Week 11 - Instant Messaging

Pt. 1: I have never used IM before. I had some difficulty signing in to Meebo. I think it's because I'm not on any of the e-mails mentioned. I was finally able to register through my FaceBook account. I did use "Preferences" to customize a little bit.

However, while a "Buddy List" shows up on the site, I don't know how to engage in a conversation with them. Do I need to be on FB for them to contact me? Perhaps none of them were online at the same time I was?

To Be Continued....

Week 10 - Podcasts and OverDrive

The assignments this week took a little longer to accomplish since I had no "off desk" time. I didn't think I should be listening to podcasts while I was on the service desks. However, a couple of times I was double-scheduled with an L.A. at the "Help Desk" and was able to use the headphones and listen to a bit of some of the podcasts at "Library Success: Best Practices wiki".

I wanted to compare podcasts from other public libraries and the trend I noticed (probably not the one I was supposed to) was that many of the links were no longer any good.

I listened to a picture book read by Denver P.L., some teen book-movie connections from County of Los Angeles Libraries and finally an adult author talk from Kankakee P.L. The theme, a natural one for libraries, was to get people excited enough to want to read these books or other books like them themselves.

I don't think many people would have the patience to sit and listen to a whole book being read to them, but I think podcasts in libraries are perfect for booktalks, author programs and especially children's picture books and stories. Podcasting can be used to whet the public's appetite for a story, theme or author.

I am very proud of myself for being able to check-out and download an OverDrive book to myself. Familiarizing myself with all the "Helps" available will make me better able to help patrons (especially the "lost souls" who call in over the telephone).

Thank you Team for forcing me to do this!

Week 10 - YouTube

YouTube could be "habit forming". I have used it in the past but am excited to learn about "Channels" and "History". It is very easy to use and I've always managed to find clips of things I was interested in on YouTube. However, there's a sense of satisfaction when you learn how to use something more efficiently.

Libraries could be publicizing successful programs with "best moments" clips or even entire puppet shows, summer reading program performances, etc. Are there rules for getting performer's permission to put programs out on YouTube? I'm sure most would be thrilled to get the publicity and be able to refer other libraries or clients to their performances on video.

We could record parts of our Staff Development Day to look at as a refresher or even make our own employee training videos and post them on YouTube.

Week 9 - Avatars

I already use an avatar on Facebook instead of a real picture of me. Mostly because I didn't have a attractive, recent picture handy but partly because of vanity. I didn't want old friends and acquaintances to be checking out how old or fat I am these days.

For this assignment I made my avatar look, more or less, like me and have my interests, but I can see where you could get carried away with the all the choices and create yourself as a fantasy person. That would be a lot of fun if everyone you are networking with knows that it's all a fantasy.

What about applications for libraries? Now that I know about Meez, I will encourage people, especially young people, to use an avatar to maintain their privacy when they communicate with total strangers. I haven't noted patrons using avatars, but I have noticed librarians using them on sites like "Tattooed Librarians". They can show and discuss their tattoos, while maintaining anonymity, and not embarassing their workplaces. It's great to be able to do that! Viva avatars!

Week 8 - Online Storage

I like the idea of online storage for precious documents and photos. I preferred Mozy over Box because you get 2 gb of space for free as opposed to only 1 gb for Box. I'm really glad to learn about these services since I've seen something similar advertised on TV and thought it might be worth $55 a year to save things stored on my computer.

Nothing I store on the library computers could not be recreated, but it might be an option for storing library bibligraphies, flyers for programs and other things that the library might like to update or archive.

Week 8 - Google Docs and Zoho

Altho Microsoft is the "standard" it is good to learn about applications that are free and non-Microsoft. Librarians can use this collaborative software to work together on bibliographies or other library documents. Libraries also benefit just by having more knowledgable librarians. Library patrons benefit because instead of paying money for yourmeetingsonline.com, the document sharing software being advertised on television, we can let them know that there are other collaborative applications out there that are free.

I tried to use the "organizer" feature on Zoho--I'm still not organized! It was pretty hard to figure out. I prefer Google Docs--it worked similarly to the Microsoft products I am used to.

Week 7 - Wikis

Two additional ways libraries could use Wikis? Hmmm....

What about a Wiki we could use "internally" to share those local documents that each branch uses but does not put out for the public. As a part-time librarian moving from branch to branch, I've notice that one branch may have some useful information that another branch does not. For example, one library might have an internal list of local orgs. that take volunteers who are under 16. Another will list nearby businesses that fax. One might know where to send people for citizenship classes.

It would be very helpful to the part-time librarians and LAs to have one place we could look up a topic and see the sites specific to the branch we are working at.

A Wiki could also be used for Bibliographies or Read-Alikes. It would be simple for anyone on the Wiki to add the latest title in a series or remove a title that's no longer popular. They would be updated constantly and available for printing, if need be.