I have used wikis many times before this thing. At my last job we used a wiki and a blog to share information between campuses. I created my own wiki on PBWiki, but I find I don't use that as much as I would like anymore.
I have looked at the Library Success: Best Practices Wiki and found it was full of lots of great ideas for all kinds of libraries. I will definitely come back to that soon.
For this thing, I went to the 23 Things on a Stick Wiki and edited it. The editing process was easy, but the wait for the system to finish saving it, took forever for some reason, but finally it saved. Very easy to use, although from looking at the advanced features, you can also use code to make it exactly the way you want it.
I think that the collaborative nature of wikis, makes wikipedia a bad choice for research purposes. However, I don't want to tell anyone that they can't use wikipedia for finding out background information before you start doing research. It usually does have mostly good information. Just like any source, you have to be aware of the author, and not having a definite author makes it much less credible than other sources.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Thing 9
File sharing is a great use of Google Docs. I had used it before to do word and excel documents when I needed to go between computers with no working usb port. It is a pretty easy to use interface that makes me love Google even more.
As for the sharing, I had a hard time using it. The site refreshed too quickly and changes were lost. Also on the test one we were to try, I clicked edit, and even though I'm logged in, it wouldn't let me change anything.
Here is a link to an excel file I was working on in my Google docs. I decided not to use sharing but to be able to let others see the file:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p9x_KdS8ONo9-UJcU91sRNQ
I feel that I would need to have control over who has the rights to edit any of my documents, as I have seen commercial spam come into public forums many a time.
As for the sharing, I had a hard time using it. The site refreshed too quickly and changes were lost. Also on the test one we were to try, I clicked edit, and even though I'm logged in, it wouldn't let me change anything.
Here is a link to an excel file I was working on in my Google docs. I decided not to use sharing but to be able to let others see the file:
http://spreadsheets.google.com/pub?key=p9x_KdS8ONo9-UJcU91sRNQ
I feel that I would need to have control over who has the rights to edit any of my documents, as I have seen commercial spam come into public forums many a time.
Thing 8
Thing 8 was a lot of fun for me to play with. I really like the idea of having your presentations on a slideshow site, so that way if you lose your file, you have it on the net no matter what.
Here is my test slideshow:
I liked Slideshare the best because it was easiest to use, and you didn't have to be a member to search through others publicly available slideshows. I loved the youtube feel of it all. I would recommend this for others to use. People have complained that they couldn't edit this on the site - that isn't what Slideshare does. You need to go into your original Powerpoint (or whatever you are using) to edit the slide and then repost. That really isn't that difficult, and I think is worth the trouble of having a link to your presentation anywhere that you can also post on your own blogs.
Here is my test slideshow:
I liked Slideshare the best because it was easiest to use, and you didn't have to be a member to search through others publicly available slideshows. I loved the youtube feel of it all. I would recommend this for others to use. People have complained that they couldn't edit this on the site - that isn't what Slideshare does. You need to go into your original Powerpoint (or whatever you are using) to edit the slide and then repost. That really isn't that difficult, and I think is worth the trouble of having a link to your presentation anywhere that you can also post on your own blogs.
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Thing 7
Web Communication tools are one of the main reasons I use the internet so much. I have 2 non-work emails, one on hotmail and one on gmail. I have the gmail automatically forwarded to the hotmail, to save time. I like having the free email, to keep work emails separate from personal. Plus if I sign up for a commercial webpage, I use that address, in case I get spam.
Another way I save time is by having not only the spam filters turned on, but I put in keywords to filter out in the title. Most people who write me emails wouldn't send me an email with a dirty word in the title, so that seems to help stop the gross emails enough.
Without email, my job would be a lot more difficult in our library. I get hundreds of emails a day dealing with my job. Without it, I think I would have a line of people around the block up to my workspace. It also helps keep people to the point so they can ask what they need of me, and that is a big help.
I use IM regularly. Many of the younger librarians I have worked with, like to use it to not only answer questions to patrons, but also to consult with each other on problems. When I worked at a branch library, we would all have IM on so we could stay in contact with each other. These branches were all over the country, so this was the best way of staying in touch.
I use MSN Messenger, but have also used Trillian and Meebo. These work well, but mostly I go back to Messenger as my associates use this the most. Meebo is good in that if people use different types of IM software, you can use this and can still communicate with everyone.
I have used cell texting on a friends cell phone. I am one of the few people in the world who don't have a cell phone, as I don't really like telephones. If I want to be unavailable to people, I think that is my right. I feel like it also makes people rude to each other by wanting to answer the phone at inopportune moments.
I would rather have the text messages come up to an IM reader on a computer. Who could sit at a cell phone all day trying to type on the tiny phone pad? Not fun if you were doing it all day, I think. However, I do see the benefit of being able to work anywhere and answer questions on the fly.
Web Conferencing has changed the way I do training in the past few years. Instead of having to wait for a local workshop or class on a topic, I can instead sign up for a webinar or online class on a subject. Also, I have used it in the past to do live online meetings for participants who are located around the country. Some of my favorite to do are the Minitex webinars. I try to do these whenever I see they are available. Webjunction also has tons of great web conferencing opportunities that I highly recommend to my staff. I love the idea of OPAL, and even though it seems geared towards public libraries, I have a few sessions I'm going to try out. From what I saw today, after downloading the plugin, it is really easy to use. I think it is a great way of reaching out to other librarians and users around the world.
I tried Twitter - I can see how people like to show what they are doing at all times, but it is still a mystery why people want to do this. I have friends that have their twitters posted to their blog journals, and I'm still not sure why I even want to read their twitters? I guess that is one of the social networking things I don't understand yet. I can see using it to show people that you are running late, or that you found something interesting that you need to share with the group. You can also post to this on your cellphone (which I don't have) and then it will go out to everyone in the group. That makes sense to those people who have cellphones I think.
As for my library, we use Microsoft Outlook. I use the file features to organize and can search easily within my emails. I like the task features, and calendar the best. In my past jobs I never used these features, and I have to say they improve my productivity and I can't imagine doing my job without it. In Technical Services, people don't like using technology for communication as much as I or other librarians do. I like to show them tools in our meetings, but many would rather do face to face communication. I save emails and IM'ing for appropriate times. However, if everyone would impliment IMing on our campus and also using emails, I would be very happy. I think IM'ing can be used to answer quick questions (I'd rather do that than use the phone) and can keep me more connected with my staff, who are now located in a different area of the library. I think the perception from IT (sorry guys) is that IM is just a toy that has no professional use, or that our people can't be trusted with a tool like that. I think that people would surprise you and end up using it. They would be more productive in the long run and I think it would be worth it.
Another way I save time is by having not only the spam filters turned on, but I put in keywords to filter out in the title. Most people who write me emails wouldn't send me an email with a dirty word in the title, so that seems to help stop the gross emails enough.
Without email, my job would be a lot more difficult in our library. I get hundreds of emails a day dealing with my job. Without it, I think I would have a line of people around the block up to my workspace. It also helps keep people to the point so they can ask what they need of me, and that is a big help.
I use IM regularly. Many of the younger librarians I have worked with, like to use it to not only answer questions to patrons, but also to consult with each other on problems. When I worked at a branch library, we would all have IM on so we could stay in contact with each other. These branches were all over the country, so this was the best way of staying in touch.
I use MSN Messenger, but have also used Trillian and Meebo. These work well, but mostly I go back to Messenger as my associates use this the most. Meebo is good in that if people use different types of IM software, you can use this and can still communicate with everyone.
I have used cell texting on a friends cell phone. I am one of the few people in the world who don't have a cell phone, as I don't really like telephones. If I want to be unavailable to people, I think that is my right. I feel like it also makes people rude to each other by wanting to answer the phone at inopportune moments.
I would rather have the text messages come up to an IM reader on a computer. Who could sit at a cell phone all day trying to type on the tiny phone pad? Not fun if you were doing it all day, I think. However, I do see the benefit of being able to work anywhere and answer questions on the fly.
Web Conferencing has changed the way I do training in the past few years. Instead of having to wait for a local workshop or class on a topic, I can instead sign up for a webinar or online class on a subject. Also, I have used it in the past to do live online meetings for participants who are located around the country. Some of my favorite to do are the Minitex webinars. I try to do these whenever I see they are available. Webjunction also has tons of great web conferencing opportunities that I highly recommend to my staff. I love the idea of OPAL, and even though it seems geared towards public libraries, I have a few sessions I'm going to try out. From what I saw today, after downloading the plugin, it is really easy to use. I think it is a great way of reaching out to other librarians and users around the world.
I tried Twitter - I can see how people like to show what they are doing at all times, but it is still a mystery why people want to do this. I have friends that have their twitters posted to their blog journals, and I'm still not sure why I even want to read their twitters? I guess that is one of the social networking things I don't understand yet. I can see using it to show people that you are running late, or that you found something interesting that you need to share with the group. You can also post to this on your cellphone (which I don't have) and then it will go out to everyone in the group. That makes sense to those people who have cellphones I think.
As for my library, we use Microsoft Outlook. I use the file features to organize and can search easily within my emails. I like the task features, and calendar the best. In my past jobs I never used these features, and I have to say they improve my productivity and I can't imagine doing my job without it. In Technical Services, people don't like using technology for communication as much as I or other librarians do. I like to show them tools in our meetings, but many would rather do face to face communication. I save emails and IM'ing for appropriate times. However, if everyone would impliment IMing on our campus and also using emails, I would be very happy. I think IM'ing can be used to answer quick questions (I'd rather do that than use the phone) and can keep me more connected with my staff, who are now located in a different area of the library. I think the perception from IT (sorry guys) is that IM is just a toy that has no professional use, or that our people can't be trusted with a tool like that. I think that people would surprise you and end up using it. They would be more productive in the long run and I think it would be worth it.
Thing 6
I played around with the online image generators today. It was pretty fun, and I got to use my Halloween picture from two years ago, where I was the barbarian librarian. Here is the trading card:
Also, for fun I Simpsonized myself using the Simpsons image generator:
I could see using any of these to do publicity for your promotions. Anything that uses humor and has a sense of fun is sure to bring people to your events.
I could use this at my library in making training student workers more fun. Adding a few of these in the right places could be a great way to get attention!
Also, for fun I Simpsonized myself using the Simpsons image generator:
I could see using any of these to do publicity for your promotions. Anything that uses humor and has a sense of fun is sure to bring people to your events.
I could use this at my library in making training student workers more fun. Adding a few of these in the right places could be a great way to get attention!
Thing Five
This was a rather fun assignment. I got to play with Flickr mashups and toys that can take your pictures and make fun stuff out of them.
Here is one I did from the Big Huge Labs page. This is my family's dog Dylan. It was a picture when he was a puppy, and I decided to add the Lolcats idea to it:
That is so cute, I think I need to send it to my family!
And this was the Spell with Flickr:
I could see using some of these tools for the library. The idea of a librarian trading card always appealed to me. I mean we are all superheroes in our own way, right? Plus, the tools make it possible for anyone to make fun items to attract patrons, and can help to make the library more approachable. I will be using these tools in the future, for sure!
Here is one I did from the Big Huge Labs page. This is my family's dog Dylan. It was a picture when he was a puppy, and I decided to add the Lolcats idea to it:
That is so cute, I think I need to send it to my family!
And this was the Spell with Flickr:
I could see using some of these tools for the library. The idea of a librarian trading card always appealed to me. I mean we are all superheroes in our own way, right? Plus, the tools make it possible for anyone to make fun items to attract patrons, and can help to make the library more approachable. I will be using these tools in the future, for sure!
Also on Thing Four
I also have a Picasa account through my Google account. My family uses this more, and I like the interface better. Plus, it seems easier to drag and drop pictures, change the albums, and I have it automatically email me when my family members update their albums. I'm sure these are almost the same features as Flickr, but you use what your friends and family use, so that seems to be the easiest for me.
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