Th-th-th-That's All Folks!

I've finally come to the end of my 23 Things journey...and I must admit...as relieved as I am to have completed it, the moment is bittersweet. I've enjoyed stretching my brain and (hopefully) increasing my knowledge base and skills. When I was first approached to join the program, I anticipated that I would find the training helpful professionally. I was surprised to find just as many personally helpful Web 2.0 sites. What a bonus! I even found an email reminding me of my Godson's birthday (now, if I could only remember to check my email in the first place...).

I found that several of the introduced ideas could be easily transferred to the world of the public library, and could assist us with providing better service to our patrons. I think, however, that a bit discrimination might be in order. It would be terribly easy to become carried away with the desire to implement many of the ideas that abound within the program.

That being said...here's some of my thoughts on what might be handy to have available for one's patrons...

Blogs - Blogs which are internal to the institution would be useful for identifying tips, tricks, and troubleshooting for anything from crafts, to program ideas, to upgrades to the circ systems. External blogs could be implemented to support virtual book clubs, as well as assist in promoting a sense of community for library patrons.

RSS Feeds - These could be implemented to inform patrons of library news, new books, journal, or program announcements, overdue and received holds notices, etc. These are also rather handy for professional development by informing staff of upcoming events, conferences, and training opportunities.

Flickr - Not to be mistaken for the Tim McGraw movie...Flickr slideshows could be implemented for virtual library tours, as well as recording renovation progress.

Tags - As I'm certain many have already discovered, tagging would be helpful to support library blogs, etc, and as a cross reference tool for library web pages.

Wikis - A book review library wiki could be created to support patron book reviews, as well as read-a-like lists.

Now you see why a bit of discretion could be called for!

Despite the fact that I have completed the program, I don't feel as though I have absorbed as much as I could from the program...and so I plan on revisiting many of The 23 Things lessons to delve further into this new technology. I have also located another on-line course that covers many of the same topics as the 23 Things, such as blogs, RSS, Wikis, and Flickr, as well as adding new topics such as Social Networking Software and Second Life, Social Bookmarking Software, and Selling Social Software @ your Library. I hope I enjoy the new course as much as I have the 23 Things!

Like two peas in a pod...

I've just discovered that one can search for podcasts on line. This is yet another new discovery for me. I checked out all three suggested podcast search functions (Yahoo Podcasts, Podcastalley.com, and Podcast.net). I was surprised at the variety of podcast subjects that were available...and even found several involving Pontiac Trans Ams. Of the three search engines, I found that I went back to Pocastalley.com. I found their page to be easier to understand and follow, easier to attach a podcast to my Bloglines account, and generally more user-friendly (there's that word again). After sampling many different podcasts, I ended up subscribing to the RSS feed for LibVibe, which claims to be headline news from the library world. After all...we library types have to stay on top of the latest and greatest in the library world!

YooHoo...It's YouTube!

After hearing so much about it, I've finally discovered YouTube. This is another one of those 23 Things which I have to drag myself away from. I've been exploring YouTube for nearly an hour now...and have watched several videos about things like amusing cats and dogs, Pontiac Trans Ams, how-to and DIY videos, and cute babies. I must admit though...I found a couple of videos that I wasn't quite anticipating...so I don't think I'll be allowing my children to peruse this site unattended...and I'll leave it at that. I find YouTube to be another user-friendly site, and I also found the "related videos" function helpful with trying to locate a suitable video to attach to my blog, but...oh my goodness...where to begin?? I finally decided that since it's Friday...and a perfect day weather-wise...I'd attach a video that would hopefully start your weekend with a smile. Please check the bottom of this page for your daily giggle. I hope you enjoy!

No more "happy belated" cards for me!

For #18 of 23 Things, I perused the personal organization genre of Web 2.0 sites and found a nifty site called HipCal. This site provides an online calendar, which is quite user-friendly (my favourite term), easy to update, and...wait for it...sends reminder emails about important upcoming events! This is what I've been waiting for. I will never forget our anniversary again! (I know, I know...it's typically the husband who forgets, but who wants to be typical??)

Zoodle Writer?? Zulu Writer?? Zoho Writer!

Wow!  Free spreadsheets, word processing, and calendars available on-line and without requiring expensive licensed software.  There isn't even any supporting software that needs to be downloaded either.  I never knew these existed!  I can see the benefit for myself because I am personally "printer deficient"...or would "printer-challenged" be the pollitically correct term?  Rather than creating something at work (for work only, of course), sending it to my home email for completion and/or editing, and back to my work email for editing and/or printing...this would allow working on my projects on-line and printing when necessary, thereby removing an entire step...over and over again, not to mention the eradication of version differentiation.  This almost sounds too good to be true.  I wonder where this will leave Microsoft Office?

 

I also wonder if poor Mr. Gates is quaking in his Guccis?  

I should also mention...I created the above post using Zoho Writer, then easily imported it to my blog. Ya gotta love "user-friendly"!

They're called what???

I've finally discovered what a wiki is! This is yet another handy little device! I've actually bookmarked the Book Lovers Wiki, as well as some of the links from the Bull Run Library wiki. I can really see this as being a useful tool to assist front line staff through the implementation of a "Tips, Tricks, and Troubleshooting" wiki that could, among other things, address issues and ideas with the new Workflows upgrade.

Bigger and better...Library 2.0!

While reading the articles associated with #15 of the 23 Things "Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and the future of libraries", I was struck by the thought that these new philosophies of library science could easily be transferred to commercial, economical, and other aspects of our society. Heavy, eh? I must admit that I find the prospect of the new Web 2.0 to be simultaneously both exhilarating...and a bit daunting. Baby steps, I guess.

I also must note that I continued reading articles beyond the suggested five, and found an interesting quote in the sixth article "A Ripple Effect: A rural school district shows how one new service in 1992 put in motion a steady wave of library support" by George Bishop, Information Center Director, Ovid-Elsie School. Mr. Bishop says..."Quality customer service is another key to success for our library. Our goal is to make the total customer experience satisfying, pleasurable and resulting in an end-product that meets or exceeds their expectations." Kudos, Mr. Bishop...my thoughts exactly.