Thing #23: Finishing up

In addition to learning some new tools, I've also changed my impression of social media. Previously, I would have dismissed social media as not for me--or for young adults. However, I loved the Flickr activity and plan to use it soon in my job. I've also enjoyed Ning and can see the value in joining a social media site that's the right fit. I'm still working on my attitude about blogs--there's just too much filtering that you need to do to find relevant content.

One thing that would have helped me is if I had a co-worker who was doing this program at the same time. I was the only one in my library participating in 23 Things. I would have enjoyed sharing ideas with my work group.

If it's possible to get a print-out or PDF of 23 Things on a Stick, I'd use that to review and revisit the websites and tools.

Thank you for setting up this program! I'm signing off now...

Thing #22: Keeping Up with Web 2.0

Here it is--I'm committing to keeping current with Web 2.0 developments and using some of the tools. Here's are some things I'll be doing:

--I've subscribed to feeds for "The Shifted Librarian" and "Information Wants to Be Free"
--I'm trying to browse our subscription to Information Today's Information Advisor, as frequently it has Web 2.0 information.
--I'm seeking opportunities to learn from others. One of my co-workers is using De.li.cious -- I need to have lunch with her or take the time to learn what she's doing and how it's working
--I've convinced my work group that we need to start a Wiki in our special library for our resource guides; my co-worker is our technical expert is eager to work with me on this
--We're putting our print collection on a new WebOPAC and as part of the launch I'm planning on setting up a virtual tour on Flicker of the library collection and the catalog (in addition to a physical open-house--many of our users are in different buildings)
--I have bookmarked the Web 2.0 Directory at home and at work
--I hope to continue using Ning. Someone invited me to be a friend yesterday!

Here are other resources that might be useful:

American University - Center for Social Media (in their School of Communication) (Note: I still can't get the hotlinking to work)
http://www.centerforsocialmedia.org/



A blog that was featured in The Information Advisor is one by JP Rangaswami, the managing director of design at British Telecom (BT) in the UK. Here's the URL:
http://confusedofcalcutta.com/

I checked out his blog and it seemed to be more about music than Web 2.0, but maybe I needed to go back to his archived posts. (That's the problem with blogs, I think--you need to do too much filtering.)

Thing #21: More Social Networks

This attitude has helped change my mind about social networking sites. I always thought they served a purpose but were not for me. I enjoyed viewing Ning and posting a comment to another 23 Things member.

Here's the link to the Ning badge--unfortunately, I can't hotlink as my PC settings have prevented me from doing this (and I can't figure out how to change them):

http://23thingsonastick.ning.com/main/embeddable/list

I also enjoyed the Steve Campion, Pierce County Library article, especially his closing comment: "The library is already a community space. Let's make the social web a new reading room." Although I work in a special library and not a public library, I think we could use social networking in my group to keep connect our employees with resources--perhaps just by starting simple with comments on books that our employees have enjoyed.

I also looked at What's on My Bookshelf and Good Reads. I think I'll join Good Reads. I can always use more recommendations on new titles.

Thing #20: Social Networks

I haven't been a user of social networks probably because I'm middle-aged and old school. But after looking at some of the resources, specifically MySpace and Hennepin County Libraries MySpace pages, I can see practical applications for social network sites in libraries.

Meredith Farkas' column, Libraries in Social Networking, was extremely helpful. I appreciated her comments that libraries should implement technologies not because they're cool but because they serve a specific purpose; further, these technologies should be useful to patrons "where they are" (i.e. in social networks).

I don't think I will personally use a social network; but there's the possibility of using social networks in a special library setting--maybe in these ways: a) connect users who are reading the same book (online book clubs), b) use the social network to elicit suggestions for books purchases (as one library did in one of 23 Things Resources for this Thing), c) others??

I completed an MLIS degree through a distance education, online program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee a few years ago. We all had personal webpages and connected through email, online CHAT, etc., but a social network would have been very helpful. It was hard to keep in touch with other students after each semester ended. Participating in social network would have been helpful in building an ongoing community. I suspect I might have built lasting friendships through a social network vehicle, instead of forming short-term friendships each semester.

Thing #19: Podcasts

I didn't realize that a podcast is "distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added." I also assumed that you had to download a podcast to an MP3 player to listen to it--didn't know that many were offered via streaming audio on the Web. Good information!

I found podcast.net to be the easiest directory to navigate, but my favorite content sources are National Public Radio and Minnesota Public Radio. I added a few podcasts to my Google Reader page from these sources: Garrison Keillor's The Writer's Almanac, a grammar podcast, and a new classical music podcast. I also downloaded the latest Car Talk podcast to my MP3 player. Now I can enjoy Car Talk when I'm not in the car.

Here's a nice podcast from Minnesota Public Radio titled "Letting Go." It's about sending your child off to college.
http://download.publicradio.org/podcast/minnesota/podcasts/hows_the_family/2008/02/02082008_family_64.mp3

Sorry, I can't hotlink directly--my computer is blocking this feature and I can't figure out what setting to change to enable hotlinking.

Here's my MP3 player, a Creative Zen MicroPhoto. I've tried out several MP3's and this one has a bookmark feature that works well--a necessity for e-audiobooks:

Thing #18: YouTube & online video

I'm a regular YouTube user for searches at work. We search for ads, competitor products, or user-created content about our products.

Here are two videos that I'd like to share:
Snowboard video:

This is a video my son created. It's 3 minutes long, so you may not want to watch the entire video. If you look closely, you'll see my son--he's the one wearing a helmet! (He had a concussion earlier this season which convinced him--finally--that he really should wear a helmet.) Note to parents of young boys: it only gets harder to keep boys safe as they get older.





Coke and Mentos video:

I've seen this a few times in various company meetings. It's an example of "consumer-created content." It's also long (3 minutes) so feel free to skip through it to see the ending.



This is great that it is so easy to share a video in a blog.

Thing #17: ELM Productivity Tools

I hadn't used the folder options in ELM before, so this was a helpful introduction. However, I rarely use ELM at work, as we have our own subscription databases, so I don't think I'll use any of the productivity tools at my special library.

I'm a frequent NetLibrary user for e-audiobooks but haven't used the Favorites & Notes option before. I will probably take advantage of this for my personal use. I'm also thinking about the possibility of customizing a NetLibrary account for my library, so I may be able to use the Favorite & Notes utilities in this setting.

If you enjoy e-audiobooks, here are some that I've liked:

Thing #16: Assignment & Research Calculators

What great tools! Although I think I have a mental map for doing a research paper/project, I could have used these tools when I was a library science student (just a few years ago). I love how the University of MN site links the student to their catalog, etc.

Right now, I'm not sure that these tools will be something I can use in a corporate library. But nonetheless, they were worth the time to preview them.

Thing #15: Online Games & Libraries

From the Sirsi Dynix Institute's Teen Second Life: Library Services in a 3D world with Kelly Czarnecki of The Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County PowerPoint presentation:

What do you see as the biggest barrier to working with a virtual environment?

Answers (partial):

"Don't see this as related to library services/my job"
"Barrier? No way, I'm in!"

I would fall into the first answer above, but this Thing, particularly the PowerPoint presentation referenced above, has helped me to better accept and appreciate virtual worlds. A couple of the key take-aways from the PowerPoint are:

"Many teens want to contribute; not just consume."
"[The] teens we work with on a regular basis aren't frequent bricks/mortar library users."

Both of these comments are relevant to my company and my job. I'm in a special library in a consumer goods company. Consumers want to actively participate in product design/development (co-creation). This includes not only the external customers for our company products, but also our internal customers/clients/patrons who want and need to be consulted about our library products and services.

With regard to the second response above, most of my clients don't want to walk into my library. They want digital content; they want it easily available and searchable on their desktops and they want their own custom view.

That said, I'm not sure how or if I could use a virtual world within my library, but this Thing makes me more open-minded about the possibility of considering that option.

Thing #14: LibraryThing

Loved this activity! LibraryThing is another Web 2.0 tool I've heard about but have never used. In keeping with the tagline of my blog ("3 birds"), I decided to catalog my bird and nature field guides. It gave me a chance to take every book down from my "birdwatching shelf" (a dedicated shelf in my kitchen), clear away the dustballs and reacquaint myself with some old friends. I found a field guide on New Zealand birds that I'd forgotten that I had. And no, saddly I haven't been to New Zealand. My father-in-law went there and brought the field guide back for me. Some day.... New Zealand is supposed to be a birdwatching paradise.

Here's a link to My Library. Sorry, I can't get this to hotlink.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/gwolfson

And here's a picture of one of my field guides, in case you don't get to My Library:



I noticed that Library Thing has a upload link and allows uploads in various formats (XML, etc). I'm thinking about the possibilities of using this at work. One of the things that's most intriguing is the possibility of adding user-defined tags to standard library subjects. In my job as a special librarian, it's clear to me that our users want content defined the way that they search. We have numerous requests to create custom webpages for various user groups, or to duplicate links from our electronic library to a different format that users are more comfortable with. There's a tension between being productive (i.e. not duplicating efforts with multiple views) versus being flexible and responsive to users.

I've read (maybe on the 23 Things website) that OCLC is exploring user-tags. If anyone is using a combination of standard subject classification and user-defined tags in your library catalog, I'd love to hear about it.

Thing #13: Productivity Tools

I struggled with this Thing--lots of details and ideas, but nothing I could grab on to and use. Lots of clutter on some of these websites (Remember the Milk is a prime example).

I had set up a custom startpage on iGoogle previously, so I did not do this again. I just upgraded to Internet Explorer version 7 a couple of weeks ago and noticed today (after doing this Thing), that my custom startpage is gone. Funny, I didn't miss it.

I don't think I'd use the online calendars, as my company and work group run on Outlook.

It'd be nice to find a to-do list that helped. I've used the Tasks on Outlook, but don't find them useful. I've resorted to a handwritten daily to-do list or a yellow sticky on my PC monitor for urgent items. I guess I still like paper and pencil for a lot of things.



I'll be interested in reading the other blogs on this topic, as my 23 Things colleagues may help me find the jewels among these productivity tools.

Thing #12: Social Media Sites

Well, I nearly fell asleep during the tour of Mixx. Sometimes I wonder if the people who are tagging all of these articles have more free time than I do... Newsvine caught my interest, however as I liked the fact that it has Associated Press newsfeeds. I registered on this site and tagged the fascinating article on Obama in the Senate from the March 9th New York Times.

I've always felt that Senators-turned-presidential-candidates can be at a disadvantage to other candidates (Governors, etc.) as Senators can be skewered by their voting record. This article speaks to this issue and also gives a good critique of Obama's record in the Senate.

I tried to add a link to the New York Times article from March 9th, but for some reason, it's not working even though I unblocked pop-ups.

Thing #11: Tagging and Del.icio.us

I've heard of Del.icio.us before but have never looked at it or used it. While it seems like a good idea on the surface, my current bookmarking function using Internet Explorer Favorites generally works pretty well. Maybe it'd be more useful in a collaborative setting such as in my work group (rather than on my home PC).

The ability to make your bookmarks portable by logging in to your Del.icio.us site from any computer is a great feature, though. Maybe I'll try shifting my work PC bookmarks over to Del.icio.us gradually. The tagging feature would be helpful--especially for websites that I see infrequently.

Thing #10: Wikis - Exciting!

I've looked at Wikipedia before, so the concept of wikis isn't new. But after editing the Messed-up Classics and looking at the resource links, I think this is the most useful tool so far.

We're currently updating our Resource Guides in my corporate library. We write them in Word and then link the documents to our website but constantly struggle with keeping them current. After I looked at The Ohio State University Biz Wiki http://www.library.ohiou.edu/subjects/bizwiki/index.php/Main_Page I'm convinced that this is the way to go. Initially I was thinking we should only let library staff add entries, so I realize if we let everyone add to the wiki we'll probably learn about new resources that our employees use. Plus--we'll have time for higher level questions if our users are finding answers to the easy ones by using the Wiki.

If anyone has hands-on experience with using a Wiki subject guide , I'd love to hear from you.

Thing #9: Collaboration - Word Docs

This will be short. Google Docs was much more user-friendly, not to mention fun. I never did figure out how to use Zoho writer. I registered but couldn't figure out how to access the document on 23 things, so wound up copying and pasting the Declaration of Independence into the Zoho text box to edit it.

We could certainly use this in my group as we collaborate on documents frequently.

Thing #8: Share Your Creations

The tool that I could put to immediate use in Thing #8 is the first activity, creating and sharing slideshows. We have several databases with site licenses and offer hard-copy self-help guides to assist our users in registering and using the databases. If we created slideshows with these instructions and used live links, it would be easier for our users to get started, and I think, easier for our library staff to keep these instructions updated as changes occur in the interfaces.




These are a few of our databases.

I also really enjoyed eFolio Minnesota. Using these for student portfolios seems an obvious classroom use. I'll have to think about how to use these in a business library. I particularly liked viewing David Adam Mehoves' eFolio. He's a jazz trumpeter--check out his audio feeds on his "Work Samples" tab.

P.S. I noticed some typos on my previous postings even though I had previewed and proofread my posts before publishing. I just noticed the spellcheck icon above, so hope this posting is (relatively) error-free.

Thing #7: Communication Tools

These tools (email, text messaging, IM, and webinars) are all old friends. My corporate library receives about 98% of all reference requests through email and we deliver results via email also. I liked the article about email productivity, especially the tip to turn off auto-check on your email--or set it to 20 minutes. My auto-check runs continuously and it is very distracting to see messages flashing across my screen all day long.

I use cell phone text messaging frequently to stay in touch with my teenagers. (They prefer me to text message rather than to call them). It's a convenient way to send a message when you really don't need two-way communication, e.g. "dental appointment @ 4 pm". Here I am sending a message. Well, the only real resemblance between this stock photo and me is that I wear glasses. After completing the Flickr activity, I feel like it's rather boring to post anything to my blog that doesn't have an image.

I've used IM in a library science course and it worked well, especially because my professor was young, enthusiastic, and available via IM almost 24/7. We've also recently loaded IM at work and we've tried it out among my work group. It's hard to remember to use it though, as old habits (yelling across the room, emailing someone who's in the next cubicle, etc.) are deeply ingrained.

Webinars are another frequent tool in my library. I participated in a MINITEX webinar on Advanced Web Searching last week and it was a great way to pick up some new ideas. We haven't developed any webinars within my work group, however, so maybe this is a tool we should consider using. One possibility is to offer instruction on serching our databases though webinars.

Thing #6: Image Generator

I decided to make this post short after spending way too much time on Thing #5.

Again, I need help with the resolution of these images I downloaded from the Web.

I can see an immediate use for images generators in my job. My company runs on PowerPoint presentations (AKA "decks") and we could use image generators to create customized images.

Thing #5: Mashups

Per the 10 Best Flickr Mashups, "the best mashups achieve a level of visual poetry that approaches true art." I'm still waiting to be convinced, but hey, I'm a skeptic at heart.

I did enjoy these activities, even though I couldn't seem to edit my Flickr Spelling html code correctly to get it to upload. I also couldn't upload the picture that I captioned of my cockatiel. Oh well...

Here's a photo of the cockatiel sans the caption. The resolution is terrible, but this was taken with a cell phone.

Skinny_Stacks

Skinny_Stacks
Originally uploaded by onionbaby

Here's the most treacherous stacks in our library. You have to suck in your gut and hold your breath before venturing down this one.

Actually, this is a swinging 2X2 --you can access these resources from a wider aisle in the next stack.

Thing #4: Flickr

I'm the type of person who doesn't take a camera on vacation as I want to look at things with my eyes and not through a photo lens. (I also don't like having to label photos and throw them into an album--no, I don't own a digital camera).

However, after viewing the CommonCraft video and poking around in Flickr, I think Flickr is the solution to the problem of organizing and storing photos. I bet it would even be fun to set up photo sets on Flickr.

I decided to set up a Flickr account, so I borrowed my son's digital camera, and took a few pictures of my library. Here they are.

The Skinny_Stacks photo is a very narrow aisle where you have to suck in your gut in order to retrieve an item. (Actually, the stacks are 2X2 shelving units, and you can rotate them from a wider aisle that isn't in the picture.) Some days, just for fun, I go down the skinny stacks. It's a bit claustrophobic.



These white binders are our State of the Industry (SOI) reports. We save special issues of journals that have industry rankings, best new products, top manufacturers, etc.


Here's the oldest book in our collection: History of Corn Milling, Vol. 1, Handstones, Slave & Cattle Mills, by Richard Bennett and John Elton.
London: Simpkin, Marshall and Company Ltd, 1898. I need to send it to our company archives, but for now, I'm hanging onto it.


I'm working on getting our entire collection cataloged (we've been working off of a paper shelflist and are moving to an automated system). I've found some interesting things in the stacks, like an ancient copy of a Cutter table. Inside was a copy of Charles Cutter's instructions on how to use the tables, including this catchy first sentence: "It has been found convenient by librarians to arrange some classes of books alphabetically…” and later, this comment: “Some persons are apprehensive that this decimal arrangement will be hard to use, or at least hard to teach to stupid assistants and (when the public are allowed to go to the shelves) to a public unwilling to take the trouble to comprehend..."



I think I'll use Flickr to set up a virtual tour of my library. We're planning a grand roll-out when the cataloging project is completed. Having a virtual library tour via Flickr on our website would be a nice accompaniment for the roll-out celebration.

Parting thoughts/questions: Even though I tried to use the layout tools, it wasn't easy to format the photos and text (I wound up copying and pasting the html code into the right spots in my blog). Does anyone have advice or places to look for help on formatting images and text within a blog?

Thing #3: RSS

This was easy to set up. I used RSS feeds in library school, so it's a familiar topic. I set up five different feeds including: 1) my public library system feed, 2) Stephen's Lighthouse (Stephen Abrams of SLA & SiriDynix), 3) National Public Radio feed on Election 2008, 4) National Public Radio feed on new books, and 5) one blog from a fellow 23 Things participant. I found it easiest to copy the RSS feed URL into Google Reader.

I could use this tool at work to subscribe to feeds on key topics. However, I think the most immediate and compelling use will be a personal use--following the Election 2008 news on the NPR feed.

I'm still looking for a blog that I might be interested in reading on a regular basis. I'll try out Stephen Abrams and see what I think. So far, however, there aren't any blogs that have held my attention for very long.

Thing #2

Several ideas and issues come to my mind as I read and viewed the Thing 2 content. First, I agree with Stephen Abram that we have to experience and try things--just reading about them doesn't help us to learn, remember, and put the tool/concept to use. Second, I like the idead that Library 2.0 is about being relevant to our users--and to all segments of users with different demographics, skills, and needs. Third, I found the comment (by John Blyberg, I think) that there's a "lot of fantastic non-authoritative data--we just need to get off of our high horses and decide to make it available" intriguing and jolting. Intriguing because this comment makes me decide to take a fresh look at non-authoritative data and jolting because I'm a recent MLIS graduate and I've had the "check the authority of your source" rule drummed into me.

I decided to take a look at some of the tools/sites mentioned in the reading. Since my home library is the Hennepin County Library system, I looked at BookSpace on their site www.hclib.org/pub/bookspace and realized that this is a tool I'm already using and loving. Hennepin County Library also has FaceBook on their site--I went to this link but decided not to register to use FaceBook. I have two teenaged sons who use FaceBook daily, and in my mind, FaceBook is a tool for teenagers. While I know this isn't totally true (I read in Business Week recently that the registrations from older adults--i.e. older than 30--is booming), to me, FaceBook is too tightly associated with teens. But maybe this is partly what Library 2.0 is about--giving people options.

Along this theme, another good example of giving people options is Darien Library's Contact Us page www.darienlibrary.org/contact.php with email, phone, IM, and library open hours all listed together. I think I may adapt this for my small, special library.

I also looked at the Ann Arbor District Library's website, including the Director's blog and their catalog http://www.aadl.org/ . I loved the catalog with its link to Google Book and also the image of a the metadata from a card catalog. Catalogs with rich data like this can serve a Reader's Advisory function for patrons--something traditional descriptive cataloging doesn't do well.

Finally, Thing 2 has convinced me that I need to continue exploring these tools and concepts. I don't like using technology for technology's sake (just because it looks flashy) but because it can enhance content and deliver better service. I like the idea that we need to think and reflect on the activities in our blogs. Along those lines, I'd like to share something my younger son, Matt (now 16), told me when he was in elementary school.

Matt: I don't like to read
Me: Why not?
Matt: Because you have to think
Me: So?
Matt: Thinking is hard work.

Yes indeed, thinking is hard work....

Thing #1: Setting up a Blog

I didn't think setting this blog up would be so complicated. Unfortunately, I already had a Google account (so the system says) tied to my home email (probably from my days in library school a few years ago) and can't remember the password I used. After switching to my work email address, I was able to set this up. Figuring out a screen name that I wanted to use took a fair amount of time, too.

"Loro," my screen name, is Spanish for parrot. I'm an avid birdwatcher (on rare days I've even seen a eagle soar by my window at work--I have my personal radar set to the skys most days) and have three pet birds as part of my household. Two are parakeets (one is ten years old--pretty old for a small bird) and one is a cockatiel. The cockatiel is everyone's favorite. He's 15, and is perpetually sweet and cheerful. He whistles along to Otis Redding's "Sitting on the Dock of the Bay" and "Feliz Navidad" (his two favorite songs) and particularly loves my older son. (Our dog, a Shetland Sheepdog tolerates the cockatiel but hates the parakeets).

Getting back to the purpose for this blog, to explore "23 Things on a Stick," the Web 2.0 online activities, I'm looking forward to participating in this group, to learning some new technologies and tools, and to finding ways to use them in my job.