Week 23: the Finale!
I felt like a naysayer on a few of the exercises, but never really meant to be one. I think that this is a great training tool and really should be required for all entering staff so that they can have a basic knowledge of what advances are happening in the tech world. the majority of topics that we went over will end up being a fad or will not last long as something new will come along that is bigger and better. (example: goodbye Evercrack, hello World of Warcrack).
Even with this knowledge that most of the topics will be short lived, they are still very important to know about. It is even better to be able to use them, which is what this exercise is about. Kudos to HCPL for doing this. When do we start to build the learning tools for Library 3.0:)?
Let’s answer a few of the questions provided.
What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
Probably the RSS feeds. I am tech savvy, but never used this function before. I read my rss feeds every day now. I choose to do it straight from the browser rather than an online site as there are less steps this way.
What ideas do you have for using these technologies at Harris County Public Library?
I kind of talked about this one with the topic. I would like there to be an encouragement for our staff to use the topics included as my guess is that most who took the IHCPL original training have not kept up with it and are now unsure about the technology again.
Biggest concern:
In watching the library video that was included in the Youtube exercise (the training video from the 1940's) one comment stated that, a lot of what was included in the video is still relevant today. I personally don't think that this is such a good thing. How many other professions would feel good about not changing that much in 60 years. I would love to see a graphical interface to the catalog. The online catalog, while easier to use, is still just a newer version of the card catalog. Is there a way to make ot more visually appealing (not by HCPL but by the companies that develop the catalogs). Do these companies make the online catalogs so that it is easy for the librarian to find something or for the patron? Why not showcase a library’s newest popular titles in the front of the catalog (visually)? We (the library field, not HCPL) should make it as easy as possible to find the most popular titles. Give the people what they want in an as easy to get way as possible. My 2cents for the future, anyways.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Week #22: Overdrive
I feel kind of guilty doing this one. I would hope that I have a bit of Overdrive knowledge by now as I am the one who orders for it:) But let’s run with this anyway.
First lets compare Overdrive with librivox.
No comparison here. Overdrive has the titles people want to read, while Librivox has public domain titles. Overdrive is also more browsable, has images, and is updated to be more user friendly on a constant basis (but I am not bias).
Next let’s compare Overdrive with Wowio.
Wowio is great looking and has titles not available on Overdrive. they have a great library of comics that you can read for free online, though most you have to purchase if you want to download to your computer. This is ok as, again, you can still read them online for free. I think Wowio and Overdrive can complement each other. However if Overdrive would have those comics, there would again be no comparison (but I am not biased).
Titles to recommend on Overdrive.
I recommend the Percy Jackson downloads. I highly recommend the Bloody jack books also. The reader, katherine Kellgren, does a superb job.
I feel kind of guilty doing this one. I would hope that I have a bit of Overdrive knowledge by now as I am the one who orders for it:) But let’s run with this anyway.
First lets compare Overdrive with librivox.
No comparison here. Overdrive has the titles people want to read, while Librivox has public domain titles. Overdrive is also more browsable, has images, and is updated to be more user friendly on a constant basis (but I am not bias).
Next let’s compare Overdrive with Wowio.
Wowio is great looking and has titles not available on Overdrive. they have a great library of comics that you can read for free online, though most you have to purchase if you want to download to your computer. This is ok as, again, you can still read them online for free. I think Wowio and Overdrive can complement each other. However if Overdrive would have those comics, there would again be no comparison (but I am not biased).
Titles to recommend on Overdrive.
I recommend the Percy Jackson downloads. I highly recommend the Bloody jack books also. The reader, katherine Kellgren, does a superb job.
Week 21: Podcasts
I have been listening to podcasts for a few years now. I started through Itunes, but now just listen to the same groups when new ones are released. the only ones I listen to are gaming related and I think I would fall asleep if I ever listed to a library related podcast... no offense. For time sake, I have not listened to a podcast in a while, but I do feel that they are very benificial.
I think that if the library wanted to do one, it could be very popular. Topics would include new releases, programs, teens rating books, movies, video games, announcements by the library. Some could be on a branch level and others on a library system wide level. Would take some work and dedication to keep it going, though.
I hope it is ok to keep this short, but I am already really familiar with Podcasts. I have never created one yet, but have no reason unless I have something to say and people that need to hear what I have to say. I am not one to talk just to talk. I would end up boring myself:)
I have been listening to podcasts for a few years now. I started through Itunes, but now just listen to the same groups when new ones are released. the only ones I listen to are gaming related and I think I would fall asleep if I ever listed to a library related podcast... no offense. For time sake, I have not listened to a podcast in a while, but I do feel that they are very benificial.
I think that if the library wanted to do one, it could be very popular. Topics would include new releases, programs, teens rating books, movies, video games, announcements by the library. Some could be on a branch level and others on a library system wide level. Would take some work and dedication to keep it going, though.
I hope it is ok to keep this short, but I am already really familiar with Podcasts. I have never created one yet, but have no reason unless I have something to say and people that need to hear what I have to say. I am not one to talk just to talk. I would end up boring myself:)
Week 20# Youtube.
We are officially into the stuff I know plenty about. Did you know that with certain devices (xbox 360 and PS3) you can watch Youtube on your tv?
Youtube is easy enough to navigate and find what you are looking for. It also has a nice see also feature on each video that you click to watch. I have noticed that advertisments are starting to appear over the bottom of the videos at times.
I chose to embed a video by Wierd Al called White and Nerdy. I felt it was relavant with the theme of this blog plus it is a great parady!
We are officially into the stuff I know plenty about. Did you know that with certain devices (xbox 360 and PS3) you can watch Youtube on your tv?
Youtube is easy enough to navigate and find what you are looking for. It also has a nice see also feature on each video that you click to watch. I have noticed that advertisments are starting to appear over the bottom of the videos at times.
I chose to embed a video by Wierd Al called White and Nerdy. I felt it was relavant with the theme of this blog plus it is a great parady!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Week# 19 - Web-based Apps.
Online programs like Zoho are great in that they are free, but I am of the mindset that it should not be used for work purposes.
You should not rely on internet based technology. It will always fail to work when you need to use it for presentations or deadlines.
It is always better to have it on a flash drive or burned to CD if it is for an important presentation.
For home use it is ok I guess. Office is expensive so this is a free alternative. While it is a nice feature of saving the documents online so you can access them anywhere, I have rarely needed this feature. It is just as easy to carry a flash drive or e-mail the document to yourself. This way you are not at the mercy of the internet connection.
I personally like Open Office more than Zoho. You have to download it, but then you are not at the mercy of the internet gods anymore.
I think that in the future, more and more word apps will be web based. Microsoft has already announced that they are developing Office as a web application. With most computers in the libraries having Office on them, I don't see web applications such as Zoho being all that necessary. HOWEVER, programs such as Open Office could one day be a cost effective solution to having to purchase so many licenses for Microsoft Office. Who wants to be the first IT person to say no to Office in the library, though.
Online programs like Zoho are great in that they are free, but I am of the mindset that it should not be used for work purposes.
You should not rely on internet based technology. It will always fail to work when you need to use it for presentations or deadlines.
It is always better to have it on a flash drive or burned to CD if it is for an important presentation.
For home use it is ok I guess. Office is expensive so this is a free alternative. While it is a nice feature of saving the documents online so you can access them anywhere, I have rarely needed this feature. It is just as easy to carry a flash drive or e-mail the document to yourself. This way you are not at the mercy of the internet connection.
I personally like Open Office more than Zoho. You have to download it, but then you are not at the mercy of the internet gods anymore.
I think that in the future, more and more word apps will be web based. Microsoft has already announced that they are developing Office as a web application. With most computers in the libraries having Office on them, I don't see web applications such as Zoho being all that necessary. HOWEVER, programs such as Open Office could one day be a cost effective solution to having to purchase so many licenses for Microsoft Office. Who wants to be the first IT person to say no to Office in the library, though.
Week# 18 - Social Networking
I tried a few social networking sites but after the first month, I was already bored with them. I never liked Myspace as I felt it was to YA immatureish. I get enough of that when playing online video games.
Facebook is the only site I still have an account with, though I really never get on it. My wife maintains it more than I do.
It was fun at first, and it is always nice to catch up with old high school and college friends, but my time is so limited as it is, keeping up with Facebook takes away from other stuff that I would rather be doing, (IE parenting, husband stuff, gaming). My wife is on Facebook all the time doing a fishing game or chatting with friends.
Sites like these are a great possibility for libraries, though. A few things need to be in place for is to succeed, though.
1. The library staff monitoring the branches Facebook page should do so without the fear of the "you slacking off" from their supervisors.
2. They need to devote enough time to keep it going and to monitor it.
3. Target it to the audience. Talking with adults on the branch page would turn off teens as they would not feel as comfortable. There would need to be separate pages for each age group.
I had a forum for the teens at Pasadena for a while and it was pretty popular with my regular teens.
I tried a few social networking sites but after the first month, I was already bored with them. I never liked Myspace as I felt it was to YA immatureish. I get enough of that when playing online video games.
Facebook is the only site I still have an account with, though I really never get on it. My wife maintains it more than I do.
It was fun at first, and it is always nice to catch up with old high school and college friends, but my time is so limited as it is, keeping up with Facebook takes away from other stuff that I would rather be doing, (IE parenting, husband stuff, gaming). My wife is on Facebook all the time doing a fishing game or chatting with friends.
Sites like these are a great possibility for libraries, though. A few things need to be in place for is to succeed, though.
1. The library staff monitoring the branches Facebook page should do so without the fear of the "you slacking off" from their supervisors.
2. They need to devote enough time to keep it going and to monitor it.
3. Target it to the audience. Talking with adults on the branch page would turn off teens as they would not feel as comfortable. There would need to be separate pages for each age group.
I had a forum for the teens at Pasadena for a while and it was pretty popular with my regular teens.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Week #17.
Talk about anything tech related? um.. ok.. lets see. I think this week I will talk about video games.
I personally do not watch that much TV. I have a few shows I like (chuck ftw), but I find gaming to be more mentally/emotionally involving than a TV show. I even got my flat screen for gaming, not for TV watching. I couldn’t see the people I was shooting in the fps (first person shooter)well enough.
But let me discuss some of the other benefits that I get from my 2 main gaming systems: the PS3 and the Xbox 360.
The PS3 is a great piece of hardware. It is quite and it keeps my place warm in the winter when on as it runs a bit hot. I have had some great gaming experiences with it. Some of my favorite games I have played on it were Valkaria Chronicles, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, Resistance 2 (multiplayer more than single player campaign), and Flower. It comes with a Blu-Ray player which is great, though I have yet to watch a blu-ray movie on it.
The Xbox 360 is also a great piece of equipment, though it has been known to crash on others. Some great games I have played on it were Lost Odyssey, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Call of Duty, and Mass Effect.
These systems are so much more than gaming systems, though. The 360 can play the Netflix Watch it now shows. I am no longer stuck watching them on the computer. I can also download an Overdrive titles to my computer and play it on the 360 via my wireless network. I can do this with songs and pictures as well.
You can use the 360 to have party chat with your friends as well. Another great benefit of both systems is that you can game with friends no matter where they are! You can also talk with them with a headset in most games so it is easier to stay in touch.
Besides this, I can watch youtube and Hulu.com titles on these machines as well. There is one feature of the PS3 that is not really advertised for some reason but is awesome. I can have a PS1 game in the PS3 at home, and using my PSP, I can play that game ANYWHERE that has an open wireless network (ie the library). How great is that? I am done now as I am just making me want to go home and play Fallout 3 some more.
Talk about anything tech related? um.. ok.. lets see. I think this week I will talk about video games.
I personally do not watch that much TV. I have a few shows I like (chuck ftw), but I find gaming to be more mentally/emotionally involving than a TV show. I even got my flat screen for gaming, not for TV watching. I couldn’t see the people I was shooting in the fps (first person shooter)well enough.
But let me discuss some of the other benefits that I get from my 2 main gaming systems: the PS3 and the Xbox 360.
The PS3 is a great piece of hardware. It is quite and it keeps my place warm in the winter when on as it runs a bit hot. I have had some great gaming experiences with it. Some of my favorite games I have played on it were Valkaria Chronicles, Uncharted, Ratchet and Clank, Resistance 2 (multiplayer more than single player campaign), and Flower. It comes with a Blu-Ray player which is great, though I have yet to watch a blu-ray movie on it.
The Xbox 360 is also a great piece of equipment, though it has been known to crash on others. Some great games I have played on it were Lost Odyssey, Bioshock, Fallout 3, Call of Duty, and Mass Effect.
These systems are so much more than gaming systems, though. The 360 can play the Netflix Watch it now shows. I am no longer stuck watching them on the computer. I can also download an Overdrive titles to my computer and play it on the 360 via my wireless network. I can do this with songs and pictures as well.
You can use the 360 to have party chat with your friends as well. Another great benefit of both systems is that you can game with friends no matter where they are! You can also talk with them with a headset in most games so it is easier to stay in touch.
Besides this, I can watch youtube and Hulu.com titles on these machines as well. There is one feature of the PS3 that is not really advertised for some reason but is awesome. I can have a PS1 game in the PS3 at home, and using my PSP, I can play that game ANYWHERE that has an open wireless network (ie the library). How great is that? I am done now as I am just making me want to go home and play Fallout 3 some more.
Week #16.
Week 16 is about Wiki's. Wiki's, to me anyways, are kind of like a newer version of a forum in some sence.
Since I would rather be gaming, I really don't contribute to wiki's. I have used wikipedia to some success as a reference librarian (shame on me I know) and look at the Pathfinder role playing game wiki from time to time. http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Pathfinder_Roleplaying_Game
For libraries, I think that posting new titles, book ssuggestions and branch programs would be great. Even posting community events and teen afterschool activities would be great. A place where local teens could put up certain "wanted" topics up would be great as well. By this I mean need drummer for rock band. Need more players for playing in a role playing group" etc. Dangerous world though.
Again, I don't really follow wiki's as they are just not for me. Even wiki's like book lovers. It is great that it has a few reviews, but I can get more at Amazon, with a higher sampling for each title.
It would take a dediacted group to maintain and keep a wiki alive (ie used) and I am really not that dedicated myself.
Week 16 is about Wiki's. Wiki's, to me anyways, are kind of like a newer version of a forum in some sence.
Since I would rather be gaming, I really don't contribute to wiki's. I have used wikipedia to some success as a reference librarian (shame on me I know) and look at the Pathfinder role playing game wiki from time to time. http://pathfinder.wikia.com/wiki/Pathfinder_Roleplaying_Game
For libraries, I think that posting new titles, book ssuggestions and branch programs would be great. Even posting community events and teen afterschool activities would be great. A place where local teens could put up certain "wanted" topics up would be great as well. By this I mean need drummer for rock band. Need more players for playing in a role playing group" etc. Dangerous world though.
Again, I don't really follow wiki's as they are just not for me. Even wiki's like book lovers. It is great that it has a few reviews, but I can get more at Amazon, with a higher sampling for each title.
It would take a dediacted group to maintain and keep a wiki alive (ie used) and I am really not that dedicated myself.
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