you say.) But my greatest lesson was that I learned more about learning than I learned about the subjects I studied. After that hit me, I came across a quote that summed up my revelation wonderfully and decided that it would go under my senior photo in the college yearbook. So, I think I Googled some Internet quote Web sites to find the quote's attributer (cringing librarians, please remember: I was young and ignorant). Then, I submitted it for publication:
"The more I learn, the more I realize how little I know."
-R. Buckminster Fuller
But, don't quote him on that! Today, I'm not sure if Fuller should be credited for that exact sentence, if he should be given credit for a line that conveys the same notion or if the quote belongs to someone else altogether. My doubt came after a more recent Google search where hits produced various similar, but slightly different quotes by Fuller (cringing librarians, please remember: according to the above quote, I am now older and even more ignorant. Though, you may be pleased to know that my purpose in this last Internet search was to find a site that listed the quote, creator and source so I could get my hands on the last and check the quote's accuracy myself).
In my quest for the quote, the idea behind it proved itself. For instance, as I was trying to learn more about the quote, I learned its wording is possibly wrong. I learned that I need some nonGoogle help to pin down the right quote, attribution and source (any takers?). I learned I knew nothing about Fuller, but am now intrigued and would like to read his works. (The man was an inventor, engineer, poet and philosopher, to name a few. What a fascinating combination! Fun fact: Those very scientific molecules with the not-so-scientific name, buckyballs, are called such because they resemble the geodesic dome building that Fuller made famous. Buckyballs. That word just makes me laugh. It did in science class and it still does now).
Cheers, Bucky! And, thank God for learning!