I thoroughly enjoyed learning about the variety of tools available for connecting with other people out in the ether. Ideas about using the tools in the library percolated through my mind, although I'm not sure I'll be able to put any into practice. I discovered how difficult it is for me to get myself to do "work" at home, even when motivated. I've enjoyed having a blog and may decide to continue it in some fashion. I do enjoy flickr, especially finding photos that we put up in our blogs. I was very delighted to see the photos show up.
I do feel that I'm somewhat more comfortable with emerging technologies, or at least, that with instruction they are not out of my reach. As with all things, practice, practice, practice would make them second nature. How do I get myself to commit, when it's not for a class with a deadline? Each of the technologies is kind of a black hole in terms of time. It's easy to be led from one thing to another and another. I was disciplined at points in my life, what happened?
The project format worked for me. There were times when more instructions would have been helpful. I would proceed to the assignment link and be unsure of how what to do next. I know that's vague. I'll try to look back and see where I got confused (but not tonight). I would participate in another project, since there are not many opportunities to get at this information unless you like playing around with technology on your own. I don't. I like my hand to be held very firmly along the way. So, thanks for holding my hand. I guess the unexpected outcome was that I was able to complete the assignments. When I couldn't load flash media and complete Week 1, I thought I was a goner.
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Library 2.0 - what it means
Library 2.0, to me, is a set of interactive tools allowing anyone with computer access to add content, visual or printed, to the web. I was pleased to discover that I had used some of the tools prior to starting the class. I uploaded some photographs to Flickr and used RSS feeds. I participated on a very small level of adding photographs to a wiki already in existence. Library 2.0 is a way of communicating with people you know and people you don't already know. It's another way of "broadening horizons" in addition to reading books and traveling. An article I read in Newsweek, "New Wisdom of the Web" calls it the "living web", a term I think is a good description of what is taking place.
I'm not sure when the public library I work in will be able to incorporate some of the L2 tools. The economic downturn, lack of money, staff and time are huge factors. The last library I worked in which was part of a private medical center, had to keep recreating itself and be more "cutting edge" in order to be useful to the staff and administrators, and to keep getting funded. They had a blog and posted podcasts. Academic libraries also seem more able to keep up with changes. I know there are public libraries that are using many of the tools, but I don't think this will happen too soon where I work. A wireless pilot program in one of our libraries was to be expanded to the branch I'm at. That has been cancelled.
A good point was brought up in the first article I read, "We know what Library 2.0 is and is not". Before starting a library blog or wiki, etc. there is a need to determine what users want and what would be helpful to them. I think there will be very disparate movements in libraries, as there has been up until now, depending on finances. I also think the technology and abilities are going to keep advancing rapidly, especially if any millenials become librarians. The people coming out of the library school I attended are far better versed in the web and library 2.0 than I, and many of my colleagues, are.
I'm not sure when the public library I work in will be able to incorporate some of the L2 tools. The economic downturn, lack of money, staff and time are huge factors. The last library I worked in which was part of a private medical center, had to keep recreating itself and be more "cutting edge" in order to be useful to the staff and administrators, and to keep getting funded. They had a blog and posted podcasts. Academic libraries also seem more able to keep up with changes. I know there are public libraries that are using many of the tools, but I don't think this will happen too soon where I work. A wireless pilot program in one of our libraries was to be expanded to the branch I'm at. That has been cancelled.
A good point was brought up in the first article I read, "We know what Library 2.0 is and is not". Before starting a library blog or wiki, etc. there is a need to determine what users want and what would be helpful to them. I think there will be very disparate movements in libraries, as there has been up until now, depending on finances. I also think the technology and abilities are going to keep advancing rapidly, especially if any millenials become librarians. The people coming out of the library school I attended are far better versed in the web and library 2.0 than I, and many of my colleagues, are.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Podcasts
I'm having a hard time with this assignment. I found a podcast I wanted to listen to and downloaded Juice software, but I'm having a hard time learning to use it. I subscribed to the podcast, and it indicates that it is downloading,but it's not. It is supposed to be on library survival tips, but I haven't been able to listen to it. I'm not sure how to get the download to begin.
I did listen to a podcast from NPR, "All Things Considered" called "Podcasts, Part of Higher-Tech Education" on using podcasts in the college classroom. I was blown away that the piece was from 2006. I didn't know much about podcasts back then and here a college was already trying them out. Here is the address for that podcast. I put an RSS feed into my Google Reader for NPR, but it's not showing the podcast I listened to. I'm perplexed. I can see how libraries could use podcasts for tutorials on use of the library and available services.
I downloaded a second podcast software, PrimeTime, and I'm having the same problem using it, as with Juice. I wrote to the contact person, so maybe I'll find out what it is I'm missing. I even read the Read Me information this time.
Just now I was looking at Google Reader and I couldn't access the list of podcasts. Maybe today is not a good day to work with technology. I think I'll try again later.
I did listen to a podcast from NPR, "All Things Considered" called "Podcasts, Part of Higher-Tech Education" on using podcasts in the college classroom. I was blown away that the piece was from 2006. I didn't know much about podcasts back then and here a college was already trying them out. Here is the address for that podcast. I put an RSS feed into my Google Reader for NPR, but it's not showing the podcast I listened to. I'm perplexed. I can see how libraries could use podcasts for tutorials on use of the library and available services.
I downloaded a second podcast software, PrimeTime, and I'm having the same problem using it, as with Juice. I wrote to the contact person, so maybe I'll find out what it is I'm missing. I even read the Read Me information this time.
Just now I was looking at Google Reader and I couldn't access the list of podcasts. Maybe today is not a good day to work with technology. I think I'll try again later.
Monday, December 1, 2008
You Tube
Here's an educational video on preventing falls from 1986.
Including short films on health topics on a library's web site is an innovative way to give access to useful information. Some patrons learn better visually. I chose this video because it made me laugh. I would not choose it for an actual library website. The narrator's voice became inaudible when he was reading captions that were on the screen. I would use the most updated video I was able to find.
Here's a musical video on MRSA, the superbug that is resistant to antibiotics.
MRSA
One good thing about You Tube is the vast array of creativity that can be found. However, the videos are sometimes out of focus or have voice synching problems.
Again, I chose the video for it's entertainment value. It's been a long day!
One place where videos can be imbedded is as a link from a subject page. For example, if the subject was MRSA, the linked page could contain links to web pages with info on MRSA and include the embedded video as a choice.
Including short films on health topics on a library's web site is an innovative way to give access to useful information. Some patrons learn better visually. I chose this video because it made me laugh. I would not choose it for an actual library website. The narrator's voice became inaudible when he was reading captions that were on the screen. I would use the most updated video I was able to find.
Here's a musical video on MRSA, the superbug that is resistant to antibiotics.
MRSA
One good thing about You Tube is the vast array of creativity that can be found. However, the videos are sometimes out of focus or have voice synching problems.
Again, I chose the video for it's entertainment value. It's been a long day!
One place where videos can be imbedded is as a link from a subject page. For example, if the subject was MRSA, the linked page could contain links to web pages with info on MRSA and include the embedded video as a choice.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Online applications & Tools
Wow! Having just lost all my documents with a hard drive malfunction, I'm excited about the use of document-makers that don't necessarily reside on my hard drive. I should have explored what was meant by off-line use, since I would most likely want also to have an edition on my hard drive. I don't currently do anything fancy with Word or Excel, so whatever features might be missing from Google Docs and Spreadsheets isn't obvious to me. I do have Vista, so I noted that the docx items I create cannot be uploaded in Google, from one of the comments.
I used the Zoho planner to set up some reminders of items to take care of (including completing my homework assignments). I'm not sure if they email or if you have to go into Zoho to look at the calendar listing, in which case I would need a reminder to look at Zoho daily!
I don't know how easily documents could be hacked. I did note that each site had the option to share or not to share. I'd want to learn more about that.
I also checked out Snipshot, which had a lot of ads to purchase the Pro version. I played around with one picture, but was not truly sure whether I saved it over the same picture name (I hope not) or if it's living in the download box from Firefox. I do have an old version of Adobe Elements and need to spend time learning the ins and outs before I would start paying for something else. If you want to do a quick resize or cropping and some tuning up I think Snipshot could work. I tried to undo something I had done (like distort the picture!) and either it didn't work, or I didn't wait long enough for it to work. I would not be inclined to use this tool at the moment.
I used the Zoho planner to set up some reminders of items to take care of (including completing my homework assignments). I'm not sure if they email or if you have to go into Zoho to look at the calendar listing, in which case I would need a reminder to look at Zoho daily!
I don't know how easily documents could be hacked. I did note that each site had the option to share or not to share. I'd want to learn more about that.
I also checked out Snipshot, which had a lot of ads to purchase the Pro version. I played around with one picture, but was not truly sure whether I saved it over the same picture name (I hope not) or if it's living in the download box from Firefox. I do have an old version of Adobe Elements and need to spend time learning the ins and outs before I would start paying for something else. If you want to do a quick resize or cropping and some tuning up I think Snipshot could work. I tried to undo something I had done (like distort the picture!) and either it didn't work, or I didn't wait long enough for it to work. I would not be inclined to use this tool at the moment.
Wikis II
In my last post about wikis, before I set up my own, I commented that book suggestions from patrons can be done via email, phone call, etc. and would not be a useful idea for setting up a wiki. However, as I set the wiki up, it occurred to me that another possibility would be for book reviews by readers that could help in making selections. The problem is mainly that I need reviews prior to publication and I'm not sure that readers would have access to the content. Possibly, there are larger libraries that get prepub copies that could share impressions of the books.
I do search for prepub reviews in a variety of the journals that I am able to access - Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist and Kirkus Reviews, however, the vast majority of consumer health and alternative medicine books are not reviewed. Any suggestions?
As to setting up the wiki. Following the instructions made it fairly simple, however, if it were to become a viable wiki, it would take a lot more thought about design and end result desired, than I have been able to do now. I am a member of the MLA09 wiki, which also uses WetPaint and found adding pictures where I wanted them a bit difficult. I tried to set up a picture album and that didn't work. When I decided I wanted to move a picture from the original location where I set it up, I found out that there is no way to delete the photo. I found it fairly frustrating, although I have to add, that I only added entries 2-3 times.
I do search for prepub reviews in a variety of the journals that I am able to access - Publisher's Weekly, Library Journal, Booklist and Kirkus Reviews, however, the vast majority of consumer health and alternative medicine books are not reviewed. Any suggestions?
As to setting up the wiki. Following the instructions made it fairly simple, however, if it were to become a viable wiki, it would take a lot more thought about design and end result desired, than I have been able to do now. I am a member of the MLA09 wiki, which also uses WetPaint and found adding pictures where I wanted them a bit difficult. I tried to set up a picture album and that didn't work. When I decided I wanted to move a picture from the original location where I set it up, I found out that there is no way to delete the photo. I found it fairly frustrating, although I have to add, that I only added entries 2-3 times.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Wikis
I agree with the comments that were posted, I'm not sure how to use this in the public library I work in. The uses that came to mind are not things that would be suitable for public input, such as new book lists, bibliographies. They would be better as links on the website. A place for posting patron book recommendations, comments, etc. can by done by sending an email to the library.
I liked the University of Calgary wiki very much. Maybe an internal wiki would work better - for communal writing or commenting on library policies, bibliographies, etc. before they are published.
I liked the University of Calgary wiki very much. Maybe an internal wiki would work better - for communal writing or commenting on library policies, bibliographies, etc. before they are published.
Molokai07154
This is a photograph of taro fields on Molokai that are being reestablished by the residents. I took this picture on a hike through Halawa Valley to see Halawa Falls during a field trip which was part of the 2007 Association of Hawaii Archivists conference.
Flicker
Hi -
I'm stoked that I was able to post a picture to my blog. I already had a flickr account so that I could share photos with colleagues who attended an archivist conference in 2007 on Molokai. Previously, I've used Snapfish to post private photos and sent friends the access address. A number of people did not want to register at the site, since they would have ended up getting email from them. A friend on the trip suggested using Flickr, so I've added some photos from various archival field trips to share.
I went to Nancy's blog (http://nancylombardo.blogspot.com/) and saw that an online guide had picked up one of her photos. I had the same thing happen for an online Maui guide. I had tagged the photos with the name of the trip and did not individually identify each photo, so it was mislabeled in the guide. The producers said this had happened with other photos and were going to redo it. I have not heard from them since then, March '08, so working on this exercise reminded me to check out what's going on.
I recently had my hard drive crash, so loading pictures to Flickr is another layer of protection. Too bad I didn't add my most recent photos!
I'm stoked that I was able to post a picture to my blog. I already had a flickr account so that I could share photos with colleagues who attended an archivist conference in 2007 on Molokai. Previously, I've used Snapfish to post private photos and sent friends the access address. A number of people did not want to register at the site, since they would have ended up getting email from them. A friend on the trip suggested using Flickr, so I've added some photos from various archival field trips to share.
I went to Nancy's blog (http://nancylombardo.blogspot.com/) and saw that an online guide had picked up one of her photos. I had the same thing happen for an online Maui guide. I had tagged the photos with the name of the trip and did not individually identify each photo, so it was mislabeled in the guide. The producers said this had happened with other photos and were going to redo it. I have not heard from them since then, March '08, so working on this exercise reminded me to check out what's going on.
I recently had my hard drive crash, so loading pictures to Flickr is another layer of protection. Too bad I didn't add my most recent photos!
Yamdrok Tso (Turquoise) Lake, Tibet
What a gorgeous photograph by Katarina 2353. I spent 3 days in Lhasa, Tibet in 2006. Since we did not get outside of Lhasa, I did not see this lake. I'd love another opportunity to go back and see more of Tibet and do some hiking - although breathing at altitude is difficult for me. The scenery is just too gorgeous to miss.
RSS feed
I wrote the second paragraph as a comment on November 7th. When I started to blog about it, I couldn't remember what I'd said and left it for later. I was on the verge of catching up to the assignments. Here I am, three weeks behind again. Drat.
Nov. 7 - I just added three of the feeds listed in the assignment. I tried adding another, but apparently didn't have the correct address. Except for the one that didn't work, it was very easy. I was surprised to see that the posts went back in time and didn't start from today forward. A bit overwhelming to have so many posts pop up instantly.
Nov. 24 - In the past I could never figure out which part of the code I was supposed to enter to start an RSS feed. Now it turns out it is just the url. Not sure why I couldn't remember that earlier.
Nov. 7 - I just added three of the feeds listed in the assignment. I tried adding another, but apparently didn't have the correct address. Except for the one that didn't work, it was very easy. I was surprised to see that the posts went back in time and didn't start from today forward. A bit overwhelming to have so many posts pop up instantly.
Nov. 24 - In the past I could never figure out which part of the code I was supposed to enter to start an RSS feed. Now it turns out it is just the url. Not sure why I couldn't remember that earlier.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Delicious Part II
I wanted to bookmark some sites and had succeeded previously adding the delicious icons to my toolbar. I went to the CAPHIS, consumer health, site and clicked on the tagging icon. Nothing happened. I tried several more times at different sites. Still nothing. I went back to the exercise page and rewatched the short video tutorials. I was thinking that my aging brain was pretty sad, since I had just watched the tutorials one day prior. Still, rewatching did not solve the problem of why the tagging icon did not work. Finally, I decided to end my computer session and shut down the various open windows. Lo and behold there was the small tagging screen, hidden under everything else and waiting for my attention. Sheesh!
I've been open to each new lesson, and not expecting problems and have discovered each time I've hit a snag. The difference now is that since I'm committed to finishing the course and learning how to use the various tools we're exploring, I am trying again. Before this, I would have just given up and muttered under my breath about the Internet being for the young. Now, I'm determined not to let it get the better of me (at least while the class is still in session!).
I've been open to each new lesson, and not expecting problems and have discovered each time I've hit a snag. The difference now is that since I'm committed to finishing the course and learning how to use the various tools we're exploring, I am trying again. Before this, I would have just given up and muttered under my breath about the Internet being for the young. Now, I'm determined not to let it get the better of me (at least while the class is still in session!).
Sunday, November 9, 2008
I looked at Delicious a few days ago, loaded the toolbar and then imported my bookmarks. Unfortunately, I was thinking of the bookmarks I had in Yahoo, but since I was in Firefox, it imported all the MSN bookmarks which is not terribly helpful. When I opened up Delicious today, I saw how I could delete, so I got rid of some that are unnecessary. I guess if i access Delicious from my yahoo account, I can import those bookmarks.
Today I opened Delicious and even remembered my log in. I wanted to save the agenda for the class learning 2.0, but clicked on the bookmarks icon (wrong one anyway) and the tag icon with no result. I guess you have to be at a web page. I was able to do it in my yahoo account, however.
I definitely appreciate the ability to look at my bookmarks wherever I am. I have encountered in the past wishing i was at my own computer so I could have my marked pages. As for the rest, I am also feeling confused. I tend to use just as much of a program as I need, a bare minimum, and not learn the rest. If I can keep myself using Delicious after the class, that will be a milestone for me. I can see the use for it at work to share websites with my co-workers. I recently moved to a public library where I am the selector in the medical arena, but I'm no longer at a medical library. Setting up something for patrons is more challenging and something that will require much more thought and conversation with colleagues.
Today I opened Delicious and even remembered my log in. I wanted to save the agenda for the class learning 2.0, but clicked on the bookmarks icon (wrong one anyway) and the tag icon with no result. I guess you have to be at a web page. I was able to do it in my yahoo account, however.
I definitely appreciate the ability to look at my bookmarks wherever I am. I have encountered in the past wishing i was at my own computer so I could have my marked pages. As for the rest, I am also feeling confused. I tend to use just as much of a program as I need, a bare minimum, and not learn the rest. If I can keep myself using Delicious after the class, that will be a milestone for me. I can see the use for it at work to share websites with my co-workers. I recently moved to a public library where I am the selector in the medical arena, but I'm no longer at a medical library. Setting up something for patrons is more challenging and something that will require much more thought and conversation with colleagues.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Hi - This is my first blog and my first blog post. I'll repeat some of what I said in my posted comment on the Learning 2.0 blog. I chose Habit 4, having confidence in myself as a competent, effective learner, as the easy habit to achieve, however, due to my aging brain and faulty memory, I'm not sure "easy" is the correct word. I can relate to habit 4, more than the others, however. The difficult one, as it is for many of you, is seeing problems as challenges. I tend to be intimidated by problems first and ask questions later.
As part of the boomer generation, I don't find using new technology intuitive or comfortable. I do like learning and have always thought of myself as a life-long learner. I have continued to take a variety of classes since graduating from library school, although I've been somewhat less successful at immediately putting what I've learned into practice. I'm hoping the tools and habits I'll learn in this class will help me be braver and more motivated in that arena.
As part of the boomer generation, I don't find using new technology intuitive or comfortable. I do like learning and have always thought of myself as a life-long learner. I have continued to take a variety of classes since graduating from library school, although I've been somewhat less successful at immediately putting what I've learned into practice. I'm hoping the tools and habits I'll learn in this class will help me be braver and more motivated in that arena.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)