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.