OK - This is thing "7" (or 6, if you don't count Facebook...) I created a Rollyo account, and created an "Online Shopaholic" search engine. Check out the link - to the left...
This could be hugely useful at a library - In fact, for one of my current LIS classes, I think I might Rollyo several of the "approved" free or open-web sites we can use in our research. I can see libraries doing the same, and even breaking them down by category (such as, Fine Arts; Popular Authors (home pages, which often contain information about upcoming releases and also series orders); medicine; law (free legal websites - including, I believe, Google (or is it Yahoo) which now offers actual case search capability...)... Government websites (IRS, unemployment etc.). Uses could be endless. Good stuff!
Friday, July 02, 2010
Thing Six: I Wikied
OK - so NOW I get Wikipedia. Always sort of loved it as a place to start when I'm trying to answer a reference question, but I can see how the John Stewart "Wikiality" happens. In about 5-10 minutes (including subscription time) I went to PBWorks and set up a 'practice' Wiki. It's just a note and a picture, and it happened to only be about my cousin's wedding a couple of years ago, but it could have been anything. I'm a self-proclaimed expert on Tudor (and specifically, Elizabethan) England. I could have Wikied (sp?) about that, and put it out there for anyone and everyone. Hmmm... OK, Cheryl, focus.
If I've got you curious, check out my Wiki. The link is to the left.
I can certainly see not only how this can be addictive on a personal level :>) but how it could be very useful in a library setting. Librarians can Wiki about - well - just about anything. It is a great way for them to share and to present information - Similar in that respect to a blog (difference being that I get more of a sense of permanence about a Wiki). They could, for example, put together a Wiki on - I don't know - APA 6th, or MLA citation style rules for patrons to access. I know in my library we get school children who are all doing the same class/ school projects each year. We could Wiki Pathfinders for some of the more commonly selected topics. Come to that, each of the librarians could Wiki a pathfinder for whatever their personal topics of interest may be, including information about their own personal favorite authors. I can just see loads of ways this could be used within a library context.
If I've got you curious, check out my Wiki. The link is to the left.
I can certainly see not only how this can be addictive on a personal level :>) but how it could be very useful in a library setting. Librarians can Wiki about - well - just about anything. It is a great way for them to share and to present information - Similar in that respect to a blog (difference being that I get more of a sense of permanence about a Wiki). They could, for example, put together a Wiki on - I don't know - APA 6th, or MLA citation style rules for patrons to access. I know in my library we get school children who are all doing the same class/ school projects each year. We could Wiki Pathfinders for some of the more commonly selected topics. Come to that, each of the librarians could Wiki a pathfinder for whatever their personal topics of interest may be, including information about their own personal favorite authors. I can just see loads of ways this could be used within a library context.
Thing Five - Part Two (I forgot the library part)
OK - so in my enthusiasm as to how I could PERSONALLY use Library Thing - I didn't really share any thoughts on how it could be used from a library perspective. So, here's my thoughts:
1. Since you can search by title, and can directly search the Library of Congress, it is a great tool for someone at the reference desk who is asked to find all the books with that particular title and then work with their patron to figure out "which one" is theirs... Til now, I've been using Amazon myself (and, of course, one of the 'catalogs' this searches is Amazon) - but it also has LOC and some other book sites that you can search in, all in one site.
2. Search by Author - same thing. I also think it would help with questions such as "which book came next" in a particular series.
3. Common theme here - I love telling people about cool stuff, so I can definitely see sharing this with my patrons for their own use. I would imagine from there, since you can share your virtual library, it would be a very simple thing for a patron to note the name of a book on the site, then share their "library" with a librarian (for example, a book list for summer reading, or the like) to get exactly the books they are looking for (or arrange for it to be ILL).
Effectively, what I'm getting from this is that one of its functions is as a sort of multi-functional/ multi-dimensional and multi-fasceted Reader's Advisory site.
Again I say - very cool!!
1. Since you can search by title, and can directly search the Library of Congress, it is a great tool for someone at the reference desk who is asked to find all the books with that particular title and then work with their patron to figure out "which one" is theirs... Til now, I've been using Amazon myself (and, of course, one of the 'catalogs' this searches is Amazon) - but it also has LOC and some other book sites that you can search in, all in one site.
2. Search by Author - same thing. I also think it would help with questions such as "which book came next" in a particular series.
3. Common theme here - I love telling people about cool stuff, so I can definitely see sharing this with my patrons for their own use. I would imagine from there, since you can share your virtual library, it would be a very simple thing for a patron to note the name of a book on the site, then share their "library" with a librarian (for example, a book list for summer reading, or the like) to get exactly the books they are looking for (or arrange for it to be ILL).
Effectively, what I'm getting from this is that one of its functions is as a sort of multi-functional/ multi-dimensional and multi-fasceted Reader's Advisory site.
Again I say - very cool!!
Thing Number Five: Library Thing. I think I love you!
OK - so I'm in book collector's heaven!!! I tried "Librarything.com". FABULOUS. It lets you search for books both from bookstore sites (amazon.com :>)) and even the LOC. What I like about it is that I always seem to forget the titles of books I have or want to get, so when I get to the bookstore, I always get stuck! With sites like Librarything, you can actually save books over into a "library" of your own, and even group them by categories such as "read but not owned" or " currently reading" and "wishlist". So from now on all I have to do if there is a book I don't want to forget to look for (either in my library, or in a book store) all I need to do is to pull it over into my "virtual" library, and I can retrieve the title as needed! Very cool!
Also, there are also numerous forums - including librarian forums - to share your thoughts about different books, and (much like Amazon) the site will generate recommendations for you based on what's in your library.
I think I'm in book collector's heaven!!!
If you want to check out some of my faves, I did start pulling a few titles into my library. The link is over in the toolbar to the left.
cheers
Cheryl the Book collector :>)
Also, there are also numerous forums - including librarian forums - to share your thoughts about different books, and (much like Amazon) the site will generate recommendations for you based on what's in your library.
I think I'm in book collector's heaven!!!
If you want to check out some of my faves, I did start pulling a few titles into my library. The link is over in the toolbar to the left.
cheers
Cheryl the Book collector :>)
Thursday, July 01, 2010
Thing 4: Online Applications and Tools
OK - making progress.
A little less fun than playing with pictures, but certainly useful! I set up accounts on both Google Docs and Zoho Writer, and did practice documents and spreadsheets on both. As a very experienced Microsoft Word and Excel user, I have to say they both seem to have a very similar, and comfortable, look and feel - Possibly even a bit simpler (not so many bells and whistles to worry about)- to the Microsoft products. Although I've shared documents in one way or other for collaboration most of my professional career, I'd never actually used a document sharing site and collaboration site like these (or, honestly, been aware that free web-based ones existed). All in all, I guess I'm not really convinced these are that much better than just e-mailing documents back and forth - except that you, as the owner, do seem to have better document/ version control than in Word/ Excel (You have to play with some settings in Word to protect a document).
As to how these could be used in a library- The first thing that comes to mind is that they are a free way for librarians - perhaps from different branches of a city's public library - to collaborate on a project. Although, again, I come back to "how exactly are these different from just exchanging by e-mail". I guess I'm not really sure. Then again, they are perfectly adequate substitutes for Word and Excel and Powerpoint, for example, for libraries to provide on their public-access computers - which would also permit these patrons to document-share at the same time. So there is value in that, too (both literally, and figuratively). Also, I think these types of resources are just good to know about as "being out there", so that you can educate your patrons about them should the need arise.
A little less fun than playing with pictures, but certainly useful! I set up accounts on both Google Docs and Zoho Writer, and did practice documents and spreadsheets on both. As a very experienced Microsoft Word and Excel user, I have to say they both seem to have a very similar, and comfortable, look and feel - Possibly even a bit simpler (not so many bells and whistles to worry about)- to the Microsoft products. Although I've shared documents in one way or other for collaboration most of my professional career, I'd never actually used a document sharing site and collaboration site like these (or, honestly, been aware that free web-based ones existed). All in all, I guess I'm not really convinced these are that much better than just e-mailing documents back and forth - except that you, as the owner, do seem to have better document/ version control than in Word/ Excel (You have to play with some settings in Word to protect a document).
As to how these could be used in a library- The first thing that comes to mind is that they are a free way for librarians - perhaps from different branches of a city's public library - to collaborate on a project. Although, again, I come back to "how exactly are these different from just exchanging by e-mail". I guess I'm not really sure. Then again, they are perfectly adequate substitutes for Word and Excel and Powerpoint, for example, for libraries to provide on their public-access computers - which would also permit these patrons to document-share at the same time. So there is value in that, too (both literally, and figuratively). Also, I think these types of resources are just good to know about as "being out there", so that you can educate your patrons about them should the need arise.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Thing 3 - RSS Feeds and Bloglines!
I tried setting up a few RSS feeds - including two for the Librarian Blogs I am following (copy this blog and In the Library With the Lead Pipe), and CNN which I always followed online. I'm still trying to get used to how the information comes in (I'd always gone the "old fashioned" route of simply going to the website periodically) - But so far, I like it.
Since I am following the Charlotte Mecklenberg 'program, I noticed one of their "tasks" was to check out Bloglines - so I did, and also set up a Bloglines account - Went a bit nuts, since I couldn't decide which feeds to subscribe to so I subscribed to entire categories. OH well. I guess as I go further along, I can decide which ones are "keepers" and weed the rest. Meanwhile, I'm adding the link to my blog toolbar.
I can certainly see where these types of tools could be useful in a library setting - on several fronts: 1) I think librarians should keep informed on current events in a variety of areas, including news, books, movies, sports and the like and this is a very convenient way to quickly keep abreast of the "latest" news in any given area; 2) It is something that could be set up on the library's public computers for use by its patrons for the same purpose; 3) It could be a nice resource to tell patrons about, for their own use.
Since I am following the Charlotte Mecklenberg 'program, I noticed one of their "tasks" was to check out Bloglines - so I did, and also set up a Bloglines account - Went a bit nuts, since I couldn't decide which feeds to subscribe to so I subscribed to entire categories. OH well. I guess as I go further along, I can decide which ones are "keepers" and weed the rest. Meanwhile, I'm adding the link to my blog toolbar.
I can certainly see where these types of tools could be useful in a library setting - on several fronts: 1) I think librarians should keep informed on current events in a variety of areas, including news, books, movies, sports and the like and this is a very convenient way to quickly keep abreast of the "latest" news in any given area; 2) It is something that could be set up on the library's public computers for use by its patrons for the same purpose; 3) It could be a nice resource to tell patrons about, for their own use.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
This time I tried an Image Editor or: Thing 2, Part 2
Here are some more pics I played with using an image editor this time... online-image-editor.com.
Couldn't get the animation to work on my saved pix, but that's OK. Same comments as before - Not sure I can see any application in a library setting save for letting patrons know that these types of sites are available.
Saturday, June 26, 2010
Thing 2 or: Playing with Pictures
Had some fun tonight playing with an online image generator that I found at customsigngenerator.com. I've never done anything like this. Here are a couple of samples of what I did.
These were lots of fun to play with - I may even spend some more time looking at a few other sites I found to see what else is out there... Looks like there are some that will create calendars and the like. You could get really really creative, but I can see where inordinate amounts of time could be spent sorting through the templates and playing with the image once you've put it in the template.
On the other hand, I'm not really sure how something like this would be used in a library context - at least, in a strict sense. However, since occasionally I do have patrons looking for information on digital photography and the like, I think this would be a nice additional resource to direct them to. The one thing I would mention on the negative is that, if you want to have the site's logo or name removed from the photo template, you can -but you have to pay (so the template is no longer free).
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
OK - so I redecorated. And a Follow up re: Facebook
Ok - so I redecorated. I'm actually having fun blogging, so I thought I'd play around and liven up my blog a bit. Also thought it would be fun to play around with the lay out and design a bit to see how that all works. And, of course, I needed to show off my pups. Cute, right? The little one is a 12-year-old female and the bigger one is a male and is going to be a year old the week after next. They actually get on remarkably well together - which makes me glad, because I specifically chose the "baby boy" to get along with my "super alpha" female (she's a terrier, and for those of us who know terriers - they know that the definition in the dictionary under "stubborn" and also "independent" would show a pic. of a terrier...)
Anyway - after a sort of unintended hiatus, I'm back on my quest for 23... or at least 5 more things towards the 23.
I did decide to make my Facebook excursion count for the exercise - I may just have it as a "7th" thing, I'll decide later. In any case, I have given some thought to how Facebook and other similar social media might function in a library (and for the present purposes I'll confine myself to a public library). First off, as I suggested in my previous post, I think these types of social sites can be useful sources for information - Even if it's just staying on top of who might be playing at the local venue next week. Of course, the lawyer in me has concerns around privacy and protection of personal information etc. on line - both from the "risk management" perspective of having patrons accessing these sites that are fairly - well - open, content-wise - as well as from the patron's perspective (vis-a-vis concerns over their own personal information, and how safe is it on a public machine). I know that maybe a bit neurotic, but - well, there it is. Also, I'm off topic a bit. Oh well. It's getting late. Long day.
Anyway, on balance, I think if some reasonable parameters are adhered to - I can definitely see a library setting up a Facebook or similar (My Space) page, where the patrons on the site can "friend" the library, it can also be another way for patrons to contact a librarian (esp. a reference librarian) to ask questions and be able to actually interact directly. It is also a way that a library could reach multiple patrons - by putting up posts on its facebook page, and then alerting all its "friends" to check out the update. Just some random thoughts. From my brief experience on facebook, and now with blogging, I think both are really powerful methods for communicating virtually. I also don't think they are necessarily mutually exclusive - I think a library could use both very effectively to not only disseminate information (yes, even "advertise" a bit...) about its programs etc., but also as an additional means by which to interact with patrons one-on-one.
In our next episode: Image Editors.
Tuesday, June 08, 2010
First of Twenty-Three!
OK - Not sure if this counts, although I suppose I'll find out in class tomorrow night. I actually signed up for facebook for the first time. Funny story here: I actually did it to locate some lyrics to a song I have really loved over the years. The song is from the movie Swept from the Sea; it was meant to be the theme song but it was apparently (per IMDB.com) cut ("swept from the flick"?) from the final credits. The song is called "To Love and Be Loved".
Anyway - the lyrics were nowhere to be found online. I did a bit of quick research, and found out who sang the song (which was written by John Barry, with lyrics by Tim Rice). Her name is Corina Brouder; I found that she was on Facebook, so I thought maybe I'd just ask her directly if she could share the lyrics!! So, I went to Facebook, and set up an account (I used my two dogs' names, instead of my real name... ) and then messaged her! I figured, what could I lose?
Here's the really cool part: she e-mailed me right back, and is going to actually send me the lyrics!! I also have my first "facebook friend". :>)
Pretty good, right?! Like I said, I'm not sure if this will count for one of my 6 things, but it was something I'd never done before, and I think it does go to show that SOMETIMES you've got to go right to the source for information when you can't find it!!! And certainly social networking sites like Facebook can facilitate that.
Cheers
Cheryl
Saturday, June 05, 2010
Associations Report URLs - Post 2
So as I'm working on my "Associations" Project, I thought I'd post the URLs for the two associations I have chosen:
1 The Association of College and Research Librarians
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/
2.The American Association of Law Libraries
http://www.aallnet.org/
1 The Association of College and Research Librarians
http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/
2.The American Association of Law Libraries
http://www.aallnet.org/
Friday, June 04, 2010
First Post
OK - So I've never blogged before. I guess this is my "one new thing" for today... I have to give some more thought to what I want to do as my "next" of 23 things for this project. By way of introduction (I guess I need to introduce myself), this blog is part of a project I am doing for a Masters in Library and Information Science program I am in at the University of South Florida.
For those of you who are curious - Yes, the name of this blog is a reference to Star Trek the Next Generation, and the Borg specifically. I am a fan - Data rocks! In any case, I named the Blog X of 23 after the Borg convention of naming their young: so, 2 of 5, 3 of 7 and so on. Since we have to do at least 6 of "23 things" for this project, I am calling this blog X of 23.
Ok - maybe a bit silly, but I couldn't come up with anything better right now!! Anyone out there in cyberspace, if you have any better suggestions let me know!!
Later.
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