Book Cart Drill Teams

I am posting this link found on youtube of some danciing librarians after our in-service day. Worcester County Library will be celebrating 50 years as a library system in 2009 and this would be a great idea for a parade or presentation. Maybe we could be a regular fixture in the local parades! What do you think???

Week 9 Thing 23 / Summary Whew!

I will try to answer all that is asked in the summary. This has been a daunting task at times. I can't tell you how frustrating it can be to have to find definitions of words before the learning can begin. Some of this stuff I had no understanding of. The light bulb went off at Week 6 Thing 15. I finally understood what 2.0 was all about!

Some of my favorite discoveries included del.icio.us which I use every day now, as well as bloglines. I have a bloglines account and make it a point to check in every day. I can keep up with the important stories in the news, book podcasts at NPR and even my daughter's blog.

This program has affected my lifelong learning goals. Mostly, it has empowered me to keep on keeping on. Sometimes (actually often) when I take a training session or class, I leave thinking that it was a waste of time. Unless it is a specific how-to thing that I am learning, that I can use tomorrow, I rarely find that I could apply what I learned any time soon. I want to use it now. There is nothing to apply it to. The info sits in my notes (and in my head for a little while) until or if I remember that it is there when it could be useful. The self paced type of learning with 23 things suits me as I can access it when I need it. I can apply it where I think it could be used right now. I have a need and there are lots of tools to use. If one doesn't work another might. Information connects or is attached to like things so that I can look until I find IT! I can explore when I find the need. There was creativity involved and I had fun.

The way that I incorporated some aspects of 23 things so quickly and easily into my daily routine surprised me. I was excited about the blogging part to begin with because my daughter blogs but had no idea that some things would become so indispensable! I have even turned on a few friends to del.icio.us. and plan to continue posting to a blog. Pretty cool.

I did found it hard to keep myself on track. Some days I only had 20 minutes to read a few things and had to re-read when I returned a few days or a week later. It was hard to jump right back in. I tried to start from the e-mails I received each week but eventually found it easier to start a the Merlin Maryland Libraries Learning 2.0 23 Things page. (http://marylandlibrarieslearning2.blogspot.com/) The tracking log helped a lot and I made a folder in my e-mail where I kept the e-mails from Jen. I really loved that "Account Reference" sheet that Jen sent to keep track of all of the user names and passwords. If I had both of those things in a notebook ready to go before I started I may have felt more organized. Suggesting to keep the e-mails in a folder might help too. Overall, it all worked out and I learned a lot, including organization while working online.

I would definitely participate in a discovery program like this again.
Okay so here's my marketing blurb...
The learning that I gained from 23 Things is indispensable. An Internet "surfer" before I began, my concept of the Web has changed as I learned to swim. There are amazing tools out there to communicate and connect, organize and access, inspire and be inspired and it's not that hard when you learn at your own pace. Others are swimming too and they can help keep you afloat. No more surfing...I am hoping for flying lessons soon.

Thanks to everyone for all the help.

I finished! My co-worker says that this video says how we feel!

Week 8 Thing 19 / 2.0 awards (I missed this post!)

This post is out of order in the scheme of 23 things. As a librarian, this bothers me but I will write it off to learning. Since this is a self paced program, I will forgive myself.
I enjoyed looking through the 2.0 awards. As far as library things go, I did find Upcoming (http://upcoming.yahoo.com) to be a useful site. Worcester County Library's programs are already listed there. Anyone can add their event to the list. As with the 2.0 concept (is that what it is?) the site is only as good as the people that participate. The more the merrier! I have added a "my events" button to my blog so I can let my friends know at what event they may find me. Some big cities and other active locales have large numbers of members. I will try to use this site to my advantage.
I personally LOVED Colorblender (http://colorblender.com)
I even put it in My Delicious! (http://del.icio.us/linamae)
This is a site where you can blend your own pallet of colors. I will definitely spend some time there figuring out how to save and access my own as well as other peoples pallet creations. I bought the "Color Scheme Bible" by Anna Starmer for a bit of inspiration but Color blender will go even further. I can get the exact beginning color and a pallet to suit me. The possibilities are endless!! Garden, home, sewing, painting...whoa have I got a lot of work to do. Check it out.

Week 9 Thing 22 / E Audio Books and E Books

It really is a great thing to be able to use your library card and get the next title right in your own home.
I am not a big audio book listener, reserving listening time for good jazz, blues or conversation. I think that I could enjoy an E book on an I Pod (or other device) so that I had something to read while waiting in line or while taking mass transit..... I notice that Talbot County has a NetLibrary account that includes E books and audio books. If we are Maryland library card users, is it possible to register with them or do we have to wait for better selection? Until we have an account, Project Gutenburg has plenty that could be interesting.

Week 9 Thing 21/ All about Podcasts

This is another great little thing to know. I really do need an MP3 player! I just subscribed to NPR's Books podcasts. This is a program that I love to catch on the radio but since I live so close to work, I rarely get the chance to hear a few minutes in the car and there is too much to do at home to listen there. Tuning in when I want is really a convenience. I could listen on my headphones while I work or on an MP3 walking to and from work. I am going to try to use this podcast thing. I listened to a gal who lives in China now with her husband that does a lot of jewelry making. Mostly she talks about her life and a little about the jewelry but the music was really good and her life seemed intresting. Kinda cool... a little bit like a gal chat only one sided. I am still looking for the right librarian with good stuff to say.

Boler pick-up/ using wi-fi on the road

On vacation and will try to catch up on a few lessons ..... We picked up our "new" Boler camper after a long ride to Dekalb Illinois. We made a couple of new friends that were sad to see their old friend go but were glad that we got it us once we all met. I have a feeling that we will see them on the road. Wi-fi at this little campground, about 60 miles south of Dekalb, is slow but I will try my best to upload a photo or two. We are taking a different route home and hopefully will explore a little on the way back. We have a bit of taillight problems and are fixing that before the long trek home. What a beautiful country this is. We are looking forward to seeing it with our 1979 Boler travel trailer. It's a great rig! What do you think?

Week 9 Thing 20/ You Tube

I love You Tube. There is just so much to explore. I am particularly fond of the arty stuff. You can really learn a lot. From coffee art to jewelry making techniques, the possibilities are endless! Check this out ">