Saturday, July 28, 2007

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


For more widgets please visit www.yourminis.com

Thursday, July 26, 2007

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!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

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

Thursday, July 19, 2007

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.

Monday, July 9, 2007

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/

Sunday, July 8, 2007

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!

Saturday, July 7, 2007

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!!!

Thursday, July 5, 2007

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.

Tuesday, July 3, 2007

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.