Week 6 Thing 13 Tagging and del.icio.us

Del.icio.us was an interesting alternative to bookmarking web-sites. I wondered if it would take longer to use than plain bookmarking, because you would have to sign in to use it. In the past I heavily bookmarked items. Unfortunately, over the years, I've lost some of the bookmarks by upgrading computers and the website locations keep moving.

I think the tags might be helpful to customers using our website. I think tagging our catalog and databases might be an alternative way of finding information, but we might have to find software that allows this.

I didn't sign up for an account. I think the concept would become a little clearer to me if I "played" with it a little more.

Week 5 Thing 12 Rollyo

Rollyo was interesting. I tried to make up a search engine that would search a lot of good reference sources. I thought I could use it when I'm signed in to MDAskUsNow or on the reference desk. I have a feeling that the search engines will work better if they are on a narrower topic. Just for fun, I also made up a search engine of scrapbooking websites. I'll be able to see which type of search engine works better.

I also noticed there is something similar to rollyo on my igoogle page. It might work better and would be fewer clicks when I'm on the reference desk.

I managed to add a link to some of the things we've been learning to my igoogle page by adding bookmarks. Apparently it is a little quirky. I'll have to see if the links keep working, or if I have to remove them later in frustration.

I am having a frustrating time signing in the this blog. It doesn't like my password. It seems to let me in if I right click and open it in a new window! Very bizarre!

Week 5 Thing 11 Library Thing

Library thing was fun. This would be a great resource, sort of like a free novelist. Our library could use it as a simple way to publicize popular new titles from our home page too.

Week 5 Thing 9 Image Generator

The wave was really interesting. Ellen and I enjoyed image chef a lot. James Letters didn't work well at all.

Week 4 Thing 9 Merlin

I really liked Topix. It was neat to see blogs about local information. I tried finding scrapbooking blogs in Syndic8, but found very little. I added a nice blog on the Palm Treo I recently purchased.

I have explored Merlin a little bit before. I'd like to find time to explore 2nd life more. I did the Thompson Learning classes from Merlin a while ago. They were excellent, but time consuming. The learning link is most interesting to me.

Week 4 Thing 8 RSS feeds and Bloglines

Finding RSS feeds was like opening a whole new world. I think it will be helpful to have a place to gather Library news fast. Hopefully, it will hep me keep more up to date. Unfortunately, I couldn't come up with a way to link my page to my Igoogle site. This would make it one stop shop so to speak. Has anybody done this, connect my blogline to igoogle?

I hope we could offer some RSS feeds from our library website, especially a way to send new title lists to customers, or this months library events.

I was totally frustrated trying to add a blog roll to this blog. The share tab they alluded to got moved to another place. I asked for help from Amy. This is what she came up with:

Click or do the following:
feeds
options
Blog settings
yes-publish my blogroll
save
A link at the bottom of the feeds section on the left, click share
generate html
copy the script language

Go to your blog on the dashboard of blogger
layout
add a page element
html jave script
add
paste under content
save changes

This was not at all intuitive!

Week 3 Thing 5 what I learned

For help sending a flickr photo to your blog for the first time go to this page:http://flickr.com/help/blogging
Click "do that here" if you need to set up a connection between your flickr account and your blog.
You'll need to sign in if you aren't already signed in

Week 3 Thing 7 Technology interest

I decided to use the 23 things for a computer class I'm teaching in October to the public. I will take the things I've learned and share it in a class called Blogs, Flickr and More on October 23. I thought I would explain what the new technologies are, where to find them on the web and what Parent's might want to know about them. I was orginally thinking of calling it "Hot Technologies your teens already know about", but the title was too long.

There is no better way to learn something new than by teaching and sharing it with someone else. I hope I will get a good turn out. We've never taught anything similar.

Week 3 thing 6 Flickr mashups

I experimented with Flickr by making a magazine cover of my boss on Library Journal's cover and making this calendar with a photo I took at the Mayaland Resort next to Chichen Ixtza. The peacocks roamed all over the resort grounds.

The cover was cool too. I might print it up for fun.

Week 3 Thing 5 Lexington Park Library

Lexington Park Library
Originally uploaded by jimjomac

Lexington Park Library has all sorts of cool stuff for the visitor or member. We have loads of computers to use, playaways, books, CD books, computer classes, downloadable books, databases and more. Stop in and visit our friendly staff. We are always available to help you!

Delicate Arch 1

Delicate Arch 1
Originally uploaded by bryan chang

My husband visited this arch via a narrow steep trail and took a picture of an eclipse behind the arch.