Just read through the long list of blogs listed on BlogBib...this one is really neat, and is one that is maintained and current. I think I will follow it for a while!

Block, Marylaine. “Neat New Stuff on the Net - Weekly Reviews of New Sites:" http://marylaine.com/neatnew.html

I'm finished with Web 2.0 and have learned much. I'd already set up a Facebook and Twitter account; I still check on Facebook on occasion to catch up with family and friends and pictures they've posted; I almost never use Twitter but I am going to check in with the AACPL twittering people! I probably will never use Flickr (I don't even have a digital camera...just borrow my kids if I need ond!), and I think that Facebook is an easier way to share photos. I do check in with Google Reader and update it with more RSS feeds...but mostly I like to go just to the sites themselves! Don't use Library Thing...just keep in my head the authors I like, and I check Readers Advice when I am looking for an author read-a-like or for book/author suggestions for specific genres.
Because we have microsoft word on all of our computers, and patrons bring disks and thumb drives, I haven't had an occasion to recommendZoho. I use the AACPL wiki's but don't see myself setting up any! My favorite place, and the one I find most useful: Delicious! I can keep adding to a list of web addresses I need at my fingertips to recommend to patrons and to keep for myself...ones that I can get no matter where I am.

An obstacle I've found is having to keep track of all the log-ins and passwords as I couldn't keep using my favorite one! This was quite a learning experience. Thanks!

Library Thing Widget

Too cool...I check the Edit Html tab, and the Library Thing widget posted. Neat!

My Library Thing widget...will this work? Don't see a widget...just lots of letters and symbols!

Optional Exploration: Twitter, Badges and Widgets - Oh My
I tried to embed a widget from Library Thing on this blog, but it wouldn't post...got a message something about a break in the HTML?? Ah, well; I don't have any webpage, so this was my one attempt to try to set up a widget.
I am on Twitter, but don't use it very often. I can see how libraries can use it to announce upcoming events and to celebrate happenings. Also, librarians can use Twitter to quickly communicate information; many in AACL do so.
Kids love technology and could use Twitter to communicate quickly; however, if they are anything like my 12-year-old grandson, texting with their cell phones is much more convient as the phones seem to be attached to their hips!

Optional Exploration : Social Networking Sites

Teenagers love My Space and Facebook; they can share pictures and ideas and thoughts and keep in touch with their friends both near and far. These sites appeal to their interest in and use of computers and technology.
I set up a Facebook page in order to keep in touch with a relative in Iraq; it is an easy way for him to send pictures; however, we end up emailing as it seems more private and it is hard to keep checking both email and facebook. I check my email every day, and only check facebook once every two weeks or so! Perhaps it is because I am not a teenager and am not interested in collecting friends??!!
Library programs and events could be advertised on these sites; feedback in the way of comments could help programmers taylor programs more appropriately to audiences. Quick book reviews could be given and comments solicited.

Optional Exploration: You Tube and User Created Content
I enjoy watching all the wonderful You Tube videos...and find the "how to" ones very helpful (i.e. how to make paper airplanes, how to crochet, how to knit, how to tie scarves...all of help to patrons who are looking for such information and have access to a computer). I have trouble watching them while at the branch as they spend so much time buffering, it takes far too long to watch any of them. Mountain Road Branch created a You Tube video of its Project Runway and posted it; it was a great hit and all the girls who participated were tickled!
I have listened to many speeches, musical presentations, etc at home; it is wonderful to access this content. However, I don't understand how copyright laws are avoided.
I've never listened to, watrched or participated in a podcast...I can see how they could be very helpful in keeping up with what is going on. I looked at the list of libraries who have podcast feeds to update patrons on activities, programs, etc.; obviously there are many uses for podcasting.

Exploration 8: Social Bookmarking Sites

I just set up my own Delicious account and am looking forward to using it. So far I have bookmarked the great law sites that I learned about at the Mayland Law Library session of GSM. I'm also bookmarking any great readers advisory sites I find as that is always a challenge.
Another set of bookmarks I am going to add are the ones I've listed on my "Find Your Job" Pathfinder Packet that I created for my LATI project and I'll add any others that I come across.
As an APT I travel between libraries and it will be wonderful to access these websites from wherever I am!
I also find the sites that each branch has included on their branch Delicious accounts very helpful as many are specific to the area and the questions eacg branch often gets.
I find Delicious to be extremely helpful, both for individuals and for branches in that favorite websites can be accessed from any computer.
I am just practicing with tagging and trying to discover how tags can be used to identify other pertinant websites!

Exploration 7- WIKI's

Well...I've read everything, and I think I understand the difference between a Blog and a Wiki! I first became truly acquainted with a Wiki was when I was in LATI; it took a bit of trial and error for me to understand how to navigate among the various pages, what the fuction of the various sections of the Wiki were, and to quickly and easily find what I needed.
As I reviewed the Wiki for the ALA conference, I saw how effective it was in getting pertinent information to participants; I especially liked how easy it was to access the Post Conference Materials. The Wiki's that AACPL have allows information to be easily disseminated and accessed by all interested parties; quite useful, especially for Materials Management and Staff Development. I can see the importance of keeping Wiki's current!
I can't see any personal use for developing a Wiki yet; time will tell!

Zoho Show

Couldn't figure out how to do a spread sheet as I am not familiar with them! Could do a slide show...will work for any patron who is familiar with powerpoint. It is easy to share the presentation with others, either for just viewing, or even for editing.

ZOHO

As you can see from the previous post, I just figured out (through trial and error!) how to "publish" my Zoho document. I think patrons who don't have/want a disk or thumbdrive...or who want to share documents...would like to know about these applications. They would have to have word processing skills and knowledge in order to understand how to maneuver through the application; armed with those skills/knowledge, they could figure out how (sometimes through trial and error) to use the various features such as changing fonts, font colors, applying style changes such as bold and italic, and inserting pictures and tables.
I am now going to try zoho's online spreadsheet; again an application for patrons who know how create spreadsheets but couldn't do it at the library since the software is not available.

Practice

Lois Sanders

August 11, 2009

 

I am practicing with this Zoho word processing application.  It is very much like Microsoft Word.  Now I am finding out how to name/save the document and how to add a picture.  The directions given are not accurate as they were written over a year ago; as always with the internet, things change!

 

 

Again...couldn't follow the given directions; the message said that there was a problem with the page; so, I just copied and pasted it, then centered it.  Also, there is no 'Insert/Modify' button with mountains and a sun...there is in Insert tab at the top!  I did click on the picture and enlarged it.  This is my favorite mountain in the world...Mt Rainier in Washington State...in the summer with the wild flowers.

 

• Drive to Paradise on Mt Rainier
• Take a walk on the mountain paths.
• Take pictures of the wildflowers.
• Stop by a waterfall and put your feet in the cold, cold water.

 

 

FROM - To Paradise	Mileage	Driving Time
Seattle	150 miles	1 hour 30 minutes
Olympia	125 miles	1 hour 15 minutes

 

Social Networking

I am on Facebook, mostly to keep up with my family in Washington State; my young (thirty-something---I'm showing my age!) niece says it can it a real time-waster! I only check in once a week or so; obviously I am not in need of constant communication as the younger generations are. I was intrigued that Maryland Ask Us Now has both a Facebook and MySpace page; it seems to be effective at getting information to interested people whose way of accessing information is through these types of sites.

Twitter

I was using Twitter to keep up with my daughter at our little shop, A Special Touch, in Annapolis...but it wasn't very effective; she was usually busy with customers or on the phone with insurance companies. Email was just as effective! I am now going to follow some library folk to see what is up with them!

Its a Library Thing

Just added some books to LibraryThing which I joined a few years ago but never again used. I am going to try GoodReads as a fellow librarian recommended it...all I truly want to keep track of is authors. I read a lot and often forget the titles of books, but I remember the authors I like! I know I liked the John Sanford Prey books, but it got so I couldn't remember which I had read! I also read Greg Iles, but there are books of his I don't like; I could use the rating system to denote which books I had read and liked or not.
It will be interesting see who has read the same books I have...and to see what else they are reading. Now I am going to check out blogs to see what others think of LibraryThing or GoodReads, and add one of their RSS feeds to my Google Reader.

RSS feeds

Third post today...catching up. Used Google's reader for RSS feeds; added many news/political sites, the NY Times best seller list and Epicurious's new recipe one. At home, it seems it would be just as easy to bookmark the sites; however, while on the desk it is easy to just go to the Google Reader to check out what is newly posted on all of them. Just wondering...at the end of this exploration, it asked that we add at least 3 RSS feeds from other explorers...where do we find them?

Flickr

Just found my blog listed; tried flickr and posted some pictures I had taken at the branch because of LATI. Since I don't own a digital camera...somewhat probematic to persue this. When I travel with my kids, they take the pictures and create disks; I borrowed one of their cameras when I went on safari in Africa and edited and posted the pictures on Google's Picasa which worked very well. Since I have so many, many, many pictures, I am not inclined to take more! One of my retirement goals is to go through all the boxes of pics and organize them more thoroughly...been meaning to do that for five years now!

Web 2.0: blogging

Just started Web 2.0 after completing LATI...thought it was interesting to set up a blog. Still am unsure how many people want to read other blogs; time is always an issue, keeping up with email and facebook as well as work!

I just posted a picture of BPK's Job Seekers: A One Stop Shop area...the display I created because of my LATI project. Pictures of displays may be a way to share ideas!

Job Seeker

Job Seeker
Originally uploaded by lasanders43

The Job Seekers area at Brooklyn Park Library...my LATI project!

Just finished my LATI project...this is one of the pictures I took to use in my narrated power point show. Glad it is over! Our showcase is Thursday, and now I have time to work on the WEB 2.0 project!

friendlytraveler

My first blog...had trouble coming up with a name as everything I tried had already been taken! I do love to travel, so finally settled on this name. Have to go out to the Infomation Desk now.