Thursday, May 29, 2008

Web Thing # 23 Yea!

Well I did it! I didn't think that I could or would. I am glad that I did. There were so many times as a librarian that I would be "afraid" to help customers with technology. Now, I know that I can do it! I loved the fact that we had to keep a blog. This is going to be very useful for me and my staff going forward. Of course we will continue to use YouTube and Flickr. I think that we will also be using wiki's. RSS feeds I have been using- and love them as a way to keep up with ideas.

I know I got stuck at times- but I would not say that I did not like anything! It was longer than I anticipated to finish, but I am really glad that I did.

Look for PR to use a lot more of Web 2.0- as far as the library goes- I would love to see a follow-up to this challenge. The now what part.

I think these skills are so important that I am going to put on my resume that I am familiar with the Web 2.0 technology. I am also going to make sure friends and family are on board.

Thanks for making this happen! I am really excited.

Heather

Web Thing # 22

Listen NJ- OK I was skeptical, I keep hearing that it is not easy to use...

Well it was easy to use! Search is easy. I searched by author (Al Franken- I like to listen to his books!) Putting the book in your cart, and then downloading was straightforward. I did as suggested and used a PC+ computer (software was already downloaded.) I like the feature that you can check and uncheck the chapters that you wanted. That could be very useful.

I am looking forward to getting the MP3 player so I can download so more stuff.

I think I have a better opinion of this service now!

Heather

Web Thing # 21

Podcasting is great. I love this site podcast.com I was able to do a search on marketing and found a great resource on Guerrilla Marketing. What I like about it is that I can have it playing in the background as I do my work. It is a way to keep up on business concepts in a format that I like. If not for podcasting, you could miss out on what the latest and greatest is. Very useful site.

Heather

Web Thing # 20

I love YouTube. We have been using it in PR as you mentioned. I like the search feature-really easy to use.

Here is one You Tube video that I find particulary fun: It is called March of the Librarians.

Web Thing # 19

The web awards are a good resource. I like the event category. This will be very useful in PR to keep up with the latest and greatest places to post our events.

I also like the professional networking awards. We know that in librarianship it is important to stay connected. I use LinkedIn as a way to stay in touch with OCL colleagues. Maybe we can plan an OCL reunion!

Heather

Web Thing # 18

Google Documents- once again I really like the video guy! This was very easy and definitely something I can use! I am going use it for the marketing committee and also for my "Honey Do List" for my Husband!

You will notice my name in the pretty purple color on Google Docs.

Heather

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Web Thing #17

Sandbox- great concept! I liked the fact that I was encouraged to change a wiki and not feel like I would mess it up! I had no idea how easy it is. I will be setting some wikis going forward. There are a lot of uses in PR for this.

This was a fun challenge. I also did not know how much functionality I had in editing. Many times you think of the web, and don't think that you can change the colors! By the way- I added my favorite - mint mojito for summer!

Heather

Web Thing # 16

OK the Wiki video was cool! Pictures are always better when explaining things.

A few things about the Library Bloggers Wiki- One I like having all the information in one place. Two-Notice Ocean County Library is not listed! Working on that for the future.

The Library Success Wiki has useful information for my job. I will use the section about selling your library and the management section. I think there should be information about diversity that we should add!

Pink or magenta? I love the Wiki about Ocean County Library- we need to add about the IMLS award!

H.

Web Thing #15

Library 2.0 an interesting concept. From Wikipedia "The key principles of Library 2.0 are not just about access to books and information. It is about innovation, about people, and about community building, enabled through the participation that social computing brings. It achieves this through trust and encouraging users to share ideas through writing, rating, and commenting against everything in the library's collection. It even makes the collection open to developers to use, re-use and improve"

I love this idea of Library 2.0, however I see it more as an "idea" rather than a reality. Libraries spends too much time talking and not enough time doing. Most institutions are not nimble enough to make the changes when necessary and spend to much time in catch up mode.

I think the article that I agree with most, is Rick Andersen "Away from Icebergs"too many times libraries create their own icebergs.

The other problem with Library 2.0 is also the same problem of library 1.0-marketing. We can not get the word out as an industry on what libraries are capable of. So as long we continue to debate what library 2.0 will look like- and not take the leap, we will still be playing catch up.

H.

Web Thing#14

When I typed in learning 2.0 at Technorati, I was happy to see that the words web 2.0 were being used for the tags. That means that Tecnorati is able to do the old "see also." Now, I barely got through cataloging- and I don't get excited over cataloging concepts-but that was cool!

This is a cool way to share first person accounts and information. I love the fact that it is searching all these posts and blogs.

I played around with searching the blogs. I wanted to search parenting of toddlers- found great stuff. With parenting so many times- the little stories that we learn from actual parents and not the experts makes a huge difference!

Technorati is a great tool for life long learning- I have found so many links. Can't wait to share with my friends.

Web Thing # 13

Well, I have just changed computers at home- if I had been using del.icio.us at home I would not have lost all my favorite sites!

I thought the podcast was a little dry, but was ok for a basic over view. I like how the Nashville Public Library is using del.icio.us with their teen sites. I also like that the clouds are visually bigger and easier to see as more links are added.

This has a lot of potential...Let me think some more on how to use this...

H.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Web Thing #12

Netlibrary- Well it is very easy to use! I was surprised really. However I did not find any 2008 books in my search. Is it because it is only May? Or is there an embargo on Netlibrary?

Could be useful in technology- where you need to refresh skills but don't need a whole book. I will refer my husband to the database and see what he thinks!

WorldCat is great! I decided to do a search on my mother-in-laws academic writings! To my surprise I got a list locally for her writings even many of the older ones!

The details and subject areas would be very useful for cataloging. All the information is there to fill out the interlibrary loan request. I wonder if there is some way to have it fill in the information automatically?

I am impressed by these tools and will use them more.

Heather

WebThing #11

Library Thing...It does have some neat features, but it is a little clunky. I do like the book covers in my blog! I am sure I will be looking at this in the future to see how I can use it.

Heather

Friday, May 9, 2008

Web Thing #7

I scanned in a picture and emailed it to the committee. I did receive a reply back

Heather

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

WebThing #10-Technology Blogging

I would like to talk a little about e-books and e-book devices. This is going to have a huge impact on libraries and how we conduct business. My mother just turned 68 last week, and she got a Kindle for her birthday. This is a service that is going to have appeal for many users. We in the library field need to get ahead of this trend- and make sure we have our marketing campaign in place.


I also commented on Lara's blog about authors she likes! We both enjoy Christopher Moore!

Heather

WebThing #9-Finding RSS Feeds

As I mentioned earlier I have been adding to my Bloglines for awhile. However, I have not used any of these search tools to help me find the feeds.

Out of all three that I tried: Topix.net; Syndic8.com and Technorati- Technorati was definately the best. It was well organized and easy to use. I like the rising post and stories feature. It is a good tool to see what people are buzzing about!

Heather

WebThing #8- RSS Feeds

I have been using Bloglines for some time. I find it an easy way to keep in touch with a lot of news. I like the fact that you can keep things by category. I also use like that if I find something that I want to keep-I can keep it right on Bloglines. It eliminates paper! I currently have 18 feeds arranged by:

Library, Politics, Marketing and Business.

I have decided to subsribe to Newsweek, Time and a little EW for the fun of it!

This is a great resource!

Heather

WebThing #7-Scanning

I am going to come back to this one!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

That was Easy! Thing #6


I just posted my first picture on Flickr- that was easy! Great tool for home and work. You will see me using this a lot more. PR has plans for this too!

Heather-

Say Cheese.... Thing #5

A photo says a 1,000 words-especially in PR! This week I will finally catch up on my web challenge! Let me say a little about the week 3 challenge and Flikr.

As a librarian I love the tag feature- very cool that you can put a searchable subject on a picture and share with others. I also like the feature of groups. Here I can get my information out and control it who views it. This is an important feature for privacy.

Of course, libraries are using Flikr- we are inclined to use free technology to promote our cause! There is a lot that we in PR can do with Flikr.

Until next time.

Heather

Monday, March 17, 2008

7 1/2 Habits of Life Long Learning

I found this video interesting. I never thought about learning in that aspect. I think one of the harder things for me is taking advantage of technology. I know about a lot of technology-I just don't have the time in my life to effectively learn and use much of the technology out there. That is why I am taking this challenge! It is a great opportunity to learn.

I do find myself using a "tool box" for life long learning. If I really want to learn something, I use what ever I can-books, Internet talking to people.

-Heather