HI, I was able to get on Kate’s computer and downloaded a book called, 101 Ways to Transform Your Life by Dr. Wayne Dyer.  This is the type of book I would be able to listen to easily as a download (when I win the MP3 player).   The voice of the reader was soothing and giving the 101 ways to help people.  I think this would be easier to listen to than a Lemony Snicket book, for example. 

The download took about 2  minutes to finish.  It was easier than checking out a real book.  I would do this again.

Hi, I logged onto Facebook and put myself out there.  It is pretty scary to put much information about yourself.  When I registered on my AOL account, I didn’t know I had 31 people on facebook that I know already.  I selected about 15 of these people as my friends.

I then looked up Kate Hall and asked her if I could be her friend.  I am awaiting her response.

Then I looked up one of my “friends” and looked at her friends.  She has 150 friends on her facebook.  I didn’t recognize any of the people.  She is around 30 years old.  Some are college friends, work friends, etc.

On my profile I chose the photo of the last year’s reading club mascots Zoink and Zipgone.   I didn’t want to put a photo of myself.

I then went to Obama sites and I think I registered to be a supporter.  There was a thing called “Application” and you could join his immediate streams of speeches, etc.  I don’t think I joined that.

Library thing is big in the Children’s Department.  About a year ago I had to enter about 200 books with photos.  It was an interesting assignment.  Many people have logged on and made comments about our reviews.  I think it is a valuable tool to have people get more information about a book than reading the review from the publisher that is usually biased.  In my spare time, I would like to start entering the books my son is reading for Battle of the Books and have him add/review the books he is reading.  I think he would get a kick out of seeing his work published like that.

Hi, I am here on Mary Mason’s computer and do not have the access codes to install the Adobe 7.1 or 8.0.  I will have to try another time to use a computer that it is installed.  I don’t know if our home computer will support these systems either.  I will have to speak with my husband about this.

More later.

I tried to download the Mobipicket Reader 6.2 and it would not allow me to do so.  So once again, I will have to try later.  I will email you to see if you have any advice???  Bridget

HI, this topic is Instant Messaging.  In the Children’s Dept we are always logging onto meebo to field questions from our patrons.  I have had some “real” questions when I have been sitting at the desk.  A few questions in the beginning were about hours of the library, then the harder questions started coming in.  One night two patrons kept emailing daily the same questions.  I had seen the transcipt between them on an earlier day.  When the same questions came up I cut and pasted the same responses, since the girls wanted the same information again.  The girls were thrilled with the same information, they would get impatient when you weren’t quick enough.  But the phone rings or someone is standing in front of you, so I did not always go as fast as they wanted.

In my personal life, I am constantly im’ing my sister.  We are both on aol and instead of using the phone early in the morning, or late at night, we are back and forth.  When my kids were beginning to type, I would have them IM their cousin and go back and forth.  With that as a motivation they became quicker at typing since someone is waiting for the response.

When I was taking my library classes, I had to IM different libraries for answers to questions.  I used the AskAway and it was usually the Schaumburg Library that would repond.  I had to record how quickly they responded and what exactly was their response.  I then also had to IM different libraries and compare the answers.

 I just found out at the staff meeting today Kate said we can go quickly over this item.  I am off to Overdrive.

 

HI, I researched the wikis and the rest of the wiki websites.

The wikihow website was an interesting one.  You can look up the directions for many things.  

Wetpaint helps people connect with each other. 

I thought the wiki opening You Tube video was interesting about the camping trip.  It almost seems silly for 4 people to have to do this, but if a bigger group of people were trying to get together to plan an event or party, it would be a great idea to share and sort information quickly.  Sometimes emails get long and running, but this would be a good way to communicate quickly and efficiently.

I frequently look up information on wikipedia for patrons or myself.  For kids it seems like it is a quick way to find out information, then they direct you to many websites or links.  I think they even have the MLA way of putting the source on your paper.  (I would have loved this as a kid).  I don’t know how often a person does this, but with wikipedia anyone can edit this, so this is what would make me nervous about making sure the information is correct.  I would start at this site, then go to other reputable sites.

In the sandbox I was able to add some information about food allergies, but I did not save it.   It looks a little complicated to be editing a wikipedia website.   I could imagine trying to edit a wiki if the information is seemingly incorrect.

I like the Park Ridge Library entry in the wikipedia.  I had no idea we had an entry.  It was interesting to read all of the history of the library.  Last year’s inservice day had much information about it also.

 

 

HI, I have used One Stop Search when I was taking my LTA classes at College of DuPage.  We were constantly looking up articles from different sources, and when One Stop Search was working, I would go to that first.  If the library website was down, then I would use a similar thing at the College of DuPage.  Usually when I did the searching, I knew the title, but not always the author.

When I was searching for the Web 2.0 classes, I typed in “differentiation” with quotes.  I got over 49,000 hits.  When I looked at it with and without quotes, Academic on File both had 27.  I tweaked the title and added and mathand got less hits.  I only searched on elibrary and got 700 hits for differentiation and math. 

I then went to Booklist online and there were 149 books.  The books had different titles with math topics in them.

I like the idea of going to One Stop Search first and then clicking on a specific site if nothing can be found that is adequate.   The One Stop Search can be used in Children’s when a patron is looking for an article, for example, a Science article.  So, I think this is a helpful tool.

HI, I got into Flickr again.  I downloaded some library photos.  It is great how quickly this can be done.  I take tons of photos, so after my next big trip I am going to download the photos.

I will be  using flickr at home.  I will start up another account.  I presently use Costco’s photo website, but this is much easier.

At the library, once again any event can have photos added within minutes of the program.  The librarians can use a digital camera and take tons of pictures. 

Tags:  library, children’s, current events, specific title for the event.  They can also archive the events.

6 feeds

• Bloglines | News (0) (0)
• Low life — The Cholesterol Blog (0) (0)
• MSN Money (0) (0)
• MSNBC (0) (0)
• Norridge, IL (51..71F) (0) (0)
• PublicWatchdog.org – Park Ridge (0)

Here are all of my current feeds.  I had a daily blog from Low Life, titled Gwen on General – she talks about low cholestrol items.

MSNBC I had 200 feeds from 3/5 to 3/13.  They are very easy to navigate and click on the one you are intersted in. 

I had publicwatchdog.org feed.  The feed had 26 entries.  These are interesting to read.  The blog tells about Park Ridge areas of interest.

I had a Norridge feed that gives the current weather – which if I was on daily would be very helpful.

My MSN feed was for Money and had only 1 blog, I believe.

Overall, if I could go here daily I would live to see the latest headlines.  When I was in London in March, my sister gets the Chicago Tribune feeds, so it was fun to hear the headlines everyday when you are across the ocean.

The library could keep a feed going for each department looking up the latest articles for their particular area.  This is one of the things with Web 2.0 in which I can see people getting addicted and wanting to read more and more daily.  It is very easy to use.

At home, I would like to read articles of interest in schools and Park Ridge.  I would also like travel articles for particular destinations we are interested in going to.

Thanks, signing out, Bridget

Hi, I just watched the flickr video.  I take lots of photos of trips, children, etc.  I can think of many ways I can use flickr.  I can also think of many ways the library can use flickr. 

For personal use, any type of party, get together, it would be fun to put your photos on flickr and share with the people who were involved.  I presently send my photos to Costco to print and my sister and myself know eachother’s passwords and share our photos with eachother.  This way we print the photos we want ourselves at Costco, instead of printing and bringing them to eachother’s houses.

 

The library can use flickr for any event they have.  People love to see themselves in pictures, and the library can use the photos before and/or after an event for people to get excited.

There are many types and ways to use flickr in the library.

Bridget

HI, in our department the first and so far the best use of a blog is our notes between the 15 or so people in our department.  It is a fast and easy way to keep people informed on what is going on and what we all need to know on a daily basis.  I check the desk blog on a daily basis at home so I can know what is going on without physically being at the library. This is a huge advantage.  For people to be able to communicate in this manner helps out so many people communicate effectively and accurately.

I did not have any questions setting up the blog besides what exactly people are supposed to say in their blogs.  I just spoke with Debbie and she gave me some ideas.  I do a blog in the Children’s Department, so it was easy for me to start the blog.

Some ideas I had for how a blog can be added to the library website includes newsletters to target audiences and book reviews.  Both of these things are being done already.  I think the teachers in the schools would like to see a targeted blog about new books coming out or new trends in education.   If a person registered into the library blogs they could figure out more information in a quicker manner than reading library journals, for example.  I would like to see a blog include new trends and information for teachers can quickly gain the knowledge.

Let me know if you need more information about blogs.  I understand how they work and how to start and post, and edit them.

Thanks, Bridget