An inner unrest.

Something that has been building for years, but finally coming to a head in recent months.

I am absolutely terrified of regretting. Anything. Everything.

I want to learn how to let go, without turning my back on who I've been and what I've done. I want to learn how to look ahead, while being content with the right now.

And I worry that this is asking for too much.

The end of the road...

Phew. I am on the last of my 23 things, which feels pretty great. I was surprised to find that I enjoyed as many of these discovery exercises as I did. Several of the tools I have already begun using on a daily basis, including the RSS feeds and Google reader, and YouTube. Others will likely become favored procrastination distractions, like Library Thing and Craigslist. I also liked that this assignment was very independent in nature; learning new technology on my own will likely be a component of my career for years to come. These 23 things have also boosted my confidence, in that I realize that I am not entirely computer illiterate! One recommendation for future classes is to possibly mention these exercises occasionally during class time, to offer a forum for students to ask questions or share tips. Here's to the start of another journey!

Craigslist.com

Craigslist.com is a fascinating site. Essentially, it is a classifieds page for any and everything you could ever want; it is a community-building resource, a personal ads platform, and a job-finding tool. On Craigslist you can modify the site by region or city that you are interested in, and from there you can search any topic you want. I've often perused job and apartment ads, and my husband recently found a used truck in their "for sale" section. One of the more humorous aspects of the site is called "Missed Connections". This is an area where users can post messages about their own missed connections with another person (often a stranger). Occasionally love at first sight is professed, while most of the time the writer simply wants to compliment or hit on the object of their message. I think Craigslist is a great site that librarians can show to their patrons, whether they are looking for employment, a new sofa, or a date for next weekend.

Library 2.0...

In our exercise it was mentioned that "Library 2.0" means many different things to different people. I familiarized myself with several of the perspectives offered, including "Into a new world of librarianship" and "Away from the icebergs". I enjoyed the former a bit more, as its overall tone seemed more positive. The author suggested that Libraries and Librarians 2.0 should do several things, including:
~Plan for their users
~Embrace Web 2.0 tools
~Control technolust
~Be trendspotters
~Make good, yet fast decisions
~Understand content
Each of these recommendations make sense to me, especially being open to new technology while holding back from making each and every new fad a priority. It seems that that is no easy feat, though it is incredibly important. For me, librarians holding a professional outlook that encompasses flexibility, understanding, and an eagerness to learn all defines Library 2.0.

Mastering Zotero...or, how I dropped the ball.

Becoming familiar with Zotero was a much more complicated process than I had thought it would be. Unfortunately, I did not successfully do so; Mozilla Firefox was the required browser for this exercise, and my home computer is not very efficient with downloading new software. (One might argue that I should have attempted to complete this exercise earlier in the semester, so that I would have been able to then use the computer lab on campus to complete this particular exercise. To that person, I would give a pat on the back and a "you're completely right".) I am hoping to explore this resource on my own time in the near future.

Rollyo!

Again, an improvement over Google. Though I liked Google Custom Search, Rollyo just seems better organized, more thorough, and easier to share with others. As I am a Buffalo girl through and through, I've included a searchroll named "Buffalo Love", ideal for searching any and everything related to Buffalo, New York. Here's my Buffalo Love Searchroll!

This would be a useful tool for librarians who are trying to help patrons access information related to a specific, difficult to search topic. It would also be effective to create a variety of searchrolls related to frequently searched topics, so that when a patron has a reference question related to one of these topics, they can simply be directed to the searchrolls.

I am a Library Thing!

Ahhh! I wish that the exercises that are coming at the very end of this process were the first ones we were assigned. Library Thing will very definitely be my new favorite distraction. Even better than Google Book Search, Library Thing connects you to a huge community of fellow users, allows you to tag, catalog, list, browse, review...virtually everything except actually reading the book itself. This is a great tool that could be used in any library setting, and seems to be very conducive to creating relatinships with others interested in similar reading material and topics. Here is my Library Thing!

Not just for searching...

Wow. So I am now even more impressed with Google than I was before. I chose Google Book Search and Google Custom Search to delve a little more deeply into what Google has to offer its users. Google Book Search is fantastic. It allows you to create "bookshelves" and list titles according to those you've read, those you want to read, those you are currently reading, and your all-time favorites. You can organize bookshelves according to theme or subject, or any other variable really. You can browse, search, and receive recommendations of titles based on what you've enjoyed in the past, and the actual Google search engine is the platform for this. I had so much fun creating a bookshelf of what I've read and bought in recent months. This is a fantastic way for patrons to organize what they've been reading and what they want to read, as well as for librarians to create themed bookshelves or reading lists for an array of topics. I think that I will continue to update my bookshelf in the coming months, if only for pure geeky enjoyment. I also explored Google Custom Search and created a search engine called "Garden Geeks Search Engine". I linked two websites to my search engine--www.urbanroots.org, and www.organicgardening.com, for the search engine to focus on. However, my search engine also utilizes the rest of the web for any searches. Here it is!

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Ahh...google.

By pure accident I recently became aware of how great Google Docs really is. I work part-time as a service coordinator for individuals with developmental disabilities, and each month I am responsible for submitting comprehensive cases notes related to each client. This past month the format of these notes changed drastically, as did the Microsoft Office version installed at my office. When I arrived at work the day notes were due, I realized that my home computer and my office computer had conflicting formats, and that my case notes were essentially unaccessible for the day, though that would make me out of compliance for the month. Then I realized that I had mailed draft copies of the notes to myself via my Gmail account, which was already linked to Google docs because of these exercises. Woohoo! I was able to edit and print each and every case note via Google Docs without worrying about versions, formatting, and the like. I also have begun a group project in the LIS program where my group and I are using Google Docs as our main form of communication when not working face-to-face. It's fabulous-very intuitive, easy to access, and free to boot! (I sound like a commercial right now, but in comparison to those silly new Microsoft Office commercials I've been subjected to when using Hulu, I just seem enthusiastic ;)

Wiki wiki what?

So, when I saw that "wikis" were next up on the list of 23 things, I inwardly sighed a little. I've heard the term thrown around quite a bit recently, and before entering this program I had never really been exposed to the idea. (Well, with the exception of knowing that "Wikipedia" existed.) Once I delved into this exercise, however, some of that anxiety dissipated. I went through "Wiki's: A Beginner's Look", and "What is a Wiki?" to familiarize myself, and realized that they can be a potentially very powerful tool for anyone, in particular librarians. They seem simple enough, and with options related to how they are hosted (from your own server or a "Wiki-farm"), it appears that virtually anyone who would want to create a wiki, could in fact do so. I loved the city of Rochester example, where a very thorough wiki has been created regarding all things Rochester. It would be wonderful to move to a new place, or plan on attending a large event (i.e. an ALA conference in a personally unknown city), and then finding that these incredibly resources exist. I have to admit, I'm not entirely fond of the fact that information can be deleted and changed by users other than the original author, though I realize that wiki settings can be changed and adapted to the situation (i.e. Wikipedia versus a group project for a class). Ultimately, I believe that Wiki's are an interesting tool for librarians to become familiar with.

Technorati...

Browsing through the Technorati site proved to be an interesting experience. Prior to actually browsing through the Top 100 blogs, it helped to know that they weren't given a spot due to actual popularity. Blogs of all sizes and shapes, themes and topics, were on the list. If the ranking was based on actual interest and popularity on the part of web users, I think that the blogs would be of a different vein perhaps (i.e. more focused on current events, entertainment, travel, or back-to-basics living, perhaps). I then took a peek at the leading "authority" blogs on a variety of more specific subjects, including travel. Ranking of authority is related to the linking behavior and desirability of information on the blog, among other things. I found myself becoming lost in the written word of a woman camped out on a Caribbean Beach, allegedly "monkey-watching". I also found it interesting to actually see how and why tagging is used by many blog authors. One blog in particular that I follow quite regularly (Rosy Revolver's "Newfangled Rhetoric") will often have a handful of tags at the end of the post; now I realize that these are included to--hopefully--increase the traffic to her sight, as it is a vehicle to advertise her one-woman jewelry business, among other things. All in all, technorati was enjoyable to explore, though I don't think I'd use it much on a regular basis.

Del.icio.us.com

On the first afternoon of LIS 518, otherwise known as Reference, we were given a pop quiz of sorts. The questions were virtually all unanswerable for me, at least with my pre-LIS knowledge. One of the questions that sticks out in my head was "What is Delicious?". I think I made an attmempt at humor, guessing that it was an X-rated site of some kind. In reality, Delicious (or Del.icio.us, if you prefer) is a pretty incredible site, though in a different way than I had thought. Essentially, it is a bookmarking tool that allows users to take their "favorites" with them; the favorite sites are no longer attached to a single computer. Tags are a huge part of using this service; though not a defined vocabulary, users are encouraged to use similar tags so that they are able to connect interests and topics across accounts, ultimately sharing across a large network of individuals interested in like things. Browsing through new, popular, or specific tags is also an option once signed in. While I was exploring Del.icio.us I ended up browsing for quite awhile...much longer than I intended in fact. I discovered a fantastic site dedicated to wacky cupcake recipes, as well as a site created for roller-coaster devotees. This service could be incredibly helpful for research purposes, or within a library setting, as users could virtually search topics through other users. Del.icio.us brought to mind an article I read recently, related to homeless library patrons' desire to obtain information from actual people, versus institutions or databases. Del.icio.us is almost a sort of face-to-face/online network capable of great research feats.

Finding feeds...

So, after the initial discovery that RSS was what I had been waiting for though I didn't even know it, I took some time to explore several feed-finding tools. The first was Topix.net. Using my geographic location as an initial clue, Topix.net suggested a screenful of potentially interesting news feeds and current event topics that I might be interested in. Unfortunately, being the blog-fan that I am, weblogs are not included in Topix searches. So, I moved on to Syndic8.com, a different feed-finding tool that almost immediately caused me some anxiety. While the page offered a huge amount of options for searching, it's (somewhat lack of) organization and the sheer number of links were a little overwhelming. After I recovered from my initial reaction, however, I saw that Syndic8.com could be a valuable resource. Statistics on RSS feeds, names of the newest users, random headlines, and the names of the most popular feeds can all be found within seconds. While I was experimenting with the search tools, I looked for a combination of the words "cupcake" and "Halloween", in honor of my love for both desserts and gothic holidays. Surprisingly, I came up with countless results, including blogs by stay-at-home moms, pastry chefs, and goth musicians, among other things. All in all, I would have to say that these feed-finding tools can be helpful, when used by an informed user; for an unitiated individual the options and array of search results could prove to be TOO overwhelming.
(Probably the most entertaining library-related feed I found was "Unshelved", an online comic about library life. Since subscribing to it, I can't seem to stop checking for updates and going back through past strips.)

RSS...who knew?

Wow. I cannot believe I have been living in the dark for this long! RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is what I have been waiting for...though, silly me, it's been right in front of my face the entire time. As a fairly regular reader of a handful of blogs, the easy access provided by Google Reader just makes sense. Add to the mix my habit of reading The New York Times, BUST magazine, and the weekly Artvoice paper, and you have a very happy library student. Going into Google Reader to establish a functioning account took mere seconds, and actually subscribing to said blogs and newsfeeds took just a few minutes more. Now, instead of taking the time to look up and browse each of these information sources, I will have everything at my fingertips, each and every time I sign into my Google account. While the directions warned that mastering RSS feeds would be the most difficult of the 23 Things...I think that it has been the most useful (and enjoyable!).

Adventures in LibriVox

Though I initially had some trouble while searching for titles in LibriVox (I think that my queries may have been a little too recent)I think that the concept is a solid one. It is possible to search by title, author, and status for your desired work, while you can also browse the entire catalog. Much of what is currently available seems to be classic or literary in nature, so a definite suggestion for future recordings would be to include more recent fiction and non-fiction works, which might also increase usage of and visits to the site.

Within the website, information is also available releated to volunteering your time and voice to create a recording. To one day have access to much of the world's written word via audio file is such a tempting idea...maybe if each and every LIS student volunteered to read just one book, we'd get there a little quicker ;)

It's a pod invasion!

Though I had been familiar with the term "podcast", I'd never really taken the time to find out what they were all about. I am so glad I finally did! There seem to be podcasts available on just about every subject you could think of, including the homebirth movement, practicing Wiccans, financial matters, and children's literature reviews. After searching through an Itunes directory of available podcasts, I found a series that seems right up my alley--NPR's All Songs Considered. Live concerts, rare video footage, and new album promotions are all components of this podcast, and several of my favorite bands have one (or several) available. Looks like I know what I'll be doing tonight!

The joys of YouTube...

So, YouTube was one of the few "things to learn" that I had already been a bit familiar with. I love searching for rare concert footage and performances by my favorite musicians, and more often than not I am enjoying my morning cup of coffee while absentmindedly browsing through the YouTube site. I chose to post the following video on my blog since it was shot at the Primavera Music Festival held in Barcelona this past May, and I was lucky enough to be in attendance. The band peforming is Beach House, and their set was played just feet from the shore of the Mediterranean Sea--an absolutely amazing memory for me.



YouTube could be an incredibly effective marketing tool for libraries, especially if used to spread the word about a library's special collection, events, and/or workshops to be held. It would make sense to get potential patrons' attention any and every way possible.

Mash-ups...

So, when I first saw the term "mash-up" in this discovery exercise, I thought of the artist Girl Talk, with his mash-ups of classic rock, top 40 pop, and hip-hop songs that always seem to somehow go perfectly well together.  Flickr mash-ups are an entirely different breed, though just as fun.  Flickr users have created their own creative applications, including those as creepy as Girls of Flickr (an application designed to help users find all of the "hot" women on the site), to apps as simply entertaining as the Flickr Color Pickr (an app with which you can choose any color in the rainbow and come up with a collection of pictures in the same hue) and Montagr (a mosaic application that creates a given picture in mosaic form with other Flickr users photographs).  Almost an hour snuck away from me as I experimented with these "mash-ups"...I can only imagine how much time will disappear when I am more familiar with web design and the html process...

A breath of fresh air.

This was taken on my most recent jaunt in the woods...accompanied by a few of my best friends...with the summer air still floating in the breeze...
Ahh...perhaps as far away from the Internet as you could get on a day trip ;)

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

You are now entering the fabulous world of technology...

So, it's finally happened.  I am honest-to-goodness entering the REAL WORLD--of technology that is.  For this introductory course in information technology, we are required to create our own blog that will document our trials and successes in this learning process.  Creating a blog of my very own is entirely overdue (as I have been a religious follower of several other blogs for some time), and I'm hoping that I'll start to love it so much, that it will become a real one after this class is long behind me.  I have to admit, I am incredibly intimidating by any and all computer technology that goes beyond a Facebook comment or purchasing a fabulous etsy creation...but only time will tell...so here goes!