This will certainly be a life long learning experience.  Thanks for getting me started on the tech road.

I did it.  I completed the 23 Things.  A friend said that learning Web 2.0 was the last thing he expected me to attempt, I had to agree with him.  But a challenge is a challenge and I accepted it and was successful.

I discovered that I can learn this technology stuff but not on my own.  On some Things I would spend two to three hours muddling through the assignment and then spend another couple of hours with my husband muddling with me.  He enjoyed the learning experience and was at times amazed that I had gotten as far as I had before needing his help.  So was I. 

When I read Mr. Venditta’s email yesterday, saying we didn’t have to complete the assignments just explore them, I had mixed emotions.  I would not have learned anything if I had not completed the task.  Just reading about Flickr and downloading ebooks would not give me the information I  need to help a patron.  By doing the Things I feel that I am more likely to assist someone rather than say “I don’t know”.  Had I just explored the topics I certainly could have saved many hours.   I do feel the time was worth it and that I have learned how to navigate the “system of tubes and pipes called the INTERNETS” (so succinctly described by Senator Stevens and President Bush).

  I view the web as a tool to learn more and to find things  quickly.  The wikis and Delicious can be  important tools for libraries.   I realized that I do not like the social networking sites.  Twitter and the like left me feeling sorry for the lonely people who were reaching out to someone/anyone who had something in common.  In my opinion My Space, Face Book, Twitter are superficial attempts to communicate with each other.  I fear our culture will lose the ability to communicate and relate to each other face to face.  Will we become a society of hermits who hide behind our screens?

The 23 Things learning format is very good.  You can work at your own pace.  After completing it I would like to attend  classes on some of the Things.  There are questions I have that could be cleared up in a 90 minute class with an expert.  Going to a class with the knowledge I now have would strengthen the learning experience.

Thank you for providing me this opportunity to stretch my limits and to wite a blog.  Can you imagine, me  a blogger? 

I’m sure that those raised on computers will have no problem navigating the process and enjoying the e-books in any of the various forms.  I am curious about the ‘delete after expiration’ aspect…I’m assuming that it is an honor system.  The CD doesn’t automatically get erased or deleted from the computer, right?  

My son loves podcasts so I will make sure he is aware of ODEO.  It  is a great source for dyslexics. 

Over the years I have watched many clips on You Tube, some very funny some poignant, some sad.  I chose a clip showing a penguin outsmarting a pod of killer whales.  I hope you enjoy the clip. .

I visited CCLS YouTube and enjoyed the teens doing Library Y2K.  Oxford Library Tour had great music.  From Oxford I was shown a link to Millersville so being a good alumni I watched a couple of their clips.  I see a use for this as a way to advertise your library, have teens video favorite books.  Mostly I see YouTube as a way to waste a few minutes here and there while enjoying a bit of humor, nature, political satire etc. 

As with most of these web things I think I would need a seminar on how to incorporate them into our library.  I don’t know enough to brainstorm on my own, need someone who has been there done that to lead the way.

I looked at Haverford Township Delaware County Library and liked what they presented.  West Chester’s is fantastic and  looks like they really want teens to feel at home.  I felt welcomed just looking at the site.  Would like to know how receptive their teens are.

Twitter seems like a lot of work.  I saw one post that said “I’m late”.  If you are late what are you doing on the computer sending an inane message like that.  I still feel that these networks are keeping people at arm’s length and making real communication into sound bites.  Email is useful for instant communication and can be expressive.  I don’t care for the reach the masses with soundbites approach.

I didn’t care for the microblogging.  I looked at Philadelphia Free Library.  It seems jarring, like someone is shouting information to you as you pass on the street.  I’ll have to let this percolate in my brain and see if I find it useful for our library.

I also checked out Hair Mixer.  This is also free and allows you to see yourself with a different hairstyle and color.  I thought this would be useful for a library program such as a make up makeover for teens or women in general.  You upload a photo of yourself and try on a style.

A few months ago I attempted to use Google Docs. with a friend in Sacramento.  He was unable to open the document and work on it.  it was quite frustrating and many emails and phone calls did not solve the problem.  He is an IT person and could not figure out how to get it to work.  I’m hoping that Soho Writer will be friendlier.  Here is the link to the document http://writer.zoho.com/public/exlibris330/Deceased-Authors-2008.  Is it okay to make something like this public?

LIST OF AUTHORS WHO DIED IN 2008

Tony Hillerman

Michael Crichton  

Studs Terkel  

Arthur C. Clarke

Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

Gregory McDonald

James Crumley

I linked movies and a book to our catalog.  My link didn’t look like another link that was there.  Also when I put the cursor over the link it didn’t come up as a clickable link.  I may not have linked it properly.  If anyone can tell me if it is right or wrong I would appreciate it.  Should the colors and fonts all be similar or is it okay to get wild and crazy with colors and fonts?

I have to give wikis a thumbs up for being useful and user friendly.