What now?

Now that the 23 Things challenge is completed and I've been bitten by the blogging bug, the question arises as to how to use my blog. There are many possiblities. There are many interests I'd like to explore.

It definitely will be library oriented, but there are so many areas of library science to choose from. Collection building has been one of my careerlong interests, library management issues for public libraries is an ongoing learning project, and there is always the day to day trials and tribulations of the exciting library environment. It is never, ever boring at the library and I can say that after 30 years in the field. I would like this blog to be useful and helpful to others. It should be worthwhile.

Currently, I'm reading and studying about blogs, Blogger and possible uses of blogs for libraries. I have discussed this with my librarians and we are planning to launch a branch blog around the first of year. Hopefully, our enthusiasm will be contaigeous and most of the staff will be interested in working on the blog in some aspect.

Current reading:

Blogging and RSS: A Librarian's Guide, by Micheal P. Sauers
Blogging in a snap, by Julie C. Meloni
The Rough Guide to Blogging, by Jonathan Yang

The Challenge Completed!

Thursday night I coached a staff member in starting a blog. Leticia was amazed at how easy it is to get started. We discussed establishing her profile and embellishments like photos and labels. The most fun with this exercise was seeing the enthusiasm become contaigous. Leticia is one of our bilingual staff members and she has been instrumental in extending and profecting our service to the Latino community. She is planning to use her blog to aid in this crucial area of library service. She made me very proud. #22 is completed.

The 23 Things Challenge has been very time consumming. It has opened new dialog between the professional staff. Our enthusiasm has trickled down to other staff. One Library Assistant (LA) and our Head Clerk have taken a Web.20 class provided through the training department at Orange County Public Library. Other staff have asked more questions about Web 2.0 and some of the 23 Things. I think this will be the buzz at our branch for many months. The LAs have been more curious about the Challenge and I expect most of them will be checking out the Challenge list and trying some of the 23 Things on their own.

Personally, I feel my technological knowledge had grown by leaps and bounds. There have been many, many things I have wanted to learn or explore on the computer and Internet. Committing to the Challenge has proded me to take steps in this area. I have even had my neice teach me how to text message. I don't really have a need to text message or I would have done it sooner, but it is something I needed to know and understand. I'm learing about digital photography and some of the Challenge has stirred me a little further in this area. The more I learn, the more I need to learn, the more I will continue to learn. #23 is complete.

Home Stretch

Today I successfully moved my picture to the profile. This was a great accomplishment, since I have been trying to do this for three weeks. I worked with image generators a little with the same frustration. I need to find some written directions to work with. And I posted the picture of the library on GoogleMaps. So #19 is completed. The picture is not visible yet. I understand that it takes several days before it is available. I would like to get #10 completed today and maybe #22.

Finishing up

Over the last few days I have worked on #19. I really liked Google.Maps. I usually use Yahoo.Maps, but since they launched a new version have really struggled with it. Google.Maps is much more user friendly, like Yahoo used to be. I have made the switch. The only thing that remains to be done on #19 is add the picture of my library. The picture is too large to insert, so I need to crop it and insert it.

#20 was fairly easy. I have viewed videos on YouTube before. There was a contest, I love my Library. I viewed the five finalists and voted. Then I spent some time locating some videos that I remembered from watching network news. They were relatively easy to find. #20 is completed.

#21 I was very surprised to see that Yahoo Podcast will be ending at the end of October. I was not able to navigate it without opening an account. I didn't see the point of opening one, so I googled podcasts. I read the Wikipedia article on podcasting. Then I googled video sharing and found the DVGuru at www.dvguru.com. There was a very good article on the ten top video sharing servers. You can go to the article for the sites at http://www.dvguru.com/2006/04/07/ten-video-sharing-services-compared/. I checked out Social and Vimeo from this list. I also found www.podcastalley.com and www.podcast.net both list podcast servers. I did a search using the tag "libraries" and found 9 entries at www.podcast.net. I checked out NPR at www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast-directory.php and www.digg.com. #21 is completed.

There are just a few more things to do. I need to move my picture to my blog profile. I need to post my library picture to Google.Maps. The pictures are too big and need to be cropped. Once I have done this it shouldn't be too big of a problem to move the picture. I'm not satisfied with #10 and want to review image generators and add a tag to my blog. I still need to complete #22 & #23. I hope to finish this up by the end of the week.

Making Progress

Today I brushed up on wikis. Of all the things on the 23Things Challenge, I'm most familiar with wikis. #16 is completed, but I read through it to brush up and then proceeded to #17. I added to the InforPeople wiki under wikis. I added the part about Orange County Public Library. I still had some time to work so I went on to #18 and learned about Google docs. Earlier today I worked on publicity for the three Costa Mesa libraries to be sent to the city's Community News publication. Google. docs will be perfect for this in the future. I can start the article and use Google.doc to coordinate the whole process. This will be very useful. #17 & #18 are completed.

I will use some time later today to go back and check my accounts. This is one way I use to get familiar with accounts. It has been awhile since I checked my Fickr account or bloglines.

#15 continued

Yesterday, I continued reading "Cite and insight." I agree that there is a big difference between "We have always done it that way" and "embracing all change for the sake of change." These are the two extremes and we need to find a comfortable compromise between these two extremes. This applies to life and to libraries. Since each library has it's own personality and public to serve, we need to adapt Library 2.0 to our individual libraries. Two important questions were raised on page 15 of the article. Will our patrons feel the same way about technology as we do? is Library 2.0 feasible, technologically and financially? The term permaconnected brought to mind a picture of the movie "Matrix." This refers to people who are continually connected to technology, not necessarily connected to the machinery and has a connotation of being socially connected through technology. I had to stop at page 17.

Today, I was able to finish the article. It is really true that we tend to give more emphasis to our own areas of interest. It seems that advocates for a complete technological library in excluding the traditional library, are purporting technology because it is what they are interested in and use. They are forgetting the large percentage of the population who do not use computers whether by choice or by financial limitations. At public libraries we have a diverse, wide range of interests to serve. We all would be shocked if a library didn't have science books because the librarian never reads science, therefore felt the library didn't need science books. A very good question was raised. If all libraries were Library 2.0 would the permaconnected get superior library service and the unconnected (traditional) library user be disenfranchised? We have to remember that technology is a tool and it takes skill to use this tool.

I strongly disagree that libraries haven't changed much lately. Over my 30 year career, card catalogs were replace, PC were introduced, and the Internet was introduced. All these innovations drastically changed the role of libraries. We have grown and changed for the better with all of these, and I can't see any difference with Library 2.0.

Halfway through this article I realized that I agree Library 2.0 is just hype. It really isn't anything new -- it's all about change to better serve the public which has been ongoing since the existence of libraries. It will continue as long as libraries exist. Maybe I'm optimistic, but libraries have survive movies, radio, television, videos, DVDs and computers. We will survive Web 2.0 or Library 2.0.

"Focusing on what the user wants is fine, as long as, those wants make sense within the library context." This was a great line and I fully agree with it. Change has to be appropriate to the library. The value of the Library 2.0 banner is it awakens librarians to an new call. We need to be aware of the current trends in society. We need to learn and expand ourselves in order to reach the public we serve.

In summary, the article was very thought provoking. It was long and difficult to read, but I'm glad to have read it. I came away with three things. 1) Library 2.0 is not something new, but an new twist with technology added. 2) It is much broader that just technology. 3) We need to get out there and do something with it. #15 is completed.

Over the Hump and into the Final Stretch

It has been a very busy week. On Thursday I took a look at Technorati. Today I experimented with it, opened an account and added 8 blogs to my favorites. This one should be very useful. I set up the account for professional reading blogs. So #14 is completed.



On to #15. This article was little over my head, I had to look up several terms. It was a great explanation of Web 2.0. This challenge has been very consuming and has been the subject of most of my conversation for several weeks. I really liked Stephen Fry definition that Web 2.0 is more a frame of mind or mindset than a tangible thing. I feel I have grown dramatically in my technological knowledge. The second article Cites and Insights was much more manageable. This article is about the same dilemma public libraries have face through my 30 year career as a librarian, and I'm sure was the dilemma before and will continue to be after my career ends. The essence is a balancing act between the traditional and new. We need to continue to provide what the public uses and expects from libraries and we have to experiment and expand to reach younger or more diverse communities. Libraries are like people. Each has a personality all its own. They grow and change. This is not new. We had a very similar technological leap in the late 70s and early 80s when personal computers were the cutting edge of the future for libraries. It happened again int he 90s with the Internet being introduced to libraries. This is one of the things that has made librarianship so interesting, fun and challenging. I wouldn't have changed any part of the last 30 years.

I really agree with Michael Casey's definition that L2 is a philosophy dependant on three things: willingness to change and try new things, willingness to self evaluate and adapt (my paraphrasing) and willingness to look outside our own worlds for solutions. I'm commenting as I read this article and I'll have to stop at page 9 today. I disagree that L 2.0 is disruptive or a battle, although I'll concede that to some it may be. I see it as change. Change can be difficult, but it's necessary to life. Libraries can not be everything to everyone, no one or thing can be. But we can strive to be something new and exciting to someone who hasn't discovered the joy, fun and love of knowledge that can be found in the library. We can be something new and intriguing to someone who has yet to discover us.

Exploring more deeply

This morning I played around with Rollyo and created a reference search engine, then completed a few searches using the search engine. It was good and I can see great possibilities for this. It would be great for researchers and it would have a great potential for use on a narrow subject like medieval history or ornithology.

Next I checked on my Twitter account, still no responses. True I did not select many friends. Today I did a search for library, hoping to find someone I know who is also taking the 23 Thing Challenge. This was a great experience because I came up with over 260 results. Most of these were libraries, but there were a few individuals.

Something else is becoming clear to me. Quite a lot of time needs to be committed to these sites in order to understand how they work, how they can be used and special aspects and tools that are offered. I plan to go back and check on all the accounts that I've set up and take the time to explore each one in more depth. Time is the big factor and it's not always easy to give it.

It has been a little slow this morning so I presses on to #13, social bookmarking and del.icio.us. after the Gen Tech workshop I checked out del.icio.us. I liked it and thought I would revisit it later. So I went into this one with a little more knowledge. I set up an account and moved twelve items from my favorites to the account. #12 & #13 are completed.

Update on the 23 Things

Saturday, I started a Twitter account and looked at image generators. I also checked my bloglines account and was unable to change my subjects. I am receiving far too many on the the account and want to narrow it some. So I emailed bloglines for help with this. They have acknowledged the email, but have not responded to my questions. I was not able to work at my computer so there was quite a bit a frustration involved that day. I could not access my Flickr account.

Today, I accessed the Twitter account and had no messages so I send out a new one and will check it again this afternoon. On Saturday I was totally lost on the image generators. I played around with them, created a nice label I would have liked to add to my blog. When I tried to download it, it sent me back to the first page. I tryied setting up an account with Homestead, thinking I would have to start all over. They wanted credit card information to continue so I got out of that one. I have not found any directions for the image generators, so I'm stuck on this one. I did play around with them, but was not able to download to my blog. #10 I'm not sure if it is completed. #9 is still in the works.

Today I looked at LibraryThing and started a library with two books in my office. After attending the Gen Tech workshop I checked out this site, but did not sign up. This could be a great tool for book groups in the library, allowing book reviews on a blog or what's hot (particularly for teens) on a website or blog. This would be something I would use when I have more time to read. I might consider this as a way to join a book group. #11 is completed.

Frustation sets in

For the last few days I have been trying to add a picture to my profile. After hours of trial I was able to get it posted. After many more hours of trying to move the posted picture to my profile, I have given up in frustration.

On to the next things. Yesterday, I read the article on Flickr mashups and downloaded pictures from my digital camera for the first time. I added a few to my Flickr account. Mashups seem way beyond my capabilities at this time, but I will revisit them in a few months or next year and my opinion will likely to have changed with my level of techonological knowledge. I went on to read about RSS feeds and have set up a bloglines account. I'm not really sure how I personally could use RSS feeds. I can see where they could be great additions to a library website, they could be a great outreach to teens and young adults, and they would be time saving for avid Internet users. I consider myself a novice to technology and although I use the internet each and everyday, I don't spend much time out of the day reading news or professional materials online. I am trying to remain optimistic by telling myself that once I'm acquainted with the technology, I'll like it and use it. #5 & #7 is completed.

Today I located a few useful library related blogs and have added them to my bloglines account. I began by looking at most of the blogs on the list and chose Shifted Librarian, oss4lib and Information Research weblog. These seemed professional and academic and would be useful in keeping updated on technological issues. I choose two blogs I have already become familiar with and use regularly, Fresh Squeezed and the Gen Tech. Fresh squeezed is a blog about adult fiction put out by the adult fiction evaluator for OCPL, Wendy Crutcher. Gen Tech is a blog from the Gen Tech Workshop hosted by the Santiago Library System. I was unable to add Information Research weblog and Fresh Squeezed since they did not have RSS feeds. I find it hard to believe that the Information Research weblog didn't have a feed, but then I may have done something wrong. I'll try again at another time. I was very surprised to see that bloglines had captured so many articles already. #8 is completed.

I looked at Twitter trying to figure out what it is and what it could be used for. I will need to register an account to find out the answer to these two questions.

On my way to Web 2.0

Yesterday, I was able to view my first webcast. As part of the 23 Things Challenge, I viewed the InforPeople webcast, Web 2.0; What Library Managers Need to Know. I learned about blogs, wikis, RSS feeds, podcasts and social networking. #3 is completed

Today I registered by blog with InfoPeople and explored Fickr. I set up an account in Flickr and had some difficulty figuring out how to download a picture. It was easy to locate them. Our adult librarian, Chris Edwards, who has completed the challenge, showed me how to save the pictures to my hard drive and then to my Flickr account. I will continue with this tomorrow by bringing a CD with library pictures and trying to add some of these pictures to my Flickr account. Then I'll organize them. This will be very helpful with press releases and publicity for library programing. I will also use this with two of my hobbies, photography and scrapbooking. I have recently purchases my first digital camera. I will be using Flickr. #4 is completed.

My First Blog

Taking the Our 23 Web 2.0 Things Challenge has opened my eyes to a myriad of possibilities, both personal and professional. This is an exciting time to work in the library field. As I embark on this challenge, it was surprising to learn how much information in this area I had already picked up.

#1 reading the challenge, this FAQ is completed, I am still trying to get registered for an InfoPeople Web 2.0 event. Although I did attend the Generation Tech Workshop by Santiago Library System.

#2 creating and posting a blog will be completed with this.

#6 looking at library websites Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County was a clean crisp design. The RSS feeds make the site very navigable and easy to use. Ann Arbor District Library was a very different website. It has interesting use of blogs, yet everything that you would expect to see on a library website was there. Denver Public Library Podcasts is very different. Podcasts are entirely new to me. This use of them reminds me of the old dial-a-story in the 1970's. Podcasts could be a updated version of dial-a-story and would allow children to have a technological connect to the library at home. I can see this would be a great way to outreach children's programing, particularly Storytime and after school programs. What Denver did for children Seattle Public Library has done for teens with MySpace library connection. I really liked the use of book reviews for teens. We have a Mother/Daughter Book Group at Mesa Verde. Members of the group could post reviews of the books they read.

#16 learning about wikis is completed. I posted a wiki to the Literary Orange website, Orange Peel at http://libraryorangepeel.wetpaint.com/. Literary Orange is the annual author festival of Orange County Public Library. I posted the information about the C-Span Book TV Bus.