Thing 9 - Sharing Slides, Photos, and Databases

Yay it worked! This thing started off annoying me to no end. I kept avoiding it. First, I wanted to make a database because it was something I had never done before, but the website wouldn't let me (it wasn't just me, others couldn't do it either). I didn't want to make a photo slideshow because I had already done that in Flickr. So that left me with a slideshow. I didn't realize slideshow meant Power Point (I was thinking it was just another version of a photo slideshow), so I didn't want to do that either. But eventually I went to the websites just to get it over with. I signed up for Slideshare, and I realized that it only uploads slideshows you have already created with another program that you had to buy (i.e. Microsost Power Point). So that was a bust. Then I went to Zoho Show, and it actually let you make a slideshow right there on the website. It turned out to be pretty cool. It's nice to know that you don't have to buy a program in order to make a slideshow. I have used Power Point many times for school projects, so I knew generally how to use Zoho Show. Things are in different places, but you can do a lot of the same stuff. Above is the result. So now I am finally past Thing 9!!

Thing 8 - Communication - Web 2.0 Style

There really wasn't much for me to do with this Thing because I already know everything about instant messaging and text messaging. I have had AIM and Yahoo! Messenger for years. And texting is an everyday occurrence. But I've never been in a web conference before. I do know generally what it is and how it works, but I just have never been in the position to need to use it. It's a great idea though. In my other part-time job, the managers always get together for conference calls. I think they could benefit from web conferencing. And I could see how the library managers from different branches could meet together in a web conference. Also I'm sure Administration could definitely use it as well. They deal with different boards and the public, and I'm sure at times, a web conference could be useful.

I did try the challenge though and signed up for Twitter and Meebo. Meebo is really cool. I love having all of my IM accounts in one place. Twitter is neat too, but none of my friends have it so I need to get them to join so I have someone to Tweet to. But I do like it. It is kind of similar to updating your status on Facebook but a little more versatile.

I always have felt that communication is the key to any relationship (coworker/coworker, bf/gf, parent/child, patron/staff, branch/branch, county/county, etc, etc, etc). So if there is something out there that increases the amount of communication among people, I'm all for it.

Thing 7 - Online Image Generators

This Thing was a lot of fun. I could spend hours surfing around those few sites. I especially loved Toon Doo. I tried to make a cartoon to post here, but all of my jokes are too lame lol. All of the sites were really easy to navigate and figure out, and they can definitely be used in the library. I really liked the idea of making trading cards. They were pretty neat. A lot of the images could be used for posters, bulletin boards, or for different programs. There are a lot of things the online image generators could be used for.

Thing 6 - Flickr Mashups

Most of the mashups, weba apps, and tools I searched through were pretty neat. Some of them were kind of confusing though. I could not figure out Clockr for the life of me. I just clicked on the link, and it took me to this completely black site with the time at the top. But the time was in normal numbers, and I couldn't figure out how to get them to change to random photos. Oh well. Anyways, I did get the Spell with Flickr to work out as seen in my previous post. It took me a couple of tries to figure out how to actually post it on my blog, but I worked it out in the end. The Neflin blog said each site would have easy instructions on how to put each mashup on your blog, but they didn't. Ok you copy the code, but then what? Paste it where? They should be more explicit. I also found a cool Flickr tool that let me make a slideshow of my photos. It is now playing at the left of my blog. Sifting through all the apps and tools can be challenging, especially because there are so many of them and it seems like there are many that are very similar. But once you find ones that you can use, they are great. Any website can be spiced up with a variety of mashups.

Thing 5 - Flickr

Flickr is not too new for me. I used to have a Webshots account a few years back where I posted my pictures, but now I usually just post them on Facebook. Same type of thing. The organization on Flickr is a little different with the use of tags. The tags are kind of nice because you can take photos months apart that have something in common but that would normally be put in different albums. Picnik is pretty cool too. Webshots and Facebook don't let you edit your pictures right there, so I really like that. Flickr would be great for the library. There are plenty of pictures that can be shared with our patrons through a Flickr account. With the Alachua and Millhopper renovations, it would be nice to keep the patrons involved with the processes. I have seen quite a few pictures sent over email, but it would be great for the public to see not just staff. Pictures from the Homecoming parade, the Friends of the Library booksale, different events and programs that have been offered at each library, events around the community, even pictures of the library staff. Anything to get the patrons involved and asking for more. Two thumbs up for Flickr!

Thing 4 - RSS and Newsreaders

I have always seen those little symbols on websites, but never paid much attention to them. RSS is pretty cool. It's nice to have all of these different websites in one place. I have always used bookmarks and favorites to one click my favorite websites. In some respects it's not that much different. I only have to open one screen to get to either my bookmarks or to the RSS aggregator. And many different websites are just a click away. The differences: bookmarks allow you to mark any website not just those with RSS feeds (for instance, my email, my work schedule for my other job, etc.) but the RSS aggregator tells you when a website has been updated. For different blogs that you always check, I think the aggregator would be great, but for things like news websites that are constantly updated bookmarks work just as well. I set up my Bloglines aggregator a couple of weeks ago, and I haven't gone to it since. I think I'm just in the habit of using bookmarks. A new website, username, and password is just too much to remember. Maybe I'll bookmark Bloglines! That will definitely help my apathy towards using it!

Thing 3 - Blog Search Tools

I didn't know that there were such things as blog search tools. Whenever I have found blogs in the past, it has been either through friends or just a simple google search. Technorati is pretty neat; all those blogs in one place! But I found it a little difficult to use the right keywords. All blogs are usually not about just one thing. So if you're looking for a blog about the Middle East for instance, any and every blog that has the words "Middle East" come up, whether it's relevant or not. I did search for "libraries" and got some good hits, but for certain subjects I think it takes quite a bit of sifting through. I guess it's a good resource to know, but I don't know if I will use it much in my everyday life. Maybe if I was just surfing the web, looking for something to do, I might get on Technorati. Also I don't know how many times I've broken some electronic device that I threw the directions for away, and found someone in the blogging world that knows exactly how to fix it. There's a lot of information out there on blogs that can be tapped into, if only we can find it. So in that way, I definitely see the possibilities to use Technorati in the library.

Thing 2 - Web 2.0

I'm just going to admit it: I had never even heard of Web 2.0. The web has always just been the Web to me. Maybe it's because I grew up on computers. I do remember a time when we didn't have the internet, and the computer was in my eyes solely for games (and for stats that my track coach dad used to type up). But once I hit high school, I had already begun IMing and using the internet for school reports. Then as I entered college, Facebook, blogging, Webshots, and MySpace eventually entered the picture. So I guess I uderstand the idea of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0, but I think its just the natural evolution of the web. Why does it need a name? When did the Web become the Web 2.0? There's no clear delineation. The Web is clearly different from when it first begun, and libraries are not the libraries of my childhood. But it was more of a progressive change that occurred over years. Libraries are slowly using new technology, and I think that in order to keep up with our patrons, this will only continue. Just look at 23 Things; we're already starting. I just wonder when Web 3.0 will come around...