Thanks all around

I wanted to say thank you to Alicia for leading us through this 2.0 journey over the past several weeks. I have enjoyed learning new concepts and technology. Thanks, also to the managers and to Debbie for allowing us the time to learn and grow. It's been fun!

DCPL MySpace

I've been aware of the library's MySpace page for some time now, and I know that both Kevin and Leslie have put in a lot of work on it over the past year or so. Well, I like the fact that we are using it to promote programs such as the recent Up River Music program at the Bluegrass Museum and also the current 20/20 Book Club's monthly discussions. There is also information on the Voices of Elmwood program, which of course was a big hit last year and is sure to be once again. Right now there is also a great Power Point presentation on there that Kevin put together recently. It shows people ways that they can save money and still have access to great entertainment resources all by using their public library. I notice that this presentation can be emailed to someone, also. This is a great feature, and a great way to promote the library. I applaud all of those staff involved with the creation and maintenance of the MySpace page, and I think it's just another example of meeting the public where they are to promote an institution that is vital to the community--the DCPL!!

Adventures in Podcasting

I couldn't access any of the podcasts at podcastalley.com. I kept being prompted to download an aggregator, and the link to the Yahoo podcasts was dead. Sooooo, I decided to venture out on Google and search for some podcasts. There's a lot out there, and I was surprised to find that some of these podcasts are several years old. I stumbled on a site called podcastdirectory.com. I was able to search for podcasts by subject. When I went to the subject "Movies" there was quite a bit to choose from. I found something called "Secrets of Narnia" and thought I'd check it out. The movie, "The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe", which came out a few years ago, is one of my favorites. I've never read the books by C. S. Lewis, but I want to eventually. I found four podcasts related to The Chronicles of Narnia. I didn't listen to them all, but I did listen to the first one called, "The Secrets of Narnia #01: the Wardrobe, The Door and the World of Narnia". It talks about why C. S. Lewis used the wardrobe as an entrance to the world of Narnia and its various symbolic meanings. This podcast was originally created in 2007, probably not long after the motion picture's release. If anyone is interested, here is the link for this podcast:

http://www.podcastdirectory.com/podshows/1686255

I feel like I've had a neat introduction to the world of podcasting. It's definitely something that I would explore further, although I don't think my slow internet connection at home will allow me to do much. At least I know a bit more now than before I began this 2.0 adventure!

Sorry, but couldn't get videos to post

Okay, I tried copying the "embed" code and pasting into my blog, but it didn't work, so I had to copy the URLs for the two videos I wanted to share. I thought I knew how to do it, but I guess technology has gotten the better of me once again. Sob, sob. Well, I guess if you copy and paste the URLs in your browser you'll be able to view them. Sorry about that, everybody.

(Does this mean I flunk?) :o

YouTube Assignment

I can see why others have said that YouTube is addictive. Is there nothing you can't find on here? I tried searching for library-related videos. I got a lot of results of various libraries' videos on using their particular card catalog systems. This might be something we could take advantage of once we get our new ILS system in place. I also found a cute commercial for Lexington Public Library, which was encouraging people to get a library card. Like Kim, I found myself wanting to search for all of my favorite '80s videos. Aahh, the days when MTV was actually cool! Then I found myself watching some of my fave Saturday Night Live sketches. Who doesn't want to watch the Patrick Swayze/Chris Farley Chippendales sketch?? Classic stuff. Anyway, I am going to post a funny video called "Librarian Lays Down the Law". I thought it was funny, and many of us can relate to this. It's also short, so it won't take up too much of your time to watch. On a serious note, I also found a video promoting a service called http://www.askwhyky.org/. This is a site where a person can get 24/7 reference service by chatting live online with a librarian or via email. I am going to try and attach this video, also. It's pretty interesting. I will delve into the world of podcasting at a later date, but I've really enjoyed playing with YouTube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzbDdgWiaS0

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5p6O_aX7-E

Web 2.0 Exercise

I read the perspective entitled "Into a New World of Librarianship" and wanted to mention a few points that I found interesting. The 2.0 librarian bases all planning and proposals for services, materials and outreach on user needs and wants. This point just reinforces that the library is centered around the customer. We are here to meet their needs. Also, we want our services to be easily accessible. We are not to create policies and procedures that impede users' access to the library. Another good point emphasized was that the 2.0 librarian does not buy technology for the sake of technology. I think it can be easy to get caught up in all of the new technology trends and want to compete with what other libraries are doing. We have to determine whether or not the technology meets the customers' needs in new or improved ways. Will this actually be useful to our customers and staff? This article also talks about how the 2.0 librarian learns from successes and failures, celebrates the successes, allows staff time to play and learn, and never stops dreaming about the best library services. I appreciate the time that we have been allowed to play and learn with this whole exercise. And of course, I agree that we as a library staff are always striving to offer the best library services. I must admit that I don't understand much about technology at all, and sometimes I don't have the desire. I'm fine without having an MP3 player, an Ipod, I don't twitter, facebook, myspace, etc. Wanna know a secret? I don't even have a cell phone, and I'm perfectly cool with that. (Nobody better give me a hard time for that, got it?) I'm the least technological person I know, in fact. But hey, I'm open to try things if it's going to provide a service to the customer and meet their needs. I've worked here a long time, and I've always tried to meet the customer's needs in whatever way is required.

Google Docs & Wikis

I like the convenience of creating documents via Google Docs. Say I'm someone who has a home computer with Microsoft Word, and I create a resume. Say I don't have printing capabilities, so I have to come to the library to print out my resume for an upcoming interview. In order to do that I have to first save the file in my email, then come to the library to print it out. Multiple steps involved. With Google Docs, I can simple create the resume right there, save it in the same spot, and then go and get it printed out. Or I can simply make one stop at the library and have it all done at once. Type it up in Google Docs, print it out, and boom, I'm headed to my interview. And for anyone who has been given headaches from trying to figure out Microsoft Word 2007, Google Docs is much easier. I mean, really, you almost have to take a class in Word '07 to be able to figure out how to use it, and patrons a lot of times struggle with various features of it. Google Docs just seems more user-friendly.

I think the wikis are a great way for library staff to communicate. A good way for members of a specific team or committee to stay in touch without having to schedule meetings and make sure that everyone can attend at the same time. It's a very useful tool, but can also be fun, too!

I had to share this picture!

Oooohh, I just had to post another picture that I found on Flickr. It is the actor Farley Granger, who appeared in many films in the 40s, 50s, and 60s and did some Broadway in the 70s. He is in his 80s now, and still a handsome man. He was in two Hitchcock films, "Rope" and one of my personal favorites, "Strangers on a Train". We have his biography, "Include Me Out", which showcases his talent as a writer, also. I just had to share it with you guys! This photo was taken by P.S.Zollo, and the link is http://www.flickr.com/photos/zollo/657473774/.

Credit where it's due

Oops, I completely forgot to give credit for the beautiful Graceland photo that I posted previously concerning the Flickr exercise. This photo is credited to nicolnightfever, and here is the web site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nicolinightfever/317482674/

Sorry about the omission.

Flickr is Fun, Fun, Fun!

Oh, how I could have used Flickr a couple of months ago! A computer crash left me without many of my precious photos. Had I known of this site, I could have had backup copies someplace else. This really is a fun site to explore. I've already looked at some cool celebrity photos, weather and nature photos (lots of neat tornado pics) and some beautiful cat photos. I am going to try and upload a photo of a place we were at last year at this time...Graceland! This picture is Graceland at Christmas time, which I bet is really beautiful.

I also played around with the trading card feature. I can see my kids liking this one. I made a trading card of two of our "Information Experts". Don't they just look like they're ready to meet all of your information needs?

Shelfari and other fun stuff

Okay, I had already joined Shelfari (thanks, Leslie!), so I was feeling like I was ahead of the game for once! It's neat to see what others are reading or have read, and to see what their favorites are. I guess right now I'm just seeing this site as a fun site for myself to see what others are interested in, and to get ideas of what I might want to read, but to be honest I can do that from Amazon. I guess this might be a good site for book discussion groups to take advantage of. My shelf isn't all that fascinating, but if anyone wants to view some of my favorites, I was able to link my shelf to my blog. I'm so impressed!

I did take a look at the site urbanspoon.com, one of the Web 2.0 award-winning sites. I could get information on local and regional restaurants at this site. I looked at some of the restaurant listings in Louisville. We were just there on Monday and had absolutely no idea where a good place was to eat. We wound up getting back on the interstate and exiting at Corydon to eat at Cracker Barrel. So, I played around on this site and found what some people think are good Louisville eateries. For some of the restaurants there are reviews, you can view their menus online, even pictures of some of the entrees. There are maps of the locations, also. I like the fact that this site lets you view restaurants by area, such as downtown or the medical district, which happened to be where we were this week. So, next time I visit Louisville I will have some idea of places to try. It's pretty neat.

I must say I'm enjoying keeping up with so many of your blogs. It's really interesting, and I'm learning so much from all of you.

RSS Exercise

Wow, learning about RSS and newsreaders has been very cool. I like the idea of having the websites that I frequent come to my computer instead of me having to go out and search all of them individually. Not that I'm such a big web surfer anyway, but I can see this as extremely beneficial for people who try to keep up with lots of different sites.

At this point, I think I would use this technology more in my personal life, rather than for my job. I can follow the news sites that I like, such as CNN, keep up with the celebrity gossip with People.com and follow my friends' blogs. How cool!

I can think of some library users who are really into keeping up with the political scene. I found a link to the US Government RSS Library through www.usa.gov. There are feeds available here for everything government-related. This includes White House news and speeches, consumer feeds including such information as product recalls, health information feeds including National Institute of Health press and news releases, drug recalls, and more. This is just a sample of the type of information that can be delivered to your computer via RSS. I know a few patrons who are avid "weather watchers". Maybe they could get local weather information delivered to their PCs every morning. The possibilities are endless, and it really is addictive!

7 1/2 Habits Exercise

Looking at the 7 1/2 Habits of Lifelong Learners, I feel that for me the easiest habit is to determine my goals, which is Habit #1. Having the end result in mind before I start to work on a goal is generally easy. In fact, sometimes it can be unrealistic, too!

The hardest habit for me is #3, View Problems as Challenges. I tend to feel defeated when challenges arise, and my confidence level bottoms out sometimes. I need to work on viewing those challenges as learning oppportunities, rather than obstacles that are too tough to overcome.

Testing

Okay, I'm testing on my blog!!! Wow, I'm so web savvy already.