23 Things... Successfully Completed

Well, here I am just completing my last "Thing". I have learned a lot-- tried some totally new "things" and got better at some more familiar things. I think that the 23 Things project was fun, interesting and useful, both personally and professionally.

I now will be more inspired to try new technology, and to continue in my own Life-long learning experience. I like the way this exercise was divided into weekly goals and the way we were encouraged to Blog (and reflect) on what we had tried, discovered and learned. I also liked being able to read others experiences. I liked that the deadlines had some wiggle room, so that those of us who were on AL for a week or so could still complete all the exercises and not get terribly behind while we were away. I liked being able to do them on project time at work as well as from home if desired. Offering the 23 Things project to everyone on staff--Associates and Librarians-- gave us all common topics of discussion, and enhanced the teamwork feeling and life-long learning goal for all involved.

I would definitely participate in a similar exercise in the future. I have gained many new insights and had fun as I explored each week's topics. The organizers put together a useful and timely endeavor for PBCLS staff.

Overdrive exploration

I listened to the Overdrive Digital Media Tour, and found it to be very well produced. I will indeed recommend it to our patrons. It covers all the basics and explains all the steps thoroughly and in easy steps!

I also listened to the recommended excerpt from Fahrenheit 451, and I next searched for a title, checked it out, downloaded the Overdrive software, Updated my Windows Media Player Security, and began listening to Water for Elephants. I would love to listen to more audio books in this way, but as always have to find the time to do that.

I think this was an excellent exercise for us to do and I will now feel more comfortable answering questions about it as well as recommending it to patrons.

Literary Podcasts

I added this podcast to my Bloglines account http://poetryfoundation.org/podcast_poemoftheday.xml
Here one can receive a new poem, read-aloud, via podcasting, each day-- courtesy of the Poetry Foundation. I clicked on several days previous podcasts too, but have not as yet found a poem I love. I am willing to give it a try, though.

Another podcast site I do like is BookCast by the Fairfax County Public Library. On these podcasts the library director, Sam Clay ( He has a great voice for podcasting and comes across as someone you'd like to chat with) interviews various authors. http://fcplfoundation.podblaze.com/
I also added this to my bloglines account.

I really like podcasts, but wonder where the minutes in my busy day could be found to listen on a daily or regular basis. I find the podcasts I listen to are found in a search for something I am interested in anyway. To take time to daily listen to even one regular podcast...well it would have to be really important to me, perhaps I've just not discovered it yet?

YouTube PC Dominoes

I have watched other videos on YouTube. before --especially some silly ones that a friend of mine and her grandmother made, and some music videos. I looked at the library dominoes video which was cool with all those books, but then I found the old PC dominoes and I like it better! Turn down your sound before watching this one! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_tXcRYOYZ0

Farecast-- Award Winner

I tried the Award winning Farecast http://farecast.live.com/ to search for flights to NY. I typically go to NY twice a year to see my daughters and this tool looks very helpful. I will definitely use it again. I usually search for fares in Travelocity and Expedia but I really like the way this searches multiple carriers, and Internet travel sites. I also like the way it recommends you wait if the fares may be likely to go down and it gives you the odds that this will happen. I will play with this site more at home later, it may be my favorite discovery of all 23 Things--who can say, I have found lots to like here!

zoho I like!

I created the previous blog post using zoho. It is the beginning of a To-Do list for an upcoming trip. I like zoho, and can see uses for it both personally and professionally. I like the way that several family members in several different locations could work on a list, document or project. I can see using it to discuss departmental issues, projects or lists. It is very easy to use and has great features including an easy way to post the document to your blog.

Trip to NY

Trip to NY with Linzi

(Created w/ zoho)

Things to Do

1. Buy airline tickets (get best rate/city)
   
2. Get hotel room (check online)
   
3. Get mailing box for overflow college clothes to mail
   
4. Check college calendar dates.
   

Things to Buy

1. Toiletries
   
2. Skirt for cold weather days
   

PBCLS Sandbox Wiki Favorites

For the sandbox exercise I added two books to the favorite books section, a favorite vacation spot, and I added my blog to the Favorite Blogs section. It was interesting to see what other people had added especially in the favorite books section. It was very easy to use.

Library Wiki

It was interesting exploring library Wiki's, though I didn't really find any that I thought were fabulous. I think the great library Wiki's have yet to be created. I did think that the Princeton (NJ) Public Library's BookLoversWiki was nicely done, though. I even found a couple of recommended books to read on my upcoming vacation. I discovered lots of libraries use a Wiki for internal staff purposes such as training, updates, and commonly referred to and updated staff info.

An example of a good library staff Wiki is the Memphis Library's-- MPLIC Wiki. Here staff can access Staff development opportunities, find staff with various non-English language skills, find some technical training, etc. I think a readers advisory Wiki would be useful at PBCLS, as well as an internal trouble shooting Wiki for Reference Librarians. But, like I said previously, perhaps the best uses for Wiki's in libraries are yet to be discovered.

The Library 2.0 Mixture

Having read all the articles that were in links on the pbcls blog, I gained a little something from each of them. I feel that embracing Web 2.0 or being a Librarian 2.0 in a practical sense, means many things. First of all we need to realize the definition of a library has changed, our patrons are changing, and we need to be involved in the change and use it to our advantage.

The Library 2.0 needs to be:

• Relevant
• Useful
• Entertaining
• Teaching
• Knowledgeable
• A Place of Community
• A Destination
• Dynamic and Responsive

We need to be aware of our patron's needs-- print, electronic, social, educational, informational and recreational. We need to be aware of current trends and 2.0 technology. We need to take steps to experience and understand the uses of new technology. We need to be a destination for families, seniors, young adults, and everyone! We need to foster a sense of community, a place of learning, a place to find answers, as well as to explore and relax. We need to embrace the new and see how it can fit in with our goals.

Lastly, we need to realize that some of the old is still relevant:

• a good novel to read at the beach
• Story Time fun
• reading to our children from a favorite book
• increasing computer and research skills
• a listening, caring, helpful attitude from staff
• friendliness and an attitude of good customer service
• good people skills
• teamwork and respect for co-workers
• a competent and knowledgeable staff
• a good collection in all its varied formats

Let's embrace the new and see where it fits--whether it be "Guitar Hero" teen night or Library Wikis or Podcasting. While also realizing that we must keep the best of what still works, from our rich past and traditions. All that is new is not to be feared-- and all that is old is not to be put aside.

Technorati stuff

Technorati was interesting and fun to explore. It seems to be very easy to use and you can easily explore in many directions. I like the bars at the top with the various subjects to click on from Sports to Entertainment to photos and Blogs. Clicking on Blogs brings up a great "Blog Directory" this is useful to someone who is new to reading blogs and wants to find some good ones to read on various topics. I also liked seeing who was mentioning us (pbclibrary.org) in their blogs. Technorati is yet another new "thing" that will prove interesting and useful in the future.

Deliciousness

After exploring del.icio.us I can see using it to keep your bookmarks available from any computer you are using. Looking at the pbcls account it was interesting to see the various bookmarks and the tags. I already added tags in Library Thing and I like looking at the tag cloud.

WebFeat

Searching for articles, and explaining to patrons how to search for articles is much more pleasant with WebFeat. The search is easier for patrons to do and will yield some results even if the patron does not choose any boxes to check--so it requires less expertise on their part. I began exploring this new addition after attending a Reference workshop on this new tool.

Tonite I searched several of the towns where I used to live in while growing up: Perryville, MD; San Jose, CA; Wichita KS; and finally West Palm Beach FL. WPB (I have actually lived in WPB the longest as I Moved here in 1975.) The most interesting article I found using webfeat tonight was an article from UPI Newstrack that tells about a FL Developer, who is suing the cleaner of the former National Enquirer Bldg. for allegedly stealing a photo of Elvis in his coffin. The owner of the photo says it is worth at least $1 million! --Too strange.

Love that Library Thing!

Library Thing is a fun place to keep track of books you enjoyed reading, and see what others are reading. http://www.librarything.com/catalog/librarythingsz This link will take you to my small , but growing library of books.

There is a lot to explore here. I especially like searching by tags and reading some of the librarian's discussions. I plan on using this resource more in the future.

wave image generator

This is a pretty example of an image generator. I found it at http://www.imagechef.com/ic/product.jsp Image Chef has many Image Generators to try out, so have fun! I like the way the wave washes away the text. I like writing things in the sand at beach even more, though!

I enjoyed exploring some of the many image generators that are easily found on the web. I liked making customized notes on my virtual fridge with magnetic letters, creating my own coat-of-arms, and creating a variety of humorous warning signs. Now there will be something new to do on the internet-- if I am ever really bored!

RSS feeds

Our week 4 assignment was to explore RSS feeds, open a Bloglines account, subscribe to some feeds and then blog about our experience. I enjoyed subscribing to a few feeds (8)--probably more than I should have chosen, but I can weed those down and choose new ones as time goes on.

I liked looking at the Bloglines 200 most popular feeds--although the list was too long to preview more than a few in one sitting. I thought having the ability to preview them, without subscribing, was a nice feature, too. I think having all these feeds come to one site is nice and would be a good way to keep up on various topics.

I think if a person remembers to keep-up with checking their Bloglines account, it could be a very handy and enjoyable tool. I am sure it can become quite bogged down if you are more lazy/too busy to keep up with it. It could become like some of the old listservs like pubyac that would fill up your inbox with a zillion msgs. if you didn't check or delete them on a regular basis.

For my personal life RSS feeds will be nice to find new quotes, learn a word of the day, keep up with new gadgets or just get a laugh from the daily Dilbert comic strip. Professionally I see using RSS feeds to keep up with authors, book reviews, interesting websites, etc.

I think libraries having the option of an RSS subscription for patrons will become more prevelant as more patron become aware of and are comfortable using it. The library can use an RSS to announce upcoming events, do staff book reviews, or publish Bib.lists on various topics or genres etc.

Library Blogs

I like the Library Blog at the Burbank Library. (burbanklibrary.blogspot.com)
It is a good example of how a library can use a blog to promote it's services and materials. The book and audiobook reviews labeled "What we're reading" and "What we're listening to" are very interesting and eye-catching. The recommended titles have pictures of the bookcovers and they all link to the library's iBistro catalog. Another nice feature is the list of Library Links. There you will find everything from the catalog to Story Time Snapshot. As a former children's librarian I liked seeing what they were doing in their Story Times. A children's librarian could gather some great programming ideas here.

Also take a look at the Burbank Library Wiki and the LittleWiki (for kids). On the LittleWiki I especially liked the link for 34 ways to lace your shoes

MAIN Library from Summit Blvd.

MAIN Library from Summit Blvd.
Originally uploaded by libraryzim

This is a picture of the Main Library. I uploaded it from Flickr. I found the picture in the Branch Pictures file. This is where I worked for 5 years in SYS, when we were in the basement.

Out of the time warp!

I successfully figured out how to change the time of my postings to match the correct time zone. How exciting!

Blocked from Blogging!

Well, It is nice to be able to Blog again. Mine was blocked since yesterday afternoon, but is now up and running again. That was fast. Now I will see about doing some more customizing and working more on my layout.

That's all for now...

Blogging in Libraries, hmmmm....

Well, for today's entry we are to discuss some ideas of how blogging can be used in Libraries, hmmmmmm....

• One use could be to keep staff informed of: training opportunities, recent events, time saving ideas, customer service tips, etc.
• Designated staff could write and post book reviews, as well as post staff's reading recommendations, or even their dvd picks.
• Perhaps patrons could blog about books they really enjoyed, this could be monitored so that inappropriate posts could be removed.
• Perhaps a blog could be used for a library book discussion group?
• A YS librarian might use it to keep in touch with teens in their branch, and keep teens informed on upcomming YA programming as well as reader's advisory, and posting of newly received book titles, CD's, Graphic novels, or dvd's

I may think of more ideas as the day or week goes on, but that is a start.

Blog Beginnings

Well, here is my blog. I had to edit my first post, as after I published it I saw that we were given a topic to write about.

Then I started re-writing my 1st post and I saved it in drafts, but couldn't add to it later on in the day, I could only see how to publish it and it was not complete. I then deleted the draft, and here I go again...

I like the idea of being a Lifelong Learner. The #1 habit is so important as it makes you think about what you really want to accomplish, how far do you see yourself going with your new skill or interest? I think that being very specific about the outcome you desire will help you begin to know better how much work it will entail, as well as the time it will take to accomplish that goal. My goal during 23 things is to try these new technologies, get more familiar with them, and then use them for personal use as well as being able to share my experience using these tools with patrons. I think this program is a good opportunity to try some new technology and the idea of various assignments to complete as well as the chance at prizes keeps you moving onward.

The other 7 habits were well explained and helpful. I already feel that I have benefited from habit #3 "View problems as challenges"-- I now know how to edit my blog, save a draft, delete a draft and publish my blog. The few problems I encountered were really learning experiences and I tried to view them as such.

I guess the most difficult part for me will be a bit of a fear of the unknown, and finding time each week to keep up with our assignments---but so far it is turning out well-paced and fun. More later.