Monday, July 30, 2007

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.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

BORN ON THE SUMMER SOLSTICE



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


Adopted->

Thanks, Carolyn!!


Thursday, July 26, 2007

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!!

Tuesday, July 24, 2007

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".

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

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.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

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.

Tuesday, July 10, 2007

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

Monday, July 2, 2007

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.