The finish line! Numbers 26 and 27

I loved the training, and I would definately do it again (if I had the choice). I've always enjoyed learning new computer skills, so the 27 things has been a great opportunity for me to keep up with new trends in the web. (Although, one co-worker said today that he read an article saying that web 2.0 was already out of date!). I'm usually overwhelmed by how quickly things change in the world of the internet, so this training has allowed me to keep with with a few of the new features of the web. I don't really do much "social networking" on the computer, and I must admit I'm looking forward to deleting myMySpace page, but many of the other Web 2.0 features will come in handy.

My favorite things in the training were:

*Learning how to create and maintain a blog (It's surprisingly easy)

*understanding the possible applications of Del.icio.us for Reference

*Using technorati to find new sources of information

*I loved the generators, just for the fun of it

*I'm amazed and addicted to YouTube now

*Rollyo was interesting--although I'm not sure what to do with it

I think I'll need to concentrate on using a few of these features--I usually need to use something on a regular basis to become competent in it.

One concern I have about KCLS incorporating some of these technologies is that I hope there won't be too many places to go to get information about the library system. I like having most of the info coming into my email. I check the Intranet and look at the Memo, and I'm not sure I'll be able to check different blogs or wikis on a regular basis. And even though Bloglines incorporates a lot of it into one place, it's still more time consuming to check several different places.

I managed to find help fairly easily, either from a "2.0 Advocate"--mainly Matt in AnswerLine, and from co-workers who had figured out something that I had trouble figuring out on my own.

I'd love it if we could continue this--past the 27 things. I don't want to be bombarded with a lot of new things, but if David (or someone) could identify new and significant sites or technolgies, that would be great. It would be more convenient if these could be sent to our email accounts, with a link to a blog or wiki or whatever.

That's about it for now. Thanks to David for all of your hard work--you did a great job!

Number 25, the Overdrive Collection

I must admit I haven't ever spent the time browsing the Overdrive Collection. I didn't realize that it included video and music. The music collection looks like it's primarily classical music, and I don't understand what happens to the music after you download it to the mp3 player. Does it just disappear after 21 days?

The video collection includes mostly old movies, instructional and children's titles.

I didn't realize how big the book collection is...there are 325 pages of listings. I tried searching a few favorite authors, but didn't find any listings, so I decided to browse. Again, I wasn't aware of the scope--it includes chidrens and non-fiction titles! I guess I should've known this, but I have always thought of it as a collection of Adult Fiction

I was a little disappointed that the presentation didn't show how the actual downloading process looks, using Overdrive. I might download it at home and use it--I've seen demonstrations, but I don't think I'll ever learn to do it, until I actually done it a couple of times.

#24 Podcasts

Well....this wasn't my favorite new thing on the the list. I * think * I added the Thomas Ford Memorial Library Teen Review to my bloglines account, although I don't really understand the process very well. I pasted in a url to the add a feed to the bloglines account and the feed appeared in my bloglines list. I'm never sure which url to add for the bloglines feed. On the podcast alley site, it says "Please add the entire URL Below to your Podcast Software" and I did that, but I don't understand wahy it says, "your podcase software". Bloglines isn't my podcast software. But it looks like it worked.

I'm sorry to say I didn't relly find the library podcasts very interesting. Maybe it's just me, today. I'm sure KCLS will find something to podcast, and it's fine with me.

I think if I ever really get into Podcasts, I'll do it with the iTunes software I have at home. I'm basically an iPod kind of gurl.

I published this in a dark color, so it will be difficult to read :-)

#23 You Tube Addiction!

Yes, I could get addicted to viewing videos on you tube. But I don't do it at work because my co-workers might think I'm goofing off too much! I'm sure the library could come up with lots of ideas for posting videos. I found one from the Birmingham Public Library. It's about how "Peeps" (yes, the Easter candy) do genealogical research at the library. Here's the link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qAxrLJ5nw_g

With some help from Peggi and Matt, I figured out how to embed a video into my blog--it wasn't easy, and I would probably need help doing it again. You'll find the link to my mother performing in P-Town last summer.

That's all for now. I need to get back to "real" work.

#22 Web 2.0 Awards

I've looked at the Web 2.0 Awards page, and I found the Last.fm the most interesting. It does for music, what Library Thing does for books, in a way. I found the matches to my favorites were (for the most part) pretty good. (It matched Sufjan Stevens to Rufus Wainwright). One of these days, I'll download the software on my computer at home.

I also realize that some people (i.e. Aaron Schmidt) are advocating using Meebo instead of the QP software. Fine with me:-) But I don't know how we would send links--we would just send the URL in the text message, and they would paste it into another browser?

One last thought about the Web 2.0 page ( and the Webware page, too). I wonder if we should somehow incorporate these into our Weblinks pages. I don't know if those pages will exist with the new KCLS page, but it might be a good idea to link to them somehow.

That's it for today. I'm playing catchup--it's hard for us part-time slackers to keep up with this. But I'm enjoying learning new stuff!

#21 In the Labs

I played around with Google Trends first. I searched the name of a new show on Broadway, which opened last November. The "hits" started around that time, naturally, and it was interesting to see where the searches were coming from. New York was off the charts, and Newark was next. Interesting, although I'm not sure what I or we can do with it.

I also looked at Google Page Creator, and I really liked it. I don't feel like I have enough time to play around with it at work, but one of these days I might get around to it. I've used Picasa at home, to edit and organize photos, so I might get around to using the Page Creator as well.

And I also looked at Transit planner--to see how to get from my house to the Bellevue Library. I think I would just go to the King County/Metro page to find that information because I'm used to using that site. The Google Map feature is an added bonus on this page.

That's it for now. BTW, Mom's show at the Rebar was disappointing, but the take off of "Trapped in the closet" was wonderful!

#20 Online Software

I have heard about these online software products, but I've never really looked at the sites. They are amazing! I'm not sure why, but I don't know if I'll actually use them. It makes sense, and the price is right, but I'm basically set in my habit of using the software on my computer. I don't know if I would remember to use it. I'm finding the same thing with del.ic.ious (or whatever it is--I can never remember). It's so much easier just o add favorites in IE and make or move to different folders.

With all of this social networking software, I wonder if we'll eventually do away with meetings! Wouldn't *that* be a better world?

One question I have about Zoho and Google Docs. I couldn't find a way to make folders to store the documents in. I didn't look very hard, but I didn't see an obvious way of organizing the different files.

BTW--My mother is currently appearing every weekend at the Rebar. It's been extenden til the end of May.