The End ... and a Beginning

This maybe the end of 23 Things, but it is definitely a beginning for me. Using these new tools has jump started my brain. Some of these things, I'll use for myself, others I'll see about using here at the library. I think that we will need a small committee to decide how best to use these tools and add value for our patrons.

My favorite discovery was flickr. It makes it easy for me to share photos with my family and coworkers. I also loved the Round Rock Summer Reading Club videos. We'd been talking about doing a video so that the schools could show it in addition to handing out the materials

As for the unexpected, I had started to use Del.ici.ous as a bookmarking tool, but I never realized just how powerful a tool it really is. Searching a tag of interest brings back a lot of sites on that specific topic that might be buried somewhere in a general google search.

If other programs were offered this way, I would definitely look in to them. I enjoyed the self-paced activities and ability to share my discoveries. As far as I know, I'm the only one that participated at my library, but I know that my coworkers have learned too, because I've shared some of my finds with them.

Kam,

Thanks for the work you've done! :D

Librivox explored

I've meant to read the Scarlet Pimpernel but just could never quite get into it. I found an audio version of it on Librivox, so I'll give that a shot. It was fairly easy to download the book to my iTunes and then to my iPod. After looking at the catalog, I think that it would be a good resource for students. We have a hard time getting audios of the older classics and they want an audio when they have to read it. Since a lot of the classics are in the public domain, it is a good way for them to get access to novels by Austen, Dickens, etc. I also liked the fact that it had some of the works of important philosphers and thinkers like Adam Smith etc. It even has the Bible on there.

Podcasting/Streaming video

I own an ipod, so I went to the iTunes store and searched for podcasts. I found one that is produced by the SLIS at San Jose State University. It is call Cool Tools for Library 2.0. In it they discuss how to use the Web 2.0 tools. I also found the podcast on podcast.com. I also listened to a podcast Activated Stories where the podcasters tell you about their travels and then tell you a story from the area they are in. I listened to one that involved Jack Sparrow and Brer Rabbit. It was pretty fun, because the Jack Sparrow was done in Captain Jack Sparrow's voice. I also found this one listed on podcast.com.

Also, we were very interested in seeing the Inaugration so we streamed it on several of the staff pcs yesterday.

Youtube - Library Instruction

I'll admit that I'm finding more uses for Youtube all the time. My first use was for finding anime series episodes (the kind that aren't supposed to be on there). Over Christmas I used it to watch a clip on how to wrap something using a gift bag and to watch someone do a weight lifting exercise. Oh so much better than reading a description! I have to admit that I've even though of a way for the library to use youtube. Our youth service librarians usually go to the schools to promote the summer reading club which eats into their time for actually preparing for it. I thought they could actually have their presentation videotaped and copied or put on youtube for the schools to show. So I was very interested to see that Round Rock has already done this.

The video I chose is one of a series that UCLA puts out to teach the students how to use the library. It's entertaining yet at the same time teaches them a little bit about using the library.

Web 2.0 - Pandora

A friend of my had recommended Pandora an internet radio site, so when I ran across it on the list, I decided to try it. It is great. After you register, you can create your own radio station based on a song or artist and then the site will play create a station that plays the music and music that the music genome project thinks is similiar. You have some control over what gets played on that station. If you don't like a song, just mark it and it won't ever play on your station again. You can also share stations with friends, get an app for your iphone etc. I'm not sure there's much application for the library, but I'm listening to it as I write this post and enjoying the ability to listen to music.

Tax Volunteers

Zoho created the second paragraph and let me easily post it in my blog. It is interesting to see how many different ways people are trying to free themselves from the older ideas about software and operating systems. Microsoft may really lose the fight to be relevant someday as more free operating systems and web apps become available.

AARP Tax Volunteers will be available from February 2 through April 15. They will be located in the group study rooms. Exact days and hours of operation have yet to be determined. We will post that information when it becomes available.

pbwiki

It took me a few minutes to figure out how to edit and add information to the wiki page and a few more minutes to find an older version of the page when I inadvertently erased some of the information :) At least there is a way to get at the information, so you don't look like an idiot who erases other people's stuff.