Happy New Year 2008!

Wow! Has it really been since August that I last wrote in my blog?! I guess I'm not a natural blogger but an email about del.icio.us ended up getting me back to this site so here I am! I hope I remember how to do everything I use to back in Aug. It took me 3 attempts just to insert this photo. Anyway, I think I may sign up for the del.icio.us class and take a refresher on the subject so I don't totally lose my skills. I hope the rest of you out there are better at practicing these "things" more regularly than I am. Hasta próximo tiempo (Until next time) .......

#23 Summarizing My Thoughts

This is me after completing the 23 Things! Seriously, it was a very educational and often times fun experience. I like learning new things and if one wants to continue to work in a library system, one should keep abreast of new technology so I am glad I completed this "course." My favorite things ( I sound like Julie Andrews in the Sound of Music) were blogging, Flickr, Online Image Generators (especially avatars!), Library Thing, Online Wordprocessors/ Spreadsheets, YouTube, and Downloadable Audiobooks. Can you tell I like to play?

One unexpected outcome was that I actually enjoyed much of this and I would not consider myself a "techie" type person. I still prefer to read a print book, give an in-person reader's advisory and help patrons face to face. However, I know I need to know about all these "Things" in order to better serve my customers with all the things they may want.

I liked working at my own pace but if I could change one thing about the format, it would be to have more options. By this I mean maybe to offer say 43 Things and ask to complete 20 of them.

Overall, I feel as though I learned a great deal in a relatively short amount of time. The structure forced me to learn things I never would have learned otherwise because I didn't know some of these "Things" existed! I also liked the "hands on" training where I could learn on my own but with the help of others who were also participating. If HCPL offered something like this in the future, I would definitely participate again. Kudos to all participants!

#22: Audiobooks

After exploring both Overdrive and NetLibrary, I think I prefer Overdrive. There appear to be more books that interest me at that site, including Choke by Stuart Woods, which I downloaded onto my PC. Choke was not a part of the NetLibrary database and the genres I like most were definitely less represented there. For instance, Overdrive had 122 historical fiction, 213 classics and 649 mystery/suspense novels. NetLibrary had only 37 historical fiction, 101 classics and 339 mystery/suspense books listed. I had to install Overdrive Media Console to download my audiobook. I chose Choke because I am currently listening to it on CD in my car. However, I don't think I would enjoy listening to my PC so I am very much looking forward to receiving an MP3 Player now that I am almost done these 23 Things! I hope it is compatible with Overdrive and has at least 256 MB but preferably 1 gigabyte of memory to hold these downloadable audiobooks that I will be listening to!

#21 Discover Some Useful Tools for Locating Podcasts

After exploring Podcast.net and Yahoo Podcasts, I preferred the Yahoo site. I was stumbling all over Podcast.net trying to find something interesting to me and it was difficult to search a particular subject, probably because there were too many remotely related feeds. Yahoo Podcasts was easier to use and find areas of interest to me. I also took a look at MERLIN podcasting and I viewed a Vodcast or video podcast, which is more interesting to me since I'm a visual learner. I liked the library related podcast at Westerville Public Library in Ohio that showed all sorts of Easy Books for children with the pages and someone reading the stories. Although nothing beats a live person reading to a child, this is the next best thing.

The podcast that interested me on Yahoo Podcasts was the NPR Story of the Day site. I added the RSS feed for this podcast to my Bloglines account. The story for today was by an interview with Paul Greengrass, the director of the newly released Bourne Ultimatum film, which is extremely popular and getting great reviews right now.

As far as podcasting goes, I think it is very similar to the radio if you don't have a Vodcast. The advantage to it is that you can listen when you want to listen and not when the program is scheduled to be on. Also, you can put it in your RSS feed if you want to listen/look at it on a regular basis.

#20 Discovering YouTube

Today I viewed the highly talked about Obama Girl and Obama Girl vs. Giuliani Girl videos. They were a lot like MTV videos, only about their respective political candidates. They were both sexy and humorous so I think some people will be offended, but I think most of the people who view the videos will not be offended because they are use to this sort of thing from all different medias, including web 2.0 sites! The videos didn't include a lot of "meat" on the issues at hand but if they get otherwise uninterested american citizens enthusiastic about the political process and voting, maybe they are worth something.

Next I viewed Part I of the democratic party political debate that was held recently at the Citadel in SC. Since I missed the debate on TV, it was interesting to see what was said. YouTube has a lot of fun and crazy, entertaining videos but ones like the presidential debate are educational and informative and you don't need to buy TiVo to view missed television programs!

I even got ambitious and decided to post the debate video on my blog. YouTube made it a relatively easy process and I didn't have to "Edit HTML" like the MD Libraries Learning 2.0 directions stated. I just followed the directions on YouTube and Voila', it magically appeared. See it posted below this writing and click on it if you wish to see Part I of the presidential debate.

I like the fact that you can rate the video, share it with others and post it on a blog. I don't like the fact that there is a lot of junk out there and it doesn't seem to get edited at all. Good or bad, it's all out there. Regarding an application to a library website, HCPL could video its different branches and show the public what sort of services are provided to the public. The video could show storytimes, reader advisories, various programs, computer usage, patrons browsing for materials and of course the circulation of print books, audio books, electronic books, DVDs, music CDS, magazines, etc.

2008 SC CNN/ YouTube Democratic Debate (Part 1)

This is the 2008 Democratic Presidential Nominee Debates Held on 7/23/07 at the Citadel, SC.

Addendum to #19

Someone from Swivel actually made a comment to my #19 Posting and explained how to embed a graph from Swivel into my blog. I had to copy and paste the html into a blog posting and it worked!

#19 Dicovering Any Site from Web 2.0 Awards

First I played and explored YouTube some more since it was the first place video winner under 2007 Web 2.0 Awards. I have used this site before and I thoroughly enjoy it. Today I searched "babies" and saw some of the funniest laughing babies videos you could ever want to see. Someone even condensed the top three laughing babies into one video. What a hoot! YouTube's useful features are that you can search easily, see how long each video is before you view it, and see the rating for each video and how many rated it. You have to be a member to rate a video but you don't have to be a member just to view a video.

The second place winner under the visual arts category was Swivel, which rather surprised me when I explored it. It surprised me that it was under the visual arts category because it incuded much information that I didn't think was actually related to visual arts. I found the sight rather fascinating because of the factual, numerical data that included statistics and graphs! The following was one of the articles featured on the home page. Unfortunately, I cannot show you the photo or graph here, however.

Spotlight Aviators and accidents

Source: Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association
July 24 commemorates the 110th birthday of famed female pilot Amelia Earhart. She is internationally celebrated for her accomplishments as a pilot; she was the first woman to fly across the Atlantic and the first woman to fly across the US. However, she may be even more famed for her legendary disappearance in July 1937 near Howland Island in an attempt to fly around the globe. Today, most fatal accidents are caused by pilots; in 2005, pilots were responsible for 75 percent of total accidents and 83 percent of fatal accidents. This graph shows the causes for the deadliest pilot related accidents.

I think this site could be very useful for students or anyone researching a subject where they need facts, figures and/or photos. I like statistics and graphs because they show a great deal of factual information in a relatively small space. Often times students can't find this kind of information readily but they might like to use a user friendly site such as this one.

#18: Online Productivity Tools

The following is my first document from Google Docs. After I copied and pasted it, I realized the photo didn't copy because it isn't a jpg format so I'll have to do another for this blog to look attractive! The one to the left is another photo of Bermuda.

From what I have read about Google Docs & Spreadsheets, I think I am going to like it. This is actually my first document and I am experimenting with it at this point. I don't see where I can set margins or where the page actually begins and ends like you can with Word, but I like the fact that this "app" is available on every computer without different versions. I think I will try and insert a photo here of one of my favorite places, Bermuda. It worked! This seems fairly user friendly so far.

Now this is my second document and it's a spreadsheet. Can you figure out the simple pattern I created? It's like one of those math SAT questions!

First Heading Second Heading Third Heading Fourth Heading Fifth Heading$456 524 759 143 679$567 243 486 239 876$1023 767 1245 382 1555$2046 1534 2490 764 3110

Well, obviosly, the spreadsheet format couldn't be copied and pasted to look like a spreadsheet here, but you get the idea. I feel more comfortable using Word and Excel but I'm sure that's only because I am use to them and this is a change for me. But they are very similar and with practice, trial and error I can see where these "apps" could become very popular and Bill Gates may have some stiffer competition!

#17: Playing in the Sandbox Wiki

As with week 5, I liked this activity because I got to "play." I enjoy the freedom of expressing my own thoughts and writing comes easily to me, as does talking! I created an account and thanks to the advice of Paulette, I unchecked the box that said to send me new emails when new info was added. I already receive enough email and don't need hourly reminders of changes. I added a new page entitled Favorite Activity into the Sandbox Wiki so please feel free to add to this newly created link on the homepage. A also made a comment in the Favorite Vacation link, which required editing a page. Finally, I added my blog to the Favorite Blogs page. It all wasn't too complicated, just new, like most of these 23 Things are to me.

#16: Learn about Wikis

The reason for the Hawaiian dancer is because I discovered "Wiki" means quick in Hawaiian!

One of the things I found interesting about Library 2.0 in 15 Minutes a Day is the method of completing this task in 15 minutes a day! At first it seemed like a great idea but upon further introspection, I realized it wouldn't work for me. When I really get into learning something such as 23 Things, I tend to go deeper and deeper into the "lesson plan" clicking link after link and time can fly into a few hours at a time to explore the many facets of the "Thing!" An aspect about this wiki that I liked was the fact that one has self-created goals that one can pick out of a total of 43 Things. This way one is only learning what one really want to learn. One then shares with others that have the same goals.

Book Lovers Wiki was very entertaining to me but then again I am a book lover! I loved the idea of a SRP for adults where great prizes(certificates for dinners, lunches, salons, books and even bagels) were donated by local merchants. This wiki was VERY user friendly. Anyone could register for the SRP by email, phone or in person at the Princeton Public Library. A person would then receive one raffle ticket for each review written, which could be submitted by email or handwritten where a technical person at that library would then put into the wiki. Reviews were encouraged to be posted with abbreviated names. Another feature I liked was the "guestbook" so that you could view the wiki without being registered. I loved the entire concept! I know HCPL has a blog on Readers Place which is very nice too. I'm not sure which method works better for readers advisory, i.e., blogs or wikis. What do you think?

After reviewing the Bull Run Library Wiki, I was somewhat dumbfounded. It was explained to be a wiki in progress and boy did they mean it! Although it had some great reference sources (I especially liked the math resource and online dictionary with english-spanish translation), the entire site was disjointed in my humble opionion. But then that's what a work in progress is I guess! I saw it has having potential but a good technical organizer needs to put things in their place and not just list things without rhyme or reason.

#15 Read a Few Perspectives on Web & Library 2.0

If you didn't take the time to watch the YouTube video "The Machine Is Us/ing Us", you might want to. The music alone is worth the watch. This professor from Kansas State U. ought to be in the marketing business instead of cultural anthropology!

After reading several of the perspectives on Web and Library 2.0, I found many interesting opinions. Rick Anderson at the Univ. of Nevada, Reno Libraries, said there was a 55% drop in circulation drop in his library. Well sure, he works for a university library where most of its customers are 18+ year old young adult students who are all products of the technological era! I agee that libraries no longer have the monopoly power they once held, however, I can't say that the Web is the preferred environment (yet) for ALL public library customers. I believe he is speaking from a purely academic view. I also agree that we need to be integrating our services into user's daily patterns of work, study and PLAY.

The perspective that seemed least biased was actually the one from Wikipedia because it mentioned different points of view for Library 2.0 in the "debate" section. It mentions that some librarian bloggers argue that the key principles of Library 2.0 are not new and have been a part of the service philosophies of many library reformers since the 19th century. For example, Library 2.0 comprises a combination of tools and attitudes which are excellent ideas but not new, a few business and tool-focused attitudes which will not serve all users and incorrectly places libraries as the sole source for all users to gather all information. Others, who have spoken to these criticisms argue that while pieces of Library 2.0 are not entirely new, the convergence of these service goals and ideas with many new Web 2.0 technologies has led to a new generation of library service. I happen to agree with both statements!

#14: Technorati

Technorati, in my opinion, was a little more user friendly that del.icio.us. This videocast I could actually view too, unlike the del.icio.us one. When I tried looking at Technorati doing a keyword search for "Learning 2.0" in blogs, posts and tags, I did get different results. I'm not sure where the Blog Directory search was but my guess is that would be different as well. I explored the top favorited blogs, top searches and top blogs. I was not surprised that the top search was YouTube and not really surprised that the favorite blog was Boing Boing since it is about world cultural curiosities and interesting technologies. I was surprised that Engadget was the top blog with over 30,000 postings making Boing Boing the #2 blog. Evidently, people like to post about gadgets and list cultural curiosites as their personal favorites. The Engadget site to me is for all those geeky techies out there.... no offense intended. I wish I were more "geeky" myself!

#13: Tagging and Discover Del.icio.us

Berries and cream mean delicious!


Yesterday I registered an account with del.icio.us and installed the buttons on my computer at work. Today I decided to continue Thing 13 by tagging at my home PC and realized I didn't have the buttons installed on my home PC. I read the FAQ and discovered that I needed to go back to step 2 of the registration process to install the buttons on my home PC. I guess it's the little things like this that aggravate me the most. It seems to take so long to figure out something so simple. My understanding is one of the main purposes of having del.icio.us is so our favorite bookmarks can be on multiple computers. But in order to do this, the buttons have to be installed on those PCs so that's why I'm writing about this in my blog today. Once I installed the buttons, it was quite easy to bookmark my favorite websites and tag them before saving them. Here they are so far:

my del.icio.us
KDL What's Next Database
Blogger: Dashboard
PLANET M&M'S
July
Maryland Libraries Learning 2.0
Passport: HCPL's Staff Connection
Harford County Public Library Home Page
del.icio.us/register I am pmkap on del.icio.us Add me to your network

I don't necessarily see this as an easy tool for research assistance. Maybe if I used it regularly, I would become more comfortable with it like anything else. However, I can see del.icio.us as an easy way to access bookmarks from anywhere.

Thing #12 Roll Your Own Search Tool with Rollyo

This site I found to be very interesting and useful. I created a "Health Reference" search roll utilizing mayoclinic.com, cdc.gov, healthfinder.gov, health.yahoo.com, nih.gov and medlineplus.gov.
Here is the link to go to it: http://www.rollyo.com/pmkap/

I can definitely see a potential use for this for those who search several reliable sites regularly for subject information. It combines them all into one search engine without the garbage one gets otherwise. The only downfall is the advertisements are plentiful throughout the body.

Thing #11: Looking @ Library Thing & Cataloging My Favorite Books

Today I was on Library Thing. Adding books to my personal library was very easy to do. I'm not sure I get the widgets concept though. Basically, this site seems like a Recommended Picks site to me. I guess it's good for those who have trouble getting good recommendations for books but my personal experience is that is not a problem working in a library! Here is the link to my personal library in case anyone is interested:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/pmkap

Still Playing!!

As you can see, I am still playing around. This is suppose to be me on the 4th of July. I was also playing around with the M&M online generator but couldn't seem to add that image here like I did the avatar. It may have to do with copyright issues. But I was able to send my self a card so if you want to see a cute M&M graphic, paste this URL into your browser:

Still Playing!!

Oops, forgot to add the URL. Use this URL to view the M&M online generator:

http://www.becomeanmm.com/?studio/photo/show/fa3dd17b1ccf3d6bd3f5e83ebc492669e3c6d143

Thing #10: Playing Around

Today I am playing around with avatars because I don't want to create any more accounts and I already have a Meez account as you can tell from my tennis playing librarian avatar on one of my below listed blogs.

#9: Exploring MERLIN & Other Blogs/ Newsfeeds

Today I exlored MERLIN and added it to my other RSS feeds on bloglines. For me, the easiest way to add a feed is simply to copy and paste the URL. The Newsfeed Icons aren't the easiest to find and there are several different looks to them. I tried Feedster, Topix.net, Syndic8.com and Technorati. I liked Topix and Technorati best because they were more user friendly and less business-like than the others. Topix could find very local stuff like the BA Fireworks Staying in BA but now in Rockfield Manor instead of BAHS. Technorati had photos, videos and other blogs. However I do think it depends on what you are searching on which tool to use. For example, I may use Feedster for sports or food, Topix for local news, Syndic8 for a medical topic and technorati for fun!