Curiosity chases the cat...

Am I a curious person? I think that I can be depending on the season of my life and the area to be explored. My daughter has gotten frustrated with me because she claims that I never get bored. This is true. There are so many thoughts to think and paths to explore. Curiosity is challenging!
I have a two year old in my home. We call her the "Curiosity Kid" because she is curious about almost EVERYTHING! She absolutely enjoys learning new things and that need and curiosity keep me thinking of how to stay one step ahead but what a joy! One of my big fears is something that was mentioned on the video clip, that schools tend to punish and kill curiosity in kids. What schools reward is conformity and regurgitation of facts...not every teacher and not every school but in general.
I love and from little on have been drawn to libraries because a library feeds curiosity. Where else (other than now the internet) can someone find, in one place, an access to explore tangents. Where else can people find resources in visual, auditory, and (especially for kids) kinetic. One of the things I enjoy is checking out the kids and asking them if they found anything interesting? The excitement in their eyes as they tell about the books, movies, toys they've found. It's like a treasure hunt. What a wonderful place a library is!!
As for my curiosity and the web, some of my plans for the future are to learn how to upload pictures into various programs (facebook & blog especially), continue to explore mashups, and become more proficient in some of the sites/programs that I have been introduced to through Adventures in Technology. I hope that these past lessons will continue to be available for review in the future as there are a number of them that I would like to explore in a more thorough manner.
Curiosity doesn't kill the cat, it chases the cat to find out where it goes and what it is hiding. Follow a two year old, you'll see.

Mashing

I found this week's lesson...interesting. I have used numerous mashed sites in the past without knowing that there was an official name for this type of putting things together. The mapping site that I used (to find real estate in Tennessee) is of a type I have used before and find very helpful. On the other hand, in exploring the concept of (myself) putting applications together, I don't think that I am up to that kind of computer workout yet. Even the "easy" Go-Go Google Gadget library connection, although very practical and useful, seemed to need a bit more concentration and computer time than I have right now. I did think that the hooking of LibraryThing (one of my favorite sites) to the library was a possibility that patrons would appreciate.
Although at this time, I don't have time to explore this area more, it is one that I am going to keep in mind for the future. I wonder if perhaps using a map and time/place mashup for the bookmobile would be a helpful possibility. I personally like the visuality of maps.
All in all this was a helpful lesson particularly in giving some vocabulary to a concept I have already used. Thanks!

YouTube

Although I personally am not very familiar or particularly comfortable with making videos for YouTube, I can see some very practical uses for librarians. Some of these would be for classes , perhaps a whole series on teaching techniques or uses of library equipment, promotional material, storytime clips, etc. I enjoyed a number of the YouTube videos that I watched and am amazed at the many historical clips that can be found. As a mother of college and high school students this opens exciting possibilities. One thing I do recognize is the need for documentation if these clips are used in presentations, but I'm not sure where the line is in terms of plagiarism. The great variety of clips is astounding!
As I have seen from my own kids, teens and young adults these days seem to have a good grasp on how to make and include these videos in programs and perhaps it would be good for the library to take advantage in their knowledge of this in putting some promotional clips onto the library website. I think in particular, promotion of upcoming teen activities, children events, and perhaps expanding into some of the senior activities (a chance for inter-generational cooperation).
I could also see how books could be promoted or reviewed, signing could be used, etc. All in all, I see YouTube as a useful tool for libraries to use.

Second Life

O.K. This week's lesson to be was just a bit far out there. It seemed to me to take people into fantasy, which as an escape is fine but has the possibility to remove people from real life interactions. Perhaps I just missed the purpose...design? meetings? Obviously, I don't get how this could be utilized as a major library tool. I think I will have to go back to this lesson and try to figure out what I missed.

Doodle so far...

As of this point, 13 people have responded to the Doodle survey about the materials they use at the library. The greatest use has been in the DVD/video area. I was also surprised how many people read the newspapers. I am enjoying being able to see what people I know (people from my address book) used at the library. Non-fiction and general fiction came up as the next most used. This has been a fun part of Adventures in Technology.

Catching up...

This past weekend I did the last 2 weeks of lessons. As you can see, I added a print version of a podcast onto my blog and 2 podcasts to my Google Reader. At first look, I liked the cleaner look of Podscope but I found that Podcast Alley has a much better search engine...at least for the words I put in. I was pleasantly surprised to find a podcast by one of my favorite curriculum authors. In terms I can see a number of library uses for podcasting: either open/live or post podcasts of various speakers or events that we do, a book talk or book review would be nice, or perhaps doing some classes like our AIT classes.
I am curious if there is a way to link a regular podcast to my blog rather than linking a written form of the podcast.
Jumping back to the previous lesson...
After I wrote on this blog, I went back into the Nashville Library site and did their survey. It seems that they are grappling with some of the same issues in terms of money , time, personnel, etc. that we are. If anyone is interested, please check out their survey. The survey was very simple but I do admit that there were questions that I wanted the "best of both worlds" rather picking an either/or answer. I am hoping that they publish the results of this survey in the coming month or so.

By invitation only?

Getting people to be involved in something that interests you is the main topic for today. I made a survey (http://www.doodle.ch/et5zbebf7mwmmhih) which of course anyone who reads this blog is invited to be a participant. It is the first survey I have ever tried to do online and after seeing how it actually comes out in the formatting, I think I would do it slightly differently next time. On the other hand, I am looking forward to seeing who actually participates (I specifically invited family and friends) and what the results will be.
I found David Lee King's blog interesting as too often library homepages only give information but do not invite participation. Of the libraries that do invite participation, the Nashville Public Library homepage does a nice job. Information is given, interaction is invited, but the page is not cluttered and especially, not wordy. Instead, pictures and buttons invite the patron to follow down his or her paths of interest. The major problem I saw with David Lee King's blog comments was the casualness of "just add ___ to your blog". The assumption is that one knows HOW to add these things. Not my forte but this class is at least broadening my knowledge and giving me possibilities.
What are people most interested in at the library? RPL has been running quite a number of articles in the newspapers these days. Perhaps (to get a broader base) we can ask people to log on to the library web site and find out what collection, activity, etc. is of most interest to people. If people don't use the library, why not? Is it location, time, nothing there of interest?
All in all, I found the topic of this week's lesson informative and useful both personally and professionally.

Remember the Milk and Jott

I am a list maker by nature because I KNOW that if something isn't written down, I WILL forget so these programs were of some interest to me. However, after trying them out I think they will be of little use mostly because you need to be a person who uses computer, ipod, web-phone, etc. technology on a REGULAR basis. Which I don't!!!
Initially, when reading the description in AIT, I thought that Remember the Milk would be more my style but I am having a dickens of a time just trying to get the email assignment accomplished. This is a bit discouraging as I don't even seem to be able to do this "simple" task. While waiting, I decided to try the Jott which did work as it should. Easier to do...just call it in...but again, I am visual and would need to be online (or print out) the list regularly.
Bottom line is that although both of these are good ideas for people with regular, daily online time, for me they are of little use. I must say however, that what people think of to do technologically is pretty amazing.

Delicious Bookmarks

OK...so the truth is that I am simultaneously intrigued, overwhelmed, and at the edge of frustrated. I absolutely love tag clouds and that whole concept. I like bookmarks as I have a forgetful mind. However, as I set up an account with Delicious and added former bookmarks, which in hindsight, I probably shouldn't have. I got a bit frustrated trying to "organize" them (in a more outline fashion) to fit what I thought I saw in one of the examples. Unfortunately, I couldn't figure out how to do that or if I was supposed to have all my bookmarks listed on my toolbar. Just need more time for this one I think. In reality, I'm not sure if it is that I am much less familiar with the topics this semester or just have had less time but I am finding this semester more difficult, although still interesting.
As for practicality, I liked the Nashville Library use of a cloud tag for the teen section (and no I'm not biased just because Kam is down there and I have a library card from there.) I think that using cloud tags are great for visually oriented people as they give numerous bits of info in just a glance. I think that this kind of thing would also be good on a "seniors" library web page with topics/books of interest specifically for seniors. Perhaps a homeschool page as well...
I personally don't find the tags and uncontrolled vocabulary at all unsettling but rather it tends to spark new thoughts, concepts, and directions for me.
So, I will continue to persevere and see where in the library universe I will land.

I'm going to try to IM

So...this one I am not so sure of as I don't spend much time online but I will give it a try. I did add a widget to my personal blog through meebo. I can see that this could be helpful to people who constantly have their computer online, or are in an "office" environment. The little bit of IMing that I do is when I get on facebook and someone I know is also online...which isn't often. Regardless, I will persevere.
Just a question...You mentioned in this session about "Google Talk is embedded in the left hand column of our inbox." You lost me on that one...what inbox? mail? I get mine through my home email account because I can never figure out how to get on the library one.
Also, from last semester, could you sometime show me how to add some of that interesting stuff to my facebook account. How do these kids find this stuff??!!
Thanks! It's nice having resident experts.

Final Posting

It is hard to believe that this class is over for the semester. Personally, it has been a great learning experience. Have I used everything that I learned? No, but it did make me more aware of what is available to do and learn on the web. This class also gave me an organized way to go about trying some new things. With a bit of tweaking, I am wondering if a link to the library website and advertise its availability to patrons. This seems to me to be a very non-threatening resource to learn some new things. If the topic of each lesson is "advertised" then people could just choose the lessons that were most appropriate for them.
Do I use everything I learned? No, however the ones I use regularly are: LibraryThing, Facebook, and my (personal) blog. I have plans (when I have time...sometime in the future...) to put all my pictures on Flickr and then map them. If it hasn't been made obvious by now, the incentive I would most like is a lifetime membership to LibraryThing.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to be challenged in some new areas. I am planning to take the class offered in fall.

More on LibraryThing...

It is later in the day...actually it is later in the night. As expected, I am having a wonderful time working in (with?) LibraryThing. I figured how to link it to my blog...actually to BOTH my blogs. I wonder if it is possible to hook to Facebook?? An avenue to explore another day. My main problem is that I am going to fill my free book list way too soon!
I love the recommended book list! I was surprised at the extrapolations made for some of the very good suggestions of books I have already read and enjoyed. One of the books recommended was Waking Rose by Regina Doman. I have read 2 of her other books and enjoyed them. Another suggestion was The Charmed Sphere by Catherine Asaro. I have never read anything by this author and am looking forward to checking her out. One of the Unsuggester books was Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut and it is truly a book I have absolutely NO desire to read. On the other hand, it unsuggested My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers which I have read and liked. Actually, when it expressed "why" there was no basis.
Looking at how both the recommendation and unsuggestions are compiled, I can imagine that it will be more accurate the more books (both in number and variety) that are listed. I guess I will have to start putting some of my non-fiction books and see how that changes things.
Besides learning to blog, this lesson has been the best, most useful, and will be the most used lesson that we've had. That said, I have truly appreciated the time put in, the variety, and thoughtfulness of the lessons we have done. I learned quite a bit in many areas. Even if many of those I will probably not use on a regular basis, I think it is good to know, both personally and professionally, that these technologies and information are available. Thank you for the opportunity to have some adventures in technology. I am looking forward to signing up again in the fall.
FYI - Just for fun, click your mouse on the picture.

LibraryThing Loving

Today our assignment was to get involved in LibraryThing. Now THIS is something I really gravitate to...books, organization, and it's all at my fingertips! I only added 12 books because I wanted to get several authors listed and I could have EASILY put in 20+ books from just one author. (Also, I am going into my lunch hour as I was having so much fun!) I like the idea of being able to keep the books I read "cataloged" in an orderly manner in a place that I can readily access. I can see this type of thing be very useful to a library patron. In fact, when I was working bookmobile the other day, I had a patron moaning about the fact that she couldn't remember if she had read a book and wished that the library could keep a list of what she had checked out in the past. I too, suffer from the same problem as in too many books, too short a memory.
I really couldn't find anything that I didn't like about this site except that I couldn't find the suggester but I was running short on time so I will go back later and keep adding books and find it. Then I will blog some more.
Thanks for this lesson...it is one I will use!!!!!

Facebook Faceoff

Tonight, I put myself on Facebook. It was an interesting procedure and I am intrigued to find out who will be my "friends." I only added 1 add-on and that was a map of where I have been. That took much longer than I thought it would, mainly because I have been more places that I thought I have been. I wanted to add myself as a Fan of the Library but couldn't figure out how so I think I am going to need help with that.
The articles and links about using Facebook as a library tool leaves me ambivalent. On the one hand, I can see a link that gives people information but on the other hand, as I have a fairly strict friends only security, I'm not sure if it is really usable. Perhaps if I were to make one of those "business" pages. I need to think on this a bit more...
By the way, all you fellow RPL bloggers, don't forget to do the survey.
Just a thought that occurred to me, perhaps on the map page, I will mark all the places of Libraries I've been to. Hmmm....

Photo Fun

Today's assignment was a challenge but a fun one. Having explored Flickr, I think that this is one of those practical lessons that I will actually use. I set up the pictures that Chris T. took into both sets and into a collection. The feature that I especially liked was the map feature. I put the Main Street Displays set into (onto?) the map of Racine, WI so other people could see this set. Hopefully soon I am going to put my family pictures into sets. I am also going to try to connect one of the sets with my family blog... We'll see how that goes.
Please note that I resisted the opportunity to spell fun as PHUN.
Also, any of my fellow RPL bloggers that read my blog, please VOTE!

A Resting Week...

No new assignment this week but I did enjoy looking at some of the websites that we were invited to view. I also caught up on my Google Reader material as this has been a hectic week and am WAY behind in that.
For all you fellow RPL bloggers, a question: What has been your favorite assignment in this AIT adventure? Answer this by doing the survey in this blog.
Have a great week!

Wiki

Today I did the Wikipedia assignment at home since I had both time and access to a computer. I have used Wikipedia before for recipes but didn't really understand the concept of a wiki. I could see a wiki being used by people at the library to give stable (as opposed to changeable) information about our library or information about community services, ongoing community programs especially ones that the library is involved in (Summer Read for example), etc.
I did appreciate the comment that one of my fellow library bloggers made about getting information with accuracy issues.
Two questions: I thought I was on the correct week lesson but I see Week 8, am I behind and did I miss Week 7 someplace?

Doc-ing and Clock-ing

Today I learned how to use Google Docs. This seems to me to be a fairly efficient way to communicate between (particularly) co-workers. The same concept goes for the Calendar. I can especially see the usefulness of knowing immediately if your event will overlap another event and if that will be a problem. (Think color coordination.)
On a personal level, I'm not sure that it is as useful to me as I don't have steady, ready access to a computer (as opposed to my day planner). At the time, I have PowerPoint at home but I can see the advantage to using the Google slide show. It would have been especially helpful to my son, for instance, when he was supposed to collaborate with several people last semester for a project and it was VERY difficult to get them all together.
I did have a bit of difficulty getting back into my Google account to do anything beyond Google Reader. It kept asking me to make a new account. But then, I have a hard time remembering how to get into my library email account. MAJOR brain freeze on my part. After writing this, I am going to go try again.
Personally, learning to blog has been the most practical and fun lesson.

Some Possibilities...

Searching for various places to get web feeds from, looking at several library sites, and a comment from a coworker opened my mind to several ideas. Homeschooling is, of course, dear to my heart and I am thinking that part of what I will have my daughter do is make her own blog. She has been taking a computer course this semester but mostly focusing on MS Office applications and a couple of graphic programs. Doing this would broaden her just a bit more.
Also, I am wondering if we have or if there is a way to put together Unit Study Kits for Homeschoolers. I'm going to do some research on this and also think that I would need to be a bit more confident in using MS Access. We'll see...
Even if we do have something like this, I'm wondering how well known it is within the homeschool population. While there are quite a few homeschoolers that use the library regularily, I know that because of family size, time constraints, etc. and with the growing numbers of new homeschoolers not enough homeschool families make use of the extensive possibilities of the library.
I will continue to investigate.

A Bit More Challenge...

Week 4 is almost completed. It was not nearly as easy as Week 3 but with help, I finally got it. Part of the (low grade)frustration was mentioned in one of the blog sites I visited...getting overwhelmed with the "easy" stuff like remembering different email addresses and passwords. Part of my problem is that I don't use them often enough and so forget them. The good thing is that I am a list writer and take notes. So...the thing to do now...is remember to have my notes with me...or possibly use the "easy" stuff more often.
I am enjoying learning these new things if only that I am intellectually challenged each week. Connecting with some interesting people and websites are an added plus.
Before I finish for the week, I have to look at the challenge for this lesson and see if it is beyond me.
I also want to figure out how to put a hits counter on the blog. Perhaps with help...
On the other hand, I did make a personal blog which impressed my kids and a number of family and friends who live too far away to visit easily have gotten a chance to catch up on the family news.

One of the great things...

One of the great things about this library blogging is getting to read blogs by your fellow workers. It is amazing to see all the diverse blogs with unique creativity in colors, topics, etc. Reading other people's blogs has also given me interesting things to think about, contemplate things to incorporate into my blog, and just have a good laugh. To all of you at work who have shared your blog, thank you!!

Changing themes

Due to doing things backward, I did Week 2 after Week 3 so I am just going to comment on the theme change on this blog that I created today. I have done theme changes within my email account at home because I like having variety to fit my moods. I am going to download foxfire there and put a theme on that computer as well. I have enjoyed learning these techie tricks.

The First Stone

Today is my first attempt at blogging. Actually it is really my first interaction with blogs. After doing some of the assigned readings there is a bit of similarity to "back in the day" when I had (made) time to search out Homeschool mom's websites.
Truthfully, I'm not sure how much of a priority this will be for me in this season of my life, partly because I am afraid that I could get hooked and other priorities would slide. Only time will tell....
Dorcas