My Journey

This assignment has opened some new doors for me. I never really paid attention to the RSS feed icon on websites, now I know what they're for :O)! I also found some fantastic blogs to follow, something I've never done before. Until this class, I used the computer for word processing and googling - now I feel like I've learned about some really amazing and useful technologies. Thinking about how the "things" could be used in the library setting was especially helpful. It gave me a real reason for exploring each item. I have really enjoyed this assignment! I plan to complete all 23 "things" and to explore others a little more in depth. This is a journey that is just beginning:O)!

Flickr - Revisited!

I found this great link about How To Make Flickr Work For Your Library! I would never have thought of all those possibilities on my own. I love when people share their knowledge :O) - enjoy!

ZohoWriter Document

Here's the link to the very simple poster that I created on zoho.com using the Zoho Writer program, an online productivity tool.

Delicious Bookmarking is Dee-lish!

I was very intrigued by delicious.com bookmarking. What an amazing idea - the ability to access your favorite internet sites, whether they're blogs, wiki's or association sites from ANY computer or device with internet access. Talk about convenience! It's an easy way for a library or librarian to add important link to their site. The ability to share your bookmarks is also a valuable tool for libraries and librarians. A patron or other librarian would have an instant set of valuable sites to access. I found a great blog that created a list of practical uses for delicious bookmarks in the library setting located at a blog called melange. I've added a few items to my bookmarks,but there are many others that I'd like to add. It's another one of those ideas where you think - "why didn't I think of that?".

Wiki's - The possibilities are ENDLESS!

Wiki's are really a fascinating web tool. In researching the whole idea of wiki's, it's interesting to learn that they began as a way to share ideas and knowledge between scientists and researchers. I never really thought about how easy it is to use a wiki, but it is true. You don't need to be technically savvy at all to participate in the creation of a wiki. It's actually pretty straightforward and simple. You basically clicked on the Add buttom at the top of the page and added what you wanted to add. Obviously, specific wiki's had guidelines about their style and areas that needed work such as additions, citations, and graphics. I see lots of potential in using it in a library setting. First of all, what a great way to collaborate on planning a program in your library with other librarians without having to leave your office. You could have the greatest librarians ideas across the country contributing to you Reading Celebration event, just by giving them the web address to your wiki. Because you're able to add photos and video to a wiki, the possibilities are endless! Some of the ways libraries are already using wiki's is a Book Club wiki (great idea!) and a best practices wiki for librarians (which librarian wouldn't want a place to find new ideas or share one of their own?). Reading about wiki's and how libraries are using them made me contemplate starting one myself next year for the Battle of the Books program that we use in Hillsborough County for our fourth graders. I think that they would really enjoy using technology to share their thoughts with each other. Since it's impossible for me to have a book club at once with all of our 7 fourth grade classrooms - all students could participate in it via the wiki. Just a thought:o)!

YouTube - Awesome!!!!

What can I say about YouTube other than it's incredibly addictive, and of course AWESOME? Once you start looking, you start thinking of other videos you've got to try and find, like that crazy cartoon you used to watch as a kid. Even worse, you think, "I know, I could upload my own video!" :O)! Who knows? Maybe your child could be the next Justin Bieber!!! It's really easy to use. It does require adult supervision if you have young kids - the videos that come up for an innocent search could result in some objectionable selections. Another reason why it's so important for the family computer to be in a public area of the house! I think YouTube would be a fantastic resource in promoting the library. Aside from adding video in how to intiate a search on the computer or introducing staff, you could share footage from library events. Not only would it be fun for the people who participated in the event, but it might encourage others who haven't attended before to give it a try next time. How about creating a video of a booktalk and adding that to the Library's website? Couldnt' librarians share successful displays and events with each other using YouTube, also? Uses for YouTube in the library setting are endless!

Online Productivity Tools - really cool!

Yesterday I explored zoho.com and created a flyer for an upcoming book talk that I'm having about The Seer of Shadows by Avi. What I particularly liked about the this "tool" is that you are able to share the documents that you create with others. You can choose to make it available for editing so that it is a "live" document or to lock it, so that it stays as your original creation. You can also post the creations to your blog as well as a multitude of other things. You can literally share your creation with anyone that you choose to, including making it a public document for the "world" to see :o)! I wasn't able to make the blog function work (I haven't given up yet), but I think it's a great way to share document with patrons, such as flyers, etc. and other things that I haven't even thought about yet.

Image Generators . . . revisited!

As I was reading through some of my previous blogs, I was reminded of the image generators. There was such a huge variety, and I only got to check out a small sample of them. Initially I didn't see a lot of practical use. After considering the value of technology and how it can promote a library program, I can see how image generators would be a really great way to "dress up" a website, library blog or facebook page. You could change the image generator that you used daily, if you like because there are so many. They could bring emphasis to a particular library event or even just your library's name. The more I explore each of the different items, the more value I see in them. Could you use anagram maker to pique interest in a new book? Have them try to figure out the title from strange "phrase" that you posted. This image generator could be particularly useful when trying to interest teens (they're always hard nuts to crack!), but maybe providing them with a puzzle or mystery to solve, you could draw them in - who knows? The possibilities are really endless!

All at Our Fingertips!

I just had to share how nice it is to have so much information available to use. I'm preparing for Dr. Seuss' birthday on Wednesday, and planning the different things that we will be doing at my school site to acknowledge his life's work. Everything from Dr. Seuss trivia, biographical info, games, puzzles, graphics, videos, and merchandise is available at the click of your mouse! There is literally nothing out there that I needed to know or access that I wasn't able to "get at". While I am still overwhelmed sometimes with all the technologies out there - I'd rather have too much to process than not enough. When I think about what a person can accomplish while sitting at the computer, it is boggling. It is imperative that libraries utilize the technology and use it to their and their patron's advantage!

Blogs here, blogs there - blogs, blogs EVERYWHERE!!!

I think that I could literally get lost forever in the world of blogs! There is definately one out there for everyone. The trick is finding the one that really "fits". I've perused through several. I've been following the ALSC blog at alsc.ala.org/blog/. It's been great for general info about what's going on in the world of information science and libraries. I've found that it really gives you a broad sense of what currently happening. Obviously, if you want more in depth info, you can click on the links provided or do your own research. The other blog I've been following is at booklistonline.com/
It's been a great source for keeping me up to date on young adult books, authors, etc. Since it's impossible to read every new book that comes out, this is a way to make informed decisions when purchasing for my library collection, or for making a recommendation. It's been really interesting, and it's also provided some insight into books that I've already read. I can directly see how blogs could be used to stay on the edge of what's happening in library science and also a way to "reach out" to others with the same interests. I'm amazed at the level of knowledge that many of the bloggers display and it encourages me to keep learning and growing professionally.

RSS feeds - it's a jungle out there!

Good grief! I am on information overload!! I guess it's a good thing, but right now I'm feeling very overwhelmed. The complete variety and amount of RSS feeds out there is infinite. There's definately something out there for anyone's interest or need. It you'd like more information about something, there's a source out there for you. The most difficult thing for me, has been to locate ones that are truly relevant to what I want to know about. Again, that's a good problem to have, I think, just daunting. I can see a connection to how a library could utilize RSS feeds. A library could include direct links to a multitude of feeds that they feel their patrons would be interested in viewing. Weeding through what's available and what's viable could be a full time job, though! I'm still adding to what feeds I would be interested in viewing, without having too many.

Duh! I get it now!!

Thank goodness for my "live" sessions for the class I'm currently taking! I think I really had blinders on when I was thinking about how a library could use some of the 23 Things I had already explored, particularly Flickr. Of course, it makes so much sense now how Flickr can enhance a Library website. Twitter offers really up to the minute library event notification. What better way, in this world of tech savy folks, than to "infiltrate" their tools and their toys with reasons to use what the library has to offer, whether it's in person or electronically. I also hadn't thought about how useful it would be for a library to utilize a social network such as Facebook. It makes so much sense. We were shown several examples of how libraries do use those tools to keep patrons up to date on on the "goings on" in a library. I have to admit, I was a little bit dizzy after seeing everything, but it really did open my eyes to how those tools could be used.

RSS feeds - Ugghh!

Okay - I haven't quite figured them out yet - I'm ashamed to admit it. I'll find a site with an RSS link, but I haven't sorted out how to find the right way to connect it to my Blog. I've created a bloglines account, but haven't really taken the time to make sense of it. I haven't given up yet - I will prevail :O)!

Very Cool!

I was just exploring some of the image generators available at http://generatorblog.blogspot.com/
I think that I could probably spend hours playing around with all the different generators available! The ones that I explored were very easy to use, and the directions given to post the application on my blog were pretty easy to follow. Most of the generators that I tried had little practical application. They were a lot of fun, and would make a website or blog really interesting-but I couldn't really think of a function relevant to the library. I saw several such as the anagram generator that would be useful in the classroom for a Making Words lesson. I'll continue to explore the options to see if I could make a connection to the library science field.

Just Thinking. . .

As I explored Flickr again, I was trying to see it through the eyes of a Media Specialist. Right now, I'm thinking it really is more for personal use. Although, I could see how students would be able to use it to enhance papers, etc. Since there are a variety of ways to search, you could also use it when researching geography, cultures, etc. You'd have to be careful about whether or not the actual publisher of the photo had been accurate about the location of the photo. That's all I've got for now :O)!

Flickr - WOW!

I just took a short break from exploring Flickr. What a fantatic resource! I love the variety of things shared and the fact that it is obviously a global experience. Such a perfect venue for people to share their passion of photography, or simply an amazing photo. What an easy way to connect people. I plan on exploring the site again VERY soon!

New at This

This is a whole new experience for me!  Although I consider myself to be pretty "on top of things", I've never blogged or actually followed one either. I'm feeling a little overwhelmed right now, but I'm sure that will pass.  I can see myself getting "sucked in" to all the nuances of what "blogging" has to offer.  I'm looking forward to the task of exploring the items on 23 Things.  I've got lots to learn :O)!