When I first heard about Technorati, it sounded pretty cool. Being able to search for things that had just been published seconds before? Nifty! However, I'm not so excited about it now. The downside of searching everything on the net seems to be that it loads slowly. By this I mean it's taking a good 10-15 seconds to load anytime I click on anything. Which is pretty slow for high speed internet.
I also tried searching Technorati and then Google and Google Blog Search. Google and Google Blog Search came up with results faster, and the results better matched what I was searching for. Although Technorati did come up with some good blogs.
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Week 8: Thing 14: del.icio.us
I have never heard of del.icio.us before. I did have fun playing on it though. To see how it differs from a regular search engine, I did a search for cupcakes (I like cupcakes). de.icio.us came up with different cupcake recipes, a blog devoted entirely to discussing cupcakes (complete with yummy looking pictures), and a clothing line called Johnny Cupcakes. Then I searched Yahoo for the same. The first listing is for a wikipedia entry on cupcakes, then several bakeries, and a few recipes.
In this instance, del.icio.us was more helpful, if I'm searching for cupcakes, it's more likely that I want to make them rather than buy them. And they had more recipes right off the bat (including one for Maple Bacon Cupcakes.
I had no trouble with the tags, mostly they were for ingredients or a city for a bakery. All in all, this seems like a pretty nice way to keep track of bookmarks, and to keep them organized.
I wasn't sure how this could be used for libraries (other than having patrons use it), until I looked at some of the library pages listed in the 23 Things. Libraries could use this to keep track of articles or webpages that pertain to library news (either for them, or other libraries around the nation), or helpful webistes, or local businesses, etc. Then they could post a link to their del.icio.us page on their website. That way, they won't have to go through and organize the links and post them all on their own website, they can just add new ones when they want to and use tags so that people can use them to find the link they want.
This could be useful as a research assistance tool. If someone wanted information a certain topic they could search for tags with it. Not all internet resources are accurate though, so I wouldn't really trust this as a research tool.
In this instance, del.icio.us was more helpful, if I'm searching for cupcakes, it's more likely that I want to make them rather than buy them. And they had more recipes right off the bat (including one for Maple Bacon Cupcakes.
I had no trouble with the tags, mostly they were for ingredients or a city for a bakery. All in all, this seems like a pretty nice way to keep track of bookmarks, and to keep them organized.
I wasn't sure how this could be used for libraries (other than having patrons use it), until I looked at some of the library pages listed in the 23 Things. Libraries could use this to keep track of articles or webpages that pertain to library news (either for them, or other libraries around the nation), or helpful webistes, or local businesses, etc. Then they could post a link to their del.icio.us page on their website. That way, they won't have to go through and organize the links and post them all on their own website, they can just add new ones when they want to and use tags so that people can use them to find the link they want.
This could be useful as a research assistance tool. If someone wanted information a certain topic they could search for tags with it. Not all internet resources are accurate though, so I wouldn't really trust this as a research tool.
Week 7: Thing 13 - LibraryThing
I had never heard of LibraryThing until now. I love it! I've always wanted to catalog my books, and this makes it so easy. I can easily see how this would come in handy for small libraries to use as their catalog. I also like how I can look at my books and then see other people who have them and read their reviews. Then use the tags to find similar books that I would enjoy.
I think my favorite part is the virtual bookshelf though, I love seeing the covers of books that I like. It makes me want to read them all over again.
Here is my virtual library (with just the five books from this activity so far):
April's Virtual Library
I think my favorite part is the virtual bookshelf though, I love seeing the covers of books that I like. It makes me want to read them all over again.
Here is my virtual library (with just the five books from this activity so far):
April's Virtual Library
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Week 7: Thing 12 - Image Generator
I spent some time playing with the Image Generators and had a lot of fun! I can see how many of these can be used in a library, to decorate bulletin boards, displays, or for activites and workshops.
I spent the most time playing on The Generator Blog . I like the generators that let you edit peoples appearances, like piZap or Yearbook Yourself.
I also had a lot of fun making my own brands of soda, my own tapes, and making sparkly text. Here is an example of what I made with Glowtxt:
I think this kind of thing would come in handy for websites. Maybe not the main library website, but if there was a special section for Teen Advisory Boards. I know some libraries have bulletin boards for their TABs, this could be an online space for them. They could decorate it with fun text, and use the generators to create pictures of things like their own sodas to represent them online.
Edit: I went back and made an avatar on the Meez website and posted it to the sidebar here!
I spent the most time playing on The Generator Blog . I like the generators that let you edit peoples appearances, like piZap or Yearbook Yourself.
I also had a lot of fun making my own brands of soda, my own tapes, and making sparkly text. Here is an example of what I made with Glowtxt:
I think this kind of thing would come in handy for websites. Maybe not the main library website, but if there was a special section for Teen Advisory Boards. I know some libraries have bulletin boards for their TABs, this could be an online space for them. They could decorate it with fun text, and use the generators to create pictures of things like their own sodas to represent them online.
Edit: I went back and made an avatar on the Meez website and posted it to the sidebar here!
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Week 5: Thing 11 - Facebook
I already had a Facebook profile, so most of the steps for this are completed. I did however join a couple of the groups listed!
Week 5: Thing 10 - Explore Social Networks
I have been using social networking sites for a few years now. I'm familiar with Myspace and Facebook, but Ning was a new one for me. I like both Facebook and Myspace, but I prefer Facebook more. Myspace is great because you can personalize the appearance more, and add music, etc. to it. However, that's also what drove me away from Myspace. Some people loaded so much onto their pages that it took far too long to load, which drove me crazy. So after a while I concentrated on my Facebook profile and deleted my Myspace page. I still use Myspace for music, because it is a great site for that, but I don't use it to network anymore.
I use Facebook to help keep in contact with my friends from college, home, and new people that I've met while on trips. It's great! I can put up photos, videos, post articles, leave messages for people, and it even has fun apps to put in my profile.
I think that libraries using social networking sites is a great idea! There are a variety of people on social networking sites now, and this would be a good way for libraries to keep in touch with patrons, or even find new patrons. If libraries created pages on facebook and myspace, people from their communities could friend them, then if there was an announcement it could be sent out over the network. This might reach more people than just putting up posters. While people don't always look at posters or ads, many (myself included) check their email frequently (or, if they're like me, a better word might be obsessively), so notices sent out online might get more attention and create more attendance to an event.
I've seen businesses use social networking sites for advertising upcoming events, and it catches my attention more than if they had put a notice in a newspaper. If this works for businesses, it should work just as well for a library.
I use Facebook to help keep in contact with my friends from college, home, and new people that I've met while on trips. It's great! I can put up photos, videos, post articles, leave messages for people, and it even has fun apps to put in my profile.
I think that libraries using social networking sites is a great idea! There are a variety of people on social networking sites now, and this would be a good way for libraries to keep in touch with patrons, or even find new patrons. If libraries created pages on facebook and myspace, people from their communities could friend them, then if there was an announcement it could be sent out over the network. This might reach more people than just putting up posters. While people don't always look at posters or ads, many (myself included) check their email frequently (or, if they're like me, a better word might be obsessively), so notices sent out online might get more attention and create more attendance to an event.
I've seen businesses use social networking sites for advertising upcoming events, and it catches my attention more than if they had put a notice in a newspaper. If this works for businesses, it should work just as well for a library.
Monday, October 20, 2008
Week 4 - Thing 8: RSS Feeds
RSS Freeds are one of those things I kept telling myself I would learn about and never did, until now! I signed up for Google Reader and decided to check all my favorite websites to see if they have RSS feeds, and it turns out that all of them do. Now instead of trying to navigate to every webpage that I want to check in the morning, I can log into my RSS aggregator and check everything from one page. I put in feeds for all of the news sites that I like to check each morning, as well as all my favorite webcomics.
I think that RSS feeds could help librarians, because there are feeds for website like School Library Journal, or Library Journal, which can help them keep up with professional reading. There are also feeds for tons of magazines, which can keep people up to date on new technology that might be used in the library. I know that some blog sites have groups dedicated to libraries/librarians, if these have RSS feeds, then they could help librarians connect, and possibly help with any problems that a library/librarian could have. It seems like RSS feeds are just a very helpful tool, for any profession.
I think that RSS feeds could help librarians, because there are feeds for website like School Library Journal, or Library Journal, which can help them keep up with professional reading. There are also feeds for tons of magazines, which can keep people up to date on new technology that might be used in the library. I know that some blog sites have groups dedicated to libraries/librarians, if these have RSS feeds, then they could help librarians connect, and possibly help with any problems that a library/librarian could have. It seems like RSS feeds are just a very helpful tool, for any profession.
Week 3 - Thing 7: Technology
The technology related thing that I decided to blog about is Pandora Radio and Hulu .
I love the fact that I can put in artists and songs that I like and it will play those, as well as coming up with other music that I might like based on what I give a "thumbs up", and if I don't like a song, I can give it a "thumbs down" and never have to hear it again. It's a lot more pleasant than listening to the radio in my car or at home, where I have to sit through songs I can't stand, commercials by the dozen, and djs who can be funny, but can also be very annoying.
Hulu is great because if I miss a show I really wanted to see, it's often up on their website the next day, and with much less commercial interruption. For an hour long show, there's usually just four 15 second commercials. Television stations have caught on to how convenient this is for people, many stations put full episodes of their shows online now as well. CBS is one of these stations (for anyone who loves NCIS - full episodes are up on their website!). Gone are the days when people could get their TVGuide and keep track of when shows are on, now they can be watched online at whatever time is convenient for you! I don't watch a lot of television, but there are a few shows that I love to watch every week, and it's nice not to have to worry about missing them, I can watch them at my computer whenever I have some free time.
Now that people are able to watch tv shows online, get their radio online, and with less commercials, and the ability to listen to just music they enjoy, I wonder if tv's and radios will become obsolete? When my stereo broke last year, I never replaced it. I now have an mp3 player for when I'm in my car, and my computer at home playing pandora. I also have a tv that's rarely turned on (and used mostly for DVDs). Maybe when the tv finally breaks I won't replace it either.
I love the fact that I can put in artists and songs that I like and it will play those, as well as coming up with other music that I might like based on what I give a "thumbs up", and if I don't like a song, I can give it a "thumbs down" and never have to hear it again. It's a lot more pleasant than listening to the radio in my car or at home, where I have to sit through songs I can't stand, commercials by the dozen, and djs who can be funny, but can also be very annoying.
Hulu is great because if I miss a show I really wanted to see, it's often up on their website the next day, and with much less commercial interruption. For an hour long show, there's usually just four 15 second commercials. Television stations have caught on to how convenient this is for people, many stations put full episodes of their shows online now as well. CBS is one of these stations (for anyone who loves NCIS - full episodes are up on their website!). Gone are the days when people could get their TVGuide and keep track of when shows are on, now they can be watched online at whatever time is convenient for you! I don't watch a lot of television, but there are a few shows that I love to watch every week, and it's nice not to have to worry about missing them, I can watch them at my computer whenever I have some free time.
Now that people are able to watch tv shows online, get their radio online, and with less commercials, and the ability to listen to just music they enjoy, I wonder if tv's and radios will become obsolete? When my stereo broke last year, I never replaced it. I now have an mp3 player for when I'm in my car, and my computer at home playing pandora. I also have a tv that's rarely turned on (and used mostly for DVDs). Maybe when the tv finally breaks I won't replace it either.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Week 3 - Thing 6: Flickr Fun
I enjoyed playing around with the fun toys on Flickr! My favorites were the Flickr Color Picker and Palette Generator. I used the Palette Generator to find colors that should match the picture that I found last time on Flickr, then I used the colors it came up with to try and change the colors on my blog to match it. I'm not sure how well I did, but it seems to match at least a little bit!
The Flickr Color Picker I really enjoyed because it was neat to find pictures with a common color, and there were some really amazing photos!
All in all, this was fun, and I can see myself spending more time playing with mashups in the future!
The Flickr Color Picker I really enjoyed because it was neat to find pictures with a common color, and there were some really amazing photos!
All in all, this was fun, and I can see myself spending more time playing with mashups in the future!
Friday, October 10, 2008
Week 3 - Thing 5: Flickr
I spent some time exploring Flickr. There are so many more things to do on that website than I ever thought! I took their tour, and then I had a great time playing on their Interestingness section. Which is where I found this picture:
It doesn't have anything to do with libraries, but I thought it looked really neat. I love all the colors in it. It also has Christmas lights, and Christmas is my favorite holiday! I'm just as bad as stores that start selling Christmas decorations before Halloween. By the time Halloween comes around I'm already figuring out how to decorate the house and anticipating getting a Christmas tree. The day after Thanksgiving when radio stations start playing Christmas music, my entire family grumbles while I'm in my car merrily singing along at the top of my lungs.
Although, on the topic of libraries, this picture did get me thinking about Christmas programs. I was never involved with library programs around holidays when I was younger. So I have no idea what kind of programs are run in libraries around Christmas, but I had an idea for a YA program for Christmas. Maybe this picture (or more like it, or better!) could be posted for YA's at the library to look at and there could be some kind of photo contest for them. Pictures inspired by a winter/winter holiday theme. Then a display of photography books and winter/holiday books could be put out. And of course, all the pictures could be put up on Flickr!
I'm not a librarian (yet), so I don't know if this would actually work well as a program. What do you think?
Wednesday, October 01, 2008
Week 2 - Thing 3/4: Setup A Blog & Register Blog
Well, here is my blog! It's nothing very exciting so far. I'm hoping to mess around with the colors and fonts a bit more. Blogging is something that I've done before in an English class in college, and in a livejournal for one year of college, so this isn't too new for me. I am looking forward to the upcoming "Things" though!
Week 1 - Thing 2: Pointers From Lifelong Learning
The lifelong learning video was nice, but I keep thinking of the Habits in terms of hobbies or learning a new skill (like a new language) rather than in terms of work.
The easiest Habit from the 7 1/2 Habits was #3. Which was to view problems as challenges. Anytime I have a problem, be it with planning something, during an activity of some kind, or a problem at work, I view it as a challenge that I need to complete. I like the feeling that I get when I manage to fix some problem that has me stumped for a while.
The hardest habit is probably to begin with the end in mind. I like to launch into new hobbies or try to learn new skills with no end goal in mind. This usually means that I don't make it too far into some of them, I lose interest, or I run out of time, etc.
The easiest Habit from the 7 1/2 Habits was #3. Which was to view problems as challenges. Anytime I have a problem, be it with planning something, during an activity of some kind, or a problem at work, I view it as a challenge that I need to complete. I like the feeling that I get when I manage to fix some problem that has me stumped for a while.
The hardest habit is probably to begin with the end in mind. I like to launch into new hobbies or try to learn new skills with no end goal in mind. This usually means that I don't make it too far into some of them, I lose interest, or I run out of time, etc.
Week 1 - Thing 1: About This Program
All of the Things that are part of this program are things that I've been telling myself I will learn about for a couple years now. Some of them I have learned, but some of them I haven't yet, so now I have a chance! I really enjoy learning new things about technology and how it can be incorporated into my job, so this should be fun!
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