Today I checked out Odeo. First, I used Podcastalley.com. I really could not get it to work for me so then I tried out Odeo. I think Podcasts are something I can really get behind. I like listening to NPR and radio shows where you learn things or hear people being interviewed so it seems like podcasts are the perfect match for me because they can be entertaining and informative.
Today I listened to the Library Geeks pod cast. I added it to my Google Reader account. I liked it and will probably listen to it again. I have sent myself the web address for CCLS 23 Things so I can look over this when I get home tonight. There are a lot of entertainment related podcasts I would be interested in listening to and unfortunately I can’t just pretend they are work related. When I go home tonight you can bet I will check them out. Also when I buy or get an MP3 player I know that I will be downloading podcasts to listen to when I work out both work related and ones with my outside interests.
Friday, December 19, 2008
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
You Too Can Youtube
I love Youtube and I am glad that the Chester County Library has a Youtube page. In my non-work life I use Youtube for many things. I have watched my favorite parts of TV shows on Youtube. Sometimes I watch music videos or live performances of songs I like on Youtube. Sometimes I just watch funny videos on Youtube.
Here is a video created and produced by some members of my library marketing class during the spring of 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItCIHAksjf4
I remember this being the first time I had heard of Youtube. Our professor told us it was the next big thing and that this was the technology kids are using today. He sure was right.
I remember when they made it and now it has had over 62,187 views. They made the video to promote national library week in 2006. It just shows you what kind of exposure you get on Youtube. Just think in a few years the CCLS contest views might have that many views.
I think Youtube can be a great place for libraries to get exposure. It is fun and entertaining. Plus it is easy to use and video do not take very much time to load. People use Youtube to learn new skills. One time I used Youtube to help me find videos on how to make a roux for a recipe. Youtube might be a great place to post a video on how to use the online catalog.
Here is a video created and produced by some members of my library marketing class during the spring of 2006. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItCIHAksjf4
I remember this being the first time I had heard of Youtube. Our professor told us it was the next big thing and that this was the technology kids are using today. He sure was right.
I remember when they made it and now it has had over 62,187 views. They made the video to promote national library week in 2006. It just shows you what kind of exposure you get on Youtube. Just think in a few years the CCLS contest views might have that many views.
I think Youtube can be a great place for libraries to get exposure. It is fun and entertaining. Plus it is easy to use and video do not take very much time to load. People use Youtube to learn new skills. One time I used Youtube to help me find videos on how to make a roux for a recipe. Youtube might be a great place to post a video on how to use the online catalog.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Myspace et al
Today I took some time to explore microblogging and library Myspace pages. I also set myself up a Twitter account. I have a Myspace page, and I know libraries have been doing Myspace for a while now. Some libraries have Facebook too. They are pretty cool. You can post your library hours, advertise events, post pictures, post announcements for your friends. Good stuff.
I think libraries should have a presence on Facebook and MySpace. The only drawback is that you have to make sure you stay on top of it. The library staff members who monitor it will have to set up preferences so they can review any comments before they are posted. Also if you are posting pictures a photo release must be signed before the pictures can be posted.
I also tried microblogging. I set up a twitter account. I am not that impressed with it yet. I am not setting it up so I can update my status through my cell phone. I already sort of microblog when I use Facebook and Myspace and I update my status. I enjoy reading my friends’ status updates on Facebook. I also took a look at some of the microblogs for libraries. You can find out about small things that are going on at the library. It makes you feel involved.
I think libraries should have a presence on Facebook and MySpace. The only drawback is that you have to make sure you stay on top of it. The library staff members who monitor it will have to set up preferences so they can review any comments before they are posted. Also if you are posting pictures a photo release must be signed before the pictures can be posted.
I also tried microblogging. I set up a twitter account. I am not that impressed with it yet. I am not setting it up so I can update my status through my cell phone. I already sort of microblog when I use Facebook and Myspace and I update my status. I enjoy reading my friends’ status updates on Facebook. I also took a look at some of the microblogs for libraries. You can find out about small things that are going on at the library. It makes you feel involved.
Web 2.0 awards list
I decided to take a look at the Web 2.0 Awards. I must say I liked their choices for awardees. I personally love Craigslist the 1st place winner in the Classifieds and Directories category. I have been using Craigslist for a few years now. This is what I love about it. It is just like the newspaper classifieds with discussion boards added in and it takes place in real time! So the content is always fresh. People are always posting. I purchased some of the furniture for my apartment by searching the Craigslist ads. I also love that it is not owned by Google, Yahoo, or Microsoft. It is paid for with ad revenue. Craig, the founder, is not out to make money! I also like the fact that users do not need to create a username and password to use Craigslist.
Anyway, my love of Craigslist also caused me to take a look at ParkingSearch.com. I did not really search this one because you had to create a usernames and password to use it. Then I checked out Oodle which uses the tag line “More listings. Smarter classified.” Truthfully, I probably still like Craigslist more, but it is nice to know that alternatives are out there.
This is the part in the post where I try to explain how libraries can use Craigslist, Oodle, or other Web 2.0 Social Sites. Libraries could use Craigslist or Oodle to post job postings. I know many of my friends have searched Craigslist before for jobs. In the professional networking category LinkedIn is a first place winner. Library staff can use LinkedIn to be connected virtually to classmates, business acquaintances, friends, and co-workers in order to exchange ideas or connections. It is sort of a visual representation of the six degrees of separation that connect us all.
Anyway, my love of Craigslist also caused me to take a look at ParkingSearch.com. I did not really search this one because you had to create a usernames and password to use it. Then I checked out Oodle which uses the tag line “More listings. Smarter classified.” Truthfully, I probably still like Craigslist more, but it is nice to know that alternatives are out there.
This is the part in the post where I try to explain how libraries can use Craigslist, Oodle, or other Web 2.0 Social Sites. Libraries could use Craigslist or Oodle to post job postings. I know many of my friends have searched Craigslist before for jobs. In the professional networking category LinkedIn is a first place winner. Library staff can use LinkedIn to be connected virtually to classmates, business acquaintances, friends, and co-workers in order to exchange ideas or connections. It is sort of a visual representation of the six degrees of separation that connect us all.
Monday, December 8, 2008
Web Based Applications
Web based Applications
Today I chose to explore Zoho Writer. One feature that I really appreciated was the fact that users could log in using either their Yahoo account or their Google account. However, I think that I would like it better if I could explore it without logging in. Zoho really seems like a combination between Microsoft Office and social networking sites. Really, I wonder if Zoho is paying Microsoft royalties because their products really are pretty much Microsoft Office products that allow users to save and share online. It seems like Zoho is an open source application because you can alter some features if you would like. I read on their site that they are also willing to build applications if that is what a company needs.
I played around in Zoho Writer and Zoho DB and Reports. I liked the database pre-made reports populated with sample data. Exploring those reports gave me a little idea of what project management is all about. I never knew that supervisors assigned their employees work then compared the estimated days of completion against the actual days of completion.
So all-and-all it was pretty interesting. I think that maybe I would use it someday to do collaborative work. I still think that I would save my work to another source just to be sure that it is secure. I did not like the way that every time you opened up another application another window was opened. Also it was not as fast as Microsoft Office when you tried to open other applications or try out other features. But it was a good product for being free.
Today I chose to explore Zoho Writer. One feature that I really appreciated was the fact that users could log in using either their Yahoo account or their Google account. However, I think that I would like it better if I could explore it without logging in. Zoho really seems like a combination between Microsoft Office and social networking sites. Really, I wonder if Zoho is paying Microsoft royalties because their products really are pretty much Microsoft Office products that allow users to save and share online. It seems like Zoho is an open source application because you can alter some features if you would like. I read on their site that they are also willing to build applications if that is what a company needs.
I played around in Zoho Writer and Zoho DB and Reports. I liked the database pre-made reports populated with sample data. Exploring those reports gave me a little idea of what project management is all about. I never knew that supervisors assigned their employees work then compared the estimated days of completion against the actual days of completion.
So all-and-all it was pretty interesting. I think that maybe I would use it someday to do collaborative work. I still think that I would save my work to another source just to be sure that it is secure. I did not like the way that every time you opened up another application another window was opened. Also it was not as fast as Microsoft Office when you tried to open other applications or try out other features. But it was a good product for being free.
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Playing Around with PB wiki
Playing Around With PBWiki
Today I played around with PBWiki. I added my blog to the Favorite blogs and included some of my favorite restaurants on the favorite restaurants list. I really like the favorite restaurants wiki. I will probably check it as more people add their favorite restaurants. I am always up for suggestions! It was pretty easy to edit and save and post. I liked the convenience! It would be super easy for librarians to edit and update.
Today I played around with PBWiki. I added my blog to the Favorite blogs and included some of my favorite restaurants on the favorite restaurants list. I really like the favorite restaurants wiki. I will probably check it as more people add their favorite restaurants. I am always up for suggestions! It was pretty easy to edit and save and post. I liked the convenience! It would be super easy for librarians to edit and update.
What's in a Wiki?
What’s in a wiki? I took some time today to take a look of some the example wikis. I have been a big fan of Wikipedia for a couple of years now. So I am most enthusiastic about what wiki’s can do.
I mostly spent my time today looking at the YALSA wiki for the ALA conference. It is pretty cool. The major thought that came to me as I looked at this was “I wish I had seen this before I went to ALA.” I am not a member of YALSA but a lot of the information on the wiki would have been useful for any 2008 ALA Conference Attendee.
Wiki’s can be used in many ways in the library. The staff manual could be designed as a wiki and put on the intranet. I also think a wiki would be a useful way to organize department procedures. Wiki’s could be a useful way to disseminate information about a particular library event or even upcoming events. The possibilities are endless.
I mostly spent my time today looking at the YALSA wiki for the ALA conference. It is pretty cool. The major thought that came to me as I looked at this was “I wish I had seen this before I went to ALA.” I am not a member of YALSA but a lot of the information on the wiki would have been useful for any 2008 ALA Conference Attendee.
Wiki’s can be used in many ways in the library. The staff manual could be designed as a wiki and put on the intranet. I also think a wiki would be a useful way to organize department procedures. Wiki’s could be a useful way to disseminate information about a particular library event or even upcoming events. The possibilities are endless.
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
Library 2.ooooh
(This is a picture of my hand that I put in this post to make it more light hearted)
The first time I remember hearing about Library 2.0 was in a library management class in January 2006. My classmates and I passionately wrote about and discussed the changes that Library 2.0 would bring about in libraries. We spoke of how the library catalog could become more user-friendly. We discussed the idea of automated material check-out. We spoke of the idea of roving librarians who would just walk around the library and be freely available to customers. We debated whether we should refer to patrons as customers or vice versa. We read blogs of Jenny Levine, Michael Stephens, Walt Crawford, and Stephen Abrams. We spoke of how the identity of the library was shifting. The libraries of the future seemed to be part traditional library, part information commons, and even part community center.
After I finished library school and got a job at the Chester County Library I had an opportunity to see Thomas Frey Senior Futurist at the DaVinci Institute speak about the future of libraries. His talk about how libraries needed to change with our culture or risk becoming irrelevant excited me.
Here is what I think about Library 2.0: I like social networking and am glad that libraries are starting to adapt its technologies. I like the focus of customer service that seems to be at the core of Library 2.0. I love the idea of making the webpac more user-friendly. I think all of these things and they seem to be part of how business in general is changing. My thought is that if Lands End can provide chat customer service, it great that we are doing chat reference.
So mostly I have positive feelings about Library 2.0. I mostly like what it means. However, I also get a feeling in the pit of my stomach every time somebody brings up Library 2.0. It makes me groan a little because it is such a buzz word. It almost feels like a cliché to me. I don’t know if it is all the discussion it has generated or the fact that some of the discussion feels like discussion for the sake of discussion, but some of the power of the term has been drained from its meaning for me.
In any case, I vow to put Library 2.0 practices in place in my everyday work life. I will continue to contribute content and administer the Young Adult blog for the Chester County Library. I will continue to practice good customer service and I will continue to answer questions on AskHere PA. I do not feel that the library could ever become irrelevant especially if the economy continues to behave the way it has been behaving lately.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Technorati
I spent some time this afternoon investigating Technorati. This is the first contact that I have really had with this website. I spend probably an hour claiming my blog and then just checking it out. I looked at the Technorati State of the Blogosphere and the Popular Searches and Tags. I added the Technorati button to my blog, see the banner at the top of the blog. Add my blog as one of your faves!
The State of the Blogosphere interesting but I really enjoyed looking at the Popular Searches and Tags. I found that authority refers to the number of people who have commented on a blog. It is interesting that the top blog based on fans is Boing Boing, a blog about pop culture and technology; whereas the top blog based on authority is Breaking News and Opinion on the Huffington Post.
I searched Library 2.0 too and it does seem to be a good way to aggregate all the blogs you would like to read about a subject. I think Technorati seems to provide what I need in a blog aggregator/ search thing. I like it better than bloglines because it seems to be more about searching for blog posts that you are interested in reading now, where as Bloglines seems to be about collecting and keep your blog posts all in place. This seems to fit my needs better.
The State of the Blogosphere interesting but I really enjoyed looking at the Popular Searches and Tags. I found that authority refers to the number of people who have commented on a blog. It is interesting that the top blog based on fans is Boing Boing, a blog about pop culture and technology; whereas the top blog based on authority is Breaking News and Opinion on the Huffington Post.
I searched Library 2.0 too and it does seem to be a good way to aggregate all the blogs you would like to read about a subject. I think Technorati seems to provide what I need in a blog aggregator/ search thing. I like it better than bloglines because it seems to be more about searching for blog posts that you are interested in reading now, where as Bloglines seems to be about collecting and keep your blog posts all in place. This seems to fit my needs better.
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