23 things the end

My thoughts on 23 things... I enjoyed the journey, there were some things that could have been left out b/c I didn't think it applied to the library system. Over all I learned a great deal about the newest web technology and what is being created "out there". Some of the "things" that we learned about would greatly benefit the library system and it would be great if we could slowly and cautiously implement then.

A BRAVO to all of us who are still embarking on the journey and to those of us who have finished!

And alas the mystery is solved, for you a heilan coo...

Podcasting

I don't know that I quite get the whole podcasting thing. It doesn't really appeal to me b/c I would much rather read than listen. Unless it's an audio book and I am driving. I subscribed to Book Voyages on my Bloglines which is a school library media specialist podcast that reviews books for school age children.
The coolest thing that I found while browsing the podcasting sites was library systems that used podcasting to read books and then the children could down load them and listen to them. That to me is cool! I think that patrons may enjoy that.

Audio books

I like the fact that we offer audio books as an option to our patrons it adds another level to the service that we provide. The only problem that I have with overdrive and netlibrary is that they are not compatible with iPods. I understand that Apple wants to hold the market with their iPods and not sell the software to everyone but it would help us reach more patrons if we had a service that worked with iPods.
I don't really like overdrive and I think that some patrons don't fully understand why they have to be on a wait list for an audio file even after explaining the situation to them. I do tend to use NetLibrary more.

You Tube

Because I had to support my fangirl self I will post the interview with Stephenie Meyer as she talks about her latest book Eclipse.

Web 2.0 awards

This was a very cool excercise, I didn't know that there was such a thing as web 2.0 awards. What a great way to showcase new exciting sites and give them the recommendation that they deserve!
I explored; Zoho, Judy's book, upcoming@yahoo, cocktail builder, pandora, picnik, zillow,reddit and spring widgets. I did go a little browser crazy and search quite a few different sites. I enjoyed the writing program on Zoho alot and I was able to take my word processing document and upload it to Blogger. I didn't really care for Judy's book it didn't give much insider information, the only thing that came up was direct tv. Upcoming was a good resource although a lot to look over if you do a general area search for upcoming events. Cocktail builder was interesting. Pandora I would love to try at home and I think I would use it. Picnik is good for people like me who are not well versed in photoshop and who would like to learn a simplified version (although I still had to read the how to section a couple of times). Zillow was a neat web site but if you have remodeled your house it will not show on the comparison. Reddit I enjoyed because it had content from real people and what they are reading. Spring Widgets had some cool applications but seemed limited. I didn't try to create my own that would have been very adventurous.
I will continue to check the web 2.0 awards web site in the future b/c it is such a cool concept!

Online Word Processing

On line word processing (brought to you by Zoho writer) is extremely cool. It is an area that needed to be explored a long time ago. It opens the door to creating items when you may not have a floppy disk or usb key with you to save the item on, which often happens with patrons. There eventually may be a concern with privacy but if it's something sensitive then it should not be typed up and saved to the internet to begin with. This is something that we as a system should definitely promote.

Sandbox Wiki

I didn't contribute to the wiki but while I think that the concept of a group wiki is good, there are many ways Wiki's can be great, they also can be "dangerous" in the sense that anyone can edit them. When these types of wiki's become used as an authoritative source for information while doing research or as a single source on information it can be a slippery slope. When used in the right context wiki can be a weath of information sharing!

Wiki's

I have to say that I really enjoyed exploring the world of wiki in terms of library use. I loved the book lovers wiki and also the SJCPL subject wiki. I think that a valuable use of a wiki for our system would be to revamp the community information page, turning it into a wiki. This way we could have clickable information on different subjects, interest areas. Not only could we provide the basic information that people are looking for such as; address, phone number but we could link them to the organizations web page and possibly other members who have web pages with similar interests.
The book lovers wiki would be good for the adult src activity I think that it would provide participants with motivation to finish or even start the program, to have an online book club, opinions from other reading the same book, suggestions of books to read. It would explore another avenue.

Technorati & Web 2.0

I don't know that I fully understand Technorati, but I will explore it more later. I do have some thoughts on the Web 2.0; in Michael Stephens article he talks about how the librarian needs to cater to the needs of the emerging techno savvy patron, while I agree with this I think that there could be a point that we go to far and alienate the population that "likes us just the way we are.." {homage to Bridget Jones} We need to reach out to the changing demographic using the tools that they use; internet, myspace, friendster, etc. I don't however believe that we need to move away from the community aspect of libraries. The library is the heart of research for individuals and we should be able to access those hard to find items for people and not move entirely away from the "just in case collection" as Rick Anderson states in his piece. Library 2.0 is something that needs to be undertaken with serious thought as to what would most benefit us and not rushed into just b/c someone else is doing it. I believe that Library 2.0 is not just about the technology aspect but also about the welcoming environment of the library and the staff that serve the public. We need to create an environment that one the one hand retains the traditional library atmosphere while on the other hand creates a new space that will appeal to a wider audience.

Del.icio.us

With some help from Sam I understand Delicious now. (Much thanks) I don't know that I would use delicious myself. I think that it would be useful for the library to use to develop a readers advisory system for patrons to access but also for us to use. If I was on the computer more at work as a browser I could see myself using it to tag some favorites, so I could then access them from home.

Library Thing & Rollyo

I have to say that I loved adding things to my blog, all the little add on's really personalized it for me! I love my library thing, I am not as faithful as I should be to it. I believe the last time I updated it was in March. I will work on that today, if I can remember everything that I have read since then.
I love creating the animated me. I wouldn't normally be carrying a purse around at work but anyway.
This was a great week!

I do have to say that I didn't like rollyo and I'm not sure what we could use it for. It seems difficult to use.

RSS and Bloglines

It's true the most difficult thing to figure out about the exercise was how to make the blogline public. So I did do that and it came out as; http://www.bloglines.com/public/heilandcoo
Another triumph in the 23 things world! I like the idea of the bloglines feeds. I will attempt to use my dictionary word of the day in my conversations. I think it would be extremely beneficial for the library to have a blog to connect with the "Internet" universe. These are people that are constantly on the computer or the people who would rather have it brought to them, in their inbox or on their feed. Those are the people who the library needs to reach out to, in order to have continued success. Just the little pop up to remind the people that the library is there and reaching out to them would help our success!

:)

Technology & Flickr

The iPhone - What a cool invention?! The Apple stores are the current Mecca for all iGeeks this week. Is it worth it right now to stand in line for 5 days? Soon we will know. How strange is it that people are standing in line for phones, it used to be standing in line for cabbage patch kids, it has slowly evolved into a more technology centered line. (Tickle Me Elmo was one of the combo toys, a furry technologically capable being.) Most of the "new" technology that is developed now has a waiting period. The unspoken rule is not to buy the first run of a new item. So while I would like to stand in line for an iPhone, because the coolness factor is there, the price and my better judgement have gotten the upper hand over the coolness of it. Although I can't guarantee that I won't stand in line for the second run!

Flickr is a great site that is extremely useful for posting photos it's nice b/c some of the other photo sites require that you purchase photos in order to keep your membership active. Whereas flickr doesn't require that. I enjoyed the Flickr color picker.

Lifelong Learners

As a lifelong learner myself I found the 7 1/2 things listed to be true. The one that I have the most difficult time with is viewing problems as challenges. Sometimes it is difficult to step back from the situation and problem solve or think creatively to solve the problem, especially if it is something that needs immediate attention. Of the 7 1/2 things that were listed the ones that I have the easiest time with (aside from Play!) is accepting responsibility for my own learning, if there is something that I would like to learn or do I go for it. Another item that I have found to be extremely helpful to me in learning something is to teach others. One of the best ways for me to gain a better understanding of something is by teaching it to someone else.

I had never stopped to think of the different habits that may make someone more apt to be a lifelong learner before.