#23 End or Beginning???? Ramblings

I nearly didn't start this journey at all. It was something I was very interested in doing - but week one started the very week my 3 weeks holiday also began. I was really looking forward to my leave as the last 12 months work changing from one Library Management system ( GEAC) to the new LMS ( Sisi) had taken place and I was in dire need of a break. My energy and drive and enthusiasm were rock bottom. I felt overloaded, well and truly -and the thought of this extra workload - even though it was supposed to be more exploration and fun , left me feeling

- not another thing to do and I felt like I was being pushed over the edge. The thought of being three/ four weeks behind on my return left me wondering if it was all too much for me at this time, I thought I should give my place up to another staff.
Well needless to say as I have reached this point, that - I didn't give it up and I wasn't behind because I allowed time during my holiday to venture into this explorative learning experience.

Now I am at the end I am feeling like- WOW I did it and WOW this really isn't the end- but at least anything I now take on for my explorative ongoing learning will be set by me in my own good time - I have just explored the tip of the iceberg.

My favourite and most rewarding thing was actually setting up this blog, and WOW sometimes someone out there even put a comment on my blog. It made me realise the potential of communicating with others out there in cyberspace who are on similar wavelengths and what a valuable communication tool for sharing information.
In total it has been a whirlwind of learning. There were some things I took to easier than others, but hey -that's what makes us all different.

The learning 2.0 program made me aware of what online resources are available. Next time someone comes into the library and asks about Flickr, or Wiki, or YouTube, or deli.icio.us or Bloglines - I won't look at them with a blank vacant stare.

Another favourite was YouTube but I got something out of each week. Some of it I thought I wouldn't have time for and remembering all the sites I have registered for and the passwords etc !!!! Remembering my email and bank pins and passwords are enough.

If it wasn't for this learning experience I wouldn't have known about all all the other sites out there and their usefulness.
This program did take up much more of my time than I thought it would. Exploring what the weeks activities were about and having a go at them , then blogging about it took hours. Even though there were only ( only!!!) 23 things, each thing often took you off into 3 or 4 other different / related things. All the time dedicated to this was in my own time as my workload is over full - my family started saying - Oh she's off working and blogging again - why don't you want to watch this movie or do this with us?????

Unexpected Outcomes - even though I moaned about it some weeks and my family missed me while I had my head in the computer , the keyboard jumping and using up the families broadband allowance - I'm glad I did it. I'm please with myself for doing it and for completing it as I had my doubt about this in the beginning.
I guess with so much dependence on technology and with new emerging technologies we need to create new forms of service and reach out in new ways to users, training like this at least keeps you aware of the changes happening.

Well done to to all those involved in the creation of Learning 2.0
Thanks for the opportunity to learn, thanks for enabling the learning and encouraging me ( I Loved my encouragement certificate) -now it's up to me to keep learning because - "The times they are a changing...." and it really was just the tip of the iceberg.

# 22 Audiobooks ramblings- not all is recommended

I like the idea of libraries purchasing audio books for members to download. I particularly like the idea that after the loan period expire the audio file is deleted- no overdues or fines.

Looked some really old stuff on World E book fair- gold mine for books out of print.

Here's some truely up to date information stuff






Very old fashioned cover and the content?????





BUT WAIT!!!!

What about the Guide to meeting women by Dr Nick Shoveen- A comprehensive guide to approaching and becoming acquainted with new females, including sections on the best opening lines to use, the best places to pick up females; waht to say, how to say it, and what not to say.??????Also included are tried and proven different methods and suggestions for meeting women at the Market, a Department Store, a Funeral, a Wedding, at HAPPY HOUR, all purpose introductory lines, ways to continue a conversation, and MUCH, MUCH more...

I bet the new men can't wait to get their hands on this.

Now for the Women - how to get to the mans heart.
To get the back at the new man in your life don't miss Dressing the man you love - In this day of image - and health-consciousness, with many men spending their free time lifting weights and jogging, it could be that the new way to a man's heart is through his wardrobe. In other words, the wise woman will about ways to express her interest and support through clothing, so that he feels confident about himself in any and all social situations.
No, he may not like to shop - few men do. So a smart woman like you, who has sought out information on classic menswear, endears herself by expressing candid and well informed opinions about how he looks. With your knowledge, he not only gets to be the man he always knew he was, you get the man you always knew he could be!
What more could you want really.....
Oh My .........
Not all e-books are recommended for purchase...........................................

#21 Podcasts, Smodcasts sometimes Oddcasts Ramblings

On Podcast.net I found some really weird stuff. 'Clone the homeless' a podcast about everything and nothing from Michael Dean. Dean rants and raves and interviews friends- weird, weird, weird - about nothing, nothing , nothing.
I ventured into e-books and 'Teleread bring the e-books home' and listened to Gathering steam in Boston pt 1 - pretty boring really.
More interesting was 'SimonSays podcast' a Simon and Schuster books and audio books podcast. I tuned into "The secret" by Rhonda Byrne- I'm working on my law of attraction for wealth, its all the the mind you know. So here I am thinking, thinking, thinking about winning tattslotto as I have done for years - nothing so far........must be doing something wrong ok back to the book....

On Yahoo Podcast I came across 'Authors on tour' a weekly podcast from authors themselves talking about their books. I tuned into Rachel Johnson talking about her book 'Notting Hell'. i found this podcast better than alot of other book review podcasts which I found boring really.

More lively was the 'library news' podcast as I came across Librarians striking for better pay, better job evaluation and pay equity ( given the librarian profession has lots of females)
Way to Go Girl, it must at least 16 or 17 years since we've had a strike for better pay for Librarians.

Podcasts and Libraries - I can see the potential

Still working on my RSS feed into my Bloglines

#20 You too can TouTube Ramblings

In my blog for last week I wrote about having a hoot of a time watching YouTube. I spent many hours listening to and watching music form my past ie. Dylan and Lennon. Today I ventured into other YouTube territories . Rather sad I guess , if you find time to look at "Another World is Possible!" - nothing new, but a humbling reminder of Our World and its inequality. The background music is "Simon and Garfunkles - Sounds of silence" this sets the mood I guess. Picture this

• Our Nikes - their plastic bottle shoes
• Our electronic games - their bleached skeleton bones for building blocks
• Our computer savy schools - their writing in dry parched ground
• Our caring Parents (sometimes) - they don't have any
• Our food excess - their starvation
• Our comfy beds - their hard ground
• Our obesity - their skeletons

Are you still complaining?

Another world is possible

I watched a few other on poverty " Make poverty History" and there was one featuring Nelson Mandala.

No complaints and enough of that.

For something Lighter I watched "Conan the Librarian" wow - our customers think they have it bad with their overdues.

As far as YouTube and Libraries go - with our need to adapt to emerging technology You Tube could be a fun way to add life to our web page - instead of text instructions on how to place a hold on the new on line catalogue we could Have video instruction with illustrations on what to do next etc. Yes I fancy that. Should we feature Super Librarian or Sexy Librarian, or maybe Conan......

I watched "Do you want to be a librarian"

While we are discussing the explosion of blogs, social networking and video-sharing sites - the librarian in this clip were coming to terms with microfilm, motion pictures, record player. Getting word about libraries out to the public could be done via - newspapers, radio, film etc.

Looking at this clip reminded me that yes we have come along way and yes we have kept up with technology even if we lag behind a bit. So I gues we'd better get blogging and podding, and networking -socially. The roles remain the same though - cataloguer, reference libarian, circulation librarian - they were able to sit down on the job!!! Chidrens librarians...............

Our abilities will be challenged but we will derive satisfaction>>>>>>>>>>>>>

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 tools - Ramblings

What a hoot I just loved You tube. How cool I just sat there for hours - best say I wasn't at work doing this or I might lose my job. At Home -I just had so much fun listening to and watching music video clips on You Tube. Wow as soon as I typed in and artist or song there it was befor my very eyes live as live. I had a real blast from the past -Loved Bob Dylans -Jokerman ( the lyrics for this clip were sat against art throughout history) John lennons - Imagine, and a few others I won't admit to. Came a cross an interesting movie which I will go back and look at another time - zeitegeistmovie, amazing you can watch movie trailers. My son looks at You Tube all the time, but I have never taken timeout to see for myself - something in common with my 15yr old now. I explored one of the health sites Healia and was impressed by the links to other health sites - very good really. I had a look at retail - threadless - the fashion was way, way too young for me. I zeroed in on Etsy - they had a glass category, I love handmade glass, they even had a 'bottles' category - had a look because I collect small handmade perfume bottles. - Nothing I liked though, lucky I guess - $$$$.
I looked at the social tagging 'Stumble.....' I was looking athe landscape photos and STUMBLED across some beautifull photos - I saved a few of the images and now have one of them as my destop background.

#18 Zoho Writer

Hey diddle, diddle,this rhyme is a riddle:Can a cow fly over the moon?I bet you’ll say, "No,"but the answer is, "Yes"—if she’s riding a hot-air balloon.

I'm amazed, I didn't know these web based applications were available. I signed up for ZOHO and used ZOHO Writer to add my funny rhyme / riddle and uploaded a picture. I liked the setup. Initially I could figure out hoe to sdd an image but found it obviously. I tried to publish it but got stuck on the username and PW- perhaps something had been emailed to me - it would have gone to my work email and I am working from home.

I shared my document with Linda Burridge. I guess I'll wait and see if I hear from her as to whether it was successfull.

I looked at Notebook, I ilke the share, edit, publish export functions. I couldn't delete a URL I added. I moved onto Templates and had fun looking at all the templates and added some - booklet, creating recipe, homework schedule, fax and memo. When I tried to open a template my home computer had a hissey fit and I had to restart. Will have to use my work computer for that one I think.

Very Impressed that such a product is available free. Very Impressed on how easy it can be to share documents.

I signed up for Google Docs and spreadsheets

Fantastic, I have never used a spreadsheet before and couldn't believe how easy it was????

Thrilled with my result I did a portrait print and a Landscape print

# 17 Playing around with PB Wiki ramblings

Well I had a play around in the Sandbox and I added my blog to the Favourite Blog page ( howiesblahblog.blogspot.com). I sort of mucked this one up. I added my blog but it ended up under the YMCPL and I couldn't figure out how it got there - I didn't see the option to choose which favouites you wanted to put it in. Guess I'll need more practice at this.