I came across LibraryThing last year and I enjoyed going through it again. This time I created an account and hope to actually add my books to it. I honestly drew a blank when I thought about books I owned and what to add. I think the ability to add, and catalog by tags is very useful. I can see small libraries using this service, and especially church libraries! I bet they would love it! Have I mentioned how much I like cloud tags, they are very visual and beautiful to me in a misty dreamy way. Here is the link to my sparsely populated library.
CarolBorz
But, it will fill up. I should add my DVD collection. I also like the idea of web based services because you can check from anywhere to see what is going on. For instance if you were shopping and found a great book that you had been meaning to buy and couldn't remember if you had purchased it yet, you could use your cell phone to check the Internet, look up LibraryThing and see if you had the item!
ta da!
Not me, I don't use my cell phone.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Thing #13 oh my!
I have reached a magic number, 13! I am over halfway and feeling pretty darn good about it. I have Yahoo! as my home page, and went and added a few widgets, changed color and order and played around there. That is alwasy interesting. I used to have Yahoo as my home page, and will keep it "at home" but now I am using the SELCO homepage so I can be closer to accessing my email.
What did I find that could be useful? I liked sticky notes, and I can see using that among the staff. I can see it helping productivity, esp. for meetings and agendas. I did join Remember the Milk, but I can't figue it out yet, need more time to explore. Basically at heart, I am just not a list maker and find it a fairly souless operation. I loved the countdown clock! THat could be fun for counting down to the SUmmer Reading Program! I think I will do that.
The concept on online calendars is good if we can train ourselves to use them. Maybe we could actually know when staff was out on vacation or leaving early. If everyone could access the calendar and be responsible in putting down their days off and away it could be very helpful.
What did I find that could be useful? I liked sticky notes, and I can see using that among the staff. I can see it helping productivity, esp. for meetings and agendas. I did join Remember the Milk, but I can't figue it out yet, need more time to explore. Basically at heart, I am just not a list maker and find it a fairly souless operation. I loved the countdown clock! THat could be fun for counting down to the SUmmer Reading Program! I think I will do that.
The concept on online calendars is good if we can train ourselves to use them. Maybe we could actually know when staff was out on vacation or leaving early. If everyone could access the calendar and be responsible in putting down their days off and away it could be very helpful.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Thing #12 Digging!
Okay, personally, because I don't do reference, these sites are not something I would use at work. But, because the older I have gotten the shorter my attention span has become, I love the news headline aspect. I looked at Mixx, Digg, Redditt, and Newsvine. I liked the look of feel and ease of use of Digg. I liked that it broke up the white space with pictures and links. It wasn't just a long list of titles like Redditt, or Mixx. I really liked Newsvine and even read quite a few articles. I think I will sign up for that, and use it at home. Possibly on break just to see what is going on in the world. I enjoyed it. Some of the images and article titles on Digg or MIxx were more X-rated and I don't feel like wading through all that, even if it is ranked by the public.
Speaking of that, I do like the idea of getting the news and info that people are interested in, and not the news that "they" feel I should read.
evil laugh
Bluecat
Speaking of that, I do like the idea of getting the news and info that people are interested in, and not the news that "they" feel I should read.
evil laugh
Bluecat
Thing #11 Del.icio.us
Bookmarks and tagging. I like the idea of being able to access your favorites from any computer you are using. I can see using Del.icio.us as a reference link, when patrons can add and tag their favorite sites, and I can see library staff using it, but I can't really figure out how a library would use it as a service. I went to the libraries given as sample and it isn't apparent to me where DELICIOUS is being used.
I had it before my computer crashed, so I do have an account. I had to remember my user name :) And I tried to re-install the icon, but it hasn't shown up. I am going to keep working on it and then go to using Del.icio.us instead a favorites, just to get used to something new. Then I will explore other sites that are tagged.
Guess what I LOVE! Tag Clouds. They look like poetry.
Bluecat
I had it before my computer crashed, so I do have an account. I had to remember my user name :) And I tried to re-install the icon, but it hasn't shown up. I am going to keep working on it and then go to using Del.icio.us instead a favorites, just to get used to something new. Then I will explore other sites that are tagged.
Guess what I LOVE! Tag Clouds. They look like poetry.
Bluecat
Thing #10
Wiki wiki
I first heard about wikis at MLA 2 years ago, and I wanted one then, but just didn't quite know how to work it into the library. I am finding out that the more tools I play around with, the more other tools become clear. So by now I have made a wiki, edited the 23things wiki, and edited our library one on strategic planning.
Wikimeister Bluecat
I first heard about wikis at MLA 2 years ago, and I wanted one then, but just didn't quite know how to work it into the library. I am finding out that the more tools I play around with, the more other tools become clear. So by now I have made a wiki, edited the 23things wiki, and edited our library one on strategic planning.
Wikimeister Bluecat
Thing #9
Well, Bluecat got the badge to load! Linda told me the secret, which I did NOT find anywhere else, and I appreciate. If you write me, I;ll even tell you. In fact you can send me a Googledoc to look at!
I went to both GoogleDocs and ZoHo. I think Zoho is more jazzy, but found the Google very easy to use. However, I never did find the old manuscript there, I wasn't allowed. Plus I had to keep logging out and logging is as a different user (same old me) to use Google. I like it though, and can see it as an in-house or business application very easily. I see it more as a library planning tool, than just something to offer patrons to use.
The Zoho wouldn't let me edit at all. But I have been on some sort of killer computer program and CPU rampage lately, so I must need to go and get de-electrified or something.
We have a Wiki and I have used that and even set up up for the Fine Arts group. Another good way to share the info, and I see those growing like mushrooms!
Bluecat
going to see what is next
I went to both GoogleDocs and ZoHo. I think Zoho is more jazzy, but found the Google very easy to use. However, I never did find the old manuscript there, I wasn't allowed. Plus I had to keep logging out and logging is as a different user (same old me) to use Google. I like it though, and can see it as an in-house or business application very easily. I see it more as a library planning tool, than just something to offer patrons to use.
The Zoho wouldn't let me edit at all. But I have been on some sort of killer computer program and CPU rampage lately, so I must need to go and get de-electrified or something.
We have a Wiki and I have used that and even set up up for the Fine Arts group. Another good way to share the info, and I see those growing like mushrooms!
Bluecat
going to see what is next
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Thing #8, quite a bit of fun
Hey hey hey. I made a trading card, and a badge, and looked at some of the other toys. Right now I think I have to just try them out, and then think about ways to incorporate them into the website. I am thinking a mosaic or a flickr badge of photos from our upcoming book sale might be really interesting. Or even better, when we get the banner (150 yrs) I could take pictures and get those up on the site, and that would promote the fact Winona is going to be capital for a day, AND the library is a big part of Winona.
I can't get the Flickr badge to show, I keep getting an error message that the html is bad. I can't seem to find the problem on my own. Disappointing! I did find some neat pictures for the badge.
BUT!!! I added a slide show just on page elements, so I still get to use the cat pictures from Flickr, but not the badge.
Bluecat
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