Week 11-Online Productivity

I became familiar with Google Documents this semester. Being a distance graduate student, it's an effecient way to collaborate on group projects. It certainly beats attaching a document to an email, and volleying that back and forth! I think that applications such as these would be tremendous time savers in our system, especially for those on committees spread out across the system.

Google Calendar was discussed by a library system that presented last year at the VLA Paraprofessional Conference, and it sounded like a great way for staff to find out who's where. In our particular library, we have two, sometimes three, different calendars going for various staff members, and they are physically located in different spots in the library. By using this, I wouldn't have to leave the desk to find out where someone is, or when they will be on vacation!

Week 10-Tags/Social Bookmarks

I was excited to learn more about social bookmarking this week. As I had heard of del.icio.us, but not tried it, the lesson this week made me realize that it could be quite fun. I signed up for an account, and added a couple of sites that I like to follow. I realize that I could streamline A LOT of the time that I spend on the Internet by tagging sites, and organizing them through this. I believe that it's also a way to be able to learn about cool new sites through people that are on there as well.

For library use, I believe that this could be quite useful for staff and public alike. This could be an easy way for people to share sites that may relate to programs, discussions, or other events that the library offers. Even a library-specific account could be divided into categories based on DDS, that could be accessed by patrons that were interested in sites on the Web pertaining to tose subject headings.

Week 9-Social Networking

It took a long time, and quite a lot of energy exerted by my friends, but I finally succumbed to the beast that is Facebook. At first, I was over the moon about friend requests, profiles, and locating old friends, co-workers, camp pals, and the like. Now, I might check it every couple of days. I usually don't update my status, because I forget, or I don't have something pithy to say.

I do like it for making me feel connected to people that I don't get to see often. It's less effort than a regular email, which is less effort than a telephone call, which is less effort than a visit. I still prefer seeing people in person, and try to do so as much as possible. In that respect, I don't believe that social networking will take over my life.

For work, I know of many libraries that maintain a page for its patrons, or certain age groups. I feel that the jury is still out on whether this is beneficial for the library, or if this will be replaced by something else in the next few years.

Week 8-Gaming

I am on the fence about gaming. As we have been studying it in school, and seeing it in action during YA activities, I am still not 100% convinced about it. Is it offered in libraries at the expense of other programs that may be of more concrete use to patrons? Also, is it targeting only one age group of patrons, which means that other groups may be excluded? These are just a few of the reservations that I have about it, and I feel that the subject needs further scrutiny with regards to programming for me to make a decision one way or the other.

Week 7-Wikis

I believe that wikis are a great way for people to collaborate and share information.
I have used the staff wikis plenty in my short tenure at HCPL, and know that they will continue to grow in size. I believe that they have plenty to offer in the work environment, and that they are quite helpful for us all.

Flickr

I am already a Flickr user. Because I am so lazy in terms of removing pictures from my digital camera, Flickr has become quite a help. By the time I get the pictures off of my camera, it's usually a six month log of all of the activities in which I have participated. Flickr allows me to dump them all, and then sort them into appropriate subject headings. It makes me look more organized in that respect, which makes me happy.



This is a picture of my husband and me during our wedding festivities. Enjoy!

Podcasting-Week 5

Podcasting seems like it would be quite convenient for those who have some favorite programs that they may miss, due to work or other commitments. It also seems like it is a great way to learn something new, such as knitting, cooking. As a way to keep current with new and things, I see that this is a preferred method for many.

Regardless, this may or may not be something that I do in the future. As of right now, I am not interested in signing up for things that will continue to accumulate until I get frustrated, and delete them all. It is the electronic equivalent of all of the books that I bring home, pile up, and eventually return without having read a one. Maybe I'll look into this further after school is done!