Reflections

I learned quite a few things from participating in Sno-Isle's Web 2.0. Although I had heard of or had personal experience with some of the applications, there was always something new to learn.
The only improvement I would make on "discovery program" is to have more interaction with other staff members about their experiences. I didn't get very many comments on my blogs and it was interesting to see that I got 2 comments from random bloggers outside of Sno-Isle!
Thanks to the Web 2.0 team for an educational experience!

Gaming

Online gaming is not something that is new to me. Kids that come into libraries love to play games on the public computers! Coming from a public library in California to the Snohomish Library, there is a vast difference of how many kids play games. At the library in California, there were tons of kids playing various games from Habbo to Runescape pretty much all day. This led to a problem of computers being unavailable for research and/or adults that wanted to use them. As a result, timers were installed on these computers, but these tech savvy kids found a way to bypass that timer! The IT guys had to come up with another way to prevent the kids from bypassing that timer!
Gaming doesn't seem to be as prevalent at the Snohomish Library. It is interesting to see the difference of how young kids are using libraries in different states. It is possible that more of the kids that came to the library in California were latchkey kids because the use of computers for online gaming seemed to increase in the summer. Parents would drop their kids off at the library while they went to work, leaving these kids at the library all day.
Regardless, online gaming is a trend that seems to be popular with young kids today, and even for some adults that are kids at heart!

Google Earth

Google Earth is a pretty fascinating tool, but I'm not sure how useful it will be at the reference desk. Although they do have driving directions, it doesn't give street by street directions like GoogleMaps or Mapquest. It was neat looking up my place and my parents' places and you can even see the cars parked on that street! Neat tool by Google.

Second Life

Creating an avatar can allow us to experiment with the alternate version of oursleves -- the one we desire to be. Second Life allows us to live vicarously through our avatar. Nobody knows who we really are, so we take risks in Second Life. I have never actually experimented with Second Life, but it seems like a really neat thing. I'm not sure if I will ever live in Second Life because it seems to take up a lot of time -- something I don't have. It is great that a lot of libraries are starting to become aware of the power of technology to reach out to patrons, therefore creating a community within Second Life.

Online Sharing

The concept of online web applications is new to me. I love the idea of being able to share and have access to Office documents online. This makes life easier by eliminating the need to send attachments back and forth and having to wait for the other person to respond with changes. I read some of the Google Docs comments on the "read user examples," and some users have come up with clever ways to incorporate Google Docs. For example, the Red Sox season ticket holder created a spreadsheet of available tickets allowing his friends to access it to claim their dates. A "Fever Pitch" style of distributing these tickets would have been more fun, but this works. I am even further impressed by the options that Zoho offers, such as online invoicing and web conferencing. Zoho would be a great asset to local businesses. While the Snohomish Library offers classes on basic internet and email, they could expand their classes to teaching patrons how to set up and use Google Docs or Zoho to their advantage.
While these applications are great, I have a few complaints about these programs. One is that the graphic and font options are limited on both Google Docs and Zoho. I created a PowerPoint presentation on Google Docs, but I am limited to a few font styles and background. The same goes for Word documents. I understand that these are still new concepts, with Google Docs being in the beta stage. I guess it will take some time before its kinks are worked out, but I am now a fan of online web applications.

Meta-search Engines

Rollyo - I'm not sure how reliable this would be working at the Reference desk. It is a neat feature to be able to customize your personal search engine to search specific websites. I found some of the categories provided a little odd, such as Nintendo Cheats (for a kid that is looking for cheat codes for a specific game) or Angelina Jolie (I guess this could be used for somebody doing a biography report). I would "roll my own" search engine, selecting websites that I feel are helpful and credible.

Mamma - Using this search engine is a possibility for me. I would have to play around with it a little more to see if it is retrieving the search results that I want within the first few pages.

Dogpile - I remember being introduced to Dogpile while I was in Library school, but never got in the habit of using it. This is another possible meta-search engine that I might use. The interface seems more user-friendly than the other two, so if I were to use a meta-search engine, I'd most likely use this one.

Plus, you can't beat that cute dog.

I'm a huge Google user, so it would take a lot to lure me away from that site. If Google doesn't work out for one of my searches (like this will happen...), then I will resort to one of these meta-search engines.

Podcasting

I am a little familiar with podcasts, but I was not aware of how libraries could use podcasts to their advantage until I worked for Sno-Isle. Last year, several librarians were asked to participate in the Sno-Isle pocasts for children by volunteering to read a children's book. These audio books are available to anybody with internet access. The library I previously worked at had a "dial-a-story" in which parents could call and hear a story being read. That format probably works in that library because a reasonable percentage of people in that community did not have access to the internet at home. Pocasting children's stories is the most likely option to better serve the residents of Snohomish.
I checked out several public library podcasts and found them to be interesting. Worthingon Libraries' "Programs to Go" podcasts feature songs and flannel board stories from storytimes. The Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County has a "Readers Club" podcast which contains booklists, reviews and author spotlights. San Mateo High School has gotten hands on with allowing their students to booktalk a book.
The options in which libraries can use podcasts to reach out to their patrons are limitless. However, it is a matter of patrons being able to latch onto this trend. This may be worth a shot in experimenting with, here at Sno-Isle.

Online Photo Generators

I didn't realize such things were available for free. It would be fun to play around a little more with online photo generators, but I'm wondering how useful it could be for libraries. Perhaps we could use it to advertise our collection and programs. One would have to get creative and figure out ways to incorporate this to our advantage.

Overdrive

When working at the reference desk, I usually push Overdrive to patrons looking for language instruction materials on CD. I know that the OPAC gives patrons a direct link to Overdrive, I didn't realize that there are more titles not linked through our catalog. This exercise has been an eye-opener, and I will now double check Overdrive for titles not showing up through the Sno-Isle catalog.

Although there seems to be a good selection of titles available, I was surprised at the lack of materials available by certain children's authors, such as Rosemary Wells and Peggy Parish's Amelia Bedelia series.

I downloaded an IMAX video and was impressed by it. Only if it were closed captioned. *sigh*

The only problem I have with Overdrive is that one cannot search by subject. While at the reference desk, I had 2 high school students looking for DVDs on the mating behaviors of animals. While OPAC offered 1 DVD by subject search, Overdrive doesn't seem to offer that option of searching by subject.

Overall, it is a wonderful database that is an asset to the Sno-Isle collection.

Social Bookmarks

http://del.icio.us/thayame
This is the first I've heard about social bookmarks and I think it's a great idea! Since I'm in the middle of planning for my wedding, my mom and I have been emailing links back and forth. This will eliminate having to go into my emails to find the links. I like the fact that when searching for websites under a specific tag, the website has a number indicating how many people have bookmarked that website. However, for some of the searches I think I would prefer to use google to search for my own websites.
I like the idea of adding friends to your network, but if you are sharing websites, there should some place to add comments like Flickr! Maybe there is a way, but I haven't figured it out.
If I experiment with this website a little more, I might actually become a regular user of del.icio.us!

Wiki World

I've never been a fan of wikis because I originally thought there was no control over the content.
I never realized until I read Meredith Farkas' "Usking Wikis to Creat Online Communities," that most wiki programs will save the original page, making it easier to revert back to the original document after it has been vandalized. In addition, I didn't realize that some programs allow you to control the restrictions of who is able to edit content on wikis.
The use of wikis by various libraries also has me re-thinking my original feelings on wikis. The Book Lovers Wiki is a great example of how patrons can get involved by creating their own book review. Instead of coming to the library to turn in a book review, they can simply type one from home. In addition, others can look at the archives of book reviews for suggestions on what to read or what not to read. The SJCPl pathfinder serves as a way that libraries can use wikis to their advantage. The Sno-Isle website cannot put a pathfinder for every subject on their website, so the wiki can serve as a way for libraries to post additional pathfinder options for patrons.

My negative aspect of wikis has now become a positive one. :)

Streaming Videos

Hulu and Fancast are great!!! The only problem I have is that the videos are not captioned. I've watched shows through NBC and they have made select shows captioned. I am suprised by the options of videos available through Hulu and Fancast. This might serve as an option for patrons looking for a certain movie title. If they don't want to be put on a waiting list or the waiting list is too long, it is worth exploring to see if the movie is available through Hulu and Fancast.
I wasn't able to explore YouTube as I hoped because the video clips kept freezing up on me. I don't know if it has to do with the YouTube site or my computer. I've watched a couple of YouTube videos and have found it easy to use. However, lots of these videos are for the sake of fun and I don't know if it would be useful to patrons. One of the workshop faciliators at the OLA/WLA mentioned that she got some song ideas for storytimes from YouTube. I guess YouTube could serve a purpose in helping librarians with ideas for storytime.

MySpace and FaceBook

I've had a MySpace account for several months and it's a great way to keep in touch with friends, as well as re-connect with some old friends. I just joined FaceBook to compare it to MySpace and each has its pros and cons. MySpace seems to be more user-friendly and it is easier to navigate other people's pages. Perhaps it is because MySpace seems to be targeted towards a younger audience, while Facebook seems to be appealing to an slightly older audience, as the Web 2.0 description suggests.
I think social networking sites are popular because you can customize your webpage for "friends" to see and you are given the opportunity to see other "friends'" webpages. All of your "friends" are listed on one site and you can see what they are up to.
Even though you can make your settings private, I am afraid to post things and/or pictures that I wouldn't want people outside of my "friends" group to see. I just try to keep in mind that these sites are still in the public domain, in a sense.

Flickr Inspiration

For some reason, I couldn't save the image so here is the URL: http://www.flickr.com/photos/outsidetheboard/504861117/in/set-72157600232155914/

I discovered Flickr a few months ago and love it! It serves as an inspiration point for me for bulletin boards... keyword being inspiration. I discovered a library staff member that does bulletin boards at the University of Central Florida. It's amazing and I don't know how the heck she/he has time to do this! Even if I had all the time in the world, I couldn't even come close to creating a bulletin board like this!

Finetune needs some.... fine tuning.

This is the first time I've heard of social music networks other than iTunes (if that is even considered one). I signed up for Finetune and thought it would a neat site. It is a good site for a beginner, but you are limited to only 3 songs per per artist. Thus, it is not possible to listen to a whole album in one sitting. I'm sure the other social music networks, such as Pandora, would be a better site for streaming music.

MIA to RSS

Ok, I know I've been MIA, but after a few busy weeks of children's programming, I've finally gotten around to posting.
I subscribed to a few RSS feeds. It was easier than I thought it would be, but I don't know if I'd want to check bloglines everyday. While it does make life easier by consolidating all the RSS feeds, the last thing I need right now is another website to check daily.
Originally, I thought this assignment was about adding RSS feeds onto my blog. While in library school, I had the opportunity to learn some XML and add an RSS feed onto my website. I personally like that format better than going into bloglines.
This could be incorporated into the Sno-Isle website by having patrons choose book-related RSS feeds to add onto their account. I'm sure the Web 2.0 team has already come up with clever ideas of how to incorporate RSS feeds into the website. :)

Me Meebo!

I was looking foward to this week because of our assignment on Instant Messenging, which I love! I got hooked onto IM in college and have become pretty dependent on it to communicate with friends and family since i can't hear over the phone due to my hearing impairment. Thank you to Web 2.0 for introducing me to Meebo! I actually have IM accounts on all 4 - Yahoo, MSN, AOL and Gmail... Meebo makes it much much easier by consolidating all 4.



While in library school, I had the opportunity to observe a reference librarian conducting reference services through IM. I think that libraries should be able to offer both live IM reference through Meebo, as well as a IM service offered by a network of librarians such as QuestionPoint. The QP is great because it is accessible 24/7, but the chances of getting an actual Sno-Isle Librarian is slim. Using a service, such as Meebo, in libraries would allow patrons to get in touch with an actual Sno-Isle Librarian. Connecting with a Sno-Isle Librarian, rather than one from another state, allows for better service to the patron. A Sno-Isle Librarian has a more in-depth knowledge of their collection, while a non Sno-Isle Librarian only knows our collection by looking at our web catalog.
An IM service through Meebo would probably be more practical for college libraries than public libraries. The libraries I have talked to in CA (Marin County and San Leandro)that use AOL/Meebo for live reference say they probably average about 1 or 2 questions per session (few hours after school), which is not much at all. But in my opinion, it would be worth trying out.
Update on UW softball - They didn't have the greatest weekend while they were in Fullerton for the annual Judi Garman tournament. They dropped a few spots to #23/#25. UW starts their Pac-10 season tomorrow! Go Huskies!

Posting Images... finally!

I finally figured out how to upload an image to my post! I'll have to go back and edit my previous post to add the picture of the book cover.

The image of Mt. Saint Helens was taken on a plane while I was going on one of my trips... probably to one of the UW softball games.

This image is of a framed print that I brought home to WA when I went to visit my mom in CA this past weekend. I just love the art and colors! The artist has done several other cities, but not Seattle. :( I'll have to find some kind Seattle print that is similar so I can put them side by side. If anybody has any suggestions of artists, let me know.

Hodgepodge

I was at Borders the other day and came across this book, "The Cute Book," by Aranzi Aronzo. It's a craft book of cute things (what else?), but since I'm not a crafty person, I thought I'd post it to the blog in hopes that somebody will check out this book, make something and send it over to me through inter-office delivery.

We are on our third assignment and I have posted comments on a few. It was interesting to go through some of the blogs to see what people had to say, as well as how they designed their page. I have a long ways to go. *sigh*

Every Tuesday, USA Today and ESPN posts their top 25 poll for Division I softball. This week UW is ranked #18/#19. They have been on a roll this past few weeks, winning 9 games in a row! Go Huskies!

Newbie

"Rain, rain, go away.

Come again some other day." (or not)

I can't believe this is my first blog post ever! It was surprisingly easy to set up. I agree with one of the other staff members that this can become addicting. Good thing, we're given work time to do this. :D

Blog on!