Method 12: Evaluation

At last I'm Finished!!!

I enjoyed all of the learning modules. I think my favorite is Flickr, just for the enjoyment of those pictures. I thoroughly enjoyed Dr. Wesch's "An anthropological introduction to YouTube." I understand it so much better now. Besides the fun of watching some of the videos, I'm glad to know the history of its development and how it has evolved into a community.

The exercises were easy to follow and the links were most informative. I plan to use all of the methods in one way or another, some personal and some as library extensions.

I didn't expect to be working up to the end of the deadline to finish this -- but so glad I was able to learn these methods. I'm ready to learn the rest of 2.0. Please design another learning module! I will definitely participate.

method 11: Podcasts

I'd like to try some podcasts on our library webpage. It might be easier to start off with some already done by someone else. Whatever, podcasts seem like an exciting way to get people involved in different ways at the library.

I participated in a podcast done by NETLS. At first I was really nervous about doing it, but it turned out to be fun. And I sounded ok!

So I'm thinking we could do something fairly simple, like talking about books we've enjoyed reading. I'm going to subscribe to a few booktalk podcasts and see how they sound first. i like the idea of having teens or kids participate.

Method 10: WikiWikis

I've use Wikipedia, and participated in a Wiki designed to determine when was the best date to schedule a workshop, but I hadn't thought to set up a wiki myself. I have set up a wiki for my staff and intend to use it to get input on our revision of our Technology Plan. Also plan to use it for any other issues staff needs to work on together. It's strictly a private wiki, invitation to staff only to join.

There are a lot more uses for wikis than I thought there were. I think it's a good module for an online book discussion club.

I forgot to post my favorite blog on the state library development wiki site. here it is:
http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/feed/

Method 8: Social networking and method 9: chat & IM

I don't know how people have all this time to do social networking! While I have a personal facebook account, often I will just go to the news feeds to see what others are doing and don't post anything myself. Other times I will carry on a dialog with a friend or relative.

I don't like chat. It interrupts what I'm doing and often continues on far too long when I have a particular online mission to pursue. As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather have a phone call.
Of Course, my chats have been personal, not library related. I can see that if a library has enough staff to use chat or IM for reference, it can be a good thing. However with only two fulltime employees and four part time, scheduling doesn't allow for a person dedicated to IM reference. We are revising our Internet guidelines, which didn't allow chat -- since so many social networking sites allow it, the guideline about chat isn't enforcible.

I will soon build a library page on Facebook. I almost feel obligated to do so, as well as establish a Twitter presence for the Library. However, again, the time all of these social networking sites require is tremendous. It is difficult just to maintain a current website, even with the YA and Juvenile items taken care of by those particular assistants. Weighing the pros against the cons, I still see I need to set up a social networking library account. I definitely don't think library and personal accounts should be mixed. It is only recently that I have set up two email accounts, using the new gmail account for library business. However, some business email still gets routed to my personal email account just because it was the only contact account for too many years.

Method 7: Tagging

Now I know what it means on my Facebook account when the note appears that someone was "tagged" by someone else. I think this method is going to help me organize my favorite sites in a better way.

I also set up a LibraryThing account for my personal reading. Soon I'll set up the library's account and begin posting some reviews of new books.

Method 6: borrowing videos

http://www.youtube.com/user/AmLibraryAssociation#p/u/0/p391LrydfEs

This is my first attempt to embed a YouTube video. Yay! I actually did it!
I was really interested in Dr. Michael Wesch's "An Anthropological Introduction to YouTube". I understand the phenomena much better now. His comments on the development of connections through YouTube reminded me of the connections developed on the writers listserv "The Spoon" some years before YouTube appeared. We developed a community feeling so strong that members began to visit each other, there was a collage picture made of the members, we sent around a tape and various members added music to it, several members met annually, members exchanged private emails as well as public exchanges on the listserv. When one of the members died of cancer, all the community joined in mourning as if she had been a personal acquaintance -- and she had been, through sharing herself through stories. One person I became acquainted with visited in Texas twice and on the second trip brought a seedling tree as a gift to me -- the tree having been from one planted by his father that was the subject of a story he had sent to the listserv. It appears to be the same type of connection that some contributors to YouTube have established. Having had that experience, I certainly identified with what Dr. Wesch was saying.
Watching the the growth of YouTube also explained to me what I see with a nephew in Nashville who is sharing his music and songs through YouTube. I didn't understand the self reflexive tone that he takes as he shares -- it seemed rather more intimate than I expected. After listening to Dr. Wesch, I see that my nephew is right in tune with what is happening with our new way of connecting.

I can think of many ways libraries can use YouTube to call attention to programming, and even to produce their own programming. My first impression, that people would seldom watch a library video is definitely the wrong impression. Certainly libraries can upload videos and embed them on their webpages and make very exciting connections.

Method 5: another try

Trying to upload from my own files. This is the same snowstorm in February 2010. Our pecan tree!

February 2010

February 2010
Originally uploaded by booklady702001

Third attempt to upload this picture from Flickr! I took this photo during a snow storm in February 2010. This was about 10:00 a.m. I wish I'd taken another photo when I left at 3:00 p.m. but I was more concerned then with getting HOME!

Methods 3 & 4 Feeding in the clouds

Method 3: Cloud Computing, continued.
I actually tried computing in the clouds last summer. I posted a bio of my Dad and invited a niece and nephew and my two older brothers to contribute some information to it. The niece was really excited about it, my older brothers and nephew seemed to regard it with suspicion. I myself am insecure about security of personal information posted to the cloud. I want to know more about security, but will begin exploring ways I can use it.

Method 4: RSS
I find this really useful. I experimented with some general news feeds and decided to delete them. For particular researching, RSS is great. I like Ellie Collier in the Library with the lead pipe at http://www.inthelibrarywiththeleadpipe.org/feed
She deals with several interesting topics and I like her questioning, open attitude.
Learning to Dance the Web 2.0 at http://learningtodancetheweb20.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default is another interesting blog about learning the two-step. I appreciate her comments as she progresses through the same Dance I'm trying to learn.
I 'm following Twitter/planolibrary http://twitter.com/statuses/user_timeline/6319192.rss to see how Plano Library uses Twitter, seeing if I can find ways for Van Alstyne library to use it also.
The Spoon Cafe Journal at http://www.spooncafejournal.org/feeds/posts/default is a blog I found by accident. It is a writer's group that used to be a listserv I was part of eight years ago. It was exciting to find it had been resurrected in new technology and that I know some of the writers posting to it. I already have a new poem to submit.
I also found it useful to subscribe to a diabetes diet feed and an arthritis help feed since those are two health problems I have.
I expect I will use RSS feeds on a daily basis.

Where are the clouds?

I feel very doubtfully about security of posting in the clouds. I presume the more I use it, the easier I will feel about it. It seems to be inevitable so I'd better start using it. I think I will still keep important info saved elsewhere, just in case the cloud disintegrates! A lot of people seem really excited about the possibilities. I can see where collaborators could really make use of this.

Snapshots

Snapshot

A photo sits beside my screen,
Happy holidays from the Hazeltons.
My heart aches because they are so far away.
I go as often as I can.

I fly to Nashville and Jim picks me up.
Three blinding smiles shine
From the crowded back seat.
They all talk at once.

We drive into the Tennessee hills,
On winding tree shaded roads.
The land falls away on either side
Like the ribs of a starving horse.

I can't believe Katie is ten!
Last time, she snuggled on my lap
And I held her as if
We'd never have this time again.

Juanita Hazelton
2/4/2010