Things #7-10

It has been a couple weeks since I've been on here, so I have some major catching up to do.  I had mentioned in an earlier post that I am unable to access some of these great tools from my workplace which is a public school system.  The same system that I intend to have a future library job with.  This is a frustration.  I am discovering a lot of cool tools that are available and am coming up with ways I could use them in my future library....but won't be able to!  Ugh.

Thing #7:  Web 2.0 communication tools.  I am very good at the tools they mention, email, text, IM, video conferencing, network sites, etc.  What I really enjoyed reading about are the ways a librarian can use them.  What a great way to get instant answers and help!  A student that is accessing the online card catalog but having difficulties could send a text to the librarian, or an IM.  The librarian can use Twitter (I CAN use that at school...shhh!  don't tell) to keep patrons updated on the happenings of the library.  Cool and useful tools.  The best part?  SIMPLE!

Thing #8: Sharing photos, decks or slide shows.  I used PictureTrail.com to create a slide show.  Way cool and fun.  It can definitely add pizazz to your webpage.  I am blogging from home, so I don't know if I can access this at work or not.  So for fun I created a photo cube of my daughter's birthday .

Thing #9: Collaborating using something like Google Docs or Zoho.  I have used Google Docs in the past (and in current) classes.  I swear by it and recommend it to anyone needing to do group work, even if the group can meet face to face.  I recommended it to our computer teacher at school.  She has had her students use it to create their presentations.  It comes in handy especially when one group member is absent and they don't have to rely on him/her being there to log in to get to whatever they are working on.  Every collaborator can be logged on at the same time...and the best part is it being on the web.  The document can be accessed anywhere there is an internet connection.

Thing #10:  Wikis.  I think wikis are a big undertaking.  To me they are similar to blogs, they get easily forgotten about.  I think they are another great way to collaborate but on a much larger scale.  Even though there were examples given, I still have a hard time knowing what I would use one for.  Maybe my time will come.

My apologies for a long post it goes against my personal belief of how long a blog post should be, but I had a lot of catching up to do!

Things 7, 8, 9 and 10......DONE!

Thing #6

I explored the website Big Huge Labs as recommended by the 23 Things blog.  I have to say, this site is pretty cool.  I love places that you can do fun and funky things with pictures.  I created a trading card and a puzzle, and will probably create a whole bunch more, because it is quite frankly a little addicting!  The 23 Things blog offers suggestions on how to use the trading cards in the library which I think would be a really neat way to give information about different books and resources that are available in the library.  I am doing this at home, so I have yet to find out if it is blocked or not at work.  Thing 6.....DONE!

Things # 3-5

I know it seems like a lot to put this many things into one blog post, but bare with me. 

#3 is to subscribe to and explore RSS.  I have always been curious about this.  I decided to subscribe to "Entertainment Tonight" because while we are supposed to look at library stuff, but sometimes I need a brain break.  Since most of my continuous email time is at work, I have it sent there, and with Outlook 2007 you can set it up to receive them.  Wow!  Within 10 seconds my RSS folder was full of quick entertainment news.  The downfall of doing this at work?  I am in a public school system and the full story links are.....BLOCKED!  Oh well, I see how it works, and seeing the quick blip that the president's dog took a pee on the front lawn is enough information to get me by without having to read the entire story.

Onto Flickr.  Played around a little bit, this isn't my first experience with an online photo album, I have used one for years, and can see the features that can be used.  I still don't "get it" as what its use would be in my future library world, and quite honestly it won't matter, because when I tried to play around with it at work.....you guessed it....BLOCKED!  I realize that some districts may not have this issue, but considering I hope to stay in my current district I am not spending too much time on getting to know it.  As I said, I already have online photo albums and have no need for another one.  So, Things 3, 4, 5....DONE!

Thing #2

Library 2.0.  It sounds so cutting edge, with the times, the place to be, revolutionary!!  I enjoyed reading the blog written by John Blyberg. He laid it out there on what exactly Library 2.0 is referring to, which was something I admittedly needed.  In fact, just recently my school's librarian came to me asking what it meant....I will be sending her the link to his blog, as I have a better understanding of it, but still feel inadequate in my abilities to explain it.  This hopefully will change before it is time for me to take my comprehensive exams in the spring though. 

Blyberg says in his blog that Library 2.0 is not about the technology.  It is really the revolutionary changes that must take place in the library to keep patrons coming through the doors, logging on to the website, and generally keeping an interest in what the library has to offer. 

I've done everything listed on #2 for the stick list, so I'm going to call it DONE.....but I feel this one won't truly be done for a while.

Thing #1

I've always found blogs intriguing, and honestly, didn't quite understand the purpose of them.  To me it is a publicized diary.  My fear of creating a blog?  Who in the heck would care what I have to say?

The ultimate goal of this blog will be to chronicle my journey of becoming a cyclist, BUT I have a class assignment for the Fall semester, so the blog will be dedicated to what I am required to do in there.  (there might be some cycling stuff thrown in along the way!)

The students of Doc Martens' class have been instructed to complete the "23 things on a stick"   It is an interesting list of various technology/webby type activities.  I know what the majority of them are, have often thought "oh, I'd like to try that", but as with most people, life gets in the way!

The first on the list is to start a blog.  DONE!!!  On to #2.....