AQ Library News

Thing 23: A Finish to a Great Project

2009-01-19T13:47:00.000-08:00

I can't believe all these weeks have passed and I am finished with the Nebraska Learns project. Before I started this project, I had heard of terms like Flickr, Twitter, Podcasts, etc., but thought this was for the young "techies" and not
anything I would be able to learn. I decided to try this course and I'm very
grateful that I did. Now, I not only know what these terms mean, but I can
actually figure it out. I think I have surprised my three teenage sons. Tools
like RSS Feeds will help me read book reviews. I can introduce my blog to the students which will help them understand more about the library. The use of
tagging can help our library be more organized when we do searches. The wiki
tool has been fun, especially when reading all the additions and changes to the
entry I took part in. This has been a very good learning experience for me and
I would like to take part in similar projects.

Ann

Podcasts A Plenty

2009-01-19T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have always heard the word podcast but did not know
what it was. I feel a little smarter now that I have
researched various podcasts. I mostly looked up library
and teen book reviews. I feel this could give me insight
into books that teens and teachers are reading and what
their likes and dislikes are. I added the podcast,The
Great Read Radio Show, to my Bloglines account. I look
forward to listening to this podcast.

Ann

YouTube Favorite

2009-01-16T14:50:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed searching on YouTube, especially when I found my favorite video clip from
last year's American Idol. The song, costumes, and background are very inspirational.
I think YouTube could have a place in a library. The library could film some video clips about library rules and procedures and make them humorous and interesting. There could also be video clips about different books. YouTube has many good video clips, but as in every situation, there are some bad ones that might need to be monitored, especially when children are present.

Ann

Linkscape

2009-01-12T11:54:00.000-08:00

In looking over the sites and tools on the award list, I decided to research Linkscape. Linkscape
is a free tool that searches different URL addresses one at a time or 4 or 5 at a time to compare them for trustworthiness. Linkscape ranks these addresses according to:

mozRank-raw link popularity of a URL or domain based on analysis of the links pointing to it.
mozTrust-Estimation of how trustworthy a URL or domain is in the eyes of the search engines
based on the quality and quantity of trusted links pointing to it.
Full Lists of Links-Detailed lists of URLs linking to a particular page or domain, ordered by their
relative importance.
Anchor Text-Complete lists of anchor text used by the links to a particular URL or domain, including distribution of terms and relative popularity.
Domain Juice-An estimation of the total "link juice" or mozRank from all the URLs on a domain.

This tool helps in finding a trustworthy web site which is important to everyone. When a library or other business purchases books and other items or when research materials are needed, we
want to know that we can trust the product value or the truthfulness of what we are reading on the website. I compared two websites that sell supplies and observed their rankings. This can help me know which seller is more trustworthy. Of course there could be flaws in every tool,
but I thought the idea of the rankings in Linkscape could be an added measure of safety.

There were added reports that could be printed about these URL sites but I'm sure this would
have cost a fee.

Alternative to MS Word

2009-01-01T17:34:00.000-08:00

I did not know about the online word processing tools. I was so glad to find out that this is possible. If I created a document at work and wanted to work on it at home, it wouldn't be possible unless I saved it to a flash drive. If I would use a tool like GoogleDocs, I could just access it on the web.

I found that the setup of GoogleDocs was very similar to MS Word and even had html or PDF options. I will definitely be using this in the future and I will inform the students about it.

Ann

PBwiki

2008-12-16T13:00:00.000-08:00

I enjoyed going on the Nebraska Learns 2.0 wiki and learning what
other people posted as their favorites, such as books, vacations, etc.
I posted a favorite recipe blog, and then added The Miracle Girls as
my favorite book and Mount Rushmore as my favorite vacation spot.
It will be interesting to check back and see what other people wrote.

Ann

Easy Presentations

2008-12-15T18:27:00.000-08:00

I was really impressed with slideshare. Searching presentations was easy as there are several ways to do this. Sometimes when you need this information, you feel helpless and don't know
where to start. Slideshow gives you many options, from downloading a presentation to embedding one in a different presentation. Searching also can give you great ideas to create one
yourself.

Ann

slideshare link

2008-12-15T18:26:00.000-08:00

http://www.slideshare.net/leller

Wiki Wiki

2008-12-15T12:56:00.000-08:00

I searched some of the Wiki sites that were listed on our Discovery Exercise page. The libraries
used a wiki for several different purposes. One wiki from the Princeton Public Library was used for book reviews. I could see this being used quite a bit by patrons of a library or anyone else. An added feature of this wiki was that prizes were awarded to book reviewers. The St. Joseph County Public Library System developed a wiki for subject guides which easily transferred you to the right information about a specific topic. I have thought about a research topic wiki in our school library. Students and teachers could add their experiences and information about certain
topics. I do worry. though, about the kind of information people could add just to be mean, or information that they think is correct, but is not. In all, I think it would have more benefits than not.

Ann

Libraries of the Future

2008-12-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

My head is swirling around all the information I just read about the future of libraries. I am just
getting used to 2.0 and now I have read about Library 3.0 and even 4.0. After reading Dr. Wendy Schultz's article, "To a Temporary Place in Time," I learned that the future library will be an online virtual world known as mind gyms, idea labs, and art salons with internet tools to
bring users vast amount of information and social networking all over the world. Her article also related that even if our present day libraries turn into virtual worlds, the library patron still needs a human touch. This means that the future librarian will be a guide and teacher to patrons using the new version of the library with it's vast amount of information and new interactive tools. I still feel that many people, especially the older generation, will want and need the present-day type of library for quite a few years yet. We don't want them to be scared of using the library because of all the technological advances. I am happy to learn 2.0, though, and know that it can benefit the library, especially with lists, tagging, social networking, etc.

It was interesting reading "Library 2.0 Debased" by Kate Sheehan. She talked about Library 2.0 and how it's great to have these tools but not to forget the true meaning of a libary and the relationship librarians have with their users. She said you can't just thrust a My Space page in front of a user without the understanding interaction of a librarian.

I know that all the new tools and technology of a new-age library is wonderful and will provide much more information and social networking to the user, but let's not forget the "human touch"
and our duty as librarians to help and guide our users to get the most out of their library experience.

Ann

Delicious

2008-12-04T11:09:00.000-08:00

I think the Delicious bookmarking system would be a great benefit to libraries. I looked through the Holdredge Library's Delicious site and was impressed with the way they tagged different websites with topics that a student could use in a research paper, or other topics that are of interest to most people. This could reduce time in searching for the perfect website. I also looked at the Nebraska Library Commission's Delicious site to view their tags and websites. One of the tags was "zoos" and I could see how fast it would be to connect with the various zoo websites that were listed. Maybe I was looking in the wrong place, but I could not see any comments people made about their bookmarked sites. The Delicious bookmark site is also a type of social network. Any topic can be searched using other peoples' bookmarks and they
can use yours. This expands the amount of resources in websites that can be used, at the same time knowing that other people found these websites to be more beneficial than other websites.
You end up with a list of the best websites, as others have already been weeded out.
I would tag the Nebraska Access website with: magazines or periodicals, book reviews, biographies, business info, genealogy.

What Are You Doing?

2008-11-24T09:45:00.000-08:00

At first, I couldn't figure out why I would use Twitter. After following Christa's
tweets for awhile and enjoying the feedback between her and her friends, and looking on the Nebraska Library Commission's twitter page which had updated information about activities, etc., I began to enjoy it. It is a fun way of messaging your friends during the day when you can't be with them. It would also benefit the library by sharing news, new books and programs, etc.
I can see how twitter would keep you up-to-date on your friends and activities and also help you meet new people and share your interest in things you have in common.

Ann

My Library Thing

2008-11-20T07:40:00.000-08:00

I feel like I have my own library. This is a good way to keep track of the
books I like. I am looking forward to finding other people who have similar taste
in books. This is very easy by just clicking on the book title in your list.

The link to my library thing is http://www.librarything.com/catalog/louaeller.

Ann

Techonology Chat

2008-11-11T11:08:00.000-08:00

Technology is more amazing every day. I have learned so much, just since taking the Nebraska 2.0 course. Blogging is easier that I thought it would be. It's great to read other people's comments and how they feel about technology. My favorite course has been the Flickr program.
I have so many pictures saved on my computer. They just sit there like the commercial on TV, where a person representing a picture needs to be deleted before another picture can be saved.
By using Flickr, I can organize my pictures, and make them into puzzles, trading cards, or even bookmarks. I am excited about learning the next "thing" in 2.0!

Ann

Partial Puzzle of the Zoo Bear

2008-11-04T17:57:00.000-08:00

2008-11-04T17:56:00.000-08:00

Image Generators

2008-11-04T17:53:00.000-08:00

I have experimented with JD Flickr Toys and have created a puzzle of
a bear we seen on vacation. I have also made a trading card of our
cat "Emmy" relaxing on the sofa. I will try to post these items and
the URL address of how to get to these sites.

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/jigsaw.php

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/deck.php

Ann

Flickr Discoveries

2008-11-04T17:19:00.000-08:00

I have found some wonderful photos on Flickr. It's amazing how many ways
you can search for these pictures. I explored the FD Flickr Toys site. It shows how
to put pictures on maps, banners, badges, etc. This could work in the school library
by putting student photos on these items and use them for special days or activities.

http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/
Ann

Black Hills Racoon

2008-11-04T17:03:00.000-08:00

Honeymooners picture from Flickr

2008-11-04T16:45:00.000-08:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/frizztext/188574528/

Adding Feeds

2008-10-28T11:17:00.000-07:00

I have added more than six new feeds. The Google blog site seemed to work better for me
than the Syndic8 site. The Google site had a list of feeds that seemed to work for me
( a lot of news sites). I also tried to add a few sites that I use, but they didn't work.
I didn't add these feeds but did find some on cooking, technology, and music which
sounded interesting. This is a fast way to find the latest news on many topics which
should be a good benefit for a library.

Ann

RSS

2008-10-28T10:00:00.000-07:00

I'm learning something new again. I had not heard about
RSS, Really Simple Syndication, but I do like it. I have
about four or five websites I look up every day, and
with RSS, I will only have to do one look-up which will
save time here at work. I can also compare the information
on the different websites which will be great for book
reviews, etc. I'm anxious to see what I will learn next.

Ann

2008-10-21T11:35:00.000-07:00

I have always heard about people using instant messaging, including my
kids. I'm beginning to see how this works. It feels like the person you are
talking to is in the next room. I can see how library reference questions
could be answered this way. It would be faster and you could really
understand what the patron needs.

Ann

2008-10-16T08:21:00.000-07:00

This is my post to say I have completed
Things 3 & 4.

Ann

2008-10-16T08:06:00.000-07:00

The Nebraska Learns 2.0 course is interesting and I'm
starting to have fun with it. I work in a school library
and have found a little time to post to my blog.
Of the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners,
I'm finding the habit of "Begin with the end in mind" a
little challenging. This course will last several months and'
it's difficult now to think about all of the new computer tools
I will know how to use when I am finished or that I could
possibly teach them to someone else. I know this technology
will be an advantage to me in this librarh for my own use and
helping the students with their assigments.

Ann

What Have I Got Myself Into

2008-10-16T08:00:00.000-07:00

I am enrolled in the Nebraska Learns 2.0 program.
That is why I set up this blog. I probably wouldn't
be brave enough otherwise.