Well...
Good for KCLS. This was fine. My satisfaction is primarily due to :
- renewed sense of currency with technology and lingo to better understand the public
- fun interaction with fellow staffers at learning new things together. As a team building event - this was great.
- new knowledge of what skills are needed for us to become an educational starting point for these tools for the public - a role I think is a good one. We'd have to fully invest ourselves as an educational institution to do that successfully and i'd embrace it.
For next time, I'd suggest:
-Pairs or learning teams be offered or suggested. This would further bond fellow staff members.
-Themes be offered and learning objectives be framed so that sites, activities, efforts be directed toward something from the start. It is not too much to learn a new tool and try to create something useful- in fact that creates greater purpose and caring. For example- hooking teens, supporting Talk Time volunteers, helping parents - any of those domains would have focussed the activities and lead to something potentially useful.
-A logical extension of this activity would be encouragment to offer classes to the public re; some of our favorite new tools. What KCLS book group, for example, wouldn't like to know more about LibraryThing or using a Wiki for planning next quarters readings. Teaching is learning cemented.
I hope that all scale learning will continue. I'd suggest we all learn a new language, have an online book club, and create local promotional materials. Each cluster could maintain a carbon load log.
ttfn, thanks.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Tuesday, May 15, 2007
You Tube
Well...
I find You tube a wonderful mirror of society. The downside is it remains a playground of vanity. The upside is that it leads to some creativity, displays the breadth of people, capitalizes on the immediacy of the visual. In short order I could find Monty Python, a live birth of humans or animals, building a canoe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MstyFwhLy4
I didn't encounter sites that were trying to fool me or sell me anything; in that way it may be a more sincere and honest place on the web and it gives me hope.
I find You tube a wonderful mirror of society. The downside is it remains a playground of vanity. The upside is that it leads to some creativity, displays the breadth of people, capitalizes on the immediacy of the visual. In short order I could find Monty Python, a live birth of humans or animals, building a canoe.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7MstyFwhLy4
I didn't encounter sites that were trying to fool me or sell me anything; in that way it may be a more sincere and honest place on the web and it gives me hope.
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Docs, Labs and Awards
Well....
Google docs are great. Still necessitates all the knowledge and passwords and intelligence of a popular computer user..and .. a great tool. I worry about too much reliance on such a distant cache of my stuff; the need for backing up remains greater than ever. These simple and basic ideas remain too distant for many public library users whose lenses I am adopting to try these tools. Also public library access is always going to be risky- crashes, kicked plugs, no toner - so we can only try to make it all work the best as possible. As stated before this is a great opportunity for educating our public on google apps.
Google lab is better than the Batcave and Q's place- found all doughnut shops in my zip code, tracked a yellow cab along I-90 and tried the 800 # to get connected to a voicemail for free. Google remains the premier portal for info finding. It is a triumph of mission control to not have pretty women and pop ups allover the site.
The Awards site made me sad that my friends video startup was not included but now I have a dynomite list of recommendations for future endeavors. The wetpaint wiki didn't seem so great. Got to go back to see if any travel/reservation tools are listed.
Google docs are great. Still necessitates all the knowledge and passwords and intelligence of a popular computer user..and .. a great tool. I worry about too much reliance on such a distant cache of my stuff; the need for backing up remains greater than ever. These simple and basic ideas remain too distant for many public library users whose lenses I am adopting to try these tools. Also public library access is always going to be risky- crashes, kicked plugs, no toner - so we can only try to make it all work the best as possible. As stated before this is a great opportunity for educating our public on google apps.
Google lab is better than the Batcave and Q's place- found all doughnut shops in my zip code, tracked a yellow cab along I-90 and tried the 800 # to get connected to a voicemail for free. Google remains the premier portal for info finding. It is a triumph of mission control to not have pretty women and pop ups allover the site.
The Awards site made me sad that my friends video startup was not included but now I have a dynomite list of recommendations for future endeavors. The wetpaint wiki didn't seem so great. Got to go back to see if any travel/reservation tools are listed.
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Docs!
Well....
On first pass it seems the simplicity of Google Docs would be my preferred site to Zoho. Their nowegian snowstorm look and user familiarity is hard for me to move beyond.
Also, though I didn't find it, I'd imagine a way - now or in the near future that one could tie into their google mail address book to share access and authoring privileges.
In general this seems great. And it'll necessitate setting settings, creating access, syncing up to blog sites and other publish sites. Ergo it is still involved enough that the public can't just start using it at our suggestion or when the p drive fails. Effort required.
On first pass it seems the simplicity of Google Docs would be my preferred site to Zoho. Their nowegian snowstorm look and user familiarity is hard for me to move beyond.
Also, though I didn't find it, I'd imagine a way - now or in the near future that one could tie into their google mail address book to share access and authoring privileges.
In general this seems great. And it'll necessitate setting settings, creating access, syncing up to blog sites and other publish sites. Ergo it is still involved enough that the public can't just start using it at our suggestion or when the p drive fails. Effort required.
Web 2.0
Well...
To prepare to remain relevant for a wired society I agree with some pundits in several ways :
-need to make it all easier eg, can't we have shockwave more easily loaded for Rosetta Stone users in the library ? Had a torturous discussion today with a patron wanting to get into downloading audio books; so involved.
- opportunity to become educators. There is a shift from finding good info to using that info in the best ways. How about some Social Network classes or offering a version of Library 2.0 for the public. This is a shift back to the future where librarians see themselves as educators- a move I welcome!
-a knowledge spa sounds nice. I applaud the eco film series at N Bend for being relevant. Certainly there will be a wiki created for participants to share their later ideas of how the community can remain active and informed, followed by a Google Doc site for a shared authored manifesto or pamphelet.
To prepare to remain relevant for a wired society I agree with some pundits in several ways :
-need to make it all easier eg, can't we have shockwave more easily loaded for Rosetta Stone users in the library ? Had a torturous discussion today with a patron wanting to get into downloading audio books; so involved.
- opportunity to become educators. There is a shift from finding good info to using that info in the best ways. How about some Social Network classes or offering a version of Library 2.0 for the public. This is a shift back to the future where librarians see themselves as educators- a move I welcome!
-a knowledge spa sounds nice. I applaud the eco film series at N Bend for being relevant. Certainly there will be a wiki created for participants to share their later ideas of how the community can remain active and informed, followed by a Google Doc site for a shared authored manifesto or pamphelet.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Rollyo
Well...
Join my Rollyo effort to search for work @ KCLS and SPL @
http://www.rollyo.com/pcole/
I wish it had the ability to see all results and know how many results there are.
I had ALA on there but it produced too many results.
Perhaps for a targeted search, it'd be better to spend some time identifying the helpful sites and then go for RSS feeds from them rather than use this method to search the entire site.
Join my Rollyo effort to search for work @ KCLS and SPL @
http://www.rollyo.com/pcole/
I wish it had the ability to see all results and know how many results there are.
I had ALA on there but it produced too many results.
Perhaps for a targeted search, it'd be better to spend some time identifying the helpful sites and then go for RSS feeds from them rather than use this method to search the entire site.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Generator Blogs
Well...
The generator blogs I explored- snowglobe, ID Tags, Italian Names - all seemed to be an excuse to have me join a group, perhaps get on a mail list, and create another account. I'm not intersted thus far.
In general, I am not looking for entertainment from the web in this way. Rather watch Footytube.com!
The generator blogs I explored- snowglobe, ID Tags, Italian Names - all seemed to be an excuse to have me join a group, perhaps get on a mail list, and create another account. I'm not intersted thus far.
In general, I am not looking for entertainment from the web in this way. Rather watch Footytube.com!
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Wiki 1
Well...
I used a wiki for an ischool class not too long ago. We shared syllabi, announced changes.
For the library, I could see the LADS, for example, sharing best practices, problems and stories for the Talk Times and various other programming.
Lesson plans for misc. subjects could be organized and accessible by staff, and TT volunteers. The whole thing managed by an AmeriCorps(!) or a LAD.
Key for usability is not too much scrolling; that gets tiresome.
I used a wiki for an ischool class not too long ago. We shared syllabi, announced changes.
For the library, I could see the LADS, for example, sharing best practices, problems and stories for the Talk Times and various other programming.
Lesson plans for misc. subjects could be organized and accessible by staff, and TT volunteers. The whole thing managed by an AmeriCorps(!) or a LAD.
Key for usability is not too much scrolling; that gets tiresome.
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Library Thing
Well...
Neat. A tool that I think I could use to examine subject more deeply. Certainly i won't be cataloging my books to share but my purpose would be to use others motivation and vanity to learn from them. Selfish I guess. Che lastima.
Also a neat tool to share with bibliophiles I know who might really embrace their inner cataloger. Do similar sites exist for music? Must be. Those audiophiles are more into their music then even book people are into their print.
Neat. A tool that I think I could use to examine subject more deeply. Certainly i won't be cataloging my books to share but my purpose would be to use others motivation and vanity to learn from them. Selfish I guess. Che lastima.
Also a neat tool to share with bibliophiles I know who might really embrace their inner cataloger. Do similar sites exist for music? Must be. Those audiophiles are more into their music then even book people are into their print.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Delicious
Well...
Not so ready but happy to know about it. Part of the challenge is that I consider myself a social person and yet can't imagine how this social networking fits in with my life. Perhaps it is a trust thing...and I'm sure it's a seat time thing. Just not looking for ways to spend more computer time.
When I have a project and a team we could use this site as a communal posting board. But maybe we'd just start a wiki or have a single blog with all-team access.
Not so ready but happy to know about it. Part of the challenge is that I consider myself a social person and yet can't imagine how this social networking fits in with my life. Perhaps it is a trust thing...and I'm sure it's a seat time thing. Just not looking for ways to spend more computer time.
When I have a project and a team we could use this site as a communal posting board. But maybe we'd just start a wiki or have a single blog with all-team access.
Monday, March 19, 2007
MyDeepSpace
Well....
It sure seems that all webmasters are interested in being the portal to the web and the myspace people have succeeded. Why not devote Library resources to participating in that environment? With appropriate expectations of who can be reached and what can be accomplished. As has been acknowledged, users taste will change, library "friends" will become uncool, and the use of a library myspace page may wane eventually, I'm guessing. If I understood it correctly, the idea of signing in as an individual rather than an institution, is weird, duplicitous, dishonest. Why should a library be party to that?
On the upside, creating an environment that authors - both professional and amateurs - can link to and share text and comments is neat. The video and audio is good too. Libraries can do more to hype the non print. And, for example, the KCLS links to audio and video all seem clunky to me.
It sure seems that all webmasters are interested in being the portal to the web and the myspace people have succeeded. Why not devote Library resources to participating in that environment? With appropriate expectations of who can be reached and what can be accomplished. As has been acknowledged, users taste will change, library "friends" will become uncool, and the use of a library myspace page may wane eventually, I'm guessing. If I understood it correctly, the idea of signing in as an individual rather than an institution, is weird, duplicitous, dishonest. Why should a library be party to that?
On the upside, creating an environment that authors - both professional and amateurs - can link to and share text and comments is neat. The video and audio is good too. Libraries can do more to hype the non print. And, for example, the KCLS links to audio and video all seem clunky to me.
Tuesday, March 13, 2007
RSS
Well...
More information. I remain not yet excited; too soon for me to revel in the opportunity to spend more time on the computer investigating things more deeply. In time perhaps...Partly, as I understand it, I need to now log in to a new bloglines account to access my chosen new lines of communiquees... that is a turn off.
Part of why and how I use the web involves serendipity and rss takes that away. For intentional information needs though, I see a value. For now, for others...
More information. I remain not yet excited; too soon for me to revel in the opportunity to spend more time on the computer investigating things more deeply. In time perhaps...Partly, as I understand it, I need to now log in to a new bloglines account to access my chosen new lines of communiquees... that is a turn off.
Part of why and how I use the web involves serendipity and rss takes that away. For intentional information needs though, I see a value. For now, for others...
Wednesday, March 7, 2007
Flickr mashups
Well...
Technology certainly allows some neat tricks. I tried the sudoku flickr and the spelling flickr and made some trading cards using images and remain unimpressed with the purpose but wowed by the ease by which tags allow the arrangement of images and information in various ways. Fun.
I assume too that it has all gotten easier and that the common person is getting closer and closer to have the tools needed to manipulate these as they wish.
Technology certainly allows some neat tricks. I tried the sudoku flickr and the spelling flickr and made some trading cards using images and remain unimpressed with the purpose but wowed by the ease by which tags allow the arrangement of images and information in various ways. Fun.
I assume too that it has all gotten easier and that the common person is getting closer and closer to have the tools needed to manipulate these as they wish.
Monday, March 5, 2007
Flickr yo!
At Valley View library a young patron asked to print out some color prints from Photobucket.com ''Sureno" was the topic which I compared to Flickr for fun.http://flickr.com/photos/tags/sureno/
Wikipedia was my other source to get some background on this LA, south of the border, apparently in S. King Co. phenom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sureno
Now I am better aquainted with Mexican Gangs, their motifs, graphics and expression. For this subject Photobucket was a better site since it seems not just photos but pictures are posted too. Better perhaps for graffiti stuff. Maybe you could compare www.Photobucket.com too.
Funny sidebar that graffiti is 'tagged' and now the web uses 'tags' to i.d. things. Art, technology, rebellion, mainstream, disenfranchisement ...can all share the same vocabulary somehow.
So it is just a reminder that we are in age of access and choice and people will use different portals and platforms, sites, blogs and what all for their needs. I feel my head may explode.......and explains why I chose not to open a Flickr account. Not interested yet.
Wikipedia was my other source to get some background on this LA, south of the border, apparently in S. King Co. phenom.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sureno
Now I am better aquainted with Mexican Gangs, their motifs, graphics and expression. For this subject Photobucket was a better site since it seems not just photos but pictures are posted too. Better perhaps for graffiti stuff. Maybe you could compare www.Photobucket.com too.
Funny sidebar that graffiti is 'tagged' and now the web uses 'tags' to i.d. things. Art, technology, rebellion, mainstream, disenfranchisement ...can all share the same vocabulary somehow.
So it is just a reminder that we are in age of access and choice and people will use different portals and platforms, sites, blogs and what all for their needs. I feel my head may explode.......and explains why I chose not to open a Flickr account. Not interested yet.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
Monday, February 26, 2007
Check it out
Hey all you Childrens Librarians and fans of intelligent and irreverent book work.
http://www.readingreptile.com/ is an indy book seller in Kansas City, MO with an edge, a passion, and a book reviewer named A. Bitterman who will engage your readers advisory attennae in new ways.
Oh and the proprietor is a friend of mine and needs your business- always! So spend your lire there.
http://www.readingreptile.com/ is an indy book seller in Kansas City, MO with an edge, a passion, and a book reviewer named A. Bitterman who will engage your readers advisory attennae in new ways.
Oh and the proprietor is a friend of mine and needs your business- always! So spend your lire there.
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