I have enjoyed the program, and hope other people here have enjoyed it also, whether or not they were able to finish. There are a lot of tools out there. It's good to note that EPL is already using many of them: IM/Meebo, blogs, MyMediaMall, and the EPL presence on Facebook. Some tools that were new to me that I'll likely keep up with are Facebook, RSS feeds (I like catching the Tribune headlines and Evanston Review among other things), photos on Flickr or Facebook (when I have some new good ones to upload). I may also do a wiki for my school at some point. And of course the prizes are a nice incentive. Did I mention I have to win that iPod? (OK, I guess the flash drive and/or camera will do also...)
By the way, I'm hoping they leave the site and the blog links for everyone out there for a while. I didn't get a chance to read all of them lately, but would like to at some point.
TTFN,
Theo
(image generated through bighugelabs.com)
Sunday, October 5, 2008
Audiobooks & MyMediaMall
I have explored a few audiobooks and the past and have explained or shown this to patrons. A nice feature is that the titles are in the EPL catalog. If an electronic title shows up in the search, it should be fairly intuitive to the user that it is electronic format: you get the book icon with the lightning bolt through it, and also it states [electronic resource (eBook)]. You can also search for electronic sources directly in the catalog without having to go to MyMediaMall. Try this search for items on Microsoft Excel - search for "excel and ebook" as a words or phrase search, and only ebooks show up. I need to explore them more (after I get the iPod - sigh...).
Podcasts
I explored podcasts and some of the podcast directories. I like podcastalley.com a little more than podcast.com, mainly because you can search on podcastalley without needing a user ID. (At this stage I just don't want another user ID). In Google Reader I've subscribed to my favorite radio program - Michael Feldman's show Whad'ya Know? I've been listening for years, so getting a podcast just makes it easier to catch up if I miss it on Saturday. I may try other programs, but I'll need a good 'hook' to stay with them.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
EPL 18/19 - Online productivity tools and Web 2.0 awards tools
online productivity tools
These seem very cool in the right setting. I have a friend that planned her daughter’s wedding guest list through this. Both set of parents involved were able to collaborate on a spreadsheet to make a guest list – no need to e-mail back and forth and track versions!
web 2.0 tools
The seomoz site is great – I’ve bookmarked it. I have already used many of these tools, including craigslist, careerbuilder, pbwiki, wikispaces, GoogleEarth, iGoogle, Farecast, and of course others from ELL. Craiglist helped me quickly find a used bike when I wanted one (was able to narrow to specific parts of Chicago) and also helped me sell a pre-purchased hotel room in Manhattan to someone from Washington state! The new tool I explored is SpanishPod – I’ll check this out more once I own that iPod…
These seem very cool in the right setting. I have a friend that planned her daughter’s wedding guest list through this. Both set of parents involved were able to collaborate on a spreadsheet to make a guest list – no need to e-mail back and forth and track versions!
web 2.0 tools
The seomoz site is great – I’ve bookmarked it. I have already used many of these tools, including craigslist, careerbuilder, pbwiki, wikispaces, GoogleEarth, iGoogle, Farecast, and of course others from ELL. Craiglist helped me quickly find a used bike when I wanted one (was able to narrow to specific parts of Chicago) and also helped me sell a pre-purchased hotel room in Manhattan to someone from Washington state! The new tool I explored is SpanishPod – I’ll check this out more once I own that iPod…
EPL # 15 – Library 2.0 and the future of libraries
I read the Wiki article on Library 2.0 and some of the OCLC articles. These things caught my attention:
OPAC 2.0: I like the idea of the library catalog being more interactive, such as user book reviews, persistent links, and social bookmarking. This should generate interest from users.
An idea from the OCLC Newsletter:
“This librarian [Michael Stephens] does not buy technology for the sake of technology. “Techno-worship” does not exist here. Without a firm foundation in the mission and goals of the institution, new technologies are not implemented for the sake of coolness and status.” I agree with this completely – you need to understand your audience. Many people of the older generation will not embrace these tools, but younger audiences do. Since the public library serves all age groups, we need to embrace and understand the tools to serve and communicate with them. But if a particular technology does not help or is not embraced by a particular demographic, we have to be sensitive to that.
OPAC 2.0: I like the idea of the library catalog being more interactive, such as user book reviews, persistent links, and social bookmarking. This should generate interest from users.
An idea from the OCLC Newsletter:
“This librarian [Michael Stephens] does not buy technology for the sake of technology. “Techno-worship” does not exist here. Without a firm foundation in the mission and goals of the institution, new technologies are not implemented for the sake of coolness and status.” I agree with this completely – you need to understand your audience. Many people of the older generation will not embrace these tools, but younger audiences do. Since the public library serves all age groups, we need to embrace and understand the tools to serve and communicate with them. But if a particular technology does not help or is not embraced by a particular demographic, we have to be sensitive to that.
Sunday, September 28, 2008
EPL "23 things" updates
Evanston Public is doing the Web 2.0 "23 things" program, similar to Oakton's 2.Oakton program, but over a longer period and a few more tools. I'm going to blog here a bit about LibraryThing (#11), Web 2.0 within other libraries (#12), and Twitter (#14).
I initially signed up for LibraryThing over the summer, but also became aware of Shelfari through a colleague of mine. I don't know all the differences between these book tools, but I was told that there is a limit of books in LibraryThings (vs. no limit in Shelfari), and I also liked the look and feel of Shelfari with its nice wooden bookshelves. I've placed several books in there: http://www.shelfari.com/tedlibrarian. (am currently reading "My Bloody Life", by the way).
Regarding Web 2.0 in other libraries, I've seen some nice things. I think EPL's presence on Facebook is very cool, although in the 'new' Facebook I have to dig a little harder to find it - go to Profile, and then Info... I think the ability to write book reviews by patrons is very cool also. I should be able to do this in my school library at some point. We use Follett library software. Their new web-based version is called Destiny. Within Destiny kids can write book reviews - I've read listservs that state this is a very popular feature - can't wait to try it! (I used to do have the kids write paper reviews on note cards at my old school, but I think the electronic version would be more popular).
Regarding Twitter - sometimes way too much information. Some people seem to update every little thing. I think occasional updates are good; you get to know someone better. Other people don't do updates at all. I'm sure this is a mirror of our personalities!
I initially signed up for LibraryThing over the summer, but also became aware of Shelfari through a colleague of mine. I don't know all the differences between these book tools, but I was told that there is a limit of books in LibraryThings (vs. no limit in Shelfari), and I also liked the look and feel of Shelfari with its nice wooden bookshelves. I've placed several books in there: http://www.shelfari.com/tedlibrarian. (am currently reading "My Bloody Life", by the way).
Regarding Web 2.0 in other libraries, I've seen some nice things. I think EPL's presence on Facebook is very cool, although in the 'new' Facebook I have to dig a little harder to find it - go to Profile, and then Info... I think the ability to write book reviews by patrons is very cool also. I should be able to do this in my school library at some point. We use Follett library software. Their new web-based version is called Destiny. Within Destiny kids can write book reviews - I've read listservs that state this is a very popular feature - can't wait to try it! (I used to do have the kids write paper reviews on note cards at my old school, but I think the electronic version would be more popular).
Regarding Twitter - sometimes way too much information. Some people seem to update every little thing. I think occasional updates are good; you get to know someone better. Other people don't do updates at all. I'm sure this is a mirror of our personalities!
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Flickr fun toy
OK, another fun image above. This time one of those "inspirational" messages created through Motivator.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
a useful RSS news feed
If you live in Evanston, I think the Evanston Review news feed is useful: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/rss/news/index.xml
For many years I got the print version and saw many issues pile up (too much info). Then I would start checking it online, but would forget to check (too little info). I think the feed I set up in Google Reader is just right - I can easily scan the headlines, and read those stories that I want to read. Yes, Goldilocks, there is a "just right" baby bear porridge...
For many years I got the print version and saw many issues pile up (too much info). Then I would start checking it online, but would forget to check (too little info). I think the feed I set up in Google Reader is just right - I can easily scan the headlines, and read those stories that I want to read. Yes, Goldilocks, there is a "just right" baby bear porridge...
I'm baaaackkk....
OK, I haven't posted here in a while - not since finishing up the program at Oakton this summer. Maybe I'm just not the blogging type, maybe I'm shy (well not at my age any more..), maybe I lost interest, or probably I just assumed no one else would be interested in reading my ramblings unless they are witty or something.
In any case I have to start blogging again so I can get a new flash drive and maybe an ipod from EPL!... It's interesting, of the tools I learned over the summer at Oakton the one I have kept using is Facebook - mainly to stay in touch with friends and see what they're up to, etc. I do love taking digital photos, but I won't upload to Flickr until I have something new to post - probably will post some photos from my new school library in time...
Oh, and I removed that Meebo widget. Meebo is cool, but I don't really monitor it when I'm logged in.
In any case I have to start blogging again so I can get a new flash drive and maybe an ipod from EPL!... It's interesting, of the tools I learned over the summer at Oakton the one I have kept using is Facebook - mainly to stay in touch with friends and see what they're up to, etc. I do love taking digital photos, but I won't upload to Flickr until I have something new to post - probably will post some photos from my new school library in time...
Oh, and I removed that Meebo widget. Meebo is cool, but I don't really monitor it when I'm logged in.
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Online tools
Ok, I looked at various online tools. I had WAY too much fun with RedKid (see photo in my blog if you don’t see it in the RSS feed). I also set up accounts and played with both LibraryThing and Shelfari. I want to spend some more time comparing these tools for social sharing of book interests, and see if somehow they could work at the high school level to generate interest in reading books and writing about them.
There are several other tools I looked at but did not set up accounts. I can see where Google Docs & Basecamp would be useful when you need to collaborate with others on a project or list of things, especially if the other people are in remote locations. Zotero seems to have a lot of promise, but it looks like it’s in the early stages. Don’t forget also that OCC has purchased NoodleBib as a tool for students to build bibliographies; I have been demonstrating that in classes. Twitter just seems like way to much information on people (similar to “What are you doing now?” in Facebook) – could be useful, but I sure don’t want to be on the computer 24/7!
There are several other tools I looked at but did not set up accounts. I can see where Google Docs & Basecamp would be useful when you need to collaborate with others on a project or list of things, especially if the other people are in remote locations. Zotero seems to have a lot of promise, but it looks like it’s in the early stages. Don’t forget also that OCC has purchased NoodleBib as a tool for students to build bibliographies; I have been demonstrating that in classes. Twitter just seems like way to much information on people (similar to “What are you doing now?” in Facebook) – could be useful, but I sure don’t want to be on the computer 24/7!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
IM - AFAIC
Instant messaging is the 2.0 tool I am most familiar with. I used to use AIM (AOL's product) in the corporate world around 2000 or so. It was useful since we were all in scattered cubicles and it could be a way to get a quick response on something.
I am also familiar with the use of Meebo and Trillian for virtual reference. I think it's great that you can now post a question from a web site without having to download and use any specific software. The casual user can just go to a library's web site and post a question. I think it would be useful for OCC to start using this (IMHO). My experience at the Arlington Heights and Evanston libraries was that there was typically not heavy traffic - up to 5% or so of the time you are on the desk. It would never be as sophisticated as a face to face encounter (FTF), but it is a way to connect and get a conversation started with some people. If you want to pose a question at Evanston's site, here's the link for Meebo - just find the 'Ask a question' box, type a question where it says 'Type here', and press enter: EPL research page.
HAND. TTFN & KIT
OMG - I like totally redid this post in IM speak ;-) Translations at: Acronym Dictionary
I am also familiar with the use of Meebo and Trillian for virtual reference. I think it's great that you can now post a question from a web site without having to download and use any specific software. The casual user can just go to a library's web site and post a question. I think it would be useful for OCC to start using this (IMHO). My experience at the Arlington Heights and Evanston libraries was that there was typically not heavy traffic - up to 5% or so of the time you are on the desk. It would never be as sophisticated as a face to face encounter (FTF), but it is a way to connect and get a conversation started with some people. If you want to pose a question at Evanston's site, here's the link for Meebo - just find the 'Ask a question' box, type a question where it says 'Type here', and press enter: EPL research page.
HAND. TTFN & KIT
OMG - I like totally redid this post in IM speak ;-) Translations at: Acronym Dictionary
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
more on social networking
I had forgotten until recently that I have had a LinkedIn account for some time, but I rarely use it! LinkedIn seems to be very focused on careers/employment/networking, whereas Facebook has a lot of fun stuff. I enjoyed setting up Facebook and seeing who is out there. I like the fact that you can stay logged in for a long time - some days there is very little activity among my 'friends', but I may leave open and check periodically.
Facebook was discussed on ABC news this morning: Facebook Stole My Identity. (The link may have a brief commercial before you get to the video.) Very interesting story.
Facebook was discussed on ABC news this morning: Facebook Stole My Identity. (The link may have a brief commercial before you get to the video.) Very interesting story.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Social Networking
I signed up for Facebook and added a couple friends. Time will tell if I really use this much in the long term - I think very few of my friends currently are on it. Another tricky issue is finding someone who has a common name - there are a lot of Carol Jacksons out there! However I can see the value to libraries in promoting themselves. Evanston Public has this Facebook page: Evanston Public Library.
There are a lot of other social network sites out there also. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out in the long term. A teacher colleague of mine kept asking me to join WAYN (Where Are You Now?) - a social site focused on travel. I finally joined, but this site is very heavy on advertising :-(
There are a lot of other social network sites out there also. It will be interesting to see how it shakes out in the long term. A teacher colleague of mine kept asking me to join WAYN (Where Are You Now?) - a social site focused on travel. I finally joined, but this site is very heavy on advertising :-(
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Social Bookmarking
I see many advantages to bookmarks being shared and available on the web. One thought is that the organizer in me wants to go in and clean up the tags (e.g., I don't want to see both 'Dictionaries' and 'dictionary' as tags). If we use this and perhaps make available to the OCC community, someone should monitor it and clean those kinds of things up.
I guess that's the point of many of these Web 2.0 tools is to just go in and get messy with it, publish, whatever, and clean up later. Of course you need to teach people to be responsible and careful with what they publish - you hear the horror stories of people publishing videos/blogs/photos and it comes back to haunt them later.
I guess that's the point of many of these Web 2.0 tools is to just go in and get messy with it, publish, whatever, and clean up later. Of course you need to teach people to be responsible and careful with what they publish - you hear the horror stories of people publishing videos/blogs/photos and it comes back to haunt them later.
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Flickr and YouTube
I created a Flickr account and added photos. Here are my photosets: www.flickr.com/photos/tedlibrarian/sets/. I've had a digital camera for some time, so I added some photos from my high school library and also from an Earthwatch archaeology dig I did in northern England in the summer of 2006.
I'm not video savvy at all, so I did browse YouTube without setting up an account or adding anything. It was fun - I found some videos that were done last November from the musical that the students and six of us teachers were in at St. Scholastica. If you REALLY want to see that dance routine that we teachers were in, I'll get you the link.
I can see the value to libraries. Were are in such a multimedia based world that libraries can of course use these materials for both promotion and instruction.
I'm not video savvy at all, so I did browse YouTube without setting up an account or adding anything. It was fun - I found some videos that were done last November from the musical that the students and six of us teachers were in at St. Scholastica. If you REALLY want to see that dance routine that we teachers were in, I'll get you the link.
I can see the value to libraries. Were are in such a multimedia based world that libraries can of course use these materials for both promotion and instruction.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Hello from ALA
It's Monday afternoon and I'm just about to wrap up my time at ALA. What can I say? 20,000+ attendees, hundreds of vendors, 4 days of programs... If there were 2 main buzz concepts from the conference, I'd say "information literacy" is a very hot topic and in the Web 2.0 world "facebook" is very hot. In the info literacy world, everyone agrees that it's important, but I didn't necessarily see any consensus on the best way to collaborate, assess, market, etc. Lots of libraries are trying different things.
Regarding Web 2.0, facebook is hot in a lot of colleges as a way to interface with students. I assume we'll cover this in week 6 - social networking. Here's an article: chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2643/searching-library-collections-in-facebook
The Elmhurst College Library is doing something interesting:
www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2392193669&ref=s
and UIUC: www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2414276217
The exhibits are always fun to go through. Gretchen, you'd love it - lots of book giveaways, book deals, book raffles, etc.
All in all one of the best parts of the conference were some of the people I pleasantly ran into: some former colleagues at Northwestern and a former Dominican U. administrator. I also had a wonderful day trip to San Diego and Coronado island. Sorry, Marilyn, I didn't see you here at all! Hope you had a good time.
Well, if any of this babble has sparked an interest in ALA, you're in luck - the conference is in Chicago in July, 2009.
Adios for now.
Regarding Web 2.0, facebook is hot in a lot of colleges as a way to interface with students. I assume we'll cover this in week 6 - social networking. Here's an article: chronicle.com/wiredcampus/article/2643/searching-library-collections-in-facebook
The Elmhurst College Library is doing something interesting:
www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2392193669&ref=s
and UIUC: www.facebook.com/apps/application.php?id=2414276217
The exhibits are always fun to go through. Gretchen, you'd love it - lots of book giveaways, book deals, book raffles, etc.
All in all one of the best parts of the conference were some of the people I pleasantly ran into: some former colleagues at Northwestern and a former Dominican U. administrator. I also had a wonderful day trip to San Diego and Coronado island. Sorry, Marilyn, I didn't see you here at all! Hope you had a good time.
Well, if any of this babble has sparked an interest in ALA, you're in luck - the conference is in Chicago in July, 2009.
Adios for now.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Wikis
I posted to the library2oakton wiki, and found it very easy to edit and update. It's nice to get to know everyone better; kind of like a group blog.
I have mixed feelings about Wikipedia - it's a love/hate thing. Working in a high school library I see WAY too much casual use of Wikipedia when better sources should be used. On the other hand, I do trust it more than I used to. I had a freshmen that hacked into an article (just because she could) and added random lies to an article on 'Grace Hopper'. I monitored it, and noticed that the bad info was removed in 2 hours - much faster than I thought it would be. The school's IP address could have been banned from ever making changes on Wikipedia, so I discussed with her why not to do this.
I went to a lecture several months ago where an expert on this subject said there are several thousand editors out there for Wikipedia. My question would be whether they are all truly subject experts, or how is it otherwise monitored? I will say that it is a good source of certain current topics where online encyclopedias are WAY behind, or not in scope. An example: try looking up Camtasia (a type of software) in Encyclopedia Britannica online and you get nowhere. Look it up in Wikipedia, and you get a pretty clear definition.
Ted
I have mixed feelings about Wikipedia - it's a love/hate thing. Working in a high school library I see WAY too much casual use of Wikipedia when better sources should be used. On the other hand, I do trust it more than I used to. I had a freshmen that hacked into an article (just because she could) and added random lies to an article on 'Grace Hopper'. I monitored it, and noticed that the bad info was removed in 2 hours - much faster than I thought it would be. The school's IP address could have been banned from ever making changes on Wikipedia, so I discussed with her why not to do this.
I went to a lecture several months ago where an expert on this subject said there are several thousand editors out there for Wikipedia. My question would be whether they are all truly subject experts, or how is it otherwise monitored? I will say that it is a good source of certain current topics where online encyclopedias are WAY behind, or not in scope. An example: try looking up Camtasia (a type of software) in Encyclopedia Britannica online and you get nowhere. Look it up in Wikipedia, and you get a pretty clear definition.
Ted
Thursday, June 12, 2008
RSS
Well, it took a few days to grow on me, but now that I've been using it for 3 days I like the RSS feeds. I set up Chicago Tribune, local weather, and various blogs. I like the fact that I can skim headlines, and then just click in to get more info if I want it. There are lots of news stories in the Tribune that I don't care about, but it's easy to skim through when using the 'list view' instead of 'expanded view' in Google reader.
A couple years ago I started to set up RSS feeds using a software app and lost interest in it. Using a web-based package is much better, and may stick with me since I can view it anywhere.
By the way, if you're a music person like me, feel free to respond to that poll you see in my blog.
A couple years ago I started to set up RSS feeds using a software app and lost interest in it. Using a web-based package is much better, and may stick with me since I can view it anywhere.
By the way, if you're a music person like me, feel free to respond to that poll you see in my blog.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Intro
Hello, I'm Ted and I do reference work part time at Oakton Community College. I'll try not to be the world's 2nd most boring blog (ha), but I really do love libraries, and this is a great opportunity to learn the new tools.
I work full time in a high school library, and will be starting a new job in Pilsen in August. I also do some part time work at Evanston Public Library in various departments. I love the variety of the different populations and settings.
I guess it's appropriate I picked the "harbor" template for my blog. I grew up in Benton Harbor, MI - 66 miles "as the crow flies" across Lake Michigan, but a whole world away.
I will be attending the ALA conference in Anaheim this summer - really just an excuse to get away and see California, my 3rd favorite state. I'll be sure to post some things I learn at the conference.
I work full time in a high school library, and will be starting a new job in Pilsen in August. I also do some part time work at Evanston Public Library in various departments. I love the variety of the different populations and settings.
I guess it's appropriate I picked the "harbor" template for my blog. I grew up in Benton Harbor, MI - 66 miles "as the crow flies" across Lake Michigan, but a whole world away.
I will be attending the ALA conference in Anaheim this summer - really just an excuse to get away and see California, my 3rd favorite state. I'll be sure to post some things I learn at the conference.
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