Learning 2.0 Impressions

I am done--I have discovered a few items that I would like explore and try out further, I have had fun and frustrations trying to post to the blog, I really cannot imasgine anyone wanting to read this. In fact I am using it more as a personal journal-although not really private, so that if I need to go back and remember how to do one of the learnings, this may trigger a memory.
I think I will find more uses for the wikis, I was not interested in the feeds--but then I found the Williamsburg storytelling podcast that I would be delighted to have on my feed, if I can get the podcast to work. I have great plans for del.icio.us both at home and at work, mainly because you can get to your favorites from anywhere. I find podcasts, and maybe short instructional videos more valuable that items on YouTube in general. I have learned a lot of terms and need all my password sheets. I am ready to be done for a while and allow myself to experiment with wikis or whatever before I start new materials.

Audio Books--I love them

One of the reasons I am trying to finish this soon is because I need an mp3 player that will work with our audio book service. I tried 2 years ago with Netlibrary and my newly bought mp3 player did not work with that system. Since we are dropping NetLibrary---I did not see anything about this, when I looked at HCPL's site for downloadable books. There still seem to be some popular items on Overdrive but the selection can't help but be more limited when we lose NetLibrary. I am planning on making use of this service as soon as possible. I am constantly listening to checked out titles that I would not normally have read, to the amusement ogf coworkers who know of my 10 minute commute. It is amazing how much I can listen to, even with a short commute since there areso many other times I am on the road.

Podcasts

I looked over Podcasts.yahoo.com and podcast.net and found some interesting material.Both sites seem equally easy to use---even though some of the Yahoo sites were marked unavailable, which is good to know up front. I did listen to the featured site of Amateur Traveler and may go back to that since it seems to have interesting contests. I was also very excited, since I am going to Williamsburg this storytelling weekend, that I found a site for Williamsburg storrytelling, actually subscribed to the site and put that on my feed. However when I went to listen to the podcast, I could not get it to play. I will explore that also later, or get help if I can not get sound on another day.
I also plan to go back and experiment with podcasting, once I come up with a topic that I would like to deal with. Overall I have found the podcasts included in the Library 2.0 very easy to use and quite helpful, and my first real exposure to podcasts.

YouTube

Just like blogging and getting people's opinions on general topics ( I am not that wild about Talk Radio unless the subject is informational), I find YouTube nice entertainment, and I'm glad someone has the time but I don't. There was no video that important to be included in a blog. Now I can see that it would be useful to add a tiny video as part of a presentation or in a project where the video would add to the subject matter. I opened a Kitty video, simply because it was short, but at this point do not see a use for this. As I can tell, I am getting close to the end of my 23 things and really feel ready for a break.

Web 2.0 awards

I was going to start by looking at the book sites, but the only one that was of interest-LibraryThing, I had already worked with earlier. So I went on to events and looked at both Eventful and Upcoming, which I have saved in del.icio.us because i can see members of my family and customers finding this useful. "Upcoming" put me in the Baltimore area, while "Eventful" let me get as local as Bel Air.

Zoho Zoho

Zoho writer and Zoho wiki ---I can think of lots of possibilities for using these. I plan to send my daughters the information about the resume template, even if it may be wishful thinking. It may also be useful to help customers at the information desk.  I think the wiki will be easy enough to handle and I have some ideas for possible uses that I am mulling over.  While I am not ready to start the Wiki yet, I will be back to this site.   I was actually able to post it to my blog now that I know that the tab I push is at the bottom and that my URL is beginning quilts @blogspot.com   Zoho 

Sandbox wikis

I spent quite a bit of time on this last week, and dutifully added an entry to the Learning 2.0 Sandbox Wiki. It did help me move around the site but otherwise not as useful as some of the other tools for me.

Wikis

http://www.merlin.lib.md.us/?q=node/49--- I am including the Merlin website and have also saved it to my favorites, because I think wikis offer a lot of potential. The Merlin site gives possibilities for starting a wiki, so although I do not have a need yet, I am saving the information. I think it is a great way to report on conferences and also to prepare plans which involve a group. The Zuckerman's who have been joined by other branches have started a wiki to help handle computer technology and other computer issues at their branches.
http://hcplcomputerusersgroup.pbwiki.com/Whiteford-Branch
The Whiteford page of the Wiki has helped me help customers, several times already. Hats off to technology!

Libraries and Libraries 2.0

The future of books--I think we have gotten past that.In addition, I really found Lindabeekeepers blog useful on this subject, pointing out that digitalizing books may not always guaranteed their continued existence. I think books will be there but there is so much more.
Anderson had some good points, but I don't think it is all generational. I think there will always be some who are more interested in technology than others. As librarians, our job is to help people use this technology when they find a need for it or when it might meet their needs. Modern day librarians have, as I loosely quote from Wikipedia, always been involved in collaboration, being customer friendly and welcoming. Now we have an explosion of information and process to share with our customers.
Relating to making information accessible, we also have customers who want their share of the technology and find the library a useful place to gain access. As we try to keep up with the "know-how", we do not alsways have the tools. Customers want to use scanners and color copiers---items they are willing to pay a fee for, if available. It was not so long ago that every branch received digital cameras, and as we become more comfortable in their use, their uses have multiplies and benefited many aspects of the library.

Del.icio.us

I have fiddled with del.icio.us and have signed up for it. Even though I do not have time to peruse this for research or social networkimg (I am dragging along as try to complete 2.o), I will most certainly use it to make bookmarks accessible from anywhere. I have often been frustrated while at the "wrong desk", trying to remember a useful county website. So the usefullness for me is really not limited even though my interst in the Social networking aspect is limited. Afterall, I would rather spend my free time quilting than at a computer.

Rollyo and new things learned

At the moment, I don't feel that I need to search multiple websites, but I have added the link to my blog so thatI will have it available if I should need it.

I have had to delay working on 2.o for a while since vacations and monthly reports have called for attention.

I was able to add information about a trip to see the Space Shuttle Launch on the Library Passport under travel news---that in itself was quite a learning experience., especially since I was able to add pictures. In the process, I also learned how to download pictures from a digital camera.

My Library

I really was pleased with Library Thing--it could be a great way for me to keep a record of my book discussion group's books. So I thought--I can do this and spent several hours unsuccesfully trying to add a widget to my blog. Today, I tried again and I actually saw the red letters that said a widget could not be attached if I chose the private setting. So after correcting that--I know have a library on my blog. What a feeling of accomplishment.

Stories and Art

Working with the online imagers, I am becoming more comfortable with adding items to my blog. My pictures came from Warholzer site--http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/warholizer.php and I liked that it captured a storytime. I will continue with an avatar, but it also shows the need to label our branch photos.

Merlin

I had a time to look at Merlin, and decided it would be a great site to add to my feed---if I could only remember how. I got pretty far along before I remembered that I should sign in to Bloglines.com . Once that was done , it was easier. There is a feeling of accomplishment--but it also supplies a new endless amount of reading material.

After bloglines

It is so amazing to have folks at the branch who can actually help you walk through this. Thank you Linda Z. I have several elements on my blogroll because I filled out the "interest" section , when I registeresd with bloglines and then was surprised to have these items when I signed in. I may actually have time to read some of these.

Step 5-- Flickr

I have signed up for Flickr, am hoping to use it for home once I replace our dying computer. Did have fun working with a display photo for my account.

Still quiltless

I have managed to get a picture on my blog---I labeled it unfinished quilt---it is still unfinished but that did not show up with the picture so I guess that was just a tag. I feel like I am hunting and pecking, not the keyboard but the pieces of information I need to post to my blog. But just like the next quilt that I am starting, it all starts with small pieces.

new beginnings

Working and being a part of the library community, lifelong learning surrounds us everyday. However, it was great to see the formalized steps and the reminder that problems are really challenges that offer us a chance to learn from the experienc.
I must also say, I am indebted to Linda's helpful hints under Beekeeper. Some parts of getting the Blog started were truly not intuitive.
I am begining this technology journey with the hopes that I will eventually be able to use the technology to download and listen to audio books, plus be comfortable enough with other technology so that I can help customers with a variety of tech needs.