I have visited You Tube and I don't imagine that I will return to this site very often. I don't see the attraction, but evidently many people do enjoy watching these videos. Some of them have been viewed as many as 300,000 times. The first video I clicked on was on the featured page. It was entitled "Erbert and Gerbert's Human Flipbook". While I was viewing it I couldn't imagine that anyone would spend that much time and effort on this project, no matter how clever it was. Then I realized that it was made as an advertisement for a Sub Shop. It really is kind of cute. I am going to try to embed this video in my blog just because I want to see if I can do that successfully.
Well, it seems that all went well with that endeavor. Yippee!
I explored YouTube's categories and its search engine in an attempt to find the video of the security guards sleeping at the Peach Bottom Atomic Power Plant. This is of interest to me because the plant is located 2 miles from my town. I thought this video would certainly be available on YouTube since it's received a lot of attention in the news recently. However, none of my search terms (Peach Bottom, atomic plant, guards, sleeping, etc.) turned up any matches. I find that surprising.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
Thing 19 - Discover Any Site from Web 2.0 Awards List
The Web 2.0 awards site is a great resource for finding top-rated tools/sites in many different categories. Its well-organized listings and brief descriptions make it easy to click on sites that one thinks might be of interest or value. I explored several of the sites. Realtravel.com is one of my favorites. It is a travel guide and trip planner where one can read about others' experiences, find travel deals, and map out a vacation. I was also interested in Instantbull.com, an investing site with all kinds of information on the stock market, stock message boards, etc.
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Thing #18 - Online Productivity Tools
Zoho vs. Word
Well, hi there. Bill Gates doesn't allow me to start off with a kiss! I am creating a test document in the Zoho Writer program (
oops, web-based application). So far it seems fairly similar to Word. I can't find a tutorial on the site except for the FAQ section, so I hope I don't have too many questions. Let me see if I can get this over to my blog. 
Bye now.
Now I'm back in Blogger. It was quite easy to get my Zoho document over to my blog. Zoho Writer is a neat site. I was interested in looking over the templates on the site as I need to create a poster about an upcoming concert, but I didn't find anything that would help in that endeavor.
I'm off to explore Google Doc. Bye - sorry no wink this time!
Thing #17 - Maryland Libraries Sandbox Wiki
I thought playing in the sandbox would be more fun!! From the directions at the top of the site, I thought I had to create a new page and then add it to the Favorite Blogs page. Of course, that was wrong, and it took me quite a while to get my page deleted. At one point I was afraid that I was about to delete the entire Sandbox! Eventually I got my blog listed correctly with the other Harford County blogs. At least I hope it's still there and that the link still works! After that I went on to add short edits to two other pages - Favorites and Favorite Childhood Books. That went smoothly, so I was able to leave the sandbox on a positive note.
Thing #16 - Wikis
I have been waiting to find out about wikis ever since they were mentioned at the Technology Fair. At that time I knew about Wikipedia because it comes up so frequently in search results, but I didn't see how that fit in with what was being said about wikis. After exploring the various discovery resources I now understand that a wiki is a "quick-to-build, easy-to-edit website on which all information can be edited, changed, or rewritten by users or members of the site" (quoting from Wiki, wiki, wiki). I'm not so sure about the "easy" to build part, but I won't worry about that because I doubt that I ever start a wiki. Also, it seems to me that the original idea of anyone adding or changing content has been modified in many cases. Almost all of the wikis I looked at required a password to do any editing. I'm sure that that came about because some people were doing inappropriate things!
I can see many ways in which libraries could use wikis. Librarians and patrons alike could work together to develop subject guides to websites, add annotations to the library catalog, and turn the library website into a community wiki. Librarians themselves could use wikis to collaborate on group projects, share conference information , and exchange ideas about library policies and practices. The possibilities are endless.
I can see many ways in which libraries could use wikis. Librarians and patrons alike could work together to develop subject guides to websites, add annotations to the library catalog, and turn the library website into a community wiki. Librarians themselves could use wikis to collaborate on group projects, share conference information , and exchange ideas about library policies and practices. The possibilities are endless.
Friday, September 28, 2007
Thing #15 - Web 2.0, Library 2.0
Library 2.0 certainly is many things to many people. As I read through the various perspectives that were suggested, I noticed that the theme of change kept appearing over and over again. The authors didn't all share the same vision of what Library 2.0 encompasses or even should encompass, but all noted that it reflects a transition in the ways in which library services are delivered to the users.
In reflecting on what Library 2.0 means to me, I had to reminisce on my own ideas about libraries and their functions in various stages of my life. When I was a youngster, libraries were places to get books for pleasure reading, and I could hardly wait for the Bookmobile every 2 or 3 weeks. In high school and college, libraries became places of drudgery where one had to go to search for books to aid in writing term papers. After marriage and having a family, libraries once again became pleasant places where we could check out books, go to story times, etc. However, in my mind and experience, libraries were always about BOOKS. I remember being very surprised when the new Whiteford branch opened and had materials including video tapes, cassette tapes, etc., in addition to books. That, of course, was nothing compared to the shift in perspective that came about with computers, Internet access, online catalogs and data bases. The world has changed; libraries have changed; and my ideas about libraries' functions have changed as well.
I do agree with one article I read in which the author pointed out that libraries have never been the sole source of information for individuals. However, libraries are leaders in disseminating information in whatever way, shape or form that constant changes and advances may take them. HCPL has certainly embraced many of these changes, always in a well-thought-out and researched manner. I am sure that our services will continue to be constantly updated and evaluated as we strive to meet the needs of our users.
In reflecting on what Library 2.0 means to me, I had to reminisce on my own ideas about libraries and their functions in various stages of my life. When I was a youngster, libraries were places to get books for pleasure reading, and I could hardly wait for the Bookmobile every 2 or 3 weeks. In high school and college, libraries became places of drudgery where one had to go to search for books to aid in writing term papers. After marriage and having a family, libraries once again became pleasant places where we could check out books, go to story times, etc. However, in my mind and experience, libraries were always about BOOKS. I remember being very surprised when the new Whiteford branch opened and had materials including video tapes, cassette tapes, etc., in addition to books. That, of course, was nothing compared to the shift in perspective that came about with computers, Internet access, online catalogs and data bases. The world has changed; libraries have changed; and my ideas about libraries' functions have changed as well.
I do agree with one article I read in which the author pointed out that libraries have never been the sole source of information for individuals. However, libraries are leaders in disseminating information in whatever way, shape or form that constant changes and advances may take them. HCPL has certainly embraced many of these changes, always in a well-thought-out and researched manner. I am sure that our services will continue to be constantly updated and evaluated as we strive to meet the needs of our users.
Thing #14 - Technorati
Technorati is another amazing site and resource that I had never heard of before Learning 2.0. The number of blogs out there is unbelievable, and this site is certainly a valuable tool for those who like (and have the time) to read blogs to find the postings and topics they are interested in. I followed the Discovery exercises and did various kinds of searches. Learning 2.0 remains a popular topic. My key word search for this topic returned 4,065 blog posts, the tag search returned 4,068 posts and 18 videos, and the blog directory search revealed 298 blogs about Learning 2.0. I explored the lists of favored blogs, top searches and top blogs. The name "Boing Boing" had come up as I was working on other things, so I was interested to see what it, "the most popular blog in the world" was all about.
I don't know how often I will return to Technorati, mainly because once you start reading blogs a lot of time goes by very quickly! I do think it is a very worthwhile undertaking and am glad to know of its existence.
I don't know how often I will return to Technorati, mainly because once you start reading blogs a lot of time goes by very quickly! I do think it is a very worthwhile undertaking and am glad to know of its existence.
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