Week 9 thing 23

I really enjoyed this discovery program. It added fun with learning. I got to take time to play with programs that people are using and it challenged me to think of ways that these things could be used at work as well. Many times others would come to me to ask if I had figured out how to do something and many times we were learning how to do it together. I would love the opportunity to work with this kind of learning program in the future. It was lots of fun!

Week 9 thing 22 Overdrive

I used the Overdrive site to locate audio books. This site was easy to use. I created an account and searched for titles. I found that some title I would search for were not in overdrive and that many of the titles I was interested had to be reserved.

Week 9 Thing 21 podcasts

I used Podcast.net to find a podcast of interest to me. I was able to easily search and find podcasts of interest. Podcast.net uses a search box that allows you to put in search terms and review you results. I also liked that you could also search categories as well for when you are just browsing for something interesting.

Week 9 Thing 20 You Tube

You Tube has lots of stuff. Somethings are interesting and others I just wonder why would someone film that. I could see the library possibly using You Tube to promote programs or services to others.

Week 8, Thing 19 - sites from Web 2.0 awards

I was plesently surprise to find many of the sites that I use on this list of award winners. I liked using this site as well because it gave me more choices of web sites to try on topics that intrest me. By having a list of good web sites you can easily try a few sites which will help you determine which site works best for you. I could see the library having a link to this site on its web page or using this site when recommeding resouces to customers. For example if someone is looking for an event that is happening in Baltimore County, staff could refer the customer to this web site to look for information on the event.

Week 8, Thing 18 - online profuctivity

I tried Zoho Writer. This site offered many programs that people would use. I was excited to see that the word document had many of the functions and buttons I use in Microsoft Word. I found the site easy to use. My concerns about using sites like these are how slow the Internet may be running and who can see the documents. The upside to these sites are that others can see the documents and that I can access the document anywhere that has Internet access. This way I don't have to worry about forgetting my jump drive.

Week 7 thing 17 Sandbox wiki

It was easy to add my blog to the list of other blogs in the favorite blogs page of the Maryland Libraries Sandbox.

Week 7 thing 16 Wiki

I was kind of sceptical about actual uses of Wiki sites because many people could add to and change the contents of the information. As I explored some of the wiki sites I began to understand the usefulness these sites provide. I looked at Wiki travel and got some great information and opinion on how to get around and links to things to do while I am there. I also looked at a wiki how to site that I found very interesting. So I looked up how to pack a suitcase. What I found was a step by step process of how to pack a suitcase, but what I got out of the information was some useful tips for better packing. I think it is very useful to know that anyone can edit the information on a Wiki site because your use of the information is different. I can see wiki sites as a collaborative effort to put together idea sharing and the reader picking and choosing the information he or she finds useful to them.

Week 6 Thing 15 - Web 2.0/Library 2.0

Library 2.0 Preparation for the future. In our daily lives we our selves are using non print sources as the way we retrieve needed information. For example, about 10 years ago I would get a map in order to get directions. About 2 years ago, I would go on line to get directions from a website. Now I get my directions directly from my car. What I am getting at is that I am getting my information when I need it, where I need it and as quickly as I need it. The Library 2.0 philosophy, recognizes that many customers are using Libraries in different ways than in the past and it makes suggestions as to ways that libraries can stay integral in the sharing of information. Rick Anderson suggests that their are three areas of thought that may cause libraries to become obsolete. He suggests that keeping material just in case someone might need it at some time is a waste of resources which would be better used elsewhere. Another suggestion is that Librarians spend to much time trying to teach people how to conduct research instead of providing the user with the information. Lastly he suggests that libraries mostly require customers to come in to a building or call to get the information they need. I feel that libraries need to keep in mind the technological changes which are rapidly occurring and position themselves appropriately so that they maintain an important position in providing the information that customers need.

Week 6 Thing 14 Technorati

The Technorati web site alows you to search and veiw sites or blogs. I enjoyed viewing the popular or new sites offered. I found some interesting topics like tips for power point presentations and the latest stars gossip. I did find it difficult to find specific topics of information using the search function. I tried searching for infomation on team faciliation and I received large amounts of results. Even when using some of the advanced features I still got about 6,000 results. After veiwing 4 pages of the results I still did not find any information I was looking for. However, Technorati is anouther source of searching for information on the web.

Week 6, Thing 13 Del.icio.us

Right away I saw the potential for libraries to use the Del.icio.us web site. I think that having an area where people can add sites to one book marked page will be helpful in an environment where you use multiple computers. I know my department uses the bookmark feature on individual computers for work related sites and the Del.icio.us site will allow us to put the information in one location instead of finding the computer that has that site bookmarked.

One thing I did not like about the site was its appearance. To me it just looks to technical and as a result might hinder some users who are not as comfortable with technology.

week 5 thing 12 rollyo

Creating a search engine which searched sites you often frequent could be very useful. I think that it will save me time when I am searching for specific things. I created a shopping rollyo which included sites that I frequent when making purchases. Having this site record sites I often use will allow me to search those pages all at once and I will not have to remember the site address instead of retyping the information on a different page.

I see that libraries may use this type of search engine to answer frequently requested searches and could organize many sites into one location.

Week 5 Thing 11 - Library Thing

The Library Thing site is a great site for people who enjoy reading and like to share their thoughts and feelings about what they are reading. I think this site can be very useful for library staff when recommending titles for customers to read. I can also see this site being useful as a virtual book club of sorts or for reading contests.

Week 5 Thing 10

I had a lot of fun creating avatars!!! I preferred using the meez.com site. This site allowed me give the meez I created an action like dancing, drinking coffee or shopping.

Week 4 Thing 9

When searching for news feeds I preferred to find the website first then attempt to add it to a news reader if it was available. Some of the RSS search engines were more difficult to find the information I was interested in. They may be something that I need to work with more in depth before I rule them out completely. However, I did enjoy subscribing to topics from bloglines. It signed me up for several RSS feeds on topics and then I unsubscribe to those that just didn't interest me. One of the RSS feeds I have been enjoying is luxist, today an article was posted about what some airlines are offering for first class travel. I have to say no wonder it costs several thousand dollars to fly first class.

Week 4 Thing 8

The thing I like most about newsreaders is the ability to go to one sight and have all the new information posted in one location. Since discovering this ability I have added and subtracted subscriptions to sites that I would never have even known about. I don't like to spend to much time searching site after site for information. The newsreader brings everything to me. I have been using this to get information on everything from the latest sales to things that are happening on the news. I am finding that I check bloglines frequently to see what is new.

Week 3 Things 5,6,7

I enjoyed looking at the Flickr site. It has more options for enhancing and sharing your photos on the Web than some of the other photo sharing sites I have used in the past. I am always planning some new trip, so I found the trip planner area very interesting and useful. I look forward to sharing some of my trips as well.

I have completed Week 3 things 5,6,7. Yea me!

Thing 3 and 4 are complete. I actually completed those tasks before I completed thing 2. Thanks to Michelle I am back on track.

Thing 2 - Lifelong Learning

The easiest lifelong learning habit for me is 7 1/2 Play. I always find time to have fun and if I can have fun and work at the same time even better. The hardest habit for me is 2 accepting responsibility for your own learning because i'm enthusiastic in the begging and then I sometime get bored with the project and do not want to finish the project.

My first Blog - I'm so proud

Well I have created my first blog. So far so good. In general I found it easy to create and look forward to creating more.