Our latest getaway

Thing 39 - Animoto

My Big Backyard

Thing 39 - Animoto

Quilts on a Line, Snow Hill, MD

Thing #25 Letterpop - Newsletters

I had a hard time with this one only because the site is so inconsistent. Sometimes it would show you the different layout templates and other times it would show the templates but you couldn't preview them. So I'm still going to try it again.

More Thing #26 - Widget -Pac Man

Thing #26 - Little Bits of the Internet

I decided to add a clock Widget to my blog. Now I can keep track of time while I'm blogging!

Thing 33 - Express Yourself Through Online Art

I know I am skipping around now, but this is cool. Go ahead and play I dare you.
Check these out!

http://www.zefrank.com/snowflake/

http://www.mrpicassohead.com/canvas.html?id=1312974&skin=original

Thing #24 Zamzar

Zamzar is a pretty neat free program that will convert documents, pictures, YouTube videos, audio files, etc. into another type of format, such as mpg, jpg, pdf, etc. I converted one of my Story Time documents into a pdf file. Zamzar then emails you how to retreive your document and they will store it for 1 day.

Week 9 - Thing # 23 - Summary

What a challenge!!
This program was very good in educating people about the technology that is available on the Internet and how it could be helpful in everyday life at home or at work. However frustration set in rather quickly at the beginning until I was able to figure out just what was expected of me. Sometimes that just wasn't clear. I also think it took more time to explore and to comphrehend this new technology for the average person and because of this the completion rate may not be as high as expected. I plan on going back and revisiting some of the sites and explore them a little bit more now that I have completed the exercises.
Talking each step out with a fellow employee and helping other staff as they go through the steps helped me immensely! Thanks Anthony!
I was possessed by this program so much that there were 2 nights when I woke up from a dream about blogging and bloglines! Or should I say nightmare!
All in all I have learned a lot about the different programs available online that I might one day
use at my job. My favorite things that I explored were the "play things" such as Alvatars, Flickr, YouTube and Podcasts. The two activities that I thought would be most useful for me was Google Docs and LibraryThing. Some activities I may never use again but at least I have been exposed to them. As I moved on in the discovery exercises I thought that I was going to forget what I had learned, but instead I was forced to remember in order to help the other people in the branch that are paticipating in the program.
I know in the future Library systems will be using a lot more of this technology with both internal and external customers. It was great to have the opportunity to explore these sites and become familiar with this kind of technology so that we can keep on the cutting edge. Bring on the next 23 Things.

Week 9 - Thing # 22 - Audiobooks

I am familiar with Overdrive since we do offer this service to our customers and I have helped several customers with understanding how to download a book to their computer. I will try and download a book to my computer at home. Maybe if I'm lucky I can win a MP3 player so I can listen to my book while I am walking.

Week 9 - Thing # 21 Podcasts

Merlin had the best library related podcasts. I loaded LibVibe onto my bloglines. I can see podcasts being used for remote training segments within the Library system. One of my favorite quilting sites is a podcast.http://www.alexandersonquilts.com/podcast/. I have found another type of learning technology along the same lines as the podcast on one of my quilting sites too. It is like watching tv shows about quilting from all around the world all day. These episodes range from 3min-15 mins. You just pick the episode that you want and pull up a chair and watch. Here is the site. http://www.qnntv.com/

Week 9 - Thing #20 - YouTube

It was very hard trying to pick a video worth posting to my blog, yes there are some really funny ones, but there are some really bad videos too.
I typed libraries in the search box and this was a video I found that was made at the Towson Library for a contest. This is an example of how Libraries can use YouTube to promote their services and programs.




I couldn't pass this commercial up! It's one of the classics of it's time!

Week 8 -Thing #19 - Web 2.0 Awards List

I picked Upcoming to explore for this exercise. Upcoming is a site where you can share or search upcoming events. You can search by events, places, friends, groups and popular. Under the group tab there is a directory of all the groups in the site. If you pick one of these groups additional information about the group is available, such as who the group is for, group calendar of events past and present, tags, and a discussion/ comments area. If you search by event it will bring up events in your area or anywhere. Maps and photos can be added too.
I can see Libraries using this site to promote upcoming major events, such as Great Books, Author signings, Summer Reading events, Workshops, etc. The people that attend the functions can also leave a comment if they wish, which might help in planning future programs.

Week 8- Thing #18 - Google Docs

I uploaded a Excel spreadsheet into Google Docs. After taking an Excel class I created this spreadsheet to keep track of my CEU's. For this exercise I uploaded it into Google Docs I changed some of the fonts with color, Italics and highlighting.

http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=o06181464088301885789.2654621366885444964&hl=en_US

This is a great application and very useful for many people.I can see people in the workforce and student in particular using Google Docs. For example, students could send someone their essay or thesis to proofread and the person proofreading could highlight the suggested changes. I can see people in the workforce using Google Docs when there are multiple people involved in a project and they need to send detailed memos,or to edit meeting minutes,or writing grants, plugging in current statistics, etc. It's just another way of communicate within multiple offices with out having a meeting. Everyone can have access to the same document at the same time.Microsoft Office look out!!!

Week 7 - Thing # 17 - Sandbox wiki

That was easy enough. I added my blog and my favorite books to the list.

Week 7 - Thing # 16 - Wikis

Just recently I heard a co-worker talking about starting a wiki after attending ALA. That would be one way to keep the conversations that were started at ALA continuing, especially since people come from all over to attend ALA. A group of people that have a common interest would benefit from a wiki.Committees and sub-committees within the library could use wikis to brainstorm ideas too. It enables people to voice their opinions as well as learn from someone else's opinions. I think there is a lot of information that could be had from a wiki, but I think it would be hard for the person in charge of the wiki to keep up with the new postings and verify the information given.I can see Libraries using wikis as a Reader's Advisory service for the public.

Week 6- Thing # 15 - Future of Libraries

Change is always constant in today's world. When reading Rick Anderson's, Away From the "Icebergs", I think he makes a good point about library services. Libraries need to evaluate their print and technology sources. So much information is available digitally now.
He states that libraries need to "find new ways to bring our services to patrons rather than insisting that they come to us." Since the customers have all kinds of information at their fingertips now days, we need to find new ways to keep up with the changing times in technology. Just with the few weeks of working on the Learning 2.0 I have learned a ton of new technology that I never knew existed. I can see both staff and customers using this new technology.One way that BCPL has started in this direction is by using blogs to communicate about collections. This is a great way to communicate with a large number of people at one time.Another example is the ASK US NOW feature of BCPL's webpage. Customers can get their information electronically. We are still servicing the public without them stepping foot into the library. In the future I see Librarians being the educators of technology and the information providers of technology.

Week 6 -Thing # 14 - Technorati

I think I now understand Technorati.It's a search engine for blogs. When I searched Learning 2.0 you could choose, Quick view, posts, blogs, video, photos ,music & events. I clicked on Quick View and there were recent blogs, videos and photos.I decided to watch the video named Learning 2.0 Grand Prize Drawing.This was the drawing that PLCMC had for a lucky winner who had completed the 2.0 program.The person received a new laptop. NICE PRIZE!!!!
When exploring the popular tab on Technorati, there didn't seem to be too many surprises for me. Engadget is ranked # 1 for Top Blogs. This doesn't surprise me especially with the iPhone being released last week.There was even a photo of the mayor of Philadelphia camping out for an iphone! The top searches weren't surprising either, knowing what everyone who comes in the library uses like MySpace,youtube,iphone, they are the popular site that people use everyday.
On Technorati, you can also search by tags ranging from funny to glasco airport to transformers, etc. The tags depend on what people are interested in at the time and what's hot!
I'm not sure if I would use this as much as some of the other activities. I don't have time to sit and read other people's blog. My Life is one big Blog!!!!

Week 6 - Thing # 13 - Del.icio.us

OK,I think I know what Del.icio.us is now...Someplace to store all your favorite sites so that you can use them from where ever there is internet access. I'm usually at work or home when I use the computer and I don't have a laptop, so the things in my favorites at work I would never use at home and visa versa. I can see people using this, but not me. I did find the one suggested site, The Several Habits of Wildly Successful Del.icio.us Users, helpful.Here is the website.

Week 5 -Thing #12 - Rollyo

I am not having fun with this one at all. You get to create your very own search engine about anything you want. I did mine on my favorite quilting sites. I had a real hard time figuring out how to add this to my blog though.

Select...QuiltingSearch The Web

Week 5 - Thing 11 - LibraryThing

LibraryThing is something very useful. I have cataloged a small number of my quilt books for now. I can't wait to get into my sewing room so I can add on the rest of them. This will come in handy when people want to get me other quilt books, I'll have a list to give them.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/scoffman

Week 5- Thing #10 - Play Week

I decided to try the program that Ellen used, Dumpr, with one of my photos. This is a cottage that we rent from DNR in Northern Baltimore County.

Week 5 - Thing #10 - Play Week

The Real Me is me before kids!!!!!
I had sooooo much fun with this assignment. I used Yahoo Avatars.
This may sound stupid, but it reminded me of playing with Colorforms when I was little. The possibilities are endless.

Week 4- Thing # 9 - Merlin

I was't really impressed with Merlin. I did subscribe to it and added Merlin to my bloglines. Using the search tools was OK, but I would rather go to a site I like and look to see if they have RSS. That is how I added some of my feeds to my blogline. I'm not sure I want to register for anything anymore. I'm really tired of typing my email address!!

Week 4- Thing #8 - RSS Feeds

Really Simple Syndication IS really simple. It's just like adding things to your favorites list.
I did select feeds that were pre-selected for you and I also learned how to add and delete others. When looking on some of my favorite quilting site, I noticed that not all sites are set up as RSS. One way you can tell, sometimes, is at the very bottom of the last page, RSS will be mentioned. So then you just copy the address and paste it in the subscribe box. On other sites, RSS wasn't mentioned anywhere, but a blog might have been part of the website and that could be subscribed to. One of my feeds is a recipe website, Recipezaar. When I subscribed to that, it gave me all kinds of options within Recipezaar to subscribe to, not the whole site itself, and then you would just click the boxes of the ones that you are interested in and you could subscribe to them.
I did place a link to my feeds on my blog.

Week 3 - Thing 7 - Technology

Last night we bought a digital camera for my daughter. Other members of my family have digital cameras. I get the hand-me- downs! The camera that we bought last night is a Sony. This is a brand that no one in the family owns so we are forced to learn the new technology connected with this camera. Yes, it does the basics, zoom lens, big viewing screen, movie clips, etc., plus more. This camera lets you crop your pictures and it also can get rid of the "red eyes" while still on the camera. The older cameras that we own, you have to upload your pictures onto your computer, into a program like Picasa in order to make any changes to your photo. Another thing that is different with this camera is the battery that it uses. The older ones use AA batteries and the Sony has a small flat square battery. Needless to say the recharger is different and an additional expense! That's technology today, New today, different tomorrow!!!!!! Upgrade! Upgrade! Upgrade!!!! Money Money Money!

Week 3 - Flickr mashups and 3rd party - Thing # 6

Some of the mashups were fun to watch. I watched someone surfing off Hatteras, wishing I was there. Not necessarily surfing but soaking up the rays! I have a similar program on my computer at home called Photojams which allows you to make a slideshow of your photos. This is great for showing off your vacation to your friends or making a slideshow of your kid's activities.

My favorite spot on the 3rd party site was the trip planner. I thought it was really neat that you could copy someone else's trip and then customize it to your likings. Half of the trouble and work planning a similar trip is already done for you, i.e. where to stay, where to eat, airline, activities, etc. My son, who just graduated from Virginia Tech, wants to backpack in Europe before he settles down in a "Real Job" in the "Real World". So I emailed him someones trip planner that was posted to give him some ideas. Maybe he'll post his trip someday!

Week 3 -Thing # 5 - Exploring Flickr

It took me a long time to figure out how to upload a picture of a quilt to put on my blog. After looking at Flickr, I saw the possiblities of using other people's photos and also how to upload my own pictures. I finally got the hang of "tags", it's just like using a keyword search. If you really like someone's work you can click on their name and via the photostream, view their other works. Also when you do a search using the tags option it will give you other keyword options to view other pictures.

custom blog

Before I get too far into this process I have to customize my blog. The choices for backgrounds are not very exciting! Stay tuned!

Week 1 - Thing # 2 -Lifelong Learning

I have found that when learning something new I am a visual learner. I may have goals that I set for myself, but having the time to reach those goals sometimes seems impossible with today's lifestyles. I have found however that when I only have a short amount of free time to do something for myself, that I get more done. If I have a big block of time I think of multiple things that I should be doing and not much gets done. So what I guess I'm saying is that I need to take more control of my own learning and organize my time better.

Week 2 -Things # 3&4 - Setting Up Blog and Registering It

I did it! If I can do it anyone can.