Week 9 - Summary of The 23 Things

I thought that this program was excellent. I enjoyed the process and am grateful that HCPL offered it to me. I believe that each person should be a lifelong learner and this program helped me with this never ending goal. "Never ending" in a good sense, of course! Each lesson was well organized and easy to complete. I did struggle with a few but that is to be expected. Learning isn't always easy and making mistakes is to be expected.

I would certainly participate in another discovery program if it was offered.

My favorite exercises involved Library Thing and online generators. I was surprised by how much fun the online generators were. I have seen some people do very creative things with images and wondered how they did it. I learned to add cloud bubbles to an existing picture to add a bit of humor. Library Thing is probably the one thing that I will continue to use. I plan to add ALL of my read books into my profile. What a wonderful tool!

The only thing that I can suggest to do differently, is to let the learner know at the beginning of each lesson if a new account is required in order to complete the lesson. Even the notice that "you will be required to set up an new account to complete this lesson" would be helpful. Sometimes it was confusing as to whether I was supposed to just browse a site or if I was expected to log in and create a new account.

I would describe my learning experience as positive. It was time consuming and I did almost all of the work in my off time as did many of my coworkers. Although I heard some grumblings about that, I don't have a problem with it. I think that learning and gaining knowledge to be a better employee doesn't stop when the 5:00 PM whistle blows.

Once again, I thank HCPL for giving me this opportunity.

Week 9 - Audiobooks

I did not establish an account on the suggested audiobook sites because I don't listen to audiobooks. I've tried with cassettes and cds, but the experience leaves me irritated and rather bored. I love to read but an audiobook is not a format that I enjoy. I like to listen to music.

Personal preference aside, I think it's incredible that technology has advanced to the point that one can download an entire book. I think Gutenberg would just marvel over such an invention!

Week 9 - Podcasts

I had trouble with the Podcasts. I was able to add an RSS feed for a Harry Potter podcast into my bloglines, but I couldn't actually listen to it. It wanted me to download Quck time and I get nervous whenever I have to download "extra" things in order watch or do something. I was using my work computer and I particularly don't like to experiment with downloading on a work computer.

To be honest, if I can't listen to a podcast or watch a video immediately, then I don't want to do it. I'm afraid that downloading things will slow down my computer.

I did find a podcast on the Kanakee Library link that worked immediately and didn't require me to download anything. It came up easily on Windows Media Player. It was a conversation with Elizabeth Berg. Here's the link, I think, http://www.kankakee.lib.il.us/podcasts/berg.html . I have read about 3 of her books and enjoyed them.

This was very enjoyable even though I didn't listen to all of the one hour program. I think that listening to authors discuss a book is a great thing for a library to put out there. I occasionally flip thru Bookspan on tv and have caught a few good authors.

Week #8 Exploring Web 2.0 sites

Well, since I had to explore many of these sites in order to complete my 23 Things, I didn't see a lot out there that I was particularly interested in. I did look at http://www.etsy.com/ which had very unique items for purchase. I'm not a big shopper, but I get tired of seeing the same stuff from one mall to another. There were some reasonably priced items especially the earrings on this site.

I also looked at http://www.facebook.com/. I have an account but never go there. Over a year ago, one friend of mine had some pictures that I wanted to view so I created an account. Last week or so, another friend made a request to add me to her friends' list so I decided to pop in to browse around.

The pages seem overly busy and cluttered with all kinds of stuff. Good Lord, how does one have time to keep up with all of this personal stuff? I guess if you are used to looking at them, it's not so overwhelming. I just have no need to document my life on a continuous basis.

I also tried to listen to a few of the music web sites. I checked out www.last.fm which was okay. One song played beautifully, but another had a buffering problem. I might look into this again in order to hear some new music by artists that I am unfamiliar with.

Week #8 - online applications - Google Docs

Now this is something I can use. This solves my problem with carrying floppy disks or flash drives when going from my home computer to another. I found that it was easy to use since I am used to Word, WPerfect, etc. I did not, however, see anything that was similar to MSoft Publisher unless I didn't browse well enough. I use Publisher quite a bit for flyers and bookmarks.

Anyhow, this free application is a great tool. I especially like the fact that it can be shared for others to collaborate. I sent a document to a fellow staff to see if she can access it, add to it, and send it back to me.

Week 9 # 20 YouTube

Well, it should be obvious now why I chose the video that I did. I did look at several music videos including Dave Barry's Rock Bottom Remainders which is a group comprised of writers such as Amy Tan, Barbara Kingsolver, Stephen King, etc. I read about them in one of Dave's books and in Amy Tan's memoirs. I also looked at an interview with Amy Tan.

I also watched Maurice Coleman playing the guitar while sitting down and looking like a young B. B. King. Was that Lucille he had in his hand?

Libraries could create videos with a visiting author or tape other fun programs. It could be a very creative marketing tool.

Ramrod by Springsteen

Week 7 Wikis

I looked at several Wikis for this assignment. I think that they are quite useful for sharing information with a team of people. The fact that information can be accessed quickly is beneficial. I think that the library world has done an about face when it comes to wikis. In the distant past, wikis were dismissed as "bad things." That is, they were not authoritative and therefore were of little use to those of use who rely on authentic sources. Now it seems like other uses have been found for this format and it has been more widely accepted....even embraced.

I added my blog to the Sandbox but I didn't add another entry. There were too many random favorites floating around. http://marylandlibrariessandbox.pbwiki.com/Favorite%20Blogs

Week #6 Tagging, Folksonomies & Technorati

I did not find Delicious and Technorati to be as user friendly as Rollyo. I understand that it is convenient to be able to access one's Favorites from any computer, but I had trouble navigating around these sites.

I enjoyed reading the Library 2.0 articles more than I did browsing through Delicious and Technorati. I agree with many of Rick Anderson about the need to avoid those icebergs. I know many librarians who feel the need to keep things "just in case." It's time to let go of that notion and stop hoarding things in case that elusive "someone" may need it.

I think that most of us in the profession understand that libraries no longer have a monopoly and must rethink the idea of service. Our profession has risen to this challenge and has done its best to remain vital. It is though a never ending task to continue to stay that way.

Week 5 #11 & #12

I first learned about Library Things from our Harford County web page. I didn't have time to add my titles, but I thought that it was a fabulous tool. Now my goal is to add all the books that I have ever read to my list. Unfortunately, my handwritten list is still packed in a box, so that will have to wait.
At first, I didn't see much practical use for Rollyo because there is only 1 web site that I check each day. Then I started to think in broader terms, and I began to see this as a useful tool for a special assignment or for a short term project. As a ex teacher, I can see Rollyo as a useful tool for a special assignment or project. A teacher could put several web sites together for her students to use for a subject related project.
I created a Rollyo called Readers' Advisory. I peruse several web sites when I am preparing for a book talk or need titles for a certain theme. Check it out: http://www.rollyo.com/mdnewbie/

Week 5 #10 continued...

Potter
Originally uploaded by MDNewbie

Okay, this is my last one. Am I having fun yet? I sure am! I created this one on a web site called Famous People Image Generator. You can select a famous person or cartoon and create your own captions. I had to upload it to my computer and then upload that picture to Flickr. I'm sure that there's an easier way, but I stuck to what I already knew. Here's the link. http://www.signgenerator.org/people/famous.asp

Okay, enough playing for today. Now it's time to crack open my book which arrived today from Amazon! I plan to read it at a leisurely pace and enjoy the last book of this wonderful series.

Week 5 - #10 Online Generators

Bruce at LOD
Originally uploaded by MDNewbie

I have had fun today playing with these online generators. I found this one called Captioner on FD's Flickr Toys. It allows you to put captions on pictures and then email them or post them in your blog. You can do other things too such as make a postcard and mail it to your friends.

This is a picture of Bruce at the Light of Day Show (LOD) at the Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ, in November 2004. The LOD show is an annual benefit for Parkinson's Disease. Bruce usually shows up every year and supports the cause. He plays with the scheduled bands, but is not technically on the bill. In this picture he was trying to be a "regular" person and watch the band that was playing onstage at that moment. However, once the crowd got wind that he was in the building, the camera phones started snapping. I didn't take this picture, but I was standing there about 12 feet away sneaking peeks of him.

Week 5 - #10 Avatars

I remember playing with Meez at the workshop in Abingdon. Changing outfits, lips, hair, etc. seemed a bit silly to me at the time. It was too much like shopping which I don't like to do. I get kinda tired of today's stereotype that all women are obsessed with shoes, handbags, etc.

Anyhow, I tried to create a Meez on my home computer, but I couldn't because I am using an older version of Explorer. So I went to Yahoo Avatars and wondered why I had to create a Yahoo account in the uk. ??? Nevertheless, I really like the one that I created. My avatar should have bangs, but other than that, she looks enough like me.

Week 4 #8 - RSS Feeds

I used "Using Bloglines Tutorial" to help me understand how RSS Feeds work and learn how to set up an account. In the first line the author of this tutorial states, " I follow about 80 blogs on a regular basis. I read about 10 online news sites." Holy Mackerel! How in the world can anyone keep up with all of that? WHY in the world would anyone want to?

I think Bloglines is a useful tool for someone who wishes to organize his/her blogs and favorite web sites. It's very handy as I work on my 23Things because I can put my coworkers' blogs in one tidy folder. Will I use it after my 23Things? No. I only check one web site daily and that's www.GreasyLake.org which is a Springsteen fan web site. I added Publishers Weekly, but I prefer to just browse the magazine as opposed to checking the web site for book reviews.

Here is the link to my public bloglines: http://www.bloglines.com/public/MDNewbie

Week 3 - #7 Technology related blog

In the May/June 2007 (Vol. 46, no. 3, pages 30-33) issue of Public Libraries, there’s an article called “Thirty-seven Sites in Two Thousand Words or Less” that mentions many of the sites that are included in the 23 Things and/or were presented at the Tech Fair. This compiled list could be a handy reference for people who wish to have a short synopsis of each web site to tuck away and return to when they are ready to explore new technology or for those who may wish to pursue other areas once the 23 Things is finished.

Week 3 - # 5-6 Flickr etc.

I perused through Flickr and the other sites mentioned in the week 3 exercise. I did not set up an account because I've been using Photobucket for quite some time so I'm used to it. Flickr seems very useful for people wanting to add graphics to enhance their blogs or their web sites. Of all the sites that I looked at, I liked what Mappr had to offer. It would have been fun to map out the Springsteen concerts that I attended in 2002-2003. I managed to attend 15 shows and I think that it would have been a fun tool to share with my friends along the way.

Week 3 - Picture perfect!

Well, I haven't tried Flickr yet, but I was able to post pictures from my computer and other sources. Here's a picture of Bruce Springsteen who is my favorite rock musician. Next is a picture of me getting an autographed copy of Amy Tan's book The Opposite of Fate: a Book of Musings in January 2005. The problem that I am having with this part is that the text will not wrap around the pictures in the way that I want it to. I know how to solve that problem in Publisher when I create a flyer, but not here. On to Flickr...

Week 1 continued - 7 1/2 habits

I'm supposed to comment on which of these habits will be the hardest/easiest for me. The easiest is to accept responsibility for my own learning. I was an elementary teacher from 1989-1996. I earned an English Lit degree in 1984, but I had to go back to school to get my teacher certification. More recently, I went back to school again from 2001-2004 to get my MLIS. I believe that people should continually try to improve themselves through education in the classroom or through other venues. Each person has a responsibility to herself/himself to engage in lifelong learning. It benefits the individual as well as society.

The hardest thing is to view problems as challenges. Problems are problems. I don't understand the need to sugar coat them, put a positive spin on them, etc. I call them lots of things -- most of which I can't say here -- but I don't call them challenges. I really dislike the whole "let's rename things so they don't sound as bad" trend. This is why I don't read self help books. It's not that I don't need help, it's just that those type of cutesy sayings annoy me. For example, "don't sweat the small stuff." Hello! It's the small stuff that drives all of us up the wall because there's no end to it. Chekov said, "Any idiot can handle a crisis—it's this day-to-day living that wears you out." Exactly! I bet the small stuff made him sweat too.

Week 1 - Opportunity Knocks!

First of all, I really enjoyed the Tech Fair. It was such a clever idea. And I'm very excited to have the opportunity to participate in The 23 Things. The offering of such innovative programs is one of the reasons that I chose this library system. I just moved here from Louisiana where I worked in a public library for 10.5 years. My previous library system did not have the staff nor the vision that HCPL has to help me continue to be a lifelong learner. I am thrilled to be at HCPL where I can learn, try new technologies, and improve my skills.