You too can You Tube!

When I saw this Learn & Play exercise, I knew exactly which video I wanted to share with my CML collegues: The Fredricksen Library Book Cart Drill Team. This is my mom's library (and the one from my childhood). What I didn't know is that they had a new video posted in August. I give them kudos for their creativity.



What I like about You Tube is that you can find videos of just about anything -- some good, some not so good. I liked that I could reach out and expand my network by connecting to the librarian who shared the drill team video. I opened a You Tube account just so I could send a message!

I didn't spend too much time on this exercise, since I knew the video I was looking for. I think I could spend another couple hours exploring You Tube.

I can see any features or components of You Tube that might be interesting if they were applied to library websites and we are already doing that in the Learn & Play blog. We can invite patrons to become part of our community by sharing their videos as well.

I was unable to get the entire embeddable code to copy and paste into my blog and I don't quite get why... if anyone can help me -- I'll also put a message on Twitter, since most of my Learn & Play associates are addicted to tweets. Once I figure it out, I'll post it. However, I've embedded the link above.

CML Power Tools

I downloaded the library’s tool bar the minute it was available; I have it both at work and at home. It’s great at work because I all the shortcuts I love right there in front of me. At home, I showed by daughter how to use it and she can go right to the CML homepage (I'm sure I've shocked some that my homepage is not the library's) and look in the catalog or check her account. It empowers her to be responsible for her own account, even if I still have to lug the materials back and forth!

I also looked at BoingBoing; a really eclectic collection of things. It’s like News of the Weird but global and on steroids. It’s part news, part scavenger hunt from around the world, but 90% entertaining. For example, today there was a post about NASA’s top 50 photos and the one featured on BoingBoing is the Star Trek Enterprise crew meeting the real Enterprise. I think I may have to add this to my bloglines account.

I did post a comment on the library's blog Tooling Around about the highlighting feature. However, I have to say I'm disappointed the last post on the Tooling Around blog is from Sept. 2. Although, I was almost convinced to better use my Gmail account.

Kudos to the CML Library toolbar...

And the winner is....

While not the Oscars, this week I explored almost ALL the Web 2.0 Awards nominees and even some in the databank of Web 2.0 applications as well. Some were useful, but I didn’t spend time with those which had costs associated with them. Here are my favorites:

MyHeritage: Geneology has long been an interest, so I had to try this. It was free, so I built a quick family tree which other family members can add to, expanding my research capacity, as well as being included in the social piece. I liked you could add photos, link in others’ family trees, and there was a search function I didn’t get to explore, but may be promising. In the quick moments on the site, I couldn’t find the privacy button, nor could I see my account, which was weird. I also couldn’t find how to make my ex-husband my ex, so it looks like I have two husbands. Let me know if you find it; I used sopranolibrarian for my screen name. I’m anxious for some feedback. In a library setting, you could use this on a Family History Day like CML just had, giving patrons hands on experience for building their family tree online.

.docstock: This is an administrative assistant’s dream! I was particularly impressed with the Creativity Link, which had oodles of powerpoint templates available. There was some drivel in each of the categories, but you can upload what you’re looking for or keep it in a folder on the docstock site. I didn’t create an account, but it has potential to be a good place to go when your boss says “Find me an RFP template,” instead of a web search, where there is even more drivel to wade through.

Imcooked: The place for budding Food Network TV stars to launch their careers! I was amused by this site; cooking is another one of my passions. This site was free, though I didn’t create an account there either; I was mostly interested in how it functioned and if it would be useful. If you're inclined, you can make your own cooking demo video and a whole community of foodies can watch you. I did find some cool new recipes, so I bookmarked this with my delicious tags.

Fixya: This site is a toolbox for just about anything. If you need something fixed, you create a post. Someone else on the site may know the answer and tell you how to fix it. It’s like a community of handymen, helpdesk gurus, and car folks. They proport to have a huge database of manuals, but I couldn’t think of one to look for. But now I know where to look. Good for librarians who get those reference questions on how to fix things.

I’ve tagged the Web 2.0 awards site, so I can continue to find applications to assist me at work and at home.

#17 Google Docs

I was so excited when I read this Learn & Play activity because I’ve actually done this one before Learn & Play. In my Academic Libraries class, each member of the class was assigned an academic library and we developed a spreadsheet in Google Docs to compare and contrast our libraries with each others. With this information, we were able to collaborate and provide information to each to use, without a million documents clogging our email and wondering which version was the most updated. Our professor didn’t have to be the one to collect everything and repost it back out. In this sense it worked really well. However, since we had about 20 in the class, the spreadsheet grew rather large, sometimes resulting in lags in updating and saving information. Also, at peak times, being in the document was agonizingly slow, even with broadband and you had to make sure you didn't delete someone else who was editing at the same time.

In my day to day work, I’m not really sure how Google Docs would benefit me since I’m non-exempt and there is little I actually do collaboratively. I can see project managers and project leads perhaps using this technology to gather information for a group, but everyone in that group should have access to the same files.

In a broader sense, incorporating these tools at libraries is a little beyond my scope. I guess you could use them for collaborative learning environments, such as we did for the Academic Libraries class, especially those involving patrons. My imagination is not working overtime today. For now, I’ll keep on mulling it over. I’m sure my fellow Learn & Play participants can spark some conversation on this; I’ll have to review their blogs.

Learn & Play Wiki

This week, I added my blog to the Learn & Play wiki. Like others, I had to wait to have access, but unlike others who commented on the Learn & Play Activity Blog, it didn’t take too long – the administrator worked pretty quickly on that (Thank you!).

I enjoyed learning other Learn & Play participant’s favorite things. It was fun to see what others had put and who like the same things I did. The favorites also jogged my memory about my own experiences. I added my favorites to the Books, Restaurants, Vacation Spots, Web Tools and Childrens’ Books. Let me know if any of my favorites are yours!

I hope I can find a purpose soon for creating my own wiki.

Wiki & the Library??

Today I explored the potential uses for wikis at the library. Some made sense, such as book discussion groups and knowledge banks for professionals. Other library wiki uses made me think “Cool” but really make sense, particularly if you’re trying to build a community. These include making catalog annotations, like customers are invited to do at Amazon or IMDB, intranets and web sites, and courseware.

For my department, I’m going to make a giant leap. Our budgeting team produces an award-winning budget book annually and department heads contributes their achievements. Maybe the Budget team makes a wiki so that instead of a once a year edit, the functional areas could add their achievements as they occur, making it easier to prepare a final draft at the deadline. Proofreading each section could also be easier because several people could proof read it before printing, with one final proof at the end. This might make the sections more cohesive and less compartmentalized, because others can see what is being written and how.

Who knows, wikis could assist with project management for those who missed meetings or in place of meetings input on projects without having to leave your office to drive to a destination.

So is there a place for wikis in the Library? They already are in use, but library wikis are only limited by our own lack of imagination.

PS. still searching for a tag line....

Library 2.0

Wikipedia defines Library 2.0 as user centered library services where users help create content and build community. I see Library 2.0 as where we are heading – meeting our customers’ needs where the need is greatest instead of making them come to us – and beyond.

We all have been there – the only time I get to really use my computer is after 10 pm when my child is finally asleep, and I’m in my PJs (I know, too much info). The world is now about my convenience instead of someone else’s timetable. Heck, I’ve even found positives with my boss having a Crackberry.

Providing service is not new to librarians; however, the way we deliver those services is what is shifting and librarians feel it. The disconcerting thing is the speed at which patrons not only wants the information, but the speed at which the delivery systems change. I found three main ideas from all the articles in the Learn & Play readings:
• Removing Barriers
• Creating Community
• Always Aware Technology

Libraries are more than books; they are communities and conversations (Dr. Wendy Schultz, To A Temporary Place In Time). Library 2.0 is the way libraries and librarians participate in the community and conversation. Intertwining the library into the fabric of the community is the way to sustain our libraries, and ultimately our democracy.