The END!

WOW! I can't belive 23 Things has come to an end. It's gone by so fast, and I've learned so much...I can't even remember everything I've learned, lol! Some lessons I learned alot, and others not so much. There were a few I had already used and was comfortable with, and others I had never even heard of. I think that this was a really great opportunity, especially being a learning opportunity that we could work on at our own pace and at our own Library, istead of travelling to a different location to sit in a class. Although there were times when I wished that I was in a classroom able to ask questions when I came to them. Okay, so 23 things I've learned....hmm...
1) Meebo: I had never even heard of this website, now I think I use it daily!
2) Animoto: I love making slideshows, especially of my kids, I send copies of them to my sister who is in the military and lives out of state. This site definitely makes it easier to make really great slide shows!
3)Bloglines: I had never even heard of an RSS feed, still a little confusing, but I think bloglines has helped me personally and professionally. I am able to check all my regular sites in one visit, and remember all the sites I visit lol!
4)Twitter: I still am not sure I even like Twitter, but I get it at least now!
5)Screencasting: Not something I see myself using very much, but it very interesting to learn about, just in case.
6)Webinars: Used a few of them...but I think they are a great way to learn something without actually begin there, virtual classrooms are awesome!
7)Flikr: Fun...something I think will become a new obsession when I find time to get into it lol!
8) Wiki's: Still a little confusing...not sure I will ever find a use for this?
9) Shelfari: pretty cool, but I like Visual Bookshelf better...it definitely helps me keep track of what I've read and even make suggestions to my patrons!
10)Was there really 23 things? I think I'm all out!
Anyway...I've learned alot, and had alot of fun...can't wait to sit in on a webinar and discuss everything further.

Week Fifteen: Wikis

Okay, so this wiki thing is a little new to me. I never quite understood what it was, so at least now I have at least an idea. Not sure if it would be something I would use very much, if at all, but that's okay. The concept is neat, and I can see it's potential. Now, I didn't really like editing someone else's wiki, I felt like I was changing someone's information without permission lol. I think I could feel more comfortable with it if it was one I created or someone I knew created. Needless to say the editing I did was very minor.
Wow, I can't believe this is the last week, well except for the wrap-up session. It's gone by so fast, but there has been alot of information to take in. It's been fun! But, I think I am glad to see it end lol!

Week Fourteen: Library Thing

I recently started using "Living Social's Visual Bookshelf" and I really like it. I enjoy adding books that I've read, want to read, and own. It helps alot to keep track of everything I read, and sometimes if I see a book I want to read but I am not quite ready to start another book, I can add it on there and refer to my list of what I want to read. I also like that it gives you recommendations based on the books you have in your collection. When I found out that this week we were going to be learning about different websites like this one I was actually kind of excited because I was hoping to find a more useful site, one I may like a little better. So far I am sticking to my Visual Bookshelf, but I really like Shelfari as well. You seem to be able to add a little more information on Shelfari than you can on Visual Bookshelf. However, I think Visual Bookshelf is a little more user friendly, where as Shelfari is more librarian based. Now, as far as Library Thing goes, I don't care for it at all...I know it is pretty popular, but it wasn't very user friendly, and I had a harder time navigating it. Although, I may not have found a better program to use this week, it was good to learn about some of the other websites out there, and what they have to offer. It's good to know there are several choices, and if anyone is interested in them I know at least a little about them, and can make suggestions to my patrons.

Week Thirteen: Slide Sharing

This week was alot of fun, I love making little videos or power point presentations. I chose "Animoto" to make mine, I really liked that website, it has a lot of neat features, and does a good job animating the presentation. It also had a great selection of music to add in the background. I decided to make my presentation on several pictures of my kids as they have grown up. It is amazing how fast the time goes by. It seems like only yesterday that Nevaeh was being born, now she is 3 and Talis is 5 months. Crazy! It was sad and fun to take a walk down memory lane and look at pictures and see how much they change, because it really does happen in the blink of an eye.

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

I hope you guys enjoy watching my presentation, and I look forward to watching ones that others have created!

Week Twelve: Screencasting

It took me a while to come up with something to create a screencast over. I don't have to assist my patrons very often with navigating a website. Although, I do spend alot of time assiting juvenile patrons with typing in gaming website addresses, lol. After some brainstorming, and some assistance from some fellow librarians, I decided to do my screencast on "Living Social's Visual Bookshelf". I use "Visual Bookshelf" quite a bit, I even introduced my director to it, and she has been using it for our branch. Well anyway, here is a screencast on how to navigate "Living Social's Visual Bookshelf".

So screencasting...wonderful concept. There are so many times people have tried to verbally walk me through a website, or even tried to write down instructions, and it's just confusing. I think screencasting could be used in our area of work, and alot of other fields as well, for all kinds of things, the possibilities are endless. It would definitely allow our patrons to be more independent, and more confident in trying things out on their own. Although, it does kind of take away from our social aspect as librarians, the personal interaction with our patrons. But, for the most part I think screencasting is a very positive and helpful program. Not sure how often I, personally will use it, but I definitely think it could be used in our branch.
This weeks lesson may have been a little more time consuming, but I really enjoyed it, and learned alot.

Week Ten: Video on the Web

This is a video of my favorite auther, Stephenie Meyer, talking about how "The Twilight Saga" has changed America!


This is a video of my daughter telling everyone why she loves the Library!

Week Nine: Instant Messaging

Okay, this week was fun. I can't say how interesting I think this Meebo is. I had never heard of it, but yeah, definitely will be using it. As far as instant messaging itself goes, I have been using it for a long time! It is a very handy way to keep in contact with people. It's become even more useful now that my husband and friends can log on through their cell phones, and I can reach them on their phones when I am at home on the computer. It's also alot quicker than e-mail. As far as using it at work, well not so sure, don't really always have the time to use it at work. It might help me keep in contact with my fellow employees, considering the fact that I work in a library with 6 branches. Might have to look a little more into my options with that. However, I do think it has the ability to change the way we work, by making communication alot faster and simpler. All in all, I think instant messaging is a good thing, and sometimes a big distraction lol, but it seems to me the uses are endless!