Thing 8

• What uses do these tools have for library or personal use? I had trouble getting the lazybase site to work, but I could use this for keeping track of summer volunteers. I currently have to create my own database in excel, and this might work quicker. I'm not sure how I might use photo slide shows right now, but linking photos of programs and events to library twitter/email/facebook accounts would be nice.
  

• Was the tool you used easy to navigate and understand? I tried a few tools before finding on with a working link : ) But the one that I ended up with (bighugelabs) worked well and was very easy, without having to sign up or register.

• Would you recommend it to others? I would definitely recommend the site I used, it is able to talk to your flickr and facebook accounts so that you don't have to upload any more photos, but use what you've already added.

• Do you use other sharing tools for photos, documents, or other creations that you would recommend? The site that I'm working on now uses Picasa by google for adding picture slide shows to the site, and that has been working well.
  

Communication...Thing 7

• Describe how your library uses email. Has it improved productivity? The library I work at uses email as a form of communication throughout the library employees. Any new/important information is sent out in system wide emails. Also, there are email lists, such as CHAT, which are lists of those of us working with children or teens. One could email the entire list with questions or suggestions regarding youth services. At the branch level, we don't always get a chance to pass along information face to face, having different work schedules, so email is the best way to communicate when something is going to happen or a new way to do something. I find that my email folders are the most organized area of my work, because most of the important information is sorted and stored there and not in my desk files.
  

• Share your thoughts on online reference using some of the other Web 2.0 communication tools. Are you an active user of text messaging, IM, or other communication tools? I actively use text messaging, have previously used IM, and sometimes use skype (0r webcam based communication. I haven't used any of these at work though. I grew up in the AOL days and thus, was IMing constantly as a teen, but haven't used it much in the past 8 to 9 years. Text messaging is quickly becoming the way I stay in contact with my friends. The Tulsa library has an IM capability on their AskUs site, I haven't had a need to use it, but I've wanted to.
  

• Which OPAL or MINITEX Web conference (Webinar) did you attend? How was it? What do you think of this communication tool? I viewed an archived conference on Del.icio.us and learned about bookmarking sites. This was great! It gave me the capability to start up an account while watching and listening to an expert doing it at the exact same time. While I'm sure I could have learned about Del.icio.us on my own, it was fun to have help. For someone who is less confident on the Internet, this would have been wonderful.
  

Thing 6

These are a few examples of the things I made while playing with the ideas from Thing 6. Much like from Thing 5, I've gotten more ideas for doing displays. I liked the words in flowers for a display/program about gardening. I also really liked the trading cards for use with teens, thus the vampire focused images. Having these for advertising programs would be neat, but I really like the idea of using them for reading suggestions.

Number 5...or more Flickr

This thing was fun. I work do displays regularly at the library, and this gives me some great ideas for making them look fun. Also, we have a library blog to advertise programs on our teen site and adding fun images would be great for grabbing attention to my entries.

Mr. October

October
Originally uploaded by smorehe

Using my dog for a calendar.

Crafty!

Crafty!
Originally uploaded by smorehe

Me in beads.

Flickr....aka Thing 4

• Will you use Flickr for the library or media center, for your personal photos, or in another way? I most likely won't use Flickr at work, because our library currently blocks the site. However, I have visited the site at home to look for library display ideas. This, so far, is the best site I've found for gathering ideas for putting together book displays.
  

• Do you use Flickr or another photo hosting service? Which one? How does it compare to Flickr? I've use the Kodakgallery.com for my photos for the past few years, mostly for creating photo books and cards. Also, I use facebook to share photos with friends and family. These sites don't offer the same tagging and group features that Flickr seems to, but most of my friends and family only use facebook so I might just have to stick with it.
  

• How do you feel about having your photos public (note that you can mark your Flickr photos private, too)--any concerns? I'm not sure about making my photo's public. I don't feel comfortable posting pictures of myself or my house for fear of them being used by others for purposes that I wouldn't like. I'm not sure what that would be, but I feel the need to be cautious for some reason.

Book Truck Entry

Book Truck Entry
Originally uploaded by smorehe

Last picture for today...
This is the entry from last years "Trick My Book Truck" contest that our teen volunteers put together. It is a Robot...Isn't that obvious? :)

Twilight Open House

Twilight Open House
Originally uploaded by smorehe

One of last years big programs was an Open House to celebrate Twilight. Here is a picture of the library from that day.

Teen Gaming

Teen Gaming
Originally uploaded by smorehe

I work with Teens at my job, and here is an image from a gaming program we had last year.

RSS - Thing 3

• What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
  I like that they do the searching for me. No more going to multiple sites to see the latest updates.
• How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your school or personal life?
  I'm not sure how I might use this for school, maybe subscribing to feeds related to coursework. In my personal life, the first few feeds that I have subscribed to are all of interest to me. It is an easier way to look at the websites I usually go to anyway.
  
• How can teachers or media specialists libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
  For one, by subscribing to professional development type of feeds. New information related to what they do will come to them.
  
• Which tool for finding feeds was easiest to use?
  I'm not sure yet, I liked the google blog finder. Right now I've mainly subscribed to only the sites that I use normally.
  
• Find any great sources we should all add to our feed reader?
  If you use the Tulsa library to get your DVDs, like I do, you can subscribe to the new DVD list.

Thing 2

Blog questions...

• We know time is always an issue--Stephen Abram shares some ideas on where to find the time for 23 Things. Where will you find the time? I've set aside time in the evenings to work on both 23 Things and learning HTML. Hopefully I'll be able to stick with my time frame.
• Why are you participating in 23 Things On a Stick? What do you hope to learn? I'm participating in 23 Things as a requirement for a school course, but I've also been encouraged to do the 23 Things as part of Con Ed at work. I hope to learn about some of the new techie things that are out there and how I can use them. At this point, I know about a few of them but have lacked the drive or need to learn about them.
• How has the Internet and the vast resource it can be affected your use of time at work and/or at home? I know that I am greatly dependent on the Internet. All I need is a power outage to feel cut off from the world. I use the Internet for any research that I do, at work or at home. If I am asked a question at the library, I use the Internet based catalog, databases, and search engines to find answers. I also use the Internet to stay in contact with friends and family, and even just last night I used it to follow a football game that I couldn't get on TV. I would say almost 90 percent of my time at work involves using the Internet while only about 25 to 30 percent of my time at home does. Currently I do not have Internet capabilities on my phone, but I don't see that being too far in my future.
• Where are you in your knowledge and use of Web 2.0 tools? How about your library? At this point, I'm still struggling to comprehend what is encompassed by the term Web 2.0. However, I am pretty apt at staying on top of the new developments that are used at my library and quick to learn new tools.
• What are you looking forward to in 23 Things On a Stick? I look forward to showing others (friends and coworkers) what I have learned, or will learn.