Monday, October 20, 2008

Thing #18: Web 2.0 Awards


So many to choose from this list! I like the idea of Yelp. The reason I like it is because you could possibly find like-minded people via Yelp. My husband and I are always wondering if there are people who are similar to us in my hometown of Elizabethtown, KY, and this website might could give us some connections. I also want to comment on another website from this list---reddit.com. Any time I try to tell Nils something that I have read or heard about, he already knows about it. When I ask him, "How?," his answer is always "reddit." The man lives on that website; he's obsessed with it. One more website from this list; Mango Languages might be a great way to learn some basic phrases in another language. Could use it to help communicate with the Mexican workers on our farm in KY. I'll tell my brothers about it. But now, here's the real award winner: my little Lydia!

Thing #17: Online Productivity tools: Google Docs

You can't beat Google docs. Somehow I discovered them a couple of years ago and began saving copies of work documents that I want for future use, in case I find myself working at a different library system. The portability, the ease of use, the intuitive process for uploading and/or creating a document...you just can't beat Google. No more paper files, pin drives or floppy disks (yes, some people still use them!); my work can live forever online...until they start charging a fee, of course! I also love Zoho. Both of these online tools enable people to create and save documents online without the use of Microsoft or hard drives. Fantastic! Now that is Web 2.0!

Thing #16: Learn & Play Sandbox (wiki)


I joined CML's wiki and added my blog to the favorites list. Also added a couple of other favorites: favorite stores, quotes, etc. But here is my favorite:

Thing #15: Wikis

Things I love about Wikis: the ease of coordinating and sharing information. I hate trying to work on documents or a plan with others using only email. Wikis allow a group of people to work on the same project from their various locations, and the status of the project is always clear. I could see a smaller library using a Wiki as a substitute for their Intranet. Something to think about if I ever worked in a smaller library that is not part of a big system... A wiki that I like and think I will use in the future for keeping on top of "best practices" and other great ideas in librarianship is Library Success.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Thing #14: What does Library 2.0 mean?

I'll just list some of my favorite quotes, ideas, and sections from the articles recommended in this exercise. When the whole Library 2.0 concept came onto the scene, it's as if someone had read my professional diary. THIS is the stuff that I have wanted our public libraries to be. Now, maybe now, we're on the way to being the best that we can be as a profession.

*"if our services can't be used without training, then it's the services that need to be fixed, not our patrons. One-button commands, such as Flickr's "Blog This," and easy to use programs like Google Page Creator, offer promising models for this user-centrick service."

*it's "harder and harder to justify the continued buildup of a large 'just in case' print collection" because with the Internet, customers and staff will have access to everything!

*"What are libraries? Libraries are not just collection of documents and books, but they are conversation, they are convocations of people, ideas, and artifacts in dynamic exchange. Libraries are not merely in communities, they are communities: they preserve and promote community memories; they provide mentors not only for the exploration of stored memory, but also for the creation of new artifacts of memory."

*"...knowledge spa: meditation, relaxation, immersion in a luxury of ideas and thought...a WiFREE space, a retreat from the technohustle, with comfortable chairs, quiet, good light, coffee and single malt. You know, the library."

Thing #13 Delicious

I signed up for a Delicious account a couple of years ago after reading about it in a journal. I gotta admit I was confused on how to tag and organize my websites, so I quickly abandoned it after repeated tries. However, I'm going to figure it out this time, and I hope to keep track of all the websites I use on a regular basis, but more importantly, the websites I use only occasionally. But seriously, if you want to know what it truly Delicious, watch this video.

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

Thing #12: Twitter and "ambient awareness"

I've been in Cbus for over 13 years now and have often felt lonely, even though I have friends and friendly colleagues. What's missing is that easy and constant physical presence that I used to have being in a big family in a small town. Hard to be lonely when you are rarely alone, although I have to admit that I did feel lonely while in KY, too. So maybe it's me. Anyway, this NY Times article sums it up better than I can. And as the article suggests, I, too, felt closer to my friends through the banal details of their days because of Twitter. THANKS Twitter for bringing my friends closer to me.

Thing #11: LibraryThing

I'm a GoodReads gal, but I still created a LibraryThing account. Granted, I'm way behind in keeping my Goodreads account up to date, but I really like the format.

Thing #10: Image Generator




Lots of websites to choose from on this exercise, but I just stuck to one of the ones suggested.

And of course, I had to feature my little Lydia on this ALA READ poster website!

Thing #9: Finding Library-Related Feeds

Even though I am often pressed for time (especially with a 6-month old at home!), I do like to stay on top of what's going on in the greater library world. I'm really trying to create a thorough list of feeds on my google reader page.

Lydia's serenade


Lydia's serenade from sarah mackey on Vimeo.

Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Lydia rolls over at 4 months!



This video was taken in August 2008; I'm a little slow in downloading all her pics and videos!

Lydia in her seat

 
Posted by Picasa

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Thing #8: Bloglines

Am I the only one who had problems logging into bloglines? It would take too long to login, and eventually the page would time out. Frustrating. Dunno why that happened, day after day, week after week. But I finally created my account and would like to think it helps me keep track of the blogs and other webpages I read, but not if I cannnot ever get onto the page! So for now, I will most likely still use my tabs in Firefox or the RSS feeds in my favorites to keep on top of my web reading. http://www.bloglines.com/myblogs