Sherry's Blog

Thing #23: Summary

2007-11-15T07:48:00.000-08:00

Overall, I guess I did enjoy my experience with using the "23 Things" program. Mostly I had already had some kind of experience with all of the items listed in the "23 Things" activities, so nothing was exactly "new," but I was able to learn more about them and to relate them to use in a library setting.

That being said, I enjoyed this project more when it was an optional self-paced learning activity. I started out really appreciating the opportunity to learn more about technology and Web 2.0/Library 2.0. Even though I'm done and really haven't had a problem with any of the tasks introduced in "23 Things," I would have preferred that all the information concerning it's effects on my performance been made available in the beginning.

Things #20-22: Podcasts, Video & Downloadable audio

2007-11-15T07:31:00.000-08:00

YouTube is great, lots of funny stuff.

Podcasts are lame. Not interested.

Used Overdrive before and recommended it to patrons, as well as showed them how they can use it.

Thing 18 & 19: Online Applications & Tools

2007-11-15T07:08:00.000-08:00

I am very thankful for the emergence of free software which offers everyone the ability to use work processing tools without the need to download/purchase Microsoft Office. I am only familiar with open source tools like the Open Office suite that the library uses; but I always tout it's uses and let patrons know that they can download the software for free and use the program just like Microsoft and even save their documents in the form of "word documents."

I explored Google's Google Docs and Spreadsheets for the second part of this "Thing." Since I already have a Google account I felt that this would probably be the most useful. I like that you can store all your paperwork in your email (kind of like our DeskNow) and don't need to use flash drives to carry your information from computer to computer. I think libraries can use this technology to help patrons save their work. Many times I have seen our customers lose their work because the computer failed to save the document to their floppy or flash drive or the saving process was completed incorrectly. Here to, one no longer needs to worry about losing said flash drive or floppy disk, the document is available as long as they have access to a computer. The only drawback I see to this kind of technology is without a backup, should the email system not be available, one would not be able to access their work.

Things 16 & 17: Wikis

2007-11-15T06:51:00.000-08:00

I already had an idea about how "wikis" work through my use of Wikipedia. I like that wiki users can add, update, edit, etc. each other's postings. I wonder, though, if this kind of technology decreases the merit of some of information found on these sites. For example, while I use Wikipedia to find information about books in a series, I would never recommend this site to someone doing research; as it's ability to be updated by anyone makes it somewhat unreliable as source material.

Technology like this makes it easier for "non-techie" types to build websites without needing knowledge of html or other website building tools. Libraries could use wikis in a variety of ways; i.e. to promote library events, encourage book discussion/recommended reading, offer instructions on any kind of topic for library users, etc.

I added my blog to the favorites page on the Maryland Libraries Sandbox Page. It was thrilling.

Thoughts on Library 2.0/Web 2.0

2007-11-15T06:37:00.000-08:00

I read some of the perspectives about Library 2.0 provided under Thing #15. I agree with what most of them said about libraries having to keep up with technological trends in order to better meet patrons' needs and wants. Therefore projects like "23 Things" help library staff to become familiar with technology they wouldn't normally use and are better equipped to assist patrons.

Week 6: Del.icio.us & Technorati

2007-11-05T13:44:00.000-08:00

I tried to learn about del.icio.us this week, but when I signed up they wanted me to install buttons that are already on our toolbar, so I quit at that point. However, I've used del.icio.us in the past, albeit a very long time ago, so I kind of have an idea of what it's about. It's used for organizing one's bookmarks and favorites. For example, if you bookmarked a lot of articles or something like that, you can assign keywords to the article to make it easier to find next time (at least, this is my understanding of it, and I could be partly, if not completely, wrong about this). I could probably use this to organize the crafts ideas that I find online and arrange them according to a bunch of different subject headings. In a way, sites like this are turning us all into librarians of some sort or another.

I claimed my blog in Technorati. That's all I have to say about that.

Week 5: Things 11&12

2007-10-28T12:00:00.000-07:00

I think both LibraryThing and Rollyo are really interesting and useful tools. I used LibraryThing to catalog all the books I'm reading for Great Books. I liked that it also told you how many other people were reading that book; I can definitely see which books are going to be the most popular, if they aren't already. I also enjoyed reading the tags other people put on the books, as well as their personal reviews and insights. I think that if I had a large collection of texts, LibraryThing would be a very useful tool in organizing that collection.

Rollyo is a search engine that searches other search engines, but only the ones you WANT it to search. I liked that you could personalize your options, for example if you were looking for an apple pie recipe, you could narrow your responses to those within cooking related search engines. I probably would have used this alot while in college. I'm not sure it would replace "Google," as I'm somewhat conditioned to resort to "Google" initially, but i definitely think I could try this more often now that I know about it. It's also pretty cool that they don't make you sign up before you can use the service.

Week 5: Thing 10

2007-10-23T15:41:00.000-07:00

Thing 10 has been the most fun so far...I mean, I felt guilty having so much fun creating this thing while I was working. So here is my Meez...I think she's hysterical.

Week 4: Things 8 & 9, RSS Feeds

2007-10-16T14:56:00.000-07:00

Okay, so after many weeks of neglect, I have returned to the world of "23 Things." While everyone else is on week seven, I am going strong with week four. Okay, go me! :)

Alright, so this week, bloglines and RSS feeds. Swell! To tell the truth, I already had a bloglines account which I opened back when I worked for LexisNexis. But most of the subscriptions I had in there would be of little to no use to me anymore. So this activity afforded me the opportunity to delete many subscriptions to government agencies which no longer matter to me. This however, does not satisfy the requirements of the tasks set forth in things eight and nine. SO.....I added some subscriptions to Overduemedia, The Laughing Librarian, Librarians' Internet Index, Librarian in Black, and of course, MERLIN as suggested in thing nine.

Wow! So week four has come and gone....moving on to week five....look at me go!

Flickr

2007-09-18T14:36:00.000-07:00

Oh and here is a picture from Flickr, to prove I learned something.....and because everyone else is doing it...

Happy Fall!

Flickr (Things #5-#7)

2007-09-07T11:02:00.000-07:00

Okay, so this week I've been exploring the Flickr website. I like how you can upload your photos in one spot and then invite your friends to view them, instead of sending twenty million emails with attached photos. This definitely saves time for me, especially with all the family events we've been attending lately. It's also pretty cute that you can choose sections of a photograph to comment on and leave little notes for your friends. Unfortunately, not too many of my friends are on this site, which I guess means that I'll have to spread the word.

(I also tried making a trading card, but that just felt weird)

7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

2007-09-04T12:43:00.000-07:00

I think the easiest habit of the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners would have to be number 7 1/2; "Play." I've never been one for directions, so just "playing" is definitely how I would prefer to go about learning new technology. Then maybe I'll go back and check out the guides to see what I've missed.

The most difficult habit for me would probably be #2 (Accept responsibility for your own learning). I don't always push myself to learn new things if they don't directly pertain to my own needs and/or interests, and sometimes not even then.

Test Post

2007-08-13T15:23:00.000-07:00

Testing....testing....one, two, three...