Week #10, Thing #24 Thinking

I really liked this web experience....well worth the effort. I began my "journey of the 25 things" knowing it would offer me an opportunity to learn just what was behind all those terms I ran into online, feel a sense of achievement in stepping out of my safe surfing zones, find web tools that I could actually put to good use and, perhaps best of all, do what I love to do most with the internet....PLAY.

I will be going back over it all more thoroughly from time to time and trying it all again. Already a few of my fellow tech loving friends have benefited from this course as I introduced them to some of what the web can offer. Maybe I will add a few patrons down the road, but even if I don't it was a great journey and it worked for me.

Thanks Elaine and your tech crew for making this available to us all. Hmmmm...maybe we could have updates once in awhile when someTHING new comes along...I'm in.

Week #10, Thing #23 Net Library

Although I don't think I'll ever want to give up being able to read in bed at 3:00 am or sit outside in the sunshine with a book in my hand, being able to access a title whenever I think of it or browse a subject and find a new author is pretty sweet. A few titles safely loaded into your device of choice with no worry of a library book being left behind on the plane or your hotel offers another bonus. I know that down the road there will be more titles available as more and more people take advantage of this great service. I'd say this was another good Thing.

Week #10, Thing #22 Podcasting

Yes I can see how this would be another useful tool for libraries. Podcasts offer another way to access information and could also help to clarify resource material found on library shelves and online data bases. Another Thing to add to my list of "things that deserve a closer look".

Week #10, Thing #21 YouTube!!!!!

I think I have been losing sleep enjoying bloopers, music vids (a lot of old favs), old tv shows, political discussions and even interesting lectures on YouTube forever. Once again...love it! Libraries could make great use of this website in many ways, but I could well imagine a local library showing how it functions and its services available to make new patrons more knowledable in their first visits. These are a few that have been around for ages and you might know them, but I think they are worth another visit....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MF2gZu3ygEQ - Library humour

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wTXw15SKFX4 - Different but mighty fine library

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YPnGPIMUnus - Just because it is bad

Week #9, Thing #20 PB Wiki-ing

I could play (not just play...found new restaurants to visit) with this one for hours. Ah well, who needs to sleep.

Week #9, Thing #19 Wiki-ing

Whenever I google a topic and it shows up in a Wikipedia entry I seem to go there first. I know there can be discrepancies and even opinions within, but it gives me a quick overview of whatever or whoever I am looking for. The major drawback is there can be opinion (truthiness), nonfactual or even deliberate malicious material inserted and how is the viewer to know. For more detailed research a visit to the local library with its vast offer of published tomes can usually verify or even refute the Wikipedia entries. But Wikipedia has, at the very least, narrowed my search. What I was unaware of was the many wikis available and I hope to check out more of these. I will definitely return to the ones with a library connection.

Week #7, Thing #17

Libraries will have to, and I am sure want to, adapt their services to a future society geared to a more technologically savvy patron. Working in a library I see the way our services are updated and feedback is encouraged when new technology is implemented. It also becomes clear that the library visit offers more than just a building to pick up a book, movie, Cd or do research. As Michael Stephens stated:""the Library is human" because it makes the library a social and emotionally engaged center for learning and experience", and that should ensure that the library remains an integral part of society.