I had so much fun playing with these programs. Some of the programs kind of reminded me of playing with Madlibs as a kid. I just couldn't resist the Motivator program. I also enjoyed the Nietzsche Family Circus generator. I kept refreshing, and each one was funnier than the last one. I also enjoyed the Bart Simpson one! I even added one image I made to my Flickr account.
It's amazing how easy most of these programs are. I remember how hard it used to be to make these kinds of images using programs like Photoshop. Now you can do it with a touch of a button. I can imagine how some of these generators could be used in promotions for libraries (like the custom Read posters that you can have made). I wonder if there are any copyright issues with these kinds of generators?
Monday, May 28, 2007
Newsfeeds (Exercise #9)
Playing around with these different search tools was interesting because it reminded me of learning how to search databases and other library resources, and how even though most databases have similar search functions, each one is slightly different.
I thought Blogline's Search tool was easy once I clicked on the "advanced search" option and saw that I could search for feeds instead of posts. When I searched for the word library among posts, I got lots of random blogs. When I search for the word library among feeds, I found blogs and feeds that specifically pertained to libraries.
I liked that with Feedster I could search for blogs, news, or podcasts. I enjoyed playing around with the podcasts. I found it harder to get more specific though with the kind of searches that I did.
I had no idea that there was a Library and Information Science Search Engine, so I really enjoyed playing with LisZen. I enjoyed doing searches for library-related topics. I also liked just browsing some of the blogs. I did a search for information literacy and found some really interesting blogs, like the Information Literacy Weblog. Some fun blogs I found while browsing the List of Blogs included Annoyed Librarian and Library Games. It's truly amazing to see how many librarians are blogging.
I liked Technorati. I thought it was easy and fun to use. The tags on the homepage reminded me of Flickr. It was fun looking at the WTF section (though I thought WTF stood for something else besides "Where's the Fire"). It's always interesting with these kinds of websites to see people who become really obsessed and dedicated to defending whatever it is that they feel so passionately about. I can't imagine Technorati having as much potential for my work as LisZen, but I can see how it would be fun.
I thought Blogline's Search tool was easy once I clicked on the "advanced search" option and saw that I could search for feeds instead of posts. When I searched for the word library among posts, I got lots of random blogs. When I search for the word library among feeds, I found blogs and feeds that specifically pertained to libraries.
I liked that with Feedster I could search for blogs, news, or podcasts. I enjoyed playing around with the podcasts. I found it harder to get more specific though with the kind of searches that I did.
I had no idea that there was a Library and Information Science Search Engine, so I really enjoyed playing with LisZen. I enjoyed doing searches for library-related topics. I also liked just browsing some of the blogs. I did a search for information literacy and found some really interesting blogs, like the Information Literacy Weblog. Some fun blogs I found while browsing the List of Blogs included Annoyed Librarian and Library Games. It's truly amazing to see how many librarians are blogging.
I liked Technorati. I thought it was easy and fun to use. The tags on the homepage reminded me of Flickr. It was fun looking at the WTF section (though I thought WTF stood for something else besides "Where's the Fire"). It's always interesting with these kinds of websites to see people who become really obsessed and dedicated to defending whatever it is that they feel so passionately about. I can't imagine Technorati having as much potential for my work as LisZen, but I can see how it would be fun.
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
RSS Feeds (Exercise #8)
I was very excited to do this particulare exercise because it seems like a lot of my more geeky friends love RSS Feeds, and I was too embarrassed to admit I didn't know exactly what it was. And now I know what it is and how to actually get RSS feeds for the blogs and news sources that I read!
I think I will really like it because it seems like a good way to organize information that is important to me. I have lots of stuff bookmarked plus I'm signed up for e-mail newsletters and the like. It takes time sometimes to track down sources I like to read, especially when I'm not on my home computer where most of my bookmarks are (because even though I know what del.icio.us is, I haven't started using it). I think in many ways it will be a timesaver because I won't have to spend as much time looking around for things. At the same time though I can see it actually becoming a timewaster because I might go on my list to look for one blog and find myself checking other stuff too.
I think I can definitely use it in my worklife because, like all librarians, I'm always struggling to keep up with what's going on in the field. I want to stay fresh. Plus I think it's important when you work on a reference desk to stay updated on what's going on in the world because you never know when someone might have questions related to current events.
I can imagine it would be very helpful for libraries to have RSS Feeds that patrons can sign up for so that they can learn about new services and resources. It could perhaps be used for certain parts of the websites or blogs could be created. Right now when I get new resources that are of interest to faculty and graduate students in my liaison areas, I just send out e-mails. With RSS Feeds I could update them in a quicker way.
Here's the Blogroll that I created: http://www.bloglines.com/public/ahartsell
It's becoming an electic list of sources of both professional interests and personal interests. I'm actually thinking at this point that perhaps I should create two Bloglines--one for work and one for personal. That way I can search the professional one at work without being tempted to look at the more personal stuff.
I think I will really like it because it seems like a good way to organize information that is important to me. I have lots of stuff bookmarked plus I'm signed up for e-mail newsletters and the like. It takes time sometimes to track down sources I like to read, especially when I'm not on my home computer where most of my bookmarks are (because even though I know what del.icio.us is, I haven't started using it). I think in many ways it will be a timesaver because I won't have to spend as much time looking around for things. At the same time though I can see it actually becoming a timewaster because I might go on my list to look for one blog and find myself checking other stuff too.
I think I can definitely use it in my worklife because, like all librarians, I'm always struggling to keep up with what's going on in the field. I want to stay fresh. Plus I think it's important when you work on a reference desk to stay updated on what's going on in the world because you never know when someone might have questions related to current events.
I can imagine it would be very helpful for libraries to have RSS Feeds that patrons can sign up for so that they can learn about new services and resources. It could perhaps be used for certain parts of the websites or blogs could be created. Right now when I get new resources that are of interest to faculty and graduate students in my liaison areas, I just send out e-mails. With RSS Feeds I could update them in a quicker way.
Here's the Blogroll that I created: http://www.bloglines.com/public/ahartsell
It's becoming an electic list of sources of both professional interests and personal interests. I'm actually thinking at this point that perhaps I should create two Bloglines--one for work and one for personal. That way I can search the professional one at work without being tempted to look at the more personal stuff.
Tuesday, May 22, 2007
Mappr and Trading Cards (Exercise #6)
Though it seems to run a little slow, I was really intrigued with the Mappr program. My fiancé is obsessed with the Google Earth program. Mappr could enhance something like Google Earth by adding personal pictures as well as official maps and satellite pictures. It seems like it might have some really fun and interesting possibilities. If you had a particular kind of hobby or something, it would be interesting to see who else in the country has posted pictures on the hobby.
I was going to create a library trading card, but since several of the other blog participants have included pictures of their cats, I just couldn't resist including a picture of my cat. I had fun imagining making a whole line of cat trading cards. I can see though how trading cards of library staff at a library could be a good promotional kind of thing. You could post the trading cards around the library and the website to make the staff more visible.
I was going to create a library trading card, but since several of the other blog participants have included pictures of their cats, I just couldn't resist including a picture of my cat. I had fun imagining making a whole line of cat trading cards. I can see though how trading cards of library staff at a library could be a good promotional kind of thing. You could post the trading cards around the library and the website to make the staff more visible.
Fabulous Flickr Fun (Exercise #5)
I can't help breaking into alliteration from time to time. I was familiar with Flickr before and didn't find it terribly hard to use. In the past I used a website called Photobucket to post pictures. I like websites that let you post pictures because I always feel bad when I e-mail pictures to friends. I'm worried that it's too big of an attachment and whether or not they can open it up. Things like Flickr save you that problem.
I like the tag option. It's fun to see what kinds of pictures you can find on different tags. I wonder what a cataloger would think of these tags as a way to organize this information.
I posted a couple of pictures of my library (Strozier Library at Florida State University) on my Flickr account. Even though I don't think our building is terribly beautiful, it's one of the better pictures that I took, so that's why I'm including it.
I like the tag option. It's fun to see what kinds of pictures you can find on different tags. I wonder what a cataloger would think of these tags as a way to organize this information.
I posted a couple of pictures of my library (Strozier Library at Florida State University) on my Flickr account. Even though I don't think our building is terribly beautiful, it's one of the better pictures that I took, so that's why I'm including it.
Wednesday, May 16, 2007
Technology (Exercise #7)
I'm working on the flickr exercises. I created my account and everything, and then I realized that the pictures I want to upload are at home and I'm at work right now. So I'm skipping to Exercise #7. I couldn't decide what exactly to write about, since the topic of technology can include so many different aspects.
I finally decided to focus on this new project called Encylopedia of Life. It looks really interesting. It appears to be a Wikipedia-like project, only hopefully much better, and of course focuing on science. Like the new Citizendium, it's going to include experts and amateurs. It has some major institutions associated with it, like Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution. From the demonstrations it looks like the pages are going to have images, charts, maps, and videos. All the multimedia should make it more exciting than the boring encyclopedias and biology textbooks we had when I was a child (in the not so distant past).
I'm excited to hear aboout a project like this because it will hopefully combine a lot of what makes Wikipedia so popular without some of its baggage. Though I always caution students about using Wikipedia, I do understand its appeal. It's easy to use and easy to navigate, especially with the internal and external links. I like that Encyclopedia of Life looks like it will have that same ease of use and that it will continue the spirit of collaboration that makes Wikipedia such an interesting experiment, despite its many problems.
Now whether or not Encyclopedia of Life can reach its goal of including all 1.8 million species is another subject. They estimate it may take 10 years. That sounds rather optimistic to me. It reminds me a little of people who think that sometime we will have a universal digital library. The idea of being able to have a library of everything is very appealing, but at the end of the day probably impossible.
Still I like seeing ambitious projects like this. I think it shows what makes the Internet still such a powerful concept in so many people's minds---the idea that we can bring together thousands and thousands of people to create a catalog of all the worlds' species, a catalog that could change the way we think about biology, ecology and maybe even our planet. Reminds you that the Internet can be used for more than celebrity gossip, porn, and college hook-up social network sites.
I finally decided to focus on this new project called Encylopedia of Life. It looks really interesting. It appears to be a Wikipedia-like project, only hopefully much better, and of course focuing on science. Like the new Citizendium, it's going to include experts and amateurs. It has some major institutions associated with it, like Harvard University and the Smithsonian Institution. From the demonstrations it looks like the pages are going to have images, charts, maps, and videos. All the multimedia should make it more exciting than the boring encyclopedias and biology textbooks we had when I was a child (in the not so distant past).
I'm excited to hear aboout a project like this because it will hopefully combine a lot of what makes Wikipedia so popular without some of its baggage. Though I always caution students about using Wikipedia, I do understand its appeal. It's easy to use and easy to navigate, especially with the internal and external links. I like that Encyclopedia of Life looks like it will have that same ease of use and that it will continue the spirit of collaboration that makes Wikipedia such an interesting experiment, despite its many problems.
Now whether or not Encyclopedia of Life can reach its goal of including all 1.8 million species is another subject. They estimate it may take 10 years. That sounds rather optimistic to me. It reminds me a little of people who think that sometime we will have a universal digital library. The idea of being able to have a library of everything is very appealing, but at the end of the day probably impossible.
Still I like seeing ambitious projects like this. I think it shows what makes the Internet still such a powerful concept in so many people's minds---the idea that we can bring together thousands and thousands of people to create a catalog of all the worlds' species, a catalog that could change the way we think about biology, ecology and maybe even our planet. Reminds you that the Internet can be used for more than celebrity gossip, porn, and college hook-up social network sites.
Friday, May 11, 2007
Life-Long Learning (Exercises Two and Three)
The second exercise for this program involved watching a short online tutorial about Life-Long Learning. Now I'm supposed to write about it for exercise #3. Watching this tutorial was interesting because I'm an Instruction Librarian. We're always stressing how learning information literacy skills contributes to life-long learning. I can see how these habits match up with information literacy, especially habit #5 Create your own learning toolbox and Habit #6 Use technology to your advantage. Being able to find and use information effectively can contribute to anyone's learning toolbox. Knowing where to look is half the battle.
For me probably the hardest of these habits is Habit #3 View Problems as Challenges. When I have a problem or an obstacle in my life, all I want to do is solve it. I tend to stress out very quickly when I have a problem. I'm trying to figure out why it happened (why me?) and what I need to fix it. Plus I might be panicking a bit. I can't see it as a learning opportunity until much later, if even then.
The easiest habit for me is probably Habit #5 Create your own learning toolbox. As a librarian, I'm always thinking of what resources I have at hand for any task. I never thought about it as a "toolbox," but when I start something new, I always think about what I'll need to finish the task, and who I can contact to get help. Plus I always do lots of research. No matter what I'm doing, whether it's planning my wedding or deciding on what plants to grow on the balcony, I always go to the library to get books on the topic.
I like to think that Habit #2 Accept responsibility for your own learning is easy for me. I've always been curious, and I enjoy learning. My school days aren't that far behind me though. I think I might still be in that habit of wanting to get that A, rather than considering how an assignment might benefit me. That's something I'm working on.
For me probably the hardest of these habits is Habit #3 View Problems as Challenges. When I have a problem or an obstacle in my life, all I want to do is solve it. I tend to stress out very quickly when I have a problem. I'm trying to figure out why it happened (why me?) and what I need to fix it. Plus I might be panicking a bit. I can't see it as a learning opportunity until much later, if even then.
The easiest habit for me is probably Habit #5 Create your own learning toolbox. As a librarian, I'm always thinking of what resources I have at hand for any task. I never thought about it as a "toolbox," but when I start something new, I always think about what I'll need to finish the task, and who I can contact to get help. Plus I always do lots of research. No matter what I'm doing, whether it's planning my wedding or deciding on what plants to grow on the balcony, I always go to the library to get books on the topic.
I like to think that Habit #2 Accept responsibility for your own learning is easy for me. I've always been curious, and I enjoy learning. My school days aren't that far behind me though. I think I might still be in that habit of wanting to get that A, rather than considering how an assignment might benefit me. That's something I'm working on.
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