#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.

#16 So what's in a wiki? Ramblings

I had a look at other Library wikis. I thought the Book Lovers wiki would be a great way of sharing reviews on Interesting reads.
The SJCPL Subject guides had an incredible amount of linked information - this could become the ultimate community directory - where people add links to the various subject headings- I would be concerned about inappropriate information being added though- this would be a main concern with any of the wikis I looked at - no censorship so may not be appropriate for junior users?
Generally I think wikis are links to enourmous resources of information . Could be possibilities to use wikis as a training tool,
I can see wikis being useful for disseminating information to staff - ie. putting staff intranet into a wiki. Putting the staff Circulation Manual into a wiki might be useful for staff? A staff manual would need tighter control over who could add , update and remove info, whereas a general library wiki soliciting content from customers would be more open. I can see it could be very time consuming though as checks for appriate information would need to be monitored.

# 15 2.0 ..... Rambling thoughts

After reading the perspectives on Library 2.0 - I found Rick Anderson's -Away from the icebergs - interesting. Anderson made some valid points. The 55% drop in circulation rates in his library over a 12 year period must strike a chord with us all. Circulation figures are one of he main markers in how well we are peforming, nobody likes huge drop offs - wow MORE THAN HALF , that's scarey.
The 'just in case' collections certainly used to be how many public libraries provided 'print' material for our users. Due to web based information resources libraries are no longer locked into providing everything in a print format "just in case 'it is needed by our users. Libraries are moving away from this ' just in case' collection development and more toward the 'just in time' provision of required material. No print collection can cater to every users needs and precious collection funds can be wasted trying to acheive it. Customers certainly want a more immediate response to their request. It seems Libraries need to keep pace with immediate access to information or become redundant as a provider of information. The internet has certainly had an impact on how users access information 24/7. Libraries are become more deliverers of information rather than lenders.
I can see that web based programs are very importnat to the future of how libraries provide information to its users because of its convienience 24/7 - its immediate aspect. I agree with Anderson - that Web 2.0 reality continues to emerge and develop, our patrons will expect access to everything - digital collections or journals, books, blogs, podcasts etc "embracing this could be our great opportunity"
Internet has changed the information marketplace. I believe libraries are, will continue to, and need to - find new ways to bring our services to our patrons. It would seem that a web based environment it what is required for a large percentage of our users, the need to integrate our services into our customers daily patterns of work, study and play - is required. Internet overcomes geographic re-strictions, but the user must have access to the internet in the first place. People in more affluent areas will have easier home access to internet use , less affluent areas will still be reliant on libraries providing free internet access for them - Public Libraries continue to maintain this very important access to many, although over time most households will probably have their own home based internet access.
Library websites are and will continue to be an important link with our users - these sites which can direct patrons to much of their information needs must:

• look user friendly
• be user friendly - can find links to what you require easily
• fun and easy to use
• Use simple jargon free language
• Be interactive and interesting
• have no frustrating barriers the user needs to negotiate to be able to find what they need

Libraries can and do offer a wealth of information via various databases and digital collections of journals etc . More use can be made of many of the available growing online web based information sources such as blogs,podcasts, RSS feeds, flickrs and social bookmarking etc. Perhaps a future role of library staff will be as teachers of how to access web based information??? Chchchchanges....

However, I do strongly believe that libraries will continue to play a very important role as a provider of recreational reading and learning via print and audio collections that can be lent. In this economic climate the simple print and audio versions of many materials will still remain important,popular and needed - in particular fiction reading in all formats, print, large print, audio available from libraries - these items are becoming too expensive for many people to afford. I for one like to be able to pickup and put down a book or magazine when it suits rather than access this online.

I am also mindful that many older people like the simplicity of print material, and do not want to go down the Web path.

So libraries can and should be many different things to many diferent users.

#14 Technorati

Technorati - another internet search engine for searching blogs - different to but similar to say Google or Yahoo.
1. Amazing the difference adding " ". I didn't add "" to Learning 2.o and came up with 26,757 posts for learning 2.0 and 686 blogs for it - wow I thought - very broad -then it dawned on me to add the " "- this changed my results to 2,748 posts and 303 blogs - still lots but a more focused result. I was excited when I found other libraries blogs for example one from Wyndam on Image generators.
The results for a post was greater than a blogs you can see from the result figures quoted above. The look was different with Blogs having fans and fave and authority added. The blog seemed better. The tags given allow a match in a search when that term has been keyed in - seems a good way to link blogs with similar content.

2. Popular blog searches and tags - not stuff that I would consider 'popular'. For example I'm not much interested in Paris Hilton or Eva Longora porn, or in Making homemade porn. the Top Favorited Blogs and Top Blogs were similar in their results - ie. Boing Boing , Techcrunch and Engadget were tops in both.

I found You Tube interesting and the spoof - Love Song to Mahmoud- "Iran so far" was interesting.
http://catallaxyfiles.com/?p=3185
Also Videos absurdos de Youtube
http://hmagazinecontenidos.nireblog.com/

Of course Ms Spears was a popular blog - probably because of the child custody breaking news-
Troubled lady

# 13 week 6 Tagging and Social bookmarking

I must say I am continually learning - always to begin with the feeling that I am wandering around in a fog. I feel better when the fog lifts - it means I have some sort of understanding about this newness.
For this section I looked at Tags and Social bookmarking. in particular del.icio.us. I like the unstructuredness of social bookmarking. I like that tags are created by you and therefore have more meaning. I like the way tags work compared to folders in bookmarking and will want to revisit this in more detail. I like the way social bookmarking brings together the organizing, storing info and saving links to web pages. I am amazed at how much informtion is being shared this way.

Once again - re a previous comment - you need to have the time ( computer time) to fit this into a working day.

I did lke the way the You Tube Social bookmarking explained the process- Maybe I can use this approach as a trainer????
To be explored further .....

Rollyo Week 5 #12

Successfully registered with Rollyo and created a searchroll titled Travelmania. Travelmania has a list of urls for last minute accomodation - standby rates

Library thing Week 5 #11

From what I have seen with 'Library thing' looks like a great way for people who collect books to catalogue their personal collections, or for groups to keep reading lists. Also to meet other people interested in the same reading material.
Wow just added 9 items to 'My Library' - How cool

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/juliehowieson

Image generators Week 5 #10

Having fun playing around with Image generators.
I like the Text Collage Generator ' Linguasso'.
http://www.imagegenerator.net/ is a good image generator site.

Custom picture generator www.jellymuffin.com/generators/textprix2 isn't too bad.

RSS and Newsreaders- CALL ME OLD FASHIONED Week 4

Well I muddled my way and created a Blogline. It seems to me that you need to be on a personal computer alot to make good use of this stuff. I certainly wouldn't have time to use it at work and after being on a computer all day I don't think I would want to come home from work and log onto another computer - my family is more important - I think I am more likely to stay in touch with the world via the old fashiond newspaper , TV and radio news. However I can see that it would be good to keep up with your favourite sites so easily.

O.F

chchchchchanges Techno Blog Week 3

WOW - too many chchchchchanges to record. But here are a few that really stand out.
I remember when :-

• Milk was delivered to the door, it came in glass bottles and delivered by the Milky by horse and cart - Now that makes me feel really old. I loved the cream at the top of the bottle - not homogenised then.

• Bread was also delivered daily by the bread man- he delivered by van - I loved the thick crusts.


• Fruit and vegggies didn't come from the supermarket but from the back of a van - The veggie man delivered weekly.


• Non food related changes - THE OUTDOOR DUNNY - I thought we had a very up market dunny when our old one burn't down after a spark from the incinerator set it alight - what excitment when the firebrigade can to put our dunny fire out. Anyway the new dunny had a concrete floor and a nice timber seat. I liked the dunny man in his singlet and short shorts, for those who are way too young to know about the dunny man - he came weekly to collect the dunny pan ( full of !!!!) and swap it for a nice empty pan. I remember you had to keep the lid of the dunny down because the flies loved the content - and the smell wasn't that great either.

• MAIL TECHNOLOGY - Snail mail hasn't changed a great deal but we did know our local postie and if he delivered letters he would blow his whistle. I loved to run out and say Hi if I was home when he delivered. the postie walkd or rode a bike then.



• PAPER DELIVERY - came delivered by the local paperboy, he rode a bike not like the paperman today who delivers by car.



• PHONE TECHNOLOGY - well the telephone was a big black phone with a dial - later we traded this big black monster in for a sleek red one - still with a dial but very modern.


• TV TECHNOLOGY - the old black and white tube television was much loved. It broke down often but Mr Casey the local TV repair man had a booming business - charging a fortune to change the tube which often blew like a light bulb.



• CLOCK TECHNOLOGY - I loved the wind up clock we had perched on the obligatory mantle piece. It Chimed every hour according to what the hour was ie 12 times for midnight and midday ( not so good during the nice though)




• HEATING TECHNOLOGY- I do miss the open fire, I loved sitting in front of that fire gazing at he flames. I do remember nearly chopping my finger off trying to chop the wood whilst playing mothers and fathers -I was the father - bit of a tom boy - I still bear the scar today. Next came the MODERN oil fire, then the gas fire, then the gas furnace, now the ducted heating.



• HOT WATER TECHNOLOGY - The old wood furnance water heater was a beauty. I loved chucking the briquettes and wood in that little furnance hole



• WASHING TECHNOLOGY - The old wringer WOW can you imagine that- you hand washed in a modern concrete tub and perched on the tubs side was a hand ringer - it has two rollers and you wrang the water out of the clothes by feeding them between the two wringers and squashing the water out = then hanging the clothes on the good old hills hoist - which I loved to swing on - 360 whizzy burnouts.

Oh, The Places you'll go! Week 2

Life has it's Ups and Downs as reported by Dr Seuss

You have brains in your head. You have feet in you're shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose...
Out there things can happen and frequently do to people as brainy and footsy as you. And when things start to happen, don't worry. Don't stew. Just go right along. You'll start happening too. Oh the places you'll go.
You will come to a place where the streets are not marked. Some windows are lighted. But mostly they're darked. A place you could sprain both your elbow and chin! Do you dare to stay out? Do you dare to stay in? How much can you lose? How much can you win? And If you go in, should you turn left or right.... or right-and-three-quarters? Or, maybe, not quite? Or go around the back and sneak in from behind? Simple it's not, I'm afraid you will find, for mind-maker-upper to make up his mind.

Oh, the places you'll go! There is fun to be done!
You'll get mixed up, of course, as you already know. You'll get mixed up with many strange birds as you go. So be sure when you step. Step with care and great tact and remember that Lifes' a Great Balancing Act. Just never forget to be dexterous and deft. And never mix up your right foot with your left.

And will you succeed? Yes! You will, indeed! ( 98 and 3/4 per cent guaranteed)

So
Be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea you're off to Great Places! Your mountain is waiting. so....get on your way!

Did I ever tell you How Lucky You Are?

When you are feeling a bit down on your luck - Look to Dr Seuss for some down to earth advice.
Suitable for ages 0-100+.

Just tell yourself, Duckie, you're really quite lucky! Some people are much more....oh, ever so much more... oh, muchly much-much more unlucky than you!

It's a troublesome world. All the people who're in it, are troubled with troubles almost every minute. You ought to be thankful, a whole heaping lot, for the places and people you're lucky you're not!

Think they work you too hard...? Think of poor Ali Sard! He has to mow grass in his uncles backyard and it's quick growing grass and it grows as he mows it. The faster he mows it the faster he grows it. And all that his stingy old uncle will pay for shoving that mower around in the hay is the piffulous pay of two Dooklas a day. And Ali can't live on such piffulous pay!
So....
He has to paint flagpoles on Sundays in Grooz. How luck you are you don't live in his shoes!

And poor Mr. Potter, T crosser, I-dotter. He has to cross t's and he has to dot i's in an I and T factory out in Van Nuys!

And you're so, so, So lucky you're not a left sock, left behind by mistake in the Kaverns of Krock!

Thank goodness for all of the things you are not! Thank goodness you're not something someone forgot, and left all alone in some punkerish place like a rusty tin coat hanger in space
That's why I say, "Duckie! Don't grumble! Don't stew! Some critters are much -much, oh, ever so much-much, so muchly much-much more unlucky than you!"