I learned more of what is out on the Internet than I knew before. Due to this 23 Things training I discovered multiple new sites and skills that I would not have known about. I got out of my current technological comfort zone and expanded my knowledge. That is what lifelong learning is about; however, I plan to take a short break and catch up on some other work (clean up my office and a few other matters) since this training has consumed a lot of my time over the last 3 1/2 months.
By me not getting around to working with this 2-3 years ago, for me all of the dead links were a real barrier to doing this training. This issue reveals some important things
a) that Internet and the knowledge base has grown since 23 Things was introduced
b) unfortunately, it shows that library staff has not taken time or had the time or a reason to keep up with course and update the links or located better ones.
c) Also, library training staff in the nation have not stepped up to the plate or been able to do the work necessary to either to help the new trainees, new staff, or future hires.
I will read over my blog in the near future and see what areas of interest I will want to explore further and more in depth but probably from home. I used Clusty.com last night with a customer, hoping to find a lost book title based on a partial description. I may pay $25 to continue with Library Thing to get a better picture and control over my personal book collection that I believe number in the thousands. One additional thing I have learned is about blogging and although brevity might be important in some cases, to explain my paths to learning takes some skill and time in writing and editing. I wish others well in their journeys in search of knowledge.
Friday, March 26, 2010
Thing 22 - Overdrive and Company
The links to access the Net Library and Overdrive tutorials did not work anymore. Since we have access to them in MCPL, I just went through our link to get to Overdrive. I explored some of their tutorials and explanations on how to download materials which I did not use last week when a customer tried download a book to his laptop. We tried to follow the instructions on the screen versus using the Overdrive Help. If I only had known a little more then, although my experience as described in the next paragraph reveals that it is not a simple and straightforward task. In addition, assisting someone with their laptop is different than doing it yourself on a computer you use daily.
Working on a secure network delayed my book audio and digital book downloading experience. Technology Management had to log on as an Administrator to authorize Overdrive Security software to be put on my machine. Once it was on my computer, I still had trouble getting the chosen book to download. I carefully followed the instructions and got the book downloaded but it would play but no sound. Playing around, I learned that by clicking on the play button on the Media Console, I could listen to the book but the popup window that displayed controlled stopping and starting. However, the play button available in the popup window was not the one to use which is why initially I did not have any sound, although plugging in the headphones could have been one reason (duh) but did not make any difference at that point.
I will be better prepared if the man mentioned above returns but the difficulty he faced and then my difficulties, made me realize the barriers that are created in accessing this material. I got frustrated with it all. When I downloaded McCullough's1776 several years ago, it was not this difficult nor do I remember any real barriers. I have downloaded pdf books at home (manybooks.net) and read books through Google Books without any trouble so I am wondering if we are setting up some people to fail. If they do not persevere or they do not ask for help from "experienced" library staff/friends than they just may give up on this possible technological aid, thinking it is their ineptness and not because of the hoops that the provider company makes them go through to get materials.
And to complicate the whole process, depending on what type of book you download you may need another type of software to be installed on your computer. One book I downloaded uses the Overdrive software referred to above but the second book I chose uses Adobe Digital Editions which meant another piece of software was needed to listen to that book. If it was my home computer I was going to download to; I might consider doing so if I really wanted to "read" that book; but listening to an audio book does not appeal to me since I do other things when using my home computer. Burning the book onto a CD is not my thing either since my commute is only 23 minutes. So I did not bother to arrange for an Administrator to set up that software on my work computer and I will cancel the book request.
This predicament/situation creates one more barrier to the end product user. What were they thinking? A company runs the risk of losing business since people will look elsewhere for a product which is easier to obtain. Not only that because I did not listen to that particular mystery, I may or may not discover a great author or book that I could share with a customer (reducing potential profits). Reviewing the unintended consequences - I did not listen to the book so I will not be sharing that title with a customer, my experience and who I tell, might mean other people will not use Overdrive (I will not, for one) because of all of the problems described above and fewer people are going to use the service that MCPL leases all because of the Overdrive software. These are the kinds of hassles which get in the way of good customer service.
Does Overdrive and Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium know how complicated this is? Has anyone bothered to let them? Whose responsibility is it to do so? Is it mine as the librarian/customer/marketer of their product? How can I promote a product which I do not use or have serious problems with? How can I convey to a customer how "wonderful" listening to downloable audio books is; when my experience is so negative? Before a company sells/provides a product, they must eliminate or resolve every barrier that slows down their connection to a customer. Obviously, this company has not done so but there are other companies who have. So maybe they need to learn how to do it better or else they will not be around long.
Working on a secure network delayed my book audio and digital book downloading experience. Technology Management had to log on as an Administrator to authorize Overdrive Security software to be put on my machine. Once it was on my computer, I still had trouble getting the chosen book to download. I carefully followed the instructions and got the book downloaded but it would play but no sound. Playing around, I learned that by clicking on the play button on the Media Console, I could listen to the book but the popup window that displayed controlled stopping and starting. However, the play button available in the popup window was not the one to use which is why initially I did not have any sound, although plugging in the headphones could have been one reason (duh) but did not make any difference at that point.
I will be better prepared if the man mentioned above returns but the difficulty he faced and then my difficulties, made me realize the barriers that are created in accessing this material. I got frustrated with it all. When I downloaded McCullough's1776 several years ago, it was not this difficult nor do I remember any real barriers. I have downloaded pdf books at home (manybooks.net) and read books through Google Books without any trouble so I am wondering if we are setting up some people to fail. If they do not persevere or they do not ask for help from "experienced" library staff/friends than they just may give up on this possible technological aid, thinking it is their ineptness and not because of the hoops that the provider company makes them go through to get materials.
And to complicate the whole process, depending on what type of book you download you may need another type of software to be installed on your computer. One book I downloaded uses the Overdrive software referred to above but the second book I chose uses Adobe Digital Editions which meant another piece of software was needed to listen to that book. If it was my home computer I was going to download to; I might consider doing so if I really wanted to "read" that book; but listening to an audio book does not appeal to me since I do other things when using my home computer. Burning the book onto a CD is not my thing either since my commute is only 23 minutes. So I did not bother to arrange for an Administrator to set up that software on my work computer and I will cancel the book request.
This predicament/situation creates one more barrier to the end product user. What were they thinking? A company runs the risk of losing business since people will look elsewhere for a product which is easier to obtain. Not only that because I did not listen to that particular mystery, I may or may not discover a great author or book that I could share with a customer (reducing potential profits). Reviewing the unintended consequences - I did not listen to the book so I will not be sharing that title with a customer, my experience and who I tell, might mean other people will not use Overdrive (I will not, for one) because of all of the problems described above and fewer people are going to use the service that MCPL leases all because of the Overdrive software. These are the kinds of hassles which get in the way of good customer service.
Does Overdrive and Maryland's Digital eLibrary Consortium know how complicated this is? Has anyone bothered to let them? Whose responsibility is it to do so? Is it mine as the librarian/customer/marketer of their product? How can I promote a product which I do not use or have serious problems with? How can I convey to a customer how "wonderful" listening to downloable audio books is; when my experience is so negative? Before a company sells/provides a product, they must eliminate or resolve every barrier that slows down their connection to a customer. Obviously, this company has not done so but there are other companies who have. So maybe they need to learn how to do it better or else they will not be around long.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Thing 21.5 Loose ends
I explored the 43 Things link at the bottom of 23 Things but they go to the regular site for 43 Things. The second link is for hblower’s list which is basically a repeat of 23 Things. The most useful link is the third link which takes you to Steve Abram’s 43 Things list because it is focused on additional things to do as librarians.
I scrolled down Abrams’ list and discovered the term Clusty and I decided to investigate it. Since I did not know its official name (not knowing on the next page, the websites are displayed), I used Google initially to get to an explanation about it. Clusty groups internet search results because when Google is searched you get results based on level of hits on a site versus content. So this search engine sounds like an alternative to the Rollyo assignment in Thing 12.
A side by side comparison with Google doing a searching on “reenacting” brought up some of the same sites but the column on the left allowed me to look at various combinations on the subject. I think Clusty.com would work in a general search when you do not really know what you are looking for and it allows you to expand or narrow the search quicker since selective groupings are right there versus having to scroll through pages looking for the right site you might want to examine in depth.
I decided that my Sandbox wiki subsitute assignment would be another Abrams' term --LibraryElf.com and wondering what is was, I explored it. Subscribers receive email notifications when their materials are due. Eight other systems in Maryland use this but MCPL has its own version for customers to manage it on their library account.
I scrolled down Abrams’ list and discovered the term Clusty and I decided to investigate it. Since I did not know its official name (not knowing on the next page, the websites are displayed), I used Google initially to get to an explanation about it. Clusty groups internet search results because when Google is searched you get results based on level of hits on a site versus content. So this search engine sounds like an alternative to the Rollyo assignment in Thing 12.
A side by side comparison with Google doing a searching on “reenacting” brought up some of the same sites but the column on the left allowed me to look at various combinations on the subject. I think Clusty.com would work in a general search when you do not really know what you are looking for and it allows you to expand or narrow the search quicker since selective groupings are right there versus having to scroll through pages looking for the right site you might want to examine in depth.
I decided that my Sandbox wiki subsitute assignment would be another Abrams' term --LibraryElf.com and wondering what is was, I explored it. Subscribers receive email notifications when their materials are due. Eight other systems in Maryland use this but MCPL has its own version for customers to manage it on their library account.
Thing 21 - Podcasts
The link What the heck is a podcast? was a dead link again and the Ninja podcast available on 23Things was less helpful. Yahoo podcasts did not work either.
However, via Merlin and due to some serendipitous clicking, I ended up at Library Success and was see that libraries are using podcasts to promote their services. Some of these podcasts are several years old and others are dead. However, it became clear to me that MCPL does not always have to videotape a library program but taping a talk and making it available for others to hear, as a podcast would work.
In my searching the list on Library Success, one podcast that intrigued me jumped directly into Windows Media Player and I listened to a 2008 library program - "History in the Movies" with Dr. Dr. Cathy Schultz who posits that the current historians are film makers and discusses are historical films accuracy. Watching movies may lead to researching and reading material by some of viewers.
I was able to subscribe Kankakee Public Library's podcasts to my Google Reader but I was not able to add it to my blog. Originally, I thought they had not updated their podcasts since 2008 but I discovered that Kankakee has not abandoned creating podcasts (latest was two days ago). While I was trying to listen to the above program in its entirety from home, I had to return to Google Reader and locate the podcast since the link I collected for the podcast did not go directly to this podcast but another one. There was not a way from what shown on the screen so I signed back into the RSS feed on Google Reader. While using it, I learned a little more about how Google Reader works. You cannot use the find/search under edit to locate items that are not displayed below the scroll down limit. Only 20 items are displayed at a time and since this podcast was older it took awhile to relocate it.
What I learned is that I still need to learn more. Fancy that. That is the whole point of lifelong learning. I have seen how podcasts have been made a part of this 23 Things training but I was not able to embed one into my blog. I do not know if it is my lack of technological experience or the podcast I chose did not allow me to do what I wanted, but I will pursue this with my children who are into Facebook and they should be able to help me to determine where the problem lies. Usefulness of personally podcasting is something I do not think I will pursue but the idea of using it in programming or for online book reviews is something that is worth considering. System buy in? That will have to be discovered as the completion rate of MCPL staff of 23 Things is greater and we have an opportunity to apply this training in a larger library venue.
However, via Merlin and due to some serendipitous clicking, I ended up at Library Success and was see that libraries are using podcasts to promote their services. Some of these podcasts are several years old and others are dead. However, it became clear to me that MCPL does not always have to videotape a library program but taping a talk and making it available for others to hear, as a podcast would work.
In my searching the list on Library Success, one podcast that intrigued me jumped directly into Windows Media Player and I listened to a 2008 library program - "History in the Movies" with Dr. Dr. Cathy Schultz who posits that the current historians are film makers and discusses are historical films accuracy. Watching movies may lead to researching and reading material by some of viewers.
I was able to subscribe Kankakee Public Library's podcasts to my Google Reader but I was not able to add it to my blog. Originally, I thought they had not updated their podcasts since 2008 but I discovered that Kankakee has not abandoned creating podcasts (latest was two days ago). While I was trying to listen to the above program in its entirety from home, I had to return to Google Reader and locate the podcast since the link I collected for the podcast did not go directly to this podcast but another one. There was not a way from what shown on the screen so I signed back into the RSS feed on Google Reader. While using it, I learned a little more about how Google Reader works. You cannot use the find/search under edit to locate items that are not displayed below the scroll down limit. Only 20 items are displayed at a time and since this podcast was older it took awhile to relocate it.
What I learned is that I still need to learn more. Fancy that. That is the whole point of lifelong learning. I have seen how podcasts have been made a part of this 23 Things training but I was not able to embed one into my blog. I do not know if it is my lack of technological experience or the podcast I chose did not allow me to do what I wanted, but I will pursue this with my children who are into Facebook and they should be able to help me to determine where the problem lies. Usefulness of personally podcasting is something I do not think I will pursue but the idea of using it in programming or for online book reviews is something that is worth considering. System buy in? That will have to be discovered as the completion rate of MCPL staff of 23 Things is greater and we have an opportunity to apply this training in a larger library venue.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Thing 20 - Do you tube?
I have been on YouTube before. But for the purposes of this assignment, I looked at what was popular at first and one thing became clear -- there are some very talented people and creative works to watch and listen to but, in addition, there are some wannabees and some pretty dumb amateur stuff out there. However, being able to watch videos of TV shows, music videos, things (news) missed on TV, or just what people saw and "filmed" is pretty amazing.
When I searched for Libraries, I spotted Mr. Bean in the Library destroying books, watched Cookie Monster in the Library with a close tie-in to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and some Web 2.0 explanation attempts. One of the videos on Libraries was Why I Love the Library. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnZvzPTEiyc showed one teen trying to convince another teen to go to the library because of what was available.
But by far the best videos I saw were the The Library Minute series of 7-10 videos from Arizona State University. Anali Perry's enthusiasm in her videos is contagious and she covers a variety of subjects in order to entice students to avail themselves of multiple library services. Other libraries should use this concept in promoting their materials, practices and services.
The Library Minute: Fun Things To Do at the Libraries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyhSQO1lQHo is the one I liked best and attempted to attach it to my blog. I tried to read the terms and conditions regarding posting a video but that page did not appear via Google and checking off agreement did not make a difference. When I tried to add the video to my blog I was told there was an error on the page but there was no explanation. I have seen blogs with videos added so I am not sure what went wrong. I may explore this more but for right now, since it was an optional assignment, I will move on.
When I searched for Libraries, I spotted Mr. Bean in the Library destroying books, watched Cookie Monster in the Library with a close tie-in to If You Give a Mouse a Cookie and some Web 2.0 explanation attempts. One of the videos on Libraries was Why I Love the Library. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gnZvzPTEiyc showed one teen trying to convince another teen to go to the library because of what was available.
But by far the best videos I saw were the The Library Minute series of 7-10 videos from Arizona State University. Anali Perry's enthusiasm in her videos is contagious and she covers a variety of subjects in order to entice students to avail themselves of multiple library services. Other libraries should use this concept in promoting their materials, practices and services.
The Library Minute: Fun Things To Do at the Libraries http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyhSQO1lQHo is the one I liked best and attempted to attach it to my blog. I tried to read the terms and conditions regarding posting a video but that page did not appear via Google and checking off agreement did not make a difference. When I tried to add the video to my blog I was told there was an error on the page but there was no explanation. I have seen blogs with videos added so I am not sure what went wrong. I may explore this more but for right now, since it was an optional assignment, I will move on.
Thing 19 - Web 2.0 Award Winners
I tried a couple sites to see what was considered the best and again some links were no longer good or kept up to date.
Book Sites - Biblio.com - trying to find old books, which I will add to my favorite - other site Bookfinder.com. Craig's List will done at home. I have heard of Craig's List for years and never bothered to take the time to check it out. For the things I might sell, I would not use this site and the things I might buy, I probably do not need. However, I may try one item to sell, it was recommended I use this site. So I may test it out from home.
Genealogy - my mom does that and I assist so I will not construct my own and the others did not look interesting.
Games and Entertainment Zango - closed users only, others not interested.
Food sites - I'm Cooked where I got to watch Paul McCartney make mashed potatoes. Campy and humorous. I could not tell if his lines were his own. Rest of site it appears to require log in to use unless watching a couple of videos is what you want. Ifoods.tv was the second site tried and was non-existent
Web Dev Award Winners were not what I was looking for. I was hoping for a site that walked you through creating your own website similar to blogger.com. Oh, well. I am sure if I finally get around to doing it, I will should be able to find something but I will have some 2.0 ideas to add to the design.
The Award Winners that I found seemed very superficial and in a library setting, there will be some site maybe not award winner, which will do what is needed. It would be interesting to see an up to date version of this Thing and see what are the Award Winners today. The problem with library usage would be to remember which one to use when the time comes, if this would be the way to go.
Book Sites - Biblio.com - trying to find old books, which I will add to my favorite - other site Bookfinder.com. Craig's List will done at home. I have heard of Craig's List for years and never bothered to take the time to check it out. For the things I might sell, I would not use this site and the things I might buy, I probably do not need. However, I may try one item to sell, it was recommended I use this site. So I may test it out from home.
Genealogy - my mom does that and I assist so I will not construct my own and the others did not look interesting.
Games and Entertainment Zango - closed users only, others not interested.
Food sites - I'm Cooked where I got to watch Paul McCartney make mashed potatoes. Campy and humorous. I could not tell if his lines were his own. Rest of site it appears to require log in to use unless watching a couple of videos is what you want. Ifoods.tv was the second site tried and was non-existent
Web Dev Award Winners were not what I was looking for. I was hoping for a site that walked you through creating your own website similar to blogger.com. Oh, well. I am sure if I finally get around to doing it, I will should be able to find something but I will have some 2.0 ideas to add to the design.
The Award Winners that I found seemed very superficial and in a library setting, there will be some site maybe not award winner, which will do what is needed. It would be interesting to see an up to date version of this Thing and see what are the Award Winners today. The problem with library usage would be to remember which one to use when the time comes, if this would be the way to go.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Thing 18 Online Document Editing
I tried to work with Zoho on a document to assist in Library Orientation, which could be used by subs and new staff. Currently, it is on a networked drive so that others can read and edit it but when I uploaded it to Zoho, I was unable to overcome some formatting/editing issues. I will try to do the same thing Google Docs and see if I can solve the problem. I have found a real test of any word processing tool is how it handles numbering bullets. If you move the bullets around, will the insertion result in a continuation of the previous number when you double space the document? I tried to look for online help in Google Docs when I ran into this problem and there were people with the answer to share. I tried the same techniques in ZOHO that worked with Google but allowed for the doublespacing but the numbering issues I as unable to solve. I continued editing and reformatting the document in Google Docs until I thought it was finished. I tried to email it to the staff for their review but received multiple conflicting messages about why it would not work including one person did not have a google account and that it could not read any of the other emails addresses. So I sent it to myself and will share it via the County's email.
I can see the potential advantages of accessing documents anywhere but if they were attachments to an email. That resolves the issues because most people can access their email accounts anywhere. I learned something but will I apply in the day to day? Probably not!
I can see the potential advantages of accessing documents anywhere but if they were attachments to an email. That resolves the issues because most people can access their email accounts anywhere. I learned something but will I apply in the day to day? Probably not!
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