#23 The finish line!!! I DID do a marathon!!

I loved this opportunity. I don't have a computer at home, so this allowed me to become acquainted with so many things I've heard about. My knowledge of terminology has broadened vastly. I got stuck early on and was frustrated. My problem turned out to be with log-ins and passwords. A very simple concept, but confusing when they were different in different places. After that I was able to follow through. I think the idea that some things could take as little as 15 minutes to accomplish was totally off-base....at least for me. I had to read everything and follow step-by-step. (and often ended up in the wrong place!) I found that working in longer time frames helped me. I would forget so easily if I did one little thing and then stopped. I still need more exposure to each area. I would love to see the library expand this so we can go to each step and do more so we feel comfortable with the steps and how they work and connect to our account. I am still feeling like it's magic when it works!! I'm still confused about how and when the accounts I connected to my Reader get updated. Maybe as I see these things happen it will make more sense. I really liked the idea of all of us working on this project together at the same time because you could talk to people about it and get help and hints....and you could understand that your frustration was shared. I really thought this project was a great opportunity for all of us. The EPL Wikispace was my favorite thing to do, and I think it would be great to keep this updated. I never knew that terms like Wiki and POD actually had meaning. Already I can see that this will help me in cataloging of the computer books...all those Dummies Books especially.
I'm glad I followed through!! It was NOT wiki wiki however!!!

MyMediaMall

Hmmm...confusing. I'm assuming I couldn't check out from my computer. If so, I couldn't make it work. I've never listened to a book, but it would be fun to listen to David Sedaris. I looked around, but couldn't do much here.

I'm hooked! Podcasts!

I found a wonderful site quite by accident. I put in the name of an author and up came with http://feeds.feedburner.com/AuthorsOnTour-Live
It's a great location that does interviews with authors on their new books. The whole site seemed difficult to really narrow down what I wanted to find. I will have to go back and explore with more specific searches.

I'm in trouble!!

Oh my....I have piles of books to read on my bedside table, lists of books to buy in my purse, videos of tv shows I missed....and now podcasts. I love it, but I'm afraid it's only going to make me realize how much I miss!! I do love the technology though. I never knew that pod actually stood for something.

Web 2.0

All I can say is WOW. I know so little about the computer (but MUCH more after this project!)
that I was overwhelmed by just looking at the winners. I looked at I'm cooked and watched Bubbe make her stuffed cabbage and Christopher Walken roast a chicken. It was just fun, but also informative. I could see the Teens making their own videos. You could also put informative short videos on the library website. I have to go back to this one.

Google Docs

I'm taking a risk here and seeing if my document will show up.
Take a deep breath........
http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dcnjhth3_1c5hg67gr&hl=en
Whew it worked.
That's really a convenient way to send documents.
I have lost files previously. I don't think that would happen here.

Wikispace

I think the Evanston Library Wikispace is great. Very easy to use. I think it would be great to continue to have this at the library. Sometimes you see new restaurants, but don't want to "risk" a meal. This way you know the price range, menu, and comfort level from previous customers. (and customers are my favorite critics) Nice to see stores and activities that you have missed in your own community, and a great referral for a tourist. I would think this would be a great help in Reference for questions on the area. I could also see it being used for committee work on long-term projects such as preparing for in-service. It could track what needs to be done and members could edit the site as their responsibilities are completed. If someone is having a difficult time doing a task or finding something, someone else could see this on the site and help out or provide suggestions. Perhaps Children's could use this when they search for objects for craft projects. Library employees could log on and see what is needed, and offer to help, or suggest where they might find objects. Maybe it sounds like Blogging or Twitter, but I think the great thing about using Wikispaces for these ideas is that each person can edit as they help out, so everyone can see what it being done and where help is still needed.

wiki wiki

This will be wiki wiki! I use Wikopedia quite alot, but I don't always trust it. (That makes no sense I know.) I thought it was great when they used the examples of ALA conventions and people could give all sorts of advice on clothing, restaurants, transportation and other things more directly related to the convention. It seems to take the burden of supplying all this information off of one source, and makes it easier for participants to get questions and concerns answered. I questioned the tutorial of the camping trip however. It seems that if each person isn't hooked into Wiki right up until the last moment, you could still be left without necessary items. If one participant adds things to the list, but I have already looked at the list and decided what I will bring, I may not go back to it....thereby missing that we need rope...and I have it hanging in my garage. Not the perfect solution. But, then again, you always forget something on a camping trip, so why should this one be any different? (Just don't forget the s'mores!) I think Wiki could be used in a library setting with suggestions of book lists, short reviews, or even internally by providing continued information on our upcoming inservice day. My skeptical nature worries that wrong (or skewed) information could be added, and that is not good for a library

Library 2.0

I enjoyed Rick Anderson's article. I think it's a very difficult position for libraries to be in. We are no longer the only access to scholarly journals and libraries do have to find new ways to come to the patron. I liked his idea of libraries being humble. Budget concerns are certainly an issue, but many programs can be slowly integrated for even the smaller libraries. Our YA Loft has done a terrific job of meeting teen interests by incorporating new programs and technologies. There is always a concern about leaving the older or less computer- savvy patron behind, and I agree that new techonologies have to be introduced with a non-teaching method where patrons can access new technology with a single key stroke.

I never knew I was "twittering"!!

Gee, I've been twittering all along and I didn't even know it. My friends and I always throw comments back and forth of the nothingness of our day. Little did I know
that I was doing #14!! I set up my own account and have invited a few friends to Twitter. I'll let you know!At first glance it seems silly, in a library for quick suggestions, reviews, updates on programs, etc., there are ways it could work.

Social bookmarking

I have been critical about the "social" aspect of the computer in the past, but this is great. Not only can you organize your own sites,(and mine were in NO order whatsoever) but add tags to categorize them further. It's a very easy and quick way to get to sites you use often. Seeing tags from other users was helpful also. I was able to set up an account and add bookmarks. One problem was that my password had to be slightly different because I never had any numbers or characters in my previous password...another to remember is not good for me.

#12

This is really a great idea. I can see so many possibilities for the library. I agreed with Kathleen's comments also. I love to read reviews by everyday readers. They influence me more than the "professional" reviewers. The idea of a patron getting an e-mail about a new book by a particular author or subject is amazing.

LibraryThing

This could be addicting. I love seeing what others are reading, and if I liked something, maybe another book that is similar. I also love the idea of cataloging what I read. I started with a few of my favorites. http://www.librarything.com/home/lulablum
This could be very helpful for a library patron. Librarians could post their own list of recommendations. Reviews of new acquisitions could be available. I love this site. I'm anxious to play with it more.

Social networking

This is the scariest aspect, and maybe it shouldn't be. I can see so many good aspects of it.....staying connected or reconnecting with old friends and family, sharing thoughts, ideas, and interests with like-minded people, getting support from people going through the same struggles, and finding job possibilities.
I guesss my problem is with the word "social"...and this really seems less social, and more isolated in many respects. I worry about people who are not who they say they are, and who become predators on others. The young are especially vulnerable, because they often are much more computer savvy than their parents....but easily influenced. By looking at the sites I can see how much good they can provide. Up until this point I haven't had much exposure to them, except for the bad things you hear on tv.

Beautiful!!

Renee Fleming singing Beim Schlafengehen from the 4 Last Songs by Strauss. One of the most beautiful pieces of music I know.

"I'll be back in just a moment!"

After much trial and error.....I DID IT!!! My head hurts and I still lose things (like, where do my photos go and how do I get back to them?) but I did it. I still can't figure out the point of these cards. And I tried to make the card larger with no success. I also seem to lose Flickr and can't get back to it. I'm a work in slow progress!

Making a Trading Card was fun. But I can only see myself doing it to be goofy, but...that is plenty for me!!
Of course, my challenge at this moment is finding the darn thing and bringing it over here. Can I do that?

Emma and Ollie...MAGIC

DSC02301
Originally uploaded by marlenemeyer56

IF this comes through....it will be like Christmas morning. MAGIC!
Flickr was a tough one, but I think I did it! It gave me a headache at times, and I know there has to be an easier way to go back and forth, but I'll get it. It makes me anxious to do more.

A whole new world..#6

This project is opening a whole new world to me. I never knew that topix and technorati existed. I was amazed at how specific you could be and still find blogs.
I also searched my hometown. It's less than 4,000 people. There is a "clothing optional park" outside of town...much to the chagrin of the natives. I was amazed at the information that popped up...without even really looking (honest!). In Black River there are a few innocent ads in the paper, but these postings show that it is much more than that. (YIKES!) I also searched for Evanston and was amazed at the personal ads. It's sad to me, because I think the computer keeps people from connecting in a personal way, and yet people are using it for that exact thing. The great thing is that you really can connect with someone, or a blog that matches your interests.

Oh, I'm excited! I think I FINALLY finished # 5. It was a struggle. I had the hardest time even logging in, and then I fiddled for a couple hours (honestly!) and then though I'd go on to the next task instead....but that was really not any good either. But....I think I finally brought in some of the RSS feeds. My favorite is news from my home town. The confusing thing is that I thought this was supposed to appear on the blog, and it only appears on my private log-in page. I guess that's right, but all these other blogs look so fancy. I hope at some point I can figure out how to bring in a picture or video so I don't look so plain. I really have high hopes of finishing this project. I have no computer knowledge except for what I do for my job, so it's been an eye-opener, and definately makes the whole process less mysterious. I can't wait to see what's going on in Black River Falls on Monday!

If you don't know where you are going all roads lead there.
Roman Proverb
That's exactly how I feel with this blog. The hardest aspect of learning for me is setting a goal and then working the smaller steps to achieve that goal. It seems too daunting and I give up. It's sad to admit that I often get after my students for exactly the same thing, but I guess I'm not listening to my own "good advice". I procrastinated writing my first entry after seeing the first bloggers and realizing I was WAY out of my league. (Please tell me these people knew what they were doing already!) O-k, stand tall, breathe deeply, fingers ready.....JUMP.....I'm bloooooggggging!!!

My first post....I'm wobbly

If you don't know where you are going all roads lead there.That is exactly how I feel with this blog. The hardest aspect for me is setting a goal and getting there in baby steps. I often don't want to put in the work of smaller steps to achieve the bigger goal, so I give up. It's sad to admit, because I get after my students for exactly the same thing.I procrastinated making my first entry after looking at the "fancy"blogs left by the early birds.But, it's baby steps for me, and once I figure it out.........watch out!!