Thing 20--Podcasts

Podcast provide us with opportunities to connect and educate our patrons when they are not at the library for us to help one on one. I listened to a few podcast of chapters from a book. These podcasts are updated each week with a new chapter.  I also listened to some musical performances from a library in Georgia. I liked  them all, but I found the performances by the librarians a little dull. It was like really bad NPR. I think we need to make it more exciting for our audiences--especially YS. We would need to have more voice dynamics and sound effects to keep kids--and adults--interested.

Thing 19--Hulu

Hulu is great for the consumer. I enjoyed watching my program and I do not mind the commercial breaks. I actually like commercials, so the breaks seem to go by pretty quickly. I probably will not watch the clips.  I do not see the benefit--unless you want to check out the show for a second.

I think this is a great resource, but I think it will take a while before DVDs disappear.  Thus libraries offering DVDs will still find relevance to our patrons. People still own BlueRay and DVD players, so they will still be borrowing DVDs for a while.

Thing 18 YouTube

OK, so I admit to watching YouTube clips, but I am not convinced these are very effective for libraries. Fun, yes, but do people other than librarians watch clips about a librarian being annoyed, singing, or as a superhero? Unless we get a hit reality show going about "life at libraries", I am not sure that patrons really care to understand our humor--or our pain.

I like the idea of book trailers by patrons--especially teens. I like the idea of doing a one book story time and posting it--or a puppet show. Kids--and thus moms--will like having those available.  Maybe we could create "how to" videos for our e-branch or research resources.

Thing 17 Pandora

I LOVE Pandora. I use it often--even on my phone. I love hearing new music.  Pandora gives  me a great mix and the opportunity to hear new artists mixed in with my favorites. I like the ability to mix all stations, some, or just focus on one. I also love adding additional artists to a station so you can get more variety. This makes me happy and helps me be much more productive.

Thing 16 Googledocs

This is such a nice option. We have been using it for our schedules in YS, and I love it. I can check everything at home and if someone is signed on it doesn't keep others from joining. Kind of cool that you can see things changing as someone edits too.

I recommend this to patrons all the time. A few patrons want to have access on multiple comupters or need to share access for a group project. This is the perfect solution. I wish this had been around when I was in school.

Thing 15 Google Maps

I use this ALL THE TIME. I love Google Maps! I use it on my IPhone too. I love to check out what is around a place, get directions, and even get a street view.

Here are directions to where my husband and I went on our first date.
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=Frisco+Public+Library,+Frisco+Square+Boulevard,+Frisco,+TX&daddr=32.97287,-96.82165+to:Dallas+Museum+of+Art,+North+Harwood+Street,+Dallas,+TX&hl=en&geocode=FeXU-QEdImw6-iGAiFd_gV1jKA%3BFUYg9wEdbp46-imxYhX3WiFMhjEkr-ERrurR6A%3BFdBM9AEd--86-iGw9drmQJ_xBg&mra=dpe&mrsp=1&sz=11&via=1&sll=32.97047,-96.82048&sspn=0.40209,0.614548&ie=UTF8&z=11

Thing 14 You Send It

This is very cool as well. I really like the ability to send large files so easily. With videos, graphics, and pictures this rocks. So easy too!

Thing 13 tiny URL

I chose to change http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/a-living-testimony?lang=eng to http://tinyurl.com/a-living-testimony.  Check it out! Cool.

 This is a very helpful tool, and I will be using this more often. I love that you can choose the tiny URL yourself or let the program choose it.

Thing 12 Facebook

I have been on Facebook for about 5 years or so now. I am kind of sick of FB, and actually thinking about getting off. It feels like another time-sucker in my life.

However,  I do notice the updates and posts from the Frisco Public Library. I think this is pretty awesome for us to do and a great way to keep our community involved. In my opinion, we do a nice job of keeping our page "humanized" with updates, postes, pictures, etc. I know we always mention the Volunteen page to our teen volunteers in our meetings as well. We also tell people to checkout our page at most of the YS events.

Personally, my profile  is not very "humanized"  at the moment. This is evidenced by my friend pleading with me to post--that was actually posted today. :(

Thing 11 LinkedIn

I actually searched LinkedIn to check out the Youth Services staff listed there when I was applying for my current position. Other than looking for jobs, I doubt I would use this. I think business people probably use this a lot. I browsed the jobs section and most of the industies represented do not apply to me as an employee, but I can see how this would be beneficial to a lot of industries.

Thing 10 GoodReads or LibraryThing

Ok, so I now have accounts on both GoodReads and LibraryThing. I have had a GoodReads account for years, and I forget to put anything on it. I do sometimes check in on what my friends are reading. I think linking the library catelog to LibraryThing for reviews is a great idea.  I like to see what our patrons think about materials. I guess, in this case, I am a moocher because I like to read and I rarely add my reviews. I will work on this.

Thing 9 Delicious

I like Delicious. This makes remembering and sharing links so much easier than before--especially since I use so many different computers in a day. I do not really want to share my link because I just don't want to share everything. I guess, I dont really want to use the social part.

Thing 8--Tagging

Tagging is very useful. I think this compliments subject headings, but doesn't replace them. Tags are much more interesting to look at than boring old subject headings, and allow the tech savvy the ability to quickly access popular information.  Plus, this can help you when you are not sure what subject heading a topic might be listed under. Oh, and the large words often grab my eye, causing me to search something I was not even looking for at that time.

Thing 7 --IM

I have used IMing to receive help online before--most recently with H&R Block for taxes. I like this feature. We  should use this more in our department with each other.  I doubt kids would be able to utilize this for reference, but the adults who are in YS and the rest of the library would benefit from this feature.

Thing 6-- Digg

I did not like Digg. I worry about "news" that is so one-sided. Perhaps I did not like most of what I saw on Digg because I am very conservative. I like when biased news is presented with the understanding that it is opinion based on facts, not that the opinions are facts--so that if you do not agree with the "news" something is wrong with you. Plus, public opinion does not make something fact or right.

I probably will not use this, mostly because it did not interest me and I don't have time.

Thing 5-- Twitter

I have a Twitter account. I never use it. I sometimes check on news stories and tweets from a few people. My husband gets tweets all the freakin' time. I hate hearing the buzz every few minutes, so I would never want alerts sent to me.  This could be a great benefit to the library for letting moms know about programming changes, new programs, etc. I like that kind of info, and if I was a mom who brought my kids to the library I would love having tweets for cancellations, changes, updates, or new programs.

Just an interesting note:
I was watching some crazy doomsday show on the History channel, and the government plans to tweet info if there is a huge disaster--like a nuclear bomb. That might be the only way to get info about where it would be safe to evacuate, if evacuation is even the best option. Cool, but I hope we never need to use Twitter for that kind of info.

Thing 4

I think this offers a great medium for posting pictures. I looked at several of the photostreams, and I really like the libraries that show the activities of patrons. I love the activities involving kids and teens--maybe I am biased on that one. I noticed that nobody really commented on the pics, so I wonder if the patrons who attend events actually look at the photostreams.  Did the staff let the patrons know they could check out pics on flicker later, or did they just post them?  I liked the Teenloft's photostream.  I think teens who hang out at the library might like to see themselves in pics online. I loved the idea of window poems.

If you really make the photostreams accessible to the public--and remind them to take a look--then Flicker will be a great way to connect with the community; However, as a busy person, I doubt I would really make the time to look myself.

How the RSS feed will benefit the Library

RSS feeds do offer a great way to connect with the public on a more frequent basis. It sounds like libraries would be able to update the community on events, ideas, new release information, educational opportunities, needs of the library, and even connect with the local community. I also see this as a necessary tool for the future with the digital age of libraries coming so quickly.  If our digital branch becomes more used, this may be the perfect--and only-- way to connect with patrons. I wonder how many of our patrons use these tools.  Who are we connecting with? How could we get more interested in using this option?

Additionally, as staff this provides more opportunities to follow local businesses, area libraries as well as worldwide libraries. What a great way to learn and keep up with our fast moving world.

Google Reader

Interesting... I am not sure how much I will use this. I can never seem to want to follow anyone's blog.

Not really sure what to say on my blog...

Seriously, I am not a creative writer, and I don't pretend to have ideas that will change anyone's life. As a natural consequence,  I am not sure what to say here. I'll keep eveyone "posted" on any bright ideas I happen to be blessed to come up with for you--I know that was silly.