Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, December 14, 2008
Just Another Update
Here we are, six months after my last post! To summarize, where do I start? My trip to Norway with my brother Rod, sister Gloria, and brother-in-law Ken was such a great experience. We were gone for 21 days in August and are still reflecting on what an awesome trip it was. If you are interested, check out "some" of our trip pictures and my journal at http://awaage.shutterfly.com. All together we have well over 3000 pictures to choose from, so it has been a bit overwhelming to organize. I still have a long way to go. My journal also is far from complete, but I will be adding to it as time goes on. That is, if I am able to make sense out of all my jottings!
Joel has been back at UMM this semester. In fact, he finished his last final today and is celebrating. As of October 1st he has been renting an apartment in Morris, so he hasn't had the stress of the daily commute. It also gives him more opportunity to get involved in campus activities. He is still tutoring a few hours per week in math, and actually gets paid for it this year! Spanish is still his favorite subject however. During Christmas Break Joel is planning a trip to CA to visit his brother, Karl and sister-in-law Ember.
We wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. May you be blessed in the coming year with God's peace and hope in the midst of uncertainty, and joy in all those immeasurably precious moments that we often take for granted.
We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our grandson in February! Levi & Jessica are expecting their first baby, and he will be our fourth grandchild. Erik and Elisabeth are the parents of Henry, age 10, Calvin, almost 9, and Lydia, who is 6 years old. They are great kids.
Joel has been back at UMM this semester. In fact, he finished his last final today and is celebrating. As of October 1st he has been renting an apartment in Morris, so he hasn't had the stress of the daily commute. It also gives him more opportunity to get involved in campus activities. He is still tutoring a few hours per week in math, and actually gets paid for it this year! Spanish is still his favorite subject however. During Christmas Break Joel is planning a trip to CA to visit his brother, Karl and sister-in-law Ember.
We wish you all a very happy and healthy new year. May you be blessed in the coming year with God's peace and hope in the midst of uncertainty, and joy in all those immeasurably precious moments that we often take for granted.
We are eagerly awaiting the arrival of our grandson in February! Levi & Jessica are expecting their first baby, and he will be our fourth grandchild. Erik and Elisabeth are the parents of Henry, age 10, Calvin, almost 9, and Lydia, who is 6 years old. They are great kids.
Friday, June 27, 2008
Summer Days
In spite of good intentions I haven't done any posting since finishing the 23 Things. So, it's time for an update. We did get through our graduation open house and everything went very well. We had great weather, lots of good food, and a great time with friends and family. Joel is now working at Fleet Farm for the summer and will be attending the U of M at Morris in the fall. He has participated in the PSEO program at UMM for the past two years, so the transition shouldn't require too much of an adjustment. He will still be commuting for this year at least.
Our library is well into the summer program, "Look What's Cookin'... at Your Library!", and our Children's Librarian, Karen Simmons, is doing a fantastic job as usual. Niki, Kim, and Suzi fill the much needed supporting roles in the children's library, although the effect of "school being out" does impact us all. Summer is truly upon us!
Living in Minnesota we know that we have to make the most of these hazy, lazy days of summer. The countdown to Norway is now at 39 days, so I am understandably getting excited! There are, of course, some final details to work out, a big one being how much luggage we girls will be allowed to take! Between now and August 6th I am determined to sneak in some other fun and relaxing getaways along with just enjoying quiet moments in the back yard.
Our library is well into the summer program, "Look What's Cookin'... at Your Library!", and our Children's Librarian, Karen Simmons, is doing a fantastic job as usual. Niki, Kim, and Suzi fill the much needed supporting roles in the children's library, although the effect of "school being out" does impact us all. Summer is truly upon us!
Living in Minnesota we know that we have to make the most of these hazy, lazy days of summer. The countdown to Norway is now at 39 days, so I am understandably getting excited! There are, of course, some final details to work out, a big one being how much luggage we girls will be allowed to take! Between now and August 6th I am determined to sneak in some other fun and relaxing getaways along with just enjoying quiet moments in the back yard.
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Exploring & Promoting the Tools
Recently I have been attempting to help a co-worker create a presentation for a class project. She is combining a podcast with a slides using Picture Trail, but we aren't sure how the timing will work out. Just now I was also looking into Zoho and Thumbstacks to see if one or the other would be something that she could use.
I have been actively participating in Facebook and have 5 friends! So far I have preferred that over doing anything with Google Chat. And now Facebook has Chat also, so I'll probably use that instead.
I have been actively participating in Facebook and have 5 friends! So far I have preferred that over doing anything with Google Chat. And now Facebook has Chat also, so I'll probably use that instead.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Thing 23. Final Thoughts
Well, here I am doing Thing 23!! Almost finished! When I started with Thing 1, my thinking was that this would either be so way beyond my capability or may not be of interest to me. I wasn't at all certain as to how far I would go. I couldn't have guessed that I would hang in there to the end, but one Thing led to another Thing, and then I was hooked!
I can't say that I have connected much with others that are doing 23 Things on a Stick, not yet anyway, but I did join the 23 Things Ning and hope to connect there. Also, there may be some from our library doing the "Things" the next time it's offered, and I would hope to at least be an encourager when that happens. I have made connections in Facebook, of course, and that wouldn't have happened without 23 Things. Also, just becoming more knowledgeable of Web 2.0 has opened doors of conversation with others, especially younger people. I suppose that would fall into the "unexpected outcomes" category.
The overall unexpected outcome of doing 23 Things on a Stick was a reviving of the joy of learning. I never would have guessed that I would enjoy doing it so much that time would go by without even thinking of snacking or eating! The positive outcome of that was losing a few pounds! A somewhat negative outcome has been that I haven't been doing much reading at all while doing the "Things".
I have a hard time coming up with "favorite Things" and "least favorite Things". Some "Things" were obviously more fun, like Flickr and the Online Image Generators, but some of the more challenging and frustrating, like the ELM Productivity Tools, are probably the most useful in our work.
With respect to improving the program in any way, I do have one suggestion that was inspired by the WebJunction article in Thing 21, "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library". The examples were very specific. I think it would be helpful to propose a real or imagined scenario and then demonstrate how to apply a certain web tool to it. It's fine to ask for participants' ideas of how to use the tools, but frankly we need help to see the possibilities from those who are much farther along. At least I do. Perhaps a typical situation could be presented in which the old way of handling it could be contrasted with a new approach using the Library 2.0 tools. Or maybe there could be an assignment for participants to work together in a team project in which each one is given the task of applying a particular tool, or otherwise, to be responsible for a particular aspect and use whatever tools they find appropriate.
I appreciate the opportunity provided through 23 Things on a Stick to learn about web tools that, at most, I had only heard about. Where else could I get this training, and to be able to do it at my own pace, in my own setting, and at no cost to me? 23 Things has enabled me to break through a sort of information barrier that, from my age and perspective, I would not have thought possible. I would be very interested in participating in future learning programs of this sort, but not without having a break. Having been exposed to so much new information through 23 Things in just a few weeks, I will need some time to digest and attempt to apply what I have been learning. I also need to get ready for my son's high school graduation, learn a few words of Norwegian before my trip in August, and yes, read a few good books!
Thank You! Thank You! This has been an amazing experience, and I am so glad that I did it.
I can't say that I have connected much with others that are doing 23 Things on a Stick, not yet anyway, but I did join the 23 Things Ning and hope to connect there. Also, there may be some from our library doing the "Things" the next time it's offered, and I would hope to at least be an encourager when that happens. I have made connections in Facebook, of course, and that wouldn't have happened without 23 Things. Also, just becoming more knowledgeable of Web 2.0 has opened doors of conversation with others, especially younger people. I suppose that would fall into the "unexpected outcomes" category.
The overall unexpected outcome of doing 23 Things on a Stick was a reviving of the joy of learning. I never would have guessed that I would enjoy doing it so much that time would go by without even thinking of snacking or eating! The positive outcome of that was losing a few pounds! A somewhat negative outcome has been that I haven't been doing much reading at all while doing the "Things".
I have a hard time coming up with "favorite Things" and "least favorite Things". Some "Things" were obviously more fun, like Flickr and the Online Image Generators, but some of the more challenging and frustrating, like the ELM Productivity Tools, are probably the most useful in our work.
With respect to improving the program in any way, I do have one suggestion that was inspired by the WebJunction article in Thing 21, "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library". The examples were very specific. I think it would be helpful to propose a real or imagined scenario and then demonstrate how to apply a certain web tool to it. It's fine to ask for participants' ideas of how to use the tools, but frankly we need help to see the possibilities from those who are much farther along. At least I do. Perhaps a typical situation could be presented in which the old way of handling it could be contrasted with a new approach using the Library 2.0 tools. Or maybe there could be an assignment for participants to work together in a team project in which each one is given the task of applying a particular tool, or otherwise, to be responsible for a particular aspect and use whatever tools they find appropriate.
I appreciate the opportunity provided through 23 Things on a Stick to learn about web tools that, at most, I had only heard about. Where else could I get this training, and to be able to do it at my own pace, in my own setting, and at no cost to me? 23 Things has enabled me to break through a sort of information barrier that, from my age and perspective, I would not have thought possible. I would be very interested in participating in future learning programs of this sort, but not without having a break. Having been exposed to so much new information through 23 Things in just a few weeks, I will need some time to digest and attempt to apply what I have been learning. I also need to get ready for my son's high school graduation, learn a few words of Norwegian before my trip in August, and yes, read a few good books!
Thank You! Thank You! This has been an amazing experience, and I am so glad that I did it.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Thing 22. What Did I Learn Today?
I do resolve to keep up my blog, to use what I have learned in 23 Things and to continue to be on the lookout for new tools and ideas. I'm already hooked on Facebook, Flickr, my "tewdew" calendar, my email, etc., so that part will be easy. I did set up RSS feeds for ALA TechSource, LibraryBytes, and Web2 to help me keep up with Library 2.0. How could I forget anyway!? It will be fun to go back to the "Things" and explore a little more. I plan to check out some of the topics in OPAL and the Webinars and hope to gain a better understanding of ELM in particular. We will also be having some staff training on ELM in May. I don't really have many opportunities to apply Library 2.0 tools to the particular job that I do at the library, but I will try to promote their use when appropriate. In my personal world, I think about wikis a lot, wondering if a wiki would work here or there! How about a wiki for our homeschool group, a wiki for the co-op buying club that I belong to, or a wiki just for our family? Wikis are intriguing!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thing 21. Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks
In this Thing I first tried the link to the "MySpace for Books" article, but it didn't work. I wondered if the intention was for us to search for it, so I tried various ways and couldn't find it. Thankfully, once I noticed the comments at the end of Thing 21, the problem was solved, and I was able to read the two articles. The example of "Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library" is so appealing and makes sense, yet it seems that it is just beyond our reach at this point. One "thing" at a time, however, and soon we will be there.
I joined the 23 Things on a Stick Ning. I filled out my profile, picked a theme and connected my blog to it. Next, I added the 23 Things badge to my blog and then commented on a fellow members page.
I also joined another Ning that was of personal interest to me.
I joined the 23 Things on a Stick Ning. I filled out my profile, picked a theme and connected my blog to it. Next, I added the 23 Things badge to my blog and then commented on a fellow members page.
I also joined another Ning that was of personal interest to me.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thing 20. Libraries and Social Networks
I chose to register with Facebook in part because I've heard that it is more private than MySpace, but also because my son is a member of Facebook, and he is allowing me to be his friend! I also "friended" with another homeschool mom. I put a few names into the search and thiink I found a long-lost friend from the early '80's! She and her family had moved to another state, and then another, and we had lost contact with them. So, now we'll see if she wants to "friend" with me!
I filled out a profile to a certain degree and will perhaps submit a photo eventually. Only "friends" are able to see my profile, and I like that, but there are other privacy options that I may want to apply also. Several groups sound interesting to me, but for now I just joined the Library 2.0 Interest Group. I added a message to the Discussion Board and wrote on my son's wall too.
I'm not sure what to think of some of the motivation to being on Facebook. For example, what's the point of having 1433 friends on Facebook? Is that just an ego trip or what?
I did some more Facebook searches and was surprised to find my older brother, so maybe we can be friends as well as siblings!
I filled out a profile to a certain degree and will perhaps submit a photo eventually. Only "friends" are able to see my profile, and I like that, but there are other privacy options that I may want to apply also. Several groups sound interesting to me, but for now I just joined the Library 2.0 Interest Group. I added a message to the Discussion Board and wrote on my son's wall too.
I'm not sure what to think of some of the motivation to being on Facebook. For example, what's the point of having 1433 friends on Facebook? Is that just an ego trip or what?
I did some more Facebook searches and was surprised to find my older brother, so maybe we can be friends as well as siblings!
Sunday, April 6, 2008
Thing 19. Podcasts
For Thing 19 I first visited the Minnesota Public Radio podcast site and linked to America Public Media. I was interested in the Writer's Almanac podcast but was unable to subscribe to it, possibly because I don't have the necessary podcast software. Back at MPR I found the Grammar Grater, listened to some of it and then added the podcast to my blog. I looked at Yahoo Podcasts and also the Educational Podcast Directory where I found and subscribed to the First Amendment Minute.
I set up my own podcast with Gcast, and now I am able to podcast to it by phone. I'm not sure what to put on it yet, but I'll think of something I'm sure!
I set up my own podcast with Gcast, and now I am able to podcast to it by phone. I'm not sure what to put on it yet, but I'll think of something I'm sure!
Saturday, April 5, 2008
Thing 18. YouTube & Other Online Video
After exploring YouTube and Google Video, I chose two videos to post in my blog. The first one is "Mr. Bean at the Library". My family loves Mr. Bean, so that was an easy choice. I also selected "America's Got Talent (Chicago)-Terry Fator", not only because he is an AMAZING ventriloquist, but because his interest in ventriloquism began at age 10 with a BOOK he found at his school library!! That's inspiring, isn't it?! There are several videos of Mr. Fator doing his ventriloquist impressions of famous singers, and I think they are awesome.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thing 17. ELM Productivity Tools
Wow, I feel that I am in way over my head in Thing 17. I have known that ELM is something so huge, but have wanted to give it a serious try someday. Thankfully our reference librarian has a good understanding of ELM, and I have been very comfortable leaving it all up to her!
To start, I went to the InfoTrac Student Edition database and attempted to do the suggested search for "youth smoking" and set up an RSS feed to Bloglines. After trying a few times and getting nowhere, I read the 23 Things #8 News and deleted ".prodigy.elm4you.org" from the URL as indicated, but it still didn't read it as a valid feed. Somehow though I was able to get the feed on my Favorites Center. I don't prefer having it there, but we'll hope that it works. I did do the email choice too, so I'll wait to see what shows up and where.
Next, I set up an account in Academic Search Premier and followed all the instructions to set up my web pages or personal folder or whatever. I named my web page, added text, and downloaded it to my computer, but I really don't understand what this is all about or what I'm supposed to use it for. I added a search for a particular medical condition to my Favorites Center Feeds also, so we'll see about that one too. I really don't know what I'm doing.
I did the search in ProQuest Newsstand Complete and followed the instructions to create a web page and download the search. Then I emailed the search summary to myself. It worked, but I still don't really understand much of what's happening.
I next created an account with NetLibrary and did a search in eContent as suggested. I found the ebook and the pages that contained "branding", and then I added a note to the Favorites and Notes.
The information available in ELM seems unlimited. I know it can be extremely valuable to those who know how to access all that information easily. For me, however, I know that I have a long, long way to go in comprehending how to reap the benefits of ELM without it being overwhelming. I'm sure learning increases more rapidly with use, but at this point I will still be relying on our reference librarian! I do plan to check out the Webinars that have to do with ELM.
In the midst of my frustrations with Thing 17, I learned that we will be having some staff training on ELM at our library in May. So, there's hope. Meanwhile I am getting some Gale Search Alerts.
To start, I went to the InfoTrac Student Edition database and attempted to do the suggested search for "youth smoking" and set up an RSS feed to Bloglines. After trying a few times and getting nowhere, I read the 23 Things #8 News and deleted ".prodigy.elm4you.org" from the URL as indicated, but it still didn't read it as a valid feed. Somehow though I was able to get the feed on my Favorites Center. I don't prefer having it there, but we'll hope that it works. I did do the email choice too, so I'll wait to see what shows up and where.
Next, I set up an account in Academic Search Premier and followed all the instructions to set up my web pages or personal folder or whatever. I named my web page, added text, and downloaded it to my computer, but I really don't understand what this is all about or what I'm supposed to use it for. I added a search for a particular medical condition to my Favorites Center Feeds also, so we'll see about that one too. I really don't know what I'm doing.
I did the search in ProQuest Newsstand Complete and followed the instructions to create a web page and download the search. Then I emailed the search summary to myself. It worked, but I still don't really understand much of what's happening.
I next created an account with NetLibrary and did a search in eContent as suggested. I found the ebook and the pages that contained "branding", and then I added a note to the Favorites and Notes.
The information available in ELM seems unlimited. I know it can be extremely valuable to those who know how to access all that information easily. For me, however, I know that I have a long, long way to go in comprehending how to reap the benefits of ELM without it being overwhelming. I'm sure learning increases more rapidly with use, but at this point I will still be relying on our reference librarian! I do plan to check out the Webinars that have to do with ELM.
In the midst of my frustrations with Thing 17, I learned that we will be having some staff training on ELM at our library in May. So, there's hope. Meanwhile I am getting some Gale Search Alerts.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Thing 16. Student 2.0 Tools
I took a look at the Research Project Calculator (RPC) and the Assignment Calculator and put in an imaginary assignment just to see how it works. The assignment was broken down into 12 steps. I can see that this resource would be very helpful to students, and I am going to recommend it to my son who is a PSEO University student. It would also be good to promote the awareness of this resource within our libraries, to students and parents of students in particular. Our homeschooling community, both teachers and students, will appreciate this helpful educational aid, not only for projects and reports, but also for planning field trips, etc. I'm wondering if it would work for my own personal life projects and events, like planning and preparing for Christmas or for my son's graduation. It might work for those who plan library events as well.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Thing 15. Online Games and Libraries
Second Life is an amazing creation, a 3-D virtual world that includes library services online in game format. I joined Second Life first, rather than Puzzle Pirates, because it appeared to be the more "adult" choice. I was able to take the tour of Info Island, and as we passed by the beach, I had like a deja vu experience. I am quite sure that the Info Island beach is the location of my avatar! No kidding! Really. Needless to say, I felt quite at home. I was intrigued with the concept of the virtual community and wanted to proceed further into Second Life but was unable to fully download it. Second Life seems like a very fun and inviting way to explore library resources.
Next, I decided to try Puzzle Pirates and set up an account there. I started the game at the Bilge Duty Station and although I successfully completed the mission three times, I remained at the "learning" stage. Even so, I presumptiously assumed myself to be ready for the Navigation Duty Station and was told that, as a novice, I didn't belong there. Embarrassing! OK, so I went on over to the Carpentry Duty Station and did manage to complete one "masterpiece" work. Alas, I never did get past the "learning" stage there either. Someday I'll give it another try, but probably stick to the bilge duty until I get good at that. I was surprised to see that there were over 3700 Puzzle Pirate players online at the same time as I was.
Next, I decided to try Puzzle Pirates and set up an account there. I started the game at the Bilge Duty Station and although I successfully completed the mission three times, I remained at the "learning" stage. Even so, I presumptiously assumed myself to be ready for the Navigation Duty Station and was told that, as a novice, I didn't belong there. Embarrassing! OK, so I went on over to the Carpentry Duty Station and did manage to complete one "masterpiece" work. Alas, I never did get past the "learning" stage there either. Someday I'll give it another try, but probably stick to the bilge duty until I get good at that. I was surprised to see that there were over 3700 Puzzle Pirate players online at the same time as I was.
Spring Thoughts
It's time to update my template and Avatar. Winter is past...I hope, anyway.
My calendar/to do list is working out pretty well, but I'm not sure that I'll ever get as much satisfaction out of deleting an item as I do by crossing through it on a paper list. I like to see what is DONE, not only what's left to do! I am being tempted to compromise and print out a copy. Sort of a crutch until I am fully reprogrammed! The goal, though, is to hopefully eliminate most or all of the scrappy lists I have scattered throughout the house. Spring IS a great time to sort, sift and organize STUFF, so I'll try hard to apply what I am learning in Library 2.0.
My calendar/to do list is working out pretty well, but I'm not sure that I'll ever get as much satisfaction out of deleting an item as I do by crossing through it on a paper list. I like to see what is DONE, not only what's left to do! I am being tempted to compromise and print out a copy. Sort of a crutch until I am fully reprogrammed! The goal, though, is to hopefully eliminate most or all of the scrappy lists I have scattered throughout the house. Spring IS a great time to sort, sift and organize STUFF, so I'll try hard to apply what I am learning in Library 2.0.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thing 14. Library Thing
I now have an account in Library Thing and have 33 books in my library. The account is free for up to 200 books. I don't actually own all of the books, of course, but it is a quick list of books that I am either currently reading or that I would recommend to others. Some are more recent and/or popular while others are not. I did link my catalog to my blog, but haven't done any tagging or reviews yet.
Library Thing for Libraries allows libraries to socially browse and share data by adding tag clouds, recommendations, ratings and reviews to their catalogs. I think our library users would welcome those features.
My Library Thing book list keeps on growing! I've added more since I started this post. I had vaguely hoped to find something like this when I started 23 Things so that's good, and Library Thing is so much more sophisticated than I could have imagined possible.
Library Thing for Libraries allows libraries to socially browse and share data by adding tag clouds, recommendations, ratings and reviews to their catalogs. I think our library users would welcome those features.
My Library Thing book list keeps on growing! I've added more since I started this post. I had vaguely hoped to find something like this when I started 23 Things so that's good, and Library Thing is so much more sophisticated than I could have imagined possible.
Monday, March 24, 2008
Thing 13. Online Productivity Tools
I decided to use iGoogle for my start page and spent A LOT of time selecting various gadgets to add to it. It took awhile to get it all downloaded on the page, and then I had to rearrange them of course. I have cat photos, dog photos, weather, lots of news and polical stuff, a Bible verse for the day, DVD releases, a language translator, a currency converter, and an Eiffel Tower Mini Cam. Note that the last three may be part of a plan, or at least a dream. And in case you missed it, my birthday Countdown gidget is right here on my blog! I haven't made my iGoogle page my permanent home page since I share this computer with other family members, but I have my list of Favorites and that works just fine.
I took a look at the calendars on "The Web's Best Calendar" and also 30 Boxes. Some were easier to get to than others, and the Backpack calendar wasn't free. All together I have signed up for a lot of sites, especially in this Thing. Will there be any reason that I may regret that? I can see where this type of calendar would be good for sharing in a work or even family situation, however I was looking for something that would simply combine my personal calendar and To Do list. I don't need time slots since most of my tasks are just needing to get done during that day (or occasionally put off until tomorrow!). I signed up for a Ta-da list account but wasn't crazy about it. I also found that iGoogle has a Todo Gadget, but it only has room for a few items. So..., I googled calendars and found that Brown Bear software at www.calendars.net was more appropriate for my needs. Unlike the others, the days on the monthly calendar in Brown Bear expand to include as many items as necessary, so they are always visible. No need to click to look behind the scenes. They are right in my face! No excuses. I may find something even better later, but for now I think it will work.
Without a doubt I have spent more time on this Thing than any other, but I am quite certain that it will be a great help to me. There is just so much potential here to organize, organize, organize, and I love my iGoogle page!
I took a look at the calendars on "The Web's Best Calendar" and also 30 Boxes. Some were easier to get to than others, and the Backpack calendar wasn't free. All together I have signed up for a lot of sites, especially in this Thing. Will there be any reason that I may regret that? I can see where this type of calendar would be good for sharing in a work or even family situation, however I was looking for something that would simply combine my personal calendar and To Do list. I don't need time slots since most of my tasks are just needing to get done during that day (or occasionally put off until tomorrow!). I signed up for a Ta-da list account but wasn't crazy about it. I also found that iGoogle has a Todo Gadget, but it only has room for a few items. So..., I googled calendars and found that Brown Bear software at www.calendars.net was more appropriate for my needs. Unlike the others, the days on the monthly calendar in Brown Bear expand to include as many items as necessary, so they are always visible. No need to click to look behind the scenes. They are right in my face! No excuses. I may find something even better later, but for now I think it will work.
Without a doubt I have spent more time on this Thing than any other, but I am quite certain that it will be a great help to me. There is just so much potential here to organize, organize, organize, and I love my iGoogle page!
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Thing 12. Do You Digg?
Well, well, well! I am already busy sticking things (no pun intended!) into my Del.icio.us account. Really slick. Now I'll have to decide how or if I need to organize them.
For Thing 12, I started comparing the four recommended social media sites and thought I would sign up for one or two. Newsvine didn't appeal to me at all. Digg is a popular one and, I liked the tour they give. Also, it brings back the old saying from the 60's , "dig it", and I can relate to that! I like the idea that you can "dig and bury" an article too, but not completely of course. My first impression of Mixx was that it is very well organized, so I joined that one too. Reddit's recommended links become more specific according to your selections, but maybe they are all that way, I don't know. StumbleUpon does indicate that it becomes more personalized as you go along. I joined those two also, and I like the Stumble icon on the toolbar with the thumbs up and down.
I did select a couple of articles to share. Both had already been submitted, but it's interesting to see when that was, the number of votes it has received, and then read the comments.
This capability can be very helpful, but, as in so many things, it has both ups and downs. Too much of a good thing is just too much! I know that it is easy to start out with one article and then go from link to link to the point where I can hardly remember what I was doing in the first place! But now we're talking about time and discipline, since there is just no end to what we can read, even if it's narrowed down to our own preferred interests.
In my personal life I don't necessarily place a lot of importance on what is considered popular by the masses, yet I think it's fun to imagine that my "diggs" may give my perspective a better chance to be heard. In our library work setting I can see where it's good to know what's being talked about. We can especially zero in on those library related news items to share and generate discussion.
For Thing 12, I started comparing the four recommended social media sites and thought I would sign up for one or two. Newsvine didn't appeal to me at all. Digg is a popular one and, I liked the tour they give. Also, it brings back the old saying from the 60's , "dig it", and I can relate to that! I like the idea that you can "dig and bury" an article too, but not completely of course. My first impression of Mixx was that it is very well organized, so I joined that one too. Reddit's recommended links become more specific according to your selections, but maybe they are all that way, I don't know. StumbleUpon does indicate that it becomes more personalized as you go along. I joined those two also, and I like the Stumble icon on the toolbar with the thumbs up and down.
I did select a couple of articles to share. Both had already been submitted, but it's interesting to see when that was, the number of votes it has received, and then read the comments.
This capability can be very helpful, but, as in so many things, it has both ups and downs. Too much of a good thing is just too much! I know that it is easy to start out with one article and then go from link to link to the point where I can hardly remember what I was doing in the first place! But now we're talking about time and discipline, since there is just no end to what we can read, even if it's narrowed down to our own preferred interests.
In my personal life I don't necessarily place a lot of importance on what is considered popular by the masses, yet I think it's fun to imagine that my "diggs" may give my perspective a better chance to be heard. In our library work setting I can see where it's good to know what's being talked about. We can especially zero in on those library related news items to share and generate discussion.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Thing 11. Tagging and Del.icio.us
I started out Thing 11 by adding tags to two of my posts. It was hard to know what words to use when I don't know yet what I may be using them for. But they can be changed later. Also, Del.icio.us has suggested tags.
I watched the video podcast and also read through the "Seven Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking", which I thought was very helpful. Comparing the methods of the two professors makes it easy to see the benefits of tagging and book marking. It is so much more efficient than just starting from scratch and googling, but it will take awhile to break the old habits.
I thought the San Mateo Library Del.icio.us site was interesting because it had its bookmarks organized by the dewey system. That would be great for library users doing research but will require a lot of new thinking for everyone.
I did set up a Del.icio.us account along with the bookmarklets. Now I will try to get the habit of using it. Like with a lot of things, in order to be more efficient, it takes more time at first.
I watched the video podcast and also read through the "Seven Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking", which I thought was very helpful. Comparing the methods of the two professors makes it easy to see the benefits of tagging and book marking. It is so much more efficient than just starting from scratch and googling, but it will take awhile to break the old habits.
I thought the San Mateo Library Del.icio.us site was interesting because it had its bookmarks organized by the dewey system. That would be great for library users doing research but will require a lot of new thinking for everyone.
I did set up a Del.icio.us account along with the bookmarklets. Now I will try to get the habit of using it. Like with a lot of things, in order to be more efficient, it takes more time at first.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Thing 10. Wikis
Wikis are amazing, something that we couldn't have dreamed of years ago. It is a fantastic new way to have a collection of information, on any subject imaginable, that can be continually expanded, revised, and updated. The most revolutionary aspect of a wiki is the concept that most anyone can have free access to add or edit the content. Actually, that is a little unnerving. Kinda tough for control freaks to know that somebody can change what they've written! And then there is the question of accuracy. For that reason, I can understand why teachers may not allow students to use Wikipedia as a research source. But then, can we believe everything we hear and read anyway? Maybe Wikis will teach us all to be a bit more skeptical of all our sources and resources!
I watched the Common Craft video, "Wikis in Plain English" and "got it". The other recommended resources were interesting and helpful too, more with regard to how wikis can be used in library situations. Within libraries, wikis can be used for sharing staff information, for keeping policies up to date, or as a subject guide. The Library Success Wiki is more of an example of how libraries can share ideas, successes and innovations with each other through the wiki format. I found a list of librarians who IM on that site. A library wiki can also be set up to function as a community resource finder that can be added to or edited by community members. The SJCPL wiki was a great example of that. A wiki would be a great site for book summaries, book reviews, and recommendations similar to what Amazon has. All of this would, of course, have to be set up and monitored to some degree, but since the input is from whoever and wherever a wiki can take on a life of its own perhaps.
I, Miss Turrey, visited the 23 Things wiki and left my stiki wiki footprint!
I watched the Common Craft video, "Wikis in Plain English" and "got it". The other recommended resources were interesting and helpful too, more with regard to how wikis can be used in library situations. Within libraries, wikis can be used for sharing staff information, for keeping policies up to date, or as a subject guide. The Library Success Wiki is more of an example of how libraries can share ideas, successes and innovations with each other through the wiki format. I found a list of librarians who IM on that site. A library wiki can also be set up to function as a community resource finder that can be added to or edited by community members. The SJCPL wiki was a great example of that. A wiki would be a great site for book summaries, book reviews, and recommendations similar to what Amazon has. All of this would, of course, have to be set up and monitored to some degree, but since the input is from whoever and wherever a wiki can take on a life of its own perhaps.
I, Miss Turrey, visited the 23 Things wiki and left my stiki wiki footprint!
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Thing 9. Online Collaboration Tools
My first attempts at editing in Google Docs were unsuccessful, so I assumed that I needed to get permission. I'm not sure though, since it could have just been that I had misspelled my password. Duh! Anyway, I got permission whether I needed it or not, and then was able to edit the document, the Declaration of Independence. Wow. Another cool tool from Library 2.0! For a group this would work so much better than trying to do it through email.
I think that the Founding Fathers would be pleased to know that after almost 232 years we still consider their document to be important and that the country that was formed still exists. I can imagine that they would appreciate our taking the time to try to comprehend the issues of freedom they were declaring and would encourage us to look at current circumstances in that same light. In other words, if they were here now, what would they think of the country they formed? And how would they try change it?
I think that the Founding Fathers would be pleased to know that after almost 232 years we still consider their document to be important and that the country that was formed still exists. I can imagine that they would appreciate our taking the time to try to comprehend the issues of freedom they were declaring and would encourage us to look at current circumstances in that same light. In other words, if they were here now, what would they think of the country they formed? And how would they try change it?
Friday, March 14, 2008
Thing 8. Share Your Creations
I chose to use Picture trail to share pictures from our son's wedding in CA. They were already on our computer, so that made it easier for me. I tried several of the Flicks formats and think they are really fun, but since I had to choose one, I went with the Zoom and Fade. I don't know why the right side is cut off, but, oh well, there's a lot that I don't know!
I took a look at EFolio and think it would be a useful tool to maintain a resume or just keep track of a person's life history. Something to recommend to my graduating senior.
Lazybase could be useful to record books I've read or want to read. Also, it might be a good place to keep up a membership directory for our local homeschool group.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
More Thing 7. Web Conferencing
The WebJunction Into to Web Conferencing was informational. What's great about online learning is that it is brought to us and doesn't require travel time or cost. I would think that technical hurdles would be the biggest problem. I checked out both the MINITEX Webinars and the OPAL programs and found the OPAL presentation to be more inviting and the Master Schedule easier to navigate.
I chose to "attend" the program "Batter Up! Baseball at the Library of Congress" and accessed it at the announced time. I was surprised to hear Tom Peters welcome ME to the program! That was spooky. I didn't answer him, but I wondered if he could hear me breathing! Unfortunately, the program had been canceled due to a lack of interest, so there were just the three presenters, Tom, Judy and Peter, and one participant, me. Weird. I listened in live while they discussed the reasons for the poor response and the possibility of rescheduling the program closer to baseball's opening day, March 31. They also contemplated various ways to advertise the program, including message boards and Facebook.
Next, I located a program in the OPAL Archives that interested me, "Censorship: How It Affects Libraries & Library Patrons in a Democracy". It was given in Sept 2006 by Melora Norman, the Outreach/Special Services Coordinator for the Maine State Library. Not being a live program I couldn't interact if I had wanted to, however, I was able to follow the dialogue on the left side of the screen and hear the question and answer session at the end. Doing a program from the Archives had the advantage of being able to replay anything that I wanted repeated. Her presentation was very interesting and covered selection vs. censorship, the history of censorship, individual and parental responsibility, and in general the challenge of maintaining freedom of expression while considering possible needs for protection.
I chose to "attend" the program "Batter Up! Baseball at the Library of Congress" and accessed it at the announced time. I was surprised to hear Tom Peters welcome ME to the program! That was spooky. I didn't answer him, but I wondered if he could hear me breathing! Unfortunately, the program had been canceled due to a lack of interest, so there were just the three presenters, Tom, Judy and Peter, and one participant, me. Weird. I listened in live while they discussed the reasons for the poor response and the possibility of rescheduling the program closer to baseball's opening day, March 31. They also contemplated various ways to advertise the program, including message boards and Facebook.
Next, I located a program in the OPAL Archives that interested me, "Censorship: How It Affects Libraries & Library Patrons in a Democracy". It was given in Sept 2006 by Melora Norman, the Outreach/Special Services Coordinator for the Maine State Library. Not being a live program I couldn't interact if I had wanted to, however, I was able to follow the dialogue on the left side of the screen and hear the question and answer session at the end. Doing a program from the Archives had the advantage of being able to replay anything that I wanted repeated. Her presentation was very interesting and covered selection vs. censorship, the history of censorship, individual and parental responsibility, and in general the challenge of maintaining freedom of expression while considering possible needs for protection.
Thing 7. Web 2.0 Communication Tools
Our library uses email as an alternative choice for our users to be notified of their holds. It would seem to be more productive in that it communicates to those patrons in their preferred manner. We assume that they get the message faster since they likely check their email more often than an answering machine. It certainly is a step up from having to send a card in the mail because a phone number is no longer in service. Also, our reference librarian does receive and respond to a fair amount of email.
I didn't find any Instant Messaging going on in our library, but hopefully that will change soon! For now, I got set up with Google Talk to chat with my son and a couple of his friends. I added my sister-in-law also, but she likely doesn't recognize my username. I will have to call or email her to clue her in to accept me as a Google Talk friend. I had trouble getting started by using the Google Talk link. It's not obvious what to do next. A faster way to go is to go to http://google.com/talk and then the Launch Google Talk Gadget. There is no download required. It took me awhile to locate the place to type a message since it is at the very bottom of the page.
By the way, yesterday my feeds on Bloglines were GONE, and I can't understand why that would be. Are they lost forever or just hiding somewhere? I added them all, again, plus a few more, and am hoping that it doesn't continue to happen.
I didn't find any Instant Messaging going on in our library, but hopefully that will change soon! For now, I got set up with Google Talk to chat with my son and a couple of his friends. I added my sister-in-law also, but she likely doesn't recognize my username. I will have to call or email her to clue her in to accept me as a Google Talk friend. I had trouble getting started by using the Google Talk link. It's not obvious what to do next. A faster way to go is to go to http://google.com/talk and then the Launch Google Talk Gadget. There is no download required. It took me awhile to locate the place to type a message since it is at the very bottom of the page.
By the way, yesterday my feeds on Bloglines were GONE, and I can't understand why that would be. Are they lost forever or just hiding somewhere? I added them all, again, plus a few more, and am hoping that it doesn't continue to happen.
Monday, March 10, 2008
Doing the "Things"
In response to a co-worker's comment after my Spelling With Flickr post, I guess I need to offer a more balanced account of my experiences in doing the "Things". According to her, I am making it look too easy. This is all very challenging, but if I can do it, she can do it much better! I begin each "Thing" with optimism, plunging right in, but soon become overwhelmed and bottom out thinking "this is too hard". I try this, and that, over and over, and eventually manage to accomplish something. If anyone has my blog on their RSS feed I wonder if they see all of my posts that are unsuccessful and have to be deleted! Like when I get the title of a picture and no picture. Again and again! By the time I write my post reflections I have surfaced and am relieved to have had some success, so then of course I sound quite positive. It is not an easy process, however. I've had a lot of trouble trying to copy the URLs and had more success saving a picture to my computer and then uploading.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thing 6. Online Image Generators
A new twist on Grandma's Brag Book! Yes, I know my trading card creation is personal and not library related, but just knowing that such a thing exists can generate some creative thinking in that setting as well. I used to think that Clip Art was wonderful, but look at what we can do now! The job that I have doesn't really require much or any creativity, but I can imagine that these tools could be very useful in the children's library especially. That is, if the time and resources are available.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Sunday, March 2, 2008
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Thing 5. More Flickr Fun
As you can see, I did the mosaic and think it is a very fun tool. I realize that the "flower" tag is not a very imaginative one, but, hey, I had to start somewhere! I did try some of the other recommended mashups and had trouble getting them onto my blog. I hope to conquer the technicalities, however, because I think this is great stuff and the possibilities are endless.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Thing 4. Photosharing with Flikr
The first thing I did for Thing #4 was to check out the 23 Things Flikr account, and there I recognized a co-worker on pictures from the MEMO Midwinter Conference. Then I took a peek at the Library of Congress account and know that I will want to spend a lot more time there. I absolutely love what the St. Ben's and St. John's libraries have done with the "add a note" feature. It would be awesome to be able to browse a whole library that way! The Common Craft video was, as usual, fairly simple to understand. I need a lot of that! Simple, I mean.
Even though I chose to do the first option for Thing #4, I did eventually create an account in Flikr also. That was fairly easy, and then I spent some time exploring and doing the Flikr Learn More tour. The pictures are so interesting. I think I could have too much fun looking at "just one more page", and then "just one more"! I would feel some degree of vulnerability sharing my own personal photos, I think, but that's what makes it so interesting for the viewer! I probably will limit my sharing to the occasional picture that is extremely special or has some important message to share. My teenage son uses Shutterfly to store and share our family pictures, so I'll probably leave that up to him for now. I experimented with using a few keywords and then located the picture I had in mind for my blog. I did manage to upload it, but I really didn't feel confident at each point to know where to go or what to do next. It seems like I take the long route for everything I do and probably add so many extra steps because I don't understand how to take a shortcut. Hopefully I can become more efficient, and it will go more smoothly each time.
Just one more thing. I have discovered another one of those "unintended consequences", and it's a good one. While I am doing my 23 Things on a Stick I get so absorbed in it that I don't even think about snacking! No mindless eating. Wow! I wonder how long that will last.
Even though I chose to do the first option for Thing #4, I did eventually create an account in Flikr also. That was fairly easy, and then I spent some time exploring and doing the Flikr Learn More tour. The pictures are so interesting. I think I could have too much fun looking at "just one more page", and then "just one more"! I would feel some degree of vulnerability sharing my own personal photos, I think, but that's what makes it so interesting for the viewer! I probably will limit my sharing to the occasional picture that is extremely special or has some important message to share. My teenage son uses Shutterfly to store and share our family pictures, so I'll probably leave that up to him for now. I experimented with using a few keywords and then located the picture I had in mind for my blog. I did manage to upload it, but I really didn't feel confident at each point to know where to go or what to do next. It seems like I take the long route for everything I do and probably add so many extra steps because I don't understand how to take a shortcut. Hopefully I can become more efficient, and it will go more smoothly each time.
Just one more thing. I have discovered another one of those "unintended consequences", and it's a good one. While I am doing my 23 Things on a Stick I get so absorbed in it that I don't even think about snacking! No mindless eating. Wow! I wonder how long that will last.
God's Smile
Last week I was in our local medical clinic for the routine lab tests preceding an exam. As the technician was sticking the needle in my vein, I looked up and saw this amazing picture. Great timing! I was happy to find it in Flikr so that I can share it in my blog.
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Thing 3. Set Up an RSS Account & Add Feeds
Reading about RSS was at first hard to understand with so much new terminology. It is like learning another language. I did find a dictionary of Web 2.0 terms at www.webopedia.com/Web_2_0, which should be helpful, but I found the video at Common Craft to be just what I needed to start. It was very simple, but well done and entertaining. I just had to show it to my husband and son who weren't familiar with RSS either. RSS is obviously a great shortcut. I chose Bloglines to set up my account. After scrolling through the Favorite Feeds, I selected three news sites and then added 6 co-worker's blogs, a political site and the Shifted Librarian. My son showed me how to copy and paste some of the URLs, but later I found some good directions in the CNET Video and Feed Me. RSS makes the web more personalized and manageable and would be a terrific time saver for anyone.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Thing 2. What is Library 2.0?
Before starting Thing #2 I decided to change my template and also add sunglasses and a dog to my avatar. That was fun.
What is Library 2.0? This is all very new to me, and I feel that any observations I have will be extremely elementary and obvious. The thought of putting myself and my thoughts out there to be seen and read by who knows who, especially by my co-workers, is somewhat intimidating. Perhaps that is relevant to the "trust factor" discussed in the article, "The Ongoing Web Revolution". Having watched the video of Stephen Abram, my limited understanding of Library 2.0 is that it is a presentation of what already exists in the web world, Web 2.0, translated into something that can be used in our library work settings and in our personal lives.
John Blyberg's blog and the comments that followed indicate that there are those who question the need or usefulness of Library 2.0, not only those who are just hearing about it and have no interest, but those who are accomplished Web 2.0 users who think that Web 2.0 is enough. Library 2.0 is a bridge for the rest of us to learn to use the tools that are already out there. Our library users that are tech savvy are aware of the possibilities and will be looking for our libraries to adapt accordingly. Of course a balance has to be maintained where one age or interest group isn't appeased at the expense of another, but those tech savvy youth are going to be around for awhile! Followed by more of the same. Furthermore, even though not everyone will want what we can offer through Library 2.0, there's a good chance they will in 2 years or 5 years. Obviously not every aspect of Library 2.0 is going to be useful or beneficial in every setting, but there certainly shouldn't have to be an "all or nothing" acceptance or application.
It's hard to imagine what libraries, and ours in particular, will look like in 10, 20, or 50 years. However, we likely have clues presented to us every day that are either ignored or considered to be an intrusion on what we are currently doing. We too readily associate change with disruption and cost and don't try to envision the benefit. Change does involve cost and choices and I'm thankful to not have to make those hard decisions. Change also involves attitudes, and that does include us all. We can say, "We have never had or done that, and never will", or we can allow some room for speculation and at least put the idea on the back burner. Something that may seem foolishly unnecessary today has a way of becoming essential in time. The future isn't something or somewhere that we will suddenly, magically arrive at in 10, 20, or 50 years after vigorously defending and maintaining the status quo. The future is today, tomorrow and next week.
I was especially intrigued with the idea of potentially being able to browse a "wall of books" via the web instead of just retrieving books as we do now. I also think it would be fun for our library to provide a way for our local library users to submit reviews of books, similar to what Amazon has. The reviews would be especially meaningful and interesting coming from people that may be known to each other. Another practical application might be to make it easy for library patrons to maintain a list of all material they have checked out in the past.
I am ready to tackle the next stick in the 23 sticks and am still enthused about the endeavor. I can see where it can become addicting. Maybe that's one of those unintended consequences! Since I work part-time I am more able than some to find the time. I am looking forward to learning how to do more of those things that, at most, I've only heard about before.
What is Library 2.0? This is all very new to me, and I feel that any observations I have will be extremely elementary and obvious. The thought of putting myself and my thoughts out there to be seen and read by who knows who, especially by my co-workers, is somewhat intimidating. Perhaps that is relevant to the "trust factor" discussed in the article, "The Ongoing Web Revolution". Having watched the video of Stephen Abram, my limited understanding of Library 2.0 is that it is a presentation of what already exists in the web world, Web 2.0, translated into something that can be used in our library work settings and in our personal lives.
John Blyberg's blog and the comments that followed indicate that there are those who question the need or usefulness of Library 2.0, not only those who are just hearing about it and have no interest, but those who are accomplished Web 2.0 users who think that Web 2.0 is enough. Library 2.0 is a bridge for the rest of us to learn to use the tools that are already out there. Our library users that are tech savvy are aware of the possibilities and will be looking for our libraries to adapt accordingly. Of course a balance has to be maintained where one age or interest group isn't appeased at the expense of another, but those tech savvy youth are going to be around for awhile! Followed by more of the same. Furthermore, even though not everyone will want what we can offer through Library 2.0, there's a good chance they will in 2 years or 5 years. Obviously not every aspect of Library 2.0 is going to be useful or beneficial in every setting, but there certainly shouldn't have to be an "all or nothing" acceptance or application.
It's hard to imagine what libraries, and ours in particular, will look like in 10, 20, or 50 years. However, we likely have clues presented to us every day that are either ignored or considered to be an intrusion on what we are currently doing. We too readily associate change with disruption and cost and don't try to envision the benefit. Change does involve cost and choices and I'm thankful to not have to make those hard decisions. Change also involves attitudes, and that does include us all. We can say, "We have never had or done that, and never will", or we can allow some room for speculation and at least put the idea on the back burner. Something that may seem foolishly unnecessary today has a way of becoming essential in time. The future isn't something or somewhere that we will suddenly, magically arrive at in 10, 20, or 50 years after vigorously defending and maintaining the status quo. The future is today, tomorrow and next week.
I was especially intrigued with the idea of potentially being able to browse a "wall of books" via the web instead of just retrieving books as we do now. I also think it would be fun for our library to provide a way for our local library users to submit reviews of books, similar to what Amazon has. The reviews would be especially meaningful and interesting coming from people that may be known to each other. Another practical application might be to make it easy for library patrons to maintain a list of all material they have checked out in the past.
I am ready to tackle the next stick in the 23 sticks and am still enthused about the endeavor. I can see where it can become addicting. Maybe that's one of those unintended consequences! Since I work part-time I am more able than some to find the time. I am looking forward to learning how to do more of those things that, at most, I've only heard about before.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thing 1. Set Up Your Blog
I did it! I finished Thing #1, and so I only have 22 left to go. I started the process highly intimidated and not sure if I was even interested in doing it at all. I usually rely on a family member to do any "computer thing" for me, so I have to admit that I am feeling pretty good about this. Since I was home alone, my only option was to proceed step-by-step with the patience that I am most often lacking. The instructions were excellent, thankfully, and everything went well. I am looking forward to Thing #2 with an unexpected enthusiasm.
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