Sand box: I've added a piece to the HCL 23 Things wiki and to the Maryland sandbox. And here endeth 23 Things for this year. It has been an experience. See the previous entry for my parting words.
http://marylandlibrariessandbox.pbwiki.com/Mountains%2C%20mountains%2C%20and%20more%20mountains
Monday, November 26, 2007
Thing #23 -- or That's All Folks
Actually it's not quite all. i have one more question to finish when I get to work and can find out about sandboxes.
Another substitute librarian chided me for doing this program without getting paid for it. And I do understand her viewpoint, but I know how much I don't know about this Brave New World.
It was worth doing this on my own because I really needed to stretch and to learn a bunch of this stuff. I'm not sure what tools I will really continue using, but at least I won't look completely dumb when the customers start challenging us with this new material.
I agree with several other folks who believe that we could have used some group help. The assumptions that many of these sites make are mind-boggling to us folks who do not have the lingo or the experience. Although this is a self-learning experience, it is the wise person who can admit she doesn't know something and look for help. "Help" is not helpful on these web sites.
Many thanks to Jaye who helped me get into Flkr and import one photo. I did much better when she said I could use my own Kodak Gallery as well. Big thanks to Sarah at Glenwood, she kept me from quitting the whole project by helping me get my online image.
May I never stop learning, but I think I will take a break before I launch into another monster project like this. I look forward to going back to several sites and spending time in them. And I look forward to being around for Web 3, whatever it evolves into.
Another substitute librarian chided me for doing this program without getting paid for it. And I do understand her viewpoint, but I know how much I don't know about this Brave New World.
It was worth doing this on my own because I really needed to stretch and to learn a bunch of this stuff. I'm not sure what tools I will really continue using, but at least I won't look completely dumb when the customers start challenging us with this new material.
I agree with several other folks who believe that we could have used some group help. The assumptions that many of these sites make are mind-boggling to us folks who do not have the lingo or the experience. Although this is a self-learning experience, it is the wise person who can admit she doesn't know something and look for help. "Help" is not helpful on these web sites.
Many thanks to Jaye who helped me get into Flkr and import one photo. I did much better when she said I could use my own Kodak Gallery as well. Big thanks to Sarah at Glenwood, she kept me from quitting the whole project by helping me get my online image.
May I never stop learning, but I think I will take a break before I launch into another monster project like this. I look forward to going back to several sites and spending time in them. And I look forward to being around for Web 3, whatever it evolves into.
Thing #22
Don't throw me in the briar patch!
I have been aware of the Gutenberg project and others for a long time, but until "forced" to go exploring I have left it at that. It sounds like a fairy tale come true for a bibliophile.
It was interesting to scan the lists of books in the public domain; as a some-time writer, an editor, and librarian all in one, I have more than a passing interest in public domain and copyright issues.
At 6 am today, I also discovered that I can volunteer to do proofreading for the project.
Don't throw me in the briar patch! or Anywhere but Nineva.
I need to do some more exploring at the library to check out the other sources.
I have been aware of the Gutenberg project and others for a long time, but until "forced" to go exploring I have left it at that. It sounds like a fairy tale come true for a bibliophile.
It was interesting to scan the lists of books in the public domain; as a some-time writer, an editor, and librarian all in one, I have more than a passing interest in public domain and copyright issues.
At 6 am today, I also discovered that I can volunteer to do proofreading for the project.
Don't throw me in the briar patch! or Anywhere but Nineva.
I need to do some more exploring at the library to check out the other sources.
Thing #21
Now I have some sense of what the NPR stations mean when they offer podcasts of shows.
The search tools for podcasts are very much like all the other search tools. As I learn to use my MP3 player, I will be taking advantage of them. i also know that I can look for materials other than my trusty books.
Although I will be probably be very specific in my searches and use of podcasts, I see this as a much more useful tool for my life interests. Diane Reims here I come.
The search tools for podcasts are very much like all the other search tools. As I learn to use my MP3 player, I will be taking advantage of them. i also know that I can look for materials other than my trusty books.
Although I will be probably be very specific in my searches and use of podcasts, I see this as a much more useful tool for my life interests. Diane Reims here I come.
Thing #20
YouTube--another site that I feared. I have seen lots of comments about the garbage that makes it onto YouTube, and I always figured that since I have no desire to get into video stuff myself, I really didn't need to go there.
Once again 23 Things plunged me into the depths and I swam [for the most part]; I now admit that there is good stuff on YouTube, it is not just a vanity tool for everyone who thinks themselves videographers.
I looked at some real junk and some real art and lots of in-betweens. I have added a couple to my favorites list and need to include a couple more.
Will I become a real fan of YouTube? I doubt it, but at least I won't avoid it. I will probably still wait for recommendations from friends and family. I will not be spending hours surfing the system [again, I consider my life too short to spend poring over videos]
Once again 23 Things plunged me into the depths and I swam [for the most part]; I now admit that there is good stuff on YouTube, it is not just a vanity tool for everyone who thinks themselves videographers.
I looked at some real junk and some real art and lots of in-betweens. I have added a couple to my favorites list and need to include a couple more.
Will I become a real fan of YouTube? I doubt it, but at least I won't avoid it. I will probably still wait for recommendations from friends and family. I will not be spending hours surfing the system [again, I consider my life too short to spend poring over videos]
Thing #13
I have pussy-footed around del.icio.us almost from the beginning, and finally got registered and started using it. I know how it works, it remains up to me to actually learn to use it well and efficiently.
This is another example of how wandering around the 23 Things over the past several months has helped me overcome my fears of using Web 2 tools and allowed me to persist with the pieces that puzzle me and make no sense. The various links at the 23 Things sites have been most helpful.
The end is almost in sight [almost spelled it site, who me saturated?]
This is another example of how wandering around the 23 Things over the past several months has helped me overcome my fears of using Web 2 tools and allowed me to persist with the pieces that puzzle me and make no sense. The various links at the 23 Things sites have been most helpful.
The end is almost in sight [almost spelled it site, who me saturated?]
Thing #14
I claimed Cripple Creek Traveler with Technorati in the early days of the project; however, I did not explore its benefits. In the finish-up mode, with a lot more experience in the 23 Things, I am beginning to see the benefits. I now have two blogs listed to follow, and will be adding more in the days and weeks to come.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Thing #12
I have created my search roll, but I'm still not sure what it is to provide or how to use it. Nothing has convinced me that this is something I need, but I plan to continue asking fellow 23 Things folks and reading the HoCo blogs.
Thing #8
RSS and blogline. Having read several articles about RSS, I have only a slim idea about them. My sense is that this is one of the tools for "consuming" information. I am not so wedded to the Internet that I have to be in constant contact with information. I have registered with Bloglines and Google, but I have yet to figure out just how to set up my own feed.
Twenty-two years ago or so, Madeleine L'Engle wrote of her distaste for the words "consumer" and "consumerism". I seek information for the joy of learning and for good tools for living; I do not feel a need for a steady feed of news and information. I do not watch television for my news and I do not listen to NPR nonstop. At my age, I am quite selective and like being able to choose carefully and deliberately.
I am already under the curse of "too many books, too little time". I am not sure I want to get into "too much information, too little time".
Twenty-two years ago or so, Madeleine L'Engle wrote of her distaste for the words "consumer" and "consumerism". I seek information for the joy of learning and for good tools for living; I do not feel a need for a steady feed of news and information. I do not watch television for my news and I do not listen to NPR nonstop. At my age, I am quite selective and like being able to choose carefully and deliberately.
I am already under the curse of "too many books, too little time". I am not sure I want to get into "too much information, too little time".
Thing #19
Although Week 5 was listed as Fun Week, Week 8, no. 19 was the most fun for me. Years ago a friend of mine said that she was glad we couldn't take dictionaries into exams because she would go to look up a word and get lost reading the whole page.
I got started on the Web2 awards list and got lost in the variety of categories. It was great fun and enlightening. It made me aware of the number of options available as part of Web2: Here is my partially annotated list.
I got started on the Web2 awards list and got lost in the variety of categories. It was great fun and enlightening. It made me aware of the number of options available as part of Web2: Here is my partially annotated list.
Huge instant messaging system
No. 1—Lists and polls. Great fun for someone who loves lists and unusual topics, i.e., me.
No. 1—Events: the link went directly to Baltimore events. Multiple options, calendar, category, etc.
http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google/
No. 3—Games: I’m not a gamer, but Google was the lure. This looks like a fun game of creating montages and guessing key words.
No. 2—Mapping: a subscription map service
- Create personalized maps; Share them with your friends; Explore maps created by others; Connect and collaborate
No. 1—Philanthropy: Discover, Share, Take Action: a mix of philanthropic causes. The home page is cluttered and daunting.
Thing #16
The links at http://marylandlibrarieslearning2.blogspot.com are extremely helpful for understanding wikis, and as I read on Web 2, it is clear that wikis are a tool that Web 2 libraries are using in their social networks.
Wikis can be used to annotate the catalog, create social groups that the library wants to serve.
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/cil06/#10
This link from Mdlibraries is well done and has links that could be followed for days, but almost all of them stripped away some level of mystery for me about wikis. Slide 5 showed a format similar to the HoCo page, but with a number of wikis to draw the customer into the library's services. Meredith Farkas' presentation is filled with a variety of practical library uses for Web 2 and wikis.
http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/11/19/balance-in-everything-wikipedia-v-the-librarian/
This article about Librarians and Wikis points out the need to get into Web 2 and its tools.
Wikis can be used to annotate the catalog, create social groups that the library wants to serve.
http://meredith.wolfwater.com/cil06/#10
This link from Mdlibraries is well done and has links that could be followed for days, but almost all of them stripped away some level of mystery for me about wikis. Slide 5 showed a format similar to the HoCo page, but with a number of wikis to draw the customer into the library's services. Meredith Farkas' presentation is filled with a variety of practical library uses for Web 2 and wikis.
http://enquiring-minds.net/2007/11/19/balance-in-everything-wikipedia-v-the-librarian/
This article about Librarians and Wikis points out the need to get into Web 2 and its tools.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
Thing #9
Time to finish up 23 Things and make some serious posts.
Merlin and library-related blogs: http://www.merlin.lib.md.us/
http://librarianlikeme.wordpress.com/2007/10/
This blog offers wonderful explanations of some of the new Web 2 features.
I appreciate the discussion of taxonomies from Oct. 30. Also Jami presents a compelling argument for the Web 2 presence for reference services.
Also points out the variety of services the public library can offer "everywhere".
http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=18590
Another description of Reference Services in the Digital Age, Oct. 29, 2007
These various sites have helped me realize what the REAL POINT of 23 Things is.
http://www.oclc.org/community/topics/virtualreference/default.htm
This is the OCLC list of virtual reference topics and trends.
Merlin and library-related blogs: http://www.merlin.lib.md.us/
http://librarianlikeme.wordpress.com/2007/10/
This blog offers wonderful explanations of some of the new Web 2 features.
I appreciate the discussion of taxonomies from Oct. 30. Also Jami presents a compelling argument for the Web 2 presence for reference services.
Also points out the variety of services the public library can offer "everywhere".
http://webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=18590
Another description of Reference Services in the Digital Age, Oct. 29, 2007
These various sites have helped me realize what the REAL POINT of 23 Things is.
http://www.oclc.org/community/topics/virtualreference/default.htm
This is the OCLC list of virtual reference topics and trends.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Back in the Saddle
Back at work and into finishing 23 Things.
While looking into Technorati, I discovered that Web 2 is moving into Web 3.
http://sramanamitra.com/2007/02/14/web-30-4c-p-vs/
This site has some very helpful information about Web 1, which was motivated by commerce, eBay, Netflix, Amazon, etc.
This author describes the makeup of Web 2 as being a vertical structure. The only example given is a site called SideStep, which explores more than 200 websites for travel information. [a new one for my travel explorations]. I am guessing that in this context "vertical" means a very straight search process with a focused purpose.
If I understand correctly, Web 3 will be able to pursue many levels of
"context". The author gives an example of creating a personal profile that takes advantage of "content", "commerce", and "context".
With any kind of luck, I will learn enough thru the 23 Things to be ready to tackle Web 3.
While looking into Technorati, I discovered that Web 2 is moving into Web 3.
http://sramanamitra.com/2007/02/14/web-30-4c-p-vs/
This site has some very helpful information about Web 1, which was motivated by commerce, eBay, Netflix, Amazon, etc.
This author describes the makeup of Web 2 as being a vertical structure. The only example given is a site called SideStep, which explores more than 200 websites for travel information. [a new one for my travel explorations]. I am guessing that in this context "vertical" means a very straight search process with a focused purpose.
If I understand correctly, Web 3 will be able to pursue many levels of
"context". The author gives an example of creating a personal profile that takes advantage of "content", "commerce", and "context".
With any kind of luck, I will learn enough thru the 23 Things to be ready to tackle Web 3.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
On the Mend
This is just to let folks know that I am on the mend. I have not been to the library e-mail since Oct. 16, so if any of you have posted good wishes et cetera I apologize for not answering.
I've started PT and I am planning on resuming my sub duties the week of the 19th, in time to let the Thanksgiving folks get away.
See you all soon.
Beth
I've started PT and I am planning on resuming my sub duties the week of the 19th, in time to let the Thanksgiving folks get away.
See you all soon.
Beth
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
