Thing 20 Books 2.0

Wow, another thing that has seventy million components. Just as TV did not mean the end of radio -- books are not headed for the dumpster yet. I signed up for Daily Lit. We will see if it takes too much time. They offered normal, longer and longest settings. I was looking for a shorter setting -- oh well. I love KDL's What's next. I have used it for years and even contributed corrections when they got things a little screwy. I'm not as crazy about their latest interface. I don't think it is as intuitive to use but still a great site. I am a fan and member of Book Swim. I primarly use it for things I can't get thru the library. In fact they are going to be Beta testing some changes in their website starting soon and I am one of the Beta Testers. I also signed up for Paperback Swap. I always shared my paperbacks with my dad but since his death I have just given them to the library. I listed five books this afternoon and someboday wants one of them already. Of course I immediately had to say I'll be gone for 10 days starting Tuesday. Oh, well.

Thing 19 -- Other social sites

I am on Web-Juction. When I attended the CPLA class in Arizona everyone was hot to keep in touch with each other. Since Michael Porter (AKA Libraryman) was the instructor and is with Web Junction. He said someone might want to start a group on that site. I just looked at it (first I had to remember my password) and it looks like 4 out of a class of 20 signed up. It is OK but too many spots to go is too time consuming. PLA has started a new series of discussion topics. I happen to be the moderator of "Be a Better Manager" So far we have 6 members and no discussion.
I was talking to my SSLLI mentor the other day and I said that first everyone was on MySpace, then everyone moved to Facebook, now everyone is Twittering. I asked her what the next "big thing would be? She said that it wouldn't be a big thing it would be something small that happens to grab our attention for a little while.
I'm worn out from it all.... Could I be getting old? Nah! Just tired.

Thing 18 -- Facebook

I am on both Facebook and Myspace because my kids are. I use an alias which my kids think is so funny. But as I pointed out to my son, if a prospective employer is looking on socal networking pages who wants them to be able to access your life. Myspace is slowly going away for the kids as they move more into Facebook. Why am I there? It's the easiest way to keep up with what is going on in their lives. The sonograms of our new grandbaby were posted on facebook before they were e-mailed to the family.

OK so I couldn't resist posting the image here too. Forgive this first time grandmother. I also belong to the PLA group. My sister in law and I have written on each other's walls several times. It is fast and easy. I am also a friend of the Columbia County Public Library. Levy County teens are still on Myspace but are considering a move to Facebook as more of the kids switch over.

Thing 17 -- Podcasts

I subscribe to the NPR library blog "as a matter of fact". Yesterday in honor of St Patrick's Day they posted a podcast from Morning Edition on the poetry of William Butler Yeats.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1071680

What was so fascinating was that it included recordings from 1933 of Yeats reading his own poetry. He discovered that he was a much better poet than reader. He read with a chant quality. The piece talks about his changing the words of one of his most famous poems because they just didn't "read well" out loud. There is another interesting podcast from NPR called Playback. It features stories from 25 years ago researched at the NPR library. I haven't listened to one yet as they are 25 minutes long, but since I am now caught up on Things (Yay, Yippee!!), I might actually listen to one. Since I have been married for 35 years they won't be quite the ancient history that they would be for some of you. (tee hee)

I am including here the link to the topic directory for NPR's podcasts http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php?type=topic

As you can see they cover anything and everything you might wish to explore. One could spend a long time with the uncomfortable head phones over your ears. (I really need a new pair but my husband gave me these for Christmas and I need to use them for a while before replacing them)

OK so thank heavens for auto save. I accidently hit the back button instead of the hide preview button and went back to the dashboard. When I hit the forward button it took me to a blank post screen. "OH NO it's gone..... Wait... What about this draft autosaved that flashes at the bottom on a regular basis?" Of course I had to go to Help to figure out that you click on "Return to list of posts" to find that draft version. But at least I didn't have to try to recreate the post. I think those creative juices only flow once.

Thing 16 -- YouTube

I was excited about getting to thing 16 because I am looking at YouTube videos every week trying to ferret out those appropriate for staff training for my SSLLI project. Those appropriate are linked to a delicious page with description and tags. Most of those with ferrets are not appropriate. For one thing they have to have good sound quality and those with ferrets (even stuffed ones) are notable for their poor sound. Any way I was looking around for something funny to include here.
This one from koolk3v is really short and I'm not sure why I thought it was so funny but it made me laugh.

Enjoy. On to thing 17 -- I'm almost caught up!

Thing Number 15: Rollyo

I hate adding my data to sites all over the web, even under an alias, so I opted out of creating a profile on Rollyo. However when I searched for topics there seems to be lists on just about everything. I did create a roll on Cleveland, TN. Since that is one of the places we are considering moving. But since I didn't log in I'm not sure anyone else can get to it or how to find its URL. I can see that if I was still a Reference Librarian how I could use this to record favs and do quick searches without wading thru thousands of google hits. That way I could use it as I moved from computer to computer. I did list the Cleveland entry from Wikipedia and it shortened it to just wikipedia. When I searched for something on my list it brought up a ton of articles from Wikipedia. Needless to say I went back and edited out the wikipedia entry. They do just fine without my help.

Thing 14 -- Online Productivity Tools

One of the blogs I read said that NEFLIN cleverly disguised 443 things as 23. I think this may be one of the things they were talking about when they said that. "Wait there is more" I'm already overwhelmed with things to try. I looked at all three of the customize your home page. I still like to go to MSN when I open an explorer window. I do have my yahoo set up for weather where I am and where the kids live and with my favorite teams. I don't care for Yahoo's tv guide interface since you can't seem to tell it your favorite channels. I prefer the one on the Gainesville Sun website because it lets you customize it more. The Sun better have a good one since they stopped printing the weekly tv guide.

I tried one of the shared calendars when I was still working. My Admin Assist and I could both put things in so we would both know what was going on. The problem was that it was easier to talk and share than to use the calendar and have to talk anyway. I started using tada a couple of years ago. That lasted a week or so. Just too much effort to make a list when I have paper and a refrigerator with magnets handy. I guess I am just too 1.0 for most of these productivity tools.

Thing 13 -- Library Thing

Years ago I was at a conference and heard about Library Thing. I came home and e-mailed my son-in-law. He and my daughter are the type that keep the books on their shelves in author order. I thought it would appeal to him to know exactly what they had. I guess I should not have been surprised to find that they already used it.

So I added 7 books from my shelves. Now you have to understand that I don't read the books on my shelves I keep them for emergencies. I think it comes from growing up in the midwest and always being afraid I will run out of something to read in a snowstorm. I read books from the library, I read books from www.bookswim.com but I don't read books from my bookshelf.

I went to the widget page, I made a widget. I copy and pasted it but I couldn't see anything when I hit preview. I went back several times to the widget page and finally when I told it to post it told me the code wasn't closed. It seems that when I clicked in the box with the code it highlighted and copies everything except the final script with punctuation. As soon as I added that everything worked (except preview). I can see using this as a quick and easy (once you get it to work) way of telling people what new books have been added to the library. You can add new titles and remove old ones and get a random widget. However, don't expect my books to change very often. :-)

Thing 12 Wikis

OK so I love it when the Thing is something I have done or am doing and I can breeze thru it with a minimum of learning. All right -- so I know that is not the purpose of 23 Things but it does help me "catch up"
I am a member of the SSLLI wiki. As such I have added content when we had to upload our project descriptions. One of my CPLA classes decided we wanted a wiki so we could stay in touch. (yeah right) I decided that it was a perfect learning opportunity so I went to PB wiki and set up a wiki for our class. Shared the information with my fellow students... the teacher and I were the only ones who ever contributed to it.
Unless you sign up for the updates, it seems to me that it takes time to remember to go to the wiki and look for changes. I question the Commoncraft video that the camping friends really went to the wiki that often checking things out.
I noticed that the Book Lovers Wiki cited in the Neflin write up has not been edited in over 11 months. So inquiring minds want to know.... How come? Did it not work as expected? Was no one using it? That example and my past experience does not inspire me to set one up for my library (if I had a library). Have wikis "shot their wad" --- everyone seems to be tweeting these days.

Thing 11 Social Networking

So, I've heard alot of talk about Digg and StumbleUpon. I took a look at them but they just aren't something I would use on a regular basis. I'm just not a news junkie. I follow Wired Science on my MyYahoo page and take a look at Reuters because it is there. I also follow a couple of Cubs blogs there as well. I guess if the world comes to an end I'll have to read about it in the morning paper.
I do however subscribe to facebook (using an alias) to keep up with the kids -- just never use their news feature.

Thing 10 Delicious

Whoo Hoo another 2 Thing day. I mentioned Delicious in my last post when I said that Stephanie put her book marks on it for use in traveling. That is handy but I also used it when I was leaving my computer at work never to see it again. I didn't want to lose my bookmarks so I loaded them on delicious. Fast and Easy.
I am also using delicious for my SSLLI project. A team of librarians from around the country are finding quailty YouTube videos appropriate for library staff training and we are posting them on our Delicious page. http://delicious.com/Sslli_Project I've included the link here but remember this is a work in progress. The reason there has been no work on it since January is due to 4 women's retreats, 2 CPLA classes, 2 SSLLI sessions, and finishing work. More will be added starting this week. Retreats are over and CPLA classes are finished (certification review in April). I may be their first unemployed Certified Public Library Administrator. If anyone knows a link that should be added you are welcome to e-mail us at sslliproject@yahoo.com

Thing 9 Sharing Mosaic

I told you I had alot of tulip pictures. I would recommend the Netherlands at the end of April to anyone. I like Big Huge Labs because you can use it with your Flickr account without creating another presence on the web. You can link your Flickr account and then remove the link when you are done. I know the OCLC report said that librarians are more concerned about privacy and ID theft than the general public. But until it happens to you or a member of your family you don't realize how devasting it can be.

I like the idea of having a back up of your slide presentation stored on the Internet. Just as Stephanie liked having her bookmarks stored on Delicious for travel. Knowing it is out there gives you a sense of security.

Just a quick thought on library usage. You could do a mosaic of new books or event pictures (don't forget permission slips) and post it on your website. Changing it often though could become quite time consuming.

Thing 8 Communication -- IM

I've been using IM since our son was in college -- Let's see he is 30 now -- for 12 years. It was new then and didn't always work real well but we kept in touch and he never asked for money. When our daugter was in college 5 years later the technology had improved. Sometimes it was enough just to see her come on line and know she was ok. My husband and I have used it recently -- sometimes just between computers in the same room. (I know how lazy can you get), but I am going to have to change my log-in since I am not LevyLibDir anymore.
Wow -- 2 Things in the same day. At this rate I will be caught up by -- oh -- July??? Just Kidding. But now piles of paper are calling me to sort, file or toss so no more Things today.

Thing 7 image generator

Finally one that was EASY. This was using image chef and I could see adding all sorts of things to my e-mails or the web page. Create e-posters to use advertising programs. The images have to be alot more eye catching than plain text. This one was added here as text but I also could have added it as an image.

It only took 7 items but I finally found one that didn't tax my abilities or frustrate me beyond limits... and was FUN. I will come back and play with this one some more. Try it out at www.imagechef.com

Thing 6 -- Flickr Mashup

You would think that being fairly computer literate these would be easy for me Ha Ha Not so. I couldn't use several of these tools since they wanted to download something and my computer settings wouldn't allow that. This one allowed me to link to Flickr and make a puzzle from one of my pictures. Of course then they want you to buy it. I suppose the Orange is going to clash with my pink background. Oh well, just screen the background and look at the picture by itself.

Hey, did you notice? 2 Things in Two days! Whoo Hoo. At this rate I will be caught up by the end of the month.

I just went back and read the Nelin post again. What do I think of sharing photos on line? Well I think everyone is out to make a buck by stroking the ego of the photographer. I also think however that there is a time and place for its convenience. I took pictures at my Dad's funeral that I was able to post privately but allow cousins who didn't attend to access. That made a difficult time a bit easier as I didn't have to deal with his photos over and over -- just send the link for access.

In the library -- hmm We have put photos on our web page and on myspace but loaded them straight from the computer without a flickr type interface.

Until next time...

Item 5 Flicker Cont.

OK so I got them to upload from my computer but I still can't get them from Flickr. Never mind. Tired of trying. At least I can do it this way.

Thing 5 Flickr

Ok so Thing 5 was way harder than it should have been. I started to do it at work but my December 2008 vacation photos were on the computer at home. I came home and tried to upload them. Thought I was successful. Well you know what they say about assume. Next day at work photos were not on Flicker. Next night went back to Flickr from home and uploaded photos. They said my premium subscription had expired. Ha A marketing ploy. I have never
had a Flickr premium subscription and I have had photos on Flickr for years. Then I found out I can only keep 200 photos -- but I don't want to delete any of my holland pictures -- I love my tulip pictures. OK so I deleted a few of Amsterdam -- kept the tulips and added some pictures from our December cruise. The one I am trying to add here is me enjoying myself. My husband said that librarians have a strange method of "booking a cruise".
Hmmm I'm not sure where the photos are. I clicked on the photograph and pasted the URLs and uploaded to blogger but what now?