With this particular training I felt the most valuable exercises centered around the creation, additions and fine tuning of the Bloglines account. What a great source to receive regular visual and audio updates on various interest areas. Professionally, I enjoy just total immersion in book review materials of varying formats.
It was fun to work with Meez to create an avatar.
The time we spent on Zoho Writer was a disappointment. As our customers work in Library 2.0 (in library) they are using our desk/lap tops which are loaded with Microsoft Office products. Why can't we learn more about the established packages which we offer? Wouldn't we provide better customer service?
Many prospective employers have gone to an online employment application process. We are experiencing a number of individuals coming into the library to start and/or complete this process. The interfaces vary from employer to employer. Shouldn't we be more familiar with these real-life applications?
And what about Library 2.0 and the spaces we provide our customers to work in? Is it a successful customer experience to be filling out an online job application surrounded in an open grouping of desktops by boisterous RuneScape players? What about that Learning Commons 2.0?
Monday, December 17, 2007
Sunday, December 9, 2007
Week #9 Post #22
I am familiar with the HCPL digital media site: eAudio, eBooks, Music and Video.
VibriVox is a volunteer driven organization which records chapters of books in the public domain. Wowio as is stated offers free e-books. It has more of a new-age and/or digital graphic novel (visual) feel to the site.
I went into all of the sites looking for works by William Shakespeare. On the HCPL site I did a quick search by author and found 13 eAudio titles of full productions . On an author search of LibriVox I discovered 120 entries, many, if not all were monologues from various plays (not the entire production). In the Wowio site, I found about 50 e-book entries.
I received training on downloading eAudio books from Overdrive more than a year ago. We occasionally assist customers (usually over the phone) with questions they have about the service.
VibriVox is a volunteer driven organization which records chapters of books in the public domain. Wowio as is stated offers free e-books. It has more of a new-age and/or digital graphic novel (visual) feel to the site.
I went into all of the sites looking for works by William Shakespeare. On the HCPL site I did a quick search by author and found 13 eAudio titles of full productions . On an author search of LibriVox I discovered 120 entries, many, if not all were monologues from various plays (not the entire production). In the Wowio site, I found about 50 e-book entries.
I received training on downloading eAudio books from Overdrive more than a year ago. We occasionally assist customers (usually over the phone) with questions they have about the service.
Week #9 Post #21
I first went into the Podcast.net directory. Through a series of searches I found "bookbuffet.com podcasts" which I added to my Bloglines account in the "Book Reviews" folder. This podcast describes itself as "bookbuffet.com::for book groups that click".
My second search was into the Podcastalley.com directory. I specifically was looking for a former employer, Los Angeles Public Library, and found "KCET Podcast: ALOUD at the Central Library". This is a podcast which includes lectures, readings, performances and discussions presented by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. I added this podcast to the "Librarian Stuff" folder of my Bloglines account.
When I get time, I would like to go back and search for podcasts to add to my Bloglines "Design" folder.
My second search was into the Podcastalley.com directory. I specifically was looking for a former employer, Los Angeles Public Library, and found "KCET Podcast: ALOUD at the Central Library". This is a podcast which includes lectures, readings, performances and discussions presented by the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. I added this podcast to the "Librarian Stuff" folder of my Bloglines account.
When I get time, I would like to go back and search for podcasts to add to my Bloglines "Design" folder.
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Week #9 Post #20
My favorite YouTube video for the past 4 or 5 months has been the "March of the Librarians".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td922l0NoDQ It's a great satire on librarians attending an ALA conference.
I like the site. I find it entertaining. I really enjoyed the CNN-YouTube Presidential debates amongst the Democrat candidates and more recently the Republican candidates. Those forums brought a different perspective to the 2008 race for the presidency. More real "constituent-based" questions I believe I read somewhere.
In the exploring required for this Discovery Exercise, I returned to the theme of my blog and searched on the terms "library chair". The first search produced 115 hits when I searched generally on those tags. The second search, with that term in a direct sequence, resulted in 17 hits. A good many of those having to do with library chair races in academic libraries.
As far as library website applications, there might be a marketing tool here for concisely explaining on video each of our services: exam proctoring, ILL, computer classes, ESL classes and etc.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Td922l0NoDQ It's a great satire on librarians attending an ALA conference.
I like the site. I find it entertaining. I really enjoyed the CNN-YouTube Presidential debates amongst the Democrat candidates and more recently the Republican candidates. Those forums brought a different perspective to the 2008 race for the presidency. More real "constituent-based" questions I believe I read somewhere.
In the exploring required for this Discovery Exercise, I returned to the theme of my blog and searched on the terms "library chair". The first search produced 115 hits when I searched generally on those tags. The second search, with that term in a direct sequence, resulted in 17 hits. A good many of those having to do with library chair races in academic libraries.
As far as library website applications, there might be a marketing tool here for concisely explaining on video each of our services: exam proctoring, ILL, computer classes, ESL classes and etc.
Week #8 Post #19
I created an account in Zoho Writer. I then explored the site and created a few test documents. Zoho Writer, Zoho Sheet, Project Management and Zoho Planner were of particular interest. I also experimented with the templates for resumes.
The "share, don't attach" concept is interesting, but I don't think very practical in offices or businesses that deal with proprietary information. Applications in education would have more feasibility.
Portability for a given document is great. I thought the graphics on the various tools (bars & buttons), particularly in Zoho Writer, were good.
The "share, don't attach" concept is interesting, but I don't think very practical in offices or businesses that deal with proprietary information. Applications in education would have more feasibility.
Portability for a given document is great. I thought the graphics on the various tools (bars & buttons), particularly in Zoho Writer, were good.
Week #8 Post #18
I took a look around several of the social networking sites. MySpace is visually active, commercialized and youth-orientated. Although FaceBook began as a social networking site for college students, it now states on an opening page that "everyone can use facebook.com". I enjoyed the photos of the animals on dogster.com and catster.com -- particularly the "cat of the week" section on catster. Ratemyspace, an HGTV sponsored site is great for those seeking an overview of the current popular trends in decoration. When I visited the site, it was a little bit more than two weeks out from the Christmas holidays. Thus photos and comments on various home exteriors and interiors that were decorated for the holidays were abundant. I also enjoyed a walk through threadless.com and the various designers stating their thoughts about their clothing designs. It had that final studio presentation feel to it -- sort of edgy, more experimental in a way.
As a professional I understand the social networking concept and the positive side of the argument for people being able to communicate with each other across the city or around the world. Unfortunately not everyone or everything presents us with this ideal. For us in the library these sites present almost a wild frontier quality. We have customers complaining because they can't access their particular social networking site at given times (usually too busy, or initially blocked by our filters). We have other customers objecting to what is displayed on their or another customer's computer monitor (from a social networking site) as being pornographic in content. We read in our professional literature that occasionally governing bodies of libraries in various parts of the country have voted to block the social networking sites from the publicly funded computers. We give classes on Internet security, have various handouts for our customers, and have an area on our website which discusses Internet security.
As a professional I understand the social networking concept and the positive side of the argument for people being able to communicate with each other across the city or around the world. Unfortunately not everyone or everything presents us with this ideal. For us in the library these sites present almost a wild frontier quality. We have customers complaining because they can't access their particular social networking site at given times (usually too busy, or initially blocked by our filters). We have other customers objecting to what is displayed on their or another customer's computer monitor (from a social networking site) as being pornographic in content. We read in our professional literature that occasionally governing bodies of libraries in various parts of the country have voted to block the social networking sites from the publicly funded computers. We give classes on Internet security, have various handouts for our customers, and have an area on our website which discusses Internet security.
Friday, December 7, 2007
Week #7 Post #17
I posted a comment on the "Librarians Rule" blog for Week 6 #15 Library 2.0. The blogger addressed the problems with our interior architecture and space planning as we continue in Library 2.0. We need more areas for group study as well as truly private areas for the solo learner. Sound proofing the walls between Reading Rooms would be a start.
Blogging About Technology--
The advancements in technology have always been amazing to me. Twenty-five years ago, I took a job with the Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth as a writer on their TRS-80 Microcomputer News magazine. This was a pre IBM-compatible [remember that term?] environment with Model Is, Model IIs, Color Computers, Pocket Computers and dot-matrix printers that we thought were just the last word in advanced printing. The Internet was in its infancy. CompuServe and AgriStar were services on the Internet which supplied us with various databases.
The editor of the magazine and I would have some spirited conversations. My editor thought that the Internet was going to revolutionize the library world--in that libraries, as we knew them, would soon be closing. I did not hold with that opinion.
Last month I was up in Fort Worth visiting the Amon Carter and Kimbell Museums on related library business for our branch. We are preparing for the opening of the Pearl Fincher Museum and I volunteered to visit the Carter and Kimbell to gain background and purchase some items in their bookstores which would support our displays on painter Frederick Remington and art from the American West. There I sat outside the Kimbell, waiting for the museum to open at noon and for me to get a quick lunch at their fabulous buffet. Where I was sitting afforded me a great view of downtown Fort Worth and the Tandy Towers were I worked twenty-five years ago. I was on my Blackjack cell phone checking my library webmail account. How wonderful is all this!
My editor and I truly could not see twenty-five years into the future. Libraries are very much still with us. Yes we have changed and evolved. We have absorbed the technology and advanced with it for our customers. There are wrinkles, problems and etc. but how much more information can we provide than twenty-five years ago when our computer technology was so new.
Blogging About Technology--
The advancements in technology have always been amazing to me. Twenty-five years ago, I took a job with the Tandy Corporation in Fort Worth as a writer on their TRS-80 Microcomputer News magazine. This was a pre IBM-compatible [remember that term?] environment with Model Is, Model IIs, Color Computers, Pocket Computers and dot-matrix printers that we thought were just the last word in advanced printing. The Internet was in its infancy. CompuServe and AgriStar were services on the Internet which supplied us with various databases.
The editor of the magazine and I would have some spirited conversations. My editor thought that the Internet was going to revolutionize the library world--in that libraries, as we knew them, would soon be closing. I did not hold with that opinion.
Last month I was up in Fort Worth visiting the Amon Carter and Kimbell Museums on related library business for our branch. We are preparing for the opening of the Pearl Fincher Museum and I volunteered to visit the Carter and Kimbell to gain background and purchase some items in their bookstores which would support our displays on painter Frederick Remington and art from the American West. There I sat outside the Kimbell, waiting for the museum to open at noon and for me to get a quick lunch at their fabulous buffet. Where I was sitting afforded me a great view of downtown Fort Worth and the Tandy Towers were I worked twenty-five years ago. I was on my Blackjack cell phone checking my library webmail account. How wonderful is all this!
My editor and I truly could not see twenty-five years into the future. Libraries are very much still with us. Yes we have changed and evolved. We have absorbed the technology and advanced with it for our customers. There are wrinkles, problems and etc. but how much more information can we provide than twenty-five years ago when our computer technology was so new.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Week #7 Post #16
I accessed the iHCPL wiki and created an account. I then posted my blog to the favorite blogs page on the iHCPL wiki. Two notifications from ihcpl.pbwiki.com were then received in my email. I overviewed the sample wikis suggested to us through the associated Discovery Exercise for this unit.
This concept and practice of collaborative knowledge sites does have a place in libraries. It's very good for a quick survey on a topic. This isn't the item you are going to use in a DBQ -- Document Based Question -- exercise. It's another tool we use at the information desk as a starting point or for a review of information (which you understand may not be properly sourced). For exact statistical information or the accuracy of various dates, I would go to another more established (reliable) source.
This concept and practice of collaborative knowledge sites does have a place in libraries. It's very good for a quick survey on a topic. This isn't the item you are going to use in a DBQ -- Document Based Question -- exercise. It's another tool we use at the information desk as a starting point or for a review of information (which you understand may not be properly sourced). For exact statistical information or the accuracy of various dates, I would go to another more established (reliable) source.
Week #6 Post #15
I read the five perspectives on Library 2.0 and the Wikipedia article. Based on my experiences, the ones that ring the truest are Michael Stephens' piece on "Into a new world of librarianship" and Dr. Wendy Schultz "To a temporary place in time . . . ".
The successful library is a constantly changing entity. I do not believe that Library 2.0 is somehow so radically different than all the change that has come before it. And it will morph/evolve/absorb into several more generations of Library 3.0 and following as Dr. Schultz states.
Michael Stephens brings a point that I am now beginning to see addressed more in the library as well as design literatures. "This librarian asks what new technologies or new materials users need. This librarian proposes building projects [and I would also think renovation projects] and involves users in designing those places."
It was last week in American Libraries Direct online newsletter that an article appeared from the Educause Quarterly, Number 4 2007 by Bryan Sinclair.
http://connect.educause.edu/library/abstract/Commons20LibrarySpac/45534
Diana G. Oblinger addresses Learning Commons 2.0 considerations in design and renovation with her work entitled Learning Spaces.
The successful library is a constantly changing entity. I do not believe that Library 2.0 is somehow so radically different than all the change that has come before it. And it will morph/evolve/absorb into several more generations of Library 3.0 and following as Dr. Schultz states.
Michael Stephens brings a point that I am now beginning to see addressed more in the library as well as design literatures. "This librarian asks what new technologies or new materials users need. This librarian proposes building projects [and I would also think renovation projects] and involves users in designing those places."
It was last week in American Libraries Direct online newsletter that an article appeared from the Educause Quarterly, Number 4 2007 by Bryan Sinclair.
http://connect.educause.edu/library/abstract/Commons20LibrarySpac/45534
Diana G. Oblinger addresses Learning Commons 2.0 considerations in design and renovation with her work entitled Learning Spaces.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
Week #6 Post #14
The Discovery Exercises called for exploring the advanced search by typing "Learning 2.0". In the Keyword Search--Exact Phrase--6,215; Tag Search--1,999; and, Blog Directory Search--551.
I took this further into my design interests. About a year and a half ago the American Society of Interior Designers began a discussion within their body of knowledge concerning "Aging in Place".
http://www.asid.org/knowledge/Aging.htm
Along with sustainable design, they are probably two of the hottest topics in design these days.
I executed the same search as "Learning 2.0" with "Aging in Place". In the Keyword Search--Exact Phrase--57; Tag Search--58; and, Blog Directory Search--11.
The popular blogs, searches and videos were interesting to read. I scanned the top 100 blogs and learned about "Boing Boing". Technorati.com ranks it as the most popular blog in the world. It won the Lifetime Achievement and Best Group Blog awards at the 2006 Bloggies ceremony. And being a news addict, I also enjoyed this section's "Top News".
I took this further into my design interests. About a year and a half ago the American Society of Interior Designers began a discussion within their body of knowledge concerning "Aging in Place".
http://www.asid.org/knowledge/Aging.htm
Along with sustainable design, they are probably two of the hottest topics in design these days.
I executed the same search as "Learning 2.0" with "Aging in Place". In the Keyword Search--Exact Phrase--57; Tag Search--58; and, Blog Directory Search--11.
The popular blogs, searches and videos were interesting to read. I scanned the top 100 blogs and learned about "Boing Boing". Technorati.com ranks it as the most popular blog in the world. It won the Lifetime Achievement and Best Group Blog awards at the 2006 Bloggies ceremony. And being a news addict, I also enjoyed this section's "Top News".
Friday, November 30, 2007
Week #6 Post #13
The tutorial on this exercise was somewhat disappointing. I have used the del.icio.us/hcplbiblio as part of my reference toolbox where and when appropriate. There is no sense in recreating the wheel, so to speak, in some cases with popularly asked questions at the desk. I created my own del.icio.us account and am currently exploring and tagging some of the more interesting sites dedicated to color. One that is very intriguing is COLOURlovers. The portability of the account is great.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Week #5 Post #12
I've read through the demo and the FAQs of the Library Elf. At this time, I do not think this service would be of any assistance to me. However, individuals checking out materials from several libraries or families having several cards from one or more library systems may find this a convenient form of record keeping.
Friday, October 26, 2007
Week #5 Post #11
I can see where this could have a good application for an instructor after a lecture in the studio or online session in distance learning. Occasionally a student may want to explore a previous topic in further detail. Titles which are not referred to on the syllabus "Further Reading List", could quickly be cited on the instructor's blog.
In this particular exercise I choose books from my personal design collection about the Hearst Estate on the Central California coast. My grandfathers and father were commercial fisherman off that beautiful coastline and I grew up visiting the estate on vacations from Los Angeles. In 1991 I took my daughter on her first set of tours of the estate.
Faces of Hearst Castle by Jana Seely and Keri Collins is the most recently published of the set (September 2007). It is also the first imprint of the Hearst Castle Press.
In this particular exercise I choose books from my personal design collection about the Hearst Estate on the Central California coast. My grandfathers and father were commercial fisherman off that beautiful coastline and I grew up visiting the estate on vacations from Los Angeles. In 1991 I took my daughter on her first set of tours of the estate.
Faces of Hearst Castle by Jana Seely and Keri Collins is the most recently published of the set (September 2007). It is also the first imprint of the Hearst Castle Press.
Week #5 Post #10
After a self-tour of the image generators, I selected Meez for the combination of features I originally had in mind for my avatar. As you see below she is nosily gliding across her studio's wood floor in a task chair. She actually spins in the original created avatar on the Meez site. For those of you familiar with the task chairs at our branch, you will notice that both arms of my avatar's chair are securely still in place. What a concept!
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Week #4 Post #9
At the end of this task, I have constructed 7 folders: "Animals", "Book Reviews", "Cooking", "Design", "iHCPL Blogs", "Librarian Stuff" and "Sustainable". The "Sustainable" folder really provides a good example of how I put together the other 6.
My husband and I recently purchased a Ford Escape Hybrid and I am not the most technical person on the block so to speak. However, I am really intrigued by the technology of driving 400 miles on one tank of gas (city) and the car's near silence while idling at a traffic light.
Technorati and Feedster were frustrating to use when searching for hybrids. I did find the Hybrid Car Blog and GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars utilizing the Bloglines' tools. TreeHugger (a new popular site which I initially found referenced in an ASID newsletter) and Wind Power News from RenewableEnergyAccess.com I added to the "Sustainable" folder by the URL copy/paste method.
My husband and I recently purchased a Ford Escape Hybrid and I am not the most technical person on the block so to speak. However, I am really intrigued by the technology of driving 400 miles on one tank of gas (city) and the car's near silence while idling at a traffic light.
Technorati and Feedster were frustrating to use when searching for hybrids. I did find the Hybrid Car Blog and GreenHybrid - Hybrid Cars utilizing the Bloglines' tools. TreeHugger (a new popular site which I initially found referenced in an ASID newsletter) and Wind Power News from RenewableEnergyAccess.com I added to the "Sustainable" folder by the URL copy/paste method.
Week #4 Post #8
I particularly enjoyed the initial profiling for the Bloglines newsreaders. It quickly identified for me some of the more popular newsfeeds. Of particular interest to me were the book reviews from USATODAY.com, Washington Post Book reviews and NYT Book Review. I later added Los Angeles Times - Books. There was a good representation for my interest in cooking, design, animals and library topics. I also subscribed to various blog feeds from the iHCPL participants in the department.
Monday, October 22, 2007
Week #3 Post #7
An interesting experience in photo editing with Picnik. I attempted every combination of feature in the editing mode and had about 5 or 6 pics in my account, but nothing could expand or really bring into good focus the chairs from an earlier posting.
Week #3 Post #6
For my purposes in design the Colorpicker (or colrpickr) would be a most useful tool.
Friday, October 19, 2007
Week #2 Post #4
I feel comfortable sharing information online as long as it is not of a personal nature. The finding and sharing of information forms the basis of what we have dedicated our current careers to. Finding an exact point or for teachers explaining that same point within a body of knowledge is why we are employed at the library. I remember in a workshop I attended at ALA Midwinter one year, the facilitator speaking about how within every good library worker there is the heart of a teacher wanting to get out and about. That struck a cord with me.
Week #2 Post #3
In the September 2007 issue of Consumer Reports on page 32-33 in a special highlighted box #6 is listed: "Use public computers with care. Avoid using computers at libraries, hotels or airports conducting financial or other personal business. The same goes for using your own computer on a public wireless network, especially if you're not on a secured Web page or haven't disabled your system's computer-to-computer connections." [Have they seen Monday afternoons and evenings at our branch?]
In a teen program here at the branch that we gave on Internet security we handed out 2 items. One was an informational brochure from the Harris County Sheriff's Department, which was actually based on a more detailed work from the National Crime Prevention Council, entitled "Cybersafety for Kids Online: A Parent's Guide". Copies are free and available in quantity, simply by calling the Harris County Sheriff's Department Crime Prevention Unit at 713.759.9454.
The second item was from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Fact Sheet 21: Children's Online Privacy. This is available at www.privacyrights.org
In a teen program here at the branch that we gave on Internet security we handed out 2 items. One was an informational brochure from the Harris County Sheriff's Department, which was actually based on a more detailed work from the National Crime Prevention Council, entitled "Cybersafety for Kids Online: A Parent's Guide". Copies are free and available in quantity, simply by calling the Harris County Sheriff's Department Crime Prevention Unit at 713.759.9454.
The second item was from the Privacy Rights Clearinghouse, Fact Sheet 21: Children's Online Privacy. This is available at www.privacyrights.org
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Week #2 Post #2
One calendar is about all that I can handle in my life. That calendar will include all work events, family appointments and etc. [If it were lost or misplaced, which I have never done, I know I would be totally lost.] A 2-page calendar in a planner of some sort is how I usually run with my schedules. It's worked for years. Additional notes from meetings and etc. then fit in rather well.
Early on I had been a traditional/conventional learner. I don't think we had a choice in Catholic school with the nuns. However in the 90's I went through a total transformation and began the formal study of the interior built environment. It was difficult at times, but the transformation is now complete and I am a total visual learner.
Early on I had been a traditional/conventional learner. I don't think we had a choice in Catholic school with the nuns. However in the 90's I went through a total transformation and began the formal study of the interior built environment. It was difficult at times, but the transformation is now complete and I am a total visual learner.
Monday, October 1, 2007
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)