Saturday, November 24, 2007
Thanksgiving Weekend
I hope everyone had a satisfying Thanksgiving. Many work very hard to make the holiday special for others. Take good care of yourselves this holiday season. Take time, schedule it if you must, to rest, to pause, to reflect.
Saturday, November 10, 2007
Sat Nov 10 2007 Thing 5 Flickr-Disconnect Blog!!!
Thing 5 Flickr revisited--follow-up
I transferred photos from Flickr to my blog, billn10taskblog between about 5:30pm and 6:30pm last night, Friday, November 9, 2007.
I forgot to check and execute Step 7 at that time--disconnecting my blog from Flickr !!!
I deleted my blog from Flickr's list of blogs just this morning, Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 5:25am.
I checked my blog, and found no new photos on it, but wanted to give everyone a heads up in case anyone else reported there photos going astray between Flickr and their blog or any other unusual problems with Flickr. I sent an e-mail to the 10 things team this morning.
I apologize for any problems this caused anyone.
By the way, gmails draft autosave feature saved me this morning when I accidentally wiped out the text I had typed so far...I also stumbled across how to "star" an outgoing e-mail...I think!
I transferred photos from Flickr to my blog, billn10taskblog between about 5:30pm and 6:30pm last night, Friday, November 9, 2007.
I forgot to check and execute Step 7 at that time--disconnecting my blog from Flickr !!!
I deleted my blog from Flickr's list of blogs just this morning, Saturday, November 10, 2007 at 5:25am.
I checked my blog, and found no new photos on it, but wanted to give everyone a heads up in case anyone else reported there photos going astray between Flickr and their blog or any other unusual problems with Flickr. I sent an e-mail to the 10 things team this morning.
I apologize for any problems this caused anyone.
By the way, gmails draft autosave feature saved me this morning when I accidentally wiped out the text I had typed so far...I also stumbled across how to "star" an outgoing e-mail...I think!
Friday, November 9, 2007
Friday Nov 9 2007 Thing 5 FlickrPhoto Revisited
Thing 5 Flickr and Photo Sharing
The two photos today, elephant in tree and teapot gas station, were uploaded from an e-mail into Flickr by selecting them individually in the e-mail and saving them to My Photos on the computer desktop on Wed Nov 7 and then today, going into Your Photos in Flickr, selecting each photo, linking them to the blog in Google, and adding to the notes and tags as needed.
I spent the most time on this task because of the hardware (digital camera) and software communication (Flickr to Google), and/or transfers from e-mail (or compact disk as some folks have done) as well as the fun of taking photos.
Downloading from a digital camera directly into Flickr may be tricky, especially for a non-techie such as myself. the photos in the digital camera done earlier this month had to go from camera through an independent laptop to a zip drive, then from the zip drive into Flickr. I needed a lot of help from the ten things thing but the results were worthwhile. I've never used a zip drive or digital camera before except when people on a trip asked me to snap some photos of them using their camera.
Thanks, again!
The two photos today, elephant in tree and teapot gas station, were uploaded from an e-mail into Flickr by selecting them individually in the e-mail and saving them to My Photos on the computer desktop on Wed Nov 7 and then today, going into Your Photos in Flickr, selecting each photo, linking them to the blog in Google, and adding to the notes and tags as needed.
I spent the most time on this task because of the hardware (digital camera) and software communication (Flickr to Google), and/or transfers from e-mail (or compact disk as some folks have done) as well as the fun of taking photos.
Downloading from a digital camera directly into Flickr may be tricky, especially for a non-techie such as myself. the photos in the digital camera done earlier this month had to go from camera through an independent laptop to a zip drive, then from the zip drive into Flickr. I needed a lot of help from the ten things thing but the results were worthwhile. I've never used a zip drive or digital camera before except when people on a trip asked me to snap some photos of them using their camera.
Thanks, again!
Elephant in Tree
This photo and the teapot gas station were downloded from an e-mail sent from a friend.
Things are looking up!
Things are looking up!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
Wed Nov 7 2007 #10 &...TEN THINGS DONE!
Thing 10: Virtual Library
How could I forget this!?! I have to confess I was reminded by a discussion with my "supe"...a great feature of the Skokie Public Library website is the instant translation into Chinese, Korean, Greek, Russian and Spanish subtly advertised by the "Welcomes" appearing on the right hand side.
Note, with the page scrolled to the top, these Automatic Site Translations are blocked from view; it might be worthwhile to move them to the top of page right underneath the "Search" box.
Thing 1: Blogging Spell Check is easy to use on Google Blogger.
Thanks to everybody on the Ten Things Team and my co-workers for all the detailed support on these tasks...er...Things!!!
How could I forget this!?! I have to confess I was reminded by a discussion with my "supe"...a great feature of the Skokie Public Library website is the instant translation into Chinese, Korean, Greek, Russian and Spanish subtly advertised by the "Welcomes" appearing on the right hand side.
Note, with the page scrolled to the top, these Automatic Site Translations are blocked from view; it might be worthwhile to move them to the top of page right underneath the "Search" box.
Thing 1: Blogging Spell Check is easy to use on Google Blogger.
Thanks to everybody on the Ten Things Team and my co-workers for all the detailed support on these tasks...er...Things!!!
Wed November 7 2007 #10 The Virtual Library
Thing#10 The Virtual Library Branch
(1) Best Library Website: Public Library Hall of Fame
I browsed this list and came across two overseas and two domestic library websites with creative graphics and special effects. (Whether our patrons would take to these features is another question!)
Biblioteca Sala Borsa of Bologna Italy has an abstract shape that remains in the background as you scroll the page and current events scroll vertically and stop just like the moving billboards at Old Orchard.
DOK Delft Public Library of the Netherlands has book images scrolling horizontally like a moving picture gallery, with the silhouette of a patron in the foreground.
Osceola Public Libraries, Florida, features images that expand and slide as the cursor is run over them.
Westerville Ohio Public Libraries features an automatic tour of catalog search and other features at the top of the home page.
(2) Downloadable Audio Book
The ladies at Reader's Services graciously allowed me to explore the two sites for downloadable digital books on the one computer in the library that is set up to perform such downloads. I like the collection listing and the NetLibrary/AudioBooks Center versus North Suburban Digital Consortium comparison chart. Clearly this is a medium designed for a tech-savvy patron. All of the information is relevant and well organized. To expand usage of this service, a seminar or workshop might be useful to advertise this service and encourage its use. However, please don't be disappointed if some traditional patrons stick to a fine paper book for their reading pleasure!
(3) Overall Library Web Site Impressions
I like the tabs with color coded drop down menus with defintions of terms such as RSS. I like the quick access to the "My Account" section. I mentioned some clever bells and whistles used at other libraries, but I am not sure that making the site busier or more animated would add value. Patrons of all ages and backgrounds may have reached a point where they tire of animated pop-up ads on their home computers and may find an uncluttered research and education site refreshing. The organization and presentation of information on our site is great and I like the photo gallery and easy links to Skokie Net and with community images and information.
(1) Best Library Website: Public Library Hall of Fame
I browsed this list and came across two overseas and two domestic library websites with creative graphics and special effects. (Whether our patrons would take to these features is another question!)
Biblioteca Sala Borsa of Bologna Italy has an abstract shape that remains in the background as you scroll the page and current events scroll vertically and stop just like the moving billboards at Old Orchard.
DOK Delft Public Library of the Netherlands has book images scrolling horizontally like a moving picture gallery, with the silhouette of a patron in the foreground.
Osceola Public Libraries, Florida, features images that expand and slide as the cursor is run over them.
Westerville Ohio Public Libraries features an automatic tour of catalog search and other features at the top of the home page.
(2) Downloadable Audio Book
The ladies at Reader's Services graciously allowed me to explore the two sites for downloadable digital books on the one computer in the library that is set up to perform such downloads. I like the collection listing and the NetLibrary/AudioBooks Center versus North Suburban Digital Consortium comparison chart. Clearly this is a medium designed for a tech-savvy patron. All of the information is relevant and well organized. To expand usage of this service, a seminar or workshop might be useful to advertise this service and encourage its use. However, please don't be disappointed if some traditional patrons stick to a fine paper book for their reading pleasure!
(3) Overall Library Web Site Impressions
I like the tabs with color coded drop down menus with defintions of terms such as RSS. I like the quick access to the "My Account" section. I mentioned some clever bells and whistles used at other libraries, but I am not sure that making the site busier or more animated would add value. Patrons of all ages and backgrounds may have reached a point where they tire of animated pop-up ads on their home computers and may find an uncluttered research and education site refreshing. The organization and presentation of information on our site is great and I like the photo gallery and easy links to Skokie Net and with community images and information.
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
November 6, 2007 Thing 9 Online Productivity
Thing 9: Online Productivity
Well. I signed onto Google Docs, went to the "Communicate, show & share" area and played with the spreadsheet program. creating a hypothetical document I called entitled Hours Log for Ten Things in the process.
The automatic save feature seems eerie at first. It seems easier to get rid of document you don't need using a software based program. It seems you have more control over the document. Google documents are nuch more public and theis is how they are designed.
The spreadsheet functions worked very similarly to those of a software based program. I deliberately picked a spreadsheet not a word processing document because I haven't created a new spreadsheet in a long time.
Once you begin using one of the document creation programs, it seems to be difficult to back out into tools again. The rest look interesting but seem to duplicate many of the funtions we've already explored with previous Things. )
Note: Products is an e-bay like function, not a tool page!
Well. I signed onto Google Docs, went to the "Communicate, show & share" area and played with the spreadsheet program. creating a hypothetical document I called entitled Hours Log for Ten Things in the process.
The automatic save feature seems eerie at first. It seems easier to get rid of document you don't need using a software based program. It seems you have more control over the document. Google documents are nuch more public and theis is how they are designed.
The spreadsheet functions worked very similarly to those of a software based program. I deliberately picked a spreadsheet not a word processing document because I haven't created a new spreadsheet in a long time.
Once you begin using one of the document creation programs, it seems to be difficult to back out into tools again. The rest look interesting but seem to duplicate many of the funtions we've already explored with previous Things. )
Note: Products is an e-bay like function, not a tool page!
Friday, November 2, 2007
November 2, 2007 (3) Wikis
Thing 8: Wikis
So that is how a wiki works. I edited and saved to add my comment to 10Things @ SPL: Staff Picks - TV shows. It is easy to use. Now for the questions.
An alert, diligent, committed, and independently well-informed user base may keep the information in a wiki such as Wikipedia relevant and I do not want to discount common knowlege entirely. However, what passes for knowledge these days is often extremely biased and shallow, critical for the sake of criticism, not understanding, heavy on popular culture and celebrities, and light on scientific and historical knowledge.
I think libraries should stick to expert sources when providing information to patrons not only currently popular sources. That is what patrons are relying on, especially for medical, financial or government information. Now, in some cases, a wiki may offer the only information on a topic. (Example: A librarian found a definition for fahrvergnugen in Wikipedia, not a German-English dictionary. Why? It was a Gernan advertising jingle from the 1970's not a dictionary word--that is a wiki strength--answering questions pertaining to popular culture. Also, I could see where a historical fact from, say, Shepherd's Historical Atlas could be supplemented by someon's personal observation from a trip, as long as the two sources are clearly labeled fact and opinion or comment.
Wikis as demonstrated in the Video example on the Ten Things site could be useful to our department perhaps as a project management tool if it ever became impossible to communicate with everyone involved in person by other means. It also might be a useful tool if it were ever necessary to stimulate and gather opinions from our group. That is, long as it is used to supplement, not replace face to face meetings.
So that is how a wiki works. I edited and saved to add my comment to 10Things @ SPL: Staff Picks - TV shows. It is easy to use. Now for the questions.
An alert, diligent, committed, and independently well-informed user base may keep the information in a wiki such as Wikipedia relevant and I do not want to discount common knowlege entirely. However, what passes for knowledge these days is often extremely biased and shallow, critical for the sake of criticism, not understanding, heavy on popular culture and celebrities, and light on scientific and historical knowledge.
I think libraries should stick to expert sources when providing information to patrons not only currently popular sources. That is what patrons are relying on, especially for medical, financial or government information. Now, in some cases, a wiki may offer the only information on a topic. (Example: A librarian found a definition for fahrvergnugen in Wikipedia, not a German-English dictionary. Why? It was a Gernan advertising jingle from the 1970's not a dictionary word--that is a wiki strength--answering questions pertaining to popular culture. Also, I could see where a historical fact from, say, Shepherd's Historical Atlas could be supplemented by someon's personal observation from a trip, as long as the two sources are clearly labeled fact and opinion or comment.
Wikis as demonstrated in the Video example on the Ten Things site could be useful to our department perhaps as a project management tool if it ever became impossible to communicate with everyone involved in person by other means. It also might be a useful tool if it were ever necessary to stimulate and gather opinions from our group. That is, long as it is used to supplement, not replace face to face meetings.
November 2 2007 (#2)
Thing 7 Podcasting
I checked Jared Diamond's works on the Learn Out Loud podcasting site, but without the "radio wave" podcasting symbol, they can't be loaded into the RSS feed reader.
(Q1) I listened to Medieval History last week and Byzantine History and Rough Guides Intro and Da Vinci Code interviews today. I added the Learn Out Loud Byzantine History Lecture Series and the Rough Guides DaVinci Code interview to my RSS Feed Reader in Google.
(Q2) Podcasts can be a useful supplement to audiobooks and playaways that enable patrons with a home broadband connection but with limited physical mobility or time to experience some aspects of an interview or lecture. Some multitasking people might be able to listen to a podcast on an area of interest while doing a spreadsheet or text document on their computer for example.
(Q3) Our patrons might be interested in hearing travel or history, especially of their ancestral country or a place they plan to visit. Philosophy, and trends of science discovery and topics in the social sciences might also lend themselves to audio feeds.
(Q4) I really have no other experience -- this was interesting to check out.
I checked Jared Diamond's works on the Learn Out Loud podcasting site, but without the "radio wave" podcasting symbol, they can't be loaded into the RSS feed reader.
(Q1) I listened to Medieval History last week and Byzantine History and Rough Guides Intro and Da Vinci Code interviews today. I added the Learn Out Loud Byzantine History Lecture Series and the Rough Guides DaVinci Code interview to my RSS Feed Reader in Google.
(Q2) Podcasts can be a useful supplement to audiobooks and playaways that enable patrons with a home broadband connection but with limited physical mobility or time to experience some aspects of an interview or lecture. Some multitasking people might be able to listen to a podcast on an area of interest while doing a spreadsheet or text document on their computer for example.
(Q3) Our patrons might be interested in hearing travel or history, especially of their ancestral country or a place they plan to visit. Philosophy, and trends of science discovery and topics in the social sciences might also lend themselves to audio feeds.
(Q4) I really have no other experience -- this was interesting to check out.
November 2 2007
Thing 5:
Thanks to a LOT of hand-holding and technology, I was able to post some photos with a digital camera to the skokie10 library slideshow and plunk a couple in yesterday's blog. The camera's screen only gave a hint of the brilliance of the outdoor shots as displayed on the websites.
Thing 6:
It was interesting to create some public tags for the one website I figured might be useful, NOAA's weather site. I did not see the tags other than staffpicks show up on the list immediately. A later visit might show these other tags.
Thanks to a LOT of hand-holding and technology, I was able to post some photos with a digital camera to the skokie10 library slideshow and plunk a couple in yesterday's blog. The camera's screen only gave a hint of the brilliance of the outdoor shots as displayed on the websites.
Thing 6:
It was interesting to create some public tags for the one website I figured might be useful, NOAA's weather site. I did not see the tags other than staffpicks show up on the list immediately. A later visit might show these other tags.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Wed Oct 31 2007 (II)
Thing 5 Flickr & Photosharing
Interesting, and what a colorful interesting slide show staff has put together! I have taken some shots with a digital camera lent to me by Ruth Sinker and tried to download them but apparently laid my mitts on the 4 photo gallery that comes with thye Windows XP operating system loaded in the hard drive in the laptop#10 I borrowed from the Adult Computer Lab. Flickr generated two audible tones as the camera's USB cable was plugged into the laptop's USB port, but the digital camera does not appear in the window "Select Files to Upload". The camera's own screen displays "MDSC". Oh well, back to the drawing board. Perhaps I'll take a few more photos and ask someone in the classroom for help on Friday morning, November 2. Not too bad so far considering this is the first time I've taken my own photos with a digital camera and only the second time I've used a laptop.
Interesting, and what a colorful interesting slide show staff has put together! I have taken some shots with a digital camera lent to me by Ruth Sinker and tried to download them but apparently laid my mitts on the 4 photo gallery that comes with thye Windows XP operating system loaded in the hard drive in the laptop#10 I borrowed from the Adult Computer Lab. Flickr generated two audible tones as the camera's USB cable was plugged into the laptop's USB port, but the digital camera does not appear in the window "Select Files to Upload". The camera's own screen displays "MDSC". Oh well, back to the drawing board. Perhaps I'll take a few more photos and ask someone in the classroom for help on Friday morning, November 2. Not too bad so far considering this is the first time I've taken my own photos with a digital camera and only the second time I've used a laptop.
Wed Oct 31 (I)
Hurrah! Toby helped me past a week old snag on Thing 4. It looks like I hadn't properly clicked on the e-mail verification needed to add a friend to the MySpace listing. Now, Thing 4 should be well and truly finished.
Hurrah again, Ruth Sinker signed out, explained, and set up a digital camera. It seems pretty straightforward, although I'm not much of a photographer and have minimal experience with the digital models--mostly people on group trips asking me to take their picture with their camera. (Thing 5)
Hurrah again, Ruth Sinker signed out, explained, and set up a digital camera. It seems pretty straightforward, although I'm not much of a photographer and have minimal experience with the digital models--mostly people on group trips asking me to take their picture with their camera. (Thing 5)
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
October 24
I read some text and watched some video about the remaining Things, but no real progress today. I was able to access the blog to post a note.
What, you can't read Webdings? Well. neither can I...here's the translation:
"I read some text and watched some video about the remaining Things, but no real progress today. I was able to access the blog to post a note."
I got on the wrong social networking site. Instead of My Space or Facebook, I got into My Face, and fried the computer. ):-o
So I'll be signing off for now!
What, you can't read Webdings? Well. neither can I...here's the translation:
"I read some text and watched some video about the remaining Things, but no real progress today. I was able to access the blog to post a note."
I got on the wrong social networking site. Instead of My Space or Facebook, I got into My Face, and fried the computer. ):-o
So I'll be signing off for now!
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
October 17 2007 Comments on Things & Stuff
RSS & Feed Readers Thing2 : Its a good idea to start carrying headphones by this step--there's an informative video for this Thing 2 that has sound.
Social Networking Thing4: I had misgivings about the entire concept of Social Networking. I'm concerned about privacy issues and don't surf or spend this quantity of time online. I want to be sure I can erase all this if needed when the Ten Thing project is over. I didn't realize you had to had to get e-mail addresses for people already signed onto MySpace to add them to your Friends list, but perhaps I should, given my concerns, find this reassuring.
For those of us without digital cameras or photos on CD, perhaps a link to the Grapevine or a human resource site might be provided so we could download a photo to paste. Setting up a MySpace account is farely painless, but adding a friend to MySpace is not as simple as the video claims in skokie10 instructions claims. The site keeps asking to re-verify my e-mail address.
Flickr & Photo Sharing Thing 5: For those of us without digital cameras or photos on CD, perhaps a link to the Grapevine or a human resource site might be provided so we could download a photo to paste. (Copy & Paste--gotta love it.)
Podcasting Thing7: Not there yet, just bumbled through Thing4, but an idea came to mind. Once we're on this step online, can we load a music cd into the D drive, and "insert" this music into the exercise? I'm hazy on the technicalities, but wanted to ask, as I came across a song pertinent to the Library's mission.
Social Networking Thing4: I had misgivings about the entire concept of Social Networking. I'm concerned about privacy issues and don't surf or spend this quantity of time online. I want to be sure I can erase all this if needed when the Ten Thing project is over. I didn't realize you had to had to get e-mail addresses for people already signed onto MySpace to add them to your Friends list, but perhaps I should, given my concerns, find this reassuring.
For those of us without digital cameras or photos on CD, perhaps a link to the Grapevine or a human resource site might be provided so we could download a photo to paste. Setting up a MySpace account is farely painless, but adding a friend to MySpace is not as simple as the video claims in skokie10 instructions claims. The site keeps asking to re-verify my e-mail address.
Flickr & Photo Sharing Thing 5: For those of us without digital cameras or photos on CD, perhaps a link to the Grapevine or a human resource site might be provided so we could download a photo to paste. (Copy & Paste--gotta love it.)
Podcasting Thing7: Not there yet, just bumbled through Thing4, but an idea came to mind. Once we're on this step online, can we load a music cd into the D drive, and "insert" this music into the exercise? I'm hazy on the technicalities, but wanted to ask, as I came across a song pertinent to the Library's mission.
Friday, October 12, 2007
Friday October 12, 2007
Looking over the staff blogs, I deserve a prize for the most boring blog name and daily titles. Staff members chose some neat titles!
Oh well, at any rate, instant messaging, Thing 3, is done!
Hurrah!
Oh well, at any rate, instant messaging, Thing 3, is done!
Hurrah!
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
October 10, 2007
Thing 2: RSS and Feed Readers
I subscribed to 6 sites from Google Reader, but I am not sure I have specified Google Reader as the Feed Reader from each of those 6 sites. When I clicked on subscribe, each site was immediately added to the list and nothing popped up to ask me to specify a particular feed reader such as Bloglines or Google Reager or another service. Perhaps this is a change since 2005: a request from Google Reader will default to Google Reader as a feed conduit.
I like to see the top stories from favorite sources all on one page.
I could use this personally to gather all local information about a particular local event or investment topic.
The library could use this to compare coverage, biases or viewpoints among various media on breaking news or conduct a detailed search for a patron from multiple sources in a shorter period of time.
I subscribed to 6 sites from Google Reader, but I am not sure I have specified Google Reader as the Feed Reader from each of those 6 sites. When I clicked on subscribe, each site was immediately added to the list and nothing popped up to ask me to specify a particular feed reader such as Bloglines or Google Reager or another service. Perhaps this is a change since 2005: a request from Google Reader will default to Google Reader as a feed conduit.
I like to see the top stories from favorite sources all on one page.
I could use this personally to gather all local information about a particular local event or investment topic.
The library could use this to compare coverage, biases or viewpoints among various media on breaking news or conduct a detailed search for a patron from multiple sources in a shorter period of time.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
October 3, 2007
So this is a web log!
This looks like a nice template, easy to read.
I have read the FAQ's and Getting Started fields.
I appreciate the support so far!
I see three names are called for:
A name for the blog
A second name for the blog
and a title for each entry on the blog.
For simplicity, I'll put down the date for daily titles and refine with more words if needed.
Looks like I'll need headphones, but perhaps not until Thing 7 Podcasting and Online Multimedia
So far, so good.
This looks like a nice template, easy to read.
I have read the FAQ's and Getting Started fields.
I appreciate the support so far!
I see three names are called for:
A name for the blog
A second name for the blog
and a title for each entry on the blog.
For simplicity, I'll put down the date for daily titles and refine with more words if needed.
Looks like I'll need headphones, but perhaps not until Thing 7 Podcasting and Online Multimedia
So far, so good.
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