Project Play

Play
Originally uploaded by sudergal

Am I a curious person? That's how I ended up in library world - I have an unquentchable thirst for information and learning. Project Play really helped give me the nudge past my fears. These are the fears that keep one in the state of mediocrity that Godin referred to. PP provided a wonderful means of sampling a lot of technology. Half the work is knowing what's out there as far as technological tools go. Now when we are looking for a solution to some issue in our library, we have a toolbox to dip into. Also, having sampled many technologies has raised my awareness of the possibilities. I will always be looking for new tools. There's that curiousity again.

Play more, learn more, and fear less!

Week 10, Semester 2 - Mahsups

The Mashups Are Coming 3
Originally uploaded by serenamarketing

I couldn't resist a visual like this one. Makes you think of the alterego that lurks within all librarians. I better stop there. Might need a little pyschotherapy.

This week's lesson was very interesting - one of those technolgies that you wonder how you made do without it. It was very empowering to utilize mapbuilder. Since the Stoughton Public Library was already on the map, I added a great restaurant in Stoughton that you might want to try - El Rio Grande.

As for library uses of mashups, mapping the historic homes in Stoughton and including a photo and background info would be priceless to the "This Old House" homeowners of Stoughton. Kind of the like the barn mashup of Winnebago County (I think).

One question that was raised in the SirsiDynix presentation was "As a librarian, how do you know the sources that were utilized in any particular mashup?" The answer was "It's not easy to see or to tell." Hmmm... It was a very interesting presentation - lots of useful information.

Week 9, Semester 2 - YouTube

I thought the "storytime" was a fun plug for the Calgary Public Library. YouTube is a great platform for getting library info out there, given it's current popularity. Also loved the "Bob Ross" video help in YouTube. One comment on YouTube is that you are never quite sure about video content and quality until you have already watched it.

Week 8, Semester 2 - Screencasts

Screencasting: hardware
Originally uploaded by Hans on Experience

Screencasts - how did we live without them? As a visual learner, I love them. The instructions sink in on a deeper level when I see the screenshots.

In the library they would be great when patrons need instruction on utilzing certain databases - EBSCOhost, Literature Reource Center and more. As staff, they are great for the CE's that we attend via our PC. Or would these be podcasts? I'm having cast confusion.

Week 6, Semester 2 - Podcasts

Podcasts
Originally uploaded by Mingo.nl

Once I stopped looking for the visual part of the podcasts (as I am a visual learner) and reread the lesson, I realized that I simply needed to listen.

How libraries are using podcasts -

Reading picture books to children - this makes me sad that there isn't a real live person reading to them. I'm sure there are instances where podcast books would be wonderful though.

Teen podcasts - perfect! Meet them where they're at.

Continuing Ed poscasts - great way to get your CE without having to travel.

Week 5, Semester 2 - Social Networking

this is social networking?
Originally uploaded by skampy

I felt compelled to create a Facebook page so that I could fully embrace this week's tools. Besides I wanted to see the various library facebook pages and needed an account to do this. As I created my accout I truly worried about being "too public." After all, this is one point we are really driving home to the YA's today.

As I reflect on the usefulness of a library presence in the Facebook realm, I find myself wondering, do Facebook users actaully add libraries as their "Friends"? In order to answer this question, I feel like I would either need to get into the brain of a college-aged kid (yikes!); or perhaps simply chat with people of this age bracket and see how they tend to utilize facebook. If it's realistic to say that college aged kids would access the library via Facebook, then there's no question. What a great way to tap into that population!

Week 3, Semester 2 - Productivity Tools

I spilled my milk :(
Originally uploaded by Boered

I am all about making lists and checking things off my list. So I was excited to read about this week's tools - Remember the Milk & Jott.

Remember the Milk is like the ultimate tool for list lovers. I did walk through the Getting Started option in the Help menu. Sounds like you can get pretty fancy with your tasks and lists of tasks. That was when I started feeling a bit overwhelmed. I was having feelings of fondness for my little slips of paper that currently hold my tasks. As with any new tool though, it's usually just a matter of trying it out and getting used to it.

Regarding Jott, it sounds great! Reminds me of a friend who calls her answering machine at home when she needs to remember something, only this tool allows many more options. I can see how coordinating the use of your tools, eg. using Jott to call your Google calendar, would be quite handy.