Thing #22 - NetLibrary

Well, I have perused NetLibrary. It was very easy to create an account. After that, I don't know. I didn't try to download any items, but I'd like to when I get my MP3 player. In fact, I am really looking forward to having audiobooks in a nice portable format.

NetLibrary's selection seems fairly diverse for the amount of books they have. I was happy to see everything from classics to horror. One thing I do wish, though, is that there were book descriptions. Since there is a limit (though a high one, in my opinion), I would like to know more about a book before I check it out. Hopefully, this will come with time.

For audiobooks, the check out time is 21 days. And here's the kicker, you can't return one early. Still, you should be fine, especially if you stagger your downloads. I am looking forward to checking out an audiobook titled Demon Theory.

There are some restrictions besides the limit. You are not allowed to burn a CD of your downloaded material, and you will need an updated media player, probably Windows Media Player.

In summary, patrons should like this if they are familiar with downloading audio--if not, they will need to become familiar first, I think. After that, it should be easy. I am very happy to know we have it and look for it to grow.

Thing #21 - Podcast Puzzle

Do you ever get a feeling just by looking at something that it isn't all above board? I mean, most of us realize by now that the nice Nigerian fellow that keeps emailing us does not, in fact, exist. When we get those random faxes about $99 luxury vacations or mostly free health insurance, we know they belong in the shredder. So, why do I get such a bad feeling about two of these podcast-finding websites?

Web design being one facet of my professional writing education, I am somewhat alarmed by the design of Podcast.com and Podcast Pickle. When most of your page is comprised of glaring, flashing ads, especially when some are of the click on the so-and-so to win $$$$ kind, it doesn't scream professional, let's put it that way. Also, I had to jump through hoops to access the podcasts, especially from a search.

So, I think I'll stick with Podcast Alley. I found one there called Skeptoid: Critical Analysis of Pop Phenomena that I added to my Google Reader. Then, using NPR's site, I was able to find more podcasts that I would like to hear. I think this will be my favorite way of searching--going to websites that interest me and looking for podcasts. I added NPR: Books to GR, too.

Overall, this Thing has been very trying. It took a long time to figure out how to access the podcasts. Then, I realized that some podcasts that I liked required software download to listen unless you used Google Reader to get to them. Hmmmm...

You see, I didn't really care for Google Reader, but now I can see it has the positive side of allowing me to listen to the podcasts of my choice without downloading special software. Points for Google Reader.

I don't know how much I will use this personally, but I can see it being a fine way for libraries to send out info, either internally or externally. Some people learn best through auditory methods. With podcasts, you are no longer limited to a written style and a mix-up of styles could only add to learning and retention.

P.S. - NPR is a great resource. You can use it to find podcasts on all sorts of subjects, and I think it would be a fine site to recommend to patrons.

Thing #20 - There's Something for Everyone on YouTube

I am really enjoying exploring YouTube, though it took me awhile to figure out how to post the videos to my blog. Even then, I am still a bit confused about citation. Whereas, Flickr makes sharing and usage rules very clear, I could not find similar info on YouTube. Since I am not familiar enough to know whether that means it is essentially a free-for-all or not, I will cite as carefully as I can.

I lucked out and found one library's channel that had a variety of good informational and fun videos. Upon watching the nicely done State of the Library interview from May 2008, from the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana

Video courtesy of Allen County Public Library (http://www.youtube.com/user/askacpl) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3i1OntTcMw, I thought this could work for libraries everywhere. I am not sure if this was filmed by an internal public relations department, if it was contracted out, or if, perhaps, it was part of someone's educational project (I can see excellent opportunities for journalism/broadcast interns). My other thought was, here's a library that is losing 1.5 million dollars in funding by 2010; yet, the librarian discussed moving from the school of thought that the parts that make up the library are books, buildings, and bodies to now thinking in terms of 4 B's: books, buildings, bodies, and bytes. Hooray for Library 2.0!--oh, wait, this library believes it is on 4.0 now. Having watched some of their videos, I can certainly credit them with that. Check it out if you have a chance.

I especially like the monthly staff training videos, "Geek Out, Don't Freak Out"

Video courtesy of Allen County Public Library (http://www.youtube.com/user/askacpl)http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X_HA2Q7rW7I

This, to me, would be such an easy and wonderful staff training tool. Staff could watch the video as many times as needed to learn specific procedures. They could then refer back to it as often as necessary to refresh their skills or look for answers to specific questions.

Finally, I must add my own bit of fun and stress relief with a search result for "Lolcats".

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3jDfSqtG2E4

Video courtesy of G4TV - http://www.g4tv.com/

Thing #19 - Web 2.0 Awards

Wow! It took me awhile to narrow this one down to the right choice for me. There are many tools on this list with which I am familiar, and I didn't want to blog about those because I want to learn something new. Then, I started clicking on winning sites I had not visited before. On many, I could find little I felt would be useful to me, but I can certainly see how they will appeal to others. I left those alone, too. I found what I thought was a promising language learning tool, but it would not say directly how much it would cost, and I never fully trust that approach.

At long last, however, I found it, a site I had not seen before that I can clearly see myself using and recommending. http://colorblender.com/ This is a simple tool that allows users to create a color palate quickly and easily with the drag of a mouse. You can either edit the main color and let the program calculate the rest or you can edit each color directly. When you have something you like, you can either let it be saved to your current workstation via cookie (not the greatest option, I think) or export it in a .act file for Photoshop or a .eps for many other applications or you can send the link via email.

I think this application would be useful for creating palates for web and other digital design applications. Each color is accompanied by its html code, too. It could be useful in the library because you could create a palate from something that inspired you, even if you could not check out the item, you could retrieve the palate you created based upon it. It would also be handy as a quick reference tool for providing html color codes. Of course, monitor displays will vary, but I think many consumers will be satisfied with the results of this tool. Even folks who are seeking palate inspiration for non-digital use may find it here.

Thing #18 Cont. - This is My New Google Docs Document

This is My New Google Docs Document

I Love LOLCATS!

I love LOLCATS. LOLCATS are the bestest evar!!!1!!!! How could anyone live without LOLCATS? You should try LOLCATS--they are healthy for you, fat-free, and calorie-free. In fact, you could probably burn calories looking at LOLCATS because you will be laughing so hard! So, head on over to I Can Has Cheezburger and see what you are missing!!!

Here's a free sample:

Thing #18 - Google Docs Collaboration Celebration

So, I hope you can see my Google Docs document above.

It was super easy to create, even adding images and publishing it to the blog.

Well, before I got to Thing #18, I was actually ahead of myself on this one because Sarah set up a collaborative project for us at Cashiers and we are using Google Docs. We are using it in our analysis of the On-order Report, in conjunction with the new Demand Management procedures. So, I can see already how this will be useful to libraries and even my own job. Besides, I love the green aspect of it. No printing out the 20 or 40 page document and carrying it back and forth only to have to recycle it in a week or so.

This was the first time I used Google Docs, and it was so very easy--no trouble. It was easy to add collaborators and easy to find, open, and edit documents, too.

I can see using this quite a bit for collaborative work. I may use it for portability of certain documents, especially as I re-enter graduate school in the fall, but I will have to really check out the editing options in depth to make sure I have access to all I need. Either way, I think this is a very handy tool that will definitely benefit libraries.

Thing #17 - Fontana Wiki & much learning

The problem, to me, with Wikis, is the same one that I am having with all of the 23 Things--I want to do more, learn more, see more...

I am a curious person by nature, and I LOVE to learn. So, when I view someone's blog or Wiki, etc., I always find something that I want to know more about. Often this leads me tangentially to more than one new learning experience.

How could I look at FRL's Wiki without having to check out some of the hikes our staff members recommend? I even had to look for a link to my favorite hike, which lead me to having to read an article about its future, which led me to more info, which left me with a question I will have to research further. All that in a couple of clicks. I could happily click away all day.

But I have to work, so I will say that editing this Wiki was no problem. Adding the links was very easy--the program even erased the duplicate "http://" if you happened to just copy and paste your link and that's a very nice touch. Can't wait to see more entries, but I will have to.

Are Libraries Healthy?

Following up on my own wish for statistics on the health of libraries from an earlier post, I am trying to find good statistical evidence on the current relevance of public libraries.

First, I am limiting my search to public libraries, as they are my area of concern. As a graduate student in English, I have my love of academic libraries, too, but I choose to focus on the public libraries both because I work in one and I feel that these are the libraries that will be most affected by the social change in information sharing.

Distressingly, I can see that this is going to be a slow undertaking. The library system in which I work owns very few books on the subject (including one from 1996, which is too old to contain the information I seek). Traveling to the nearest academic library won't help, as I have checked the online catalog there and nothing very recent or relevant popped up.

Surprisingly, I am finding very little in the way of statistical information via a quick search on the internet, either. Not surprisingly, the majority of returns from my quick internet search were opinion pieces.

I can see I will have to widen the net. No problem, I love a good challenge. However, I am a parent, I work full-time, and I am preparing to re-enter the university in the fall to finish my graduate degree, in addition to taking online classes this summer. So, I am going to get to the bottom of this, though it will be a slow, graudal descent :)

P.S. - I greatly appreciate any suggestions, too.

Happy Retraction

It's good news to me that Mr. Crawford, author of Balanced Libraries : Thoughts on Continuity and Change, has commented to tell me that he is not against Library 2.0 as a concept but rather as a term. I have gladly removed the tag.

Thank you, sir, for taking the time.

Thing #16 - Wiki Way to Go?

I really loved learning about Wikis. I am a fan of Wikipedia (I use it almost daily), but that was the only one I was familiar with.

The issue of Wikis boils down to trust. Can you trust something that is public? I think that lies more with your political beliefs.

That said, when I looked at the Youth Services Wiki, I noticed that it said at the bottom of the page, "You don't have permission to comment on this page." So, apparently you can choose levels of public involvement for your Wiki. That should go a long way to calming fears.

I can see a Wiki like that being very useful to us at FRL. Because we are spread across several libraries, it would be lovely to have a repository for data that we could all access online. For example, right now, we email CATS minutes and information to one another or the group. With a CATS Wiki, we could just post it on the site. That would also allow us to make a digital archive and communicate in whole new ways. I'd be very excited to see that. I liked the way the Youth Services Wiki had all kinds of resources for the Summer Reading Program, too. If FRL had something like that, there would be a potential for wonderful collaboration between libraries and it could certainly provide a wealth of information (and possibly collaboration) for parents. A Wiki could be used internally to disseminate information to the staff. It would allow for a type of FAQ scenario by making staff members' questions or concerns visible. This could save workload of other staff having to answer the same question many times. Also, it could bring us closer as employees to see that others have the same concerns/thoughts that we do.

The possibilities are endless...

Thing #15 - Opposing Viewpoints 2.0

Wow! If I got anything from Thing #15, it was the distinct feeling that one is expected to CHOOSE. There was very little middle ground in the opinions that I read. I seem to remember an old Library Journal cover that faced off Gamers vs. Boomers. That, to me, sums up what this is all about.

I gleaned:

PRO 2.0 - Rick Anderson, Director of Resource Acquisition, University of Nevada, Reno Libraries [Article Away from the “icebergs”] "As a Web 2.0 reality continues to emerge and develop, our patrons will expect access to everything – digital collections of journals, books, blogs, podcasts, etc. You think they can’t have everything? Think again. This may be our great opportunity."

Problem: Library Patrons CAN'T have everything, in fact, they can't even have 1/2 of it thanks to CIPA and with the dreaded DOPA looming on the horizon. This is the biggest iceberg I see. To me, it defeats libraries' purpose of supporting intellectual freedom and undermines the principal of free access to information. Worse, it erodes our individual rights and responsibilities by not letting us as parents decide what is appropriate for our own children to access. The good news is the blogs I have been exposed to through the 23 Things have shown me that I'm not alone in my view.

PRO 2.0 - Michael Stephens Librarian, Blogger [Article Into a new world of librarianship]

This just made me cry for what isn't.

PRO 2.0 - Chip Nilges, OCLC Vice President, New Services [Article To more powerful ways to cooperate]

I am happy to see the public no authentication necessary access to WorldCat. And they allow user contribution. I couldn't find a book through their public site http://www.worldcat.org/ that had a review, though. I'd like to see one or more.

Is this 2.0? - George Bishop, Information Center Director, Ovid-Elsie Schools [Article A rural school district shows how one new service in 1992 put in motion a steady wave of library support]

I think this is carefully planned and thought out 2.0. A small library concentrated not just on maintaining, but on expanding. And they didn't begin by building a bigger building. In fact, they expanded digitally and through inclusion of other libraries' resources. The bigger building came later, after the library was already relevant. I would love to know how their checkout of the digital video and still cameras is working for them. That is a simple and not too expensive resource that could add quite a bit of value. Perhaps we could reach out and contact them.

Is this 2.0? - John Blyberg (B.A. English, University of Maine, 1998) is currently the Head of Technology and Digital Initiatives at Darien Library in Connecticut.In March 2006, John was named a Mover & Shaker by Library Journal. [Blog entry http://www.blyberg.net/2008/01/17/library-20-debased/]

"What I mean is that we cannot expect to retrofit our libraries with tomorrow’s technology. The true pursuit of Library 2.0 involves a thorough recalibration of process, policy, physical spaces, staffing, and technology so that any hand-offs in the patron’s library experience are truly seamless."

I'm not sure. It sounds like a nicely worded postponement to me.

Anti 2.0 - Annoyed Librarian [Blog entry http://annoyedlibrarian.blogspot.com/2007/08/librarians-anti-20-manifesto.html]

This blogger, who remains known only as Annoyed Librarian, takes apart the "'Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto' published in the August issue of American Libraries" piece by piece.

Cute tactic that I can appreciate. Didn't change my view, but I could see how the Anti 2.0's feel.

[tag retracted] Walt at Random[Blog entry http://walt.lishost.org/2008/01/the-new-bandwagon-is-the-anti-bandwagon/]

"Fact is, I don’t believe most librarians think public libraries or most academic libraries are on the brink of disaster and need wholesale rethinking, as opposed to continual improvement. (I’m one of those who believes most public and academic libraries are fundamentally healthy and have strong community support–that they should build from strength, usually an iterative process.)"

I think maybe Walt needs to recount his statistics. He didn't cite them, but I suspect that before assuming libraries are healthy and have strong community support, I would like to see studies and numbers to back up that assertion.

Overall, though, I like the Library 2.0 concept. I do however, see its weakness in that I am weary of hearing why it can't be done where we or others are. It only takes a grassroots change to get going. For example, my daughter's school in our small town started a reading/community involvement program (not 2.0 related) that was quite successful and got noticed by a large corporation. The company will now be helping fund the program in schools in many states across the U.S. It all started with one small school in one small town. Wouldn't we love to be the library that gets a similar ball rolling with a new incorporation of a small (or even large :)) 2.0 idea turned into reality?

If I could pick a 2.0 concept that I would like to see implemented to improve service to our patrons, at this moment, it would be the dream of having a staff member who would ideally have an Information Science degree and, maybe experience, but it could be a graduate just starting out, that would be okay, too. The person would have knowledge of web architecture and be able to host a dynamic website. This person's responsibility as a staff member would be to design, build, and maintain a system for our patrons to interact with the library on the web, and through other technologies as they become available and can be implemented. Also, opportunities for more staff involvement and contact with the public through these technologies would be integrated. That's my vision of how to move forward carefully and with our patrons and staff in mind, but move forward nonetheless.