I just finished the Web 2.0 challenge!
Thursday, May 15, 2008
#22 Listen NJ - Success!
I was foolish enough to try this at work but soon gave up. This was a much easier task to accomplish at home where I did not have any trouble with firewalls, etc. I searched around on this site fo
r a while, just to see the titles contained within. While searching the "children's fiction" link, I was surprised to see titles for both young children and YA and then finding some children's books under "teen fiction." I decided to download The Dark Is Rising Sequence, Book 1, Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper, a book I have been wanting to read/listen to for a while (my reading pile will outlive me by far!). I had no trouble downloading the OverDrive Media Console to my PC and now have it on my desktop. I began listening to it - Success!!! There is an option to burn it to a CD and since I do not have an MP3 player - yet :) - I will burn it to my own CD's and listen in the car. Depending on the books choices available, this could join the ranks of my favorite things of the web challenge.
r a while, just to see the titles contained within. While searching the "children's fiction" link, I was surprised to see titles for both young children and YA and then finding some children's books under "teen fiction." I decided to download The Dark Is Rising Sequence, Book 1, Over Sea, Under Stone by Susan Cooper, a book I have been wanting to read/listen to for a while (my reading pile will outlive me by far!). I had no trouble downloading the OverDrive Media Console to my PC and now have it on my desktop. I began listening to it - Success!!! There is an option to burn it to a CD and since I do not have an MP3 player - yet :) - I will burn it to my own CD's and listen in the car. Depending on the books choices available, this could join the ranks of my favorite things of the web challenge.#23 Wrapping Up
Hmmm...the best thing I liked about this challenge was getting re-acquainted with Web 2.0 and exploring some sites I was not familiar with. Discovering new online places is always fun. During #'s 18 and 19 I discovered Zoho and SEOmoz. Being able to inspect them and keep what I like and pass over the rest expands what I can use and share with others online (I just recommended Zoho to someone this morning). I am also enjoying exploring Listen NJ but so far have not found a book to just download (I am at work so can't burn to a CD) so I have not posted on that yet!
What I liked least is the sheer magnitude of it all. There is so much it is easy to overload after a bit, or conversely, become so immersed you forget what you were exploring in the first place.
I know I mentioned before on one of my posts that we should make use of wikis (and our department is beginning to do just that thanks to Kristen Kirk for getting the ball rolling). But we could also make use of vodcasting forums or special staff programs that we cannot attend, especially if they are given by outside speakers and it is a one-time only deal. Another use could be for training. Instead of having to take staff time to explain certain procedures, a vodcast/screencast could do the same (i.e. for forms, Horizon procedures). It would take a bit of time and effort to set in place but could be useful in the future. I hate to bother colleagues to walk me through a procedure that I may not have used in a while and have forgotten. But if I could "click" to the podcast - great!
What have I shared? GoogleDocs, Zoho, blogging, wikis, Color Blender, Pandora, RSS feeds, bloglines come to mind. Since most of my colleagues are now familiar with these aspects of Web 2.0, I find that I spend more time just trying to explain to the lay person, one who is not at all computer savvy, just what 2.o can do. Which is very difficult if someone is intimidated by computers. But hey, I got my mom blogging and that is an accomplishment!
What I liked least is the sheer magnitude of it all. There is so much it is easy to overload after a bit, or conversely, become so immersed you forget what you were exploring in the first place.
I know I mentioned before on one of my posts that we should make use of wikis (and our department is beginning to do just that thanks to Kristen Kirk for getting the ball rolling). But we could also make use of vodcasting forums or special staff programs that we cannot attend, especially if they are given by outside speakers and it is a one-time only deal. Another use could be for training. Instead of having to take staff time to explain certain procedures, a vodcast/screencast could do the same (i.e. for forms, Horizon procedures). It would take a bit of time and effort to set in place but could be useful in the future. I hate to bother colleagues to walk me through a procedure that I may not have used in a while and have forgotten. But if I could "click" to the podcast - great!
What have I shared? GoogleDocs, Zoho, blogging, wikis, Color Blender, Pandora, RSS feeds, bloglines come to mind. Since most of my colleagues are now familiar with these aspects of Web 2.0, I find that I spend more time just trying to explain to the lay person, one who is not at all computer savvy, just what 2.o can do. Which is very difficult if someone is intimidated by computers. But hey, I got my mom blogging and that is an accomplishment!
#21 Podcast
I find podcasts a fine idea but I generally do not have the patience to listen to one unless I know IN ADVANCE that it is worth my time. Okay, first I started on Podcast.com with Go Vegan with Bob Linden (GoVeganRadio.com), but it was an hour of this guy rambling on. I am already a vegan and I cannot imagine any vegan listening to what they already know expressed in such a sophomoric way and anyone who is not a vegan would not be convinced or think anything except this guy is so untintelligent it is not worth their time. So I tried another site after an agonizing 5 minutes. Vegan A Go-Go was a sweet site that was a multisensory vodcast....the video "Dreaming of Lentil Soup" played with a lite girl band, Hearts of Palm, as the soup was made, the ingredients were listed on the screen as they were added and the recipe was listed underneath in its entirety. As a longtime cook and vegan cooking teacher, I really appreciated that. This site is done by a gal named Jess and she has other recipes in which she just demonstrates like any other cooking show, but the recipe is always written below the podcast.
I am not sure I would subscribe only because I just don't have the time to watch all these things, but I love that they exist and are available if needed.
I am not sure I would subscribe only because I just don't have the time to watch all these things, but I love that they exist and are available if needed.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
#20 A YouTube of my own
Okay, in the shameless promotion department, here is my YouTube video on How to Clip a Kitty's Nails http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fKux6aO5KRY
How to Clip a Kitty's Nails
Here is the link to this on blip.tv (I would click that and not the "click to play" below. Like many other blip.tv links, this one "skips.")
Click To Play
How to Clip a Kitty's Nails
Here is the link to this on blip.tv (I would click that and not the "click to play" below. Like many other blip.tv links, this one "skips.")
Click To Play
#19 Web 2.0 awards et al...
What fun sites!!! I am not sure I will use Colorblender as I don’t do webdesign, etc., but since my previous incarnation before librarianship was and is artist, I can really appreciate this. I feel like I have a whole palette before me, but having the HSV option expands it so much more.
Loved Pandora and signed up immediately. I often use music sites on the Internet but I have never had a personalized one. I need a music seeker that will find me music similar to what I like. So I did a couple of searches, first I found me some Indigo Girls and I see that is now on my list…then Celtic Folk and voila! There it is and my list grows. I think this may be my new favorite site…
My favorite award winners on SEOmoz’s site that I actually use are Bloglines, LibraryThing, PBWiki. One that I have been using but is not listed is TravelBuddy, but I will have to check out the other social traveling sites here. Admittedly, there is a lot here on SEOmoz I would like to explore further so it shall be bookmarked.
I just got a kick out of the name WuFoo under Content Aggregation and Management so I checked it out – NOT something I would use since I am not a business or have a need to collect data or payment from anyone. Perhaps if I find time to go back to my portrait business….
Loved Pandora and signed up immediately. I often use music sites on the Internet but I have never had a personalized one. I need a music seeker that will find me music similar to what I like. So I did a couple of searches, first I found me some Indigo Girls and I see that is now on my list…then Celtic Folk and voila! There it is and my list grows. I think this may be my new favorite site…
My favorite award winners on SEOmoz’s site that I actually use are Bloglines, LibraryThing, PBWiki. One that I have been using but is not listed is TravelBuddy, but I will have to check out the other social traveling sites here. Admittedly, there is a lot here on SEOmoz I would like to explore further so it shall be bookmarked.
I just got a kick out of the name WuFoo under Content Aggregation and Management so I checked it out – NOT something I would use since I am not a business or have a need to collect data or payment from anyone. Perhaps if I find time to go back to my portrait business….
#18 Web Apps
I added my name on to the Google Doc, no problem. Having used Google Docs before, I have to say I was not sold on it, and tend to revert back to good ol' Microsoft Word. It was too limiting for my purposes but admittedly, it has been a few months, so perhaps it has improved. I did explore Zoho and liked your description of it (Google on vitamins) which seems accurate. I don't often have to collaborate on a document so that aspect of it doesn't interest me. However, since I often forget my flash drive as I bounce around from terminal to terminal here at work, I should use this service for myself.
#17 In the Sandbox
It worked! It was fun to read everyone's stream-of consciousness favorites, but of course, I had trouble coming up with my own! But I am there in living color. Not only did I list my favorite things a la Sound of Music, I put in my grumpy kid photo next to my blog URL on the blog list. Wikis are really so user friendly (at least the PB wikis are) and you really can't do much damage here. I am hoping everyone gets on board with a children's department wiki here in TR - it can potentially save us much time in program planning as we share our ideas (kudos to Kristen).
#15 - Library 2.0 - On icebergs, metadata and coffee…
After reading all of these articles (egads, I felt like I was back at SCILS/Rutgers!) I feel as if we are paving the way for a new generation of libraries and librarians, riding the crest of a 2.0 wave. We are certainly meant to be on top of this wave here since information is our business, and the quickest, easiest method of delivery is what we are constantly striving for, right? Our biggest challenge as I see it, is getting people to ride along with us. We are not meant to be the only keepers of the flame, or the monopoly, as Anderson puts it, but meant to be educators. I try never to miss a “teaching moment” when a patron needs info that they can access themselves.
I do feel that we need to pick and choose which aspects of 2.0 we are realistically going to use(see Stephen's article). Blogs and wikis are the obvious useful ones for me, and for my work as a children’s librarian. The jury is still out as far as how our users will take to all this…part of it is how we market it to them, but that is for another post!
For collaboration among libraries, OCLC, WorldCat…I am still wrapping my head around this. Expanding the databases is mind-boggling, especially as they move into digital content. I would love to see improved metadata applied to avoid duplication and and simplify searching. So perhaps the Web 2.0 concept of "tagging" would be another tool to effectualize this. Applying these Web 2.0 principles in, for example, being able to access WorldCat with your Web browser is an tremendous prospect. I look forward to being able to use such a service, and, in turn, share it with the public. Dr. Schultz’s analogy to the coffee commodity is a fitting one (being a Starbucks snob, I look forward to increasing improvement in the Web 2.0 community, even if I pay a price for it with a never-ending mental challenge - it is worth it)
I do feel that we need to pick and choose which aspects of 2.0 we are realistically going to use(see Stephen's article). Blogs and wikis are the obvious useful ones for me, and for my work as a children’s librarian. The jury is still out as far as how our users will take to all this…part of it is how we market it to them, but that is for another post!
For collaboration among libraries, OCLC, WorldCat…I am still wrapping my head around this. Expanding the databases is mind-boggling, especially as they move into digital content. I would love to see improved metadata applied to avoid duplication and and simplify searching. So perhaps the Web 2.0 concept of "tagging" would be another tool to effectualize this. Applying these Web 2.0 principles in, for example, being able to access WorldCat with your Web browser is an tremendous prospect. I look forward to being able to use such a service, and, in turn, share it with the public. Dr. Schultz’s analogy to the coffee commodity is a fitting one (being a Starbucks snob, I look forward to increasing improvement in the Web 2.0 community, even if I pay a price for it with a never-ending mental challenge - it is worth it)
Thursday, May 8, 2008
#16 Wikis
I love wikis and how easy they can make information possible. I had created one on my own to accompany my homeschooling blog as part of a school assignment last summer as well as creating one with others in my class. And I was fortunate enough to see demonstrations of how they are used in other libraries. The potential there is great - Albany County Public Library's wiki is impressive and the children's pages well thought out. Imagine if we had a library wiki here where we could check in each day, see what is happening as it is kept up to date by each of us (absences, cancelled programs, calendars, heads-up, etc.).
LOL about Sparks' color being changed - but it really brings home the beauty of what a wiki is all about. If someone posts misinformation, leave it to someone right there to jump in and correct it! Information by the people, for the people...
The public library bloggers wiki is something I hope we will be listed on soon.
LOL about Sparks' color being changed - but it really brings home the beauty of what a wiki is all about. If someone posts misinformation, leave it to someone right there to jump in and correct it! Information by the people, for the people...
The public library bloggers wiki is something I hope we will be listed on soon.
Friday, April 25, 2008
#14 Technorati, or how to make my head implode
Maybe it's because it is Friday, but I am on web 2.0 overload. Too much to look at here...
So there are 1,208 posts tagged with "learning 2.0", and 1,014 blogs, none of which I felt like reading, so I skimmed. I can save surfing the 2.0 stuff another time. Right now, as I am working on my Ocean County Homeschooling blog I am searching "home schooling and finding some other fine blogs and posts to compare. Then I went into "Portrait Painting" to explore folks that share my other profession. I can certainly kill a lot of time here, searching out other postes, blogs, photos, etc. In all honesty, I will probably use this for homeschooling, art and kids literature more than I will use if for 2.0. But I had not known about Technorati before this. When I am less busy, I will certainly play around with this more.
So there are 1,208 posts tagged with "learning 2.0", and 1,014 blogs, none of which I felt like reading, so I skimmed. I can save surfing the 2.0 stuff another time. Right now, as I am working on my Ocean County Homeschooling blog I am searching "home schooling and finding some other fine blogs and posts to compare. Then I went into "Portrait Painting" to explore folks that share my other profession. I can certainly kill a lot of time here, searching out other postes, blogs, photos, etc. In all honesty, I will probably use this for homeschooling, art and kids literature more than I will use if for 2.0. But I had not known about Technorati before this. When I am less busy, I will certainly play around with this more.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
#13 Del.icio.us
My favorite aspect of de.icio.us is that it is an easier way to access my favorites than just bookmarking. I began a del.icio.us account this past summer during my web. 2.0 class and find it is easier to use than just using my "favorites" button which is about a mile long now and I am very bad about sorting things into folders. This king of tagging allows for easier access and organization. I had not thought to use it at work, but now I am opening another account (I have had to create a list of all these new accounts with my usernames and passwords - keeping technologically up-to-date has demanded I improve my organizational skills!).
I really appreciate seeing how libraries are using this tool, especially for reading lists (Stafford's Southern Regional Middle School. Looking for a particular book and then having a direct link to the record is a great idea, convenient and quick. And a bit of serendipity for me was discovering that the TCNJ link you provided was for Italian studies - a language I have been trying to learn for years. Molto grazie!
As I progress through these exercises, I am eager to see how our library begins to use these web 2.0 tools as a system.
I really appreciate seeing how libraries are using this tool, especially for reading lists (Stafford's Southern Regional Middle School. Looking for a particular book and then having a direct link to the record is a great idea, convenient and quick. And a bit of serendipity for me was discovering that the TCNJ link you provided was for Italian studies - a language I have been trying to learn for years. Molto grazie!
As I progress through these exercises, I am eager to see how our library begins to use these web 2.0 tools as a system.
Friday, April 18, 2008
#12 NetLibrary
I signed up for NetLibrary and after striking out looking for a few authors, I lucked out with a search under "Scotland". Since I am taking a trip there in June I am trying to immerse myself in Scottish culture, both through fiction and non-fiction. This kind of site is a great idea, but personally, I don't think I will be using it much considering its content. I found NetLibrary a bit clumsy to navigate (or am I the clumsy one?). I am a browser by nature, and I think you really need to have a clear idea of what you are looking for unless you wish to browse endlessly through their 3,400+ books.
I also checked out eBooks, love the idea, but probably not pay for downloads.
WorldCat is a such a helpful source, I used it while at Rutgers - I did the advanced search on the blog for fun and found that 28 other libraries own Ocean County: Four Centuries in the Making.
I also checked out eBooks, love the idea, but probably not pay for downloads.
WorldCat is a such a helpful source, I used it while at Rutgers - I did the advanced search on the blog for fun and found that 28 other libraries own Ocean County: Four Centuries in the Making.
Thursday, April 17, 2008
#11 Library Thing
I have just reunited with my Library Thing! I forgot what a useful tool this is for keeping track of my reads. This will make my life SO much easier as a children's librarian. Here I have been wasting my time with boring Excel spread sheets to keep track of my books when I have this attractive tool at my disposal. I need to get busy tagging now.
As I check out the other library sites recommended (SF Public, Seattle Public) I love the use of tags to help you find what you need. Re-discovering Library Thing (among other aspects of 2.0)makes me realize I am not using these sites to my advantage.
As I check out the other library sites recommended (SF Public, Seattle Public) I love the use of tags to help you find what you need. Re-discovering Library Thing (among other aspects of 2.0)makes me realize I am not using these sites to my advantage.
Monday, April 14, 2008
#10 -Technology and time management or how does one find time to blog when I don't have time to floss???
I know web 2.0 technology is nothing less than amazing. I love the fact that we can email, text, blog, post, etc. at any time, all at our fingertips. But I find there is so much of it that I really need to be prudent in deciding which aspects of technology work best for me. I don't have time for all this convenience!
With the magic of web 2.0, I have not been given the gift of a 48 hour day. How does everyone do it? Perhaps it is that I am a web 2.0 "immigrant" as opposed to being a "web 2.0 native", one who has been raised with technology and understands it as easy as one's mother tongue? As much as I love technology, it does not come easy for me. I have to think carefully about my posts, check spelling and grammar (please don't laugh). I need to make sure I am sending a post privately as opposed to a listserv (again, don't laugh, I have done that as well). Since I don't use all this technology enough to commit it to memory, I have to reread notes when I am working with flickr, doing a podcast, etc.
If I am to do my job, spend a bit of time with my family, maybe see a friend or two (in person, not online), exercise, get enough sleep and floss, I really have to be careful - it is so easy to be sucked into the vortex of technology - reading blogs, posts, chatting, etc. For now I will stick with only my favorite blog feeds, my flickr account, writing my own blogs, subscribing to just a few listservs, a few of my favorite social bookmarking sites....
...something is going to have to go... :)
With the magic of web 2.0, I have not been given the gift of a 48 hour day. How does everyone do it? Perhaps it is that I am a web 2.0 "immigrant" as opposed to being a "web 2.0 native", one who has been raised with technology and understands it as easy as one's mother tongue? As much as I love technology, it does not come easy for me. I have to think carefully about my posts, check spelling and grammar (please don't laugh). I need to make sure I am sending a post privately as opposed to a listserv (again, don't laugh, I have done that as well). Since I don't use all this technology enough to commit it to memory, I have to reread notes when I am working with flickr, doing a podcast, etc.
If I am to do my job, spend a bit of time with my family, maybe see a friend or two (in person, not online), exercise, get enough sleep and floss, I really have to be careful - it is so easy to be sucked into the vortex of technology - reading blogs, posts, chatting, etc. For now I will stick with only my favorite blog feeds, my flickr account, writing my own blogs, subscribing to just a few listservs, a few of my favorite social bookmarking sites....
...something is going to have to go... :)
Monday, April 7, 2008
Oops...
I seemed to have forgotten to blog about the 71/2 habits of a lifelong learner!
I have the say, that going back to grad school to earn my graduate degree at my age (the "middle years") confirmed in me that I actually possess all the habits needed to be a lifelong learner.
The easiest: beginnining with the end in mind and accepting responsibility for my own learning. I never want to stop educating myself - it keeps me young.
The hardest: honestly, Habit 7 1/2. Even though I play as part of my job as a children's librarian, I need to constantly remind myself to play as an adult. Somewhere along the journey I became a bit serious. Life does that to you. So I need to remind myself of this and practice it!
When did playing become so hard? :)
I have the say, that going back to grad school to earn my graduate degree at my age (the "middle years") confirmed in me that I actually possess all the habits needed to be a lifelong learner.
The easiest: beginnining with the end in mind and accepting responsibility for my own learning. I never want to stop educating myself - it keeps me young.
The hardest: honestly, Habit 7 1/2. Even though I play as part of my job as a children's librarian, I need to constantly remind myself to play as an adult. Somewhere along the journey I became a bit serious. Life does that to you. So I need to remind myself of this and practice it!
When did playing become so hard? :)
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Things 8 and 9
I have had a bloglines account that has been unattended for some time, so doing this exercise was yet another refresher for me in web 2.0. I now have my accounts better organized into playlists, something I had never done before (art, children's literature, home schooling). I have deleted all the feeds I had used in grad school. Now when I check new feeds, it will only be topics that are relevant and interesting for me. This was a good exercise in virtual weeding!
As you can see, most of the blogs I subscribe to pertain to library topics, particularly children's literature. But I have my favorite art info blogs to keep up with my "other" life, as well as some good vegan ones. While it may not reflect it when you click on the link on the blog roll link to the left, I have them all organized into playlists...although I think I need to sort them by folders when I have time.
Thank you, Jill, for your timely appearance today to help me through the glitches! :)
As you can see, most of the blogs I subscribe to pertain to library topics, particularly children's literature. But I have my favorite art info blogs to keep up with my "other" life, as well as some good vegan ones. While it may not reflect it when you click on the link on the blog roll link to the left, I have them all organized into playlists...although I think I need to sort them by folders when I have time.
Thank you, Jill, for your timely appearance today to help me through the glitches! :)
Friday, March 28, 2008
One of my favorites...
As my web thing #7, I scanned and sent the cover of one of my favorite children's books to oclwebthings. I also wanted to send it here to the blog, but there was no way to accomplish this (that I could figure out) so I just added it here.
Trying again...
Okay, I am trying this again with a new name and blog address. Flickr was not allowing me to blog my photos to a blog created with a different account name. Changing blog locations was the path of least resistance to solve this dilemma. Thank you, Kristen for helping me!
I'm Playing (again)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
I'm playing!
Okay, here goes...Playing this web thing challenge is getting me back into the 2.o arena for which I am grateful. I took a social software tech class last summer at Rutgers in which we had to employ all this web 2.0 technology - it was loads of fun, but I do not have much chance to keep it up. This has inspired me to re-start my homeschooling blog and take a "refresher" course with my colleagues.
I'm playing!
Okay, here goes...Playing this web thing challenge is getting me back into the 2.o arena for which I am grateful. I took a social software tech class last summer at Rutgers in which we had to employ all this web 2.0 technology - it was loads of fun, but I do not have much chance to keep it up. This has inspired me to re-start my homeschooling blog and take a "refresher" course with my colleagues.
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