I've become concerned that my blog does not appear on the library's list of participants. Thinking it might be because of punctuation in the title, I've changed the title a little. Of course, it was locked for a while, so that could account for it too. If all else fails, I'll ask for help (which habit is that?) The settings definitely say that it is public and all posts are listed as published.
Does anybody read this stuff?
Friday, May 23, 2008
Thursday, May 22, 2008
Technology 2.0
Except for the most determined technophobe, technology is an unavoidable part of contemporary life . We take so many things for granted that were not on anyone's (except some geeks in a lab) radar a few years ago. I was reading an older novel from the early 1970s, and one plot twist hinged on the fact that the protagonist could not get to a phone to warn someone else about impending danger. Well, Duh! why didn't she use her cell phone! Only 30 some odd years, but the whole episode loses its impact and just becomes sort of quaint.
The current trend is the interrelatedness of what used to be separate technologies. If you have the funds to purchase the service, you can send e-mail, watch movies, and surf the Web on your cell phone. Our satellite TV receiver is also a digital recorder. Images can be grabbed from anywhere, posted on Flickr in several different ways and from there uploaded to one of a whole list of blogging software. It's deceptively easy but overwhelming at the same time.
The current trend is the interrelatedness of what used to be separate technologies. If you have the funds to purchase the service, you can send e-mail, watch movies, and surf the Web on your cell phone. Our satellite TV receiver is also a digital recorder. Images can be grabbed from anywhere, posted on Flickr in several different ways and from there uploaded to one of a whole list of blogging software. It's deceptively easy but overwhelming at the same time.
Butch and Lucy lounging
More cat photos. This has been a fun learning experience, and easy once you get the hang of it. Of course, my cats are special and very photogenic.
Another photo posting exercise
A little confusing, but I survived the experience of posting a photo to Flickr and then sending to my blog and could probably do it again (though I'm not sure if I want to). Thought I would follow up by posting some fun personal photos. Favorite subjects seem to be children and pets and since you don't have to worry about getting permission from the cat to post a photo that seems to be the way to go.
Dancers at Main Library
To fulfill this assignment, I tried to find an interesting photo on the H: drive. This event took place in the Main Library meeting room and is probably one of the many programs in the series for non-English speaking patrons.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Another way to share information
Until being introduced to blogging through this project, the most common form of electronic information-sharing in which I have participated is the various Listservs used by the customers of Sirsi to share information. And they are wonderful! There are so many knowledgeable and helpful people on the ListServs that it is often the first place to seek advice, bypassing Sirsi's own Client Care department. There is also a customer Wiki, to which customers can post solutions to problems, ideas, workarounds, etc.
Since I'm new to blogging, it's hard to know for sure the advantages of this medium over older ones. My guess would be that the primary advantage is that it's easy and widespread. Groups can form themselves without a moderator, and the hosting is free. The ListServ posts I'm familiar with are closed groups that tend to ask questions and provide answers to solve problems. Blogs seem to appeal to those who are dying to share something wonderful with
others.
As a staff tool in libraries, it could be a way to expand to a wider audience the work-related conversations we have in small groups. Favorite books or authors, news from other branches, interesting or difficult reference questions would all lend themselves to this informal medium. Blogs have also taken off as a means to share thoughts and opinions publicly. The audience is theoretically more widespread than press releases and much more dynamic. Many libraries use blogs to promote their programs and services and to appeal to a different demographic.
Since I'm new to blogging, it's hard to know for sure the advantages of this medium over older ones. My guess would be that the primary advantage is that it's easy and widespread. Groups can form themselves without a moderator, and the hosting is free. The ListServ posts I'm familiar with are closed groups that tend to ask questions and provide answers to solve problems. Blogs seem to appeal to those who are dying to share something wonderful with
others.
As a staff tool in libraries, it could be a way to expand to a wider audience the work-related conversations we have in small groups. Favorite books or authors, news from other branches, interesting or difficult reference questions would all lend themselves to this informal medium. Blogs have also taken off as a means to share thoughts and opinions publicly. The audience is theoretically more widespread than press releases and much more dynamic. Many libraries use blogs to promote their programs and services and to appeal to a different demographic.
Blogging - Day1
Thoughts on blogging: does everyone yearn to see himself in print? It's hard to figure who would be interested in random thoughts, but that's the trend so here goes.
After watching the tutorial on 7 1/2 habits of highly successful lifelong learners, the biggest challenge for me would be finding a goal that would motivate me so much that the remaining steps fall into place. For many years, the big goals have been external - things that I've had to learn in order to fulfill the responsibilities of my position. Smaller learning experiences - digital photography, using an MP3 player, using a GPS system, have not been something I've been aware of having a strategy for learning - it's just happened as I read the manuals and played with the results. I suppose I could be better at all of them, but I'm sort of happy at the level I'm on. So, step one: find a goal that would be difficult enough to require all the other steps.
After watching the tutorial on 7 1/2 habits of highly successful lifelong learners, the biggest challenge for me would be finding a goal that would motivate me so much that the remaining steps fall into place. For many years, the big goals have been external - things that I've had to learn in order to fulfill the responsibilities of my position. Smaller learning experiences - digital photography, using an MP3 player, using a GPS system, have not been something I've been aware of having a strategy for learning - it's just happened as I read the manuals and played with the results. I suppose I could be better at all of them, but I'm sort of happy at the level I'm on. So, step one: find a goal that would be difficult enough to require all the other steps.
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