Project Play Wrap-Up

Thank you, dear Project Play Ladies, for all you've taught me these two semesters. You have made me curious. I am desiring to learn more about Web 2.0 and all the possibilities it holds for creating better customer service for library patrons. I am also curious to learn more for my personal and professional use. I hope to grow more as a librarian as I find new ideas through new technologies. Like Seth Godin, I am not content to sit in front of the TV being mindless. I want to explore and learn.

Even though I am not that old, I have been a bit of a dinosaur with Web 2.0 technologies. That is why I am so thankful that you have made this class playful and not threatening. I know I still have so much to learn, but I have also learned so much. I have enjoyed blogging the most, and I will be doing more with Flickr and Pikipimp when I get online at home in the near future.

Thank you again for being such wonderful teachers. Hats off to you all!

Mashups

I think I'll go and mashup some potatoes...what? Wrong context?

I must admit that I feel a bit dumb with this lesson. The idea of blending information sounds wonderful and convenient, but I don't get all the techo-part of it. I'm also afraid that I might have erased someone else's information on the Project Play map, and I am sorry if I did--no malicious intentions!

I wish I could somehow start at the beginning and get well-versed in computer technology, but I tend to feel caught in midstream with not enough wits to go forward. I need a Computer 101!I am not sure how mashups can be used in the library, and I guess I count on all the wonderful gurus at Winnefox to lead the way in that area. I feel at such a disadvantage in this high tech world since I can't afford to be high tech in my personal life (much to my teenagers' chagrin), and my part-time status doesn't give me the time at work to really get into it. I certainly appreciate Project Play and the good overview that is given for each subject. I just wish I had the time and ability to feel like I really know what is going on. I feel like technology is developing so rapidly that I can't keep up with it, and I would rather be out in nature than in front of a computer screen.

Sorry if I sound like a whiner. You have developed a great class with Project Play, but it just has been a bit difficult to keep up this semester due to being busy with our programming. Because of your class, though, I will be open to new technologies and strive to learn them better. I will also view Web 2.0 as a chance to learn and grow, even if I grow a little slower than I would like.

You Tube

Charlie Goes to Candy Mountain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4

I had to create a link to this strange video. My daughter Tavia thinks this clip is hilarious and has been quoting it for weeks. I finally had a chance to view it during this assignment, so thanks for letting me play on You Tube at work!

At first I thought of You Tube as just a place for entertainment. I didn't realize I could see historical events like JFK's speech. What a way to make history come alive for our patrons, especially for children! You Tube would also be fun as a library promotional tool. I love the idea of libraries running contests for patrons to make a video of why they love their library. Much creativity could abound in promoting library services through a You Tube video clip. Shameless self-promotion for libraries could be quite fun. Maybe that Darth Vader costume I have at home could come in handy...

Libraries are great places that sometimes still suffer from the Shushing Librarian Syndrome. By featuring contests and fun promos on You Tube, we can help further our image as an invaluable community center. Even Conan the Librarian would have to agree...in a non-violent way, we hope!

Screencasts

Screencasts can be another valuable tool in helping our patrons. Technology continues at the speed of light, and many people feel lost in the shuffle. We can help our patrons learn how to use our databases, catalogs, and website through screencasts. It always helps to see a picture in addition to verbal or written instructions, and our patrons can learn to use our resources from the comfort of their own home and on their own timetable. Seeing a screen and learning how to navigate helps facilitate quicker learning.

I personally love the Common Craft videos that explain how different technologies work. The screencasts featured within were so helpful. It's always nice to see exactly what I will be working with. I also like the screenshots in The Ides, so screencasts will be a great tool to help our patrons find the information they need.

Podcast

This will probably sound silly, but I am finally getting used to the term "podcast." I get where the term came from, but my mind tends to associate "pod" with the original version of "Invasion of the Body Snatchers"! Now that I am no longer creeped out about the word "pod", I think I can finally embrace the technology!

Libraries can have a lot of fun with podcasting, especially in the children's department (my domain). We are having a podcasting camp this summer where elementary-age kids can create their own podcasts. What fun for a child to talk about a favorite book or do reader's theater. I also think it would be fun to have storytelling available on our website or do "A Story a Day". We could also podcast "What's New?" and talk about new books and programming. Podcasts are another way to promote all the great things going on at the library.

Just please keep those aliens away...

Social Networking for Libraries

My first thought was why would a library want to create a profile on MySpace or Facebook? Teens are looking for their friends and wouldn't give a second glance at a library. Then one Sunday, my pastor read the passage about Paul becoming all things to all people in order to spread the gospel. That got me thinking that maybe that is a library's mission,too: to go where people are and become relevant in their lives. I appreciate Meredith Farkas' observation that merely having a site isn't enough--the library needs to show its importance. We as librarians are so familiar with our services, and we don't always realize that many people don't fully understand all we have to offer. For teens to feel empowered by being able to suggest materials for libraries to purchase--priceless! For people to realize we can get materials for them from outside our library system free of charge--another shining moment! I think we need to do all we can to spread the message about all the wonderful and free resources and programs available at the library. That's more good news people need to hear!

Remember the Milk and Jott

Okay, my mind is officially blown away! To have a phone message converted to text and sent to different places--incredible! It is hard to believe that these technologies that seemed like wild fancies of imagination are actually coming true. I can see that Remember the Milk and Jott would be great productivity tools. I don't see myself using them in the near future, but they definitely could be a good way for busy people to get organized. The internet is quite amazing, but I haven't gotten online at home yet because it seems that the computer can take up too much time, and I am afraid my teenagers will want to spend hours online. I am of the "get outside and play" or "read a book" way of thinking. We have so many modern conveniences to make our lives easier and more organized, yet why do we feel so rushed or too busy? Maybe online productivity tools can make us feel less rushed, but I still prefer a simple pencil and piece of paper to help me remember the milk. I enjoyed learning about productivity tools, however, and maybe I will embrace the concept in the future. Thanks for teaching us about all the fascinating tools on the web.

Google Docs

Does anyone know the song "Mazel Tov" from Fiddler on the Roof? For some reason my brain keeps singing that song with "Google Docs" inserted in place of Mazel Tov! And why not sing about Google Docs? Google continues to blow my mind with all that it offers. How nice for anyone who does not have or cannot afford Microsoft Office to have similar features available for free! How nice to be able to save documents and access them anywhere instead of being tied down to one computer or carrying around a jump drive! How great to have Google Docs for collaborative work! How cute to have a Google Dachshund--love those play on words!

My exclamation points show just how neat I think Google Docs is!

Semester 2: Instant Messaging

Greetings from "menashakids"--my IM screen name on Aim Pro. It is actually for any four of us in the department, and it is used for other departments to send us a quick message. I've enjoyed many lovely chats using IM. My most recent experience came on the day of the Newbery and Caldecott Award announcements. My supervisor Marge was in Philly for ALA, and we were IM'ing each other about the awards and the conference. We were even having fun changing the font colors and blinding each other with the bright green and yellow (Go Pack!).It is fun to instantly chat with someone without worrying about the long distance bill! I've used IM to ask my director a quick question, and I also keep in touch with my boss when she is working from home during her FMLA times. One feature I like is that I can send something without feeling like I am interrupting. If that person is busy, they can reply in a few minutes, and I don't have to "stay on the line" waiting for information. It's also nice to send a quick message to someone in reference or circ, sometimes for information, and sometimes for a quick heads-up about a patron.

IM can be a nice feature for patrons, too. It is handy at the reference desk and is another tool to promote good customer service--as long as not too many acronyms are used! I can usually figure out some acronyms, but thank goodness Joy gave us a link to the dictionary! LOL! I know that teens love this technology, and it certainly can be fun and convenient, just as long as we still meet face to face and talk on the phone, too.

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

href="http://http://www.librarything.com/catalog/coval">http://www.librarything.com/catalog/coval

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.