Thing 12.5 Wikis

I actually set up my own wiki on pbwiki. For those who wish to look at my frail attempts at accomplishing 23 things the address is http://pbnoj.pbwiki.com
I inserted a document called Competencies. In Marion County there is a list on our portal which gives a general idea what we need to know. I enhanced it primarily for our Dunnellon Library with the help of my peers. There is circulation info, reference info and some basic procedures. I included some abbrieviated notes to help me remember. Feel free to peruse and edit or comment. Your are even welcome to copy and do your own list.

Thing 12: Wikis

Whereas websites tend to reflect the imagination of one individual, the wiki can be more of a collaborative effort. However if one person prefers to have control this is not necessarily the ideal media. The wiki allows anyone to edit which is both an advantage and a disadvantage. The Collective Group (to resist is futile) is subject to the common passion of the topic. The Resistors can get into an editing war. Is one allowed to edit too quickly without checking the facts and base the information on passion and belief? No wonder teachers and faculty ban this as a source of information. Can you imagine entries on abortion or evolution!!!!

To give credit to the Common Craft video for basic organization of a particular activity this is ideal. In libraries where you would be able to limit who updates the information, there could be a number of ways to utilize a wiki: lists for top 5 picks, YA picks by YAs, staff picks, display ideas (especially for children's), book talks, support for computer courses so people do not lose just learned skills, parents discussing educational challenges for their children, etc. It does require dedication and updating and a reminder that a wiki is not "private property".

I did edit the NEFLINS wiki. I am PBNoJ. I just wanted to know WHY 23? Incidentally it is not the peanut butter that makes the sandwich but what you add that brings taste, creativity and uniqueness.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

I could not resist this cartoon from Forest Fomentation. His humor is so on target. He deserves the prize just for giving so many a laugh. I never realized a librarian could show taste, humor and satire while juggling so many hats.

Thing 11: Social Media

I examined the recommended websites for this thing. I signed up for DIGG because I appreciated the fact that I could select the content. (Some subjects I choose not to follow.) Reddit, Mixx and Newsvine were okay but had way too many annoying comments. One can have a room full of people and everyone will have a different opinion or belief. No two people will have the same exact ideology. An opinion is based on upbringing, social conditioning, education and events that affect us. (Tradition, training and trauma) To alter this, there is too much history to affect a change. In the words of characters from CORNER GAS (a sit-com), a blog is where you can post your ranting so the rest of the world can ignore it. Despite the fact that a few people may read this blog, I have come to the conclusion that this NEFLIN project is more for self-discovery, self-realization and for those with little work ethic, work avoidance.

If readers have gotten to this point and wish to read my opinion of the NYT, WA post and BBC, here goes. WA Post required one to sign up which I did not want to do. NYT has always been a favorite to read but I never subscribed because they kill so many trees just for their Sunday edition alone. Reading on-line will be a nice treat. The BBC has a unique global perspective which I do enjoy reading. Both of these will go on my RSS feeds. The same for StumbleUpon. This website had some interesting links.

As far as use in the library, they are sources for best seller lists and other articles for some research, however I truly believe they may be more of a productivity detractor than enhancer. I prefer the face to face work with patrons. An actual smile on the face gains more respect and positive reaction than a thousand smiling emoticons. Isolating oneself behind a monitor, hiding away from the life going on around you, forgetting to smile at patrons, friends and loved ones is abhorrant to me. I do not mind learning about new tools but I refuse to do it at the expense of the important things in my life. How's that for ranting!!!!

NoThing in particular

Enjoy the scene it too is fleeting.

Review of Thing 1 thru 10

Revisiting some of the websites I have found that some of the navigation has become a bit easier. When some of my fellow bloggers for NEFLIN got together we were able to discuss problems and easier ways to do things. In many, if not all, cases I found that patience was crucial. Everyone that we worked with has a different approach and a different forte. It was great to be able to share and grow. I wanted to be able to put in another slideshow which should show up at the end of this blog. Again because of dial-up, it is time consuming to post. I just have to remember:
THE OX IS SLOW BUT THE EARTH IS PATIENT.

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Amazing Underwater World

View more presentations from Thilini. (tags: pics thilini)

Thing 10: Tagging and Delicious

Well, I can not believe I actually caught up with this. I know it will only be temporary though. After all, tomorrow is another thing. (My apologies to Margaret Mitchell.) Thank you NEFLIN gods for giving an extra week to catch up. I re-edited my things with labels and I signed up for delicious and examined some of the other tags. I can see how useful this can be for various reference work whether in children's or for adults. It worked great at home. However at the library we are limited in adding personal items to the tool bars. Because of programming limitations, we are limited in utilizing this feature. I can see the neatness and better organization this website can provide. I do appreciate the social aspect and the easy availability. Here at the library we often move from one workstation to another and our favorites do not follow us. This would be an extremely good time saving tool. I believe it could also be helpful in reducing keystrokes.(Something that my wrists would be grateful for.) I do plan on looking at Furl and Pagekeeper later but for now I will just post what I have.

Thing 9.5 Comments to slide show

I thoroughly enjoyed slideshare. They categorize a variety of subjects and make them available with basically the click of a button. When putting together a presention on power point, this can provide a quick way of putting together a theme of others' photos or your own. I looked at other bloggers' websites and those suggested by NEFLIN and found many of them easy to navigate. I went back to slideshare because of their program on Chihuly. We recently had a book about Chihuly on hold for a patron. The artwork was just phenomenal. Since I started this program with NEFLIN, I have experienced a great deal of new things one is photo sharing. I probably will do more in the future but more likely at the library since their computers are a bit faster than my dial-up at home.

Thing 9: Sharing-slides, photos, databases

Dale Chihulys Glass Creations

View more presentations from Lia Dumitrescu.

Thing 8: Communication Web 2.0 Style

I had to think long and hard on this. As I have said in previous blogs, I do not have a cell phone, blackberry, pager or anything else of that nature. I did have a laptop until I threw it across the room. (I no longer have anger issues as long as everyone agrees with me) So now I have a basic computer with dial up for e-mails and receiving statements and bills however I really do not bank on-line. I have tried to go somewhat green but I still support the post office with paying bills and sending packages and real letters to friends and family.(Note to self: buy some more forever stamps before rates increase again!!) I guess you could say I have one foot on solid ground and one foot into technology. Staddling a barrier can be dangerous only if the separation becomes so great that my short little legs fail me or force me to choose. I am hopeful that we all can strike a balance so that we never forget the range of generations that come through our doors.

With this technology of IMing, we are experiencing a cultural change. The texting and use of instant messaging has altered the syntax of the English language. I believe in one of the articles it was referred to as "nonlibrarianish". With ipods and bluetooth and other such devices, people are walking around with voices constantly in their heads. This at one time was a psychoses. I saw one patron the other day on one of our computers writing a paper and texting at the same time. I admire that sort of multi-tasking. Yet I wonder just how good a job one is doing on both. The language that is being used on the IM is a sort of rewritten language. It requires interpretation or having to look it up on google for the meaning. I do not believe it is rich in nuances, satire, irony or any subtleness that the spoken language can bring. Voice and a full written text can contain what IM can not.

One also talks about the speed with which one gives or receives information. When you drive through the Golden Arches or the King to get instant food, you can not say that the food is better than if you go to a real restaurant and wait a bit longer. IMing is a means to try and get a quick answer but it is not necessarily a definitive response. Are employees abusing the system by spending too much time on texting or IMing? It is possible, but if the employee does not have work ethics to begin with; this is just another avenue of work avoidance.

As far as web conferencing, at work the only computer with the necessary programming is the supervisor's. This is a good way to get the classes without the travel, however it still takes away from helping the questioning patron who is standing in front of you. Major libraries who have the resources and the patronage probably should utilize whatever technology their primary patrons use. The important aspect here is to supply the need of the majority of your patronage with balanced steps into the future technology. At our library for those who choose to give us an e-mail address, they receive computer generated notices on requested books. For the most part we still meet and greet all patrons that pass through our doors.

I apologize if my blog is too long. My husband always says I am a bit long winded. He's just envious because I'm better on a tank of air than he is.

Thing 7.5 More Online Image Generators

Myspace Picture Generator

I had so much fun with the last one, I wanted to do it again! The website for this is www.jellymuffin.com/generators/textpix2/

Thing 7: Online Image Generators

Myspace Picture Generator

This was another challenging task that was initially frought with frustration and indecision as to what I wanted to post. However this website jellymuffin.com seemed to make it interesting and fun. This was an easy site to use as it had a single button to copy the code and carry over to my blog. The variety of graphics is somewhat limited compared to other websites that were listed at NEFLIN.

Thing 6.5 More FLICKR Mashups

An Octopus is grabbing a clam that I placed in front of his midden. He/ she will use the suckers on its tentacles to open the clam and pull out the meat.

I just thought I would do it again. The other one went to my photos in FLICKR first. So I thought I would just try the more direct route. As the exercise says it is alot of fun.

Thing 6: Flickr Mashups

spell flickr
Originally uploaded by sharonspear72

DUNNELLON PUBLIC LIBRARY
I looked at Clockr, Flickr Color Pickr, Big Hugh Labs, Spell with Flickr and splashr all while having my septic tank pumped. At least this did not smell as bad, however it was fun and I did experience a bit of a learning curve. This is another way of beefing up the graphics on any of our displays to make them more appealing. For patrons it is another way they can utilize the computers for their personal communication or for small businesses that wish to promote themselves. It is also another website for interested teens and adults to utilize their imagination. Indeed it was fun and I hope to take better advantage of it.

Thing 5: Flickr

I created a new account in Flickr. Unfortunately I do not have either a digital camera or a camera phone mostly by choice. I do however have a scanner. I took some of my photographs and scanned them into my computer, then I uploaded them to my flickr account. I also slightly edited them and cropped them with Picnik. This was not particularly fast as I only have dial-up, however perseverence and patience prevailed. The photos are in Flickr and I now have one on my blog. I realize the exercise was to utilize a library scene; I just find underwater photos or those of my dogs and other wildlife more interesting. The photos were taken by me except in the case where I am in the photo. In that case it was still my camera with my settings.
Using Flickr in the library is a way to assist patrons with yet another facet of technology. It is also a way for libraries to share ways of displaying materials and ideas for seasonal activities. Flickr and Picnik together make a good combination to enhance their service. Using them was surprisingly easy providing I was patient. As far as making my photos public, it does not bother me. They are not professionally done by any means and the individuals are all adults. I looked at the other sites Picasa and SmugMug. Both were very good. I liked not having ads on SmugMug. However despite it being unlimited in space and no ads, you would have to pay to use it. I would much rather the free price tag.