Monday, November 24, 2008

Thing #23 Learn & Play finale


So here is the end of Learn & Play. I doubt I have anything new to say on the whole experience, but here goes. This is by far the best thing CML has done for staff, besides our CLASS training. Helen Blowers is considered a rock star in library world, so CML is fortunate to have her. As for my own experience with 23 Things, I had already experimented with most of the 23 things, but hadn't mastered many of them. Not to say that I mastered all of them, but this experience forced me to learn more about them, especially Delicious and blogger. I hope CML does another 23 things--advanced version, maybe? Maybe we could practice making our own podcasts, videos, etc. and uploading them. That would be useful, I think. One of the best parts of L&P is getting to know my friends at CML better via their blogs. I didn't venture out to read other non-friend blogs (who has the time for that?), but I loved having a glimpse into my friends' lives via their blogs. Now a pic of my favorite way to learn and play: my dearest Lydia, taken by former CML staffer, Jessi . Check out her blog, too.

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Thing #22: MOLDI or digital books

MOLDI is not a service I've used personally before now. I like to listen to books on CD or books on tape in my car, but other than that, I like to have my mind wander or to have silence. So I am not the kind to listen to digital books very often. As for this service, searching was cumbersome, and the downloading of the books was time-consuming--but maybe it was the time of day I did this exercise. Here are the two books I checked out. Customers could use this service for classic titles, esp. when the hard copies are all checked out.

Thing #21 Podcasts

Podcasts are huge; they're advertised on NPR all the time. I have occasionally listened to an NPR show via a podcast when I've missed the original airing on the radio. The technology is so customer-focused; I love the idea behind the name: personal, on-demand, "broad"casting. I found a couple of libraries that use podcasts in basic, but useful and effective ways. Pierce county library uses Podcasts to advertise books and to educate parents and caregivers on Ready to Read skills. So 2.0! I'm surprised that CML doesn't do anything with podcasts. A cheap (read FREE) way to connect to customers.

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Thing #20: YouTube, "Lydia the Tattooed Lady"


There's nothing original I can say about YouTube that hasn't already been said. It's revolutionized the way people express themselves, watch movies and tv shows, and entertain themselves. My husband wastes more time on YouTube than I want to admit. I get restless watching YouTube, but I'll occasionally watch something that I hear about spreading in the pop cultural realm. I will say that YouTube gives easy access to a huge archive of media in pop culture. And it comes in handy when I explain where my precious Lydia got her name. Wonder what she'll think of her parents when she's older?

Thing #19: CML Power Tools

Here is the list of power tools on CML's website. The ones I used the most are the Google search box and the CML homepage search box. Handy, handy! Of course, I already use gmail, Twitter, Firefox, and Worldcat. Creative Commons is one I have only recently used, and I really like their teaching videos.