Well, I’ve arrived at the very last Thing! It’s been a great learning experience for me, and I am actually going to miss working on these excercises. I’ve encountered new things, tried new uses for old things, and generally had fun.
All of the Things were internet skills or sites I had intended previously to explore, or would have if I’d known that they existed. It’s hard to make time to do all of the things you want to do, though, so having this program has really been about giving myself permission to play with new possibilities and new technologies.
Quite a few of the things that I’ve learned have altered my daily routines. I now keep lists on a personal wiki, I check my Bloglines in the morning instead of individual sites, and in a few minutes I’ll be listening to a downloadable book while I’m working. And those are just a couple of the changes.
Flickr is transforming my creative life. I take a half-hour walk through my neighborhood every day, and now I bring my digital camera with me. The ability to create new and unique images is fantastic, and it’s really the other people posting on Flickr that have opened my eyes to the possibilities.
Podcasts I already loved, along with Youtube. But now that I have my own blog, and can embed videos and podcasts on it, there are so many things to do with them that I hadn’t thought of before doing this program. I can’t wait to explore further.
As a library worker, I have a lot more information at my fingertips now because of my account with del.icio.us. I can also refer patrons to many sites I hadn’t known existed, by the simple use of tags. The online productivity software is something patrons have been wanting for years, and I am ecstatic to be able to link them to online word processing.
Basically, this program has had a beneficial effect on the way I live and the way I work. I’m grateful for the opportunity, and kind of wish we were going farther with the idea. The new mp3 player won’t be too shabby, either!
Friday, January 11, 2008
Week 9 Thing 22: Reading with My Ears
Downloadable audiobooks are wonderful things, although it would be nice if I could listen to the ones from NetLibrary on my iPod. I’ve established an account with NetLibrary, and am currently downloading Great Expectations to my computer for listening pleasure. As soon as we receive the compatible MP3 players for completing the program, I will be listening frequently.
NetLibrary seems pretty easy to use; I wonder if it is popular with our patrons? I expect many of us will prefer to have the physical object, be it player, CD, or jump drive, although downloading is increasingly popular. Personally, the availability of various methods to listen to audiobooks delights me. I hope with changes we increase our options, rather than reducing them.
The selection seems a bit sparse, but I have already found several titles I’d like to listen to in the next few months. It helps that my reading habits are exceedingly eclectic. I would assume, though, that the number of available titles is constantly increasing. Children’s titles, especially, seem lacking, except for one particular author. Brian Jacques must be making a mint!
I certainly prefer the sound quality of the downloadable books to that of the playaways. The audio is clear and easily understood if one chooses the larger download, while playaways often have such poor sound quality that I can barely listen to them. Download speed and computer access will be key to a patron’s choices, plainly.
Overall I have to say I am thrilled at this addition to our collection. Here’s hoping to a future where fast, easy downloads are possible for all of our patrons. And to ourselves, as well.
NetLibrary seems pretty easy to use; I wonder if it is popular with our patrons? I expect many of us will prefer to have the physical object, be it player, CD, or jump drive, although downloading is increasingly popular. Personally, the availability of various methods to listen to audiobooks delights me. I hope with changes we increase our options, rather than reducing them.
The selection seems a bit sparse, but I have already found several titles I’d like to listen to in the next few months. It helps that my reading habits are exceedingly eclectic. I would assume, though, that the number of available titles is constantly increasing. Children’s titles, especially, seem lacking, except for one particular author. Brian Jacques must be making a mint!
I certainly prefer the sound quality of the downloadable books to that of the playaways. The audio is clear and easily understood if one chooses the larger download, while playaways often have such poor sound quality that I can barely listen to them. Download speed and computer access will be key to a patron’s choices, plainly.
Overall I have to say I am thrilled at this addition to our collection. Here’s hoping to a future where fast, easy downloads are possible for all of our patrons. And to ourselves, as well.
Week 9 Thing 21: Where's The Pod?
Podcasting, to be quite honest, is probably my favorite of all internet developments in the last couple of years. I’ve been an enthusiastic listener for over a year now, and my husband and I have plans to develop a podcast of our own at some point in the future. The technology is fairly simple to use, reasonably inexpensive, and readily available. Content is the real key to developing one, and we think we can cover that aspect.
I already am subscribed to several podcasts, through my iTunes software since I use an iPod, but I went ahead and found some interesting new ones using the suggested directories for this exercise. Adding them to my bloglines is not going to be a long-term help to me, but the experience should enable me to assist other people with the concept.
The suggested search engines are already somewhat familiar to me. My favorite is probably Podcast Alley, but I use all of them, including the iTunes store’s list of free ‘casts. My preferred podcasts tend to be the crafting and fiction ones, though podcasts are also great sources of news, education, and humor. Any of these search engines could supply a number of those types of 'casts. On this search, however, I’m looking for book reviews, fiction, and or library-related podcasts.
The Holodrama Network is a Star Wars fan fiction podcast; I can’t wait to listen. The Secrets Presents: Forgotten Tales is supposedly good original fiction. I hope it lives up to its hype. Now for a book review podcast: I think I’ll try out the Comic Book Attic. Filmspotting looks like it could be interesting, as does Audio Books with Annie.
I know from experience that only listening will really reveal the quality of these ‘casts. But, as with Youtube, the folksy nature of podcasting is a great deal of the appeal for me. I like the idea that information can become, not merely universally available, but more democratically produced. Greater degrees of discernment will be needed for finding the most valuable communications, but I think we can all afford to develop that particular quality.
Ah! Listening to the podcasts on my computer, using Bloglines, turns out to be extremely easy. I’m doing it now, as I create this blog entry. Maybe I will find Bloglines even more useful than I originally imagined it to be. Ha-ha, this is a very, very silly story. Content, how important you are.
I already am subscribed to several podcasts, through my iTunes software since I use an iPod, but I went ahead and found some interesting new ones using the suggested directories for this exercise. Adding them to my bloglines is not going to be a long-term help to me, but the experience should enable me to assist other people with the concept.
The suggested search engines are already somewhat familiar to me. My favorite is probably Podcast Alley, but I use all of them, including the iTunes store’s list of free ‘casts. My preferred podcasts tend to be the crafting and fiction ones, though podcasts are also great sources of news, education, and humor. Any of these search engines could supply a number of those types of 'casts. On this search, however, I’m looking for book reviews, fiction, and or library-related podcasts.
The Holodrama Network is a Star Wars fan fiction podcast; I can’t wait to listen. The Secrets Presents: Forgotten Tales is supposedly good original fiction. I hope it lives up to its hype. Now for a book review podcast: I think I’ll try out the Comic Book Attic. Filmspotting looks like it could be interesting, as does Audio Books with Annie.
I know from experience that only listening will really reveal the quality of these ‘casts. But, as with Youtube, the folksy nature of podcasting is a great deal of the appeal for me. I like the idea that information can become, not merely universally available, but more democratically produced. Greater degrees of discernment will be needed for finding the most valuable communications, but I think we can all afford to develop that particular quality.
Ah! Listening to the podcasts on my computer, using Bloglines, turns out to be extremely easy. I’m doing it now, as I create this blog entry. Maybe I will find Bloglines even more useful than I originally imagined it to be. Ha-ha, this is a very, very silly story. Content, how important you are.
Week 9 Thing 20: I See Youtube
I’ve been an enthusiastic viewer of Youtube videos for quite a while now. Exploring the site again with new eyes is fun, all the same. It’s gotten a lot bigger than it was when I first discovered it! The number of users has definitely exploded in a short time, and I think that is likely to continue. Also, I’ve never actually embedded a video from the site into one of my posts, which makes for an interesting learning experience.
It wasn't difficult to find out how to embed; I just looked in their help menu for the FAQ section. Obviously embedding is hugely popular, so they make it simple. You have to copy the embedding code they place on the page with the video, in the "About this Video" section, and under the helpful header "Embed". *g*
When I tried to think of what I might like or dislike about the site, it made me laugh. There are so many different kinds of videos that anyone could find something about which to complain. But the diversity, the hokiness even, is part of its charm for me. I love the folk aspect, and if the internet is for pictures of people’s cats, then Youtube is for videos of people’s pets. I could watch the puppies and kittens all day, I really could.
See how cute they are?
But aside from cute animals, the possibilities of a site like Youtube are really endless. The library could potentially use videos to show users how to operate our computers, do searches, find items; even when the patrons are in their own homes. Staff can learn from tutorials, presentations of programs might enrich public understanding and increase attendance, and potentially we might even be able to communicate internally via videos.
It wasn't difficult to find out how to embed; I just looked in their help menu for the FAQ section. Obviously embedding is hugely popular, so they make it simple. You have to copy the embedding code they place on the page with the video, in the "About this Video" section, and under the helpful header "Embed". *g*
When I tried to think of what I might like or dislike about the site, it made me laugh. There are so many different kinds of videos that anyone could find something about which to complain. But the diversity, the hokiness even, is part of its charm for me. I love the folk aspect, and if the internet is for pictures of people’s cats, then Youtube is for videos of people’s pets. I could watch the puppies and kittens all day, I really could.
See how cute they are?
But aside from cute animals, the possibilities of a site like Youtube are really endless. The library could potentially use videos to show users how to operate our computers, do searches, find items; even when the patrons are in their own homes. Staff can learn from tutorials, presentations of programs might enrich public understanding and increase attendance, and potentially we might even be able to communicate internally via videos.
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
Week 8 Thing 19: Out Here on the Perimeter There Are No Stars
Thing #19 being next on my list, I spent some very enjoyable time this evening exploring a number of different sites on SEOmoz’s Web 2.0 Award Winners short list.
Lulu was entertaining. The site is eclectic in the extreme, and therefore unsurprisingly piques my interest. The eccentric-sounding titles for sale in the book section were immensely fun for me to explore, and the music section had some intriguing items in it as well. One particular item in the Comics & Graphic Novels section caught my attention… Okay, I didn't read the blurb, but. Great title. *g*
Also, the very democratic method of publishing through Lulu pleases me, though it does demand a very high degree of evaluation of any potential purchase. I’m certainly not likely to buy a download from a writer with grammar errors in the blurb! I like the option to purchase downloads instead of paperbacks, so I expect I’ll be a customer there at some point, once I’ve established some rudimentary rules for quality checking.
Next on my list to explore was Biblio, which I found easy to navigate and full of treasures. I did, in fact, find a copy of the book I raved about in another post selling for one dollar! (The book in question was The Hot Jazz Trio by William Kotzwinkle). Simple searches there seem easy enough to run, and more complex searching is quite convenient and nets useful results. I think I’ll be using it consistently.
The third site I spent a little time exploring was Netvibes. I like the idea of a customizable start page a lot. Somehow, though, the site seemed so cluttered, that it strikes me as more of a distraction than a useful addition to my browser. How many of those widgets do I really need? Also, the themes, wallpapers, and focus of the site didn’t quite appeal to me much. I think I’m going to try to set up my own blog or livejournal, possibly wiki, as a starter page instead. I should be able to find the widgets I need, and Firefox extensions provide a lot of the same functions in my browser frame.
Thing #19 was a lot of fun. I’m glad I did it from home, though, because I could never have completed it at work within our limited time budget for the Things. It would have taken me weeks at one hour per week.
Any of these three sites could be useful for library work, given the many possibilities of patron needs. Biblio and Lulu are both media vendors and could help us provide rare or specialty materials that our patrons need. It is also conceivable that the library system could publish collaborative works through Lulu. Netvibes, used at the circulation desk, could be customized to allow for quick reference responses. I know the weather widget alone would cover the questions of whether rain is imminent. *g* I do feel we should take advantage of some of these things while they are being developed, because library workers are great beta testers, and our presence on these sites may mean we can collectively influence the direction of their development in a good way.
Lulu was entertaining. The site is eclectic in the extreme, and therefore unsurprisingly piques my interest. The eccentric-sounding titles for sale in the book section were immensely fun for me to explore, and the music section had some intriguing items in it as well. One particular item in the Comics & Graphic Novels section caught my attention… Okay, I didn't read the blurb, but. Great title. *g*
Also, the very democratic method of publishing through Lulu pleases me, though it does demand a very high degree of evaluation of any potential purchase. I’m certainly not likely to buy a download from a writer with grammar errors in the blurb! I like the option to purchase downloads instead of paperbacks, so I expect I’ll be a customer there at some point, once I’ve established some rudimentary rules for quality checking.
Next on my list to explore was Biblio, which I found easy to navigate and full of treasures. I did, in fact, find a copy of the book I raved about in another post selling for one dollar! (The book in question was The Hot Jazz Trio by William Kotzwinkle). Simple searches there seem easy enough to run, and more complex searching is quite convenient and nets useful results. I think I’ll be using it consistently.
The third site I spent a little time exploring was Netvibes. I like the idea of a customizable start page a lot. Somehow, though, the site seemed so cluttered, that it strikes me as more of a distraction than a useful addition to my browser. How many of those widgets do I really need? Also, the themes, wallpapers, and focus of the site didn’t quite appeal to me much. I think I’m going to try to set up my own blog or livejournal, possibly wiki, as a starter page instead. I should be able to find the widgets I need, and Firefox extensions provide a lot of the same functions in my browser frame.
Thing #19 was a lot of fun. I’m glad I did it from home, though, because I could never have completed it at work within our limited time budget for the Things. It would have taken me weeks at one hour per week.
Any of these three sites could be useful for library work, given the many possibilities of patron needs. Biblio and Lulu are both media vendors and could help us provide rare or specialty materials that our patrons need. It is also conceivable that the library system could publish collaborative works through Lulu. Netvibes, used at the circulation desk, could be customized to allow for quick reference responses. I know the weather widget alone would cover the questions of whether rain is imminent. *g* I do feel we should take advantage of some of these things while they are being developed, because library workers are great beta testers, and our presence on these sites may mean we can collectively influence the direction of their development in a good way.
Monday, December 3, 2007
Week 8 Thing 18: Zoho and Friends
Thing #18 requires us to sign up with Zoho Writer and make a few test documents. I made a grocery list, a list of phone numbers, and wrote a few paragraphs of a short story idea. Since I don't plan on sharing my grocery list with the world (I know: it's a great loss), I'm going to use Zoho to post to my blog as my method of demonstrating that I've been playing there.
I will insert a picture too. See? Isn't he cute?
He is a dwarf hamster and this photo was taken from Flickr. It was uploaded on Dec 2, 2007 by romap. I have been told I am not to bring one of these home, as it will upset the cat. But I am deeply tempted. I wonder if one day, young people's sections within a library will have virtual tanks, with animated images of small animals like this one. It could happen.
Zoho seems to offer a lot of possibilities, and I think it's going to take me a bit of time to decide whether it is more helpful or distracting. Combination with a wiki may make my life more convenient, or merely messy. Only long-term play-testing will show. I think I'm going to try using Zoho as a creation tool for my wiki's pages, and if this works well enough, possibly a method of posting to my blog. It's use as a work tool for me seems limited, since I'm getting what I need from Microsoft at the moment. Obviously that may change, if I become involved in a collaborative project.
I will insert a picture too. See? Isn't he cute?
He is a dwarf hamster and this photo was taken from Flickr. It was uploaded on Dec 2, 2007 by romap. I have been told I am not to bring one of these home, as it will upset the cat. But I am deeply tempted. I wonder if one day, young people's sections within a library will have virtual tanks, with animated images of small animals like this one. It could happen.
Zoho seems to offer a lot of possibilities, and I think it's going to take me a bit of time to decide whether it is more helpful or distracting. Combination with a wiki may make my life more convenient, or merely messy. Only long-term play-testing will show. I think I'm going to try using Zoho as a creation tool for my wiki's pages, and if this works well enough, possibly a method of posting to my blog. It's use as a work tool for me seems limited, since I'm getting what I need from Microsoft at the moment. Obviously that may change, if I become involved in a collaborative project.
Week 7 Thing 17: Playing in the Sandbox
I went to the PLCMC Sandbox wiki and added my blog to the list. It was a little confusing, since there were a number of headers, but none for SCPL. I just added mine to the "General" list, and I hope that was correct.
Adding favorites is always enjoyable. I added the following entry to the favorite books page:
There are so many books I love, I've learned to think "favorite of the moment" instead of permanent favorites. Right at this moment, I'm remembering a book which will always have a special place in my heart; The Hot Jazz Trio by William Kotzwinkle. There are a number of lovely, surrealist tales in the book, but the best of them all is "Django Reinhardt Plays the Blues". It is a stunning display of his skill at creating unique images full of mystery and beauty, and along with "Blues on the Nile" is one of my very favorite stories ever written. Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to find.
If I had a lot more time to spend on this exercise, I think I would like to read through everyone else's favorite entries from SCPL. It's a great way to get local recommendations. As it is probably the most I'll get out of it is a little practice at a group wiki (which I'm already getting at the SCPL 2.0 wiki and my family wiki) and the opportunity to see how huge the group learning 23 Things has grown. Oh, and being reminded of one of my all-time favorite books, of course.
Adding favorites is always enjoyable. I added the following entry to the favorite books page:
There are so many books I love, I've learned to think "favorite of the moment" instead of permanent favorites. Right at this moment, I'm remembering a book which will always have a special place in my heart; The Hot Jazz Trio by William Kotzwinkle. There are a number of lovely, surrealist tales in the book, but the best of them all is "Django Reinhardt Plays the Blues". It is a stunning display of his skill at creating unique images full of mystery and beauty, and along with "Blues on the Nile" is one of my very favorite stories ever written. Unfortunately, it's a bit hard to find.
If I had a lot more time to spend on this exercise, I think I would like to read through everyone else's favorite entries from SCPL. It's a great way to get local recommendations. As it is probably the most I'll get out of it is a little practice at a group wiki (which I'm already getting at the SCPL 2.0 wiki and my family wiki) and the opportunity to see how huge the group learning 23 Things has grown. Oh, and being reminded of one of my all-time favorite books, of course.
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