23 Things has come to an end! I won't know what to do with my extra time at the library now. Luckily it's summer and summer reading so (today at least) there hasn't been a dull moment.
How do I feel about 23 things . . . sometimes I was bored. Sometimes I was fascinated. Sometimes frustrated and sometimes things came easily. I thought the program provided a wide variety of different kinds of technology, which was great. I was introduced to a lot of things I'd heard of but never really used (like Flickr), taught to understand some things I'd used but never really thought about (like YouTube) and learned some brand new things all together (like Google Books)!
If someone could find another 23 things as diverse and interesting as this set . . . I'd be happy to do it again!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
NetLibrary
I really love being read to. When I was a little girl my dad used to read Tolkien to my sisters and me while we were falling asleep. I think that led to my addiction to audiobooks. I put them on at night and fall asleep to a story like I did when I was little. It's comforting and allows me to read more than one book at a time (one in print and one on CD).
There are a lot of things I like about NetLibrary and a few things I don't like. I thought the search system was very effecient. Since I wasn't looking for something specific, it was nice to be able to browse by subject or genre hoping to stumble on something interesting. If I was looking for something specific though, I can see getting frustrated by the limited collection. Still, some is better than none at all.
I also appreciate that the books are all unabridged (at least the ones I saw were). I don't like reading a fraction of the story. The author wrote each sentence on purpose so let's listen to all of them.
I'm bummed that the files are not compatible with iPod. I'm not going to go out and buy a new mp3 player specifically for NetLibrary so it would be nice if I could make it work with my iPod. I read their explanation as to why it doesn't work and it makes sense but still it stinks for me. :)
Overall, the website is pretty user friendly and I think very helpful for patrons and staff alike.
There are a lot of things I like about NetLibrary and a few things I don't like. I thought the search system was very effecient. Since I wasn't looking for something specific, it was nice to be able to browse by subject or genre hoping to stumble on something interesting. If I was looking for something specific though, I can see getting frustrated by the limited collection. Still, some is better than none at all.
I also appreciate that the books are all unabridged (at least the ones I saw were). I don't like reading a fraction of the story. The author wrote each sentence on purpose so let's listen to all of them.
I'm bummed that the files are not compatible with iPod. I'm not going to go out and buy a new mp3 player specifically for NetLibrary so it would be nice if I could make it work with my iPod. I read their explanation as to why it doesn't work and it makes sense but still it stinks for me. :)
Overall, the website is pretty user friendly and I think very helpful for patrons and staff alike.
Podcasting
So this is cool because (since working everyday with Rand) I've been thinking about going vegetarian. Truthfully, this is something I will never do because you can't beat a good burger, but I'd like to know more about it. On Podcastalley I found a podcast for exactly that! It's called Going Veggie and it's basically an introduction to the vegetarian/vegan lifestyle. I'm all for learning new things.
I was curious about podcasting anyway. I'm always seeing advertisements for fitness podcasts in magazines, but never took the time to check them out. I was under the impression that podcasts were useless without a video iPod. Thank goodness I'm wrong because this is amazing! How many times have you bought a fitness video only to be either bored out of your mind within a week or find out that blonde lady on the cover talks WAY too much. Podcasts provide variety and easy access to all sorts of fitness routines!
Like youtube, but perhaps in a slightly less overwhelming way, podcasts can add a little color to library publications. They also open up a whole new world of reference material that might appeal to the patron that has trouble learning things from black and white print.
I was curious about podcasting anyway. I'm always seeing advertisements for fitness podcasts in magazines, but never took the time to check them out. I was under the impression that podcasts were useless without a video iPod. Thank goodness I'm wrong because this is amazing! How many times have you bought a fitness video only to be either bored out of your mind within a week or find out that blonde lady on the cover talks WAY too much. Podcasts provide variety and easy access to all sorts of fitness routines!
Like youtube, but perhaps in a slightly less overwhelming way, podcasts can add a little color to library publications. They also open up a whole new world of reference material that might appeal to the patron that has trouble learning things from black and white print.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
You Tube
This is rather convenient because my mother has been hounding me for weeks now about learning to post videos to You Tube. My sister Acacia is a level 10 gymnast with the Cincinatti Gymnastics Academy. She is entering her junior year in high school and scouts from different colleges have started reviewing both her academic and gymnastics records. Many colleges use You Tube as a way to scout out gymnasts without having to travel to their meets. This video is of one of Acacia's best friend who will be graduating shortly.(http://youtube.com/watch?v=Bf6xGTYvsxc) The editor does a nice job highlighting Ashley's strength and skill. My mother would like me (who has no experience with editing or posting videos) to create a video like this for my sister to help her along her college searching path. If you know what you're doing (which maybe someday I will), it can be a great tool towards getting the scholarship you were hoping for.
However, You Tube can also cause trouble, and not just when some idiot kids post inappropriate videos or the other obnoxious stuff you hear about You Tube on the news. This video is of another friend of Acacia's: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XOOIzreBKaA. From the mood of this montage you'd think something horrible happened and that Bianca was out of commision. Truthfully, she injured her back but is still practicing gymnastics and is an excellent gymnast at that. Instead of continuing in elite (the level you must compete at to go to the Olympics), she now competes at level 10 (one level down from elite). As she searches for a college to go to, it seems to me that videos like this will hurt her search.
You Tube is becoming todays universal tool to post everything from goofy home videos to lost television shows, to advertise yourself, your product, your program or your business. Everyone loves a multi-media website. Libraries could definitely spice up their user appeal by adding some You Tube sponsered video!
However, You Tube can also cause trouble, and not just when some idiot kids post inappropriate videos or the other obnoxious stuff you hear about You Tube on the news. This video is of another friend of Acacia's: http://youtube.com/watch?v=XOOIzreBKaA. From the mood of this montage you'd think something horrible happened and that Bianca was out of commision. Truthfully, she injured her back but is still practicing gymnastics and is an excellent gymnast at that. Instead of continuing in elite (the level you must compete at to go to the Olympics), she now competes at level 10 (one level down from elite). As she searches for a college to go to, it seems to me that videos like this will hurt her search.
You Tube is becoming todays universal tool to post everything from goofy home videos to lost television shows, to advertise yourself, your product, your program or your business. Everyone loves a multi-media website. Libraries could definitely spice up their user appeal by adding some You Tube sponsered video!
One Sentence
One Sentence
Sarah introduced me to this book in our collection called The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris van Allsburg. It's a wonderful and simple children's book that is truly unique. The basis of the book is a series of complete stories told in only one sentence. This "one sentence" website is the perfect, grown up, online verion of that book.
The website also reminds me a little of those Post Secret books (which are super entertaining) in that you get this little piece of information but it can open up the character of a whole person for you. Very intriguing either way. Some of the sentences on this website could almost inspire you to write a whole story from their suggestion ... ah, but does that infringe upon a copyright law somewhere? Beats me...
I also played around a little with HairMixer which was fun but would be more fun if you uploaded a picture of yourself or your friends. Of all the "makeover" websites out there that claim they can help you see yourself with that daring new hairdo before you get it cut, this one works by far the best.
I doubt either of these applications have any major use in a library setting, but I had fun either way. :)
Sarah introduced me to this book in our collection called The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris van Allsburg. It's a wonderful and simple children's book that is truly unique. The basis of the book is a series of complete stories told in only one sentence. This "one sentence" website is the perfect, grown up, online verion of that book.
The website also reminds me a little of those Post Secret books (which are super entertaining) in that you get this little piece of information but it can open up the character of a whole person for you. Very intriguing either way. Some of the sentences on this website could almost inspire you to write a whole story from their suggestion ... ah, but does that infringe upon a copyright law somewhere? Beats me...
I also played around a little with HairMixer which was fun but would be more fun if you uploaded a picture of yourself or your friends. Of all the "makeover" websites out there that claim they can help you see yourself with that daring new hairdo before you get it cut, this one works by far the best.
I doubt either of these applications have any major use in a library setting, but I had fun either way. :)
Google Docs
Yay! I like this one too! My two younger sisters are still in school and they are constantly asking me to edit their papers for them. This will make that project so so much easier. Now they can upload their papers on google docs and we can actually discuss changes and ask questions . . . I'm thrilled! What used to be a major chore can now be time spent with my sisters!
If I were still in college (which, let's face it, I usually wish that I was), this feature would be invaluable. All of those group projects that keep you struggling with lap top cords in the student union all hours of the night could have been done much more efficiently. And it is so easy to use!
As far as library staff concerns go, maybe we could use this on occasion instead of going to meetings that take hours to drive to. I understand the need to meet face to face about some things, but once and awhile it would save a lot of effort and gas to be able to meet via the internet instead.
If I were still in college (which, let's face it, I usually wish that I was), this feature would be invaluable. All of those group projects that keep you struggling with lap top cords in the student union all hours of the night could have been done much more efficiently. And it is so easy to use!
As far as library staff concerns go, maybe we could use this on occasion instead of going to meetings that take hours to drive to. I understand the need to meet face to face about some things, but once and awhile it would save a lot of effort and gas to be able to meet via the internet instead.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
wiki worn out
This was a lot of things in one day! I'm going to have to stay caught up now until the end. Wikis ... oh so simple and yet oh so complicated. Seems like this can be as easy or as hard as you make it. I really enjoyed reading other people's favorites and exploring the links (especially the restaurant menus--I'm going to have to check out Five Fifty Three-- I love brunch!!). Adding your own links is pretty simple, deceptively simple actually. If you've got this blogging thing down, editing a wiki is pretty much the same. No wonder there is so much useless information on wikipedia!! Despite all the hype, before these two "things" I never really understood the term "wiki" and so was not aware of exactly why wikipedia is evil (although I thoroughly believed it as I was trained). But if editing and adding information is as easy as blogging. . . I'm not sure I can count on the intelligence or the integrity of the general public enough to believe anything I read on wikipedia. Wasn't there something ridiculous about Hendersonville on there a few months ago? Something about the town being overrun by apes?
So, like I said in my last post, wikis seem most useful as a website to collect subjective information (like compiling lists of community favorites). It's great to be able to share opinions, but maybe we should leave the encyclopedia facts to the experts.
So, like I said in my last post, wikis seem most useful as a website to collect subjective information (like compiling lists of community favorites). It's great to be able to share opinions, but maybe we should leave the encyclopedia facts to the experts.
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