Week 10: # 23 Is this really the end? Or is this the begining?

This is the end the for Postits blog, but not for my future in blogging. I have enjoyed going through all (most) of the exercises, but describing my experiences with the exercises on the blog has been the most satisfiying. Many times I wanted to keep a journal, then wanted to keep a blog, but didn't know how to go about it. Now I have the expertise to do so.


Flickr is something I hope to keep going in keeping pictures on my home computer. Editing photos goes hand in hand. Avatars are fun and I can't see not continuing with them. Although I will probably not have the expertise (although who knows after completing iHCPL Learning 2.0) to post a podcast, I will certainly research them and listen. Library elf will also remain with me both at email at work, home and cell phone.

Between YouTube and podcasting; library programming, short videos and visual tours allow our branches to be viewed and/or heard throughout the world. RSS and wiki are great assets for finding information and keeping us connected.

I would like to thank the staff who designed and posted iHCPL. You did a fantastic job. What a wonderful learning experience for all who particiated, both staff and library customers. With the self-paced exercises those already with the expertise could sail right through. Those like me who had never been introduced to the likes of RSS and Wikis could go over and over the information before attempting exericses and blogging.

I would also like to thank the Administration for giving all staff the opportunity to learn this new technology.

Gamer

Week 9: #22 Downloadable Media

I looked up items on audiobooks, ebooks, music and videos. I wold be interested in downloading Iris Johanson's Pandora's Daughter (audiobook), T Myers's Larceny and Old Lace (ebook) and A Celtic Celebration (music).

In viewing the three sites I liked that HCPL highights new items and that book covers are shown. HCPL (as does Wowio) provides synopsis of the book and in the ebooks provides part of the first chapter. This allows the person the opportunity to see if the ebook is really something they want to take the time to download. LibriVox has a system where you have to search a title/author/genre/subject. When looking for titles by Louisa May Alcott, I spelled May as Mae. 0 titles were available.

Wowio has a format similar to HCPL. HCPL and Wowio show what can be available. Wowio's homepage has a large section with changing titles/genre. Both seem more user-friendly than LibriVox per example regarding Louisa May Alcott.

HCPL 's homepage provides serveral ways to access the titles in the various media. Of course, a huge advantage of HCPL is that it offers several forms of media. LibriVox offers only audiobooks, and Wowio only ebooks.

Week 9: #21 Podcasts, Smodcasts

http://www.podcast.net/play/58769/10

I have posted podcast from Kankakee Public Library of author Barbara D'Amato, mystery writer. She speaks to a live audience on 10/03/2006 about formulating an idea for a book to getting it published. She highlights her latest book, Death of a Thousand Cuts. The murder is of Dr. Scrimahorn (fictional) on the first night of reunion of his patients and patient's families. The fictional book is based on a real live Dr. Battleheim (although never a real doctor) who maintained a facility for autistic children. He claimed and told parents that they were the cause of their child's autism. He allowed the children only two visits home per year. D'Amato for many years harbored anger against Dr. Battleheim. Several books have been written about Dr. Battleheim, so instead of a biography she developed a murder mystery.

Listening to her about how she developed her idea for the book has certainly piqued my interest. Although I will probably never visit Kankakee Public Library or visit the town, isn't it wonderful to know you can participate in a library program, even one held over a year ago. Podcasts are here for posterity and an excellent way for a library to share its prograaming with the world.

Week 9: #20 Discover You Tube and other sharing sites

I was spellbound watching UNT Libraries' Portal to Texas History. A history buff anyway, and especially fond of Texas History, UNT promoted their digital libraries with maps, photos and news pages illustrating Texas History and what can be found at their digital site, http://texashistory.unt.edu/. HCPL could promote it's collections as well showcasing subject areas and genres of materials. The publicity and branding committee had discussed filming individual branches with panoramic views and posting on Harriet. Panoramic viewing or slideshows, it's about marketing and showing what we got.

Week 8: #19 Web-based apps: They're not just for desktops

I think I could really get into Zoko! I do so MUCH in Microsoft and Zoko seems like a less complex alternative. Along with Writer; Notebook, Message, Show and the spreadsheet all look like very good possibliites for uses. Also being able to switch from one to the other is a lot easier in Zoko than going from one Microsoft function to another (such as Word to Excel). I also like the ability to have access from any computer to my Zoko. Unless I would attach a document to an email at home, I wouldn't be able to retrieve my Microsoft documents from anywhere than HCPL desktop. (At least I don't think so.)

For instance if you had a PowerPoint Presentation EARLY in the morning and wanted to make changes you wouldn't have access from home. With Zoko Show you could edit the night before and have it ready at work the next morning.

The post below was done in Zoko Writer and posted through the publish option. (Note: For some reason Library Elf was late in notifying me on my cell of a date due. I got notice today, 10/31/07 for an item due 10/29/07. Did Horizen have anything to do with this?)

Library Elf to the Rescue

I generaly rely on Horizon to remind of due dates for items checked out to me.  Withe fiasco of Horizon last week, no such notice was sent.  My Library Elf sent me a reminder and I was able to renew the item.  I also appreciate the suggested titles offered.

Week 8: #18 Social Networking

I viewed ALL all the sites liste. Networking is amazing and really links people with similar interests. If you're brave enough you can post your rooms on Rate My Space. I didn't like MySpace, at least for work/professional purposes. It's too out there with contacts I'd rather not have access to. I liked Facebook with the ability to contact coworkers and school friends. I found my daughter with our mutual UT connection. Also contacted some HCPL friends.

Week 7: #17 Blog About Technology

A few years ago unless you were an author or journalist an individual's words were limited to very few readers. Now our words can be viewed all over the world and our input is easily transmitted and just as easily accessed. Now I'm on YouTube for the whole world to view! (ugh!)

Week 7: #16 So what's in a wiki?

Our Sandbox is great for recommending. Always good when you're not sure where to eat, what movie to rent, etc. I liked the expanded format of SJCPL Subject Guides and Book Lovers Wiki has a list of your favorite genre at your fingertips. Should I be fortunate to attend more Conferences in the future the conference wiki is something I look forward to utilizing. I can see TLA setting up a Wiki for local arrangement committee chairs and those finding it difficult to make the meetings can send reports via wiki. In addition those in the system with similar jobs can have wikis set up. Programming reviews can be listed among other topics.

Gamer

Week 6: #15 On Library 2.0 & Web 2.0

I wanted to comment both on Away from the "icebergs" and Into a new world of librarianship. In Away from the "Icebergs", Anderson acknowledges libraries are on the right path, but there are thre obstacles (icebergs) to avoid. The "just in case" collection becomes more obsolete with all there is on the web and the increasng demand for the web. HCPL is doing an excellent job with iHCPL both for staff and library customers for reliance on user education when the ratio of customers to librairans is 680 to 1. Anderson's third iceberg is "come to us", and how libraries need to bring services to customers, rather than insist they come to us.

I liked Michael Stephens statement on technolust regarding technology and that we embrace the technology for how it meets it users' needs, rather than the coolness aspect.

Library 2.0 means changing the way we meet our customers' needs. Many library customers are more comupter savvy than some library staff and to meet these needs we need be able to provide them the tools to find the information they are seeking. All of Library 2.0 has to do with better meeting our customers' needs. We are doing what libraries have always done, get the library customers what they want and to make it the most accessible. It was reassuring to hear that libraries have for a long time been adhering to Library 2.0 to provide the best service possible with the available tools of the time.

Gamer

Week 6: #14 Getting not-so-technical with Technorati

This will be brief and to the point:

In Technorati, I did both an advanced search and keyword search for Learning 2.0. The advanced search had 7,076 posts and the keyword search 540. The advanced search must delve much deeper for results. The popular blogs were interesting to say the least with finding such items as top 10 reasons OJ raided the sports memorabilia show in Las Vegas and Sunday Secrets.

I did set up a tag with my crocheting experiences again. Hope I got the HTML correct and that it worked.

Gamer

Crocheting and iHCPL Learning 2.0

It was a year ago I began a Salsa afghan (white, red, yellow and orange) and got probablly 85% completed. Due to warm weather and other distractions, I put the afghan away and now only have to complete the fringe on one short end. With my renewed interest in crocheting i placed a crocheting Feedster Widget on my blog to get instructions for other projects. Now I have at my fingertips crocheting and other crafting ideas. I can see how the tools of iHCPL Learning 2.0 can assist in almost every aspect of lift when it comes to the accrual of information.

Week 6 #13 Tagging makes the web 2.0 world go round

I set up an account in Del.icio.us and set the link buttons. It took awhile to accomplish this. I accessed some of the sites already in iHCPL account such as the rice website. I can see how using Del.icio.us would be helpful when others post their opinions of the site. If you wish to take their opinions before getting into deeply into the site. You can get a good concensus about the site. I wanted to look at The Daily Show site, but couldn't access it. Also Network Services updated my Adobe in order to view the 8 minute video about delicious. It was somewhat helpful, but she was monotone and difficult to hear.

Gamer

My Library Elf - Week 5 #12

I registered my library card number with Library Elf, responded to the email and looked to see that I had no items due, no items on hold, or any on their way. I do have two books checked out and look foward to the Elf's reminders. I do get reminders sent to my email anyway, but the advantage to the Elf must be getting them sent to my email at home and text messages. Also an advantage would be getting reminders of what you have on hold.

Gamer

Widget - Crocheting Week 4 #

Here is my crocheting widget. I started an afghan last fall, got 90% done and left it. I picked it back up and am on the final rows and fringes. I'm looking for some new projects and thought I could find some here.

I created this and a jewelery one last week, but just am now posting. Please look to the right and below for Thing #10 & #11.

Gamer

My Library Thing(s) Week 5, #11

Here's my start on my LibraryThing, but as time permits hopefully it will grow and grow! I love it because it can track all the books I enjoyed reading, suggest similar books to them, and those I may not remember are on the suggested list and remind of what I previously read and liked!

Gamer

Me at the Renaissance Festival, Week 5 #10

I changed from shopping mall girl to Renaissance Girl as the Renaissance Festival is a favorite fall activity for my family.

On the right is me in a pumpkin patch as pumpkins are another fall favorite of mine. I have pumpkins, fall leaves and jack-o'-lanterns all over the living room.

Avatars are right up my alley, changing clothes, hairdos, looks. Very enjoyable. It's great learning about all the stuff out there you can play around with and for free.

Pirate Day 2007

571263255_10904e2113_m
Originally uploaded by dianep5767

This is by review of Week # 3. It took awahile, but it's here.

Away by Amy Bloom

index
Originally uploaded by dianep5767

Got a free copy of htis book thorugh Random House's Reader's Circle Newsletter with promise of submitting a review. I did submit a review and they printed it the next month's newslletter!

"Lillian Leyb’s long journey introduced us a colorful and unsavory cast of characters. Being the mother of a daughter you could feel Lillian’s passionate need to see her daughter alive again. ..Bloom provides us incite into the future lives of all these characters including Sophie. Thank you for sharing this book with me." Diane Pont

Week 4: #9 Finding Feeds

I tried out all the search tools and found I liked Feedster to suit my hobbies. It was easy to use and I set up a widget for crocheting and jewelery, but am not sure where to put them. I liked Technorati, but it's updated so fast it hards to keep up. You see two you'd like to read, go to one and when you go to read the second it's been replaced from viewing by many new stories.

I found that Sydic8 was difficult to follow.

In my feedster crocheting searches I saw that on Rachael Ray's website she's wearing a grey cardigan that can be easily crocheted. ON Bloglines I saw my entries with negative comments on Nancy Grace. Bloglines is probably the easiest to follow.

Until next week,

Gamer

My Bloglines Experience Week 4, # 8

I enjoyed watching Rhoda's video on RSS. At first I didn't know what was going on, but then realized bloglines is just a way to sort through numerous websites and select those of interest to you. When your newspaper is delivered there is so much information literately thrown at you at your door. Of course when you look at the index you can find just the section you're looking for. Same with bloglines you can sign up for just the sites you're interested in and forget the rest!

I couldn't for some reason view the CNET video. I kept clicking and clicking, but it never started. I was able to view the video on You Tube.

I just jumped in to Bloglines and set up my account, using an old nickname. I avidly clicked on my interests and many sites and came up with nothing except the 7 already selected. Going back several times I did one by one add a view and can now have easy access to CNN, Urban Legends and "Quotes of the Day" and well as a literature site.

23 Things Everyone Should Know is a learning challenge of discovery. Sometimes there's frustration, but you come out in the end with a great sense of satisfaction and accomplishment. Also you feel like technology is no longer leaving you behind.

As ever,

Gamer

Cropped Water Lilies

EXPLORING BLOGS

It was refreshing to view the blogs of others. So many to view and so little time. This blog thing can be contagious and such fun now that I'm getting the hang of it. I look forward to see what new adventures await us next week!

Tubing in the HIll Country

Mellissa Tube
Originally uploaded by dianep5767

It was worth the effort to finally have a real photo added to my blog.

My creation

My creation
Originally uploaded by dianep5767

This is my trading card. Hope to be more creative next time around.

Gamer

September 22-23 Weekend

Enjoyed my daughter's visit this weekend. My husband, son and I picked her up at the bus stop and went home to an Erev Yom Kippur dinner of cabbage rolls, , mashed potatoes, Challah, wine, and apple strudel. Following services we had a break the fast of bagels, lox, cream cheese, kugel, fruit, cottage cheese.

Sunday my daughter and I went to the Galleria and shopped for a few things and had lunch at Kona Griill. Which I highly recommend. We had ahi seared tuna in a fresh greens salad with ginger dressing and peanut sauce on the ahi tuna, goat cheese, asparaguss, mushrooms and tomatoes on a pizza and turtle cheesecake for dessert. Yum!

From the Galleria I took her back to bus stop and she went back on her merry way back to school.

Watched an excellment movie called G-d is also the Sun (something like that) with Gena Rowlands and a young actress from Mean Girls. The young actress plays a nurse who recently lost her father and Gena Rowlands plays a terminally ill Jewish cancer patient. The young nurse becomes the private nurse for Mrs. Eisenbloom.

Highly recommend this as well.

Until next time,

Gamer

This Weekend

I'm looking forward to having my daughter come home this weekend. This will be her visit this school year. We will all be meeting her at the bus and will go home to a dinner of cabbage rolls and challah. She's been wanting the cabbage rolls as something she cannot fix. This will be our erev Yom Kippur dinner. Tomorrow will be services and fasting. While home I know she wants to look for a Halloween costume. Unfortunately the weekend will probably pass too quickly, but it will be nice having her here in the meantime.

Until next time!

Gamer

Let's start again

I have gone through and reset up my blog. Hope this works. I look forward to posting many items here and I'm thrilled to have my own blog.