week 10 #23 FINISH LINE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ...for now

loved Flickr, Zoho, avatars,Del.icio.us,

I want to share many of them and change some of the classes we teach, including aiming some classes for younger users

I've already taken a look at the 43 things list and plan to check out a few myself. I would like this program to continue as an ongoing training. I just wish it had been offered in January with more time to complete.


Thanks for giving us this program. You need to share it with other Harris County departments! They probably have some online apps that we would appreciate learning about as well.

Week 9 #22 overdrive

I've already done quite a bit with Overdrive. I have reserved, downloaded and listened to a number of audiobooks. I often help customers download titles and have taught classes in this 3 times so far. I find that holds for these come in faster than for cds. I just now reserved a Margolin title.

I have downloaded overdrive videos (Jamaica Inn)as well ... It took FOREVER

However, I did not know about LibriVox and I think I'd someday like to do some volunteer recording for them. I can tell a difference in readers between overdrive and LibriVox. But the collection is varied and the price is right!

The Overdrive readers tend to be a better listening experience with more polished performances (naturally, considering that they do this for a living).


It's nice to have one more source to give to customers needing talking books.

Week 9 #21 podcasts

I added an RSS feed for the Sunnyvale Library podcasts. Although the ones I've seen so far are only audio. I see some real potential for library use, but with video as well.

I tried some nonlibrary ones as well : travel, car repair, finances, home repair, cooking, sermons. I don't feel a strong interest in this but I can see where others might.

Week 8 #19 Web Based Apps.

Now these are really cool! I'm working with Zoho's planner but can't seem to get it to publish to the blog (maybe because it's not public), but I can email it.

I did work with the spreadsheet (included below).

car maintenance log


Zoho is a great site to check out for Internet instruction classes.

Week 8 #18 Social networking

Like blogs, social networking sites are not my thing, but I did use the exercise as excuse to get my son to show me how he uses Facebook. He must take after me a bit since he doesn't share a lot either. It's kind of cool how the kids can keep in touch with it.

I tried several others and the only one that mildly caught my interest was LinkedIn for job search aspects and no, I'm not looking! Where else could I get so many neat training opportunities? I might recommend LinkedIn to jobseekers.

Week 7 #17 Technology

October 23rd is a date I'll remember a while. One of three (or was it five) days of no access to our catalog or our databases. We found some very creative ways to find books. It's so appropriate for this topic.

Technology offers so many possibilities, opens doors to so many who had no idea what was at the tips of their fingers ... just a keyboard stroke away. Travel information, bill paying, checking on your house appraisal, finding a last minute recipe, downloading a book to your computer or MP3, researching your family history or a college paper can be done so easily now... BUT

The very nature of the way information is delivered today is so ephemeral. With a power surge thousands of articles, books, and more are lost. I've had a hard drive crash and lost many digital photos. Think backup plan.


I would hate to get to the point that everything was digital/ electronic/ etc. Would a civilization thousands of years away be able to understand those bits and bytes?

Week 7 #16 wikis

I liked the possibilities of the book review wikis, although it would be easy to get slanted reviews or uneven coverage on topics simply based on who has the time to do the input. I know we already use a wiki for printing flyers, bookmarks etc and it seems to work well.

I already use wikipedia although I don't rely on it as a source of information... just a starting point.

I can see using wikis to get customer input on collection development and services.

Week 6 #15 Library 2.0

I see the very training we are doing and many of the changes in our library as embracing the 2.0 philosophy. I love the fact that customers can check their accounts from home, check out ebooks and download videos and books without ever leaving the comfort of home. I only wish we could offer all our databases for remote access.

As new technologies offer new possibilities it is both a challenge and an exciting opportunity for libraries. What an age!

I found the article on Icebergs very interesting and I agree that the days of the "just in case" collection are gone. So much information is online or in online databases anyway. At my branch we've reduced the reference collection and moved it to the back of the library, leaving the "prime real estate" in the center of the building (formerly reference) for a "popular collection" which is heavily browsed. This is just one way we can be responsive.

Whether we respond with new technologies or just new ways to provide better service, it's all 2.0

week 6 #14 technorati

I tried learning 2.0 search all three ways and really don't like any of them. I see the differences but I think the main thing is that I just don't enjoy blogging and don't trust a lot of opinions. On the internet we all become experts... scary. Blogs are just not my first choice for authoritative information. And speaking of "authority" I was really puzzled by the authority listed for each blog and spent some time researching that and the rankings. Sounds like more of a popularity contest than actual authority.


But I stuck with it till I found something I liked. Indiana Jones blogs. Well, I guess there is a blog out there for everyone... if you have the time.

Week 6 #13

Del.icio.us
I created my own account and have added about 10 websites. I will be adding all the bookmarks I currently store under my profile. This will make accessing them much easier. I really enjoy being able to use my bookmarks anywhere and to use the social networking aspect to keep up with sites I might have missed. My biggest problem is keeping up with all my logins and passwords for the various sites and applications Im learning about!!!

week 9 #20 youtube

looking for napking folding ideas for thanksgiving, but found this off the wall one instead. I found plenty of others on what I really wanted but this is the one you get to see

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUfIzc19QW0

we used to camp

week 5 #12 library elf

I like my elf . easy to sign up and since I have cards with more than one library system I can manage them all from the same place... cool!

Week 5 #11 Library Thing

for an eclectic mix of reads:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/Usedtocamp

week 5 -- #10 yahoo avatar

I would have added an ancient Roman ruin if I could have. after all, it's one of the places where I used to camp

week 5

Thanks Giving 2006.jpg 006

Thanks Giving 2006.jpg 006
Originally uploaded by vogueangel

RSS feed on Flickr

week 4 rss feeds

Well there's a lot more out there than I was expecting. I was thinking news, which I did subscribe to on my new bloglines account. I added some professional feeds from ALA, but I have to admit that what I REALLY liked was the daily sudoku puzzle. I am also looking ahead to the holidays so I subscribed to Thanksgiving table and Christmas table pictures on Flickr (this is work related, now isn't it?). For good measure I subscribed to "afternoon tea" photos. Gosh, what a fun way to learn technology!

week 3 -- finale

Okay, it needs a LITTLE work!
Originally uploaded by usedtocamp

more week 3

tried trip planner and liked it a lot.

still week 3 - flickr and pixer

frio
Originally uploaded by usedtocamp

used pixer to make it sepia ... i have some others I would like to try the oil painting effect with

week 3

Here they are, 3 of my favorite relatives!

Online Safety & Privacy

I'm not at all comfortable sharing online. One's dealings. interests, should be private, but they are not. As one who actually searches for all types of information for a living, I must admit to many misgivings about the intrusiveness of personal information publicly available.

Learning Styles

Best techniques - hands on trainings, when that's not an option - visual combined with auditory.
Worst -auditory alone,

Used to camp

I used to camp a lot --5 or more times a year. Now I haven't camped in two years and I have to admit I do prefer the conveniences that electricity and running water bring. Still, every Fall I get a a yearning to spend some time outdoors. There's something about crisp clear Fall weather, that brings memories of warm campfires, toasted marshmallows and peaceful evenings that I really do miss. Since I'm an incurable night owl (2-3 a.m.) I am always amazed that on a camping trip I can fall asleep by 10pm. ...maybe I will go camping this season, but I'll have to tell the rest of the family to leave the cell phone, battery powered tv/radio/mp3s at home.