How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things On a Stick learning activities to others?
I learned so much working through the 23 things and many I will continue to use. Thanks for offering such a fantastic challenge.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Staying current
Blog about how you plan to keep up with the Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 tools.
Recommend a way to keep up that you have found useful.
I have add several blogs and websites to my Bloglines account. I will make an effort to check this site several times a week. I will for sure use IGoogle including the event calendar with "Don't forget the Milk" tasks, Goggle Docs collaborating tools are soooo great, and I want to keep checking-in on the social networking site: GoodReads.
Recommend a way to keep up that you have found useful.
I have add several blogs and websites to my Bloglines account. I will make an effort to check this site several times a week. I will for sure use IGoogle including the event calendar with "Don't forget the Milk" tasks, Goggle Docs collaborating tools are soooo great, and I want to keep checking-in on the social networking site: GoodReads.
Other social networking sites
Are you a member of any online communities?
Are any of these social networks appealing to you?
What did you find that was interesting and that you might use later?
I am now a member of Goodreads. I think is a great social networking site. I like being able input the books I have read and read review from others.
Are any of these social networks appealing to you?
What did you find that was interesting and that you might use later?
I am now a member of Goodreads. I think is a great social networking site. I like being able input the books I have read and read review from others.
Social Networking: Facebook/MySpace
Facebook
Which groups did you join and why?Reflect on why Facebook may be the fastest growing social network. Is that reputation deserved?
Librarians and Facebook, Libraries Using Facebook Pages, and Libraries & Librarians - I was looking for something relative to my job.
Facebook is easy to use and there is a lot of fun stuff on the site too.
MySpace
How are libraries using MySpace?
Did you find anything on a library's MySpace page that would be useful for your library?
If you created your own MySpace page, how do you plan to use it?
I can see an appeal for libraries to use a MySpace page to reach out to teens. The Denver Public Library's page was very COOL! I did turn the music off but I can see how young people could really enjoy interacting with the site. I did creat a MySpace page, but have not decided how I will use it, yet.
Which groups did you join and why?Reflect on why Facebook may be the fastest growing social network. Is that reputation deserved?
Librarians and Facebook, Libraries Using Facebook Pages, and Libraries & Librarians - I was looking for something relative to my job.
Facebook is easy to use and there is a lot of fun stuff on the site too.
MySpace
How are libraries using MySpace?
Did you find anything on a library's MySpace page that would be useful for your library?
If you created your own MySpace page, how do you plan to use it?
I can see an appeal for libraries to use a MySpace page to reach out to teens. The Denver Public Library's page was very COOL! I did turn the music off but I can see how young people could really enjoy interacting with the site. I did creat a MySpace page, but have not decided how I will use it, yet.
Podcasts
1. Which podcast(s) did you listen to?
2. Which of the directories did you find easiest to use?
3. Has this Thing inspired you to do any podcasting yourself or to subscribe to a podcast to listen to it regularly?
I went to several of the sites listed, I think the easiest to use is Podcast.com. I listened to a discussion about Harry Potter's 7th book and watched a comedy video called Average Betty. I might in the future subscribe to a podcast but right now I don't know when I would fit in. I have listened to podcasts on the Minitex site in the past and found them quite useful training tools.
2. Which of the directories did you find easiest to use?
3. Has this Thing inspired you to do any podcasting yourself or to subscribe to a podcast to listen to it regularly?
I went to several of the sites listed, I think the easiest to use is Podcast.com. I listened to a discussion about Harry Potter's 7th book and watched a comedy video called Average Betty. I might in the future subscribe to a podcast but right now I don't know when I would fit in. I have listened to podcasts on the Minitex site in the past and found them quite useful training tools.
YouTube
What did you like or dislike about the sites you explored?
Why did you choose the video that you did?
Can you see any ways to use video--YouTube or other sites--on your library Web site?
I had a hard time choicing what to view. There is sooooo much stuff on YouTube. I finally started typing author names and came up with a Robert Parker interview. I also searched PLA 2008 and found a video, which is good.
I could see using videos on the website, promoting the summer reading program and other programs and collections.
Why did you choose the video that you did?
Can you see any ways to use video--YouTube or other sites--on your library Web site?
I had a hard time choicing what to view. There is sooooo much stuff on YouTube. I finally started typing author names and came up with a Robert Parker interview. I also searched PLA 2008 and found a video, which is good.
I could see using videos on the website, promoting the summer reading program and other programs and collections.
ELM Productivity Tools
How can these tools be applied to your everyday work?
How can these tools facilitate collaboration with your colleagues?
How can these tools benefit your patrons/students?
The Search Alert is a great tool. I can see it as a great way to keep up with new infomation in many areas, such as new technologies.
The abilitiy to email colleagues information from ProQuest seems like it would be quite helpful when working on research and projects.
The more tools we, as a staff are aware of and can use to help partons access and make use of, better we can serve our public.
How can these tools facilitate collaboration with your colleagues?
How can these tools benefit your patrons/students?
The Search Alert is a great tool. I can see it as a great way to keep up with new infomation in many areas, such as new technologies.
The abilitiy to email colleagues information from ProQuest seems like it would be quite helpful when working on research and projects.
The more tools we, as a staff are aware of and can use to help partons access and make use of, better we can serve our public.
Research Project Calculator
How might the RPC and the Teacher Guide help you help students plan and manage research projects?
The site is set-up so well, very easy to navigate and understand. By breaking up the project into easy to follow steps, I think students will be able to work through their projects more productily and confidently. This tool lays everything out for them with complete by dates to help them stay on tasks. I would recommend this tool to students.
Can you think of any uses for library projects—could you use it to help manage a timeline for a project of your own?
I am currently on the long-range planning committee, I can see that using this tool would have been helpful in the process as we worked through our tasks.
The site is set-up so well, very easy to navigate and understand. By breaking up the project into easy to follow steps, I think students will be able to work through their projects more productily and confidently. This tool lays everything out for them with complete by dates to help them stay on tasks. I would recommend this tool to students.
Can you think of any uses for library projects—could you use it to help manage a timeline for a project of your own?
I am currently on the long-range planning committee, I can see that using this tool would have been helpful in the process as we worked through our tasks.
Second Life
If you chose Second Life, write a blog post about your findings and thoughts on Second Life. Is there a role for Second Life in libraries?
I thought Second Life was interesting and very complex. I liked that there are behavioral guidelines in place and if a person choices to misbehave in Second Life, they can be ban. I found it somewhat difficult to move my character in the world. I don't how much I would play/use this game, but I can see the appeal. I like the idea of the library having a presence in Second Life, where librarians can answer reference questions and do reader's advisory.
I thought Second Life was interesting and very complex. I liked that there are behavioral guidelines in place and if a person choices to misbehave in Second Life, they can be ban. I found it somewhat difficult to move my character in the world. I don't how much I would play/use this game, but I can see the appeal. I like the idea of the library having a presence in Second Life, where librarians can answer reference questions and do reader's advisory.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Library Thing
How can you use LibraryThing for your library?
I was thinking it would be a cool tool for book groups to use. I am in a Mystery Book Club, it would be interesting to add all the books we have read over the years and see what type of recommendations come up. I plan on talking about this at our next meeting.
How else do you share booklists, etc. with library patrons? Would LibraryThing offer an alternative?
I know after playing with LibraryThing and I will recommend the site to many library patrons.
I was thinking it would be a cool tool for book groups to use. I am in a Mystery Book Club, it would be interesting to add all the books we have read over the years and see what type of recommendations come up. I plan on talking about this at our next meeting.
How else do you share booklists, etc. with library patrons? Would LibraryThing offer an alternative?
I know after playing with LibraryThing and I will recommend the site to many library patrons.
Thing 13
Which start page did you choose? Why did that one appeal to you? Will you make it your permanent home page?
IGoogle- I did not make it my homepage, but may.
Did you find a tool that has some uses for you at the library or at home? Which tool(s) would you recommend to others?
I have used PDF converter in the past and it was quite easy to use.
How can the online calendars be useful to you?
I love online calendars- I can check my schedule from any PC.
What about the to-do lists—helpful, too much work…?
I have just started to play with Remember the Milk- it can be linked to the calendar on IGoogle so I love that.
Did you try out Backpack? What did you think?
I just looked around the site, wow lots of stuff. I did not do much, at this point I know I am not in the market to pay for any of these tools.
IGoogle- I did not make it my homepage, but may.
Did you find a tool that has some uses for you at the library or at home? Which tool(s) would you recommend to others?
I have used PDF converter in the past and it was quite easy to use.
How can the online calendars be useful to you?
I love online calendars- I can check my schedule from any PC.
What about the to-do lists—helpful, too much work…?
I have just started to play with Remember the Milk- it can be linked to the calendar on IGoogle so I love that.
Did you try out Backpack? What did you think?
I just looked around the site, wow lots of stuff. I did not do much, at this point I know I am not in the market to pay for any of these tools.
Thing 12
How do you think you can use these tools in your library or at home?
By signning up with a site like Mixx and selecting a favorite topic such as: tech, you are able to browse recently posted links and popular posted link about a subject you are interested in. Mixx makes it easy to quickly scan titles of posts and choice whether or not to read on.
Do these tools seem to be a productivity enhancer or a productivity detractor?
By customizing the sites, you can filter out things that you don't want to view there by making the sites more productive. If you are using many, many sites, even if they are customized, you could get bogged down and distracted. So if you chose a few good sites to keep up with I think the tools are productive.
Have you ever read a story/item as a result of seeing it on one of these sites?
Yes. Just today I read an article called 8 incredible tools to revolutionize your Google search, which was a result of customizing the MIXX site to include links to tech articles.
By signning up with a site like Mixx and selecting a favorite topic such as: tech, you are able to browse recently posted links and popular posted link about a subject you are interested in. Mixx makes it easy to quickly scan titles of posts and choice whether or not to read on.
Do these tools seem to be a productivity enhancer or a productivity detractor?
By customizing the sites, you can filter out things that you don't want to view there by making the sites more productive. If you are using many, many sites, even if they are customized, you could get bogged down and distracted. So if you chose a few good sites to keep up with I think the tools are productive.
Have you ever read a story/item as a result of seeing it on one of these sites?
Yes. Just today I read an article called 8 incredible tools to revolutionize your Google search, which was a result of customizing the MIXX site to include links to tech articles.
Del.icio.us
Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere? How can your library or media center take advantage of tagging and del.icio.us? Look at the sites in the Resource list above to see how libraries are using Del.icio.us.
I can see the potential for this tool in research. If for instance, at the reference desk's PC as the reference librarians are working with patrons or just working on research they tag interesting sites an incredible source of information could be compiled and it would be easy to access.
I can see the potential for this tool in research. If for instance, at the reference desk's PC as the reference librarians are working with patrons or just working on research they tag interesting sites an incredible source of information could be compiled and it would be easy to access.
Wikis
What did you find interesting about the wiki concept?
I think it a great way for people to collaborate on a project/idea.
What types of applications within libraries and schools might work well with a wiki?
In schools, if a group is working on a project, they could be adding/editing at any time, whether they are together or not.
Again, I think wikis are a great way to collaborate with others.
Many teachers/faculty "ban" Wikipedia as a source for student research. What do you think of the practice of limiting information by format?
I can see why a teacher might be leery of info from Wikipedia, since anyone can add and update. The teacher might suggest the students use some sources in addition to Internet sites as a part of their research.
Which wiki did you edit?
I added a comment to "23 things on a stick".
I think it a great way for people to collaborate on a project/idea.
What types of applications within libraries and schools might work well with a wiki?
In schools, if a group is working on a project, they could be adding/editing at any time, whether they are together or not.
Again, I think wikis are a great way to collaborate with others.
Many teachers/faculty "ban" Wikipedia as a source for student research. What do you think of the practice of limiting information by format?
I can see why a teacher might be leery of info from Wikipedia, since anyone can add and update. The teacher might suggest the students use some sources in addition to Internet sites as a part of their research.
Which wiki did you edit?
I added a comment to "23 things on a stick".
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Post from Google Docs
CIRCULATION STAFF MEETING MINUTES
April 4, 2008
5:30 p.m. Library Meeting Room
Notes (paper and on patron records): include as much detail as possible, even if it means putting more than one comment on the patron’s record. The notes should be clear to anyone on staff who is reading the note.
Registrations:
When searching for a patron’s name in the database, if the person has multiple last names, use the keyword search. Type in each last name separately. This search will help ensure we are not issuing multiple cards.
When entering the home phone number, please always use “home” unless it is a college student’s registration.
Fines: It is VERY important to record paid fines on patron’s records.
Renewing: Patrons may renew without their cards. Yes, it is easier if they have their card but please do renew for them. The same is true if a patron calls in to renew. I always ask for their card number and if they don’t have it, I then ask if they have an item so they can read me the barcode. If they have neither, I will ask them to spell their last name for me and then ask for their first name. I also do mention (nicely) that it is best if we have their card number to access accounts.
DVDs in Drawer: please make sure you are putting the DVD in the drawer that are labeled as such. There seems to be several discs in the cases on the shelves, that are supposed to be in the drawer.
Over-ride screens: when checking out a patron, it is VERY important to read any over-ride screens that come up. A couple of weeks ago, two Reference books were returned in the bookdrop. When I checked them in I looked to see if there were any fines, and the patron was charged $5 per book. I waived the fines, because the patron should not have been allowed to check out these books unless someone from reference or Lynne gives them permission. If that happens, then we can adjust the due date. If a reference book gets checked-out to a patron it only goes out for 1 day and the fines are a $1 a day.
Check-In: Remember to watch the screen as you check-in to make sure the items are actually checking-in. Also, please check-in all MNLink items.
Discuss: Charge for replacement item barcodes?
Down-time? put books on carts, write names on hold slips and put books on cart in order, put videos, DVDs, BCD, Books on Tape away.
Circulation Staff Concerns
Next Circulation Staff Meeting: July
Collaboration- Google Docs & Zoho Writer
Google Docs or Zoho Writer
Which of these tools is easier for you to use?
I felt that both were easy to navigate and had great instructions. I have currently posted a document on each site and invited two staff members to view and edit the document.
How do the features of each compare?
Again I think both are equally well done. I do like the sidebar on Zoho Writer: it includes the information on who is collaborating, lists your documents, and what templates are available. Google has something similar but it does show up in the edit screen.
Does one have features that would make you choose it over the other?
I could see myself using either of these. I would use which ever would be easiest to teach to someone else on staff.
What would the Founding Fathers think?
I Think they would be "blown away" by all the technology available to everyone.
Which of these tools is easier for you to use?
I felt that both were easy to navigate and had great instructions. I have currently posted a document on each site and invited two staff members to view and edit the document.
How do the features of each compare?
Again I think both are equally well done. I do like the sidebar on Zoho Writer: it includes the information on who is collaborating, lists your documents, and what templates are available. Google has something similar but it does show up in the edit screen.
Does one have features that would make you choose it over the other?
I could see myself using either of these. I would use which ever would be easiest to teach to someone else on staff.
What would the Founding Fathers think?
I Think they would be "blown away" by all the technology available to everyone.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Big Huge Labs.com
The cool Warhol inspired picture was created on the website: Big Huge Labs.com- again- very cool site and soooo easy to do.
Picture Trail
I love this site. I had a great time creating the cube with my dogs photos. It was so easy to understand, upload photos, and post to my blog.
Web conferencing
I have not had an opportunity to participate in an interactive webinar, but have watched several. I was very impressed with the College of DuPage Press: Soaring to Excellence webinars, that I have seen. I watched a couple of Minnitex webinars and also thought they were well done. It is so great to have instant access to the archived webinars on Minnitex, College of DuPage Press, and other sites.
When I prepared to watch my first webinar two years ago, I thought it would be hard to sit through but I was pleasantly surprised. It was interesting and it was easy to pause and restart the program.
When I prepared to watch my first webinar two years ago, I thought it would be hard to sit through but I was pleasantly surprised. It was interesting and it was easy to pause and restart the program.
Text Messaging
I think the library automation systems that incorparate the use of SMS (short messaging service) are thinking ahead. This is the way to go. At my library we offer our patrons a service called Library Elf, which once they sign up, they are notified of holds and items coming due. These notices can be via email or text message.
I am still getting aquinted with text messaging. I do text my family and few friends but I don't think I will be able to text as fast as my son or be able to text without looking at my phone.
I am still getting aquinted with text messaging. I do text my family and few friends but I don't think I will be able to text as fast as my son or be able to text without looking at my phone.
Email & Instant Messaging
I just finished installing Yahoo Messenger and plan to try it out with my daughter. I have been aware of IM but have never used it, so I thought I should try it out. I have also sent an email to a staff memeber to install Yahoo Messenger so we can try IMing together.
I found the information on email templates quite helpful. I will be looking into setting up a couple of templates for emails that I send out regularly.
I found the information on email templates quite helpful. I will be looking into setting up a couple of templates for emails that I send out regularly.
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