Not really sure what I am doing, but I trying to link to the database I made at Lazybase.com. So here goes nothing...
http://lazybase.com/dbhome?a=644485644
Is there an easier/better way to do this?
I called it "books I want to read" and thought I would send it out to my book club so they could let me know if any of the books I want to read might have potential for book club. It seems to always come down to me, so maybe this would help get more input from other members. I can see how lists like this might be helpful inner office or potential spots for reading lists? Maybe staff could recommend favorite books for patrons? I wish there was a way to spice up the looks of the database. It is a bit...drab!
Have I mentioned how excited I am that I am getting a second chance to finish 23 Things! I'm so glad they decided to have it again. I am really learning some interesting things. (granted some of them I should probably already know...but lets not talk about that!!) :-)
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Thing 14, Library Thing
I stumbled upon this one by accident the other day and had fun playing with it a bit. A someone who is a little obsessive about my personal collection of books I can see how a site like this could really eat up my computer time. :-) What a fun way to catalog your own collection and find new books to read though other peoples collections. I am part of a book club that is always looking for new things to read and this site could be a fun place for us to not only find new reads, but also check out each others collections. (If any of them were a little obsessive too).
As for use in the library, I'll have to look into it some more. Might be good for reader's advisory? Or as a site where a book lover could find other things to read? When I actually get to 14 I will blog about this some more.
As for use in the library, I'll have to look into it some more. Might be good for reader's advisory? Or as a site where a book lover could find other things to read? When I actually get to 14 I will blog about this some more.
Thing 7, Communication Tools
This is where I really start to feel like a lacky! While I use email all the time at home, I have never used IM, TM or SMS. Mostly it has been because our cell phones have never been that great and we usually are trying to keep costs down on phone bills. I do have a few friends who text back and forth on occasion, but I don't seem to be the only one who isn't doing it on a regular basis.
I am intrigued with the idea of using these technologies in a work setting. I can especially see how IM could be very useful at an academic library where most of their users would be frequent IMers and having quick access to a librarian through IM would probably appeal to them. For our smaller public library I'm not sure there would be as much use. Especially since you would have to have someone online at all times to be there for those messages. Maybe a metropolitan area would have more patrons using IM? It seems that TM would have the same issues for our library.
Web conferencing would be bennificial if you could afford to keep up with all the techonology needed for it. (And for all I know our library already does this to an extent). I was excited to see the MINITEX Webinars. What a great way to orient new employees or develop current staff. (Ann, do you use these in Austin?) My guess is that keeping everyone up to date on using the technology in order to participate in the webinars might be problematic for smaller libraries.
I am intrigued with the idea of using these technologies in a work setting. I can especially see how IM could be very useful at an academic library where most of their users would be frequent IMers and having quick access to a librarian through IM would probably appeal to them. For our smaller public library I'm not sure there would be as much use. Especially since you would have to have someone online at all times to be there for those messages. Maybe a metropolitan area would have more patrons using IM? It seems that TM would have the same issues for our library.
Web conferencing would be bennificial if you could afford to keep up with all the techonology needed for it. (And for all I know our library already does this to an extent). I was excited to see the MINITEX Webinars. What a great way to orient new employees or develop current staff. (Ann, do you use these in Austin?) My guess is that keeping everyone up to date on using the technology in order to participate in the webinars might be problematic for smaller libraries.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thing 6, flickr trading card
I really need to update my photos, but at least it is all working. I think these would be a great thing to use for promoting kids summer reading programs. I know our library has posters of the local fire chief reading a book like the ALA posters you see and those are really fun. I would think kids would love to see themselves on the walls of the library as well. I'm still amazed at how easy they make it, yet again, I'm not sure I would have been able to figure it out on my own. But then again...
Thing 5, more flickr
I can see how it would be easy to get distracted and find yourself spending all day creating things through flickr. This didn't turn out just right, but how fun to be able to create movie posters for your kids, or if I'm staying on task, for your library staff or summer reading program. I've never considered myself very creative in the traditional sense, but this sure makes it easy!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Thing 4, cliffs of moher
This particular THING didn't work last time, but I might have it now. I think it might me easier to just download my own pictures and use them. But seing as I have not yet been to Ireland, I wanted at least one picture on my blog just for inspiration! Will this give credit to the photographer on its own, or do I need to add that? Well, lets see...
Thing 4, Flickr
Talk about fumbling your way through! I have no idea what I am doing here, but I am having a good time. I love to take pictures and like the idea of being able to store them somewhere safe in case my computer crashes or I drop my camera.
This picture was taken by Adrew Spearin and I found it on Flickr. It is of the Cliffs of Moher, Ireland, and if I weren't at home with my kids...this is where I would want to be!
More comments on Flickr to come...this is going to take a bit more time. :-)
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Thing 3, RSS feed
I have to admit that I had never heard of an RSS feed before I began 23 Things, but I can see why it might be seriously addictive! I am part of a book group that decided since I was a librarian I should be in charge of picking out all of our books, and the ease at which I can now browse thorough several different sites on the best book club books is going to be great! Not to mention great tips for beginner gardeners, the latest in environmentally friendly diapers and recipes my kids will actually eat! And maybe even whether or I not I should be giving my kids probiotics or not! But enough with my personal life!
I might be missing something though. Is the feed supposed to be attached to my blog? I had the impression that it would be, but I think I might have made that up. I'll have to go back and look at the 23 things home page.
Anyway, this is pretty cool. Now I'm really going to have to convince my husband we need a laptop and wireless at home!
I might be missing something though. Is the feed supposed to be attached to my blog? I had the impression that it would be, but I think I might have made that up. I'll have to go back and look at the 23 things home page.
Anyway, this is pretty cool. Now I'm really going to have to convince my husband we need a laptop and wireless at home!
Friday, February 22, 2008
Thing 2, Library 2.0
Wow! What a lot to think about! And I was reminded, again, while reading the articles how easy it is while on the web to click on a few links and get yourself totally off on a tangent! I could have spent several more hours wandering through articles and blogs on the topic, which is both thrilling and terrifying!
The blog prompts from 23 things mentioned time and that is one of the things I found interesting about the Abrams video. I liked his analogy about finding times for things you think are important, however, I doubt fifteen minutes a day is going to do it for me where technology is involved. I think that is why it all feels so daunting. I finished library school in 2001 and just since then so much has changed! Of course, not being in a library full time, or even part time doesn't help. But I do think that is why I really like the idea of 23 things. Most of this can be picked up, it just takes a few steps or shoves in the right direction. So, what I hope to gain from this program is enough knowledge to get me out there, on the web, doing what every twelve year old seems to know how to do now days.
As for libraries, especially small public libraries like the one in my town, I can see where Library 2.0 can really bring up some complicated issues. It seems like one of the most important points would be the people the library serve and how technology could best serve them. I teach basic computer classes to mostly older patrons, and they are really thrown by the idea they can renew their books online. I can't imagine trying to explain a blog to them. I think there is a real fear where technology is concerned (for people of all ages) and that needs to be taken into consideration. Yet, you can't fall too far behind the times. And most people seem to be open to new technology if there is someone available to help them out when they get stuck or have a question. I think there are some really exciting things out there that could get younger people more involved. My children are already fascinated with the computer at five and three and my only hope is that I can somehow keep up with them!
I also really liked the quote from the Ongoing Web Revolution article that talked about the transparent library that has "no secrets..connected, breeding the expectation for open conversation." I really relish the idea of working in a place where people feel comfortable coming in and asking questions, and expect good answers. A place where people do feel connected to the world at large. That is the library I want to be a part of.
The blog prompts from 23 things mentioned time and that is one of the things I found interesting about the Abrams video. I liked his analogy about finding times for things you think are important, however, I doubt fifteen minutes a day is going to do it for me where technology is involved. I think that is why it all feels so daunting. I finished library school in 2001 and just since then so much has changed! Of course, not being in a library full time, or even part time doesn't help. But I do think that is why I really like the idea of 23 things. Most of this can be picked up, it just takes a few steps or shoves in the right direction. So, what I hope to gain from this program is enough knowledge to get me out there, on the web, doing what every twelve year old seems to know how to do now days.
As for libraries, especially small public libraries like the one in my town, I can see where Library 2.0 can really bring up some complicated issues. It seems like one of the most important points would be the people the library serve and how technology could best serve them. I teach basic computer classes to mostly older patrons, and they are really thrown by the idea they can renew their books online. I can't imagine trying to explain a blog to them. I think there is a real fear where technology is concerned (for people of all ages) and that needs to be taken into consideration. Yet, you can't fall too far behind the times. And most people seem to be open to new technology if there is someone available to help them out when they get stuck or have a question. I think there are some really exciting things out there that could get younger people more involved. My children are already fascinated with the computer at five and three and my only hope is that I can somehow keep up with them!
I also really liked the quote from the Ongoing Web Revolution article that talked about the transparent library that has "no secrets..connected, breeding the expectation for open conversation." I really relish the idea of working in a place where people feel comfortable coming in and asking questions, and expect good answers. A place where people do feel connected to the world at large. That is the library I want to be a part of.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Thing 1, take 2
Okay, so maybe I spoke too soon! No sooner had I finished my last post and attempted to show my husband how easy it was to create an avatar by creating a Star Wars inspired avatar (think Ross' fantasy of Rachel in a Princess Lea inspired bikini from Friends) then that avatar decided to attach herself to my blog and stay for a while! I spent a frantic hour trying to get my current avatar back with absolutely no luck and finally gave up, shut the computer down, and prayed that my blog wouldn't get registered until after I fixed the mix up. I never did figure out exactly what happened, but managed to get things straightened out by creating a new Yahoo account and starting the avatar process over.
It was simply a reminder to me that sometimes when you are working with computers it is best to walk away, take some deep breaths, and try again. It also was a fitting reminder that I can never get cocky where technology is concerned. Although when in a crunch I can usually fake my tech savy, inside I always feel one step behind! Apparently I need these "23 things" even more than I thought!
It was simply a reminder to me that sometimes when you are working with computers it is best to walk away, take some deep breaths, and try again. It also was a fitting reminder that I can never get cocky where technology is concerned. Although when in a crunch I can usually fake my tech savy, inside I always feel one step behind! Apparently I need these "23 things" even more than I thought!
Saturday, February 9, 2008
Thing 1
This is good. I learned something new, and only had to rush off to discover the reason for screaming baby once. The avatar was fun to create, and although my kids are different ages than the ones on my avatar, and despite the fact that I only rarely ever look that put together, it is relatively accurate. I can understand why many of my friends have turned to blogging as a good way to keep in contact with friends and family and share pictures of what is going on in their lives. If "23 Things" continues to be this easy to follow I look forward to the next "Thing".
First things first...
Well, so far so good. I have been looking for ways to keep up with what is going on in the library while at home with my kids, so this should be a good match. My only real question is whether my computer at home can keep up. I guess we shall see! :-)
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