Life is tough!!

Ah, if homelessness could be this way for everyone!!!

Poor Little Kitties

Two found homes, two didn't, so out into the cold, cold world of homelessness they must go!

Thing #23--The Final Frontier

This was an adventure into the known and unknown realms of computer technology for an older, but fearless participant. The ease of blogging, but also the complexities that are possible, surprised me a bit. The fun of creating an avatar, animation of that avatar and viewing You-tube videos were important elements to keep the program interesting. Listening to pod-casts, my blogline account, and how to share photos using Flickr are some technologies that I plan to use in the future on a more regular basis.

My fear of technology was further lessened by participating in this program. Willingness to experiment with new things is the key to 23 Things.

I'm not convinced that books in the flesh will ever be obsolete. Libraries will evolve and adapt along with their staff to utilize the technologies available and those technologies the patrons demand.

I would be interested in another program such as this. Exposure to what is going on out there beyond the safety of my little world is always a welcoming learning experience.

TA DAH!

Thing #21--Podcasts

Some really interesting podcasts are out there. I was under the impression

they were video only, and I don't understand where that idea came from.

NPR "Story of the Day" and "Science Friday Podcasts" were 2 RSS feeds I subscribed

from podcast.net and "Common Sense with Dan Carlin" from podcastalley.com.

Searched on yahoo, subscribed and it loaded to my yahoo account, which is fine.

Went to Merlin and looked at the podcasts at several library sites.

I really like the audio with the text of the children's stories, and the children stories with automatic page turning. These are very nice technology tools, but a child sitting on a parent's lap

is the best way to turn a page.

Sharing the night with an author was a nice service by Kankakee Public Library.

Patrons, such as our Book Buddies that cannot physically access the library, would

really enjoy these, as well as patrons that could not attend for whatever reason.

I know that colleges are starting to use podcasting for students to access lectures

after the actual lecture has occurred. This is really good for students to review areas

that their notes may not be clear (no excuse for a failing grade!!).

Well....that's all that I have to say about that..!!

Thing #22 Audio-books on-line

I love to listen to audio books, but going through all the hastle of doing it on-line just isn't worth it to me...and then the software (or whatever) isn't even compatible with my i-pod!! and check-out for 1 day???

I felt that going thru Project Gutenberg was such a maze with links to .coms where you can buy the materials already downloaded to MP3 discs or CD's. Through the e-library consortium on our library's website, we can use overdrive to download books, video's and music with our valid library barcode and pin, but...like I said....it's just not worth it to me.....one of those things that not user-friendly to me anyway.

Thing #19 Awards!!

Of course, I went to the Begreen site. It has a calculator that you can use to figure out how many metric tons of CO2 you put in the air. This might be an enlightening thing for EVERYONE TO DO!!

My family residence is below national average, but the national average is much higher than it needs to be....and I did not add our big truck...so...I cheated. I planted about 15 trees this year and we cut our mowing area by over 75% and we do not mow but maybe once a month.

This site has all kinds of tips to lessen your carbon footprint. Wish we could choose Green Mountain Energy!!

Thing #18 On-line productivity

Beings I'm a "Googler", I have already used google.docs and find it very convenient for the same reason everyone else does. You can access it from any internet computer and it's very user friendly. My husband can even add to our spread sheet for our new "enterprise" and he's not a very friendly user!!

Right now, my daughter and I are using a spreadsheet to make lists for her return to school. When we think of things, we just go to our shared spreadsheet and edit. We just started doing this lately.


And we do use the Google calendar, but I use my Yahoo calendar more, because it's more convenient because I use yahoo e-mail.


Maybe someday soon, library committees here can use it to collaborate/ but I still believe that face to face for our system is fine for now.

BORN ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE

FOUR LITTLE KITTIES
NEED A HOME
TWO LITTLE LADIES
TWO LITTLE TOMS


Adopted->

Thanks, Carolyn!!

Thing #17 Playing in the Sandbox

Oh well, added my blog to the list. Hopefully, there is so many no one will look at mine, not really comfortable with it being out there, although I know you can access it from the Maryland library 2.0 site.

Anyway, it was easy to follow the directions, not difficult to do at all.

Now that's a sandbox that I would really like to play in, especially the shady part!!

Thing #20 YOUTUBE

Been playing around with U-Tube for awhile. Looked for this one when I first discovered it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljsX3I7xUu0
I find it very entertaining, but now that Google has videos, both are about the same in ease of use.

U--
One video I've seen promotes a library by entertaining and loses the "stuffiness" associated with libraries and librarians.

A funny library one:
Actually this is a Mr. Bean in the library and it's long, but it's a Mr. Bean!!!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6sWArmefCFk

Just had to post this one:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kdYYcV3xFw


Not much to dislike other than being careful what words you put in your search. Hopefully, you won't get embarrassed toooo many times!!

Thing #16 Wiki Madness

I could really see the sharing that libraries could do with program successes, innovative ways that work to handle alot of different situations within the library. By joining in with people that physically you may never come in contact, but can exchange ideas, thoughts, and information by participating in a Wiki.

The Bull Run Wiki is fantastic, think I'll bookmark it on my home computer. Has links to on-line sites like "easy calculations", always handy..."number one" which has a history of the #1 hits in history, and the "cost helper" is very handy to look up how much things cost, or should cost. And scroll down to the research sites which includes the "Best Free Reference Sites for 2006".

Thing #15 Library 2.0

One thing I do agree we need to do as a library is to be as open and user friendly as we can be.
By this, I mean web access as well as physical access. The Library needs to be a place people want to be; and be able to find what they want or need easily. It doesn't mean a thing if we have the most beautiful facility in the world, but are not accessible and "human" in our services.


If our web access is not easily navigated, patrons will go elsewhere.
They will not want to be "here".
AskUsNow has a "MySpace" account, therefore, it is a Maryland service going to the patron. AskUsNow in itself is a service to the patron utilizing reference services by internet. Libraries are evolving
and, I believe, listening more to the patrons' suggestions and addressing the use of technology in the library and on the internet.

Personally, I think Cecil County Public Library is addressing these needs and is progressing. We have access to many patron services from our web page. More and more patrons are being informed of these services by our staff.

Thing #13

Hmm. delicious and tagging and socializing.

I know the delicious site is not how I spelled it, but like I'm not really worried about that.

If I planned to spend my time on the internet, if I was to the point I couldn't walk out the door, it would be something I would perhaps use. As far as using it to designate my favorites, my favorite list is not that extensive. I know I am a habitual "googler" , but it fills my needs and quickly. I guess, because I get e-mail alerts from my "causes" and weather-related issues from my CoCoRahs network, I'm perfectly happy.

I'm not really that concerned about what others are tagging that would be the same as mine.

I started to create an account, but never finished. I did explore the LagrangeParkLibrary delicious site..It did have some interesting bookmarks/ The NewYork Times/cicadas in IL/Chicago Tribune..

Well, that's all I have to say about this.

Thing #14

Technorati!!
You need to be a serious blog-o-phile to create an account here.
It's interesting to see the most used tags, what people are searching for, what's hot (iPhone...surprise, surprise!!)
And, I see the NY Times article about "A Hipper Crowd of Shushers" is right up there with the most popular news articles, soon after the Editorial endorsing the pull-out of Iraq.
This site is worth visiting, but it might just be a little to far out in the "blogosphere" for me. I did enjoy it, understood how you would use tags to search for what blogs you would enjoy, and how to use tags to search your own favorites (if you were going to join--which I just don't have time to do).

Arianna Huffington is #5 for the most popular blogs, then #19 for the most favorited blog.
And, I found some very interesting videos which are also from/available on Youtube

Rollyo---Thing #12

Hmmm. I could see where you could use this tool if you have favorite and reliable places to search, specific to the narrow subject. I created one about birds, specifically Owls using a few trusted sites that I know are reliable and updated regularly. (http://www.rollyo.com/search.html?q=owls&sid=299165).
On a day to day basis, however, Google works fine for me.

The picture on the right is Bubo virginianus (Great Horned Owl) who hangs out in my pine trees. This was found at one of my "trusted sites" on my Rollyo.

If you click on the X you will see the image.

Library Blogs Thing #9

While I was exploring Merlin, which I already used for on-line classes, I discovered links to library blogs...The Library Garden , Librarians discussing what's going on int "their neighborhood". Some blogs directly linked to the Library Journal, PLA, Webjunction. Found the "Librarian in Black"'s blog quite entertaining (http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/) plus realizing how technologically deficient I am...but...who wants to have 500 newsfeeds!!!!
Amazon has some blogs, Meg Wloitzer's (http://www.amazon.com/gp/blog/id/A3JZTPVXXIUPTJ) discussing plagerism which my daughter and I have been discussing lately.

And, as I was searching for useful Library blogs, I did a search on thoroughbred racing blogs and found quite a few that I can really relate to.
Anyway, I can see that reading blogs from other librarians from other areas can be quite informative, enlightening, and discovering what's going on elsewhere!!
Suzy B.

The Night Creature

Library Thing, #11

Technolgy I like!!

Thing #7

I-pods! are the most fascinating things to me!! Sometimes, I just adjust the volume or change songs just to roll my finger on the "Key pad???". It is so slim and holds so much and it sounds so clear!! My little nano just blows me away..and the I-phone, just looking at the demonstrations makes me want...but realistically I have no justification for the expense..........but I can dream!!

One thing I really enjoy is my digital camera, it's not a deluxe but it still takes wonderful pictures..and it's easy to down-load and e-mail and modify photos..but, I'm still learning.

Avatar of Young Suzy/ Thing #10

I have been struggling with loading my Avatar to my blog.


Find it a lot of fun to play with them, though!! But, DONE!!!

My Fantasy Road Trip

This is the First Stop!!Keeneland

This is the Second Stop!!Saratoga

This is the Third Stop!!

Ithaca Falls

RSS Feeds

Thing #8

Signed up for a "Reader" account...selected some sites...so far, so good.

Have a flickr account, too. Going to work on that one, more fun than the other things I've looked at so far.

Thought I'd put out a picture of my previous life on the back stretch. This was pre-Katrina, everything here was flooded to the top of the barns, but they are racing again. This was my first winter there, our horses kind of cleaned up..lots of winners. The track kitchen had great food!!! but we sent the lady a case of "Old Bay" when we got back to Maryland in May..their steamed crabs needed help!!

Been enjoying youtube, but I already knew about that one. Been looking at "Technorati"...pings, widgets,etc. It's going to take some time for me to figure what these things are exactly..HELP????!!!!????

Suzy B.

Flikr

Week 3
Thing #5

Hmm..Been looking at the mash-ups, trading cards, etc. interesting that clicking on mashups took me to the dreaded wikipedia. Mash ups look like a lot of tech work, really not into spending that much time there.

Really think I could enjoy flikr. I need to learn how to organize my photos on-line and on my computer, and set them up by location would be fun (especially to see what other people are doing and interested in the same area).
My family already shares by e-mail, but I need to improve my skills in that department!! And, it looks like it would be fun to join flikr, took the "Magical Flikr Tour". Lots of little extra perks there. Just so it's free.
Anyway, need to do some marina stuff.
Suzy B.

Week 1

Thing #1-read it/ need the CEU's and curious to learn about new things!!

Thing #2
If I had done the week #1 thing first, I could have set "loading my i-pod" as the subject of my "Learning Contract"..but it's really just a step.
As far as learning habits, technology may be my most difficult, which, may also be somewhat related to having confidence in myself (Habit #4) but that is only lack of confidence dealing with technologies.
I guess, all technologies are not necessarily a good thing to me. ...or may be over rated. Sometimes, personal contact is so much more important than an e-mail.
Viewing problems as challenges is probably my easiest, after I get over the initial "shock" if there is one. I always did like to figure out how to solve problems, especially if I wasn't supposed to be able to overcome those problems (or challenges)!!

Saturday Morning

Haven't tried any of the other "23 things", but I am going to try to load my music on my I-Pod by myself this weekend.

Of course, my daughter will be close by because I will be using her MAC, so...............

Reggie Dog

Thing #3
Actually my second posting on my blog but...

The First Day

Thing 4 (The Beginning)
Well, here goes!