Wikis are an interesting concept, but it seems that there are so many possibilities for information to be altered. I remember many months ago reading a posting on Wkipedia, when I was just checking on it to see what it was like. I read about some subject which I can no longer remember. The beginning of the article was fine, but after the first paragraph, even I, who knew little about the subject, realized that whoever entered the information was highly prejudiced against the material that had probably been originally entered, and had entered his own - obviously wrong and a little improper. How many people will take what is written on a site like wikipedia as the gospel truth?
Our library system has just started a staff wiki. It will be interesting to see how many use it. We used to have a staff blog, but frankly, it wasn't very successful - hardly anyone used it.
Anyway, I have now "wiki"d. I went into the 23 things wiki and fortunately, someone was clever enough to post a list of "wrong" titles and authors and suggested someone correct them - so I did! (at least I corrected one title and added a picture.) I feel like a published author now - and it certainly was easy.
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Thing #9 - Online Collaboration Tools
I tried out Google Docs and think I can definitely see some library applications for this. If you are on a committee with someone from another branch, it would be an easy way to collaborate on a document or presentation. I think this is a great idea! It seemed to be quite easy to use. I read the testimonials from other users and it seemed like everyone found lots of different applications for Google Docs. However, I didn't see how to edit the public document without first setting up an account. I didn't try Zoho because it looks like you have to set up an account before you can do anything there, too, but I imagine it works in much the same way.
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thing #8 - Sharing your Creations
Holy Cow! I think I actually made a slideshow on the first try! Amazing - although I had to use other people's pictures since I don't have any of my own. They took much better pictures than I ever could have - so-Thank You. Anyway, it was pretty easy, so I'd recommend it although I'm not exactly sure of the library applications. This is what I'm having the hardest time with. It's fun to play with these things, but how do I use them? Also this constantly moving slideshow is driving me crazy already. I'll probably have to get rid of it!
Thing #7 - Web 2.0 Communication Tools
1. Email is old hat. I use it at work and at home. However, probably not to the extent that others do. Unfortunately, I still find myself occasionally reaching for the phone when I should be emailing. Probably my age - I grew up when phone numbers still had only 4 digits and there were no computers. Emailing groups is a whole lot easier than emailing (or phoning) each individual person. Email is a wonderful thing, but you're right, it can be a time waster, too... However, I can't imagine life without it now.
2. Instant messaging is something that I know very little about. Our library is trying to start virtual reference using IM, but I was on vacation during the training session, so I'm not familiar enough with it yet to know how successful it will be. We're going to be using Meebo.
3.Text Messaging. never tried it - probably won't. I know my kids do it, but typing on those little phone keys is way to difficult for me. I've watched people do it, and am surprised they can still move their thumbs.
4. Web conferencing. I watched a Minitex webinar on starting up an IM reference program. There are lots of things about it that I hadn't thought about before. Since we are preparing to start up, I'm curious to see who takes advantage of it, and how effective it is. It sounds like it might be the way of the future.
Our library system had a seminar on customer service recently that we were all required to attend. I think this would have been a perfect use for a "webinar" Instead of having everyone travel to a different location for the meeting, we could have stayed in our own branches and gotten the information in a much shorter time. It would have been much more convenient.
2. Instant messaging is something that I know very little about. Our library is trying to start virtual reference using IM, but I was on vacation during the training session, so I'm not familiar enough with it yet to know how successful it will be. We're going to be using Meebo.
3.Text Messaging. never tried it - probably won't. I know my kids do it, but typing on those little phone keys is way to difficult for me. I've watched people do it, and am surprised they can still move their thumbs.
4. Web conferencing. I watched a Minitex webinar on starting up an IM reference program. There are lots of things about it that I hadn't thought about before. Since we are preparing to start up, I'm curious to see who takes advantage of it, and how effective it is. It sounds like it might be the way of the future.
Our library system had a seminar on customer service recently that we were all required to attend. I think this would have been a perfect use for a "webinar" Instead of having everyone travel to a different location for the meeting, we could have stayed in our own branches and gotten the information in a much shorter time. It would have been much more convenient.
Friday, February 15, 2008
Thing #6 - Even More Fun with Online Image Generators
I think I finally got my trading card. Since I don't have many pictures on my computer I had to go to Flickr and use someone else's photo.. Thanks to Carla 216 for the unauthorized use of her photo I hope when it says "all rights reserved" and "public" it means I can use her photo as long as I don't make any money off it. if not, Carla, I'm sorry, but I liked your photo.
As far as using some of these ideas in the library, I think they'd be really fun and different. However, it took me so long to do these assignments that I don't think the library would want to pay me for the wasted time I would have to spend doing these clever little mashups. maybe if I got really good, and could whip them out in a few minutes, it would be a different story, but right now, I don't think it's for me.
Anyway - I'm off on vacation tomorrow! Yaaayyy!
Thursday, February 14, 2008
Thing #6 - Online Image Generator
I actually finally got an image into my post - thanks to some help from a co-worker. I'm still not sure exactly what I was doing wrong, but things worked this time and there are some results to look at. I was hoping to completely finish thing#5 before we left on vacation, but if I can't figure out how to make a trading card tomorrow, that will have to wait until I get back. The Dominican Republic awaits!
I actually finally got an image into my post - thanks to some help from a co-worker. I'm still not sure exactly what I was doing wrong, but things worked this time and there are some results to look at. I was hoping to completely finish thing#5 before we left on vacation, but if I can't figure out how to make a trading card tomorrow, that will have to wait until I get back. The Dominican Republic awaits!
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thing #5 - Fun with Flickr
I think I might have done it this time - with a little luck this picture will show up on the blog post for today. I find it very frustrating that it's not easy to find directions for doing something that should be relatively simple. Nowhere could I find that I had to upload this picture puzzle I made to Flickr before I could put it in my blog. Why do techies only write for other techies? I could upload it to my blog directly, but it wouldn't appear in a particular post. It appeared on my blog, but not where I wanted it too. Then after I uploaded it to Flickr and then downloaded it to my blog it was fine.
I think it would be fun to make posters for the library using pictures from Flickr. It would be really nice to be able to make big posters, but I don't think we have the capability here to do that.
It's fun using these toys, but I wish I were more creative to figure out clever things to do with them.
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Thing # 5 - More Flickr Fun
I 'm trying to figure out how to upload my Flickr picture puzzle to my Blog. So far nothing has worked. I am certainly not too impressed with the fact that I can't find any instructions on how to do it. I can't remember how I got the picture into the last post, and whenever I try to put this picture in, it ends up either above or below the post.
Oops - maybe I got it this time. Let's see. No, I guess not. Now my grandson's picture is over on the side. What am I doing wrong? So far I'm not having so much more Flickr fun... I'll have to try again tomorrow.
Oops - maybe I got it this time. Let's see. No, I guess not. Now my grandson's picture is over on the side. What am I doing wrong? So far I'm not having so much more Flickr fun... I'll have to try again tomorrow.
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Thing#4 - Flickr
I've spent the last couple of days exploring Flickr. I can't believe the number of photos that have been posted there. At first I wasn't sure of the reasons people would post their pictures on the internet, but after watching the video, I realize that it could be a safe storage thing. I also wonder if people are looking for compliments on their photography or if professionals are marketing themselves. Anyway, it sure gives us lots of good pictures to look at.
I think I've followed the directions for uploading a picture from Flickr to my blog. (I've personally never seen a sunset that looks this good, but I think perhaps this guy is a professional photographer. Thanks to Punchup for the use of his (or her) photo.
After looking at the pictures of the St. Ben's/Alcuin library I am quite impressed with the creativity. It's a great idea for marketing books, but I think it would be even better if there was a summary of the book rather that just a link to Amazon. Who has time to figure out these things?
I think I've followed the directions for uploading a picture from Flickr to my blog. (I've personally never seen a sunset that looks this good, but I think perhaps this guy is a professional photographer. Thanks to Punchup for the use of his (or her) photo.
After looking at the pictures of the St. Ben's/Alcuin library I am quite impressed with the creativity. It's a great idea for marketing books, but I think it would be even better if there was a summary of the book rather that just a link to Amazon. Who has time to figure out these things?
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Thing #3- Rss Feeds
Well, I guess I have finished #3, but I'm not quite sure why. I managed to register in Google Reader and located some rss feeds. I've put the blogs and feeds into Google Reader - now I guess the next step is to keep checking on them regularly to see how they have been updated. Somehow, it seems like this just makes it necessary to spend more time on the computer checking on other peoples blogs, etc. Do I care that much? I'm not sure... I guess I just have to find some feeds that are on subjects that I am passionately interested in... Oops - maybe there lies the problem...no passions.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Thing#2 - Library 2.0
After reading all the posts and documents, I'm not really sure what to think about Library 2.0. I can see why it's important that we are aware of the new technologies, but I'm not sure how much public is interested in all this. Yes, maybe the young, technologically hip are ready to plunge into these new technologies, but is the general public?
Mostly, the people I see and help every day are not interested in learning new technologies. They just have a question and want an answer as soon as possible. In general, the 8o year old who needs to print a boarding pass but doesn't have any idea how to use a computer just wants me to say I'll print it out for him. He doesn't want to learn how to use a computer, or any other technology. He just wants to get a boarding pass (which the airline used to issue to him when he bought his ticket with no effort on his part.)
Possibly, some of these new technologies will help me find the answers faster for some questions,
but to take full advantage of them, you have to be willing to spend a great deal of time on the computer. I don't know if I have the time or the interest, and I don't think that a great majority of customers want to spend time learning it. Perhaps in another generation ot two, when everyone has grown up with technology from day 1 and learns it all when they are very young, it will seem more feasible.
The ideas may be great, but it is becoming more and more difficult to simply find a book that has the answer a person is looking for and give it to them. Telling someone they can look it up on one of our databases is not always the most helpful answer...
(I think I'm still a Library 1.0 person)
Mostly, the people I see and help every day are not interested in learning new technologies. They just have a question and want an answer as soon as possible. In general, the 8o year old who needs to print a boarding pass but doesn't have any idea how to use a computer just wants me to say I'll print it out for him. He doesn't want to learn how to use a computer, or any other technology. He just wants to get a boarding pass (which the airline used to issue to him when he bought his ticket with no effort on his part.)
Possibly, some of these new technologies will help me find the answers faster for some questions,
but to take full advantage of them, you have to be willing to spend a great deal of time on the computer. I don't know if I have the time or the interest, and I don't think that a great majority of customers want to spend time learning it. Perhaps in another generation ot two, when everyone has grown up with technology from day 1 and learns it all when they are very young, it will seem more feasible.
The ideas may be great, but it is becoming more and more difficult to simply find a book that has the answer a person is looking for and give it to them. Telling someone they can look it up on one of our databases is not always the most helpful answer...
(I think I'm still a Library 1.0 person)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
