I looked through Podcast Alley because I liked the name. It was easy to find podcasts of interest to me using the directory. When I found a podcast I was interested in I went to subscribe and found out this is one of the sites that requires you to download some software. Since I am at the public service desk right now (working on this between customers), downloading software isn't an option.
So I tried Odeo, and found that it was extremely easy to find a podcast I liked and add it to my Bloglines account using the RSS feed link on the podcast page. I added an audio program called The Skeptics Guide to the Universe, and although I haven't had a chance to really listen to it much, I did test it and found that it works perfectly with no requirement to download software of any kind. Much easier to deal with.
Fun!
Monday, August 18, 2008
#20: YouTube
YouTube is a great way to waste a LOT of time! My favorite thing to get on YouTube is music videos - here's a video by one of my favorite artists, Iron and Wine:
I found it fairly easy to search for videos using the search box. I like how they offer search suggestions, I assume based on previous search strings, as you type. I also used the video tab to see Most Recent, Most Viewed, Most Discussed, etc., which I found pretty fun. The subject directory wasn't all that useful as it is more time-consuming to drill down to what you want - keyword searching is so much quicker! But if you don't know exactly what you want I guess it might be useful.
As a reference librarian I can't recall too many reference questions that could be answered with YouTube but it's not inconceivable that I will get one in the future, so I will definitely keep this in mind.
I found it fairly easy to search for videos using the search box. I like how they offer search suggestions, I assume based on previous search strings, as you type. I also used the video tab to see Most Recent, Most Viewed, Most Discussed, etc., which I found pretty fun. The subject directory wasn't all that useful as it is more time-consuming to drill down to what you want - keyword searching is so much quicker! But if you don't know exactly what you want I guess it might be useful.
As a reference librarian I can't recall too many reference questions that could be answered with YouTube but it's not inconceivable that I will get one in the future, so I will definitely keep this in mind.
#19: Mango Languages
I looked at Mango Languages, a free, interactive language instruction site. Twelve different languages are offered, with recordings of native speakers included in the lessons so users can hear the correct pronunciation. It was easy for me to do a free trial of the site, and I assume it is just as easy to register and get the full thing.
I liked this a lot and might recommend it to a computer-savvy customer who wants to learn a new language, especially if materials on a particular language are checked out or unavailable.
I'm glad to know about this site.
I liked this a lot and might recommend it to a computer-savvy customer who wants to learn a new language, especially if materials on a particular language are checked out or unavailable.
I'm glad to know about this site.
Monday, August 11, 2008
Thing 18: Zoho Writer
I'm creating this with the Zoho collaborative online word processor. After reading the Welcome document I decided to play around with various features just to see what they are like. So here goes:
| Here's a table. | Works pretty much the same as Word. | It's pretty easy to use. |
| Although it's not so easy to change the width of the columns. | If you right-click on the table you can go to table properties and see some additional stuff you can do. | But I still couldn't figure out how to change the width of the columns. Oh well. |
Next, here's an image. Again with a right-click, it was pretty easy to align it on the right and have the text run down the left of the image. It was a bit big at first so I decided to re-size it and ended up having a LITTLE trouble with keeping the aspect ratio consistent. Grabbing onto the corner "handle" does not insure you will maintain the aspect ratio of the image like (I believe) it does in Word. No matter, as long as you are aware of it you can make allowances.
It doesn't look like you can set it to "float" over your text or be able to be moved around and have your text accomodate it. Word's better for that.
Let's see, what's next? How about an emoticon? 
Well, that's not very exciting, but it was easy.
I know - I'll insert a link to my blog:
http://cbaileyjpl.blogspot.com/
Guess that's all for now.
Well, now that it's posted I see that the emoticon didn't transfer over. Oh, well. Still fun and pretty easy to use.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
#17 Playing around with PBWiki
I thought the wiki sandbox exercise was fun and fairly easy. Added a few favorite movies and added my blog to the Favorite Blogs list. Um, that's all I have to say...
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Wacky wikis
I'm a big fan of wikis, although I have to admit I haven't spent a huge amount of time using them, except for Wikipedia, one of my favorite reference resources. I looked at Book Lovers Wiki and SJCPL Subject Guides, and thought they were both fun and extremely useful in a library environment.
Book Lovers Wiki appears to be a site where anyone can post a book review. I can see where this might appeal to teenagers and get them more interested in reading because it allows them a forum for personal expression. The dangers in this type of thing would be of course if someone had a personal grudge or wanted to post something inappropriate, and I assume that library staff has site administrator powers to review submissions before they are posted.
The SJCPL Subject Guides site is even more limited - looks like only SJCPL staff can post anything to the wiki, which isn't even clearly identified as a wiki. Not that this is a criticism - again, this is a very appropriate and useful application of the wiki concept in a library environment.
Wikipedia is often maligned for being an unreliable resource, and maybe that's true in some cases. But think of it this way - imagine interested subject-area experts around the world inputting information about topics they know extremely well without having to go through the hassle, road blocks and red tape of trying to get a book published. These people OWN this information - I imagine they are very protective of it. If anyone posts something inaccurate, inappropriate or libelous, I would imagine that the various people who care about accuracy of the information they posted would correct that as soon as they become aware of it. This is true world-wide intelligence here, folks - what could be more egalitarian and empowering?
Libraries can definitely use wikis for putting out information that might be useful to their users. What if we had a little wiki on our public Web site called something like "Reading Corner" - library staff could list their favorite books along with reviews and recommendations, and allow users to do the same (moderated, of course). It would be fun.
There are probably lots of other ways we could use wikis in the library but I'm running out of time - gotta go to the public service desk, you know - so let me just say I like them and hope we can generate some great ideas with this exercise.
Book Lovers Wiki appears to be a site where anyone can post a book review. I can see where this might appeal to teenagers and get them more interested in reading because it allows them a forum for personal expression. The dangers in this type of thing would be of course if someone had a personal grudge or wanted to post something inappropriate, and I assume that library staff has site administrator powers to review submissions before they are posted.
The SJCPL Subject Guides site is even more limited - looks like only SJCPL staff can post anything to the wiki, which isn't even clearly identified as a wiki. Not that this is a criticism - again, this is a very appropriate and useful application of the wiki concept in a library environment.
Wikipedia is often maligned for being an unreliable resource, and maybe that's true in some cases. But think of it this way - imagine interested subject-area experts around the world inputting information about topics they know extremely well without having to go through the hassle, road blocks and red tape of trying to get a book published. These people OWN this information - I imagine they are very protective of it. If anyone posts something inaccurate, inappropriate or libelous, I would imagine that the various people who care about accuracy of the information they posted would correct that as soon as they become aware of it. This is true world-wide intelligence here, folks - what could be more egalitarian and empowering?
Libraries can definitely use wikis for putting out information that might be useful to their users. What if we had a little wiki on our public Web site called something like "Reading Corner" - library staff could list their favorite books along with reviews and recommendations, and allow users to do the same (moderated, of course). It would be fun.
There are probably lots of other ways we could use wikis in the library but I'm running out of time - gotta go to the public service desk, you know - so let me just say I like them and hope we can generate some great ideas with this exercise.
Thoughts on Library 2.0
Well, I think this whole conceptual framework of Library 2.0 is nice but unnecessary. I understand that libraries have to change in order to be relevant in today's quickly-changing world. There are so many new ways to communicate with others and create your own personal statement for the world to see and hear, and the pace of how things are changing seems to be increasing.
I guess my thought is that it's not really helpful or necessary to give ourselves a brand-new name as if everything is completely different. These developments are just the next step in the evolution of the overall concept of library. Calling it by some different, high-tech-sounding name is basically just confusing and potentially intimidating to people, making it even harder for staff and long-time library users to make the transition.
That having been said, I consider myself a fairly savvy user of library technology, having worked in that specific field for seven years, so it's not like I'm some Luddite who doesn't like to see things changing. I just think all the hoopla is much ado about very little. To quote one of my favorite people (no, I will not say who), "It is what it is."
I guess my thought is that it's not really helpful or necessary to give ourselves a brand-new name as if everything is completely different. These developments are just the next step in the evolution of the overall concept of library. Calling it by some different, high-tech-sounding name is basically just confusing and potentially intimidating to people, making it even harder for staff and long-time library users to make the transition.
That having been said, I consider myself a fairly savvy user of library technology, having worked in that specific field for seven years, so it's not like I'm some Luddite who doesn't like to see things changing. I just think all the hoopla is much ado about very little. To quote one of my favorite people (no, I will not say who), "It is what it is."
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