Friday, May 30, 2008
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.
Thursday, May 22, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, May 8, 2008
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. :)
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. :)
Thursday, May 1, 2008
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.
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.
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