The YouTube phenomenon is incredible. Gone are the days of "if you weren't here, ya missed it". And links are all over the web. I posted a video in thing 17, but removed it because I found a few that were much better. Some of my best laughs, gasps and guffaws were from videos posted on YouTube. Apparently some people have too much time on their hands (search YouTube for "Chocolate Rain" or "Drama Prairie Dog").
Coincidently, as I was creating this post, a friend sent a link to a CNN news story that highlighted YouTube, well actually the segment was about Beyonce doing a Chevy Chase/Gerald Ford impression at a show in Orlando, but video was taken by a person in the audience with a cell phone and posted to YouTube, even after the star herself pleaded with them not to post it.
Beyonce falls
But my favorite thing about YouTube is the ability to see things that you haven't seen in years. Looking for a favorite commercial (Real Men of Genius comes to mind) you can find it. Looking for a favorite 70's television show, see clips of things you grew up with. Dating myself here, my personal favorites growing up near NYC were The Electric Company and The Magic Garden.
Enjoy the hokiness that was the 70's
Friday, September 7, 2007
Thursday, September 6, 2007
Pandora's boombox
or Thing#19 part 2 of 2
So I forgot to mention my most favorite discovery from the Web2.0 list - Pandora. I've heard about it before but never got around to using it. It's better than I thought. I used to use Yahoo's music stations - Launch but with the pop-ups and flash ads, I couldn't use it on my desk pc. With Pandora, the ads are minimal, and it's range of songs is impressive.
You can choose an artist or a song that you like and build a station around it. Don't like a song? Ban it from the play list. Like a song or artist, it will play more of it. If you're like me (Hades help you if you are), and your tastes in music are all over the map, you can establish different kinds of stations and listen to a mix.
Great find.
So I forgot to mention my most favorite discovery from the Web2.0 list - Pandora. I've heard about it before but never got around to using it. It's better than I thought. I used to use Yahoo's music stations - Launch but with the pop-ups and flash ads, I couldn't use it on my desk pc. With Pandora, the ads are minimal, and it's range of songs is impressive.
You can choose an artist or a song that you like and build a station around it. Don't like a song? Ban it from the play list. Like a song or artist, it will play more of it. If you're like me (Hades help you if you are), and your tastes in music are all over the map, you can establish different kinds of stations and listen to a mix.
Great find.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
googling and internet safety
So I've decided to change my posting name. They say it's a good idea to professionally "google" your name every now and then to see what is out there about you. Of course, everything out there about me is library stuff and this blog, but it occurred to me how easy it would be to say a little something "harmless" in a blog and having it bite you in the **** at another time.
Then there's the other side of this... There was a time when posting pictures and personal anecdotes on the web was innocent and fun. Then the predators got online, and now even the most innocent and benign information can be used against us.
I recently went to a session about internet safety for kids and they "demonstrated" how, with perseverance and the tiniest bit of personal information, a predator can find out everything he needs to find a teenager and loves to blog and post to other sites. Scary!
Not that a predator would be after me, but you never know how your information can lead to your kids. Just another soapbox edition....
Carry on.
Then there's the other side of this... There was a time when posting pictures and personal anecdotes on the web was innocent and fun. Then the predators got online, and now even the most innocent and benign information can be used against us.
I recently went to a session about internet safety for kids and they "demonstrated" how, with perseverance and the tiniest bit of personal information, a predator can find out everything he needs to find a teenager and loves to blog and post to other sites. Scary!
Not that a predator would be after me, but you never know how your information can lead to your kids. Just another soapbox edition....
Carry on.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Talk about time-consuming.....
Thing#19, part 1 of 2
Just looking at the list of web2.0 awards (winners and nominees) will take forever, forget checking them all out.
Many of them are ones we've looked at during 23 Things (imagine that) and a few are ones that I've personally used. But some are just plain FUN!
Like
Free Online Games by Arcaplay. Some of my favorite arcade games like Space Invaders, Duck Hunt (I had an Atari Arcade in my youth)
Want a cocktail? Cocktail builder will give you a few ideas of interesting mixed drinks, based on what's in your liquor cabinet -- for those who keep one.
What I like about this list is, it gives other web options. This could have been useful about 6 months ago. Zillow (more than just real estate, it also "estimates" property value, shows property lines via Googlemaps-type satellite views) was actually showed to me by an elderly customer months ago. He wanted other sites like it. Not knowing how to categorize a site like this, I didn't have a great way to search for web-alikes. Now I do, and when he comes in again, I will be ready. SEE, learning all the time...
Found it coincidentally interesting that out of the 123 winners and nominees I've been to "23" of them before and since we started this journey.
Just looking at the list of web2.0 awards (winners and nominees) will take forever, forget checking them all out.
Many of them are ones we've looked at during 23 Things (imagine that) and a few are ones that I've personally used. But some are just plain FUN!
Like
Free Online Games by Arcaplay. Some of my favorite arcade games like Space Invaders, Duck Hunt (I had an Atari Arcade in my youth)
Want a cocktail? Cocktail builder will give you a few ideas of interesting mixed drinks, based on what's in your liquor cabinet -- for those who keep one.
What I like about this list is, it gives other web options. This could have been useful about 6 months ago. Zillow (more than just real estate, it also "estimates" property value, shows property lines via Googlemaps-type satellite views) was actually showed to me by an elderly customer months ago. He wanted other sites like it. Not knowing how to categorize a site like this, I didn't have a great way to search for web-alikes. Now I do, and when he comes in again, I will be ready. SEE, learning all the time...
Found it coincidentally interesting that out of the 123 winners and nominees I've been to "23" of them before and since we started this journey.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Thing #18
This posting was created on Google Docs. Very versatile. If you've made revisions to the document, even while typing, you can go back and view what you've written before you publish. Upload files or type directly, SPELLCHECK, or post directly from GD to your blog (great crossover feature that I am using now). BUT unlike Zoho, GD supports our beloved OpenOffice programs, (ods, odt)
Using the other publish feature, I've made a compilation of Unshelved version of Mac-vs-PC spoof as an HTML.
Very funny IMHO.
Internet vs Library
BTW, did-ya-know...
this feature is one of the "things" we can do with DeskNow too? huh? huh? yup, since DeskNow is web-based, we can upload docs from anywhere, home, pda, work desk info desk, wherever you are webbed up.
This posting was created on Google Docs. Very versatile. If you've made revisions to the document, even while typing, you can go back and view what you've written before you publish. Upload files or type directly, SPELLCHECK, or post directly from GD to your blog (great crossover feature that I am using now). BUT unlike Zoho, GD supports our beloved OpenOffice programs, (ods, odt)
Using the other publish feature, I've made a compilation of Unshelved version of Mac-vs-PC spoof as an HTML.
Very funny IMHO.
Internet vs Library
BTW, did-ya-know...
this feature is one of the "things" we can do with DeskNow too? huh? huh? yup, since DeskNow is web-based, we can upload docs from anywhere, home, pda, work desk info desk, wherever you are webbed up.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Playing in the sandbox - got messy
favorites linkThing #17
Okay, every other county had a banner or heading. I didn't like that so I made one for us. I also figured it would be easier for others to add their blogs too.
Jam on it...
Thing #16
If you know the song it should make you laugh that this blog is about wikis. It's the first thing I thought about when I saw wikipedia...but then again along with my passion for old movies, I am also an 80s music fan.
The best and the worst thing about interactive websites like wikis - everyone can add their own pennies. While that works well with idea sites, or orientation sites, e.g. The helpful ALA wikis
But informational sites - no way. Just as .com and .net are never used as authoritative sources, so go the wikis.
Hey, Mergatroid, let's goooooo
If you know the song it should make you laugh that this blog is about wikis. It's the first thing I thought about when I saw wikipedia...but then again along with my passion for old movies, I am also an 80s music fan.
The best and the worst thing about interactive websites like wikis - everyone can add their own pennies. While that works well with idea sites, or orientation sites, e.g. The helpful ALA wikis
But informational sites - no way. Just as .com and .net are never used as authoritative sources, so go the wikis.
Hey, Mergatroid, let's goooooo
Serving the Marketplace. (soapbox edition part deux)
“No profession can survive if it…fails to acknowledge and adapt to radical, fundamental change in the marketplace it serves".
Okay, many of us have said the same when it comes to Thing #15. We get it. Web 2.0 is here and we must be able to adapt. As Dennis blogged, “resistance is futile”.
First, FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE.
By the mere application of 23 things, we are fundamentally changing the way we think about the Web and how we can better inform our customers and ourselves about what’s going on out there. Internally, we are totally on the right path. SI is technologically advanced - wikis, blogs, tag clouds, etc. (thanks LTS).
But what about our customers? Web 2.0 is commonplace among many of our patrons…so why aren't we MORE involved in it. What good is learning about these “things”, if we’re not using them.
Next, RADICAL CHANGE.
How about changing the way we serve our online patrons? I’ve spoken to customers who are put off by our website (they link directly to the catalog), because it’s “outdated”, “not intuitive”, “boring”. We have a new image
we need a new website. I know changes are being made to improve our web presence. But will it be enough? Ever see the sites of our HAPLR competitors... I’m just saying...
Of course, we don't have to JUMP into the "cutting edge" pool. Fundamental and radical changes can be slow and steady (like the turtle), but let's stay with times, not behind it.
Okay, many of us have said the same when it comes to Thing #15. We get it. Web 2.0 is here and we must be able to adapt. As Dennis blogged, “resistance is futile”.
First, FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE.
By the mere application of 23 things, we are fundamentally changing the way we think about the Web and how we can better inform our customers and ourselves about what’s going on out there. Internally, we are totally on the right path. SI is technologically advanced - wikis, blogs, tag clouds, etc. (thanks LTS).
But what about our customers? Web 2.0 is commonplace among many of our patrons…so why aren't we MORE involved in it. What good is learning about these “things”, if we’re not using them.
Next, RADICAL CHANGE.
How about changing the way we serve our online patrons? I’ve spoken to customers who are put off by our website (they link directly to the catalog), because it’s “outdated”, “not intuitive”, “boring”. We have a new image
we need a new website. I know changes are being made to improve our web presence. But will it be enough? Ever see the sites of our HAPLR competitors... I’m just saying...Of course, we don't have to JUMP into the "cutting edge" pool. Fundamental and radical changes can be slow and steady (like the turtle), but let's stay with times, not behind it.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Brotherhood 2.0
Like I said, I like reading author logs, especially of favorite authors. I'm not gonna search for any, but I will read one if a new book is coming out. After looking at author blogs, I came across and interesting one. Printz winner John Green (An Abundance of Katherines, Looking for Alaska) has made a pact with his brother Hank to only communicate through video for a year! Brotherhood 2.0
The following is a video made by a fan imagining what the opening credits to Brotherhood 2.0 would be if it was an 80s sitcom.
(Oh yeah, consider this my Thing #20)
Can you imagine? No email or snail mail. They've created this blog to keep in touch through YouTube videos and made it public. Funny (if not completely stupid) stuff. But, you see, that's what's so crazy about the web. With cellphone cameras and 50GB hard drive, amazing (in pretty dumb things) are available to all at the click of a mouse.
The following is a video made by a fan imagining what the opening credits to Brotherhood 2.0 would be if it was an 80s sitcom.
(Oh yeah, consider this my Thing #20)
Can you imagine? No email or snail mail. They've created this blog to keep in touch through YouTube videos and made it public. Funny (if not completely stupid) stuff. But, you see, that's what's so crazy about the web. With cellphone cameras and 50GB hard drive, amazing (in pretty dumb things) are available to all at the click of a mouse.
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Deliciorati
Thing #13 & #14
Okay so I feel a wee guilty that I started this web 2.0 journey a while ago and haven't finished. But I must say I've had fun tagging. I added my del.icio.us and tagging icons to my browser, and enjoy adding websites to this often. I think it's great because now when I find a great website at home, I don't have to email the link to my work email. I can just upload it.
I've included my tag cloud in my side nav. And I anticipate changing it often.
As for Technorati
No offense but reading others blogs doesn't appeal to me (unless it's an favorite or YA author ). I enjoy reading about our shared experience, but other people...fuhgeddaboudit. Now I did check out some author blogs through technorati, but there are other sites that list them as well. Once again, another username and password site, I could do without.
Okay so I feel a wee guilty that I started this web 2.0 journey a while ago and haven't finished. But I must say I've had fun tagging. I added my del.icio.us and tagging icons to my browser, and enjoy adding websites to this often. I think it's great because now when I find a great website at home, I don't have to email the link to my work email. I can just upload it.
I've included my tag cloud in my side nav. And I anticipate changing it often.
As for Technorati
No offense but reading others blogs doesn't appeal to me (unless it's an favorite or YA author ). I enjoy reading about our shared experience, but other people...fuhgeddaboudit. Now I did check out some author blogs through technorati, but there are other sites that list them as well. Once again, another username and password site, I could do without.
Tuesday, July 24, 2007
Library Thing
Joe showed this to me on one of his visits to the "country" and I found it fascinating. I showed this to a patron who wanted to catalog his books in one place. Adding books is a breeze. But personally, this will have to be an ongoing project. I have WAY too many books to catalog. I started with just a few including a book a friend of mine wrote in college and a children's book written by the father of one of my daughter's friends.
As time-consuming as this can be, it is a fascinating tool.
Library thing.
As time-consuming as this can be, it is a fascinating tool.
Library thing.
Tuesday, July 10, 2007
This is my Roll-YO!
Thing #12
What a fun experience! One stop shopping.
I had no idea where to start but after seeing some of the latest searchrolls added, I knew where to start. Once upon a time, my husband and I were very into a RPG (role-playing game) called EverQuest (or EverCrack as it was lovingly called by players who were addicted to it). We were always searching the web for spell info and particular character items. So I wondered if there were any searchrolls for it. Of course there were.
When it was my turn, I looked at my browser bookmarks. I had all of these YA discussion guides, booktalking and booklists sites and thought this would be great. I can put them all into one searchroll. Now whenever I'm looking for a particular book title, I can use my searchroll to find it at one time instead of trolling each site!
What a fun experience! One stop shopping.
I had no idea where to start but after seeing some of the latest searchrolls added, I knew where to start. Once upon a time, my husband and I were very into a RPG (role-playing game) called EverQuest (or EverCrack as it was lovingly called by players who were addicted to it). We were always searching the web for spell info and particular character items. So I wondered if there were any searchrolls for it. Of course there were.
When it was my turn, I looked at my browser bookmarks. I had all of these YA discussion guides, booktalking and booklists sites and thought this would be great. I can put them all into one searchroll. Now whenever I'm looking for a particular book title, I can use my searchroll to find it at one time instead of trolling each site!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Thing 8 & 9
I've been subscribing to RSS feeds (Newsgator, GoogleReader) since our training, so I didn't bother to create a bloglines account. I subscribed to a MERLIN feed and I continuously receive Unshelved and YALSA info to my feeders. Not a big fan of newsfeeds, since Yahoo, Google and other homepages have headlines.
As for the feed search, be careful what you search for. I was a bit too quick to enter when searching for young adult librarians blogs/feeds. Needless to say, it seems you can get a feed of almost ANYTHING.
I've been subscribing to RSS feeds (Newsgator, GoogleReader) since our training, so I didn't bother to create a bloglines account. I subscribed to a MERLIN feed and I continuously receive Unshelved and YALSA info to my feeders. Not a big fan of newsfeeds, since Yahoo, Google and other homepages have headlines.
As for the feed search, be careful what you search for. I was a bit too quick to enter when searching for young adult librarians blogs/feeds. Needless to say, it seems you can get a feed of almost ANYTHING.
Thursday, July 5, 2007
I skipped ahead a little
Thing #10
But at home, that's a different story.
I couldn't resist playing with this online image generator, I found it utterly addictive. I've made several meez's but this is how I feel on the inside when someone forgets to pay for their copies.
Not that I would ever show this side of me at work :PBut at home, that's a different story. Thursday, June 28, 2007
Pictures from YA Author Breakfast @ ALA
This application is possible via Picasa.
Stacey F. showed me this dowloadable software program through Google. It locates and sorts all the pictures on your computer and allows you to post them to the web as albums to share. Since we already have Google account to set up Blogger, it's worth a look-see. The program lets you embed slideshows (as shown above), share your photos with others, and even allows them to order prints of your photos.
I'm a podcast!?!
How is this for Web 2.0? After attending an all-committee meeting for YALSA (young adult library services association), I was asked to give comments about being a first-timer at ALA conference last week. I didn't realize I would be posted to the website as a podcst. But if you fast forward three-fourths through the podcast you will hear me and Abby, a teen librarian from NYPL, talk about our first time experience. Of course, I was so nervous I had no idea what to say, or if it made any sense. IT DIDN'T.
Pretty surreal to hear your voice on the internet.
YALSA Annual 07 Podcast #2 - Saturday AM
You will need QuickTime (more apples) to listen
Pretty surreal to hear your voice on the internet.
YALSA Annual 07 Podcast #2 - Saturday AM
You will need QuickTime (more apples) to listen
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
technosavvy
Thing #7
So I really never thought of myself this way, especially compared to my math/computer geek of a husband. But to the rest of my family, I guess I've "been around" when it comes to web 2.0. I mean I taken some courses on Webpage development. And I've done many "things" already on the to do list, but I realize how much the web world has changed in just a few years. Blogging and social networking is so common. Everyone knows someone, if not themselves, that has a blog, or a social networking page. IMO (in my opinion) we, meaning HCL, are truly behind the times when it comes to web presence. RSS feeds and ebooks are a great start, but our names need to be out there on YouTube, MySpace etc. Getting us the recognition that we deserve. We need to have a teen page devoted to our web generation. As our patrons come to us for help, we really need to be broader in our knowledge of today's technology.
Also, I don't know how many patrons are disappointed with us that are ebooks aren't Ipod-compatible. Apple has saturated the market, with MAC commercials, newer versions of Ipods, and now Iphone. An apple a day could keep HCL away if we don't find a way to be more compatible to the masses.
Sorry, soapbox edition of the blog put away now. Anyway, hopefully, as a result of this training, more staff will be more comfortable with creating a web-friendly atmosphere in HC.
On a weirder note, something fun I found searching around for image generators. You can't export it but it is fun.... If you are a fan of South Park, you can create your own character at spstudios.
So I really never thought of myself this way, especially compared to my math/computer geek of a husband. But to the rest of my family, I guess I've "been around" when it comes to web 2.0. I mean I taken some courses on Webpage development. And I've done many "things" already on the to do list, but I realize how much the web world has changed in just a few years. Blogging and social networking is so common. Everyone knows someone, if not themselves, that has a blog, or a social networking page. IMO (in my opinion) we, meaning HCL, are truly behind the times when it comes to web presence. RSS feeds and ebooks are a great start, but our names need to be out there on YouTube, MySpace etc. Getting us the recognition that we deserve. We need to have a teen page devoted to our web generation. As our patrons come to us for help, we really need to be broader in our knowledge of today's technology.
Also, I don't know how many patrons are disappointed with us that are ebooks aren't Ipod-compatible. Apple has saturated the market, with MAC commercials, newer versions of Ipods, and now Iphone. An apple a day could keep HCL away if we don't find a way to be more compatible to the masses.
Sorry, soapbox edition of the blog put away now. Anyway, hopefully, as a result of this training, more staff will be more comfortable with creating a web-friendly atmosphere in HC.
On a weirder note, something fun I found searching around for image generators. You can't export it but it is fun.... If you are a fan of South Park, you can create your own character at spstudios.
Monday, June 18, 2007
Thing #6
I had fun looking at fd's Flickr toys website.
So many options. My favorite was the Warholizer, but I couldn't find any picture that had the right amount of contrast that looked right. I spent probably too much time on that.
So I opted for the framer.
I had fun looking at fd's Flickr toys website.
So many options. My favorite was the Warholizer, but I couldn't find any picture that had the right amount of contrast that looked right. I spent probably too much time on that.
So I opted for the framer.
Thing#5
Flickr this...
I have uploaded some GLE pics to Flickr. Since I am in charge of displays temporarily, I've been busy. This display helped circ all of our Forni books. One thing I liked about Flickr is that you are able to edit and change tags/descriptions at any time.
Photo posted by djazzy on Flickr: Howard County (MD) Library, Glenwood Branch displays. Tags: civility, library displays, glenwood branch, etc.
Flickr this...
I have uploaded some GLE pics to Flickr. Since I am in charge of displays temporarily, I've been busy. This display helped circ all of our Forni books. One thing I liked about Flickr is that you are able to edit and change tags/descriptions at any time.
Photo posted by djazzy on Flickr: Howard County (MD) Library, Glenwood Branch displays. Tags: civility, library displays, glenwood branch, etc.
Thursday, June 14, 2007
pet peeve
Not that I mind having accounts everywhere (because I actually do), but has anyone gotten tired of creating new accounts on various sites. I mean you have to have a google account to get onto blogger, and a yahoo account to get onto flickr.
Just a observation.
Just a observation.
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