Discovery Exercise:
1. Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories listed and see if you can find a podcast that interests you. See if you can find some interesting library related podcasts here like book review podcasts or library news.
Library news podcasts seemed very area specific. Book reviews, though sounded more my speed. Nancy Perl has a book review podcast I thought I might subscribe to, and there was another one devoted to children's books called "book voyages" that seemed intriguing.
2. Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your Bloglines account.
Done
3. Create a blog post about your discovery process. What did you find that was most useful here?
I think the most useful thing was simply to know there were resources available to search for podcasts. I have several personal intrests -- such as quilting...and was surprised to find podcasts on this topic! There are even podcasts to help someone learn another language - like itallian, or mandarin chinese! Isn't that too cool? On a customer service note, that might be something to suggest to a customer for more practice -- although the library has an excellent resource in Rosetta Stone.
The optional item was to create a podcast yourself, but i'm not quite sure I'm ready for that. I have the capability for doing it at home, but also I don't know that many others outside of those that work in my branch (and a few good friends) know who the "pirate-librarian" is. :)
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
#20 Discover YouTube and a few sites that allow you to upload video
Discovery Exercise:
1. Explore YouTube & find a video worth adding as an entry in your blog.
Easily enough done. I'm very familiar with YouTube - given my husband has an account and uploads videos.
2. Create a blog post about your experience. What did you like or dislike about the site and why did you choose the video that you did? Can you see any features or componets of the site that might be interesting if they were applied to library websites?
I didn't really see anything I disliked about the site. Sure, there are videos that weren't to my personal taste, but as long as it wasn't anything illegal (which I'm sure is not allowed!), who am I to judge? The wonderful thing about people is that we are all so unique and what one person likes another may heartily dislike.
I can see videos being a useful part of library websites. We could have video tutorials for how to use databases, or look up one's library record in the catalog... or things of that nature. For staff, I could even see videos of training presentations. That way perhaps trainings could be done when even only a few people want to take the class or something... (This last, obviously, would be more for the staff webpage than the public page, but still...)
OPTIONAL: Try placing the video inside your blog using the copy and paste code for the for "Embeddable Player.” Note: you'll need to use Blogger's Edit HTML tab when pasting this code.
Here's my optional video: Pyrates Royale "Shanghai Brown"
As to why I chose this particular video -- do you really need to ask? It's PIRATES a'course! YAR!
The Pyrates Royal are a local group, and I first enjoyed their music at the Maryland Rennaissance Festival. This particular video was the clearest in terms of video and sound quality. They are awesome performers and really funny folks.
1. Explore YouTube & find a video worth adding as an entry in your blog.
Easily enough done. I'm very familiar with YouTube - given my husband has an account and uploads videos.
2. Create a blog post about your experience. What did you like or dislike about the site and why did you choose the video that you did? Can you see any features or componets of the site that might be interesting if they were applied to library websites?
I didn't really see anything I disliked about the site. Sure, there are videos that weren't to my personal taste, but as long as it wasn't anything illegal (which I'm sure is not allowed!), who am I to judge? The wonderful thing about people is that we are all so unique and what one person likes another may heartily dislike.
I can see videos being a useful part of library websites. We could have video tutorials for how to use databases, or look up one's library record in the catalog... or things of that nature. For staff, I could even see videos of training presentations. That way perhaps trainings could be done when even only a few people want to take the class or something... (This last, obviously, would be more for the staff webpage than the public page, but still...)
OPTIONAL: Try placing the video inside your blog using the copy and paste code for the for "Embeddable Player.” Note: you'll need to use Blogger's Edit HTML tab when pasting this code.
Here's my optional video: Pyrates Royale "Shanghai Brown"
As to why I chose this particular video -- do you really need to ask? It's PIRATES a'course! YAR!
The Pyrates Royal are a local group, and I first enjoyed their music at the Maryland Rennaissance Festival. This particular video was the clearest in terms of video and sound quality. They are awesome performers and really funny folks.
Saturday, August 25, 2007
Test post from Zoho
Years ago, I met one of my dearest friends online. We met through the "Prodigy" service...specifically through a common intrest in gaming. And by that I mean role-playing games, specifically Dungeons and Dragons.
(Come on now, with my intrest in pirates, and the way I like to slip into "pirate voice" -- tell me my intrest in role-playing games didn't come as a surprise!) LOL
Actually, I know role-playing games have been an important part of my life on several levels.... personally -- several dear college friends, in addition to the one I mentioned earlier....and I met the man I married through our college's Dungeon's and Dragons roleplaying club.
I would also like to think roleplaying has helped me professionally. Sometimes its completely necessary to 'roleplay' the cool-headed, consumate professional when faced with an irate customer. And, as a children's librarian, I think roleplaying brings an added level to "performance" during storytimes. I enjoy doing voices and sometimes adding sound effects to books I'm reading -- it makes it more fun for me, personally...and I believe that when I'm having fun that love and pleasure will transer itself to the children. Granted, you don't have to be a role-player to do a good storytime...but it can't hurt, either!
The following document was created in zoho writer. I'm going to attempt to post this to my blog.
And, too, if the public feature works as I feel it does, I might suggest it to my friend that he either revive our old online game, or... as a friendship gone bad (not me, thankfully!) has soured him on that campaign world... maybe he'd start another one. He is a creative writer and I missed the roleplaying game.
**it did post fine, although the title originally came up as "untitled" -- I'd have to play about with the features to learn how to put the title into a zoho document.
I'd say this is an intriguing application.
#18 Take a look at some online productivity tools
Discovery Exercise:
1. Create a free account for yourself in Zoho Writer or Google Docs (which just won top ratings in the Web 2.0 Awards).
Done! I am, of course, piratelibrarian. Arrrrr
2. Explore either site and create a test document or two.
For someone who often talks a lot... probably too much.... I encountered writer's block when looking at that blinking cursor. So I didn't really create a test document. I did look to see where all the usual suspects were that I look for in a document...and zoho seems very straightforward and easy to use. I know of colleagues who work on committees and have to share minutes or other items...and there used to be a problem with those who use microsoft word vs wordperfect, etc. This sort of thing -- shared documents, might be a way around that difficulty (although I'm not so sure it is a difficulty any more.) at any rate, it would make collaboration between long distance committee members much easier!
3. Try out some features and create a blog post about your discoveries.
Optional: If you're up for the challenge, try using Zoho’s "publish" options to post to your blog.
I'm going to try and write a further post... an #18b if you like, as I don't know if I can publish from there into an already existing post. Better to play it safe and make a new post.
1. Create a free account for yourself in Zoho Writer or Google Docs (which just won top ratings in the Web 2.0 Awards).
Done! I am, of course, piratelibrarian. Arrrrr
2. Explore either site and create a test document or two.
For someone who often talks a lot... probably too much.... I encountered writer's block when looking at that blinking cursor. So I didn't really create a test document. I did look to see where all the usual suspects were that I look for in a document...and zoho seems very straightforward and easy to use. I know of colleagues who work on committees and have to share minutes or other items...and there used to be a problem with those who use microsoft word vs wordperfect, etc. This sort of thing -- shared documents, might be a way around that difficulty (although I'm not so sure it is a difficulty any more.) at any rate, it would make collaboration between long distance committee members much easier!
3. Try out some features and create a blog post about your discoveries.
Optional: If you're up for the challenge, try using Zoho’s "publish" options to post to your blog.
I'm going to try and write a further post... an #18b if you like, as I don't know if I can publish from there into an already existing post. Better to play it safe and make a new post.
#19 Discover any site from the Web 2.0 awards list
Discovery Exercise:
1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees. (If you prefer to select from just the winners, here’s a link to the short list.)
2. Explore the site you selected.
3. Create a post about your discovery. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a library setting?
I'll be perfectly honest and admit I explored a few "fun" sites first. All work and no play at all makes "Johnny" a dull pirate. But then I looked at some of the categories to see what might be applicable for use in a library setting. The one I decided to explore a bit further was in the Content Aggregation and Management category...
Wufoo.com
This application allows you to design your own forms and surveys.... I think this would be good in terms of customer service, getting customer input, etc.
One of the example forms they gave was in terms of "Bug Tracker" -- which might be useful to our IT department.
1. Select any site/tool from the list of Web 2.0 Awards nominees. (If you prefer to select from just the winners, here’s a link to the short list.)
2. Explore the site you selected.
3. Create a post about your discovery. What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a library setting?
I'll be perfectly honest and admit I explored a few "fun" sites first. All work and no play at all makes "Johnny" a dull pirate. But then I looked at some of the categories to see what might be applicable for use in a library setting. The one I decided to explore a bit further was in the Content Aggregation and Management category...
Wufoo.com
This application allows you to design your own forms and surveys.... I think this would be good in terms of customer service, getting customer input, etc.
One of the example forms they gave was in terms of "Bug Tracker" -- which might be useful to our IT department.
#17 Add an entry into the Sandbox Wiki created with PB Wiki
Discovery Exercise:
1. Access the Maryland Libraries Sandbox and create a login account for yourself.
Done! I had to get a new email address to further protect me secret identity, but for those that care, that's piratelibrarian13@gmail.com YARRR!
2. Add your blog to the Favorite Blogs page. That's how we'll know that you've been there. It’s easy to do using their new "point and click" interface. Example: Type in your Blog Name, click on the little world/chain link icon and then paste (or type) in your URL. Done and done. Me URL's there.
3. OPTIONAL: Add a favorite or two to a few other pages (Favorite books, favorite wikis, etc). And, if you feel up to the challenge, you might even want to create a separate page for a book review or a short travel essay and link up to that.
I began a page called "Rousing Good Pirate Yarrrrns" with a few of me favorite titles that I've personally read...but it started to get busy so I figured I or others could add to it later. I can't possibly be the only pirate buff out there. :)
4. Create a post in your blog about the experience.
I enjoyed the experience of playing about with a wikki...and I enjoy using them as a jumping off point when I'm learning about a new topic... and many times there IS good information out there. But I also prefer to follow up and check with the information I learn in print sources, or webpages that have a discernable author (ex a .edu site, or named medical site, etc.) My concern as a professional is that not everyone is as info-savvy or bothers to think of the authorship of a particular document.
1. Access the Maryland Libraries Sandbox and create a login account for yourself.
Done! I had to get a new email address to further protect me secret identity, but for those that care, that's piratelibrarian13@gmail.com YARRR!
2. Add your blog to the Favorite Blogs page. That's how we'll know that you've been there. It’s easy to do using their new "point and click" interface. Example: Type in your Blog Name, click on the little world/chain link icon and then paste (or type) in your URL. Done and done. Me URL's there.
3. OPTIONAL: Add a favorite or two to a few other pages (Favorite books, favorite wikis, etc). And, if you feel up to the challenge, you might even want to create a separate page for a book review or a short travel essay and link up to that.
I began a page called "Rousing Good Pirate Yarrrrns" with a few of me favorite titles that I've personally read...but it started to get busy so I figured I or others could add to it later. I can't possibly be the only pirate buff out there. :)
4. Create a post in your blog about the experience.
I enjoyed the experience of playing about with a wikki...and I enjoy using them as a jumping off point when I'm learning about a new topic... and many times there IS good information out there. But I also prefer to follow up and check with the information I learn in print sources, or webpages that have a discernable author (ex a .edu site, or named medical site, etc.) My concern as a professional is that not everyone is as info-savvy or bothers to think of the authorship of a particular document.
#16 Learn about wikis and discover some innovative ways that libraries are using them
Discovery Exercise:
1. For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some library wikis and then blog about your findings. Here’s a few examples to get you started:
SJCPL Subject Guides
Library 2.0 in 15 Minutes a Day
Book Lovers Wiki
Library Success
ALA 2006 New Orleans wiki
The Bull Run Library wiki
Other Academic Library Wiki Examples
MERLIN Wiki Learning link
2. Think about answering these questions as you post to your blog about your findings: What did you find interesting? What types of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki? So what's in a wiki? Find out by doing some exploring on your own.
I find the idea of wikkis themselves very interesting. It's also interesting to see how the profession is using them... for specific uses like ALA2006, etc. I also can see them being useful for workteams where the members are from various locales... like Baltimore County's "Best Books" committee. Even here in our own system they could potentially be used for various committees like Notable Books -- to open them up to more staff members to be able to nominate and comment on books... There could still be that opportunity for the "select few" to present titles.
Another potential use I could think of for wikis was booklists for children. Topics like humor, "scary books", etc.... it would be great to have the customers that use these titles recommending them to both us (librarians) and each other (other kids).
The kids would benefit because they could get recommendations from other kids, and also potentially be more interested in those books/reading because they themselves are taking ownership of the information. And we as librarians could benefit because we could see what the kids themeselves are interested in and are currently reading... especially useful if the topic isn't one we ourselves are interested in. (For example, I have a colleague who does not enjoy fantasy.)
1. For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a look at some library wikis and then blog about your findings. Here’s a few examples to get you started:
SJCPL Subject Guides
Library 2.0 in 15 Minutes a Day
Book Lovers Wiki
Library Success
ALA 2006 New Orleans wiki
The Bull Run Library wiki
Other Academic Library Wiki Examples
MERLIN Wiki Learning link
2. Think about answering these questions as you post to your blog about your findings: What did you find interesting? What types of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki? So what's in a wiki? Find out by doing some exploring on your own.
I find the idea of wikkis themselves very interesting. It's also interesting to see how the profession is using them... for specific uses like ALA2006, etc. I also can see them being useful for workteams where the members are from various locales... like Baltimore County's "Best Books" committee. Even here in our own system they could potentially be used for various committees like Notable Books -- to open them up to more staff members to be able to nominate and comment on books... There could still be that opportunity for the "select few" to present titles.
Another potential use I could think of for wikis was booklists for children. Topics like humor, "scary books", etc.... it would be great to have the customers that use these titles recommending them to both us (librarians) and each other (other kids).
The kids would benefit because they could get recommendations from other kids, and also potentially be more interested in those books/reading because they themselves are taking ownership of the information. And we as librarians could benefit because we could see what the kids themeselves are interested in and are currently reading... especially useful if the topic isn't one we ourselves are interested in. (For example, I have a colleague who does not enjoy fantasy.)
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