THE 23RD THING!!!!

I was reluctant at first to start this venture when it was first announced. Honestly, I though "What more can I learn than what I already know?" I know, that is a bad, bad attitude to have, but I didn't think I was going to see anything new that I hadn't seen before. Well, I was only partly right in that assumption. Yes, I knew that many of the tools we explored over the past few weeks existed, and I was mildly aware of their application in the library....but I have learned much more than I ever expected. These excercises challenged me to explore these tools and discover new an inovative ways to utilize them in my everyday life.

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Del.icio.us is one of my favorite discoveries...I really enjoy the ways I can keep track of my bookmarks, as well as share with others.
The image mashup excercise was a nice opportunity to play and learn at the same time.
Googledocs has become a lifesaver in service to many of the patrons at this branch.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?If anything, this program has taught me to never stop exploring because there will always be a new tool or application that I can utilize in my professional as well as personal life. Technolgoy is everchanging, and I want to be on the crest of that wave. I wish this wasn't the end of 23 Things, but that just means that I will have to take more of an initiative to continue exploring, discovering, and sharing.

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Blogging was something that I shyed away from for so long, but amired when others did so elequently. I love my blog now, and will continue to post well past the end of this learning experience.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
I love the format and the concept! Don't change a thing!


If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
I think that would have to be a "YES!"




....I think I'm done now!

Downloadable Media

I have used Net Library a couple of times to view ebooks, but haven't attempted to download any audiobooks until today. Apparently I don't have the latest version of Windows Media Player, because I was unable to obtain the license to listen to the book. That was frustrating, but not unsolvable. I should probably just download the Net Library Media Center to circumvent the problem.

Overdrive looks appealing, but I will have to find time at home to download the Overdrive Media center and play with it a bit. I have an Ipod, so I will test out the transfer to a portable device when I get home. From just playing around with Overdrive, I can say that I like the interface a bit more than Net Library. While Net library seems easier to use, Overdrive appeals to me more and the added effort to use the system seems worth it to me. From just playing around with Overdrive, I can say that I like the interface a bit more than Net Library. While Net library seems easier to use, Overdrive appeals to me more and the added effort to use the system seems worth it to me.

I compared these two tools based on features that are most important to me:
When users first enter the Overdrive site, help is apparent. The user does not have to search for a guide, it is linked right on the front page. NetLibrary users have to dig for a start-up guide.
NetLibrary does not require any special downloads in order to listen to audio books, while Overdrive does require the user to download the Media Center. (not a huge problem for me, but that limits use on public library computers)
Overdrive offers IPod downloads, while Netlibrary does not.

Overall, I think Overdrive is going to be a better bet for me, but I'm sure I will use them both equally.

Library 2.0 perspective

As a relatively new librarian, I was initiated into library culture with Library 2.0 firmly planted in my head. From the first day of my Library Science program, I was aware of Library 2.0. Of course, I knew it only in abstract terms at the time. My final farewell from many of my professors included a push to incorporate Library 2.0 in my new career. What is Library 2.0? It wasn't until I stepped into my role as a librarian that I was able to truly understand the importance of this concept. In my mind, I consider it to be a movement towards keeping users at the forefront of any initiative towards change in the library, by specifically utilizing new technologies to reach out to our community of patrons. Being aware of the user's needs and possible contributions to our work is the first step in developing a functional Library 2.0 environment. With the ever changing web, we are presented with numerous tools and applications that at first inception were not meant for specific use in libraries. Through ingenuity, these applications have found purpose in our everyday interactions with patrons. That being said, these tools are not necessarily evident to the public. Many of these tools are to our professional benefit to make us better, stronger, smarter librarians. Sure, we could survive without these tools, but libraries would surely be left in the dust if we did not evolve to fit this new culture of technology.
Library 2.0 is slated as service for the next-generation, and I see the weight of this statement with every interaction I have with my teens. They are plugged in and ready to go. Will the library be ready for them when they become out adult patrons? With the steps I have already witnessed in SAPL, I know we will be ready.

A message brought to you by YouTube

I've been a fan of YouTube for a couple of years already, but it never ceases be a constant source of entertainment. You really can find just about anything on there, and yes sometimes you should be careful because your eyes will never recover from some of the crazy things people will put out there for public consumption. I love the ease of copying and pasting the coded html text so you can embed it in your blog in just a few clicks. You don't even have to sign up for in order to make use of the videos, you just click and go. I personally like that because I don't like to enter my personal information in every website or share service. Who knows what they do with my email once they own it?

This is just a little Christmas fun! Be sure to have your speakers on to enjoy it to the maximum. Happy Holidays to you all!

#21

The number 21 is my lucky number...and I did prove to be lucky when exploring Thing #21: Podcasts. I don't have much experience with podcasts, so I started this excersise with no real expectations. Well, I was pleasantly suprised. I found a podcast for one of my favorite NPR shows, and I am thoroughly excited about it. If you haven't heard of This American Life , which is a weekly radio show found on NPR, you are missing out. The basic premise of the show is just that, basic. Ira Glass, who by the way is an amazing personality, presents a weekly theme and three stories that align with that theme. These stories are about every day people or events, that somehow take on an epic quality. The real appeal is that these stories appear ordinary at first glance, but viewed through Ira's lense they take on this extraordinary magic of their own. Check out one of their favorite stories, Episode 360: Switched at Birth

Podcasts are generally easy to use, and can be valued for both informational and entertaining qualities...yet another 2.0 tool we can utilize to streamline our busy lives. I never catch This American Life on the live radio, but now I can keep up with the episodes on my own time. Now that I've added it to my Google Reader, I can have easy access to my favorite radio show!

WEB 2.0 Award

I'm always on the hunt for a good deal, and Craig's List is a great site for snatching up some awesome bargains. With just a few clicks, I can find everything that I could possibly want or need. Sure, maybe that bicycle needs a bit of work, but it's vintage! And it might not be a castle, but you can't beat $500 a month for this beauty ! All in all, I can find everything I need in one place. From a vehicle to get me from point A to point B, to a sturdy if not beautiful roof over my head, and yes, even my very own wall-phone so I can call home and tell mom about all the great deals I've found!
Oh, and if Santa happens to be reading this blog, click here!

I love the plain format of the site. It is pretty straightforward, no real guessing involved when navigating the page. The lack of flashy graphics and neon buttons is much appreciated; it almost has the flea-market feel with the bare bones display. Much more appealing and easier to search than the Sunday Classifieds, plus I can just email the seller if I am interested in an item.

So far that's it for this very uninspiring Sunday morning. I need to go back to bed.

Slowly, but surely....

When I orignally used the image generator, my phrase was too long to fit in my blog and appear right. So, I did a "print screen", and copied my image into Publisher. I then croped the screen shot and saved it as a picture. Then, I went to Photobucket and uploaded the picture so I could post it on my blog. Not sure if this was the long way of doing things, but I got it done nonetheless!

Have your own fun with Flickr Spelling!!