Thing 23

Yippee! I finished 23 things. Having joined Ning, I'm going to contact back some people I 'met up' with, and then work on my other blog, which is hobby-related. I'll let you all know how that goes! Happy blogging, everybody. Remember to keep it to 15 minute increments to make it manageable . . .

Thing 22

Staying current. I can do this in 15 minute increments -- there are few people I know who don't have 15 minutes to experiment. It's gratifying to see how some things were easy to do, and that I really didn't break anything ;-) Wahoo! In a PL setting, I don't know how we could help but at least overhear about these new technologies. They're pushed at us from every direction, literature, email, message boards, IM, meetings, etc. Now if we have access to tools and time, yes, we can do it and make these blogs presentable and valuable.

Thing 21

I was invited to Ning by the first librarian in my PL who finished. These social networks as well as other Internet applications are growing faster than kudzu in the south! When it all shakes out, who knows what will be 'top dog.' Somebody who was on Ning contacted me out of the blue (which is fine with me, I guess), but then another friend found me and I realized I hadn't kept track of what she was doing work-wise these days. Maybe Ning is a little more professional than spacebook is/are, but I think the networks I end up enjoying will be those I seek -- not ones that I started.

Thing 20

Facebook and MySpace: I've had a Facebook account for a couple of years but haven't really used it much. In fact, I'd forgotten my account login and had to request password assistance ... FB is logically organized and for me it is intuitive. When sites aren't intuitive, I don't think I want to take time to figure them out -- what's the point? Since deciding to work on 23Things, I've stalked nieces and nephews (who are kind and have taken pity on me), found a volunteer contact I needed to ask a question of (long story), and decided that FB might be the best way for me to post the ton of photos I have gotten recently due to many family events. DSis in FL has married the terms and calls them SPACEBOOK! lol I realize that 'poking' is the official term when someone wants to contact you, but that term is a little smarmy to me ;-)

Thing 19

Podcasts: DD streams audiocasts from her computer at work and enjoys being able to listen directly, but hasn't collected them via podcast much. When she runs or exercises, she generally listens only to music on her portable digital media player (iPod). The runners I know though do download podcasts to keep current with their favorite programs, and if I were one to listen to a lot of audio, I'd do this too.

Thing 18

YouTube and other video sites: I've had a lot of fun watching favorite comedians on sites like YouTube, but some of them can get to be long. A great fun one is of cats set to music. The hyperlink didn't appear to have taken, but you can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pkuBhQaCOJQ. Funny how the hyperlinks don't work from the editing page but do work on the blog itself. Guess one must have faith ...

Thing 17

We were shown these productivity tools by a librarian from MINITEX who presented at our Staff In-Service day. She explained about a subject she's closely related to, and how she receives automatic updates, but at that time it was via email notification.

Thing 16

Research efficiency: These looks like they would be a good tools to use for serious students. DH teaches and thinks 'good' students can use efficiency tools for the right purpose; others would just waste time with them and never refer back to them to keep themselves back on track. He says these are the ones who cannot remember to bring a pencil to complete an assignment, let alone fill in and appropriately use a tool to remain on track ... For those who really rely on electronic methods to keep themselves organized, these types of tools would work well.

Thing 15

Libraries and games. Had to read on this and will find other blogs that have actually done it as we cannot download some of the software needed, nor the games to play. I'm not much into game playing but I do love teens. I found a saying saved from when my own children were teens:

I like the fresh way they look at life ... and their free and easy style.

I like their confidence, their courage, their optimism.

I like the way they walk ... limber, free, and friendly. They are young people with tomorrow in their eyes.

They are the future of the world with young hope in their hearts.

They make things happen!

I like teenagers.

It would be a sorry, stagnant, boring, standstill world without them.

(Author unknown)

Thing 14

Library Thing is something demonstrated to me by my Director. Happily she shared her lists, and I agree that this content-generated tool is like a snowball rolling downhill (but in a good way). It collected more as others link to titles and authors, but I wish it wasn't as limited as it is without having to pay fees. I guess somebody's always going to be giving something away for free, but with a limit. At least we get to try it and learn it.

Thing 13

I love these little gadgets. On a relatively new computer I access, I love the Google gadgets that let me customize my weather forecasts and other Internet-y items of interest. A long time ago (in computer-time, that is) I received a software package that was Post-Its(tm) for your desktop. Great concept, but it wasn't to be downloaded on work computers. Friends who blog a lot have lists of wanna-dos that they edit and cross off and demonstrate progress (to themselves as well as viewers of their blog). Fun tools! Who wouldn't want a hit counter on their site? (me, for one!)

Thing 12

Digg, Reddit, etc. Rating and recommending content. Hmm. Interesting concept. I would be tempted to use a tool like this to find patron perspectives on topics such as Reader's Advisory.

Thing 11

I think tagging is one way that libraries have imaginatively reinvented themselves. Dewey? Of course we do. Should we do more? Maybe tagging or labeling is the answer.

Thing 10.5

Forgot to post on Thing 10.0. I edited the 23things wiki!

Thing 10

The concept of a wiki is good. Eventually the cream will rise to the top of the "reality" bottle. I can see great value in this tool and may find occasion to use it if I don't have to log in. That's the most tiresome part of this whole exercise, and not one that's unique that I've read.

Thing 9

Document sharing would be fine with any of these tools if one didn't first have to ask for permission. Already knowing how to edit, highlight & change text attributes is something I already know. In these cases, it would be just a matter of finding the tools in however they're laid out on the page.

Thing 8

Thing 8: Photosharing. Aye. Again. Regardless of being able to use Slideshare without creating another account, I created another account. And then received this message: This slideshow is currently being converted to SlideShare's format. It will be ready soon. Please check after sometime. I only added one picture and created the account, and this was a long wait. Having used and seen Flickr for photosharing and other pic sites for photo manipulation, I'll pass on this site and stick with what I know. It was good to explore tho'.

Thing 7

Thing 7 Tools: I've participated in a few Webinars and have found them to be successfully useful. If I had images to insert, this would receive two thumbs up. We use Instant Messaging regularly and have had great conversations that have taken place of gathering for a meeting. My favorite 'convo' was about stickering at one of our branches. I can text message on a cell phone but won't be doing this routinely until I possess a cell phone with a QWERTY keyboard! Have known people who use Meebo and Twitter but because I am tired of creating accounts, I'll pass on these. Besides, since creating a Facebook account, my nieces and nephews are probably tired of me stalking them! lol