Week 9, Thing 23: Summarize your thoughts about this program

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
My favorite sites are (I loved these) librarything, meez, zoho, googledocs, flickr, overdrive, and web2.0 sites.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
I always knew that there are thousands of sites out there that the average person knows nothing about or is afraid to use or try. This exercise got a lot of people to experience just a few of these sites. I think we can all agree that we walked away with some new favorite sites and are more inclinesd to continue to try out new sites in the future. I believe that we also came away with great info that we can pass along to our customers.

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
Yes! However we need to do these with scheduled OFF-desk so as to give the sites/excercises our full attention to get the greatest impact.

Week 9, Thing 22: Learn about Audiobooks

I played around in Project Gutenberg, Overdrive and NetLibrary.

I didn't really like Project Gutenberg. It seemed to be more geared towards non-fiction. As for Netlibrary, they don't have a lot of titles to chose from.

However I did like Overdrive. They have a good variety of fiction and non-fiction for adults, teens and children to chose from. I also noticed that they are offering "CD burning capabilities" for some titles. This is a great feature for someone like me that does not have the proper machines to download to. Yes you might have to wait a little while for a title to become available, but we have to do that now for some "HOT" titles.

Week 4, Thing 9 - Merlin and other useful library sites

I have to admit I didn't find Merlin to be as exciting as I anticipated, but I have enjoyed some of the other newsfeeds I am now perusing on my bloglines page.

I like Feedster for its Google-like qualities. Topix is useful for local news, although I'm not sure when I would ever need to use it.

Week 9, Thing 21

You know, finding a podcast that you actually enjoy is kind of hard to find. Some of the podcasts are staid, dry, and just plain boring. BUT, I did find some that were kinda funny on PodcastAlley.com. Some are just spoofed commmercials and sketches, funny music, and really bad jokes. Just what I like! Seeing as I am a boyscouter, I also found "ScoutingIsOuting Outdoor Camping & Backpacking Showing". I did not listen to the entire podcast but it seems pretty accurate & yet funny too.

All in all, these are ok IF you have lots of time on your hands and nothing better to do with it.

Week 9, Thing 20

First, I just want to say that it very difficult to pick a YouTube clip when you have no sound at the Circulation Desk computers! I could be picking some extremely crude clips to share and not even know it! But don't worry, I still found something funny and un-crude-like to share with you.

The 1st clip is entitled "Wild Turkey clip #1", 2nd clip is "John Pinette "camping". You must have sound to enjoy these!

Week 8, Thing 19

I took my time wading through the long list of award-nominated Web 2.0 sites. I've found a few 'treasures'. Farecast.com was one of my favorites. If you don't have a specific travel date, you can just look at the forecasted rates spanning over the next thirty days! Find a date and a cheap rate, book it and fly! Very convenient.
Realtravel.com was also a good travel site to look at.

Of course, I looked at more library-related sites under the online desktop sites. I imagine that these sites, 'Goowy.com', 'Desktoptwo.com' and 'EyeOs.org', can be used for work at the library.

I really love Librarything.com, zoho.com, googledocs.com!


http://farecast.com/

Week 8, Thing 18 Online productivity tools

I like these MUCH better than on your desk top versions.
With online productivity tools you can create, edit and access saved or new applications from ANY computer vs desk top programs that you can only access those documents from that desktop or you have to download and take disc, jump drive etc with you.

Week 4, Thing 8 RSS Feeds

What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?

If you find a site you REALLY like you can get an RSS feed sent to your blog, email etc. just by clicking and attaching. Some or most update daily. You can delete an RSS feed anytime you want, just click box and Poof... it's gone.

Week 3, Thing 6

Flickr Mash-ups & Third Party Sites

These are a lot of fun. You can create trading cards, dice, montages or just about anything phot related. Most items are free to create, however some require you to pay to get printed... unless you find another way to saveor print, tehehe!!!

Week 7, Thing 17

Learning Libraries Sandbox

Entering/linking your blog on Learning Libraries Sandbox WAS NOT "EASY" as directions implied. It took several staff members to find where to attach the link and several tries to get it to actually link to your blog.

See... I am starting to get frustrated... AGAIN!!! I do not usually let computer things frustrate me BUT this one did.

Week 7, Thing 16

Wikis....

I looked over Bull Run's Library Wiki.

I liked the idea of a wiki for the library. It gives a place for staff and customers alike to post about library happenings. We could link our libary web page, cosmos, things like links to flickr, librarything, or other useful sites, etc to this. Only concern is that someone would need to keep close eye on it to keep accurate information and comments/postings clean.

Week 6, Things 14 & 15

14) Explore Technorati:
Seeing as Halloween is coming up I explored one of the Halloween sites. OMG , what displayed on computer (keep in mind I am at the circ desk) was SOOOOO inappropriate!!! Was a wee bit leery to open anymore sites. It appears to be a site that contains peoples opinions on various subjects. I don't see myself using this site anytime soon.

15) Perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries

I read: Away from the “icebergs”- I really liked the article.. I feel that there is a bit of "the just in case" collectors in all of us. Even thou we are weeding the heck out of the collections , we are still holding onto the Just in cases books. I totally agree that- that might not be for the best. Customers are looking for the latest and the greatest at the library and what services the library can provide.
If it can be found digitally (accurately) lets free up shelf space for other products, whether it be books, Cd's, computers etc... Our library space is Limited, let's find the best ways to utilize it for the customers. They are what keeps use employed.

I really liked the ending quote...
"It’s going to have to happen one library—one little boat—at a time".

Week 5 #12 Rollyo Experience

I'm not too sure if I like this search tool. I feel it may have potential once I figure out it's quirks. It appears that it is like saving your favorites to your computer but rollyo puts all related searches in one rollyo log. My biggest drawback seems to be navigating around rollyo site itself.

Week 3, # 7 Create a blog post about anything Technology-related

I decided to make my posting about librarything. I really like this site. I used librarything and added a post with the books I "have" read and "would like" to read. After doing so I got to thinkin... wouldn't it be nice to have 2 accounts. One for the books I have read, and a second to put books I would like to read. This way I can keep better track of what I am currently reading or waiting to read.

Week 5 , Thing 11

I am trying out LibraryThing to start cataloging the books I have read or am interested in reading. I hoping to get librarything to link up to my blog, hopefully this works out ok. Well ...Here goes nothing...

8/23/2007
I succeeded!!! HOWEVER, I like my books as a html page element better than being just a posting. SO... I have changed the way my librarything it on my blog page.

Week 6, Thing 13

Delicious is OH SO SWEET... I might use it again when i finish 23 things. Don't have the time to dwelve into too deeply at this time.

Week 5, Thing 10

This is my attempt at adding an animated avatar. I used Meez.com as Desi suggested. This sight is way "cool". Most items are "FREE" (my favorite word!) You should check this sight out!!!

Week 3 # 5 : Flickr.com ...waterfall

waterfall_
Originally uploaded by ldydrgfly61

I LOVE WATERFALLS...
This particular picture was taken at Longwood Gardens near Philly. ( I LOVE LONGWOOD GARDENS too!!)

Lifelong learning as I see it...

Recently I have been learning and experiencing quite a few new things that previously I may not EVER have dared to try, let alone do.

Why?

Glad You asked!

As life throws "things" at you...
You have to make a decision:

• a) Do nothing and hope for the best (Yes, doing nothing IS a decision)
• b) Get angry and ask "Why ME?"
• c) CRY... BUT don't let it be your only decision.
• d) React (rather hasty, but we are ALL guilty of this one)
• e) Think it through, and then react.
• f) Think it through, not just with emotions but with facts, and then react.
• g) Pray... If you believe.
• h) ASK for HELP!!!
• i) Learn something new, whether through books, friends, school, Internet.... whatever, just don't give up!!

Sometimes I (all of us) do just one of the above choices and other times we do ALL of the above!

Lately I have found learning new things and being more proactive in my life, I have accomplished more, feel better about myself and saved money to boot!

Most recent accomplishments...
Learned how to (and did) maintenance on my car.

• Changed the oil (filter and all)
• Learned how to jack the car up.
• Change a tire
• plug 2 nail holes in tire (wasn't quite capable of completing on my own just yet, but am willing to attempt again, hopefully I will have enough strength this time)
• changed the brake pads
• changed wiper blades

Why & How did I learn to do all of these things?

My car was starting to need repairs. Money IS tight, so I couldn't go to a shop to get the work done, but I couldn't afford to just ignore the problems. They were not about to go away by themselves and I can not afford to get a new, car so...

What's a girl to do... As a really good friend reminded me:

Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day...

Teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime!

So with that advice in mind...

I asked a few friends to Teach me "WHAT" to do by Telling and Showing BUT NOT doing. Then they guided me as I DID the tasks. What a GREAT sense of accomplishment and Pride that I felt in myself. Another important thing is that I save $$$, but most importantly I gave myself a great big BOOST of SELF CONFIDENCE!!!! That is euphoric!!!

It was Funny when my son helped guide me through changing the oil...

He said, "We should have tried this on my car first". I asked "Why is your's easier?" He laughed, "No... But MY car would be done!"

So...

This brings one question to my mind... What have you done lately to improve your life while learning a new skill???