23 Things Kansas

I thought we had until midnight May 28 to finish up 23 Things Kansas. I had 3 lessons to go and a video to upload when all the lessons disappeared probably around shortly after 9. What gives? So this video was supposed to go into my blog about Week 13 but I wasn't able to go back and see what the actual assignment was. I did get week 14 done but Week 15 & 16 was lost. I wish things at the library and in my personal life hadn't got so crazy. I would have liked the 30 hours and would probably have just finished on my own if I didn't get them done. I learned a lot and am glad I saved most of the sites in Delicious I thought would be useful or I wanted more time to explore since none of the lessons are available now.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

Library Thing, Etc

I have explored on Shelfari, Goodreads, WhichBook, What Should I Read Next -- all wonderful tools for not only for my personal reading but for patron reader's advisory. I am spending way too much time playing on these...I only have three more lessons that I might be able to finish before midnight. Anyone else out there hoping to slip in under the wire? I liked Shelfari and What Should I Read Next--keeping a list of what I've read and liked. The only complaint is that it eats up so much time. I even managed to add a Shelfari widget to my blog on Blogger!

Screencasting

Again, I can not complete this because I don't have a mic to record the directions that go along with the screencast. I can do this after I get home from Texas with my son's laptop.

Video on the Web

This is probably the most challenging assignment and the one I am not going to be able to complete. I am trying to complete these while staying in the hospital with my Mom. Yes, I unfortunately waited until the last minute and I don't have my camera with me. My son has done this for his classes so I'm sure he can help when I get home.

Instant Messaging

I use instant messaging on Facebook and Skype. It's nice for quick conversations and catching up. And impromptu conversations. Some of my collegues have been using it to "discuss" issues that need immediate action with out interrupting the classroom with a phone call. It can be disrupting though. I'm not really seeing the application of it in a library setting.

Cloud Computing

I now realize I have been doing some cloud computing all ready. I accidently created a google doc so so I went to that and sent it to some friends to help improve upon. Our staff uses the google calendar to keep track of all our scheduling and library events. As long as we save our dates under the right calendar, it works slick! I store photos in Picasa and share them from the web feature. I think I'll probably use cloud computing to back up what I have on my computer or hard copies.

Microblogging

I've been resisting adding one more tool that would be sending more info my way. But I did it for 23thingskansas. Recently the superintendent suggested it as a way to promote library programming. He had set up an account for the school but I haven't found it yet. The list did help and I used my address book to find friends that were using Twitter all ready.

I have started following a co-worker, my sister, and I'm trying to figure out how to follow a Kansas library. I'll have to let you know if I find any posts that have been helpful. So far, no.

Some uses for Twitter and our library:
May help organize great, instant meetups.
Could be used to take an opinion poll.
Direct patron’s attention to good things happening at the library.
Bring great minds together, and give opportunities to learn (if you look for it, and/or if you follow the right folks).
May give critics a forum, but that means you can study them.

Tagging and Social Bookmarking

Delicious is probably one of the first internet tools I bought into. I tried sending Rebecca a url with the directions that were given but I never got the choice of "send" in my tag box. I did network rbrown3 and hopefully the url I sent shows up in her in box. I bundled a few of the url's I have all ready tagged. I can see me using this to bundle sites for classes when they are researching or bundling sites that the staff would find useful. I've even used it to pull together sites I used in doing a talk for SCKLS on Gaming in the Library.

Social Networking

It looks like I neglected to do my assignment for social networking. I was all ready had a Facebook account and just reviewed with this assignment. Most of my friends are on it. It's been fun catching up with old classmates and cousins that I have across the country. I have been following Hutchinson Public's Young Adult activities. I'm considering modeling a Facebook page promoting youth activities at our library after their page. The challenge to all of these new things we are learning is to keep it current because we are basically a one-man show. I added "Off the Shelf" to my Online Community profile.

RSS Feed

I am learning all about RSS feeds today. I chose Google Reader because I all ready use Blogger and have a g-mail account. I subscribe to the Kansas Sampler Foundation and multiple librarian sites such as Top Ten Facebook Apps for Librarians and How Librarians Can Save the World: NPR.

Here are the instructions for how to use Google Reader to subscribe to the RSS feed on anypage you want to follow. It is very easy because if the website has a RSS feed, Google Reader will have a button that directs to subscribe. You will need to click "Subscribe Now" or "Add to Google Reader."

I can see the value of subscribing to a feed. I think you could use RSS for following job openings, providing recently added services or promoting programming at your library and in our situation the school could relay homework assignments and quickly announce school cancellations. It could also be used for sharing lists of bookmarks that the librarian compiles for patorns or a calendar with listings of past or upcoming events, deadlines or holidays .

Photo Sharing

I played around with Flickr a bit but am more familiar with Picasa. I searched Flickr for Cinco de Mayo pictures and thought this one was interesting not only for the picture but also the comment that was posted with it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/chriztrax/4579722722/

Although I am more comfortable with Picasa and have edited photos with that program, the feature of Flickr that I will go back and investigate further is the "Make Stuff" feature where you can make cards, books, etc.

Webinars/Online meetings

In an attempt to "catch up" before the end of May, I have attended a SirsiDynix webinar archive that was very easy to navigate. Pat Wagner presented, "How to Understand Library Your Users - The Better Futures of their Communities and Institutions." I chose this because I've just attended several of Pat's Ethics sessions. The emphasis in this one hour session was to look at whether your library was relevant to the people who use it and how that would affect the mission of your library. It should be about being a tool to build better futures for the individuals, communities and institutions you serve. So we learned:

•How to identify seven areas of concern for your library users
•What mistakes to avoid while connecting with people in your community or institution
•How to communicate better futures in images, sounds and stories, not just in an abstract way and
•How to anticipate rather than react to critical community and institutional issues

I'm ready to take the informal polls and meet with small groups because our library is very much a traditional library. In this current setting, I don't believe we meet the needs of our users. For such a wonderful facility the usage by public patrons is relatively low. Stats show a different story because of the school's usage of the building.

I have also attended several live webinars that have been offered this spring. With professional development budgets been cut, I depend on the webinars and our library regional systems to help keep me up-to-date and current. I really appreciated the Everyday Ethics of Facebook.