Tuesday, February 13, 2007
RCPL Tech Challenge
This has been a fun learning experience. Even though there is a carrot at the end of the stick, I appreciate the push to learn some new things and to do those things I just never got around to. I am sure that most of these new skills will be ones that I will continue to use. If I can do it, I'm confident that we can assist our patrons in becoming more tech savvy.
Opal andSirsDynix Institute
This is Week 10 of RCPL Tech Challenge
While exploring Opal I viewed a slide show on Dementia and a book review of Grandfather's Journey. Both were very informative and would be good information for librarians and the general public. Opal topics were all ones that would be of interest to the general public.
SirsiDynix was made for the professional library staff. I did enjoy reading comments from Helene Blowers of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regarding new technology and rewards for "play". Sounds like our Tech Challenge.
Opal would be very useful for public libraries as a great way to share general information with patrons and staff.
Storytimes and special programs such as Sushi for Everyday or Musical performances would make excellent additions to Opals content. This would be one more way to take the library to the public with technology.
While exploring Opal I viewed a slide show on Dementia and a book review of Grandfather's Journey. Both were very informative and would be good information for librarians and the general public. Opal topics were all ones that would be of interest to the general public.
SirsiDynix was made for the professional library staff. I did enjoy reading comments from Helene Blowers of the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library regarding new technology and rewards for "play". Sounds like our Tech Challenge.
Opal would be very useful for public libraries as a great way to share general information with patrons and staff.
Storytimes and special programs such as Sushi for Everyday or Musical performances would make excellent additions to Opals content. This would be one more way to take the library to the public with technology.
Instant Messaging
This is Week 9 of RCPL Tech Challenge
I must admit that instant messaging is something that I had planned to get around to "one day". It was very easy to set up and I am sure that I will use it frequently. I have three girls scattered about and this will be much nicer than e-mail.
For the challenge I used the Seattle Public Library site. My question about the Space Needle was actually answered by librarian sg at the Springfield Public Library. She sent me a web site, which popped up on my screen, and answered all of the questions that I had asked. The information was also sent to my e-mail address. After the session was over, I answered a questionnaire about the experience. I did tell them it was part of out tech challenge.
For RCPL I am sure our new service will be used primarily for reference. Perhaps those crossword patrons will use it instead of the phone. All of the staff can benefit from the amount of phone time saved and use it to help the patron in the library instead.
I must admit that instant messaging is something that I had planned to get around to "one day". It was very easy to set up and I am sure that I will use it frequently. I have three girls scattered about and this will be much nicer than e-mail.
For the challenge I used the Seattle Public Library site. My question about the Space Needle was actually answered by librarian sg at the Springfield Public Library. She sent me a web site, which popped up on my screen, and answered all of the questions that I had asked. The information was also sent to my e-mail address. After the session was over, I answered a questionnaire about the experience. I did tell them it was part of out tech challenge.
For RCPL I am sure our new service will be used primarily for reference. Perhaps those crossword patrons will use it instead of the phone. All of the staff can benefit from the amount of phone time saved and use it to help the patron in the library instead.
Saturday, February 10, 2007
Podcasting
This is Week 8 of RCPL Tech Challenge
After listening to some podcasts I must admit that I do not think that it is something that I will do on a regular basis. There just is not enough time to do all of the things that I am interested in!
I do think that many people, especially younger ones, will take advantage of podcasting. The Charlotte Libraary's Loft is a wonderful site for teens. It would entice me to be more active in library programs. Regular podcsts in the areas of book reviews would be of great help especially for parents that wish to monitor what their children read.
One of the best uses for podcasting among library staff would be in the area of education. Tutorials, broadcasts of motivational programs, NEO, etc.could be accessed repeatedly. Wonderful for us older employees!
After listening to some podcasts I must admit that I do not think that it is something that I will do on a regular basis. There just is not enough time to do all of the things that I am interested in!
I do think that many people, especially younger ones, will take advantage of podcasting. The Charlotte Libraary's Loft is a wonderful site for teens. It would entice me to be more active in library programs. Regular podcsts in the areas of book reviews would be of great help especially for parents that wish to monitor what their children read.
One of the best uses for podcasting among library staff would be in the area of education. Tutorials, broadcasts of motivational programs, NEO, etc.could be accessed repeatedly. Wonderful for us older employees!
Downloadable Media
This is Week 7 of RCPL Tech Challenge
I downloaded the audiobook Horrible Harry and the Mud Gremlins fromNetLlibray without any problems.
This site seems to be user friendly and is definitely one that I will use in the future.
When I tried to download a music title from Digital Media Catalog they were all checked out. I tried to download several OverDrive videos that I had checked out but was unable to proceed. For me, it was hard to determine why it would not work. I have all of the required elements on my computer but for some reason OverDrive was not successful for me. The selections were very interesting and I was very disappointed. In the future, OverDrive would be my choice for downloadable media.
Library usage of downloadable materials is great for patrons. We have so9 many that use books on cd when traveling and many of them are gradually starting to use Net Library. With so many using MP3 players I am proud of the fact that we are one of the two libraries in SC to offer this service. One of the nicest services would be for the handicapped that have trouble reading or even holding a book. All they need is a friend with a computer and a RCPL library card.
On the down side, I think that Overdrive will present many headaches for staff. It does not seem to be as user friendly and will need considerable technical advice for our patrons.
I downloaded the audiobook Horrible Harry and the Mud Gremlins fromNetLlibray without any problems.
This site seems to be user friendly and is definitely one that I will use in the future.
When I tried to download a music title from Digital Media Catalog they were all checked out. I tried to download several OverDrive videos that I had checked out but was unable to proceed. For me, it was hard to determine why it would not work. I have all of the required elements on my computer but for some reason OverDrive was not successful for me. The selections were very interesting and I was very disappointed. In the future, OverDrive would be my choice for downloadable media.
Library usage of downloadable materials is great for patrons. We have so9 many that use books on cd when traveling and many of them are gradually starting to use Net Library. With so many using MP3 players I am proud of the fact that we are one of the two libraries in SC to offer this service. One of the nicest services would be for the handicapped that have trouble reading or even holding a book. All they need is a friend with a computer and a RCPL library card.
On the down side, I think that Overdrive will present many headaches for staff. It does not seem to be as user friendly and will need considerable technical advice for our patrons.
Thursday, February 1, 2007
Tagging
This is Week 6 of RCPL Tech Challenge
I had used tagging in my Flickr account although the tag clouds were new. I can see that I will have to limit my computer time! So many interesting things. It will also enable quicker searching. Many of the blogs I read use tagging.
The LibraryThing is great. I listed many of my quilting books and enjoyed reading the comments of others with the same books. For me, one of the nicest uses of LibraryThing will be when I am ordering books the inventory of what I have will be on the computer. This will eliminate ordering ones I already have!
Tagging will be a great asset for the library, enabling patrons to find things. It would provide links with books that other patrons with similar interests read. It would be beneficial if comments could be included.
I had used tagging in my Flickr account although the tag clouds were new. I can see that I will have to limit my computer time! So many interesting things. It will also enable quicker searching. Many of the blogs I read use tagging.
The LibraryThing is great. I listed many of my quilting books and enjoyed reading the comments of others with the same books. For me, one of the nicest uses of LibraryThing will be when I am ordering books the inventory of what I have will be on the computer. This will eliminate ordering ones I already have!
Tagging will be a great asset for the library, enabling patrons to find things. It would provide links with books that other patrons with similar interests read. It would be beneficial if comments could be included.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Social Software
This is Week 5 of RCPL Tech Challenge
I found social software to be interesting but not something that I think I would use at this time. I must admit that the time I spend reading all of the rss feeds and blogs leaves little for any other "social computer time". I do enjoy reading about the dogs and cats and their friends at Dogster and Catster. This is a great way to have a pet without feeding or walking it!
The Hennepin Library MySpace was interesting. I can see RCPL using MySpace especially for reaching the teen groups. It could be used for all ages but MySpace seems to be a more appropriate venue for teens than adults or children. Am I showing my age here? I found it amusing that Hennepin lists itself as female in its profile!
The Charlotte loft @ ImaginOn was fantastic. I really liked the idea of the Monopoly game tournament. Would that work for us?
Again, it seems the library uses of social software is limited only by our imagination.
?
I found social software to be interesting but not something that I think I would use at this time. I must admit that the time I spend reading all of the rss feeds and blogs leaves little for any other "social computer time". I do enjoy reading about the dogs and cats and their friends at Dogster and Catster. This is a great way to have a pet without feeding or walking it!
The Hennepin Library MySpace was interesting. I can see RCPL using MySpace especially for reaching the teen groups. It could be used for all ages but MySpace seems to be a more appropriate venue for teens than adults or children. Am I showing my age here? I found it amusing that Hennepin lists itself as female in its profile!
The Charlotte loft @ ImaginOn was fantastic. I really liked the idea of the Monopoly game tournament. Would that work for us?
Again, it seems the library uses of social software is limited only by our imagination.
?
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
Flickr and YouTube
This is Week 4 of RCPL Tech Challenge
While exploring Flickr, I found some beautiful pictures of the architecture of RCPL and added a few of my own.
Although I do not use Flickr, I have enjoyed many of the pictures and slideshows on the blogs of others. What a great way to view and learn about the crafts of others, especially the knitting and quilting sites. I definitely will use it when my camera and computer learn to work together.
RCPL's use could be very wide range. Book covers of new additions, program promotions, and library promotion in general are just a few. In house staff education could also be explored.
I must admit that I did not know how I would use YouTube for myself until I searched for quilting videos.
They were vast and great! For me, the instructional aspect would be of most use.
RCPL use could be either in house or for the public. Lin Ko's Sushi programs would be a good example for encouraging participation in future programs of similar nature. Sew Devine is another group that could use brief videos to promote participation of patrons. Summer reading. Oh! the list goes on and on. Patron education in the areas of use of library Staff education would be a very good use of YouTube. (For the "slow learners" it could be viewed again and again.)
While exploring Flickr, I found some beautiful pictures of the architecture of RCPL and added a few of my own.
Although I do not use Flickr, I have enjoyed many of the pictures and slideshows on the blogs of others. What a great way to view and learn about the crafts of others, especially the knitting and quilting sites. I definitely will use it when my camera and computer learn to work together.
RCPL's use could be very wide range. Book covers of new additions, program promotions, and library promotion in general are just a few. In house staff education could also be explored.
I must admit that I did not know how I would use YouTube for myself until I searched for quilting videos.
They were vast and great! For me, the instructional aspect would be of most use.
RCPL use could be either in house or for the public. Lin Ko's Sushi programs would be a good example for encouraging participation in future programs of similar nature. Sew Devine is another group that could use brief videos to promote participation of patrons. Summer reading. Oh! the list goes on and on. Patron education in the areas of use of library Staff education would be a very good use of YouTube. (For the "slow learners" it could be viewed again and again.)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Wikis
This is Week 3 of RCPL Tech Challenge
I visited several wikis listed under Library Success and Teacherlibrianwiki. They had some interesting ideas and examples of wikis used by libraries. I especially liked the one presented by Stevens County Rural Library in Washington state. They had a section on their wiki that listed fictional mysteries set in the state of Washington. Perhaps this is one of the uses that would appeal to the RCPL patrons.
The wikimd is one that I might use for personal information.
While playing in the sandbox, I added a comment and uploaded (or downloaded?} a picture from my files.
I visited several wikis listed under Library Success and Teacherlibrianwiki. They had some interesting ideas and examples of wikis used by libraries. I especially liked the one presented by Stevens County Rural Library in Washington state. They had a section on their wiki that listed fictional mysteries set in the state of Washington. Perhaps this is one of the uses that would appeal to the RCPL patrons.
The wikimd is one that I might use for personal information.
While playing in the sandbox, I added a comment and uploaded (or downloaded?} a picture from my files.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Three Silly Chicks
To continue my RSS comments, I love this feed!
Three Silly Chicks
Readers, Writers, and Reviewers of Funny Books for Kids.
At last----Round 2
This entry is part of the RCPL ETC Tech Challenge
Week 2 Mission: RSS
After setting up a blogline account and subscribing to several feeds, I learned that it would be very easy to spend most of my free time reading interesting things written by people I do not know, but feel like they are one of my best friends. Maybe I should trim the list! Because of all the quilting feeds, here is no time to quilt. I am sure that I will continue to read most of the feeds daily. What great fun.
As far as how RCPL can use RSS feeds, I think that they would be useful for patrons that want to keep up with selected information provided by the library. Of course for me it would be very useful for children's content -- programs, book reviews, award winner lists, bibliographies for parents and teachers, etc. If I understand the concept correctly, it would provide a very specific "one stop shopping" selection for individual patrons. Some of the feeds from Harris County Library were wonderful.
Roy Tennant states in his article Feed Your Head: Keeping Up By Using RSS " Wouldn't it be nice if you could filter all this stuff and receive brief notes for what interests you?" Wouldn't this be useful to all of us trying to keep up in the new tech age.
Week 2 Mission: RSS
After setting up a blogline account and subscribing to several feeds, I learned that it would be very easy to spend most of my free time reading interesting things written by people I do not know, but feel like they are one of my best friends. Maybe I should trim the list! Because of all the quilting feeds, here is no time to quilt. I am sure that I will continue to read most of the feeds daily. What great fun.
As far as how RCPL can use RSS feeds, I think that they would be useful for patrons that want to keep up with selected information provided by the library. Of course for me it would be very useful for children's content -- programs, book reviews, award winner lists, bibliographies for parents and teachers, etc. If I understand the concept correctly, it would provide a very specific "one stop shopping" selection for individual patrons. Some of the feeds from Harris County Library were wonderful.
Roy Tennant states in his article Feed Your Head: Keeping Up By Using RSS " Wouldn't it be nice if you could filter all this stuff and receive brief notes for what interests you?" Wouldn't this be useful to all of us trying to keep up in the new tech age.
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