Life in Loriland

Thing 24: Whew, I made it!

2010-03-18T12:32:00.000-07:00

Wow! Thing 24, I wondered if I would get to you in time! After a frustrating start in the fall, I am relieved to have made it to the end of the program. Although I was doing the program at home, I still found it challenging to find the time, and yes, motivation, to keep on track. There are lots of distractions at home, although I could throw in a load of laundry before I started. I also did not feel limited by time if I wanted to spend more time exploring a more challenging or really fun Thing (usually the latter in my case...all those pesky rabbit holes, don't you know!)

I am glad to know about wikis, google reader and delicious. My most favourite Thing would have been LibraryThing, except that I was already a member, so it wasn't new to me. I am looking forward to trying out wikis in the future when planning or collaborating with others. I also came across some interesting reader advisory sites that will help with work, and some blogs that I now subscribe to out of personal interest. Some of the activities only skimmed the surface, but it is good to know that these Things are out there. It doesn't feel so dark anymore (a reference to an earlier comment about coming from the Dark Ages of Technology).

On the whole, I found the 25 Things program to be varied, informative and entertaining. There was a lot of information presented and much hard work invested in putting it together. It was great to know that support was always available if needed, but it was also a good opportunity to explore these resources independently. I really wanted to do as much of it on my own as possible, and I feel a sense of accomplishment and success as a result.

I have a couple of suggestions from a newbie ( or now less-newbie) viewpoint. I found the initial start-up a little confusing and overwhelming: all those passwords and user names! It might have been beneficial to someone like me to have done an initial organized sign-up session with some more experienced guidance, perhaps as a group in the computer lab? Also, I was often caught off-guard by the number of sub-activities that would be listed for some of the individual
Things. This made it challenging to allot enough time for that particular thing. Thank goodness for catch-up weeks (very wise)! It definitely took me a lot longer than the projected time requirement.

I am very glad to have had the opportunity to participate in the program. I learned so much, and feel less intimidated about exploring new things on the Internet. If there is another discovery program offered in the future, I would definitely want to participate!

Thanks, Elaine, for providing an enriching learning experience, and for including me in this staff development program. The view from the top of this little mountain is great!

Thing 23: Netlibrary is my friend!

2010-03-17T19:34:00.000-07:00

Yay! Yippee! A Thing that I already have a user name and password for and some experience, too! Woo-hoo! I like it when something goes more smoothly than I expected.

I have used Netlibrary several times. Because I sometimes work in the branches and the infodesks, I wanted to try out the Netlibrary so I could better understand the patron experience. Of course, I am also a patron and have found that Netlibrary has made time spent painting my deck, travelling in the car or washing windows (now, don't go supposing that I do a lot of any of those...) go much more quickly (I like the e-audiobooks). I have downloaded fiction and non-fiction titles, and have recommended this library service to many dog-walking acquaintances. I am now exploring e-books and the WPL e-reader, and look forward to someday soon exploring the iPad. If libraries are going to be investing in these trends, I want to be knowledgeable and helpful. It's great that it is also entertaining and informative for me.

The only downside is that there are far more non-fiction titles than fiction. Great for researching from the comfort of your own home in the middle of the night, but not quite so satisfying from an entertainment point of view.

Thing 22: Podcasts

2010-03-17T19:13:00.000-07:00

I have come across podcasts before and listened to on-line lectures and presentations. I found the directories not as user-friendly as I had hoped, especially if one is feeling short of time. Some of the websites to search for library-related podcasts I found to be boring and off-putting. I think I am getting too accustomed to the flash of many of the other web experiences I have had lately.

I found RSS feeds to a couple of interesting podcasts. One is "English as a Second Language Podcasts", which has podcasts that go over specific situational vocabulary (eg. applying for a passport), and discusses some current cultural trends and their associated vocab, such as vampires, humour, etc. Another one I like is "Lost: Smoke Monsters and You", which would appeal to any die-hard Lost fans (like moi).

I liked the links to what other libraries are doing with podcasts. There is a lot of potential in terms of storytelling (a Beatrice podcast, anyone?), promoting library programs and activities (podcasts of author nights? guest speakers? no seat limits!), reviews, anything where audio has an edge. A very useful tool waiting to be used by the savvy!

Thing 21: You tube, I tube, we all tube for ...you get the idea...

2010-03-15T13:06:00.000-07:00

I have enjoyed YouTube for years. It was first made known to me when Youngest Daughter had some friends who made their own mini-movie over March Break and they posted it on YouTube to share with friends and family. It was so cool, especially since they were still in elementary school.

YouTube is definitely one of those rabbit hole experiences. You can look at one thing, that leads to another, which reminds you of something else and then you see something interesting in the side panel...you can see how "you can check out any time you wish, but you can never leave"...or at least not until much time has passed. Again, the addiction potential is high, or at least the novelty factor. I did rediscover a couple of fave Queen videos and Monty Python skits.

As for the library-related videos, I like the "IT person with IT Librarian with Librarian" video. It may seem intimidating to paper-oriented staff, but it speaks to future library staffing needs. The next generation of librarians will have always been wired in. Two options I would like to explore further are riding library carts throughout the building, and drive-thru window service. Oh, and staff training on "How to Be a Library Ninja" (although perhaps not quite this violent!)

Here are a couple of fun videos I found on YouTube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BUdmdodSiSg

And for those who would dare to try to steal library materials, beware! (They should have had a ninja on staff--no problem ever again!) Admit it, you didn't think Borrower Services could be so risky, did you?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyLTqBARFt8

Hiii-yah!!!

Thing 20: PBWiki fun

2010-03-15T11:07:00.000-07:00

This was a fun exercise, and so easy to add to. I must admit, the part I liked best was getting some new ideas for good places to eat! Nothing worse than finally springing for a meal out, especially for a special occasion, and being disappointed in the food.

The many uses of Wikis!

Thing 19: Wiki-wonderful

2010-03-15T10:01:00.000-07:00

What an eye-opener for me! Until I did the wiki discovery activities, I had been operating with a minimal understanding of just what wikis and Wikipedia were all about. My first introduction to Wikipedia was through Eldest Daughter and her experiences in elementary and high school. Wikipedia was one of those unreliable resources that was never to be used as a reference or citation in a project or paper. It was all pop culture driven, unmonitored and unworthy, or so it seemed from the teacher point of view. Personally, I have used Wikipedia only when I want a quick, very basic explanation of an unfamiliar concept or term. I could always search for more reliable or in-depth information if necessary.

I found the Jimmy Wales video particularly informative. I appreciated his explanation of the neutrality policy and the self-monitoring software and volunteer moderating that is involved. Yes, some people want to punk the system, but most users would appear to be intelligent and/or devoted participants. For example, when the Canadian men's hockey team won the 2010 gold medal, someone had posted an entry under Sid Crosby's accomplishments that after scoring the winning goal, a group of wild bears flooded the ice and ate him! Obviously not true, and even kinda funny, but it was quickly caught and changed. Don't mess with Sid the Kid, even in Wikipedia!

As always, I found the common craft video very informative. I had no idea what wikis were and how they can be used. So much more efficient than multiple e-mails and cc's. This could be used for so many things: library interactions with patrons, and patrons with other patrons with the library as common ground. We could use it to let patrons post book recommendations, mini-reviews, organize book clubs, post an ever-evolving wish-list, etc. Much better ideas are generated when there is collaboration and brain-storming, which something that wikis allow.

Thing 17: Library 2.0

2010-03-15T08:28:00.000-07:00

The whole idea of Library 2.0 seems to me to be part of the basic mission of libraries in general: to share up-to-date resources and information with the public it serves. Libraries have always been about sharing access, whether it be to a novel, an encyclopedia, a phone directory, the Internet, or information in general.

This is a time of being constantly plugged-in for many people. The concept of privacy is pretty loose for those who want to twitter, facebook and announce their every thought and move to the world at large. The idea of being cut off seems intolerable. Those of the more conservative mind-set still want to be in the loop via e-mail and keep in mind privacy settings when exploring other forms of contact. Libraries will need to be able to strike a balance between those who gobble up new technologies and interfaces as fast as they are released, and those who just don't want to be left behind; between those who need no assistance at all from the Librarian 2.0 (except a time extension!) and those who need to learn the basics of e-mail and the Internet.

Libraries need to be user-friendly now more than ever. As one of the articles said, we can't train everyone. We need to eliminate barriers to self discovery so that we can focus on assisting those who are just venturing into the brave new world of the ether. The Librarian 2.0 will be able to reach out in both directions by offering easy access to the one group and instruction and encouragement to the other.

Thing 16: Technorati-ca

2010-03-08T09:19:00.000-08:00

This was an exercise that sent me down the rabbit hole a couple of times. I was exploring, okay? and then I would get distracted by an interesting-sounding title, and that would lead to another and the next thing I knew...an hour went by. I learned lots about iPad's release date in Canada (April, but with what apps?), read a bunch about Sony eReaders and public domain books available on Google Books, and how prices compare to Chapters on-line real books and e-books...you see how it goes? How scary that curiosity can suck me down an ether vortex that I need a ringing phone or biological need to pull me out of?

I may be skimming the surface of the world of technology, but am I ever learning a lot about myself. Come to think of it, I used to spend an inordinate amount of time on research when I was working on a paper, with not as much to show for it as one would expect. I would get distracted by interesting sounding articles and read those while researching something else. The down side or the up side, of doing these exercises at home, depending on my goals for the day. On the up side, I discovered the Vampire Librarian via technorati (useful for reader advisory). I found that technorati presented options that were more geared to my expectations, but I wouldn't want to use it for serious non-recreational searching. Ditto Google blog search. Lots of extra junk that had nothing to do with what I was looking for, which meant too much sifting required.

Thing 15 is del.icio.us!

2010-03-08T06:28:00.000-08:00

How cool is this!

We have multiple PCs in the house, with different operating systems, and family members who are in different locations with access to non-domicile computers. The option to have bookmarks stored on-line is verrrry handy. I was glad to see del.icio.us has privacy options as well as the ability to creep...er, search... other peoples bookmarks. I found a couple useful articles to pass on to family and friends.

The Web 2.0 entry in Wikipedia was informative, and I wish I had come across it at the beginning of our Library 2.0 sessions. It gave me a broader understanding of the growth of 2.0 concepts in a nutshell, and how from there it was very natural and necessary for libraries to adapt. A term I keep coming across is "cybrarian". Very useful creatures to have on staff in a library full of bookworms!

I know I will be exploring del.icio.us further in my free time, and will be discussing its merits with others.

Thing 14: My Image Makeover

2010-02-28T17:20:00.000-08:00

This was really fun. I whiled away most of a morning playing with this and drinking lots of tea. I passed this link on to my little buddy next-door, who has made some Lego men and put them up in his room. He thinks this is hilarious. Cool how he does not know life before the internet. All this will be natural and everyday for him.

I really liked the Lego man site and made an everyday representation of myself, and several alter egos that shall forever remain in the ether...After all, someone did say we have to be tasteful!

This fun site can be found at:

http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mm2/mini2.swf

Thing 13: LibraryThing is my Thing!

2010-02-25T09:56:00.000-08:00

I am so glad to have a familiar topic to blog about today. I have been a member of LibraryThing for a few months and am now a lifetime member. It appeals to my book geek side. I have always wanted to catalogue the books I own and the books I have read. It just seemed like a daunting make-work task. As a child, I remember writing out a list of all my books, and wishing for pockets to put in them just like at the library. I would sort them by genre, or alphabetically or by size and colour (maybe I should have become a librarian?!)

I can spend a lot of time trolling through book collections, entering my own books or browsing through chats. I have found the Name That Book feature helpful a couple of times when I can't remember a title. I have more that 400 books listed so far, but I still have to tag and comment on most of them. You can check out my collection so far at:

http://www.librarything.com/home/Loriel

Thing 12: TWITter me this...

2010-02-25T09:20:00.000-08:00

I have to admit that this is one topic I wanted to pass on. I have never been attracted to the idea of twitter and documenting your day for others to creep on. There is a world outside of your own head! Yes, twitter can be a useful tool, especially when a short post is all that is necessary eg. as an FYI, "it's a boy!", or "we won the hockey game". It is especially useful because it can be used on the fly to message several people at once. It all depends on how you use it. I have been looking for people/groups to follow...trying to access my inner stalker (bwaa-ha-ha). However, twitter is stressed this morning and having a time-0ut. I guess that is a testimony to its popularity. I will have to check back later. Realistically, I know I won't stalk...er...follow individuals. I was glad to find WPL has a twitter account and will probably continue to check it out after the program has finished. Again, an example of useful updates.

One thing I would like to check out is a book called Twitterature, that contains condensed versions of popular stories. I have read a couple of examples and found them to be (insert haughty librarian voice here:) "fundamentally correct, yet humourous in their brevity".

Here I am on twitter for a limited engagement only:

http://twitter.com/loriel62

Tweet, tweet!

Thing 11: Google Reader has addiction potential!

2010-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

I went with Google Reader, since I obviously already have a gmail account (anything to minimize more passwords!) I love the potential for this, but fear the possibility of addiction to it, too. When I discover a new thing that I love, I can while away hours exploring it...don't get me started on Library Thing! I found some of the search sites far preferable to others. Syndic8 was very visually unappealing, yet I liked that nothing flashed at me. I liked the easy local news feature on Topix.net, and I liked how Libdex sorted by country. Technorati seems very current, familiar and "home page-y"

I now have feeds for lots of geeky library sites, like The Reader's Advisor Online Blog, Bookninja, Quill and Quire, librarian.net and The Other Librarian. I also found a couple of Jane Austen blogs to follow (yes, I do love her, always have and always will).

Gee, should I thank Elaine for introducing this feature, or should I just let Darling Husband take it up with her when it's time for an intervention? I will have to tread carefully...

Thing # 10:RSS Feed me, Seymour

2010-02-09T17:17:00.000-08:00

RSS Feeds: so easy and handy. Addictive like candy. Shortcuts that work and don't leave me in murk...stop the madness!

Seriously, it was fun to do something that worked easily and could be part of my daily on-line life. I have a few blogs that I follow, and have attended a webinar on RSS feeds, so this was a familiar concept. I subscribed to Google reader and found it very simple to add and delete subscriptions. I don't have many library-related feeds, but would like to check out any recommendations anyone might have. It's like having a personally compiled paper or magazine delivered right to my screen. Perfect for reading with my morning cuppa!

Thing #6: Flickr

2010-02-02T10:32:00.000-08:00

I don't think my previous post about flickr actually finished the task. I had done the resource activities and browsed around the site. I know it's not really a site I would use, so I don't really want to set up an account. However, I do like looking at the random photos and reflecting on the composition and subject choices. Some photos are obviously capturing a moment, sharing beauty. Some are statements to provoke thought. Some are displaying the photographer's arty side.

I particularly like this photo of eyelashes. It takes a moment to think about what you are seeing, and I like images that make you pause.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/lavil/4318823930/

This photo of a tree in winter makes me think of the tree in the field behind my childhood home where I would go to be alone. It was very peaceful and quiet. Ahh, stress release...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cphilruns/4321969834/

Thing 8: Carry On...

2010-02-02T10:10:00.000-08:00

Well, I'm finally ready to give this adventure a new start. I have been having technical difficulties for months, with Firefox blowing off our bookmarks, oh, almost every time I wanted to use the Mac. I think Darling Husband, also known in the 'hood as the "God of Technology", thought it was just me, messing something up in my low-tech ignorance. When it finally started to affect him, too, he took on the task of trying to resolve things and met with unaccustomed frustration. Afterall, tech-gods are supposed to be immune to such annoying problems, right ;)?

I had gotten tired of re-entering my bookmarks for Things and tired of asking Darling H. to restore to a previous date on the Time Machine. I had lots and lots of work hours, holidays were coming (for which I was woefully under-prepared, but that's another story...) The towel was not thrown, but hurled, in. Frustration had won.

But...this was a work-related thing that I really wanted to try and another kick at the can was requested and granted. I was resigned to wearing my daughter's Snuggie, wooly socks and fingerless gloves at the old PC in the cold spare room, when the solution arrived out of the ether. Firefox released an updated version that seems to have resolved my previous problems. It was discovered and installed by the resident G of T . All seems to be going well so far, fingers and toes are crossed (making it hard to type) so here goes Attempt # 2 at 25 Things. Wish me luck (and no more computer gremlins)!

Week 3, Thing 7...I think

2009-12-01T11:27:00.000-08:00

For a variety of reasons, I was away from the 25 things for a bit again, then felt so behind, I put off trying to catch up. I am bad for "0ut of sight, out of mind". Anyway, I will do my best to get caught up.

I revisited Flickr and found it still to be an amazing tool for photo-sharing, if you are into that. I am not, so found the "Flickr thing" of little personal interest. I could see how some folks could be quite addicted, and if you have friends and family who live all over, it is a great way to share photos frequently. Week by week, even day by day, changes in children, gardens, projects...I would have loved this when I was in my twenties...if all my family/friends were also connected. It sure beats getting doubles and triples of all your photos, sight unseen, back in the day of film photography that took a week to come back. Then you had to mail them away...boy, I feel like I lived in the Dark Ages!

I like the flickrpoet app. It is something creative to do that involves words,too. I also like the feature of getting photos based on colour. Back in my crafty days, this would have been very cool.

Week 2, Thing 5: What I learned this week

2009-10-26T11:45:00.000-07:00

Well, what I really learned is that procrastination is not your friend, and now I am having to post three blogs in the same week to get caught up. After setting everything up on schedule last week, I felt a little overwhelmed with all the passwords and sites to keep track of, and had to get myself more organized at the computer. Then, I had to overcome the intimidation I felt, and still feel, about blogging. I always feel like I need to have something monumentally worthwhile to say, and inevitably , do not. Even the minimum feels iffy..."am I doing this right?", "I don't know if this is my thing"...

Sooo, the learning habit I find the hardest is seeing difficulties as challenges. I try to be conscious of that in daily life, but if I get panicky, it soon gets lost. So much easier to be the voice of reason and support for someone else.

The easiest habit? To be responsible for my own learning. I ask lots of questions and like to know the why of things, even if it doesn't affect me directly. I like to understand the process, the rationale, not just the information required. I always want to learn new things but definitely feel behind the times, technologically speaking. I look forward to catching up with some of those "times" by learning about the 25 things.

Onward and upward!

A New Day in Loriland

2009-10-26T11:35:00.000-07:00

Hmmm....a test blog . Good idea...what to say? I've never been much of a diarist or a letter writer and this feels suspiciously like both.

I am glad I get do the 25 things at my Mac. It has a lovely big screen, it is located near the kitchen, and thus the tea kettle, and I get to sit in the comfy desk chair. There is also a PC in the house in a cold spare room, a kid size Ikea desk chair that groans (loudly!) when I sit on it, or I can always sit on the balance ball. Oh, right, must have balance for that and not fall on the floor...like I said, the Mac it is!