The End.... #23

A few thoughts for my last and final exercise:

• Favorite discoveries - Shelfari, Flickr & podcasts ... finally understanding what a Wiki was.
• Least favorite discoveries - RSS feeds and bloglines ... I gave up on that one!
• Unexpected outcome - Decision to include a Wiki as learning tool for our Readers' Advisory T.P. Obj. 5.4.3.
• Benefit for me - opened my awareness of the vast array of 2.0 tools out there and increased my understanding of the ways our young people are communicating and how technology is having an impact on the way we think, work and learn.
• Major concern - the amount of time it has taken to do this. As an exempt staff person, I have been able to work on this almost entirely at home. (I did do a few things and always needed to update the tracking log at work though.) This really wasn't an option for the non-exempt staff - many tried to fit it in - but just gave up. For a part time CSS or CSA who doesn't have much time off the floor or scheduled tasks - it's a crunch. We did offer to schedule folks the time to complete - but our staff are also concerned about the ever growing loan list, getting books back on the shelf and those darn blue boxes. I also heard from staff that setting so many accounts and passwords up began to be a big drag.
• And another discovery program ... would I participate? Well, maybe ... it depends.

So now we have spent time developing our technology skills and awareness of the 2.0 tools ... yes - I would say, with a few minor reservations that all in all, it has been a very good thing. But now....let's take the time to work on the skills and confidence we also need to be seen as the book experts in Central Ohio. So can we do that... concentrate on reading and books, too?

#22 - Digital Media - MOLDI

Good idea to include this exercise in the program. I've reviewed MOLDI several times in the past couple years - and think I get it - but then when a customer asks me a question - I'm at a loss since I don't use myself. And I even took one of the OverDrive webinar classes!
I was very happy to see the addition of iPod titles -- in fact I added a few to my wish list to borrow when Santa brings me one later this month. I see most of the iPod titles are classics -- which I will remember to refer students to when they are scrambling at the last minute to get an audio version of a reading list title. As it turns out, our daughter was looking for a copy of Great Expectations on CD just yesterday, and I put a hold on it for her via MOLDI today. Won't she be surprised?
Wish this exercise had come a little sooner in the program - since it is the only tool/resource in "Learn & Play" that I have ever been asked about. I know staff often are at a loss when asked. And for the staff who stopped midway through the program ... having this towards the end means they never saw it.

#21 - Podcasts

I looked at the different podcast directories... the Google directory & Podcast Alley. I see how you can find by category, etc. Saw large list of library related podcasts - loads of university libraries. Lansing Public Library uses podcasts to teach basic tech skills. (Also noticed the popularity of sex and pornography related ones...hmmm... I will be careful how I share podcast directories if the question comes up.)
I did make a great discovery - Podcast Bunker. This directory's slogan is "... we're all about quality, not quanity.." I think I will use it as my reference point as I use podcasts more. It was easy to use and I found loads of podcasts I would listen to...once I HAVE THE TIME! I decided to skip the step using bloglines .. as I find it way too confusing to use and I would never go back there to keep on top of my podcast subscriptions.
Yes - I'm glad to know how many options there are out there for this technology.

YouTube - #20

For my thing #20 exercise, I became more familiar with YouTube. Search engine is pretty straight forward and I found everything I was looking for - videos of the Phillies win last month, Obama's speech on race in Philadelphialast March, and Annie's clarinet trio video. It was nice to be able to send that one on to the family back East ... they rarely make it out here for a concert, so being able to do this is great!

Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK-LYUSCYPs

No matter what I tried ... I wasn't able to do the embedded tag copy and paste.... I kept getting error messages... oh well....

CML Power Tools

Thing #19 - Yes, today I explored CML’s own Tool Box of great Web 2.0 tools. So I did not realize that these included some of the tools we have been looking at, like del.icio.us & Twitter & Library Thing, etc. Looked a little closer at Gmail and StumbleUpon.
However, I am done with setting up accounts and creating passwords!! So I didn't go too far. But I am glad to have looked at the entire Power Tools Page - just in case it comes up, I will be able to steer customers here.

Web 2.0 Awards - Thing #18

Took a look at the awards list at: http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0#cat_107 and tried several... imcooked, urbanspoon, Yelp, Farecast, Boo.. recipes, cooking, travel and restaurants. (see a pattern here?) Also noticed how many of the sites we have been using are on this list as well - flickr, twitter, del.ci.ous, etc. So what did I think? Having a list by categories is helpful.. if you are a geneaologist, or cook, or are in retail, then using this list would be a good way to narrow down the handy 2.0 tools for you. Then you stick with one or two. Otherwise.. way too much.. too many passwords and logins, etc. Since I explored some of these sites a few days ago... even now, I can't remember which was what and if I would go back to use.
As for uses in the library setting.. these tools offer options for customers searching for information and referrals to services and products. These sites would probably be good supplements to standard google searches and premium resources.

Google Docs - Nice to Know!

Nice to know about these online applications... never knew that they existed. I'm working at home on this today.. and was unable to open the Common Craft video about it...but will take a quick look back at work. I like those videos.
Anyway... I do have Google account since I am using Blogger for my blog.. and logged into Google Docs. Took a look... and made a sample Holiday Party invitation using the template. I think I may be able to use those templates in my day-to day work.. so will make a point of remembering that they exist .. lots of options and will be good to review for ideas. I can see us incorporating these tools when doing tech training .. having access to these online apps will be very helpful for customers needing tools for work, school, community groups, etc.