Thing #19

Podcasts. Thanks to Doctor Who audio adventure produced by Big Finish Productions, I have gained a new appreciation for audio formats.

A good friend of mine, Russ, is a DJ, so I have a passing familiarity with talking on the radio/recording my voice for other people to listen. I think it's a fairly good way to communicate with folks. You can infuse your voice with emotion, unlike e-mail. Also, sarcasm, something I'm fond of, can be conveyed over voice snippets. I think I could get used to podcasts. I subscribed to a Doctor Who podcast, and I subscribed to a podcast by some dudes from England ho I met at Gen Con a few years ago.

All of the podcast directories were pretty easy to use. I joined the podcast.com one, and then added my feeds from that to my Google reader.

I tried the Gcast thing. It was pretty cool. I'll post my podcast a bit later. I'm off to diner now!

Thing #18

Youtube. I have a passing familiarity with youtube. It's great when I want a quick snippet of something to make me chuckle, but other than that, it's kind of, I hesitate to use the word 'useless', but it it fits. Youtube is for fun. That's it.

As far as having it be useful in the library, well, yeah, it's useful for finding fun little snippets to chuckle at.

I had trouble embedding a video (I did figure it out), so instead of a video embedded in this post, you'll notice the video bar at the bottom of my blog. I really like the Sesame Street "No Cookies in the Library" thing. Classic.

I suppose I should mention that RPL has posted some stuff on youtube that could be helpful to patrons. We have a video showing how to use our AMH and a couple other videos on some other stuff, so I guess we have used youtube in a way beyond snippets for chuckles. But I feel chuckle snippets are the majority of youtube's usefulness.

Thing #17

It's a shame that the ELM databases aren't really accessible to all Minnesota libraries. It would have been, I think, a good idea to allow all libraries access without any strings, but who am I to question the powers that be.

Anyway, I tried Net Library. It a resource I've used before, but I took a better look at it this time. It's an impressive and well maintained database. I'm shocked at how many full text books are available. It's astounding the amount of information that can be found online at no cost whatsoever.

When John gets to this thing I might have him create an account and we can try the shared folder challenge. I might revisit this a little later on.

Thing #16

The Assignment Calculator and Research Project Calculator are good tools. The timelines are realistic and the tips are very help. This is the sort of thing that I would have loved had it been around when I was a freshman from college. As it is, I'm not. I could use these tools for my own projects, but the tools are pretty specific to writing projects, and the type of projects I've got on my plate right now don't really fit. When I start school again, I hope I remember these tools. But as I've said before 23 things throws a lot at you, and it can be daunting to try to fold a lot of this stuff into you life. Especially when there's a learning curve nad you already have a system in place.

That said, I am a notorious procrastinator, and these two things may be of particular aid to me in my endeavor to get my library degree. I'm hoping to remember and use these things later. I'll just have to remember to revisit 23 Things in the future.

I don't work with students much here at RPL. Unless they have fines. But if I did, and if those kids were the type of procastinators that I am, I'd recommend these tools. As I mentioned, the tips are good and timeline is realistic.

Good stuff.

Thing #15

Libraries and Gaming. Well, I'm down with the gaming. You may have gathered that from all the Gen Con pictures. I'm old school; I do PNP (that's pen and paper with is the same as table top or TT role playing). I've also delved into the world of the MMORPG (that's massively multi-player online role playing game). I've played City of Heroes, City of Villians, Star Wars: Galaxies and World of Warcraft. I'm still planning WoW (World of Warcraft). There's a guild that's all library folk on one server. I might sign up. Libraryman talks about that here: http://www.libraryman.com/blog/2008/10/29/libraries-and-librarians-world-of-warcraft-guild-update/ . Next time I create a characer I think I'll create one on that server and join. I do a lot of soloing when I play Wow. Mostly because of the times that I'm on. I can't really guarantee that I'll be able to be on at a certain time, which can hinder playing in a roup. Most of the characters I play are in guilds, so I am part of the community and I help people by answering questions and giving advice. I dislike running through the same dungeons with lower level people over and over, so I avoid the common question of "anyone wanna run dm with me?". A friend of mine recently started playing, and my uncle plays, so we might try to get together online a bit. He lives in Colorado now, so it'd be good to get a chance to game with him again.

As far as the games this Thing suggested; I didn't get a chance to try out Second Life, but one of these days I will. I've heard a lot about it and I've even heard it suggested that in the future we'll surf the net via avatars such as the avatars in Second Life. I've heard it suggested that vurtual worlds are a huge possilbity not just for people to get together, but also for advertising and learning. I can see the applications, but I think this sort of thing is in it's infancy right now.

I did try puzzle pirates. It was fun. Not as many bells and whistles as I'm used to, but it was a decent way to kill 20 minutes. I chatted with the other pirates a little and tried sailing. It was a pleasant distraction, but I don't think I'll be trading Azeroth for the world of Puzzle Pirates.

Thing #14

I love Library Thing! I love having my books online. I dig the community of bookish folk commenting on stuff. I just dig the whole thing. I've been using Library thing for oh, 2 years now. I keep track of what I've read, what I want to read, what people have told me to read that I don't have any intention of actually reading, and stuff that I've heard of, would like to read but know I never will. There's a large contingent of Doctor Who book fans and that makes me happy.

Plus, I've used Library Thing to answer reference questions. The tags are great for finding things like Steampunk books or finding books people who like Doctor Who books like, but aren't other Doctor Who books. I saw the Library Thing guy talk at MLA. He was cool. Plus I liked Library Thing for Library's. That seems cool too.

Bottom line: I like this, I use it, it's fun!

Thing #13

Online productivity tools: that's an oxymoron. I have been looking for a good calendar. If 30 boxes synced with my phone, it would be perfect. It does not however. Still there's a chance I'll actually remember that I signed up as in syncs with my Facebook. My Facebook page is really important* to me. I check it probably 5 or six times a year.

I went with both iGoogle page and My Yahoo. Why? Because I already had them. I find both almost completely useless. Almost. I just don't need "my" preference in my face all the time. I'm happy to go out and get my e-mail when I want it as opposed to having a smiley face pop up every time I get a new e-mail. Also, I'm not a big news reader, and the stuff I do care about isn't an option to have on the front of my iGoogle or my My Yahoo page. If I was an Internet junkie, I could see why this stuff would be the hippest hypest, as I'm more of a casual internetter, I just don't find myself gravitating to these tools.

If I was a heavy Internet user these tools good be very useful at home and at work. But I'm not, so they are not.

I do like 30 boxes. Not enough to fold it into my life and spout to all my friends and relations about how much I adore it, but I like it enough that I'll probably use in for at least a week.

I make to do lists ALL THE TIME**, but here's the thing, they need to be quick and portable. As I'm not in the habit of dragging my laptop into Target with me, I find online to do lists unhelpful and cumbersome. A little piece of paper is infinitely more useful to me.

I've tried Lifehacker before and thought it was the bees knees for about a week, then I forgot it existed until now. There's just too much out there. It all gets lost.

I looked at Backpack. All I can say is "No thanks". Perhaps I'm getting full of website and online aps and cool ways to access my information, but as I watched the "How easy it is to make a Backpack page" I found myself rolling my eyes. I think that means it's time to call it quits for the day.

*Italics denote sarcasm

** All caps denotes my being actually serious about this statement. Any statement not in all caps has approximately a 50% chance of being serious.

Thing #12

The Reddit, Mixx, Digg, Newsvine thing is coolish. These site remind me of RSS feeds. Long time readers will remember that I'm not particularly down with RSS. It's just not for me. The same goes for these site. Yeah, it neat that you can vote on articles, and it can be helpful, but it's only helpful if people on the site share interests with you. Sure, I found loads of stuff on gaming on Digg, but not so much on Doctor Who.

As far as being useful, well if you sure tastes with the folks on the site, you'll find the sites immeasurable useful. If not, then not so much.

I did read a few articles because they were on the sites, but any news site I go to I can find an article or 2 to read. Finding stuff to read isn't difficult, finding stuff to read pertaining to my specific interests that I have already read on a site I regularly visit? That a challenge. A challenge that Mixx, Digg, Newsvine and Reddit all failed.

Fun interesting stuff yes, but in a month, I don't think I'll even remember that I created a Dig account.

Thing #11

Delicious is quite cool. I like having my bookmarks wherever I go. Though I have the google tool bar, I haven' really gotten into the bookmark features. For some reason I think I like Delicious more. Don't ask me why, I couldn't tell you. Well, maybe it's because I don't need to have the tool bar app installed to use it. Or maybe it's just that I like the name more. I like having the button right there on my tool bar. That's help. Delicious seems easy to use and fun.

I can see loads of uses for Delicious. It's fun to see what other people have tagged, and it can lead you to some reasources you weren't aware of. Delicious gets a thumbs up from me.

As far as Furl goes, it seems much the same. I like that it saves a cached copy of the original page. Other than that, it seems pretty much the same as Delicious.

Thing #10

Rochester Public Library has a staff wiki that we've been using for quite a while now. While I wouldn't call myself a wiki expert (Brian is our resident expert), I'm pretty good with a wiki. I really like that anyone can update the wiki. That way information can be modified as soon as some one notices in isn't right. Plus if there's only one person who can update something, and he/she is on vacation, it can cause issues.



So yeah, I see loads of applications for wikis. I thinn of wiki's as the "meat" of web 2.0. They are basically collaborative website. I think I'm going to be using the word collaborative a lot from here on out.



Here's a picture of our wiki:

It's blurry I know, but I wanted to show it off a little.

Thing #9

I've been using Google docs for quite a while. I have a professional journal that I keep there and some other stuff. I find it's very useful. Especially when I buy books when I'm out and about. I can update my inventory from anywhere. The zoho stuff looks very similar I'd use it, but I'm already hip deep in google docs. They are both pretty much the same. The only reason I have a preference at all is that I've been using the google docs, as I've mentioned like 5 times before. So, I'll stop.

The founding fathers were all about giving people a voice. I think they would dig collaborative documents and web 2.0 technology in general.

I've already posted a slide show that I created with Zoho. I hope that shows I'm adept enough of the collaborative skills. I've also used a collaborative document tool in "the real world" for the MILE 2009 application. Well, Dora used it and I logged and and thought it was pretty cool.

Thing #8

Slideshows: This is pretty awesome. As the thing description says, it's a great way to have a back up presenation. I can see this being very useful. I'm not a power point guy. Well, I would be if I had to do lots of presentations, but I don't, so I don't use power point much at all.

Oh, and thanks for helping me and John out yesterday Steve!

Picture Trail: I put up a fancy-schmansy picture doohickey. Again, I'm not a picture person really. The only time I take pictures is my annual trek to Gen Con. So that's what you get, my vacayion photos. You're going to get really sick of seeing me dressed like Indiana Jones. If you like pictures, and I know many folks are, picture trail is a cool way to put up pictures. If you're like me, it's something you're not going to be that into.

Lazybase: I checked it out. I already have so many databases I'm not using. If I had a need for a database, this would be a lot more helpful. As I don't, it's just something I'll have some knowledge of so that when, and if, I do need a quick database, I'll have a chance to remember lazybase.

Which brings me to a failing of of 23 things. It's too much! I have to hurry through and I'm not going to be able to retain all the information. I guess I have a bunch of web 2.0 info in one spot and if I ever need a web 2.0 solution, I'll know where to go.

I was going to do the eFolio thing, but that looks like something I'd want to put some time into and actually take some what seriously, so I'm skipping that. Maybe I'll come back to it.

I should add that I use Google docs quite a bit. That's one reason Lazybase wasn't too special for me. I already have easy to access databases, and I just don't feel like recreating them.

Thing #7

E-Mail: I love e-mail. I would have e-mail as my primary means of communication if I could get away with it. I love e-statements from my bank, I love having time think before I reply, and I love that e-mail isn't as invasive as a phone ring. I've had a g-mail account for forever, plus I have a yahoo account. I also have a work e-mail, and I've tried hotmail and about a billion other e-mail services. I dig it.

Instant Messaging: I never got into instant messaging. We do reference via IM here and that's cool, but personally, I never got that into it. I do have a bunch of IM accounts, and thank you Trillian for making them all accessible at the same time. I tried to get into IMing to keep in touch with college friends, but it just never clicked with me.

Texting: I'm loving the texting. Don't ask me why I'm not down with IMing, but I love texting. I get so many little chuckle nuggets throughout the day via text. Just a quick little 150 or less character giggle in my phone. It's great. I can see people wanting reference questions anwered via texting. It's just fun. Plus it's the only way I can keep in touch with my sister.

Webinar: I've attended many webinars. There was somethnig about helping patrons not too long ago, and a some training I've gone to has been via webinar. What I like about webinars is it allows you to get training that you might not have had a good way to get to before. It's convienent, and you get to connect with scads of folks you wouldn't otherwise. The things I don't like are: the technology never seems to work completely right. There's always at least one person who can't hear, or isn't at the right site, or the power goes out, or your mouse catches on fire. Also, it's hard to get your questions answered if there are 100 other folks listening in.

Twitter: I set up a twitter account. I could actually see work application for twitter. You could update where you're at on a project throughout the day, or where you are physically in the building (I do a lot of running around. I'm hardly ever in my office). I might like Twitter. I'm give it a shot and see if it floats my boat

Thing #6

Here's my trading card for Thing #6. I also checked out toondoos, and it was fun. I could spend hours doing this kind of thing, but apart from hours of fun, I'm not sure I'm seeing much that's applicable to the library job as such. I guess you could make fun comics about happenings in the library, but Unshelved is already doing that.

Oh, here's a picture of my tattoo:

This does bring up an interesting issue of rights. My tattoo for instance is obviously a Tardis from Doctor Who. Does this mean the BBC can sue me? And as far as things like Toon Doo or other image sites, they allow you to create things using pictures you've taken. What if those pictures have other folks in them. Do you have to get their premission to use the picture?

Thing #5

Well, I did the Flickr mash-up stuff, and I must say I'm not terribly impressed. It's kind of cool, but not extremely useful. I added a "spell with Flickr" thing of my name on my blog, and I'm pretty happy with it, but bottom line, I'm not seeing a huge use. I know what you're thinking, you're thinking "Uh, it's the Internet, it's not supposed to be useful". And I get that I do, which is why I said "kind of cool*". I'm not saying I hate it, I'm just saying I'm not seeing this stuff being really useful. Other than making cool signs, I'm not really seeing any use at all.

I did put an awesome picture of the Tardis in this post. It's not for any particular purpose, I just thought it was cool. Perhaps in a future post I'll insert a picture of my Tardis tattoo.

*see second sentence

Thing #4

Right, so it's been a while. So long, in fact, most of you probably no longer care about me, or my 23 things achievements. That's fine. I don't need your hollow accolades. Some people though, important people, want me to complete all 23 of these things, so complete them I shall.

In that vein I present Thing #4: Flickr. Flickr is one of those things that I'd already be doing if I felt so inclined; but I don't. And that's mostly because I'm not a picture guy. I don't take a lot of pictures. People who know me might be some what surprised because of my piquant for graphic literature. I'm just not down with all the hassle and fuss of pictures. I'd just as soon remember or forget on my own with out the aid of photographic evidence. If I did decide to become a picture guy, I would most certainly use Flickr. Mos Def, not even any sort of argument. After getting my little self a Flickr account, I'm contemplating changing my whole attitude about pictures. I annually attend a nerdy little shindig called Gen Con in Indianapolis. I believe I may create an online album for my all of my lovely Gen Con photos.

As far as Flickr and Libraries go, I think it's a great idea. People are visual creatures. They like to see stuff. Having a bunch of photos of events and stuff going on at the library, that's a great idea. Showing people the library's success is a terrific thing. People need to see how awesome libraries are and Flickr is a great tool to do just that.

Thing #3 RSS

Right, well, RSS, what can I say about RSS? I've been using bloglines for a year or so now, and It's okay. I got myself a google reader account for this here 23 things, and it, like bloglines, is okay.

I guess I haven't found the awesomeness inherent in RSS yet. I'm just not hip to the RSS jive. Perhaps I don't read enough web stuff on a daily basis. Or perhaps I get overwhelmed seeing all the stuff accumulating on my RSS readers. But I just don't like it. I've said before that I dig the web 2.0 stuff, and I really do, just not RSS. It's far easier for me to just go to the web sites I want to look at. Maybe if Marvel comics new web comics had a way to read full issues through RSS I'd be more down with the RSS craze. If smalljoes.com could update me when they get the 25th anniversary gold headed Destro back in stock through RSS, I'd chuckle with glee at the prospect. As it is, RSS is somethnig I've got going on, but don't have a whole lot of use for. Who knows what the future holds though.

I think it's a great way to push out a library newsletter, or to let patrons know when new stuff comes in.

Work

Chuck, the 23 things stuff, and this blog in general, it's FOR WORK. Those people commenting, those are my colleagues. But thanks for noticing.

Back on Top!

Hah! I'm back on top baby! Take that 3 Dogs! You and your canine shenanigans have been officailly put in your place. My pervasive awesomeness has again propelled me to #1.

Oh, and I'm a cat person.

Also, 3 Dogs, I'm much friendlier in person. Still, I'll give you one free shot. Just not in the face and nothing below the belt.

Thing #2

Blast! 3 dogs has over taken me! What a crushing blow to my delicate ego! I'll get you 3 Dogs, and you little dogs too! HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! (Actually, I won't so if anything happens to 3 dogs or 3 dogs' dogs, it wasn't me. Send to cops elsewhere)

Okay, Library 2.0. I dig this stuff, I do. I really do. I just want to say that now. I think the importance of Web 2.0 technologies is overstated. Which is fine. I'm down with hyperbole, but some times I feel that the skewed and overly enthusiastic rhetoric causes quite the backlash. And, oh, how sick I am of phrases like "Obviously, the milleninels won't think or care about libraries if libraries aren't using (fill in the blank with IM, RSS, Wiki, MySpace really whatever you'd like)". Which is quite odd considering everything I've read about Gen Y says if they want something they'll take it any way they can get it. Also, in looking at the numbers, here at RPL at least, every year our circ goes up. I see plenty of milleniels walking through the doors too. I know I'm starting to sound crumudgeonly, and I apologize, I don't mean to. I guess the bottom line for me the the customer service part of the Library 2.0 philosophy. I believe that is the most important part of the library 2.0 movement. That being said I don't think that customer service is a fundemental shift in what we're already doing.

I think web 2.0 stuff is cool and fun. I don't think it's life changing. I think the 23 things training is great because it introduces people to web 2.0 stuff. Also, It lets folks know that things change. I think learning to embrace change, no matter what that change is, is far more valuable than checking out MySpace. And I think 23 things is a great way to show people some cool stuff and hopefully show they why it's important to stay flexible.

Does anyone remember Friendster? It was sort of pre-MySpace social networking. Web 2.0 stuff will change. Change is inevitable.

Also, I think marketing and letting people know the value of a public library is more important than having a blog. I think libray folks forget that not everyone is aware of everything libraries do.

I know, I'm ranting but that's what blogs are for, right?

Thing #1 Plus

I added an element to my blog. That's one of the challenges I believe.

I also haven't mentioned how blogs can help libraries. I think it would be a cool way to do reader's advisory.

I noticed my blog is still the first blog on the SELS list. I with take that to mean I am awesome. And if my blog continues to be the first in the list I will take it to mean that I am the greatest. Thank you for your support.

Thing #1.5: Avatar

Well, that's thing one complete for me. I think I might try some of those fancy challenge type things tomorrow.

Thing #1

Okay, thing #1. I found this blog very easy to set up. I'm having a little trouble creating an Avatar from work, but I'll take ten minutes and do it at home rather than spend an hour and a half trying to do it here. I like blogger. I think I've used blogger before. The templates are just fine. No complaints here. I'm hoping to complete Thing #1 by sundown.

Blog-ity Blog Blog, Blog-ity Blog

Hooray, I've completed part of my first thing on a stick. If anyone from outside of that little training group reads this, she or he will have no idea what I'm talking about. Double Hooray!