Librarian ABC

Thing 28: Customized Web Pages

2009-03-29T09:43:00.000-07:00

Customized web pages are one of those things that become such a part of your routine, you don't even realize you are part of the revolution. When you realize that you rely on your internet connection to maintain your links to the world through e-mail, newsfeeds, RSS feeds, Blogger, Twitter and Facebook, etc., the customizable web page allows you to access all these things in one feel swoop.

I rely very heavily on my iGoogle page. It has links to all of the above mentioned, as well as to my lifeline...the Google calendar. This was originally why I started my page. I needed to have access to my calendar wherever I was that day. As a "have badge, will trave"l librarian substitute sometimes it is good to have access to that calendar at home, at the ref desk and in my car via my phone. Google makes all this possible, with the help of my smart phone. I love it.

I set Google as my default at home and at work, and wherever I go. It coordinates my crazy life, just enough to keep me in line. I still lose my gloves, but I always know where I should be at any given time.

Thing 27 Twitter

2009-03-24T20:28:00.000-07:00

I will just come out it: I love Twitter. I love it more than my blog, I love it more than my RSS feeds, I love it more than Facebook. So there.

I signed up for Twitter during the first round of Things, and puttered around with it, but I didn't really see the need to continue with it until I got connected with two GREAT women who keep me up to date on library matters. Both Tweet in very different ways. One (http://twitter.com/mlrethlefsen) is someone I worked with during an internship early in my library life, the other (http://twitter.com/elloyd74) is a library cartoonist that I adore. One keeps me informed on the new things she investigates as a tech librarian extraordinaire, and what she is currently eating instead of lunch. The other links to current social awareness topics, and with a very wry sense of humor, sums up all that is goofy about working in a library.

If it weren't for these two women, I don't know that I would have continued to post myself. I don't know if anyone finds what I have to say interesting (since I have lost a couple of people already, I would say I need to work on that) but I keep trying to add content as well as just my status. There are friends that Tweet occasionally, and I love hearing from them also, but it is that nebulous world of friends that are also professionals-in-common where Twitter really shines.

I am also very selective about who I follow. I will friend most anyone who friends me on Facebook, but I don't follow everyone who follows me on Twitter. I'm still trying to figure out how much I can follow and still enjoy. Right now I think I'm only up to 11 people that I am following, although I added a couple graphic novel accounts in the process of re-evaluating for this post. We'll see how long they last.

Thing 26: Ning

2009-03-13T06:33:00.000-07:00

I joined the Ning in Round One, and dutifully updated and fooled around for Round Two as well. Now I have run into the age old question of technology use: What is there to make me go back, sign in, and look at this thing again?

I began this post two weeks ago, and I (without actually trying to avoid anything) haven't been back. The Ning might be a good tool for a multi-library task force, or the beginning stages of planning for a conference. It would be a great way to ask a whole bunch of librarians something, but you would have to have their commitment to actually checking in on a regular basis.

I meant to check back in, and there are several people I dearly love to chat with on the Ning, but I already have avenues for that. Again the question is "What makes this thing better than other things that I should devote my already dwindling time to it?"

All that said? I love that it shows all our faces. I think of it as "Librarian Face Collage."

Thing 25: Bloggers' Toolkit

2009-02-22T12:58:00.000-08:00

Although I am a big fan of fun and exciting extras on blogs, I think they need purpose. Most of Thing 25 was instructive and informative, but not necessary.

I am toying with the right idea for a poll. I played around with a number of different options, including commenting, counters and other gadgets, but none of them seemed to add to the blog, and most of them made my already full page very cluttered. (Some of them made me feel downright unpopular.)

But a poll, that might work out, if I can come up with a good idea.

I did enjoy the usability tips, and I now feel like a have a bigger arsenal with which to blog. Now I just need an extra couple of days in my week.

Thing 24: Keeping Current

2009-01-26T14:10:00.000-08:00

I believe I have updated enough to say I have a new look, and I've been putting info into my profile as I can. And have indeed-y kept blogging, just not on this blog. I have kind of kept this one Thing-Centered, and my other blog is where I post reviews of what I have been reading, as well as other thoughts. I find a sense of accomplishment posting, although I do wonder if anyone reads anything at all.

I have mixed feelings about posting when it is apparent (From my lone comment in the past few months, thanks Jeff.) that if anyone is reading they are not finding anything to say. On the one hand, whatever. I like seeing the record of my own reading habits, and reminding myself that thinking critically is a muscle that needs to be exercised. On the other hand, it is too easy to think that NO ONE is reading, and start posting stuff that I would not normally say. That is a trap I have fallen into twice now, both times to no good end. I will stop trying to be funny, Ali.

And I tend to read blogs only from people that I already know, and so I am more likely to comment in person that on their blog. Perhaps I will change that behavior as we proceed. And I do find some that I love to read. Graphic novel and manga reviews are a great source of information for a librarian, even if there are so many of them it is hard to keep up.

But is it all an exercise in futility? I don't think so, but besides keeping arguments fresh and politically correct, I can't tell you why. So I'll keep blogging, and maybe something will come to me.

Snarkiness and Old Lace

2008-11-11T18:16:00.000-08:00

I have changed my avatar in preparation for the NEXT 23 Things. Rock on.

In celebration of Inservice Day at RCL, and of my personal brand of Geek Chic, I have also named my Dino.

Meet Old Lace, referring of course, to one of my favorite graphic novels, Runaways.

Thing 23: Final Thoughts

2008-09-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed this a lot, and found myself talking about it outside of work more often than I would have imagined. I was using some of these things, but it was nice to have to work in a bit more depth and really do the things I knew I had the option of doing, but had not yet tried. I would not have uploaded so many pictures, or figured out Twitter, or Facebook, or even kept up with a blog before this. (I have had 5 so far in this life.)

Not only did I learn a lot, but going through these Things has created some excellent discussions at work regarding what we do, and how we do it, and why. Knowing that everyone is on YouTube is one thing, but considering all the possibilities for what they could be looking at is another. I watched a concert for a German band I loved 20 years ago. I would never have seen them again if it weren't for YouTube.

I think this process has given me more patience with new computer users, also. It is hard to learn a new technology! Someone has to show you once so you know it is possible, and then a hundred more times until you master it. That is the part that I am struggling with as I try to master some of these Things, and what I'll try to take with me going forward. Both the benefits of persistent learning, and the patience to deal with those I'm instructing.

Thing 22: Keeping up

2008-09-14T21:58:00.000-07:00

I will make the pledge to keep up. :)

I like the little bit every day philosophy. Librarians (in gross generalization, at least) are good at incorporating a little bit of everything all the time. If it comes in handy, we want to know about it.

I have my iGoogle, which keeps me on time and in touch and in the know and entertained. I have Facebook which sucks all the spare time out of me, but keeps me in touch with those I might lose track of. I have my blogs, both the 23 things, and my own personal blogs. I feel prepared to take on the future!

Thing 21: Other Social Networks

2008-09-14T20:40:00.000-07:00

Gather - kind of a waste of time. I couldn't figure out what I could get out of joining that I couldn't get from the other networks. I felt the same way about most things - until I could make a personal connection, or needed to find something.

I wasn't thrilled about Ning, but I loved that Ramsey County Library had a group on the 23 Things on a Stick Ning! And it made all the difference in my excitement about joining. I even posted a picture, which is mostly hair and hat.

Again, it comes down to desire and purpose, and each of the things we discover and experiment with are only as good as what we get out of them. Friends, commiseration, humor, these are the things that keep us returning, I think. And that they are easy to use!!

Thing 19: Podcasts

2008-09-14T19:48:00.000-07:00

I could become addicted to "the dinner party download" If I could find more time to listen to my IPod, this would be more problematic. As always, my ears are not my own, except in very specific instances. "Dinner Party" is the right length for these times. They include my drive from my house to work and back again, and the time after the kids go to bed. And when I mow the lawn. Needless to say, I have also been looking for podcasts that I can share with my kids.

I can see using any of these download directories, but I get where I need to go using ITunes, also.

Cool ideas for Library podcasts:
Book reviews posted by and downloaded to members of a "podcast' book club.
Download important policy meetings to library intranet
Updates on waiting lists, new rental books, what the library has on display
Ramsey County "Star of the week" featuring an employee, what they specialize in, what they like to read, and one zany fact.

Thing 18: YouTube

2008-09-14T19:14:00.000-07:00

Here is my FABULOUS librarian Star Trek clip. I couldn't ask for a better reason for YouTube to exist:

I find it hard to emerge from YouTube. While I enjoy clips about bacon, Harry Potter puppet shows and all the many and various ways people think librarians act when the library closes doors for the day, it can take a lot of time to sort through it for gems like the clip I inserted, or Parker Posey's library rant from "Party Girl."

There are a lot of good ideas for posting video of library instruction, etc. Would people honestly look for library instruction from YouTube? It would have to be a clip posted to YouTube, then linked to a site that actually provided the content, I think.

Thing 20: Facebook and MySpace

2008-09-11T13:05:00.000-07:00

I had reservations about Facebook, wondering what the fuss was about, and what the heck I would do with it.

I signed up after a friend of mine moved to Nashville, and she invited me to keep in touch via her Facebook page. (This is the same friend with Mob Wars, mentioned in post #16.) Within the hour of signing up and checking out who had accounts, I had four friends! I was flabbergasted, really. One of these was my brother-in-law.

I have had a great time interacting with friends and fluffing up my Facebook page. I think it would great to have a Maplewood page, or a Ramsey County Library page. Every friend gets to see whenever I update, if they wish. It is like "low-impact mass e-mailing." I like it.

Thing 17: ELM productivity

2008-09-11T12:49:00.000-07:00

I think this could be a big help, if I could finally get through all the steps and see updates.

For personal librarian use, this is a great way to stay on top of issues. For the public library desk, being able to save searches would be helpful, although still cumbersome. Helpful for the cyclical "review of snow blowers" type questions, at least.

I'm a little frustrated with all the extra layers, however. The saving grace of many of the fast electronic tools we have reviewed and played with has been their ease of use, and intuitive set up. That is definitely missing here.

I'm sure it has been mentioned before, but why don't we make library databases easier to use?

Thing 16: Assignment Calculator

2008-09-11T12:27:00.000-07:00

Where was this when I was a procrastinating student?

This could have saved my life more than once. I love the helpful advice, the specifics for different types of papers, and the detailed links about comma usage and citations. It is a great resource for planning, but also for those last minutes when you are second guessing your grammar.

This would be a good tool to recommend at the reference desk if someone was asking about punctuation, or the specifics on how to write a literary analysis. I like to be able to say “and you can also try this other source...” for which this would be perfect.

I love the “no time?” condensed version of the prompts for teachers. It is a good reminder of what has to happen in a research project. This would make a great handout (revised even further, and written for students) for those who come in and ask us for “something about...” but look lost when we try to get them to be more specific than “World War Two” or “Civil Rights.”

Thing 15: Online Gaming

2008-09-11T12:14:00.000-07:00

Yarr. I’m a pirate. I tried it out, I got bored quickly. Maybe if I had played more I would have found more interaction, but this was not my thing.

I set up an account at Second Life that I didn’t do anything with some time ago. My husband tried to convince me that we should get married there. I passed on that one - aren't we already married?

I think Second Life is one of those things that would be fun, but I would have to have more motivation to spend any real time there. It would be cool to have a Second Life book discussion, or a presentation of resources, or I some other virtual library activity. However, I don’t have enough time in my First Life to make more time for Second Life.

I confess that I have a personal objection to on-line gaming. I have spent many a night wondering what happened to my husband as he committed acts of electronic daring-do in the basement computer room.

I do know that many, many people like to play RuneScape and World of Warcraft, and that gaming communities allow for more interesting and complex play than just you against the world. It is also a way to meet up with friends (some that you already know, some that you don't) when you are far away. Perhaps I will explore this option. I have an invitation to join my friend Mel's Mob War group waiting at my Facebook page.

Thing 14: Library Thing

2008-08-28T10:43:00.000-07:00

I've set up an account with Library Thing in the past, and it didn't really serve the cataloging needs of the group I was working with at the time. Now, going back in as an individual and looking at Library Thing as a book recommendation and readers advisory source, I am enjoying it very much. I keep getting lost, there is so much to look at!

I started my library with everything I currently have checked out, read and unread. It was kind of a good cross section of stuff. I found most everything I had easily enough (not paying strict attention details, I chose mostly the copy with the cover art included.) The best part was finding other lists of people with similar tastes. I could work those lists over for a while.

This might be a great way to make the library known. Put recommended lists out, post the "name" of the user on the library website with a link, like "Ramsey County Fab Fiction" and see who it catches. Since it would pull up lists with similar titles, it would be an ever expanding resource.

Hmm. I like that. But we need a Facebook account, first.

Thing 13: Productivity Tools

2008-08-26T12:18:00.000-07:00

I love my iGoogle.

The more things I add to it, the more I use it. I started out with just G-mail and my calendar, but added a pretty background courtesy of Carrie Chau. Then I added the Google Talk gadget, Google Reader, Facebook, Twitter, and Blogger. I don't forget I have these things, and I am already signed in - totally synced! Except when I am signed out of iGoogle.

This was an easy Thing for me, since I have been using many of the features detailed here for a while. Google Calendar keeps me in line, syncing with my PDA so I know where I need to be at all times. I use a "sticky note" for my to do list. I liked the idea of Backpack, but I wouldn't pay for it. I'd add stuff to my iGoogle for free!

My only complaint is that for whatever reason, when I have first loaded iGoogle and I am about to open my Gmail, no matter where my cursor is, clicking sets my Reader to "all read." I can live with it. I never get through everything anyway.

Thing 12: Social Media Sites

2008-08-22T14:52:00.000-07:00

Mixx: Interesting. Informative at a glance. Terrifying. For instance the two most popular stories today:
#2: Top 50 Sexpert Blogs
#1: 100 Awesome, Free Web Tools for Elementary Teachers

Obviously, these will not inform the same groups, but might come in handy.

Digg looks similar, I'd hop here now and again.

Newsvine looks like it might be more worthy of a read for more information, and not just a glance at what is attracting the average surfer.

Reddit might be a good combo of newsworthy and interestingly craptastic. I like it.

Tagging and Del.icio.us

2008-08-14T14:53:00.000-07:00

I cannot ever remember where the dots go in the "del.icio.us" site. It makes me crazy.
But, I love the site. It does make navigating the everyday back and forth between life and work and all the different computers an easier chore.

Tagging is like cataloging, it is only as good as the person creating the tags. I am not that person. I can complain all day long that subject headings don't make sense, or aren't grouped well, or what have you, but would do a worse job of it. You can tell by looking at my tagging attempts.

Thing 10; Wikis

2008-07-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

Wikipedia is so widely used that using a wiki as a source of info (like the library blog wiki, or the book club wiki) is old hat. Editing a wiki, and become part of the source is certainly new for me. I think that although I'm a fairly adept technology user, jumping in with both feet to make or change content is still a struggle. My own blog is one thing, but I'm not comfortable naming myself the authority on a topic not on my own site. Interesting.

And our page of 23 Things on a Stick wiki notes is just ugly. Someone suggested creating linked pages, but I didn't see that anyone had done it. Or maybe it just wasn't well presented?

Thing 9: collaboration

2008-06-29T12:15:00.001-07:00

First, can I mention that the link to the LOC's "American Treasure" was misleading? The topic was editing a famous document - it took me a while to understand that I could NOT edit the Declaration of Independence. And I would have, too.

Second, I agree the ability to work collaboratively on something like a strategic planning document is a good thing. So is being able to track who made which comment. However, a document with permissions and the ability to exclude is not so much collaborative as it is frustrating. In my experience, it takes motivation to get people to suggest changes and edits. And at some point, there has to be a person who decides which edits are final, which get thrown out and when the document is complete.

I don't know if a collaborative doc on-line is all that different from multiple copies with edits, being assembled by one individual who still has to sift through the changes made and decide to be done or go on.

Thing 8: Slide shows, etc.

2008-06-01T13:40:00.000-07:00

I can see many uses for sharing photos and slides in my library life. However, I'm suffering from information overload again. Which slide/photo/presentation site should I search for information? All of them, all the time? How do I judge content? Does number of downloads or view show merit? Who can I trust not to be feeding me hooey on their slides?

I posted a couple of book displays signs I made in PowerPoint into Slide Share, (http://www.slideshare.net/librarianabc/summer-sizzles) since it seemed the easiest. It was so easy I would call it pain-free. I can see myself using this to work on from home or from one library to the next without a flash drive. Or possibly I will inspire someone with my graphic wonder. (That was a joke.) It could also serve as a reminder of what I have worked on in the past, so I don't duplicate too frequently.

On-line databases seem like they could be helpful, maybe. At this time, however, Lazybase was unavailable. What is the advantage to a list in database form that cannot be adjusted? Why not just post a list?

I initially liked the idea of the e-folios, but I was not particularly impressed with anything I saw. Way too many words, not nearly enough editing. Why would I be searching this? How would employers know to look for it? Is this the same situation as posting your resume on-line, where only other job seekers will see it, since employers don't regularly trawl the net looking for people to hire out of the blue? I'm not sold on the importance of this.

Twitter

2008-05-17T13:32:00.000-07:00

What on earth am I going to do with Twitter?

Found two people on my gmail list:
1) parent on former preschool e-mail group list, 5 years since we have spoken
2) go-getter librarian friend who makes me feel out of touch because she twitters a lot, and has things to say.

I invited my daughter, maybe this will be a good way for her to know what I'm doing?

Thing 7, Part 3: Texting and Web Conferencing

2008-05-17T10:26:00.000-07:00

Text messaging is not a boat that I have sailed on, but I could reconsider.

I was going to say that I couldn't think why texting would be easier than an e-mail or cell phone, but then it occurred to me that it skips a step: no logging on in order to get to content. "DVD @ XX, pk up by 5/24, Yr Lbry." I'm not sure that texting would be faster than IM in a reference situation, however. In that case, sometimes more is more.

I think in the near future, this kind of "instant gratification" will be the norm, especially as people (meaning those over 25 not currently tech savvy) get more comfortable with ever-changing technology to which teens and younger kids are already adapting so quickly. Alternately, if we don't keep up with the demand for the quick return needs of our younger audiences, we might not have to worry about serving them, as they will stop coming.

I am familiar with web conferencing, and have participated in a variety of web conferences in the past. I am a big fan. This is especially a good deal for those on a smaller budget, who might not be able to afford to attend every conference. I would say (and I am being an example of this right now) that it works better when small groups unable to attend chose a time and place and meet each other. Otherwise, the rule of "just one more thing I'd like to do but don't have time for" ends up keeping attendees away.

Final thought: technology is not static, and all of these things can be happening at once, right now, on many devices. I have a phone (not something I chose, actually) that I can check my e-mail, voice-mail, and text on, all at the same time. If I were more of a techno-geek, I would also be able to download video and watch it, albeit in tiny, tiny form. I can listen to audio books, read e-books, and even take pictures.

Is this the normal technological set-up for most library users? Probably not, but how difficult would it be to support some of this? Of course it will vary. The easy stuff, like text notification of holds, we should start ASAP.

Thing 7, Part 2 IM

2008-05-15T12:37:00.001-07:00

Oh, how I love IM, let me count the ways:

1) shelf checks
2) staff location for today
3) hold transfers
4) brief discussions (can we meet tomorrow at 2?)
4) technical issues (are you down, too? is your wireless slow today?)
5) technical issue responses (we'll be up in 2 hours, I am about to restart the server, I will be over in ten minutes )
6) more shelf checks

I love my IM. As we use it now, between branches, I love being able to see who is out and about, and ask questions without the irritation of having the phone stuck to my head while on hold. I can help the next person in line, add more to my question or request, and refer back to the conversation once it is done. (Did she say hold that here or send it over?)

I don't know what kind of response we would get using IM as a reference access point. My thought is it would be great, but would require a lot of marketing to start. My guess is that homework help would be the main portion of the reference questions. That could be good, if we could do it within the time constraints the library is already open, without having our users feel like we weren't around when we needed them.

I think we should try it!

Thing 7, Part 1 e-mail

2008-05-06T10:37:00.000-07:00

E-mail: I think it goes without saying that librarians have embraced e-mail. It makes transmitting information easier, faster and there is a copy of the information in your inbox once it has been read. I think most of us can navigate our old mail easily enough, either through folders or by sorting.

We are also good at keeping each other in the loop, for some things. We know that if anything needs to reach everyone, e-mail is the way to go. As long as that thing is "In general, remember to ..." and not something that is going to happen in the next 24 hours. (Save that discussion for IM!)

There are still ways that we should be using e-mail better. Right now, I would love to see reports and updates e-mailed on an ongoing basis. Two thoughts that I think would benefit us immediately?

1) Automated weeding lists - instead of getting weeding lists sent via inter-office in paper format, they are automatically e-mailed to us monthly.

2) Alerts on library website updates - my ideal would be that when something has changed on the website, an e-mail is automatically generated and sent to our accounts. Summer reading lists, program dates posted, these are all things we may, or may not know about.

Possibly, these things could be better accomplished by other technology. In the meantime, e-mail would be great!

Thing 6 - part two

2008-05-03T14:29:00.000-07:00

Some of my Girls!

Thing 6 - trading card

2008-04-01T14:08:00.000-07:00

I don't know why this took me so long, other than it takes me FOREVER to think of text to go with my photo. Additionally, I was describing someone other than myself, so I wanted to be nice. Anywhoo, I finally made my trading card. Now I can take the library trading card world by storm!

Thing 5: my masterpiece!

2008-03-19T17:22:00.001-07:00

Thing Four: My friend Flickr

2008-03-17T10:40:00.000-07:00

I'm having a great time looking through all the excited library people posting and messing with Flickr tags. I immediately want to start posting photos of what people are reading in my neighborhood. However, sitting at my computer thinking about this and walking around with my camera are two different things. If I master my cell phone camera, I think I could do more damage.

Do cameras and libraries mix well? I like the idea of creating presence, and I think this is a great way to do it. Minnesota History Center's pics of gallery displays and distinctive features is great. If anything, thinking about Flickr providess an entrance to thinking about the visual aspects of our spaces, and leveraging any marketing skills we might have to advertise our wonderful stuff.

Yes, we are word people who need to be picture people, too.

Thing Three: RSS Feeds

2008-03-13T08:59:00.000-07:00

I have to confess that I have set up RSS feeds before. Both then and now, the urge to keep reading passed after the first excitement of newness receded. Even though it was easy and I chose my own feeds! I think I may need to be reading with more purpose than "find out what is new." It is also possible that I have a short attention span, or that there aren't enough hours in the day. I will have to add reading my RSS feeds all the other things I do in the day to stay current. I could spend every day all day doing this, but I know I'm not alone in that.

I am very excited to see so many libraries blogging and library related blogs, and I can think of many ideas for why this would be a good idea, but how do we make our blog something people will actually read once it is bookmarked?

And my final point of crankiness: once I have Google Reader set up, how do I add it to my iGoogle page?

Digesting Library 2.0

2008-02-29T09:54:00.000-08:00

First of all, I feel already that we are scrambling to catch up with what many library users already see as everyday stuff. Libraries need to find ways stay on top of everything, as usual. One way to stay current would be to look to our teens to see what is going on. I think teen adisory groups are brilliant but also vital.

To me, the most memorable discussion point of imbuing libraries with fun technology, is that by including interactive and responsive options in the library, we give them ownership of the product - us. I love that idea, and completely agree that the communities we serve need to see us as their resource, not a barrier to getting at the stuff we keep on-hand. How do we do this?

This is more than just a sideline activity, and we all know it. Libraries need people to support them. We need to know what people want to read, what they think about their free time, how they want to spend their resources of time and energy, what they want us to teach them, and HOW they want to be taught. We need to find reasonable ways to respond to requests for change. Isn't online interaction cheap and relatively easy?

It is overwhelming to contemplate all the ways we can interact in person and online, but at the same time the possibilities are exciting! While slogging through the technical details, we have to stay energized by the prospect of how thrilled our users are when we suprize them with our (generally under-appreciated) fabulousness.

Thing One bragging rights

2008-02-23T08:54:00.000-08:00

A benefit of the "23 Things" program may be my inadvertent spread of information via bragging. As soon as I completed Thing One, I told my sister, my husband, my kids and my father. They were all duly impressed with my avatar's cool brown jumpsuit.

First Post: 23 Things

2008-02-20T09:33:00.000-08:00

I can do this! After having named my blog, which took far longer than it should have, and having selected my avatar, which was way to much like getting dressing in the morning but getting to dress someone else, I can do anything!