- How many things I have done or played with in the past...that now connect to work
- How creativity and do-it-yourself is so crucial. Things that were hard to do 5 years ago (create your own online survey and combile the results) are now straighforward. (I was very impressed by Google's survey maker!
- Mobile devices/multiple portals are crucial, and going to to get even more important. Get ready.
- Social web/reposting/electronic gossip is everywhere! Twitter and Facebook are full of reposted content....discovery comes to me on my desktop, not over the water cooler.
- The cloud is taking over from proprietary/desktop software. Will that change the focus on the web too? (IBM to Microsoft to Google to...Facebook???)
- How much is the library already doing...and what coming next?
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Thing 23: The End
23 Things has been so much fun! I have enjoyed having a learning program that I can pick up during slow times, learn new things and review some old ones.
Highlights:
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thing 22: Podcasts
Admittedly, I am not a huge listener. I listen in the car or when exercising, and that is it. I use Pandora or (GASP) terrestrial radio for most of my listening needs. BUT...
I do get my workout music through podcasts. I subscribe to Podrunner and Podrunner Intervals, which are free AND have a Couch to 5k running/training plan. Podrunner updates with new music weekly, so I do not have to listen to the same tunes while training (so boring!) I also have used Deekron the Fitness DJ, but he is starting to charge for his mixes (good for him!) so I have not been subscribing. Some podcasts include video; imagine working out with your yoga instructor wherever you are!
I love the way I can subscribe with iTunes and get music automatically, like RSS feeds. If I were a news junkie I would subscribe to my favorite programs and play then whenever, wherever.
I have created podcasts for the library (we did booktalks for our literature circles) but found them not to be popular. Either that was an issue with promotion or student interest. I used Audacity and it was straightforward.
As the world becomes more mobile (and our mobile devices become our default computers) podcasts and other multi-device information will become essential. People want their information when and how they want it; podcasts can accommodate that. Libraries need to accomodate that too.
I do get my workout music through podcasts. I subscribe to Podrunner and Podrunner Intervals, which are free AND have a Couch to 5k running/training plan. Podrunner updates with new music weekly, so I do not have to listen to the same tunes while training (so boring!) I also have used Deekron the Fitness DJ, but he is starting to charge for his mixes (good for him!) so I have not been subscribing. Some podcasts include video; imagine working out with your yoga instructor wherever you are!
I love the way I can subscribe with iTunes and get music automatically, like RSS feeds. If I were a news junkie I would subscribe to my favorite programs and play then whenever, wherever.
I have created podcasts for the library (we did booktalks for our literature circles) but found them not to be popular. Either that was an issue with promotion or student interest. I used Audacity and it was straightforward.
As the world becomes more mobile (and our mobile devices become our default computers) podcasts and other multi-device information will become essential. People want their information when and how they want it; podcasts can accommodate that. Libraries need to accomodate that too.
Thing 21: Mashups
Librarian trading cards! So.much.fun. But the site is blocked here at work, so its a no-fly zone.
I did make another card instead:
http://tradingcardmaker.net/gallery/4689/tardis
So much of the web's media is interconnected; Goodreads pulls from Amazon and pushes to Facebook. Our library catalog connects to both OCLC and Google. Where does pull/push end and mashup begin?
Isn't everything a bit of a mashup? Think of Tumblr. Tumblr collects all of your reposts and original media in one place...and posts to and from Twitter and Facebook. Couldn't that be called a bit of a mashup?
I expect to see more and more sharing and less original content...or originial content coming from traditional sources and being shared via Twitter and Facebook. Like NPR...reposted. Gossip goes electronic!
I did make another card instead:
http://tradingcardmaker.net/gallery/4689/tardis
So much of the web's media is interconnected; Goodreads pulls from Amazon and pushes to Facebook. Our library catalog connects to both OCLC and Google. Where does pull/push end and mashup begin?
Isn't everything a bit of a mashup? Think of Tumblr. Tumblr collects all of your reposts and original media in one place...and posts to and from Twitter and Facebook. Couldn't that be called a bit of a mashup?
I expect to see more and more sharing and less original content...or originial content coming from traditional sources and being shared via Twitter and Facebook. Like NPR...reposted. Gossip goes electronic!
Thing 20: Tagging and Social Bookmarking.
Delicious!
JTCC's new library site is going to use delicious.com for its links and bookmarking. Rather than having a HUGE list of (partially outdated) links that need to be checked often, we moved all of our recommended sites to Delicious. This keeps them dynamic and simple to update; it can all be done remotely and is viewable on a mobile device.
Delicious could be used to create bookmarks for a class, or a section. A librarian could tag those with the class number, making them easy to find for students. I am wondering if students can run with this, tagging and commenting on ones they like best...or recommending them through other social media.
Possibilities!
JTCC's new library site is going to use delicious.com for its links and bookmarking. Rather than having a HUGE list of (partially outdated) links that need to be checked often, we moved all of our recommended sites to Delicious. This keeps them dynamic and simple to update; it can all be done remotely and is viewable on a mobile device.
Delicious could be used to create bookmarks for a class, or a section. A librarian could tag those with the class number, making them easy to find for students. I am wondering if students can run with this, tagging and commenting on ones they like best...or recommending them through other social media.
Possibilities!
Thing 19: Multimedia
What to get the literary girl on your xmas list...Bronte Sisters Action Figures!
JTCC has been promoting the college with video...and encouraging staff and students to contribute their own contnet. I use video on the library blog, and these are the posts which get the most readers and comments. Great way to reach students!
The plan for the future is to create some how-to videos, like those at other academic libraries. (The Study Like a Scholar, Scholar is a real favorite. Inspiration!)
YouTube's related videos section is very helpful; I have discovered multiple helpful videos through it. I also use the Related Items method to add book suggestions to the videos used on the library blog...as in, :Liked the video? Check out these related book and online sources."
Video is here to stay.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Thing 18: Audiobooks
Overview
The Farrell article is pretty upbeat, though thankfully she touches on some of the frustrations we have all had with OverDrive. I have coached students, staff, and MYSELF downloading books from OverDrive, and have found it awkward to use and difficult to make "play well" with my SANSA and my iTouch.
Feedback and experience
Installing software (including the OverDrive Media Console) is not allowed on the college's network, so students and faculty must download onto their home computer. This also means we do not help or hear about any problems they have.
The files themselves to not separate into chapters the way a CD book will, so the playback is in HUGE chunks. This was not popular; users wanted small, organized chapters to help them track their reading.
I consider myself a pretty proficient computer user, but it took me about 2 hours to download a book and transfer it to my device, much of it spent in confusion and cursing. If it is not intuitive to me, how is a less confident user going to feel? Are they going to make it work--or just give up?
Remote services are helpful; offering things online is great for independent learners and listeners. Maybe OverDrive gets rave reviews....that we never hear!
The Farrell article is pretty upbeat, though thankfully she touches on some of the frustrations we have all had with OverDrive. I have coached students, staff, and MYSELF downloading books from OverDrive, and have found it awkward to use and difficult to make "play well" with my SANSA and my iTouch.
Feedback and experience
Installing software (including the OverDrive Media Console) is not allowed on the college's network, so students and faculty must download onto their home computer. This also means we do not help or hear about any problems they have.
The files themselves to not separate into chapters the way a CD book will, so the playback is in HUGE chunks. This was not popular; users wanted small, organized chapters to help them track their reading.
I consider myself a pretty proficient computer user, but it took me about 2 hours to download a book and transfer it to my device, much of it spent in confusion and cursing. If it is not intuitive to me, how is a less confident user going to feel? Are they going to make it work--or just give up?
Remote services are helpful; offering things online is great for independent learners and listeners. Maybe OverDrive gets rave reviews....that we never hear!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Thing 17: Social Cataloging
Goodreads=Major Fun!
My Goodreads Profile
I joined Goodreads in 2008 and I love the cataloging aspects much more than the SOCIAL aspects. SURE its great to see what your friends are reading, and find some new material or a new author. Or to discover that the new bestseller is BORING and your friends thought so as well (Eat, Pray, Love I'm talking about you.)
Goodreads is also the most public of my social profiles; I would friend people on Goodreads that I met at a library conference, or students in my book club. I guard my Facebook profile more carefully.
Organization: Categorizing your books into useable categories is the most fun part of Goodreads. I often find myself reading Library Journal or prepub catalogs...and finding titles I want to read RIGHT NOW. I can plug these into my Goodreads account, tag them, and remember them later when they appear on the shelves.
Reviews: What should I read next? What did I think of that book? My reading past, present and future are all stored in Goodreads memory.
Shelves: Many books I begin...and do not finish. I have stopped feeling guilty...I tag 'em! Then I do not check them out a second time and try again. I am not the best reader of every book...and life is too short.
My Goodreads Profile
I joined Goodreads in 2008 and I love the cataloging aspects much more than the SOCIAL aspects. SURE its great to see what your friends are reading, and find some new material or a new author. Or to discover that the new bestseller is BORING and your friends thought so as well (Eat, Pray, Love I'm talking about you.)
Goodreads is also the most public of my social profiles; I would friend people on Goodreads that I met at a library conference, or students in my book club. I guard my Facebook profile more carefully.
Organization: Categorizing your books into useable categories is the most fun part of Goodreads. I often find myself reading Library Journal or prepub catalogs...and finding titles I want to read RIGHT NOW. I can plug these into my Goodreads account, tag them, and remember them later when they appear on the shelves.
Reviews: What should I read next? What did I think of that book? My reading past, present and future are all stored in Goodreads memory.
Shelves: Many books I begin...and do not finish. I have stopped feeling guilty...I tag 'em! Then I do not check them out a second time and try again. I am not the best reader of every book...and life is too short.
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