Week 9, Thing 23: Summarize your thoughts about this program on your blog and learn about where to go from here.

Ah, the end of the line. Mind the gap on your way out...
1. My favorite discoveries and exercises were setting up the blog, playing online games, messing around with Youtube, and generally feeling more comfortable using all this stuff. 2. Lifelong learning goals have been sharpened a bit, refined if you will. I feel smarter for having completed this program. 3. It was unexpected of myself that I no longer hate blogging. And I take away the ability to add hyperlinks where ever I need them (it was confusing before). 4. Tough to say, not having been exposed to any of this before...perhaps having an initial staff meeting to explain in person the goals of the program. That way people could ask questions from the beginning. 5. Probably, but it will be nice to put this down for awhile (like for at least 6 months or so). 6. A few words: confusion followed by enlightenment, dismay transformed into knowledge, and frustrations turned into satisfactions. Overall a very worthwhile program; but it indeed takes substantial effort to complete.

Week 9, Thing 22: Take a look at the titles available on Overdrive or NetLibrary or Project Gutenburg and learn about downloadable audiobooks.

The Net Library site would not allow me to create an acocunt, so I jumped into Overdrive, and was glad I did! It's COOL! I like that one need only enter one's library card number to access this service. I picked two titles to explore, and was pleased to watch a short one minute video clip showing some art work from:
They Drew Fire [ENHANCED]
Combat Artists of World War II
by
Brian Lanker
Jason Robards
Franklin Boggs
Howard Brodie
Manuel Bromberg
I watched the water soaked pages video, impressive! I like how each title gives info like:
This title can be played during the lending period
Collaborative play of this title is not allowed
This title cannot be burned to CD or DVD
This title can be transferred to a portable device during the lending period
I can better recommend services to patrons now that I've dabbled a bit further into this neat elibrary consortium.

Week 9, Thing 21: Discover some useful search tools for locating podcasts.

I have chosen: LibVibe: the library news podcast
It was interesting to listen to, but now I must remember how to connect the RSS feed to this blog post. Podcasts have value, but I still like turning on the old fashioned radio and being surprised by what I may stumble across to listen to. However, if you miss a show or are otherwise unavailable, searchable podcasts are the way to go.
Here's the link: http://www.libworm.com/rss/index.php/Podcasts-%3A-Librarianship/19/

Week 9, Thing 20: Discover YouTube and a few sites that allow users to upload and share videos.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aPliZ7OvRYQ

I tried to find the embeddable player thingie but could not. Anyway the above video is funny and topical for library staff. Bobby Bittman from SCTV, good stuff!

I like YouTube, I've been using it for a while now...it can be a huge time waster though; but I love reviewing old SNL clips with Chris Farley, watching 1970's rock concerts, and humor, tons and tons of funny clips to view. Aside from spending too much time on YouTube (it can easily eat hours at a time), there is just a lot of junk out there. Also I think their main page is too busy with ads and other junk. However, there is a place for this in librarires: I see training opportunites perhaps, or as a communication tool for meetings or orientation at conferences, etc. Or a personal greeting on the web page from the library director or some other library official, this could give patrons a real feeling for the personalized service we offer at FCPL.

Week 8, Thing 19: Explore any site from the Web 2.0 awards list, play with it and write a blog post about your findings.

I went to: Award Categories
then: Games
then: http://www.arcaplay.com/
and I played a game of Fleabag Vs Mutt, a fun little game where a cat and dog duke it out throwing empty tin cans and dog bones at one another. Winner is he who lasts longest and inflicts most damage on the opponent! FUN! The only real value to such a site is entertainment, but hey, if I may paraphrase from the FCPL mission statement: "...to provide for the educational, informational, and entertainment needs of the community..." So yeah, it's all good. A number of the award winners could certainly asssit in refernce work, for instance, Mapping: http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0/#cat_67
when some patron asks for directions.

Week 8, Thing 18: Online Applications & Tools.

Let us see if I can link-up a doc into this blog post:
Hmm, no luck. I did create two documents is Google dos and spreadsheets, and played around with a spreadsheet. I knida like Google docs, it is like MS Word only on the web! Never been much of a fan of spreadsheets (creating them, anyway), so I dabbled only a little with the spreadsheet. I can definitely see value in using these tools for shared or collaborative work, and for teachers/professors, etc. Good stuff to know about! I like that all the familiar features like text sizing, colors, spell check, etc. are available in Google docs, as one would expect.

Week 7, Thing 17: Add an entry to the Learning 2.0 SandBox wiki.

We have 3 cats that add to the sandbox daily, but it ain't wikis!!
I have been trying for he past 45 minutes to get my blog linked to the sand box page I created. It keeps saying "page not found" and I'm about to implode. Will re-visit when blood pressure drops to safe levels. ---time passing---
Ok, I got it. What a pain! I was able to add a link to my blog in the favorites page, and I added some favorites to the SandBox. It is mildly interesting to see what makes other people tick. Blog-out!

Week 7, Thing 16: Learn about wikis and discover some innovative ways that libraries are using them.

What I found interesting is that there is a wiki for just about every topic you can think of. As was pointed out, there is a lot of good info out there, but editorial command and control is a concern. Bias comes into play, and misuse is rampant. One user pointed out in the Bull Run PL (I think) wiki that they always verify their info at another source because of the subjectivity of a wiki's editorial content. This in turn raises the question of why not go to that other source right off the bat and avoid the wiki entirely thereby negating its usefulness. I like, for instance, Wikipedia's entry for the Battle of the Somme:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_the_Somme_%281916%29
This is a great overview to this massive historical event, and it's links provide accurate detail, hence a wiki success! I like the SJCPL subject guides, it works well for libraries and could just as easily read, 'FCPL Subject Guides" for our reference work. What's in a wiki you ask? Well, a bit of everything. That's what makes them viable. But, they must be used with common sense and not necessarily taken as an authoritative source for all things. Verify the info from multiple sources as needed to correctly answer patron (and your own) questions.

Week 6, Thing 15: Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries and blog your thoughts.

I read several of the perspectives about Library 2.0 from the given list. I shall comment on "into a new world of librarianship". While I agree with and understand much of what Michael Stephens, Librarian and Blogger puts out there, I think he asks too much. He wants each library personnel to be part administrator, materials collector, manager, supervisor, out reach coordinator,web expert (nay, even web designer or web master), and oh yeah, reference librarian all at the same time. Think you can handle that? To each his or her strengths I say! I think that is why FCPL is successful; individuals are allowed to take on as much of the right kind of job they are good at. It is a cornerstone of the reference work we do. We have multiple subject area experts in many fields, go find out which of your co-workers is knowledgeable in what area. It is not reasonable to expect one person (a Librarian 2.0) to do it all. I will not name any individuals but we have folks who do much of what Mr. Stephens asks, just not all wrapped up in one person. To do so would create an Uber Librarain, and the rest of us would be looking for new jobs! ~grin~ So while his concept is sensible, it must be combined with individual talents and subject area mastery...I don't know of any one person who can do all he asks, maybe there's one in MLS school now? But each of us that continues in this profession will have to absorb new ways of doing business, to meet the ever changing needs of our patrons. Upon that much we agree.

Week 6, Thing 14: Explore Technorati and learn how tags work with blog posts.

It took awhile but I finally got through this exercise. Technorati, sounds like an Italian sports car. Well I test drove this one and was underwhelmed. Too much going on with this tool. But I must remember there are those out there who do a great deal of blogging and posting of pics etc. so for them this is probably a form of heaven. For me it plucked my last nerve. With Technorati there's
lots to see: I got to see a list of all the 11 Sept. 2001 victims and relive the horror. Oh and then Paris Hilton again. It's like reading the newspaper, all the depressing stuff gets reported. Top Searches is like looking at the CNN home page. Top Blogs was like sorting through junk email and Top Favorited Blogs was like searching through organized junk email. Bleeck! I have to say I do not like it, but at least I learned about it, yes? Ich habe erlernt.

Week 6, Thing 13: Learn about tagging and discover a Del.icio.us (a social bookmaking site)

Here's what I got for my first attempt at listening to the 12 minute tutorial:

ERROR: www.library2.0.ottergroup.com is temporarily unavailable or does not exist. Please check the address and try again.

Delays delays, nothing but delays! Phooey!

Anyway, my impressions: I took a good look around the site and I do see value in creating tags in this fashion. I opted to search out military items, and found wonderful tags for the Abrams Main Battle Tank and the M240B medium machine gun. Curiously enough, these tags also were tied in with people's Flick'r accounts with mad photos attached. For library purposes, one could create some reference links that could be located, say, on the desk top of the ref. desk computer (hmm, how would that work with mobile reference???). I don't think I would use this method for immediate reference, the "traditional" ways seem to work well for me, I feel my patrons leave quite satisfied with the information provided for the most part. But if one had some tags set up for commonly asked ref. questions, there could be a future for that. Interesting idea though, this Delicious (PS--I hate the name, very unmanly!!)

Week 5, Thing 12: Roll your own search tool with Rollyo.

"I am the Great Roll-holio, I need books for my librario!"








Here is my link:
http://www.rollyo.com/rpowell/rps_stuff/

This product will help organize frequently used sites for faster service, both for myself and FCPL patrons.

Week 5, Thing 11: Take a look at LibraryThing and catalog some of your favorite books.

Here's the link to my exclusive library:

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/rpowell1

Week 5, Thing 10: Play around with an online image generator.

Well here are 2 stabs at online image generation. The dude is from the Yahoo avatar generator:




Make your own at ProfilePitstop.com

Week 4, Thing 9: Explore MERLIN and a few useful library related-blogs and/or news feeds.

Which method of finding feeds did you find easiest to use? I liked using Bloglines to search for RSS feeds.
Which Search tool was the easiest for you? Copy and paste is my fav.
Which was more confusing? Feedster was most confusing for me, actually much of this stuff is still confusing!
What kind of unuseful feeds did you find in your travels? Some of the gaming ones were of interest.
Or what kind of unusual ones did you find? Well, on Boing Boing there is all manner of unusual stuff. I could post some here but I don't want to get fired!
What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds? I just looked at the main page for the RSS symbol or link and cut that into Bloglines to link it all up.

Week 4, Thing 8: Learn about RSS feeds and setup your own Bloglines newsreader account.

I set up 10 feeds:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/BogsThoughts

Week 3, Thing 7: Create a blog post about anything technology related.

Oh technology! I guess I want to post about privacy issues and the library. If someone is making threats on My Space while using an OPAC, what role (if any) does the library play in helping law enforcement? Can we release info about an alleged threat maker? I do not think we can...I feel the hosting website (My Space) should investigate its members' behavior, and then decide if any wrong doing has taken place. If so, they could terminate the account or take other appropriate measures. I know the whole Patriot Act issue has been a hot topic; but if police have served a warrant, what then? Can they access patron info with that authority? The bottom line is accountability-personal responsibility. Folks need to police themselves and their actions, but given human nature, we know many who do not practice this. New issues for the new century I suppose.

A fellow co-worker pointed this out to me: this posted 2 July 2007:

USA Patriot Act Guidelines
For FCPL Staff

(Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept Terrorism)

In October 2001 President Bush signed the USA Patriot Act into law. The act is intended to assist in curbing terrorism in part by improving law enforcement agencies access to electronic information. The law particularly affects libraries because they offer patrons access to the Internet and electronic mail, tools terrorists are known to use.

Libraries are committed to the confidentiality of patron records. Before the USA Patriot Act became law officials were required to show due cause before they could get a court order to view patron records. The USA Patriot Act releases them from that requirement.

Staff Response to Law Enforcement Officers

If law enforcement officials approach you your response is simple. Verify that they are who they say they are by scrutinizing their identification. Call administration immediately or, if after hours, call the CBA LIC who can contact someone from administration. Ultimately the Library Director will be the person who interacts with the officers. It is important that you understand you are not allowed to discuss this interaction with anyone except your administration.

Read More At:

American Libraries Association:

www.ala.org/oif/usapatriotact.html

American Civil Liberties Union

http://forms.aclu.org/L/www.aclu.org/safeandfree/index.cfm?MX=491&H=O

Lawyer’s Committee on Human Rights

www.lchr.org/aftersept/loss/report.htm

Week 3, Thing 6: Flickr mashups & 3rd party sites

If you look above, you will see an attempt at mashup with Flick'r trading cards.
This is my blog post for this THING! John Carpenter's "The Thing" is one of the creepiest and most favourite of mine films.

Week 3, Thing 5: Explore Flickr

"Just what do you think you're doing, Dave?...
Dave...
I really think I'm entitled to an answer to that question...
I know everything hasn't been quite right with me, but I can assure you now, very confidently, that it's going to be alright again...
I feel much better now, I really do...
Look, Dave, I can see you're really upset about this...
I honestly think you ought to sit down calmly, take a stress pill and think things over...
I know I've made some very poor decisions recently, but I can give you my complete assurance that my work will be back to normal...
I've still got the greatest enthusiasm and confidence in the mission, and I want to help you...
Dave...
stop...
stop, will you
...stop, Dave...
will you stop, Dave...
stop, Dave...
I'm afraid...
I'm afraid, Dave...
Dave...
my mind is going...
I can feel it...
I can feel it...
my mind is going...
there is no question about it...
I can feel it...
I can feel it...
I can feel it...
(slows down) I'm afraid...
Good afternoon, gentlemen. I am a HAL 9000 computer. I became operational at the H.A.L. plant in Urbana, Illinois, on the 12th January 1992. My instructor was Mr Langley, and he taught me to sing a song. If you'd like to hear it, I can sing it for you."

Mr. Kubrick at his finest!

Well, I was able to upload a Flick'r image, and post a little text to add to the flavor. Does this complete Thing 5?




Isn't Flickr a horse? As in "My Friend Flickr"...Oh nevermind, that was "Flicka"!

Week 2, Thing 4: Register your blog

I see that of this writing (11:25 a.m., 12 June 2007) that Group A has 13 registrants, and Group B has 7. Twenty in all so far out of eighty, or one quarter participation. Hmmm. Well, all seems to be going OK, not sure what else to post about registering my blog.

Week 2, Thing 3: Set up your own blog

Well that was quite easy. No more difficult than setting up an email account or registering to use some online service, etc. I still don't see the attraction to blogs, however. Daily work necessitates staring at a computer screen for long periods of time; I cannot see doing it willingly and freely of my own time. I'd rather be outside, or engaged in another activity. Plus, do I really have that much to say? Do I really care what others have to say?

Week 1, Thing 2: Pointers from Lifelong Learners

Since I don't own headphones I had to borrow a set from my son! I see people all the time plugged in staring vacuously at their computer screens, watching things like street fights or worse. I hate not being able to hear what is going on around me. Anyway on to the pointers from lifelong learners...I think the hardest point for me is "Beginning with the end in mind" Like trying to write a business or strategic plan or even a will. While not short sighted (I hope) it is difficult to see that far down the road, 'tis a joyless task. Perhaps what I like most is "teaching/mentoring others"...in an informal way. It is truly rewarding to impart information quickly and accurately to patrons (at work), and to others (family, friends and even strangers) in life. The simple act of giving someone accurate directions is fulfilling in some way. Because I would appreciate someone doing the same for me. I enjoy teaching my son about life, and retelling accurately for him events form the past. These are just a few examples of the teach/mentor philosophy. I hope these posts are what we are supposed to be doing.

Week 1, Thing 1: About this program

What was wrong with web 1.0? I know these numerical identifiers are needed to indicate "new" versions of something, but I always thought them impersonal. Like Adobe 7.0; why not call it something else, perhaps Adobe Update, or the Latest from Adobe? Anyway...
I am eager to learn more about new and emergent technologies. I am somewhat techno-phobic, so this will be a crash course for the new millennium. Let us see how I do.

First off...

...Bog is good, Bog is powerful! Bog has thoughts, Bogthoughts.