Out of order

I now I'm weird for doing the wiki Things last, but for some reason I just couldn't get into them. But hey, once I did everything else I couldn't put them off any longer.

#17 Creating the LPLS Staff Wiki

I added Checking out Without Card / With Someone Else’s Card and Renewing Materials to the wiki. I found out that our wiki doesn't like "/" in the address so the section that should be called "Checking out Without Card / With Someone Else’s Card" got the address and name "Checking Out Without Card". But the article itself is still named correctly when you go to it.

I think this thing is pretty useful. You don't have to worry about not having someone around who knows all the rules better than you do. If there's ever a question about what you can or can't do, you just go to the wiki. Simple as that.

As for other uses... I can't really think of anything at the moment, except this, for staff to use it for. I'm sure there's something thogh. But as for patrons, my usual idea of book recommendations. They could go in and give a description of the book and recommomd similar authors or series.

#16 What's in a Wiki?

I looked at the BookLoversWiki. It kinda reminds me of Amazon's review system. Only instead of having everyone leave their own comments about the book, they all just edit the one.

One of the main uses for a Wiki I can think of, as with so many of the other Things we've covered, is for book recommendations. Patrons can go in and add their comments on a book or edit existing comments/reviews, they could also suggest similar authors. We could too, of course.

#24 The End? Or Just The Beginning?

Probably my favorite Thing we did would have to be either the RSS feeds or YouTube. The RSS feeds are just so useful. They make it so much easier to keep track of all my favorite comics and news sites. I wasn't really sure I'd like using them as much as I do. And YouTube reacquainted me with Conan the Librarian. I'm definitely going to continue using Bloglines, YouTube, MySpace, Facebook, and listen to a couple of the podcast I came across. I'd definitely participate in another program. As long as there is a prize, that is.

#23 Podcasts, Smodcasts!

With this Thing I found far more amusing podcasts than stuff that was actually useful. I finally managed to find one that didn't seem idiotic or possibly obscene.

The podcast I settled on is Collected Comics Library. It's described as "The premiere podcast for news and information for DC Archive Editions, Marvel Masterworks, Marvel Essentials, other high-end comic books and trade paperbacks!" He talks about new items coming out and reviews new releases. This could be helpful in my ordering.

#22 Downloading Audiobooks & Videos

The last time I tried looking up I Am America (And So Can You) on R.E.A.D.S it wasn't available. I'm quite happy to see it's there now. I think I'll listen to it over winter break while I clean. As far as MyLibraryDV goes, there were only one or two movies listed that I'd want to watch. I might watch some of the cooking shows though. And maybe a couple of the book shows.

R.E.A.D.S would be a very good application for those patrons who just can't wait for the actual item to come in. Some of them can get quite upset over stuff taking too long. MyLibrayDV would be better if it had a more up to date selection. Yeah it's got Boohbah *shudders*, but what about the Puzzle Place? Or just more recent movies. They don't even have to be big movies, the most recent documentaries and/or independent films would be fine.

Also, I thought it was kinda weird that the guided tour talked out how to burn stuff. Uhh... I thought we were against that.

#21 You Too Can YouTube

I kinda got sidetracked on this one. I'd completely forgotten about "Conan the Librarian".



I love YouTube. I actually use it to watch anime, among other things. YouTube has the potential to be helpful to a library. We could post videos of some of your events to try to build interest in future events or post some how-to videos linked from our site. "How to use the Express Checkout" or "How to Cancel a Reservation". Or hey, patrons could make purchase requests through videos, saying why they think we should add the item. We could also have our staff picks done by video, with us explaining why we like the book.

#20 Discovering Other Web 2.0 Tools

Alright, so I started out by trying out the game sites since I love games. Arcaplay had some potential but after leaving the site I was never able to get it to load again. Not sure what the problem is there. All the other game sites were not really worth bothering with. I'd suggest just going to Shockwave or Pogo.

Next I fooled around with Pandora. This is a site I've used before. You enter a song name or artist and it plays music similar to that song or artist. Sometimes it can be hard to figure out exactly why the song was picked though. I swear one time it told me the background music was similar. It's possible to find some good music with this application. I know come of your younger patrons would like that it pulls up J-Pop artists.

Neither of these areas, games or music, seem very helpful to libraries. N=but the only other thing I was interested in was books and the sites for those weren't anything I liked.

#19 Social Networking

Well, I'm to old to really get any use out of two of the sites, I'm not a professional, and Bookspoke just annoyed me. That means I have to fall back on the two sites I've dealt with.

MySpace is a good place to go if you want to keep track of you favorite artists and authors. Now even some publishing companies are posting web exclusive (or so they claim) material. I watch Dark Horse Comics and am about to start watching Del Ray Manga. You can also keep in touch with your friends and all that, of course.

Facebook is a bit more fun. It serves the same basic functions as MySpace but it also has loads of applications you can add to your account to kill time, better show your interests, or just make it more interesting. This is where I keep track of my books instead of Librarything. The Virtual Bookshelf just seems so much more inviting to me. Also, this site is more about person to person than person to celebrity.

I don't really see how these would help the library. Maybe if we had more/regular teen programs we could get their input or patrons could get in touch with someone who orders certain books. Or maybe getting authors to visit. But other than that i don't really see much use for it in the library.

#18 Web-Based Apps Increase Productivity

I played around with Google Docs. This seems like a great tool. It's something I wish had been back before I got Word. It has all the same features I normally use and doesn't cost a thing. I can also do all my papers and such without having to worry about saving it externally and keeping track of which disk it's on or emailing them to myself whenever I'm done for the moment.

It's also great that you can access your files from any computer with internet access. The main downside I see to this is if you happen to find yourself with a paper to finish but no internet. You're left with no way to get to your files.

#15 On Library 2.0 & Web 2.0...

I read "Into a new world of librarianship" and "Away from the “icebergs”".

"Into a new world of librarianship" kinda scared me. I think it was the way Stephens kept saying "this librarian". I don't know, it just creeped me out. I felt the urge to back away slowly.

"Away from the “icebergs”" though, that one I liked. Not creepy at all. Anderson made a good point about the "jusy in case" collection. We spend money on books that our patrons just might need and many of them sit on the shelf rarely, if ever, getting used. I find myself dealing with this in my Graphic Novel and Manga ordering. There are items I think are good and worth adding, items that patrons request, and new or best selling item recommendations. But just because I want read something doesn't mean anyone else will. Or just because something is a best seller doesn't mean anyone at my library is going to want to check it out.

As far as user education goes, I love patrons who try to learn on their own. The ones who actually attempt to find a book before coming to us for help. And I mean a good attempt. Looking up diffent keywords and actually searching the shelves. Not the people who try one search, give up, and then come and ask us. I understand that we are here to help and teach them, but the ones who try to learn on their own are the ones I love most.

Well that was kinda tangenty.

To me Library 2.0 means knowing how to use the latest online tools so we can recommend them to our patrons. It also means having more available on our site, allowing our patrons to do more with it.

#14 Getting Not-So-Technical with Technorati

Interesting. The Blog Directory search bought up 9,133 hits whereas the tag and basic blog search together average at about 700. I guess people just don't feel the need to tag every Learning 2.0 post with "Learning 2.0".

Wow. Uh, when doing a search for manga (big surprise there) the second hit was "Movie Gallery From Manga Sex". I also found a link to a blog entry about a live action Dragonball Z movie being made. I think I might die.

This reminds me a lot of de.licio.us just due to the fact that you're searching what everyone else online has tagged. But since it also browses blogs for whatever words you're searching for it would be more like Google, only with tag search capabilities.

#13 Tagging, Folksonomies & Social Bookmarking

Sadly, I think I'd only use de.licio.us as a last resort. I'd rather use Google, I guess I'm just contrary. But if Google failed me I could see myself using this.

I can see how this is would be a good research tool. Since someone else has actually tagged a site as having to do with something you don't have to worry about the site just containing the words you were looking up, like with Google. Also, if you're using differnet computers all the time it would be a good way to keep track of your sites.

This could be something good for us librarians to use. it would be helpful when trying to find crafts, recommendations, or whatever.

Manga Search Engine

I finally got some time back at my desk and made a Manga search engine. I used ADV, Del Rey, VIZ, and Anime Nation. I'll add more as I come across ones I like.

I was going to use TokyoPop but I can't stand the way their site's search is set up. And I also left Amazon out. I didn't want to deal with it taking over the results.

Hopefully this one won't be too terribly bad. Now I need to work on a Graphic Novel one.

#12 Roll Your Own Search Engine

I think this could be a very useful little thingy. If you're really impatient and don't want to waste time going to multiple website trying to find a specific book, article, whatever, then this is a great resource.

I only have Amazon and Fantastic Fiction on my Searchroll. That's probably not the best thing, but those are the main sites I use to look up books.

I understand what Andrea was talking about with Amazon dominating the results. It's crazy how many items show up that aren't what you're looking for.

Some time later this week when I'm back at the Reference Desk I'm going to try to make one with all the Manga sites I have bookmarked. If I remember that is.

Anyway, here's the link to my Searchroll.

And here is my Search Engine:

Select Search Engine...MangaBooksSearch The Web

Powered by Rollyo

P.S. - For some reason I had a real hard time getting that search to post. Oh well, it's up now.

#11 A Thing about LibraryThing

Sadly, I'm not really a fan of LibraryThing. I can understand why people would like it though. Searching for books is pretty straightforward and there are loads of comments and the recommendations actually make sense, which is always a plus.

One of the things I don't like is having to pay to get over 200 books listed. I know it's only $10 or $25, but I'm poor and can do this for free elsewhere. Also, I don't like having to tag the books to keep track of what's read, unread, or currently being read. For one of the applications I use elsewhere you just add the book and click a button and it automatically sorts it into one of those three groups, it also has different colors for each category when you look at your whole list. I know it sounds lazy, but a lot of people aren't going to understand how to use the tags to keep track of these things.

Anyway, here's my LibraryThing.

#10 Play Around with Image Generators

I found three that I liked, so here you go.




This one was made with the Chocolate Bar Generator

This one was made with the Simpsons Church Sign Generator
This just seems like something you might see on their church sign.


And this little guy was made with the ezSmiley Generator
He's a ninja bear of some kind, probably grizzly.

Many of the generators I came across were ones where you'd simply enter text of some kind and the generator would do the rest. And that's no problem as long as you can thing of something funny to say. I usually have trouble with that. Also, it was hard figuring out what all to do to my Smiley.

A lot of these generators also have links to other generators. So it doesn't take much effort to find one you'll like.

P.S. - I couldn't figure out how to post multiple pics with Flickr. Anyone know how?

Zodiac

I got to go out to eat with my mom today. We went and had Chinese since she never seems to get to have it unless she visits me. As we were leaving I noticed the big beautiful calender on the wall. Apparently, it's the year of the Boar. My year. How did it get to be October without me realizing that?

#9 Finding Feeds

I mainly used Feedster. The other three ended up giving me some naughty things.

Feedster was pretty easy to use. Just put in something to search for and there you go. I found that the names of the feeds were potentially the most helpful thing to look at. Some of the "articles" seemed like one shot deals, so looking at their content wasn't always helpful

I found a few more feeds dealing with Graphic Novels and Manga, which is of course the main thing I'm concerned with at the library for the time being. I found a number dealing with new release schedules and reviews of manga. It was harder to find graphic novel ones though. Most of the stuff I came across dealt with the individual comics. But I also found one or two regular book review/recommendation feeds and one on Japan and Japanese culture.

The easiest way I've found a feed was just by visiting my favorite sites. A number of them offer feeds, or at least emails for daily comics. I'm all about the comics.

#8 Make Life "Really Simple" with RSS & a Newsreader.

Here's my Blogroll. A word of warning though, if you're easily offended I'd advise you to stay away from Explosm.net.

So this thing is great. It's basically just a more advanced bookmark list, but it's still good. As you can see I went a little crazy with my feeds. 32, after just starting it, wow. I just wish all my comics would display.

Thanks to the Reader's Club Graphic Novel list I can keep up to date on some of the newer releases, very good since I'm ordering them now. Same goes for Fantasy. Although, the Fantasy is more for pleasure than work. And I can easily keep track of my favorite comics and the news.

As for Libraries utilizing this resource, like I said, I'm ordering Graphic Novels and this will help me with that. Just in general it can help us keep track of new releases. Go to the right place and you might get feeds on how books are actually doing sales-wise.

P.S. - It's taking awhile for my verification/confirmation email thing to be delivered, so I'm not sure when my Blogroll will be viewable.

#7 Digital Archives

Puppets
Originally uploaded by jabatiger

I chose this pic because, come on, who doesn't love a puppet show? And how often do you see a puppet show featuring a Polar Bear and a Witch?

Since it wouldn't let me save the big version of the pic I had to settle for this smaller preview one. Here's where I got it: Photograph of puppeteer Tom Tichenor with puppets Witchie and Marco Polo Bear, 1962

#6 More Flickr Fun

lolMax
Originally uploaded by jabatiger

I played around with a few of the applications and the Lolcat Generator was my favorite. Mainly because I have this awwsome (in my opinion) pic of my cat Max being all sphinxy.

It very easy to use. You just browse for a pic from your computer, preferably of a cat. Also, preferable of a cat doing doing something interesting/weird/funny. Type in what you want it to say at the top and how you want it aligned and then do the same for the text at the bottom. Simple as that.

I also made a trading car of myself, but we don't need to discuss that.

P.S. - I know I misspelled awesome. It was intentional because every time I see that pic I go "aww." I miss my kitty.

#5 Exploring Flickr

Liger 4
Originally uploaded by batistabomb

Oh my god! That woman is the luckiest person on Earth! I would love to be able to get that close to a liger.

Look at how big it's head is! Beautiful.

Graphic Novels and Manga

So, I get to order Graphic Novels and Manga now. Anyone have any suggestions? I have signs up here at the Smyrna branch asking patrons for recommendations. I've gotten a few. One person even went so far as to give me page-long list. As soon as find that thing I'm gonna get to work on it.

So yeah, if anyone has any recommendations, or if any of your patrons have been asking for something, let me know.

#4 The Online Library

I chose to do the Gale Group Database's What Do I Read Next. I'm a big reader so this is something that appeals to me.

I've been fiddling around with this resource for awhile now and I have to say that I'm a little disappointed. The Author, Title/Series, and Custom searches are fine. They do exactly what you want them to do. The other applications are a little trickier.

With "Help Me Find a Book" you're asked to enter the title of a book you've enjoyed. I picked Carpe Jugulum, a Discworld novel by Terry Pratchett. A list comes up of all the books with the title you entered. There was only one for me, no surprise there. You're then given a list of "attributes" associated with the book within different categories and you're asked to pick the ones you'd like to include in your search. I chose Fantasy, Humor, Death, Vampires, Witches and Witchcraft, and Witches. This search pulled up only one book. Carpe Jugulum.

Now to me, including all those attributes in the search means I'm asking it to search for fantasy books, preferably humorous, dealing with death, vampires, or witches. To this database though, it means only search for books that have all of those. Seems counterintuitive, but then it could just be me.

If you don't include a lot of criteria then you will get a list of books to go through and they will have the attributes you indicated. So it does get the job done. I might recommend this resource to a patron, but I'm more likely to recommend Fantastic Fiction or Amazon. I have better luck with them.

"#3 Test Blog Entry"

I'd figure that my first post would count as my test blog. But just in case I actually have to have a post with this title for it to be official, I thought I might as well make one just to be safe.

I can't wait to see what other staff members come up with for their blog names. I'm hoping for some funny ones since I failed at coming up with one that wasn't already taken. It still saddens me. Cause I mean, I started this blog so long ago and I've had so much time to regret not coming up with a better name.

I'm interested to see what everyone else has to say about the 7.5 habits.

Also, it's going to be fun trying to figure out who any anonymous people are. Hehe.

#2 Lifelong Learning: Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

Watched the tutorial and found it interesting. Of course, I was kinda bad and imagined how I would have narrated it.

So, first off, here are the habits:

1. begin with the end in mind
2. accept responsibility in your own learning
3. view problems as challenges
4. have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner
5. create your own learning toolbox
6. use technology to your advantage
7. teach and mentor others
.5. play!

Hmm. I think I should relate this to one of my current goals. I want to learn sign language. I have a good friend in TX and it irritates me to no end that when we get to actually met up we have to rely on texting, pen and paper, or an interpretor to communicate. I would like to be able to talk to him on my own.

The easiest of these for me would have to be either 1 or 7.5. It's easy to start something when you have a goal in mind. What's the use in starting if you can't see yourself accomplishing it? My goal is to have a conversation with my friend without resorting to other means of communication. And play is simple. We could tell jokes or hurl insults at each other.

The hardest for me with my current goal would have to be 4. I'm horrible when it comes to languages, so it's already hard enough for me to have confidence in my ability to learn the signs. But ASL (American Sign Language) is more like French due to it's origins. So I have to translate my thoughts into sign, but then I also have to translate my English into French, so to speak. It's so hard (I don't want to hear anything out of you, Mel). But I wouldn't mind just knowing Pidgin. And it might be easier if I had someone to practice with. Learning a language on your own is just so difficult.

The hardest part

The hardest part of starting one of these things is actually picking a name. The ones you want always seem to be taken. I wanted "Shut Your Face" or "Where Am I Pointing" or "What Did I Just Say?" All unavailable.

Oh well, a less... annoyed sounding name is probably for the best.

But it's nowhere near as amusing.