Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Monday, April 13, 2009
23 Things - Thing 23 Evaulate
I love to evaluate. That is my one big pet peeve and something I am always harping on whether it be for work or for my church committees or in life in general. I love to look at where we were, what we did different and how it is turning out and how can we improve. But I digress..we are talking of a different evaluation here...so I will get back to that.
I would like more time. I would like to feel I could spend hours and hours really learning this stuff and practicing with it instead of rushing trying to get it done by our deadline...though I know we could get more time..It's the principal of the thing for me. We were given a deadline and I like to honor those as much as possible. I do think to really really learn this stuff, one needs to spend time and really delve into each 'Thing' since there are so many articles and so much on each of the various sites to explore and learn about. I did read all the articles but I didn't do all the challenges and all the 'extra' stuff you could do with the 'Things'.
I think I answered some of the questions posed for this 'Thing' in Thing 22, since I reflected quite a bit about how I would keep on learning!
Things to Do Differently:
Do in smaller chunks---23 at one time seemed overwhelming.
Allow more time to learn each 'Thing'.
I surprised myself that I enjoyed some of the 'Things'. Once I learned how to do something, then it seemed easy. I need to keep practicing though to make it a habit, like Slideshare and Picturetrail.
I would like more time. I would like to feel I could spend hours and hours really learning this stuff and practicing with it instead of rushing trying to get it done by our deadline...though I know we could get more time..It's the principal of the thing for me. We were given a deadline and I like to honor those as much as possible. I do think to really really learn this stuff, one needs to spend time and really delve into each 'Thing' since there are so many articles and so much on each of the various sites to explore and learn about. I did read all the articles but I didn't do all the challenges and all the 'extra' stuff you could do with the 'Things'.
I think I answered some of the questions posed for this 'Thing' in Thing 22, since I reflected quite a bit about how I would keep on learning!
Things to Do Differently:
Do in smaller chunks---23 at one time seemed overwhelming.
Allow more time to learn each 'Thing'.
I surprised myself that I enjoyed some of the 'Things'. Once I learned how to do something, then it seemed easy. I need to keep practicing though to make it a habit, like Slideshare and Picturetrail.
23 Things - Thing 22 IT'S ALL GOOD!
As my brother always says "It's all good".
Really there are many tools in this training that will be useful for me personally and professionally.
The wiki, the blogging, the image makers, all of it really was interesting to read about. I got frustrated with setting up all the accounts with all the usernames and passwords. I have so many now! I know that was the only way to really get in there and practice and learn about many of the sites!
I do think we need to make decisions as a library how much time some of these sites will take up and how the library can use it for its own growth and communication.
I am finding more and more MCPL employees on some of these sites at work and wondering are they working or just socializing? We are such a busy library and do we have time to surf these sites and post at work? I think that is a larger issue each department or our director will have to tackle now that so many of us have connections on all these sites!
I will now that I am finished carefully go through and decide which social networking sites I want to remain attached to and delete some of the other accounts.
Of course I will want to wait to see what our department chooses as to how we will network among us, but I do think I learned a lot and will keep on learning! It was fun, but I never had time to do it at work...I always did my training at home. Work was too busy for me to sit down and really concentrate on what I was learning.
I didn't find all of it fun, because some of the sites were frustrating, but I found it all to be a learning experience and I did enjoy learning about some of the sites I never knew existed. I definitely am better informed! Now whether I can remember off the top of my head the user names and passwords is another question. I think by putting them all on a social aggregator that will help me. So I am going to choose one of those and try it.
Really there are many tools in this training that will be useful for me personally and professionally.
The wiki, the blogging, the image makers, all of it really was interesting to read about. I got frustrated with setting up all the accounts with all the usernames and passwords. I have so many now! I know that was the only way to really get in there and practice and learn about many of the sites!
I do think we need to make decisions as a library how much time some of these sites will take up and how the library can use it for its own growth and communication.
I am finding more and more MCPL employees on some of these sites at work and wondering are they working or just socializing? We are such a busy library and do we have time to surf these sites and post at work? I think that is a larger issue each department or our director will have to tackle now that so many of us have connections on all these sites!
I will now that I am finished carefully go through and decide which social networking sites I want to remain attached to and delete some of the other accounts.
Of course I will want to wait to see what our department chooses as to how we will network among us, but I do think I learned a lot and will keep on learning! It was fun, but I never had time to do it at work...I always did my training at home. Work was too busy for me to sit down and really concentrate on what I was learning.
I didn't find all of it fun, because some of the sites were frustrating, but I found it all to be a learning experience and I did enjoy learning about some of the sites I never knew existed. I definitely am better informed! Now whether I can remember off the top of my head the user names and passwords is another question. I think by putting them all on a social aggregator that will help me. So I am going to choose one of those and try it.
23 Things - Thing 21 Social Aggregators
I look at that title and want to say social aggravators! As I have learned more and more going through 23 Things I have often become irritated with all these sites, all the passwords, all the different Web 2.0 tools out there. I could easily spend my whole day on the computer checking out all these sites, updating, commenting, blogging,
posting. I barely can keep up with my facebook account and my 2 email accounts. Now I have all these other...I am just not good at this social interfacing.
"Currently the average social networking user uses two social networking websites; beyond that people find it hard to commit time to participating on other sites. As the social web evolves and we are forced to join more networks, data management will become very important so users are not overwhelmed." I totally agree with this statement from the Social Aggregation article. I do agree some sort of data management is needed, but I am not sure I would continue to use so many social networking sites.
Maybe if I was a younger person who enjoyed socializing on various web social sites, but I prefer to do my chatting and communicating in person, unless its a long distance friend, and then we use email or facebook.
I didn't join all these sites, but I looked at all their frontpages. I liked the way Netvibes looked on the front page, and I really liked the way Pageflakes looked too, it looked like a type of organization I could get my head around. I don't like the streaming type of organization that SocialThing does, it reminds me of facebook and I am not liking that very much. If you don't log on for a few days you miss what has been posted, because its off the page already! :)
So I joined Friendfeed. I really don't like the way it lists on the homepage. Ugh!
I think I will try another one later and join it. It is kind of easy to put all your sites on there. I thought it would be more difficult. I am hoping if I join the netvibes or pageflakes, it will be just as easy! And now as I am typing this I might be changing my mind about using it!
posting. I barely can keep up with my facebook account and my 2 email accounts. Now I have all these other...I am just not good at this social interfacing.
"Currently the average social networking user uses two social networking websites; beyond that people find it hard to commit time to participating on other sites. As the social web evolves and we are forced to join more networks, data management will become very important so users are not overwhelmed." I totally agree with this statement from the Social Aggregation article. I do agree some sort of data management is needed, but I am not sure I would continue to use so many social networking sites.
Maybe if I was a younger person who enjoyed socializing on various web social sites, but I prefer to do my chatting and communicating in person, unless its a long distance friend, and then we use email or facebook.
I didn't join all these sites, but I looked at all their frontpages. I liked the way Netvibes looked on the front page, and I really liked the way Pageflakes looked too, it looked like a type of organization I could get my head around. I don't like the streaming type of organization that SocialThing does, it reminds me of facebook and I am not liking that very much. If you don't log on for a few days you miss what has been posted, because its off the page already! :)
So I joined Friendfeed. I really don't like the way it lists on the homepage. Ugh!
I think I will try another one later and join it. It is kind of easy to put all your sites on there. I thought it would be more difficult. I am hoping if I join the netvibes or pageflakes, it will be just as easy! And now as I am typing this I might be changing my mind about using it!
23 Things - Thing 20
Gaming in Libraries! How Fun! I previewed some of the libraries linked on the training page. What I saw looked fun,interesting , inviting,creative and innovative. I think our patrons at MCPL would love something like this! What a great program it would be!
I think this would be a great way to get not only teens but young adults and adults into the library. IN high school and early college my son and his friends would gather in one spot, often my basement with all their computers and hook up and play games. All involved now have successful computer careers. I really don't think its a waste of time.
I like Scott Nicholson's response to the article "Are Games Hurting Libraries?". He is right it being a chance to explore another world with other people. It's an opportunity to socialize and have fun and yet it is a learning experience too. Many of these games are educational, and complex and a lot of problem solving is going on!
I think this would be a great way to get not only teens but young adults and adults into the library. IN high school and early college my son and his friends would gather in one spot, often my basement with all their computers and hook up and play games. All involved now have successful computer careers. I really don't think its a waste of time.
I like Scott Nicholson's response to the article "Are Games Hurting Libraries?". He is right it being a chance to explore another world with other people. It's an opportunity to socialize and have fun and yet it is a learning experience too. Many of these games are educational, and complex and a lot of problem solving is going on!
23 Things -Thing 19
I like the new Lint. It looks cleaner and classier. I previewed some of the libraries listed and I like the sites. Louisville's has a rather large font.
I edited my account with no problem. I think once I learn how to navigate around the site I will enjoy the new look. It looks like it will be fun to customize and be able to use what I want to use. Our current Lint is so crowded and has so much stuff.
I edited my account with no problem. I think once I learn how to navigate around the site I will enjoy the new look. It looks like it will be fun to customize and be able to use what I want to use. Our current Lint is so crowded and has so much stuff.
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
23 Things - Thing 18
I used Survey Monkey since I read all the tutorials for it and it seemed easy enough.
I was bummed I needed to upgrade to professional status to get the templates, but it was easy enough to create a few questions and do it myself.
I have taken surveys with survey monkey before and it always has been easy to use. I didn't realize how easy it would be to create one myself.
I didn't use any open ended questions because I didn't want to waste people's time, but I generally like open questions when I take surveys so I can elaborate more on responses.
I was bummed I needed to upgrade to professional status to get the templates, but it was easy enough to create a few questions and do it myself.
I have taken surveys with survey monkey before and it always has been easy to use. I didn't realize how easy it would be to create one myself.
I didn't use any open ended questions because I didn't want to waste people's time, but I generally like open questions when I take surveys so I can elaborate more on responses.
23 Things - Thing 17
I read the articles and liked building a social networking environment about the Pierce County Library. I wonder though how busy that library is...who really has time to share photos on Flickr and to chat on my space. Most days we barely have time to take a break with the number of people requesting and needing help at all our service points.
I joined the 23 Things Ning. I created a profile and uploaded a pic. I could not get my badge to paste from my clipboard. I got tired of trying. I am not sure I would continue to post on Ning. I already have a facebook and 2 email addresses. I did look at Bake Space and it looked really cool, but I resisted joining. I just had to tell myself NO! This is all fun and interesting to do and I have enjoyed learning how to do these things, but time is always a factor with me and social networking sites take up a lot of time! Maybe we can settle on one for our library that is easy to access for patrons and staff alike.
I joined the 23 Things Ning. I created a profile and uploaded a pic. I could not get my badge to paste from my clipboard. I got tired of trying. I am not sure I would continue to post on Ning. I already have a facebook and 2 email addresses. I did look at Bake Space and it looked really cool, but I resisted joining. I just had to tell myself NO! This is all fun and interesting to do and I have enjoyed learning how to do these things, but time is always a factor with me and social networking sites take up a lot of time! Maybe we can settle on one for our library that is easy to access for patrons and staff alike.
Monday, March 16, 2009
23 Things - Thing 16
I really enjoyed that guy explaining the social networking on utube. Yeaaaaaa! Booooo!
He's funny and so easy to understand with his stick figure drawings. What a hoot!
I followed My Space for a bit, then when Facebook came along, I created a profile. I really only use it for personal use (I post pictures of Hershey and family so I can share them quickly with my kids and others who live a distance) and to write comments and short messages to friends and family. But I joined the ALA Member group and Library 2.0 as part of my training assignment. I am on Facebook most days at least once after work, so I figure it would be a good way to keep up with ALA news.
I read the ways to use Facebook professionally. Some interesting concepts and ideas.
I know I could probably use Facebook to do all that the article suggests, but I wonder if that would take the fun out of it for me personally. I suppose I could set up a work account and a personal one? I will have to reflect on it a bit! There seemed to be many comments supporting both sides.
I think its easy to understand why Facebook might be the fastest growing social network. It's easy to use, easy to set up and you can connect with so many people from across the country without committing to long distance telephone calls, or letter writing or emailing. You can touch base quickly and be efficient. You can choose to get involved or not get involved with someone and you can be in control. It can be addicting though reading others' status and comments, but I think it's fun.
23 Things - Thing 15
I reviewed the local podcasts and really wasn't too interested in any of the choices, so I went to podcast.com and found it easy to navigate. You can choose by subject and you can keep narrowing it down. It was great, so I listened to public radio "Prairie Home Companion" podcasts. It was kind of fun to listen to some of the radio shows. I try to listen every Saturday but I too often miss the show. This was great to catch up on some of his "News from Lake Wobegon"
I also chose of the news podcasts.
I don't think I would ever do any podcasting. Really no interest, but I think I could get into listening to some of them. I would enjoy listening to reviews of books and movies and some of the things on public radio that I enjoy, but often times miss when they are broadcast.
I also chose of the news podcasts.
I don't think I would ever do any podcasting. Really no interest, but I think I could get into listening to some of them. I would enjoy listening to reviews of books and movies and some of the things on public radio that I enjoy, but often times miss when they are broadcast.
23 Things - Thing 14
I like the images of this utube video and the music. It's haunting, and powerful.
As you can see the images, the words of one of my favorite songs overlay the images.
As you can see the images, the words of one of my favorite songs overlay the images.
Sunday, March 15, 2009
23 Things- Thing 13
LibraryThing is pretty cool! I like this much better than keeping a history of my reading on Polaris! :) I like that it shows the covers too. But its addicting. I could literally spend hours reading the different connections and reviewing everything on the site. It seems some of the books I added are popular. I guess not surprising, but
its nice to know I am keeping up with what's new out there at least a little bit!
This could be such a great tool for Reader's Advisory and the reference staff. It will be a fun tool for me to use personally.
My LibraryThing
its nice to know I am keeping up with what's new out there at least a little bit!
This could be such a great tool for Reader's Advisory and the reference staff. It will be a fun tool for me to use personally.
My LibraryThing
23 Things- Thing 12 - Completed
I liked the looks of Newsvine the best. It seemed to me better organized and easily accessible news stories. All of these social media sites seem to have lots of information overload and one could easily get bogged down with clicking on the various news stories and spending a good portion of your time being distracted.
I tend to browse for my news off of yahoo. But I hate to waste time too, so I limit myself to a few clicks and reading a few articles that catch my eye. I like the health and fitness ones and some of the political articles.
So I joined Newsvine and will try that for a while to see if I like it any better!
I tend to browse for my news off of yahoo. But I hate to waste time too, so I limit myself to a few clicks and reading a few articles that catch my eye. I like the health and fitness ones and some of the political articles.
So I joined Newsvine and will try that for a while to see if I like it any better!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Thing 11 Tagging and Bookmarking
Thing 11 Completed
I found tagging to be easy. I am not sure I would use it for any personal reasons. Maybe work related sites, I guess. I could see Adult Services using this more for the sites they do research with.
I found Delicious to be fun! It's fun to have all my bookmarks in one place and noticeably larger for viewing! :) I love the common craft u tube videos. They are so much fun to watch and once you watch them it really explains the "THING" you are working on.
I found tagging to be easy. I am not sure I would use it for any personal reasons. Maybe work related sites, I guess. I could see Adult Services using this more for the sites they do research with.
I found Delicious to be fun! It's fun to have all my bookmarks in one place and noticeably larger for viewing! :) I love the common craft u tube videos. They are so much fun to watch and once you watch them it really explains the "THING" you are working on.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
23 Things - Thing 10
I haven't edited a wiki in awhile. I have read information on wiki's and have read some of the wiki's at MCPL that were set up for committees a few years ago and used them to post minutes and edit the minutes on the site. It essentially worked as an example of a collaboration tool as we learned in Thing 9.
I have read various reports of the advantages and disadvantages. I read the presentation about wiki's by Joyce Yukawa. I think it is really useful how she has presented how libraries can use wiki's for shared information for internal staff and external patrons. I also liked the Common craft video. That guy does a good job of explaining and making these tools easy to understand!
I think we would do well to have a Wiki here at MCPL for our public! We are after all one of the best in the state! We should be using this kind of technology and shared information with our city and state!
I joined the 23 Things wiki and played with adding some sentences to the story Phil began.
Added a favorite book title too.
I have read various reports of the advantages and disadvantages. I read the presentation about wiki's by Joyce Yukawa. I think it is really useful how she has presented how libraries can use wiki's for shared information for internal staff and external patrons. I also liked the Common craft video. That guy does a good job of explaining and making these tools easy to understand!
I think we would do well to have a Wiki here at MCPL for our public! We are after all one of the best in the state! We should be using this kind of technology and shared information with our city and state!
I joined the 23 Things wiki and played with adding some sentences to the story Phil began.
Added a favorite book title too.
23 Things - Thing 9
I could see where this collaboration tool could come in handy especially when you are working on committees and all trying to write a proposal or presentation together. It would be easier than editing the documents through email.
I haven't edited Phil's documents yet since I have to get permission for it, but I don't see any problems in doing so...I would tend to use Google docs though since I wouldn't have to create yet another username and password!
I finally got into the declaration document on Google docs and zoho. Played around on both.
Both seem pretty easy once you got the hand of editing.
Thing 9 Completed! :)
I haven't edited Phil's documents yet since I have to get permission for it, but I don't see any problems in doing so...I would tend to use Google docs though since I wouldn't have to create yet another username and password!
I finally got into the declaration document on Google docs and zoho. Played around on both.
Both seem pretty easy once you got the hand of editing.
Thing 9 Completed! :)
23 Things -Thing 8
Completed! :)
This was a lot of fun. I might use this site to share my travel pictures!
Thing 7 Meebo and Twitter
Okay so now I have a Meebo and a Twitter account. I thought blogs were suppose to be our way of communicating with each other!!!! Too many choices.
I have so many accounts and usernames and passwords my head is spinning.
I do see an advantage of these kinds of services and the video on You Tube was good public marketing. We can go over board with too many of these tools. As I said earlier in one of my blogs about instant messaging--all of these are time consuming.
I think these tools can be great when they have a specific purpose, like the example Phil gave chatting with 15 other librarians to learn and get ideas, suggestions about a particular subject.
And I would love to 'chat' at work if there was a purpose in me doing so.
I have so many accounts and usernames and passwords my head is spinning.
I do see an advantage of these kinds of services and the video on You Tube was good public marketing. We can go over board with too many of these tools. As I said earlier in one of my blogs about instant messaging--all of these are time consuming.
I think these tools can be great when they have a specific purpose, like the example Phil gave chatting with 15 other librarians to learn and get ideas, suggestions about a particular subject.
And I would love to 'chat' at work if there was a purpose in me doing so.
Thing 5 Communication Tools
Hey I communicate using a lot of these tools I read about in Thing 5 already! I have 3 email accounts. I have a facebook. I know how to text message and I chat online mostly with my son who is in New York (from my personal email account).
Personally I think some of these communication tools are great time savers, but some are very draining and time consuming. Some times when I am just quickly checking my email in between chores at home, someone pops up on my chat and wants to chat! Ugh! I don't have time to chat at that moment. IMing at work can be very time consuming. I am not sure how that would fit into our busy work routines. Plus for communication within the same building I think email or phones or personal interaction would be better and friendlier. The article talked about how great it is for communicating among branches. I am just not convinced that it is good for staff use!
Yet I see an advantage for interaction with other librarians and other libraries in different states or cities. I liked the librarian's terminology "just in time' Reference. Immediate patron feedback in the convenience of their home is great service! I think these tools can be great for readers advisory services, for answering questions from the reference desk. Amazing things are happening in libraries using many of these tools as evidenced in the Library Journal article.
I have done some web junction classes and have participated in web conferences. Good way to learn new things without paying someone to come and present to your group. Questions can still be answered and learning can happen. I think its great.
Personally I think some of these communication tools are great time savers, but some are very draining and time consuming. Some times when I am just quickly checking my email in between chores at home, someone pops up on my chat and wants to chat! Ugh! I don't have time to chat at that moment. IMing at work can be very time consuming. I am not sure how that would fit into our busy work routines. Plus for communication within the same building I think email or phones or personal interaction would be better and friendlier. The article talked about how great it is for communicating among branches. I am just not convinced that it is good for staff use!
Yet I see an advantage for interaction with other librarians and other libraries in different states or cities. I liked the librarian's terminology "just in time' Reference. Immediate patron feedback in the convenience of their home is great service! I think these tools can be great for readers advisory services, for answering questions from the reference desk. Amazing things are happening in libraries using many of these tools as evidenced in the Library Journal article.
I have done some web junction classes and have participated in web conferences. Good way to learn new things without paying someone to come and present to your group. Questions can still be answered and learning can happen. I think its great.
Thing 5 Online Image Generator
I think this is a fun way to be creative to personal websites, facebooks, etc. I am not sure I would ever use it for work....maybe as a fun activity.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Thing 4 FLickr
Flickr has many interesting photo choices, and options to choose from. I chose gardens to see what I would find and I found this one of Duke gardens...a garden I visited recently while in North Carolina. It was a very peaceful and beautiful place.
Link to the garden. Photo by "Nosna"
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2304/2433030429_78e47b078d_m.jpg
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