One hour to go!

At the finish line. The bottom line is I was committed to completing this journey and I did. Not my favorite ride. Would rather be headed to the water but none the less here I am. Maurice will see me soon.

First, I have learned how to Blog. Yeah. Got something figured out. I enjoyed some aspects of this program. But many frustrated me. I liked watching some videos on YouTube and exploring LibraryThing. I am confused on all the different sites - Rollyo, Technorati, SandBox and Del.icio.us. I need one on one tutoring for this stuff. And any wiki I visit I would need to know the participants. I would not use wiki to do research. Give me an encyclopedia! I didn't find one podcast worthwhile. Someone would have to send me a link to get me to do that again.

I am still not fluent on setting up RSS feeds and would like to get better at that. Too much stuff out there. I still need a good reference guide - give me a librarian!

Overdrive

I set up an account with Overdrive and put a book on hold. I have done this in the past through the library.

Podcasts

After finding only junk this frustrated me. I found something because I liked the name and added it to my favorites - feed on my internet explorer page. It is called Outlaw Punk Cowboy show.

YouTube

This is fun. Looked at commercials from the 70s. My favorite was funny wedding videos. No matter what language it is in it is still funny. Watch the fainting grooms!

I am struggling with getting my account verified on YouTube so here is the link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BIbVJNJg1_U

Web 2.0 Awards

Well, I have actually been in this world having joined LinkedIn previously. I am going to update my profile and see if I can make some connections.

I also checked out ProjectStat.us and I thought that could be a useful tool. This site allows your customers to see an update on projects.

Google Docs

Ok, and yet again I have created another online account with a password. I can see how easy this one was. I still need to have a certain level of security knowing my software is downloaded on my computer versus my stuff being out there on the web.

The Sandbox

Hello Fellow Harford County Public Library 23 Things people - I am heading towards the finish line of this project and that is a favorite thing. Other favorite things include sunsets, dinner with friends, my kid's smiles, hugs, sitting on the beach, laughing, learning, loving. May sound corny but hey what really matters? Oh, and a gelati from Ritas!

And now I realize that I have added my blog to the Library Sandbox. Uggh! For the whole world to see

Wikis

I struggle with the accuracy found on wikis. I could see using them if I knew the "authors." I would not use them as a research tool.

The Future of Libraries

Read all articles. Liked the Icebergs the best pulling the following information. He talks about change: All are remnants of a bygone information age, practices and attitudes that no longer make sense but which we have difficulty letting go.

The Just in Case Collection: Building a comprehensive collection of materials that anticipates the user’s every need (without providing wastefully where no need exists) has always been problematic, but it was an approach that made sense when information was available only in print formats, and was therefore difficult, expensive and slow to distribute.

Reliance on user education: We need to focus our efforts not on teaching research skills but on eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need, so they can spend as little time as possible wrestling with lousy search interfaces and as much time as possible actually reading and learning.

The come to us library model: We have to be a bit more humble in the current environment, and find new ways to bring our services to patrons rather than insisting that they come to us—whether physically or virtually.


This opened my eyes to the necessity of navigating the www. I wish it wasn't so complicated!

Technorati

I did a search for Learning 2.0 and did not get any exact matches. Hummm. I keep trying.

Del.icio.us

Well, once again I am lost in cyberspace. I wish I could have had a private tutor for this project. Tagging sounds wonderful. However, I personally do not want to share my stuff with all the world. Call me crazy.

Rollyo

Ok, I think I did this but not sure how to link to get the feed. Irmgarde are you out there?

LibraryThing

This is a very cool tool. I added all Anne Tyler books. I read her consistently prior to moving to Baltimore and find it funny that I ended up living here. I think I have met some of her quirky characters out and about.

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

Avatar

Well I created a cute avatar with a Kiss Me I'm Irish t-shirt in Yahoo but cannot figure out how to get it into my blog. I think you can only use it in your Yahoo account. Can anyone help?

Library Blogs

Finally I found something I can relate to. I am amazed that people have all this time to do all this stuff. BALANCE. Personally, my scales tip towards the face to face interactions of life.


Thanks Jenimi!
Thanks Jenimi! Originally uploaded by mstephens7 I received this lovely card at the lake this weekend -- from Jennifer Graham. It was a Thank You but also a reminder to get out where the Wild Things are. That's a good reminder to get sometimes!I always watch for synchronicity in things - this time it comes with Karen's post about leaving ALA TechSource blog.When I turned 40 I could imagine that I was not halfway through my life; I can see myself living well into my 80s. But at the half-century mark, I'm far more acutely aware that time is a finite resource. Time is finite. The wild things await. Make sure you are balancing all you do here -- in the Biblioblogosphere and in your careers -- with time spent caring for yourself, those you love, and the world. Time away to reflect, recharge and reacquaint yourself with what you might be missing is healthy.Third piece of the synchronicity-full day? This post via digg:http://zenhabits.net/2007/09/simple-living-simplified-10-things-you-can-do-today-to-simplify-your-life/

RSS

Ok, Irmgarde was over my shoulder walking me through this. I did bloglines but found that is not the way I want to do this. I would much rather work my RSS feeds through internet explorer. I already have a my msn page which gives me information from msn. I will add my RSS feeds to my internet explorer and click on them as I want to view them.

Thanks Irmgarde. Oh, and while I am at it thanks to Annette for sitting with me last week working through some of this stuff.

Technology

I have always been one of the last kids on the block to get the latest in technology. Took me time to convert from 8 track to cassette and even longer to convert to CD. But once I get on board I love being there.

All these social networking sites are suppose to create interaction, sharing and community. So again the last kid on the block I am not there yet. I find my interaction, sharing and community is done in my home around the dinner table, on my cell phone either talking or txting, at the office, face to face or through email, out to dinner with friends or events such as wine festivals, sports events or a great dinner with great friends. Now some technology is woven into these exchanges but I am slow in bridging this world, not afraid just slow.

Flickr

I found Flickr to be full of fun things to do with pictures. It has many more elements than say Kodak Gallery. I use KG for getting pictures developed but want to utilize Flickr for its sharing capacity.

Life Long Learning

Life Long Learning. What does that mean. I just reviewed the 7 1/2 habits and found the goal setting, attitude and PLAY! as the most relevant. To me learning is just there. It is the attitude you have towards life. Whether you set goals, specific or broad, we are always learning. It is about being open to what comes your way. Now if you have a specific thing you need to do, then set the goal, put a plan into action, have a great attitude and PLAY! Now, for me, doing this 23 Things has been a total stress and what did I learn from that??? Uggh! Come see me if you want to know. I just wonder will anyone read this....

Tales at Opening Day

Opening Day at the Library was a huge success. Children excited to sign up couldn't sleep the night before. We are right up there with December 25 as being a day kids anticipate!

Tales joined fans of the Summer Reading Program this year. His first stop was at Bel Air. He greeted young and old alike, giving out hugs and just feel good stuff. Hey, what better place to feel good than at the library. After hanging out at Bel Air he joined kids later in the afternoon in Jarrettsville. Tales travels well throughout the county.

Tales will be stopping in for other programs this summer. If any branch wants Tales at an event, just contact his agent - Charlene Lewis.

Happy Reading!

I am still here

You haven't scared me away...yet.

Happy Friday!

Hello Bloggers

Well, with assistance from my fellow New Yorker, Maurice, here I am.