Thing 23 for Learn & Play at CML

I'm finished, but there's still so much left to do. Even though I've met today's deadline, there are videos from participants that I haven't had time to watch - I still want to do that. And I want to go back and further explore some of the sites we've visited and applications we've tried out, several of which I plan to use in my upcoming work. Lots of people have added themselves to Twitter and I want to go back and browse, and I want to take a look at some of the blogs I didn't have a change to catch up on.

This has been an enjoyable program, and I'm glad I made the effort to do it. I will be encouraging any of my staff who haven't finished, to finish it - and maybe provide my own incentive for their completion. Maybe we'll try to have some sort of regular technology information meeting in 2009, or at least a few minutes to touch base on technology at our regular staff meetings. But there definitely should be some sort of Phase II for 2009.

MOLDI - Needs a new name

Who ever decided this was a good name, please? Yes, I know what it stands for, but please, what can people be thinking? Here's this great concept with a yucky acronym. People, people we've got to be more creative than this! New L&P initiative - find an online acronym generator and give a reward out to anyone who finds the most ATTRACTIVE name for a great program - Please.

Besides all that...I am a great fan of Books on CD, and before that Books on Tape. I have about a 30 minute drive to and from work and sometimes I think that's when my best reading gets done. We're always stocked with BOCD when we travel, and my DD likes to listen to them at night when she goes to bed. She an probably recite the entire story of Winnie-the-Pooh by heart, and in an English accent. But while I browse the digital collection (I refuse to use THAT name) every so often, I haven't been particularly interested in downloading anything. My library card is full, and my car is stocked, and there are books piled beside my bed and the couch. I'm at my limit. If I didn't spend 45+ hours in a library all day, it might be more of an incentive for me. In fact I've often thought that if I didn't work in a library, how would I fit library time in to my life? So for non-library staff, this can be a great alternative.

Reading a book on my laptop would be ok, except I try not to take my laptop everywhere with me. And you just know the battery would die just as I was getting to the good part of the book. That's what put me off buying any type of er-reader so far - the battery life. When an energy storage breakthrough is made, then I'll be first in line, but until then paper is going to be my first choice when it comes to reading material. It may be non-tech, but it fits my needs best.

My DH, in fact, has downloaded several books from this program and is quite happy with it. He thinks the software can be a bit of a pain, but then that's the IT world - there are always glitches. But for the purposes of Learn & Play, I have downloaded Dog Years: a memoir by Mark Doty. And in audio format I've downloaded Barbara Tuchman's A Distant Mirror: the calamitous 14th century.

PodCasts - LIS News

Here I've been in tune with some of the latest technology along, and didn't ever really think about it. I've been reading Library and Information Science News postings for over a year, and when they added podcasting I just accepted it as an expanded version of the postings. It's like a little radio news program on what's going on in libraries, and interviews with some very interesting people that I can listen to in my office while I'm working on something else. But again, like websites, blogs, etc. I'm finding I have to be more discriminating about what I sign up for and view or read. There's just not enough time to do it all, get my job done and keep up with my family.

You tube

What can one say about Youtube that hasn't been said before, and in a thousand different ways? We all have our personal uses for it, and knowing the creative inventiveness of the human mind, it's going to develop in ways we can't even conceive of at this moment.
I love watching the old clips from the Ed Sullivan show, things I saw when I was a little girl. Does anyone remember Topo Gigio? "Eddieeee, kiss me goodnite." And the Muppet clips before there was ever a Muppet show, or Sesame Street? And then there's the Weird Al Yankovic videos - White & Nerdy, or It's all about the Pentiums, Baby. And, I confess, every now and then I'll watch Shania Twain dance on a table top with Billy Currington. Hey, I can have my shallow moments, too.
Of course, there are lots of sites that are following the trend: Flickr and Google to name just two. Go into the Google Search Engine and enter Upload Videos and 'et voila!' you have scores of places to choose from.
I've watched videos on how to cook, or make things. And then there's a special one just produced lately, where Mr. Schwaab tells us about his 10 Random Things. And for those who need a little fame, it's a great, or at least remarkable place for them to have their 15 minutes. It's a great tool to use as an interactive process between the Library and it's customers, and it's a great archive itself of humanity. What will the space aliens ever think of us?

CML ToolBar

Do I have one loaded on my home laptop? What a question, of course I do! I swear, I'm searching around the CML catalog as much at home as I do at work. Probably more. ('They' don't let me out of my office much) We search around in our own catalog so much, I think we take it for granted what a great website and catalog we've got. Yes, there's room for improvement, but we've got the talented and creative people who are improving it. I've been using Firefox for quite a few years, but my husband prefers Opera. Also, if you want to try a new type of browser try SpaceTime. It's sort of a 3-D type of thing, where you can arrange and sort your search results.

Web Award tools

I hadn't really meant to leave my L&P until the last minute, and I really wanted to get the fullest exploration of each activity. But as usual, reality intervened and took over my life, and again I'm playing catch-up. However, everything in its time and place, I guess. One of the Web Awards suggested is for Geni.com, which provides a free, private forum to construct a family tree and a family history. Family members can log on and update it, and add to it, and add pictures and videos. This means that we don't have to email or snail mail this stuff back and forth, and if your family is spread over the continent as mine is, we can actually have something we can work on together. My mother is incredibly interested in having a family tree correctly built. I guess a cousin of hers put one together many years ago, and several facts were wrong. From the telephone conversations we've been having (my mother and I) lately, I have a strong feeling we'll be doing a lot of genealogy posting over the Christmas holidays...just to get everyone started. How fortuitous that I was pointed in the direction of this website just at this time.

Google Docs

This is what happens when you have your nose to the grindstone (read office desktop) and don't have the opportunity to Learn & Play like we have had in the past few months. I have worked on several projects in the past few months where having Google Docs up and running for same would have been such a boon. (love that word) And that fact that you can email documents to the account for uploading and work is just way cool. Many projects are winding down now because of the end of the year, and those fateful performance appraisals, but I'm looking forward to using Google Docs in 2009. The simplest advantage will be not having to create a document, then email it out to everyone for comment or changes, and then have them email it back and incorporate those changes. We also won't have to come from all over the county for a group work meeting - saving time and gas. We set up our phones for a conference call, put them all on speaker, and then we all log in and we can complete in an afternoon, what used to take a week or more. Does this mean I'll actually be more productive at work? Don't let Admin. know.

Adding to Learn & Play wikis

It's fun to add stuff; favorite titles, movies, music, etc. After all we all like to talk about ourselves. But really I find it much more interesting to read what everyone else has written. Agree or disagree, it's one of the reasons I've always liked working in the public library - there is just such a variety of opinions, all of them well thought out - or not.

Wiki, wiki

Doesn't the word even sound fun? Wiki, wiki, wiki... I think this is a great concept, and really like what someother libraries are doing with it. And I am really looking forward to our own CML Reader's Advisory Wiki. Because of my job responsibilties I don't have time to do the reading I used to, and I'm really hoping that the building of this RA wiki will point me towards the stuff I really, really want to read, and hope that this same wiki will be accessible by our customers. I see us reaching beyond simple online training for our customers, and showing them how to access wikis that we may have developed ourselves, or with community partners.

Library 2.0 for L&P

I've been fascinated by what computers and technology can do for libraries since I started work back in the mid-1980's, when I dragged my Brother WP into work to use instead of that stupid electric typewriter. Am I embracing Lib 2.0? I did, and am incredibly excited that our library system has recognized the necessity. M. Stephen's statement of making the library a social and emotionally engaging center for learning and experience is just so right, and that we should be trendspotters "reading outside the profession and watching for the impact of technology on users and new thinking on business." Right on, brother! (Preaching to the choir) People in the library profession have for so long held the belief that it was we, really, who knew what people needed. It was difficult for so many librarians to switch to the "give'em what they want" idea in the early 90's, and many are probably reviling the need to move so quickly into the future and respond so quickly to what we anticipate our customers will use. It's a good time for those librarians to retire, and tell stories of the good ol' days. We know that those old fashioned libraries had to change, that we had to really redefine our concept of what a library is. Funding problems emphasized that. A library is not just a building with a collection of books, or other media. It is simply (or not) a concept of the exploration and access to human knowledge and information. The easier it is to access and spread knowledge, the better we've done our job.

10 Random Facts About Me

I have taken up the HB challenge....as it were.

1. I grew up in International Falls, MN, a small town on the U.S.- Canadian Border. It is often mentioned on the Weather Channel. It holds the official title of "Icebox of the Nation." It was portrayed as Frostbite Falls on the Rocky and Bullwinkle Show. Yes, it was cold and there was a lot of snow. But one dealt with it, and we didn't have many snow days. Winters were glorious; white and crisp, and summers non-humid and mid-70's. We had Rainy River (glacier fed) and the lakes for boating, water skiing and fishing. Many nights we could see the Aurora Borealis. It's a wonderful, friendly little town.

2. I have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While I just discovered this a little over a year ago, it has explained so many things about my personality and behavior. Some people advise that mentioning something that is a recognized disability will keep my career stalled. Hah! Don't care. I'm not afraid to take a risk, I'm creative, and I can think outside of the box like nobody's business. ADHD may have a downside, but it really has an upside. To keep it simple, it has to do with dopamine transporters and receptors in the brain. Don't you love it when it really, truly isn't your fault?

3. I LOVE dark chocolate, and especially frozen 3 Musketeer bars. I really, really dislike milk chocolate. I'm not a big sugar buff, but give me fresh bread and hot butter, and I swoon..

4. I am a very good photographer. I've been told I have a talent for it. Personally, I don't see it, I just do it - I like how it turns out.

5. I've encountered only one famous person: Tom Baker, the fifth Doctor Who. The weekend before I came to Columbus and to work for CML (Feb 1985), I attended a Dr.W convention in Champaign, IL. I have a picture somewhere.

6. I once called my mother from a non-collecting pay phone (only phone in the village) from a mountaintop in France, and the first words out of her mouth after I said hello, was "Are you in jail?" Odd, since I've never been in jail.

7. If I couldn't have made it as a librarian, I would have been a landscape architect.

8. My first car was a jacked up Plymouth Fury III, formerly a state patrol car. And yes, I was known to drag race a couple of times. Nothing like having a car full of girls, and outdistance a couple of unsuspecting guys at a stop light. Do remember this was over 40 years ago.

9. My most productive hours are from 10:00 until 2:00. I have never been an early morning person. Catch me when I come in to work, and you'll know it is true. I need at least two cups of strong coffee to 'wake me up.'

10. I married a CML security officer. Our first date was the Christmas performance of The Nutcraker Ballet. We were engaged by Valentine's Day. He had to ask the director at the time if it was ok for us to get married. The director said we'd make a cute couple. How embarassing. But at least we didn't have to get permission from the Board, as was previous policy. However, I did hear later that the Board also gave their informal permission. There was a cartoon drawn about it in the staff newspaper. I still have it somewhere.

That's it, folks. Now you know everything about me.

Del.icio.us

Love Delicious! Reviewing back over my account, it looks like I've had it open since Sept 2007. I took today's opportunity to add a few more sites. The problem is, of course, once I get into it - it takes me hours to get out. My discipline is not that good. Probably it should have some type of timer you can put on it for self-control purposes.

Techno-paganism and the concept of Twitter

From the Urban Dictionary: "Techno-pagan - Someone who blends modern technology with their pagan or witchcraft practice. Alternately, someone with a pagan spirituality who believes that mechanical and electronic devices, such as cars and computers, have a spirit or soul of their own."

As with all discussions I have on religion, this is tongue-in-cheek. I don't want to get into any in-depth discussions on personal religious belief. It's a good way to make enemies, or expose oneself to public prayer sessions - both of which I'd like to avoid.

I've begun to consider myself a techno-pagan, perhaps through default, more than a participating member of any established religion. (Yes, lapsed Catholic - thank you) Consider - Every day of the week, I seat myself at the altar of techno-paganism - the desktop or laptop computer. I place my hands in the approved position (for the qwerty keyboard) and I begin to make my obeisance to my daily email. I have clipped my divine token to the front of my outfit (Vocera) so that all participants may reach me throughout my work day. And the ear plug cord (to hear its secrets better) is wrapped around my neck. Like all religious tokens they never match what you're wearing - they are all black. Black, according to Color Wheel Pro is associated with power, elegance, formality, death, evil, and mystery. Hmm...how appropriate. And you know, it speaks to me, too. And in different genders. When I touch it's magic button it announces its presence in sepulchral tones. Of course, often it doesn't understand me, but then I'm a mystery to my husband, too.

But! are technological gadgets and appliances even alive? you ask. Doesn't matter. We treat them as if they were. How many of us have prayed and waived our arms, or cursed the machine we hold, if it skips a beat (is that 25 page report due tomorrow - Lost? Oh, MY god!) or just up and quits? And after Columbus' windstorm and subsequent power outage a few weeks ago, people were haunting my branch looking for power outlets to recharge their phones, the UPS', their laptops, etc. And it wasn't reverently. These people were on the edge. I bet they weren't half as worried about feeding themselves or their children.

So what does this have to do with Twitter? I signed up yesterday, and read over some of the 'tweet's of Columbus, Ohio participants - and frankly, I wasn't impressed. Much of it was totally inane, feeding the pagan god even if it means nothing. And a lot of it was being used as advertising, read evangelizing (as if we need much more of that) Even Barack Obama's twitter site was blatant self promotion - and I bet he's not even typing it. Really, I don't care to tell the world or even my best friends every move I'm making. Let them have a little mystery in their life. I really don't care what they're doing either. Maybe when I was sixteen, and I had a crush on some guy - then I really cared what he was doing every second of every day ( picking out my socks now. think I'll wear the blue ones - Oh, baby!) But now, there's already too much information in my life. What I'd really like is a little down time: 'no phone, no lights, no motor cars' to quote an old tv theme song - guess which one.

Final analysis: For some people I can see that this would be a great deal of fun, even an obsession. I can see that it might be used on a larger scale, but I think there are better venues. OH, and if you really want to 'tweet' me and prove me wrong or misguided, I'm at twitter.com/replogle.

I was afraid of this....Library Thing

For several years now, in my wanderings around the web, I have found many, many references to how cool Library Thing was. I was afraid to explore it, because...and let's be honest...I love books! I love books and reading in ways I sometimes think aren't normal. You don't think I became a librarian because I was in love with sensible shoes, do you? No, it was because I would be surrounded by books, and (having a key to the building) I would never, ever be without something to read.

I also love the look, feel and smell of books, and could be considered being just this side of a bibliomaniac. I don't even attend Friends of the Library booksales anymore, because of that certain corner of my house that is filled with bookshelves and stacked with books. And the wall-to-wall bookcase in my bedroom that's full, and the pile of books next to my bed, and next to the couch, and under the windowseat in the kitchen... I've given up trying to keep up with reading the professional book reviews because I've got reading lists pages long already, and my reserve que for my library card is full, and I'm at my library card limit, too. Oh, and did I mention the books on cd in my car?

So one can list one's books on Library Thing, which is great for people who like lists - but better yet - it groups books by subject by tags! Heaven on earth! So when I enter one of my all time favorite books - Pride and Prejudice - it gives me other books I might like to try also. Like books about Mr. Darcy - ooooh; or what happened after they were married - haven't you always wondered? And on, and on, and on....

So now Library Thing will help feed my obsession, and my poor husband and daughter will have to arrange some type of intercession to bring me back to the real world.

Generator

I always like to look for something fun but practical. I found it in the Interactive Tartan Weaver at the House of Tartan. One can create a tartan using different colors, numbers of threads, and types of fabrics. And once you've produced it, you can also order to have it made into something right there on line. How cool is that? See my choices? What do you think: a scarf, a skirt, or a cape?

RSS feeds

I've had an RSS feed through Newsgator for over a year now, maybe two years. RSS feeds are as addicting as anything could be for me. I want to know it all and it's probably the strongest reason I got into this field of work so many years ago. I read and read and read, and before you know it the hours are passing and I'm not getting any work done. Reports may not be written, timecards not filled out, emails not responded to, etc. I feel that CML thinks they pay me for a purpose, and while some information gathering and technology exploration is a good thing, there comes a point when my paycheck stops because nothing else is getting done. And then I'm out the door trying to figure out how to pay for a mortgage, car, and save for a child's college tuition on nothing but my good looks and winning personality; ie: zilch.

I tried playing around with Bloglines, but I like Newsgator better for now, perhaps just personal choice and because I can navigate around it without thinking too much. I can spend my time on chasing down just one more piece of news...

Typical

While I had been playing around with the idea of writing a blog for a while, it wasn't until CML started their Learn&Play program that I had a little push in that direction. And in typical ADD style, I started in the middle with the fun and interesting things to do. However, CML is tracking progress numerically, ie: first do this, then this - so now I have to go back and fill in lots of the blanks to be officially caught up. Actually, today I was playing with Flickr's API Postcard Browser. OK, this is way too much fun. I put in Banff National Park, where I visited the summer after my senior high school year way back in dinosaur ages. The pictures are lovely, almost like I had been on that trip recently. I should also say I love playing with Flickr, and can spend hours there. It can be like taking a trip to anywhere you fancy, or you can look at pictures of animals, or kids or whatever. I just love seeing how the world works. I also get a kick out of seeing what people think of my old home town, via the pictures - lots of lakes and snow and icicles, and of course, lots of pictures of the Smokey the Bear statue in our downtown park. (Only YOU can prevent forest fires!) I used to climb all over that statue while I was growing up. My brothers actually got up to Smokey's head once. Don't ask me how they did it, or got down for that matter. I was only brave enough to top the head of one of the cubs.

OK, back to the Learn & Play exercise: Out of the 7 1/2 Habits of Successful Lifelong Learners, we are to identify one that is very easy and one that is difficult. It's been very interesting reading other participant's blogs and seeing where their successes and difficulties lie. Many people have identified the habit "View problems as challenges" as their most difficult, while I find that for myself that is a daily occurence. I am constantly running into problems to solve because my brain doesn't process information as most others do. I am not good at reading facial expressions and body language, so I have to pay closer attention when someone is talking to me. Many people have told me I'm a good listener, but they don't know that its not so much listening as trying to figure out what they're really saying, and I can often get it so wrong. I've been labeled quiet, but that's because I'm usually so overwhelmed with information barging around in my brain, that it takes me a long time to process what I should be paying attention to, and by the time I figure that out the subject is often long past. So I would say every day can be a challenge, and I face it without thinking much about it. I've read over and over how ADD people are resilient - they keep coming back over and over trying to figure out whatever is blocking them from succeeding or learning.

My toughest habit would be "Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner." I don't have a lot of confidence in my learning abilties. It usually takes many many tries for me to understand something. And often it's being taught or explained in a manner my ADD doesn't pick up on. There have been so many times where I've asked, what to me was a perfectly legitimate question to explain something, and the instructor has given me the strangest puzzled look, or an exhasperated sigh, as if I should have already understood this part. One quickly learns not to ask questions in that environment. So I do my learning on the sly. I'll find someone who's really good at something, and who I trust implicitly and then I'll ask the questions I want and need to ask. But I still always have the feeling that everyone else knows something I don't know, but should. That doesn't build confidence, that's for sure.

Learn & Play @ CML

Well, I really didn't mean my last post to be a 'poor-me' type of thing, but it has been a difficult year. Our staff are involved in a Learn and Play exercise and it has been a lot of fun watching them and working with them. The purpose is to familiarize our staff with the different types of online technology: blogging, twitter, Flickr, mashups, etc. that our customers are using. There's a lot of collaboration going on in the staff work room, and some of us are staying only about half a step ahead. But there have been plenty of Eureka moments when the last little command has been figured out. Lots of people feeling really proud of themselves, too. While the instructions have said that each portion should take anywhere from 10 to 30 minutes, I'm afraid that may have stretched. But they're still getting their daily work done, and the customers are going in and out, and don't even seem to notice that there's a new project making the staff buzz.