Project Play Semester 1 Reflections

First of all, I have to give heartfelt thanks to Stef, Joy, and Beth for creating Project Play. There tends to be fear about new technology, and you did a great job acknowledging that fear yet using it to encourage us to have fun and explore. It was good for me to have some exposure to these technologies that I have heard of but knew nothing about, and ignorance is not bliss for me. Thank you for the bite-sized lessons that let me see that I could understand what Web 2.0 is all about and that it is not too hard. Thank you for encouraging me to just play. Thank you also for giving me a few weeks to catch up on my assignments.

My favorite lesson was learning how to set up my own blog. It did not come without its difficulties (mainly trying to remember my password and the difference between Blogger and Bloglines). It was fun picking out a template and learning how to post, plus learning how to post a picture. It is fun to know that I have my own blog. It's kind of like my own little piece of celebrity, even though the Project Play leaders and I are the only ones reading it! I hope to post more storytime articles someday that may be helpful for other librarians.

What was the worst part of Project Play? It had to be the time monster. I only work part-time, and I found it difficult during certain weeks to devote the time needed to learn. Because I am only here three days per week, I found myself having to review quite a bit to refresh my memory of what I just did a few days ago. This is no fault of Project Play as the lessons were all fabulous. That is why I so appreciate how in tune you wonderful Project Play gurus are to those of us who are such newbies to the technology. By giving us time to catch up, you've shown just how much you want us to learn, and I am so appreciative of your dedication and kindness. Sometimes it is easy to feel dumb with new technology, and it is usually just because no one has explained it, and people are often thrown into it to sink or swim. Thank you for teaching me how to swim.

Actually, maybe the worst part of Project Play was dealing with the spelling on Cute Overload and I can has cheezburger. I am an English major, and, although the pictures are adorable, I can't stand the spelling--augh!!!! It is painful! What is happening to the English language? Call Grammar 911!

I am hoping to take the second semester of Project Play. The only factor holding me back is the one of time. We do a lot of programs, and I worry about falling behind. I do think it is important to keep learning, however, so I do think you will see me back. I enjoy playing more, learning more, and especially fearing less. Thank you for teaching me that the Web is not all work but lots of play.

Have you ever considered developing Project Advanced Algebra? I could have used you in high school!

Wikis

Gotta love that name--Wiki! Such a fun name must mean a fun technology. Wikis are a great way to get up-to-date information as opposed to waiting for yearly (and expensive) encyclopedia updates. They also are a great way for people to collaborate over a distance, just like Stef and Beth can do for Project Play. One great library use would be for a community events page. Wouldn't it be great to have a go-to page for all events, school and community? Think of how non-profit groups could keep information up-to-date and accessible to all. Families would appreciate a one-spot place to find things to do. Libraries and community groups could work together to promote each other. Sounds like a win-win situation.

There is always the danger of misinformation on a wiki. How expert are the posters on a particular subject? Will someone edit something I posted, and change it for the worst? There are a few drawbacks, but not enough to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Wikis are another way to help our patrons have access to the information they need, and for patrons to get us information we need.

Tagging

After hearing the term for many months now, I am happy to say that I finally know what del.icio.us is! Thank you for adding the wonderful Common Craft videos to the Project Play lessons; the clips explain these new concepts so well. I like the idea of having all my favorite websites together on a separate website. It seems like sites saved to "Favorites" can get easily lost or not available on the computer I am currently using. How convenient to have my list on the web where I can access it anytime and anyplace.

The concept of tagging is great for libraries. How many times have I been looking for information on a subject and didn't quite know the correct subject heading? How many times have our patrons struggled the very same way? Tags allow patrons to find information in a way that makes sense to them, and libraries are all about access to information. I think patrons with children will have better luck with a tag of "manners" rather than trying to figure out "conduct of life" as a subject heading (yes, I've been there!). Anything we can do to help our patrons find the information they need is anything but unsettling. Bring tagging on!

LibraryThing

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Above is the link to my new LibraryThing account. What a neat way to have an inventory of one's personal library, plus get recommendations for other books. The speed tip of scanning the barcodes would have been helpful had I had my books with me, but since I did not have my books present, I had to scroll through countless editions to find the one that at least looked like mine. That would be the one drawback when there are close to 1000 editions to choose from! The Suggestor was helpful when I typed in Karen Kingsbury's book Redemption. I learned of a new author, Dee Henderson, who has similar books. I found the UnSuggestor's choices rather strange; it listed at least five books that I have in my library such as A Tale of Two Cities and Hamlet. People's tastes may be too varied or too subtle for the UnSuggestor, but it may work well for conservative or liberal political books.


Redemption is the first in a series of five books about the Baxter family, plus there is a spin off series entitled Firstborn. I highly recommend these books. They deal with life's problems yet with a feeling of hope. I find them encouraging and hard to put down.

Project Play Pikipimp

My daughter Tavia having fun with pumpkin guts!

Flickr

Here is a picture of me and my daughter Rachel at Menasha Public Library's Talk Like a Pirate Day Party. The party was held on Tuesday, September 18, and kids were encouraged to come in costume. We had games such as Pin the Eye Patch on the Pirate and Knock Down the Cartons of Grog. Kids could also stop at Scurvy Dog's Tattoo Parlor for a (temporary) tattoo, and they made their own parrot at Captain Sparrow's Parrot Emporium. They also could make a bookmark and check out some cool pirate books at Blackbeard's Book Bungalow, plus a photo op was available in front of the famed pirate ship, The Elisha D, as pictured. It was a fun program!

This photo is on Flickr, and it was a little time-consuming yet fun to explore this site. Flickr offers a great way to post pictures of programs (as long as parents give permission), plus this is a fun way to share photos with family and friends from all over. I like the privacy option, and the public option is great for libraries to spread the word about all the great work we are doing to enhance literacy.

Week Four Project Play: Feedback Thingies

It's pretty amazing how interactive the web has become. Having feedback options is a great way to learn more about what our patrons want from their library. There are times in the past when I would have loved to hear some feedback about a program, sometimes something as simple as "Did you like the program?" Positive feedback gives me the drive to keep going and be even more creative, and negative feedback helps me know it's time to try something new and improved. The one thing I dislike about the feedback options is the rudeness of some posters. I see this especially on news stories where people insult and demean each other's comments. I appreciate the freedom we have to express ourselves, but I wish there was more scholarship, respect, and tact rather than people just shooting off insults. With freedom comes responsibility, and too many people think freedom means just doing or saying whatever they feel like. Overall, though, feedback can help libraries reach even more people and give even better service because we have another avenue to learn what our patrons want and need.

And someday, maybe I'll even have the internet at home...how's that for being non-techie? I am, however, a Trekkie--does that count? Love the Kirk, Spock, and McCoy dynamics! (Now I've just labeled myself a geek! Be sure to comment if you are one, too--in a good sense, right?)

Fun Sea Time Song

Looking for a fun song to jazz up your sea stories? A sure hit is The Goldfish (Track 12) from Laurie Berkner's Victor Vito CD. It has action and humor that serve as a great stretch for between stories. My kids loved it!

What a Time in Project Play

Wow, talk about trying to learn technology on a part-time schedule! For the life of me, I couldn't remember how to get to my blog. I set up my feeds on Bloglines, and then I couldn't remember how I set up my blog. Thank goodness I could still access Week Two! Being here only 17 hours per week and having my work week end on Wednesday, plus substitute teaching, plus having four children--well, my mind can only retain so much! Needless to say, I am glad to have found my blog again.

It was fun setting up my Blogline. I am enjoying my comics and my word feeds plus some animal and news feeds. I am constantly amazed at how convenient this new technology is once I get the hang of it. I am appreciating Project Play and all the new things I am learning. Let's just hope my (early)forty-something brain can improve its retention qualities.

Welcome to What a Time in Story Time!

Welcome to my new blog dedicated to story time! This blog will give ideas and tips discovered while planning family and preschool story times. I hope to share the wildly successful themes, stories, and songs experienced while conducting story times as a way to give back to all of you who have contributed such great ideas over the web. Hopefully newbies and veterans both will come away with fun tidbits to try out. The library is a fun and happening place to be, and together we can create a love of literacy in our youngest patrons and their families.