Quest 12!!

YouTube--what an idea and what a gem. I first came across YouTube a couple of years ago when there was buzz about the George Bush, Andrea Merkle thing where he slapped her on the back. Accompanying video of course, that play the slap over and over and over. I'd never heard of YouTube and then started seeing references to it everywhere. You know how that works--see something and then you notice it lots of places? I've looked at lots of funny library videos before and My pic of the flicks this time was Library Ninja Episode 1. Why? It library related, and I like the irony of choosing a video that says books are better sometimes than computers and then posting it to a computer site. Take a look at it.

Podcasting--computer froze while trying to connect to the first one and found out I needed either XP or Vista. Obviously there are some technical limitations aside from the Apple/iPod issue. So, I went to NPR, knowing that they have podcasts and I always think I'll remember the name of that author or who played that great music I'd never heard and I don't. They often books reviews on a great program callede Book Notes and I could always count on peole asking at the Circ. desk for a new book, once the program aired, back when I worked the desk. Being able to list whenever I wanted to instead of being required to hear it at air time would offer whole new options. I could subscribe to the podcasts and once I have an MP3 player, courtesy of Tech Trek 2.0 I will be able to download it and listen at my leisure!

I like the idea of posting podcasts for patrons on our web page--poetry programs we've had, muscial events, author lectures, short staff produced clips on how to use a database, maybe even exercises like this for the public??

The Google docs layout looks very much like a combination of Outlook and MS Word to me. The icons are straightforward and the balloon text when you put your cursor over them helps, if you're not sure about one of them. I did that for the links one, not being clear on what the icon meant.

I can see why this would be a great help. At home I have MS Works and here at work it's MS Word. My sister has a MAC and we sometimes have trouble exchanging pages, especially since she can't quite grasp saving docs as an rtf file so that I can them open attachments!

At work, this would be a great way to collaborate. Doesn't matter where you are, what version of the software you are running, etc., and I like the idea that you can see the changes to a document over time. The Reference Department monthly report this month had a note from Becky that Theresa had made a Google Doc on the telephone books that the Reference Department has. And think, it can be shared. So, it not only has some tangible uses, it shows that some staff are taking Tech Trek 2.0 to heart!

The section above was created in Google Docs and published from that page to hear. It's incredibly easy! How cool is that??

fun time,again, or Quest 10

Well, I spent a long time on Slideroll, but ended up loosing everything. It's worth trying again, though. Fun!
I love one sentence, but couldn't think of anything profound enough to say in one sentence. All of this is sort of like looking a Favorite new things on the web, a great site I'd bookmarked and have used for years. Who knew these things were out there???

And, of course, there's chocolate!

Wiki wondering

I was enthused by the promise and supposed ease of wikis when I first heard of them. Some of the promise is born out in the examples given in this exercise. The book lover's one is great and visually appealing too and the SCLA one is attractive, well organized and very functional. What quickly became apparent to me in looking at these as well as trying to start for the Web 2.0 committee, is that design counts a lot. If you don't know what end you have in mind you end up with a static page and a page that is difficult to navigate and use. I supposed that's OK, as it's part of a learning curve with technology, but a badly designed wiki sort of sours its users on wikis in general. I think I've been guilty of that, but I at least I tried.

All that being said, I think there's a place for wikis. They aren't the magic bullet to get around the pitfalls of web pages, but they do allow quick and easy creation, giving almost everyone a chance to get their hands in. And the ability to work on group projects is great. I'm not sure I trust enough to the masses to have an all out open wiki, but the idea is intriguing as long as everyone knows that the content may have pitfalls.

Quest 8

OK, I'm feeling like a geezer. It's not apparent to me how to change the skin of my MySpace page or much of anything else. Guess I need to spend a little more time, but the other quests went faster.
On the plus side, I think the Obama MySpace session scheduled for later today is very interesting and a true demonstration of how the web is changing the political process. Who would have dreamed that a presidential candidate would do this??
And on the geezer note, I know these sites are popular, but I don't really know why I would spend time here. The social networking aspects of Flickr come to me more easily. I'd like to see Facebook, but hate to set up another account that will get little use.
Am I alone in this, or does everyone else "get it?"

Quest 7 Photosharing

I love Flickr and seeing what others have added. Just went through many of Kathy S.'s (My Book House)photos from Festival Hispano and the Teen Institute--which looks like it was great! Almost like being there! Kathy's great abut adding images often, a trait that really makes Flickr work.. I also like that she tags her pics on this and other Flickr accounts with Charleston County Public Library. And her tags led me to other CCPL one, then to others tagged Big Read. Oh wait---this isn't the tagging quest, is it? How smart you guys are(to have exercises that reinforce each other!) And the cool toys. I already have a trading card, so thought I'd make a badge. How cool!

Tagging

Part 1.
I have to confess that I set up a Delicous account at the State Library class, was enthused and used it for a while, and then let it slide. I still think it's a great tool and one that has real possibilies for CCPL. Think of areas of specializes interest or seaching, such as Business or Geneaolgy, and then think of being able to tape the brains of staff who do this type of reference all of the time. Wouldn't that be great? Have worries about your computer crashing and loosing all of your Favorites? It can happen...
So, guess I need to go back and start using mine in order to sound convincing, right?
Part 2
Well, I went to Technorati to see if I could claim my other blog, Stafflines. I did and added a button to a post there. Of course it's the only thing that I've done on that one in over a month. Once agian, I have to find my way back to this sort of activity as a regular part of my work.
Did a very general search for public libraries on Technorati. I love the clean appearance of the page, the way the search terms are highlighted, the way it pull videos into the search with photos, the tabs at the top to break it into categories. Much more interesting than a google search and a much different set of results! Of course it's not the same search, but it is so easy to forget that there is such a difference and how important it is to be focused.