Thing 14 - Podcasts

Through the 'Library Success Wiki,' I accessed a couple of podcasts through the WSU Libraries. The first one was from the Geology Library - basically, a 25 minute recording of a class with two instructors discussing how to find and evaluate information on historical geology. The class had papers to look at which, of course, I did not have. (These papers were referred to and rustled almost continuously.) The acoustics were terrible. This was a good example of what not to do in creating a podcast. The second selection was just two and a half minutes on the basics of "how to select search terms for more effective searching of library catalogs, indexes, and the internet." This one was worth the 'listen.' It was succinct. It was geared to an audio audience. The words were clearly enunciated, the voice well modulated. Both of these podcasts were audio only.



Browsing the 'Learn Out Loud' podcast directory, I selected a podcast on a Spanish lesson on 'Rolling R's.' I was really looking forward to maybe picking up some new techniques on teaching someone this not-so-intuitive skill. Instead, I got 'Negative Tu Commands.' Later, I realized that 'Rolling R's' is the name of the website/company of the person who created this podcast and, to see more than a 'free sample,' you must become a member and pay for the subscription to his podcasts. This sample had both audio and video.



In the podcast directory 'Podcast Alley,' I found under 'Education: Learn Jazz Piano' the UK website of Paul Abraham. This was audio only but was very easy to follow probably due to wonderful acoustics and his lovely accent. I added this podcast to my Google Reader.



I have listened to podcasts for years; however, I don't have any experience with creating podcasts. I do prefer audio-video podcasts over audio-only podcasts. I do strongly believe that this would be a useful tool for Sno-Isle Libraries. However, with the number of ESL patrons, young patrons and patrons who are intimidated by computers, I think that instructional podcasts that include video as well as audio would be the most successful. These podcasts could answer common computer use questions, show how to make an advanced search in the catalog, and demonstrate how to use our databases (and that they even exist!).



Now, for a cup of tea...Constant Comment sounds about right...

Thing 13 - Online Image Generators

Here's my monopoly card. Finally! (I had so many windows open that everything was moving at such a snail's pace until my computer finally 'froze' - in defiance, I suppose.)

Working with online image generators is definitely 'playtime.' Nice to know about a website (http://www.customsigngenerator.com/) with so many possibly useful links.

Thing 12 - OverDrive Downloads

I can understand why this media form is becoming so popular. Once the OverDrive Media Console software is downloaded onto your computer, and after any updates and glitches are worked out with all the hardware, the process of actually 'checking it out' from the library is fairly simple. (And, you don't have to worry about renewals and returns - because there aren't any!) However, since most people don't want to be tied to their computers to listen to a book, or spend the money burning to disc something that they won't want to use more than once, if you can't download to a MP3 or IPod, there probably won't be much continuing interest. (Playaways have been popular with those patrons who have discovered them on our shelves and either don't want the hassle of a double download or don't own a MP3 player. They also have the added advantage of being able to speed up, or slow down, the delivery - without distorting the voice.)

It is important to note that not all MP3 type devices work with this technology. Ray Eads mentions in a comment to the 'Thing 12' blogpost, that besides checking OverDrive's compatable player list, " 'Plays for Sure' branding is a good sign that the player will work, too." Definitely something to double-check before buying a new MP3!

I agree with many of you. I prefer to read, rather than listen to, a book. One reason that I keep my King County Library card is that I can download books to read on my PDA. (Yes. Yes. I know. The screen is small. But, it's amazing what you can get use to. I like to have something to read with me at all times and so, after downsizing from a briefcase, I've found that the PDA works for me. It's also great for camping trips - no more contortions holding a flashlight with my chin!)

One of the convenient possibilities in the Digital Media catalog is the ability to create a "My Wish List" - items selected for future downloads. This would be good to have in our Traditional catalog, as well.

Years ago, we used to enjoy listening to 'Mystery Theatre' on the radio during long cross country drives. Preparing for a trip by downloading some of our OverDrive titles might be a nice way to recreate that experience.

For this lesson, I tried a new (for me) kind of download. I downloaded an IMAX video to a laptop with a wireless connection. Since the file was 200+ Mb, it took much longer than the book and music downloads I've done. Connecting the laptop to a TV with a video/monitor cable, the family was able to watch it together in the comfort of our family room. Not quite the IMAX experience at the Seattle Science Center - but a lot easier to fit into multiple schedules.

All in all, this is a great service - particularly for those people who want additional music downloads, want to study a language or have a long commute.

Thing 11 - Social Bookmarking in Del.icio.us

After listening to everyone's favorable comments about Del.iciou.us, I have been looking forward to this lesson. I love to discover new 'tips & tricks' for organization.

I decided to search Del.icio.us for a particular counted cross stitch pattern for a floral ABC sampler that I remembered seeing in a magazine. I found that the search worked better if I used fewer words than I'm used to with a Google search. I also found that tags need to be one word and that I could find 'cross stitch' as either 'crossstitch' or 'cross-stitch' but also as 'crossstitching.' The 'Related Tags' list helped. Most of my searches sent me to personal or store blogs. One interesting search sent me to 'Free Cross Stitch Database' - a blog in Italian whose headings and tags were in English. (There was also a quirky music video in Italian on its front page, YouTube style, that had nothing to do with cross stitch.) I never did find what I was looking for. However, when I did the search on Google, I found exactly what I was looking for in both the third and fourth sites listed.

After setting up an account on del.icio.us, I imported my list of favorites and started to add my own tags. (Having over 400 bookmarks in my favorites, it's going to take me a long time to complete the tagging process. Right now it's easier to find them in the folder system that I already have set up.) I placed a button for Delicious on my browser toolbar and edited it so that it wouldn't take up so much space. I tried to add a link to my del.icio.us account on my blog but could not get it to work. (I got responses that said "broken" or "contains illegal characters.") I guess I'll need to talk with one of our techs about what I might be doing wrong.

I think that this could be a great tool for anyone who uses more than one computer. Librarians, students, travelers...anyone needing access to previous researched and bookmarked websites would enjoy this flexibility. Unfortunately, my search in Del.icio.us did not save me time or yield better results than my Google search. This was a disappointment. (Maybe I'm just more familiar with Google and would need more experience with Del.icio.us.) I do feel that the tagging system could be a good substitute for the file card system of research - at least for online resources.

Now, back to that tagging...and many, many more cups of tea!

Thing 10 - Wiki Wiki Fun!

Wiki may mean fast, or quick, in Hawaiian but this lesson was neither for me. I followed every link and explored them with gusto! I found myself wishing over and over again that these tools had been available to me over the last 20-30 years in my secondary career as a professional volunteer. (I have been familiar with Wikipedia for some years but have never attempted to edit those pages in any way. If fact, I have always held a certain amount of skepticism about some of its content.) I had no idea that all those other wikis existed.

One of the truly exciting aspects of wikis is how user friendly they are. (Besides the costs associated with creating a website for a small organization, there is also the need for someone to have some very good programming skills in order to edit and keep it current. Not so with wikis.) The Common Craft and PB Wiki Tour videos nicely demonstrated ease of use and the possibility of time savings. Setting up a wiki to plan a conference, or other event, and for shared editing of documents just sounds almost too good to be true. I found that you can not only limit access to the wiki itself but you can also limit who actually can 'edit' on the wiki. In addition, each document edit is saved.

I have no doubt that libraries could benefit from using wikis for planning events, creating written procedures and collecting agenda items for meetings. In our current economic situation, both libraries and schools could benefit the public (and save time) by creating directories, or pathfinder wikis, for jobs and scholarships - which might require daily updates by various agencies.

I look forward to checking out www.wikimatrix.org in more depth before organizing my next event. Now to enjoy an investigation of 'Wiki Farms' vs 'DIY Wikis' with that cup of tea!

Entertaining YouTube Videos

Here is a rare mute monk order, from Molalla Oregon, performing the Hallelujah Chorus. It's all in the choreography!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HkXmOIwpkQ

Then, there's a five year old doing DDR (Dance, Dance Revolution). I can only dream...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JzcqALklRs

(I tried and tried to get the video to 'embed' but could never get it to work.)

Thing 9 - YouTube, Hulu and Fancast (Streaming Video)

I enjoyed viewing, once again, Sno-Isle Libraries' "A Wild Time at the Library" on YouTube. I also searched for book trailers and book reviews. These provide a great forum for students. Unfortunately, most videos on YouTube are not dated and the quality varies significantly.

I sure wish that YouTube had been around when my children were in school. It would have been so very convenient to be able to post videos of music concerts (and other programs) to share with parents and/or family that were unable to attend.

As a Comcast customer, I have been familiar with Fancast for some time now. Since I definitely don't stay current with the new shows on television, I enjoy having the opportunity to check out what everyone is talking about and/or to 'catch up' on a series - on my own schedule. (I also go directly to television networks - particularly, those that are not in my cable bundle. This means that someone could view many programs without having to subscribe to - and pay for - cable TV. You would, however, need a high speed internet connection.) I look forward to checking out Hulu and its offerings of full-length feature films. (For those who don't want to watch TV on their computer, there is a 'monitor cable' that will connect your computer to your television.)

Would any of these sites be useful for libraries? Absolutely. YouTube has already provided us with a fun advertising tool. Being in the information business, it's important that we know that these resources exist and what they can and cannot offer.

Thing 8 - Facebook

Having explored MySpace, Facebook, LinkedIn and Eons, I created an account in Facebook. Boy, did they have a lengthy 'Terms of Use Policy!' And...I could not access most of their 'Help' pages without first creating an account.

I know that my children have enjoyed these social networking websites for years and that electronic communication is our future - if not already our present. Any discomfort that I'm feeling right now with these initial forays into these (new for me) technologies, I'm trying to equate with those feelings I have with every move I've had to make in my life. (And there have been many of those!) The unknown can be very scary. However, there are so many wonderful people and memorable experiences that I would have never known had I not made those moves that I realize that I will look upon these present explorations as the exciting springboard to a future that I could never have imagined.

(Photo of walrus - a face only a mother could love - taken 14 February 2009 at the Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, Tacoma, WA.)

Thing 7 - Flickr Fun Photosharing

I enjoyed taking the 'Tour' on Flickr. I particularly like their 'Organizr' and 'Geotagging' options. Since the free version is limited to an upload of 100MB a month, someone who takes a lot of pictures (or who wants to upload and organize a lifetime of pictures), would soon need to upgrade to 'Flickr Pro Service' - their paid subscription for unlimited storage among other services.

Hotmail has a similar service called Photo Gallery. It may not have some of the same organizational options as Flickr but it does give you 25 GB of free storage. You can also share other files and documents. I've heard that Comcast has added something like this, too, fairly recently. I'm sure that they keep tabs on one another. Isn't competition wonderful?!

I can see many wonderful possibilities with these online photo storage and sharing sites - particularly if they remain free. I think that I've accessed Flickr (or was it Shutterfly) to view wedding photos. We could even select the ones we wanted to have printed. Nice service. Faster than the old-fashioned way which was also not as much fun for the out-of-towners.

By the way, I have uploaded a picture using Blogger's photo upload tool. It was taken by my husband, Steve, from the mess hall's deck at the Walla Walla Marine Station just north of Deception Pass State Park. Yes, I'm there enjoying the sunset - sipping a nice hot cup of tea.

Peace of Mind

I've discovered a little peace of mind. I've found that I can access FAQ before I register at a new site. By having some of my questions answered, many before I even know to ask them, I'm feeling much better about opening all these accounts. I often get tips about which boxes to mark (or de-mark) to provide the most security for my personal information.

Thing 6 - Pandora and Streaming Music

Well...I agree with all of you. I love Pandora! I love listening to music while sewing and, even though I have all of our CD's (2,000+) loaded into the Windows Media Player on the computer in my sewing room, I really like finding new artists and being able to quickly find out who they are without having to wait for, or miss, an announcement by the radio DJ. And no verbal ads to try to ignore!

I can see that I will be 'Creating New Stations' in the near future to accommodate my many moods.

Now for a little more Michael Buble and a cup of tea! (Where's that sunset?!)

Thing 5 - RSS and Feed Readers

Wow! I was surprised that when I went to the google.com/reader website for the first time, I was already set up and the blogs that I am following from my blog were already listed! (I noticed later that on my blogger.com dashboard, under Tools & Resources, I can access Google Reader. Obviously, when we set up one account, it automatically sets up and coordinates all sorts of links.)

I eventually successfully added three RSS feeds (Unshelved, The Shifted Librarian, and CNN's Health RSS) to both my google reader account and to my internet home page. I must say that it was easier to add them to my Comcast home page and that I will most probably access them from that location instead of from my blog or other google site. I, however, quickly found that most of the websites that I initially tried to 'track,' weren't set up for RSS. (These were all sites having to do with fabric - fabric manufacturers, small independent pattern companies, individual fabric stores.) I also searched through 'Technorati' with a few key words of interest but found that the blogs were about other topics - they just happened to contain one of these words.

I appreciate that I am becoming educated in these new technologies and I will get faster at finding and retrieving the information that I'm seeking, however, I am reminded of an article I read a few years back about the machines we now use in housekeeping. Evidently, we now spend more time washing clothes than people did before the invention of the washing machine!

Anyway, I really liked the YouTube Video "RSS in Plain English" from the Common Craft Show people. It really is a good initial overview of RSS. I'm a visual learner and I found their simple drawings memorable. I also really liked their analogies.

Blog Page Additions

You may notice a few additions to my blog. I have been searching the internet for a free picture to download but was hesitant to use one from a site at which I would have to 'register' - particularly since they also sell their pictures. (One wrong click and who knows what kind of bill I could receive. Wasn't ready for that!) Anyway, I was doing some research/reading on the Wikipedia site and, thinking I was just clicking on a photo to enlarge it, found that there is a sister site named Wikipedia Commons that you can just 'right click and save' photos and other media. No registration or passwords necessary. Sweet!

I've also been perusing the gadget files that are easily linked to through our blog 'Layout' page. There are literally thousands of them! Very easy to add but, unfortunately, many, if not all, also end up with an ad attached. Bummer!

Thing 4 - Instant Messaging

I have now set up IM and invited all of you 'followers' to be on my Buddy List. It was quite exciting to find Serious Sue online (and logged into IM!) just after launching Google Talk and accepting her invitation to be added to her Buddy List. We had a nice little conversation through IM but fairly quickly decided that we'd rather continue via telephone.



This is not my first experience with IM. When my son was travelling alone abroad a few years ago, and I was his secretary & accountant, this was a handy way to communicate. There were even a few internet cafe computers with cameras so that I could actually see that he was OK! (Moms and their worries.) My daughter shares an office with five other people and encourages me to IM her so that she doesn't have to leave the office to have a (out loud telephone) conversation.



I could see a real benefit to this IM thing at the information desk of our library. When one reference desk librarian can't reach another reference desk librarian by phone, they might be able to IM their question and a response could be posted without disturbing the patron that is currently being served.



In following a link to a blog that I found in the comment section of this lesson, I read about how the Topeka Shawnee Library added a Meebo Widget to unsuccessful keyboard searches in their library catalog. Interesting.



I'll have to check out Meebo... but after that next cup of tea...

Thing 3 - Progress Log

OK. I've checked out the Progress Log and have decided to save it to my Web 2.0 folder just in case Rozella can't access it to check our progress - since the 20 for 2.0 Team won't be using this information to read our posts.

And away we go!

This was amazingly simple. I can hardly wait to see the faces of my kids when they find out that I have a blog!

Now to peruse all the tabs, check out some other possibilities and have another cup of tea!