Digital downloads. I think I would be much more interested in these if I had a fancy portable electronic device. I have a very basic cell phone. I have a very basic PDA (contacts and calendar.) It's not that I'm not interested in having a fancy device, but I just can't afford to spend my money on toys for me right now. Someday I will catch up with the rest of the techno world. Right now, I just know about what I could be doing. Sad, I know.
I am glad that I had a chance to explore MOLDI. I think it is good to be familiar with the service, since we offer it to our customers. I was surprised to find the volume and variety of titles available.
Getting the account was really easy. It only required my library card number. Finding titles was really easy. I selected a collection of Piano Christmas classics. I added it to my cart and checked it out. So far, so good. I downloaded the file. Then, I hit the roadblock. My computer said that it couldn't read the file. It required an additional software download. The computer that I am using at home is barely hanging on and runs so slow. I didn't want to clog it up with any more downloads. If I can ever get my husband off his laptop, I will jump on and try it there, but I doubt he will let me download Piano Christmas classics. Back to browsing to find something "hip" enough for a laptop download.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Thing #21-Podcasts
I remember hearing much chatter about podcasts way back when, but not as much lately. For me, I don't get any satisfaction from watching a progress bar go across a computer screen and listening to someone talk. I'd much rather read it or see a video. I'm a visual person, so audio podcasts don't hold my attention long. I've taken some online training that used podcasts to deliver content. It was weird. You could hear the teacher talking, but you couldn't see them.
I had a discussion long ago about adding storytime podcasts to the library website, but technology probably has a better solution by now.
I didn't know before now that you could add podcasts in a RSS feed. I explored the podcast directory list. I guess everyone and their brother is making podcasts these days, so they must be popular somewhere.
It will be interesting to get the new podcast delivered into my bloglines account next week. I signed up for a comedy podcast. If it's funny, then maybe I'll be more convinced. We will see.....
I had a discussion long ago about adding storytime podcasts to the library website, but technology probably has a better solution by now.
I didn't know before now that you could add podcasts in a RSS feed. I explored the podcast directory list. I guess everyone and their brother is making podcasts these days, so they must be popular somewhere.
It will be interesting to get the new podcast delivered into my bloglines account next week. I signed up for a comedy podcast. If it's funny, then maybe I'll be more convinced. We will see.....
Thing #20-YouTube
YouTube is dangerous. Seriously, you could spend the whole day. Every video leads to other videos, which leads to other videos... You think, "Hey, let's see what people are watching on Monday," and before you know it, it's Tuesday. One of the thing that always surprises me is when I can't find something on YouTube. It has so much, you start to think that there isn't anything you can't get. I recently wanted to show someone a clip of the Sweeney Sisters from Saturday Night Live singing Christmas songs. Not there. Some copyright issue, I guess.
Still, you can always find something of interest. I like this Angry Librarian video. It's funny, because it's true. Talk about your barriers to service. Don't think so? I challenge everyone who sees this video to think about all the times you have said, "I can't do that." I think you will find it happens more often than we are willing to admit.
Still, you can always find something of interest. I like this Angry Librarian video. It's funny, because it's true. Talk about your barriers to service. Don't think so? I challenge everyone who sees this video to think about all the times you have said, "I can't do that." I think you will find it happens more often than we are willing to admit.
Pass me a Bucket and a Shovel for Thing #16
Thing #16 is playing around in the wiki sandbox.
As I have mentioned before, wikis rule! So, the Learn and Play Wiki is totally cool, because it is all about talking about your favorite things and finding out about the favorite things of those people you work with everyday. Who knew? I keep finding out things that I have in common with tons of people, and before now, I had no idea.
I posted on the Beaches page.
Myrtle Beach is my favorite. My family goes most every year to a beautiful resort called Ocean Creek.
Favorite movies? The top of my list is anything starring John Cusack. He is one handsome devil. Check out his filmography. Over 50 films spanning over 20 years. Any other Cusack fans out there? Which film is your favorite?
I hope to spend some more time exploring the learn and play wiki. Dig in. There are treasures waiting to be discovered. Pass me that shovel, would ya?
As I have mentioned before, wikis rule! So, the Learn and Play Wiki is totally cool, because it is all about talking about your favorite things and finding out about the favorite things of those people you work with everyday. Who knew? I keep finding out things that I have in common with tons of people, and before now, I had no idea.
I posted on the Beaches page.
Myrtle Beach is my favorite. My family goes most every year to a beautiful resort called Ocean Creek.
Favorite movies? The top of my list is anything starring John Cusack. He is one handsome devil. Check out his filmography. Over 50 films spanning over 20 years. Any other Cusack fans out there? Which film is your favorite?
I hope to spend some more time exploring the learn and play wiki. Dig in. There are treasures waiting to be discovered. Pass me that shovel, would ya?
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Thing #19-We've Got the Power
This post is about the CML Power Tools page.
I downloaded the Library Toolbar sometime over the Summer. I appreciate being able to search the CML library catalog directly from my toolbar and the instant access to My Account.
At work, it often saves me from needing to launch a Discovery Place session to make a quick check of something. At home, I am able to access the catalog without going directly to the webpage. Pretty cool.
If I was to offer any negative here, it would be that I don't think enough people have discovered this yet. We included it as an online activity for adults for the Summer Reading Club this year. I hope we find more ways to promote and to help our customers discover this great tool.
I downloaded the Library Toolbar sometime over the Summer. I appreciate being able to search the CML library catalog directly from my toolbar and the instant access to My Account.
At work, it often saves me from needing to launch a Discovery Place session to make a quick check of something. At home, I am able to access the catalog without going directly to the webpage. Pretty cool.
If I was to offer any negative here, it would be that I don't think enough people have discovered this yet. We included it as an online activity for adults for the Summer Reading Club this year. I hope we find more ways to promote and to help our customers discover this great tool.
Thing #18-Getting LinkedIn
I had recently received several invitations to join LinkedIn from colleagues. Since it was listed as one of the nominees for the Web 2.0 Awards, I decided it was time to check it out.
I created an account. Yes, another account.
The good: I was able to connect on this social networking tool with some co-workers who are not on Facebook or Twitter with me.
The bad: This is just one more thing to login to, and it doesn't have a gadget for my igoogle page.
The ugly: There is too much other "stuff" to do with LinkedIn. I guess that is the point of creating something for social networking...giving a lot of options for ways to connect. The thing about all these tools is that you have to put the time and work into setting them up to reap the benefits in the long run. It depends how much energy you are willing to expend.
My advice: Pick a few social networking tools that work best for you and stick with those.
I created an account. Yes, another account.
The good: I was able to connect on this social networking tool with some co-workers who are not on Facebook or Twitter with me.
The bad: This is just one more thing to login to, and it doesn't have a gadget for my igoogle page.
The ugly: There is too much other "stuff" to do with LinkedIn. I guess that is the point of creating something for social networking...giving a lot of options for ways to connect. The thing about all these tools is that you have to put the time and work into setting them up to reap the benefits in the long run. It depends how much energy you are willing to expend.
My advice: Pick a few social networking tools that work best for you and stick with those.
Thing #17-Google Docs...Where have you been all my life?
So now you tell me. Where was Google Docs when I was carrying around the flash drive with all my grad school assignments protecting it like it was made out of pure gold?
I can't tell you the number of documents I have e-mailed to myself, so I could access them later at home.
One application that would work well with my team of rovers is to save the weekly schedule to Google docs and then share it. Since they visit different locations almost every day, they could access their schedule from any computer.
Since I just finally finished grad school, discovering Google Docs makes me think of products for babies. I had my daughter 12 years ago, and they had some decent baby stuff back then, but have you seen the stuff for babies these days? There are all kinds of tools and tricks for making life easier. It figures. I always miss the good stuff.
I can't tell you the number of documents I have e-mailed to myself, so I could access them later at home.
One application that would work well with my team of rovers is to save the weekly schedule to Google docs and then share it. Since they visit different locations almost every day, they could access their schedule from any computer.
Since I just finally finished grad school, discovering Google Docs makes me think of products for babies. I had my daughter 12 years ago, and they had some decent baby stuff back then, but have you seen the stuff for babies these days? There are all kinds of tools and tricks for making life easier. It figures. I always miss the good stuff.
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