I was going to say that I finished, but I’ve just begun to explore and discover some of the new technology that I’ve been hearing about. This has been an amazing learning experience for me. It was difficult at times sitting at the computer, feeling lost and talking to myself  but I am so glad that I stuck with it. Working through some of the more frustrating experieces did build my confidence to continue.

And then I really did start to have fun and see how I could use ”things” personally and professionally.

There were favorites: YouTube,  podcasts, wikis, image enhancing, and my RSS reader. I love working with digital photos and have some fun ideas for library projects.

Beginning with the Common Craft videos was an easy way  to pick up the new tech concepts and lingo. They are fun tutorials.   

I liked the self-paced program but would have also liked some feedback and interaction with others.

Sometimes I would get lost wandering from link to link or trying to move something somewhere else and just be stymied as to how to accomplish this thing! Baffled but not defeated I kept clicking on and sure enough I would learn something new and the adventure would continue.

I discovered Cyberspace may be big but I won’t fall off if I take a wrong turn. However, I still have concerns about privacy and security and I would inform patrons to use caution both with sharing  their information and  with  verifying  the  data they seek.  Still,  it is the most exciting information gathering game in town and I’m going back to browse some more.

Thank you for this this great learning program.

I’ve heard a lot about ipods and MP3 players and now I understand why they are so popular and I want one!

“Podcasts in Plain English” explained the difference between broadcasting shows and making them available for download on the internet so they can be enjoyed anytime.  So I’m ready – went searching on NPR podcast directory and copied the URL for “Wait, Wait Don’t Tell Me” and “A Prairie Home Companion” into my RSS feed reader. Like so many other fans of these shows I can now choose when to listen to them.

I looked in other directories  – Educational Podcast Directory, Yahoo Podcasts, LibVibe – but I don’t want to add news and things that I won’t follow regularly. But I know it’s out there, if and when, I need it.

I did see many ways libraries were using podcasts to promote different  services, interview authors, give book reviews, and updates of latest and best  books, music, and videos.

I date back to the time of radio and I love being read to.  So podcasts are well within my comfort zone and I can’t wait to download some oldies and goodies (both music and classic reads).

# 21   I had already discovered  YouTube but had never spent any time exploring this site –  only watched a few videos that had been recommended for being so funny and entertaining.

After doing a Library search I was served everything from soup to nuts!  I saw puppets demonstrating their library’s drive-up window, the fast-forward construction site a of a new library built with in three minutes, and promos for new self-checkout machines.

   Oh, let’s not forget my favorite  video called “Finding Love at the Library”.  Senior citizens were being taught how to use the mouse to maneuver them through the process of dating on the web.

Librarians are being very creative making videos that are both practical and entertaining and I could see our library using them for event awareness, fundraising projects, and launching new children’s programs. Having patrons, both adult and teens, involved in the video process would be great.

Impressive how many of the award sites we’ve covered in our 23 Things – Del.icio.us, PBwiki, Flickr, Twitter, Facebook and more!

I’m going to take some more time to check out some new ones on the list and come back later and add to this post.

Back again after revisiting familiar Craigslist and others.  

There are many winning sites that would be helpful resources for library patrons. We get many requests for genealogy info and MyHeritage and Geni could be recommened ; Standout Jobs and CareerBuilder for employment inquiries;  Farecast for travelers;  and Zillow for Real Estate help.

I went to Flickr and Picnik to explore more possibilities because  patrons are seeking help resizing and downloading digital photos to send as email. Both of these sites are excellent and easy to use. I go to Picnik first when I want to downsize my photos. It offers a simple and fun  way to change my pictures. 

# 19  I’m experiencing information overload!

After visiting Addictomatic, Social Mention, and Google Alerts I’m bogged down by blogs, news sites, etc.

It was amazing to see the  many results from all of the popular Social Networking and news sites. I typed in my library and got search results from Ask.com news for a Burlington Free Pess story about the Village Railroad Heritage project and the library’s participation.

I was out roaming everywhere and did save one personal search to my RSS Reader from Google Alerts.

I know that it’s  a way to present more updated and streamlined info as quickly as possible, but I don’t see how this would be useful to my library needs at this time.

O.K. this is not an easy one for me. Not as much fun and more frustrating trying to add things that I’ve written in Zoho Writer into my blog.  It was simple to set up my Zoho account. I liked the Zoho Planner and calendar. I will explore the Zoho Notebook and find out about importing photos and videos.

I can see how this would benefit businesses and groups by making documents available from any computer either at work or home, or for personal availability but privacy and security are still concerns of mine. It is the internet and not just the home server that all of our librarians have access to. So I still need to weigh the pros and cons and spend more time exploring these many applications before I would feel comfortable using them.

I added my blog to Vermont’s 23 Things Wiki at PBWiki and will now have some fun adding some favorites; books, travel, spas!

Added a new page to PBWiki and a link to it named Favorite Library with some of my photos from Flickr. http://vermontlibrarieslearn.pbworks.com/favorite-library

I was inspired by the cute Favorite Frog photos page and wanted to try adding my own.

What a sense of satisfaction I have  accomplishing  something new.  I would not have felt confident to even try before  the 23 Things project!

# 16   I love Wikis too!

I found a great wiki and passed it on to our Children’s librarian today,  seriesbinder.lishost.org

It was listed with the Examples of Wikis used for collaboration between librarians and patrons.

Webster Public Library Children’s  staff created it to help librarians, teachers, parents, and kids find the chronology and publication order of series books for children ranging from toddlers to teens.

Our children’s librarian only had print info that was not often updated  so she was happy to have this new tool.

I watched the Wikis in Plain English video and browsed many wikis.  Library Success: A best practices wiki has great ideas and lots of info.

Also enjoyed Book Lovers Wiki. 

I tried Fixpert – The Automotive Repair Wiki but it wasn’t working!

Wikis are easy to use and you can either invite anyone to contribute or have a closed model where a select group are invited.

We could use this in our library to set up meeting agendas and also to create policy and procedures. This is a great collaboration tool and standards can be set for contributors.

Library 2.0 is about keeping current with new technology and social networking software and identifying the most appropriate tools for library staff and patrons.   Each library is unique and should reflect the individual needs of its community.

Librarians need to be flexible and learn the skills needed to adapt to the new technological demands of youth, as well as, promote a supportive environment for senior patrons to discover these benefits and changes.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               Vermont Vermont 23 Things is an excellent tool for librarians to explore and become familiar with this emerging technology.

4.0….after reading Dr. Wendy Schultz in OCLC Newsletter… I like the idea of libraries that combine the old style “conversations and convocations of people” with the new “knowledge spa”.

 Fireside chats, a good book, and the world of technology is here.

Librarians, as curious information gathers, will be able to choose what new technology will aid and inspire themselves, their patrons and their communities.

I went ahead and explored this tool based on reading about it on other people’s blogs who had completed the VT 23 Things.

I found some interesting blogs that I added to my RSS Reader but found it difficult because sites changed so quickly. This was not one of my favorite things!

I’m really having fun!

So here goes my first 23 Things joke:

I’m so old school – I thought  Folksonomy was a Hootenanny!