Beyond Method #12: Library Technology

Beyond Method #12: Last Dance: Evaluation. I finished!!!
1. My favorite exercises include Smilebox and Shelfari. I'll be using those most of all. i can use them personally as well as professionally.
2. My lifelong learning goals include trying to keep up with technology changes, even though they proliferate exponentially! Even though I retired in June, after 43 years in libraries, I will continue to be involved with libraries as a volunteer, and as a member of TLA. If I want to keep myself relevant to the daily changes in information technology, I need to continue learning through webinars like this.
3. One of the take-aways I really like is Skype an Author. This has such great possibilities -- why didn't I know about it sooner!
4. Improvements for the course? I like the self paced learning and the exercises to hold myself accountable for actually doing the hands-on learning. Improve by continuing to provide this kind of tech training.
5. Yes, I would definitely participate if you have a similar program.

Beyond Method #11: Library Technology

Beyond Method #11 concerns use of online surveys. I have participated in many surveys using several of these tools although I haven't devised such a survey myself. I can think of several ways to use these tools. I plan to use SurveyMonkey to poll visitors to the Gunter Library & Museum facebook page to see how many would be interested in forming a historical society in Gunter. PollEverywhere is a new tool to me. I can see where it could be useful in a library focus group, and perhaps could be used in some YA activity where they are game playing.

Beyond Method #10: Library Technology

Method #10 concerns tools to help conferencing or continuing education online. I have used Go-to-meeting. This was useful when a tech needed to take over my computer remotely and fix a problem we were having. I've also attended many webinars for continuing education. I used this extensively for staff training, and now that state library finances have been cut so drastically, I expect we will all be relying on this more and more.

I participated in a podcast set up by NETLS to discuss with other librarians how we liked using Discover Pods. NETLS also set up an online conference to discuss the feasability of KOHO as an online automation system. I have never organized an online meeting or training session.

I really liked the idea of using SKYPE to connect authors with children, or even with a book discussion group. I've never used SKYPE, but my laptop can use it, so I will be trying that out soon. Connecting families with soldiers overseas sounds like an excellent program, one that all libraries should have.

Beyond Method #9: Tell a Digital Story

Photo album generated with Smilebox">Southern Caribbean Cruise

This photo album was created using smilebox. It was really simple to build. Libraries should be able to use similar tools to promote and present summer reading programs, YA activities, other library programs. You just need to have the photos and in a few minutes you can build a quality album, with music.

Beyond Method #8: Library Technology

Method # 8 talks about screencasting and shows the many tools available to do screencasting. Screencasting looks like a very useful tool. Libraries could use it easily to explain how to do something. On the Van Alstyne Library's webpage there needs to be an explanation of how to use e-books. The three steps involved could be explained with a screencast embedded. I used Screenr to make a screencast inviting people to join Van Alstyne Voices Toastmasters. The flyer showed up, but the audio did not. I need to use my laptop instead of my desktop because it has a better speaker.

Beyond method #7: Library Technology

I've been having fun looking at all the possibilities for presentations. There are so many! I tried slideshare and it seemed really easy. I will try to embed the Fake Presentation. Yahoo! It worked! I will have to do some presentations of my own now. This is so simple. A library could easily make a presentation for one of their programs, to advertise it, or could make one at the program and report about it, then embed it in their web page. I like it!

Beyond Method #6 Library Technology

This technology step concerns use of e-books. It's a lot more complicated than I ever thought. I haven't had an opportunity to download anything from Overdrive since the Van Alstyne Library doesn't own a subscription. I need a membership card in the McKinney Library to use their subscription. I do use my Kindle daily to download my personal book choices. But it is not possible for libraries to circulate Kindles yet, if ever. There are too many restrictions for libraries to loan out e-book readers. So the great technology that allows users of Kindle, Nook, Sony, etc to purchase books and read them instantly is closed to libraries until some future technology adjustment is made. Definitely libraries are in danger of being superceded by this technology. Fortunately there are still plenty of readers who want the book in hand, or, don't like or understand the technology.

Project Gutenberg has thousands of free downloads. All are in the public domain. I downloaded Andy Adams "Log of a Cowboy" formatted for Kindle to my PC to see if I could transfer it to my Kindle. I was also able to read it easily online at the Project Gutenburg site. Go to "Log of a Cowboy" to link to Project Gutenberg. Many of the files are for audio books also. The key is that the copyright must have expired before a book can be digitized on Project Gutenberg. Click here to try looking up one of your own old favorite books.