Where to begin?

Book Cart Drill Teams

2007-10-08T15:08:00.000-07:00

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!

2007-08-17T08:40:00.000-07:00

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!)

2007-08-17T07:55:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-15T12:53:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-14T13:19:00.000-07:00

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

2007-08-11T15:29:00.002-07:00

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

2007-08-07T13:17:00.000-07:00

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 ">

Week 8 Thing 18/ Productivity with Zoho Writer

2007-08-07T13:05:00.001-07:00

Here I am in Zoho! This is a great place to create a document at either work or home and access it later at a remote location. I could have my laptop in Starbucks and have an inspiration...caffeine does that. I will try to post this to my blog now.

Week 7 Thing 17/ Maryland Libraries Sandbox

2007-08-07T12:51:00.000-07:00

This is a great place to play and wikis are cool!

Week 7 Thing 16/ Wiki wiki

2007-08-07T12:22:00.000-07:00

It's amazing how Libraries are using wikis to reach out to the patron. After looking through the listed links, I found the most useful to be those where patrons and staff have posted book reviews. These posts show the book cover, for those that need the visual, and some have links directly to the catalog so that the book can be requested right then and there. Organized by genre, lists created from posts can be like browsing the shelves when you are not in the library. Groups of people interested in a particular subject can "congregate" in a certain area for things like posted recipes and how-to instructions and be directed to books or resorces that others find helpful. Being able to add content to the page expands the resorces available to all.

Week 6 Thing 15/ Library 2.0 and our future

2007-07-31T12:45:00.000-07:00

Yea, so I was a little harsh in my last post. There will never be enough time as a woman's work is never done.
I am renewed, however, by the thoughts and ideas about what Web 2.0 really is. After viewing some pod casts and reading all of the suggested articles, I can see how the Internet is in a type of Renaissance. This is social change where we make the collective intelligence. Exciting! Tim O'Rilley says that the network is the platform where users add value. I can see that the more these 2.0 databases are used, the better they get. As libraries connect with user based platforms, the people become the library. They get what they want because we have a better idea of what that might really be! I use MPower Cat and World Cat on a daily basis and can see how the ability to add content through something as simple as a review or recommendation could direct patrons to material they value. Tagging is, what we do in our bibliographic records and who better to tag than those who wrote or read the material. Okay, so now I'm ready for Web 3.0. First, I'll get a little rest.....

Week 6 Thing 14 / Technorati

2007-07-31T11:49:00.000-07:00

Okay, so Technorati can be really useful if you are a neurotic tracker or business person trying to get your name out there. I have heard friends talk about how they stay up until 3 or 4 in the morning doing the blog thing. Searching, searching, tagging, tagging, posting. Really, its all about self promotion..... Tagging everything is just too much for me to handle and the loss of privacy involved in connecting your blog (which includes a lot of people's inner thoughts) is just too much for me. Y'all know that once your name is on the internet, it's really easy to find it. Remember that when you are looking for a job. This is especially important to all those kids out there spewing their guts on My Space or Facebook where their college and real name is attached.

Week 6 Thing 13/ Really Delicious!

2007-07-31T11:00:00.000-07:00

There never seems to be enough time to get to this class. I read and have to read again once I find time to write. After about a week and a half, I have finally been able to carve out a bit of time to comment.
Delicious is just that! I created an account and began to tag sites that I would like to return to. I showed the hubster and wow do we have a lot of delicious sites. This is now a part of my surfing. I can post a site to delicious while at work and go back to it at home. I can always seem to find what I am looking for since the tags make it easy. I especially like that I can see what other people have listed. When I tag a site I can look at the lists of others that have tagged it as well. If you didn't make time to create a delicious list, go back and try again. I really love it.

Picasa Web Albums - Laura - Boler

2007-07-19T05:58:00.000-07:00

Picasa Web Albums - Laura - Boler

We've been looking a long time and have just purchased this little Boler. Really, really cute! So excited.....my husband didn't sleep last night!

Just some blogging fun

2007-07-15T20:28:00.000-07:00

Create your own avatar at meez.com

Week 5 Thing 12/ Rollyo

2007-07-15T19:24:00.000-07:00

I'm still trying to figure out the Rollyo thing. Cute name , though. This could be a useful tool for things that I search often. I often look for recipes or ideas for a party or get together. Other people's search rolls intrigue me more. I just don't have the time to go about organizing all of this stuff at a sitting. I guess some people don't get out much! I have noted my account name and password so that I can go back for more quality time.

Week 5 Thing 11/ Library Thing is AMAZING!

2007-07-15T18:54:00.000-07:00

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

Here is the link to my Library Thing catalog. Whoa.....can I use this thing!! This is a great place to find and discuss some great books.

Week 5 Thing 10/ More Fun with avatars

2007-07-15T18:42:00.001-07:00

More avatar fun. Where to go from here?

Week 5 Thing 10/ Fun with my avatar

2007-07-15T18:05:00.000-07:00

Here is my avatar. Does it look like me?

Week 4 Thing 9 / Locating what you want

2007-07-15T15:42:00.000-07:00

Okay, so I have come to the conclusion that I spend too much time on this. Strangely, it's like a bath to me... you know, you don't begin to run the water unless you will have enough time to indulge. Sometimes the tub is never filled. I just know that this discovery learning will lead me into the hour- later- at -work syndrome. It is fun and addictive. I am now at home at my trusty Mac enjoying myself. I don't feel guilty!
So... I used the feed searches listed to try to find a few things that I might read daily. I added MERLIN and NOAA weather alerts but those were feeds easy for me to find since I visit often. Using FEEDSTER was confusing. There are just too many people trying to sell something. TOPIX was cool. I put my town in and found a RSS feed to connect me with local news and postings. I even subscribed and answered a posted question about my town. SYNDIC 8, well...what is that???? TECHNORATI is easy to understand. I searched for blogs related to subjects I may be interested in. I'll add some later.
Have you ever read "Julie & Julia: 365 days, 524 Recipes, 1 Tiny Apartment Kitchen" by Julia Powell? Pretty cool since it started as her blog about cooking all 524 recipes in Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking Vol. 1" in 365 days. I really liked the book, wondering why I didn't think of it first. Julie had lots of fans that urged her to publish her blog to a book. You learn a lot about Julia Child as well. It's a good "recommend to others" book, though it is life through a 20 something's eyes. (cussing and lots of wine!) Hell, I'm 50 something and my life...another subject.
Post a comment to my blog if you want to discuss this bit of blearning (blog learning). I haven't gleaned much from others postings or from co-workers. Blog on!

Week 4 Thing 8/ News and info using a newsreader

2007-07-11T07:36:00.000-07:00

Whoa....lots to take in, but things seem a little easier just understanding how I can use RSS feeds to make my own connected life a little easier. I have now connected to some blogs that I like to read and to my regular news places. I can go to my Bloglines account at home, at a friend's house or at work to access info that I read. When I am trying to remember where I read something, chances are that it will now be listed in this account.

Week 3 Thing 7/ The Wonder of Technology

2007-06-26T12:54:00.001-07:00

Stick figure on a cell phone
Originally uploaded by littlegreenfroggy

Technology is a "where to begin" subject! It is totally amazing to ponder the things I have seen in my lifetime. As a child, I remember my great-grandmother getting very quickly to the front porch to watch an airplane fly over.This was the early 60's and doesn't seem so long ago. Wonder of wonders, we now have cell phones! Oh the wonder of cell phones... what would my Memom think! Microwaves, dishwashers, tv coverage from all over the world and cell phones are amazing things. I love the cell phone. With a daughter in Oregon and a son in the Grand Canyon, it is a small wonder to receive a picture or text message just seconds after they send it. I feel very connected. My mother waited until Sunday night after peak-call time (11 PM?) to ring me up so we could talk at a bargain price. There is no need to wait these days. I have an amazing cell phone!

Week 3 Thing 6/ Flickr Fun

2007-06-26T11:05:00.000-07:00

Well there sure is a lot to look at when it comes to mash ups and 3rd party sites. I liked the Flickr colr pickr. A quote at that site says that it is "just a toy" and simply there to provide "wonder and delight". By clicking on an area in the color wheel, you are given a selection of photos where that specific color is prominent. It is amazing how one color can appear in such diverse arenas. Clicking a particular photo enlarges it and shows what group it is in, the photographer and all of its tags. If you are color driven like I am, this site can take you many places. Many photos are intensely colored and obviously obtained through a photo process. Every once in a while, you get a lesson on how the photographer got the photo. Cool!

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Week 3 Thing 5/ Exploring Flickr

2007-06-20T14:03:00.000-07:00

Whoa, Flickr is a trip! It would be a great place to stay connected with family. I am going to have to turn the kids on to this.
This exploring to learn, really is taking a lot more time than I ever thought. I think 2 hours per week is a low estimate. I got some photos into my flickr homepage and was ready to give up trying to figure out how to get them to my blog but.....voila, see my doggies? This image was selected from a file on my computer though. Somehow the right of the photo got cut off. (I'll figure that out later) Images from Flickr will have to be my next lesson to myself. I used the HELP tab in my compose window and kept reading!

Week 2 Thing 4 / Register and continue to journey

2007-06-12T16:45:00.000-07:00

Whew, I am gonna have to study that last part. The part about cutting and pasting the permalink..... My co-worker is not sure what that's about either. When I post, the date is correct but the time is off. I went back to fix these and my posts got all mixed up! I am fairly straight now. I need to click "post options" at the bottom of this window and set the time before I post to my blog. The help button has been a great help. There is a lot of jargon that I am not familiar with and that makes me feel a little uncomfortable. Is a permalink a tracking thing or will I forever be attached to this blog?

Week 2 Thing 3/ Setting up the blog

2007-06-12T16:10:00.000-07:00

Setting up my blog was not that hard! With the use of a template, it looks pretty good too. I added my 1st post by cutting and pasting from my e-mail. That was suggested somewhere in all this information. It worked just great. I did not give that post a title and have not yet figured out how to add one. I printed out my tracking log from the e-mail sent to me by Jen (our humble leader) and find it easier to keep track of where I am. As I said before, It is necessary to do small bits of this as I loose track.....

I believe I've navigated through editing my blog. Adding to it before it is posted is necessary especially with limited time. It takes getting used to the program I guess. It is nice that Blogger auto saves your writing every minute. What I've written is there when I get back to it.

Week 1 Thing 2/ Lifelong Learning

2007-06-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

Lots of great pointers here...hopefully I can stay within the 7 1/2 habits. I printed out the Learning Contract and have not yet filled it in. I know that my obstacle will be finding enough concentrating time to get what I need from the lessons. There is always a lot of work here and not enough time to complete it. Could my toolbox include a positive additude free of guilt in order to gain this new knowledge? Sure, why not? I am working this in tiny bits and find that I need to review a lot. I am getting ahead of myself. More in the next post.

Week 1 Thing 1/ The Program

2007-06-06T09:08:00.000-07:00

This lesson gave me an overview of where I would go with this blog thing. It appeared easy enough. Okay, I was ready.

Test Post/ Initial Comments

2007-06-06T08:45:00.000-07:00

I like the feeling of value in knowing that I am a lifelong learner. It wasn't hard to plug myself in to many of the listed habits. Many of us are learners but now have a label to give us "credit". The purpose of following this course is, for me, to learn to use technology to my advantage. My children, now both about 20 years old, speak in a different language sometimes. I need to learn to stay connected with them in the way that makes it easier for them. It is easy they assure me ..... so here I am.
This first step seems easy. I am now a blogger!