Week 9, Thing 23: Summary

I have really enjoyed participating in 23 Things and have learned a lot about web2.0. 23 Things has reminded me how true it is that you learn by doing. You had to actually had to do the activites yourself. In a workshop, (even in a good hands-on workshop) if you get stuck, there is just not time to figure it out or stop for help, so you end up faking it or just watching others. Reading and learning about a topic is just not the same as putting it to use. There is that sense of accomplishment when you figure out how to do something that you've struggled with for a while. It was fun talking with other staff members about 23 Things and I feel an excitment about putting some of tools to work for our library. This was a great way to learn. I would definitely like to participate in another similar program.

Week 9, Thing 22: Downloadabel Audiobooks

I got an MP3 player for Christmas last year and wondered why I waited so long. I love listening to books while I'm exercising or cleaning the house. I have a cheap one without a bookmarking feature so it is easier to listen to Overdrive titles that download in parts in case I push the wrong button and lose my place. But, I do download NetLibrary titles if it's something I really want to listen to. I am hoping that Recorded Books works something out with Apple, so that we can listen to their books on Ipods (not for me, but for all those Ipod owners).

Week 9, Thing 21: Locating Podcasts

I was not able to listen to the podcasts found in Podcast.net without downloading a plugin. I had no trouble in Podcast Alley and Yahoo Podcasts. When I worked part-time I used to be able to listen to NPR's Fresh Air on the way home from work. Now that I am full-time I miss it, especially the book reviews and interviews with authors. I found NPR: Books in Podcast Alley and Yahoo Podcasts which includes interviews on Fresh Air and subscribed to it. I went to the NPR site and also subscribed to NPR: Book Tour, NPR: Selected Shorts (story time for adults) and NPR: Technology. There are so many ways libraries could use Podcasts, from staff training to programming for patrons.

Week 9, Thing 20: YouTube

Labuto Library Project
This is a very touching video about a library for homeless AIDS orphans in Lusaka, Zambia. I lived in Zambia for a year as a teenager and would like to go back some day.

I can think of many applications for videos on our website. I don't think we need YouTube to do this. Would the advantage of putting it on YouTube be a larger audience?

Week 8, Thing 19: Web 2.0 Awards List

I had fun playing around with several Web 2.0 sites on the "short list." I would like to try mailemotion at home with my webcam to e-mail a video. I also want to use BackPack more to see if it would be helpful with my "to do lists." I created a FaceBook account so I could see if I could get Kristin and Sarah to be my friends so that I could see their facebook page. I didn't get very far with it.

Week 8, Thing 18: Online Productivity Tools

I opened my Google Doc account and found 2 documents already there. They were Word attachments that were sent to me in my gmail. Maybe I opened them in Google Doc? Other word attachments were not there. I have seen this other Google stuff in my gmail account but have not paid much attention to it. I'm glad to know more about it. I think I will start using the Google Calendar. I never really wanted to use the Microsoft Office Calendar because I couldn't get to it from home, but I can get to this Google one at home or work. (Do I still need my paper planner/calendar for when I'm other places? I think so.) I wonder why the list of productivity tools didn't include OpenOffice. Or is OpenOffice just a name for all these web based tools? If you know, let me know. I also wonder if college kids can use these tools in college rather than buying Office for their laptop. Would the professors have trouble opening the docs? Would there be any complications? This has been fun. I wrote this post in Google Doc and posted it to my blog.

Week 7, Thing 17: Learning 2.0 Sandbox Wikis

In the Maryland Library Sandbox Wiki I added a favorite book on the page "What I'm Reading." I doesn't really seem right to make changes to a page another person wrote. For example, My Favorite Places in Ohio is no longer her list of favorites if other people add to it. I was interested to read that someone made a Wiki that is a list of things to do. I know you can keep the Wiki private, but why would you put your list of things to do in a Wiki? Is it easier to get to, edit??