I created a slideshow that highlights some of my favorite things that happened in the last year. I don't take many pictures so I don't have a lot to put together in a slideshow or even on a website like flickr. In this slideshow, I included pictures from last year's Homegrown Music Festival, my trip to Europe, various holidays and pics of myself and my friends.
The slideshow creator was very easy to use and it quickly uploaded the photos I used directly from my facebook photos. I found that to be very convenient.
I have enjoyed looking at the blogs of others and seeing how slideshows can be used within the library environment. They are a good way to highlight programs that go on at the library and can be easily added to any library's website. I feel as though patrons would be very interested to look at them, as well.
I spent the last couple hours altering photos and doing silly generators. These are a few of the results that I enjoyed: If I found Jeff Buckley on a pancake I would worship it! Jonathan Safran Foer: a favorite author of mine.
What it says about you: You're creative and fun, and you're good at motivating the people around you. You're attracted to things that are visually interesting. Other people might not always understand your taste or style, but it's yours.
I obviously have a vested interest in this topic since my life goal is to be a librarian, but sometimes I wonder where my love for reading, and books in general, came from. Maybe it was shows like Reading Rainbow that I watched when I was young. Side note: this show also instilled a lifetime love of Levar Burton in my life (who is a fellow twitterer @levarburton) as well as taught me what trompe l'oeil was. In reality, I know it all has to do with the fact that I've been a library patron since before I could read the words on a page and have never felt more comfortable than I do when I'm between the stacks. I read books, I love books and I own far too many of them. While I believe the technological advancements we have made are very important to keep up to date with, I will never get as much satisfaction from the word in any other source than I do when it is printed on the page of a book.
I joined Library Thing last year because of the original 23 Things and I try to keep up to date with it by adding the newest books I have read. I haven't gone so far as to catalog all the books I've read, or the ones I own because that would just take forever! I value the site for the book recommendations it gives me based on what I have cataloged. On Facebook I use the Living Social Visual Bookshelf app to show what I'm currently reading. The app is nice because it encourages users to write a review of a book once its read and it offers recommendations of other books one might like. I don't very much enjoy writing book reviews so any I do write are often very short. Honestly I don't use the app too much but I always like to encourage and publicize reading (what better hobby is there to have?) so keep it on my profile.
One thing I love most about libraries is the thought that a book I'm reading has been read (and enjoyed) by so many people and will continue to do so after me. It's a great sense of community. I think the bookcrossing website is capturing that same idea. Release a book out there anywhere with the registered info of it on the site listed inside and hopefully people will check in on it and continue the process. I'm absolutely going to do it but where is a good place to leave the books? I feel as though I just have too many options but I also have boxes of old books to get rid of filling my closet so it will be an interesting way to clean out.
The other day I turned on MPR and came across an interview about whether technologies, like kindle, were making the book obsolete. I thought, how fitting? I'm currently researching Books 2.0 for More Things - this is something I can mention. More generally, they discuss the digitalization of all forms of media (music, movies, television, books, newspapers, magazines) and what the future of these mediums will look like. It is very interesting and definitely worth a listen.
On the topic of kindle, I really don't know what I think of it. Although I occasionally read a book on my iphone (via the Stanza app), I really enjoy having a physical book in my hands to read. Kindle, and other gadgets like it, are not for me but as long as people are reading it is fine with me whatever format it happens to be in. I'm interested to hear about what they have to say about magazines. I read far too many magazines and although I hate having basically archives lining my living room, it saddens me to think of no longer having print issues around. Magazines are obviously a dying format, made evident to me by the fact that every time I have a new favorite they go under and I'm left wanting for more. It seems like most articles can simply be read online and I wouldn't be surprised if in the not so distant future, print magazines were simply a thing of the past.
I do think it would be nice to lessen my clutter through digitalization, but I love all the belongings I own. I have tons of books, lps, cds, dvds, videos, magazines, and newspapers all over the place and as far as I see it, they form my identity. I'm a possessionist (if there is sucha thing) and these things are like children to me. As a clever and cynical man once said, "It's not what you're like, it's what you like." Book 2.0 tools are fun and useful ways to catalog but, in my mind, could never replace a tangible object. Plus, if they did, I might be out of a job!
I recently heard news that my local public library may need to completely be shut down due to budget concerns / economic issues. I, and a few other staff members, were laid off last summer for the same reasoning so I can't say I am completely shocked by this news. I do have to say, however, that this is some of the most depressing (and anger inducing) news I have heard in a long time. I'm not just upset because this is the place where I was once employed but because I value what a library offers more than any other service in my community. I have first-hand experience seeing how important the library and its services are to so many people. Just thinking about living in a city without a public library astonishes me. Let's hope it doesn't come to this.
With this bleak news in mind, I am very interested in sharing why I think libraries, and their services, are so important. Online answer sites can never take the place of an actual reference librarian.
The resource I enjoyed reading most while doing this thing was the article Interviews of the Future Librarian. I may be biased because I would put myself into the category of future librarian, but there are some interesting things to learn from the librarians interviewed. I really enjoyed what Meredith Farkas had to say. First, on being an librarian in an academic setting:
"I really liked the fact that in libraries you can help somebody immediately, it’s instant gratification. For example, at Norwich we have about a hundred databases that students can use and usually they have absolutely no clue how to use them, or which ones are right for their paper – they’re just overwhelmed and they come to the desk saying, "OMG!, I need five criticisms on this book!" You know can help them find this and you can teach them how to do it themselves the next time; they’re really happy and relieved because they probably spent five hours before this doing something that for me would take 5 minutes. It’s so nice to be able to help in that way and save them time."
And also, on internet wikis:
"Well, you know, a wiki is great but you never know for sure that the information is accurate, it hasn’t always been vetted by experts, it doesn’t always have references for the facts that are given, and something like Wikipedia is only giving you a general overview of the topic it’s not giving you enough information to really have a nuanced and full view of the topic. When students are writing a paper they really need resources that go into more depth and you’re not going to find expert things like that just on the Web. You’ll find some, like the Brookings Institution or the Rand Corporation. But, there are still so many things that are only available through databases. [Internet Wikis] are still no substitute for the scholarly articles you can find there."
I find slam the boards to be an interesting way to get the word out to people that librarians are an extremely valuable resource. I was so interested to actually look at some of the exemplary answers in the slam the boards site and see how well researched the answers by librarian were and how eloquently they were stated. It also looks like people appreciate the answers librarians put out - it makes me happy inside to see them publicizing the value of the resources at a library. When compared with most answers that regular joes contribute to the sites, there is no contest. Librarians win hands down.
I occasionally use online answer sites for random questions I have that I want quick answers for. For example, I used the phrase "its not over till the fat lady sings" the other day and when I tried to explain the origins of it to my family, they didn't believe me. I decided to look it up, so I went my usual route. I always just type in the keywords to google and let them suggest the sites to answer the question. Often times this leads me to yahoo answers but usually I just click the Wikipedia link. I felt validated when it was in reference to a Wagner opera where a "fat" lady dressed as a Valkyrie sings at the end - that's what I had thought. When it comes to answer sites I am not too concerned about which I use because I don't ever look for in-depth research questions on my own. If I really need help researching something, I always go to a librarian but I think I am in the minority by doing so. I think one of the drawbacks with going to an online answer site for a specific question is that you may not be able to get a response immediately. Unless you can already find the question and answer listed, you will probably have to wait a couple days to get an answer. There are certain questions, however, that should not be directed towards librarians and for those, the internet is the best way to find them. Some examples may be personal / health-related questions or simple facts that do not need to be dug out of obscure resources.
I'm amazed at times to find out how little people know about their library and the resources available to them. One example that always sticks in my mind was when a classmate of mine had forgotten the novel we were reading in class and needed a copy before we started. I asked her if she had checked the school library to get a spare to bring with. She said she didn't know how. My mind was blown - how does a college student not know how to check to see if their library has a book!?! I took advantage of the situation, however, and logged into the web catalog and showed her how to look the book up. I then proceeded to tell her how to find the book, since I figured if she didn't know how to look for a book in the library, she might not understand the library of congress classification used to organize it. I think its very similar with online answer sites. So many people are just inclined to google an answer when often that may not be the best way to find what you really need. Hopefully groups like slam the boards will help to show just how important libraries are and how valuable librarians are for their research and resource capabilities.
I just came across this recording of Bon Iver doing a cover of 'A Satisfied Mind.' I've loved this song since hearing the version by Jeff Buckley and I couldn't think of anyone better than Mr. Vernon to capture the truth in the lyrics.
How many times have you heard someone say "If I had his money, I could do things my way?" Little they know that it's so hard to find One rich man in ten with a satisfied mind.
Once I was winning in fortune and fame Everything that I dreamed for to get a start in life's game Suddenly it happened, I lost every dime But I'm richer by far with a satisfied mind
Money can't buy back your youth when you're old Or a friend when you're lonely, or a love that's grown cold The wealthiest person is a pauper at times Compared to the man with a satisfied mind
When my life is ended, my time has run out My trials and my loved ones, I'll leave them no doubt But one thing's for certain, when it comes my time I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind I'll leave this old world with a satisfied mind
It's made even better by the fact that he performed it with the high school jazz ensemble he was once a part of. If only everyone had half the humility of this man.
"All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination." Earl Nightingale
This summer I will be going to Missouri for a week to visit a prospective grad school and to attend a friend's wedding. I made a map which shows the school I will be visiting.
I actually did not have the easiest time making this map. I can't figure out how to get the zoomed in version to show up in my blog post. If you zoom in a dozen times you can get close enough to see the building that I have marked. Mapping out where I am going is very important to me but I don't have much desire to save the maps I create in the google maps program. I do see how it can be interesting and more fun when videos, pictures and links are added to the listed points.
There was one map mashup that I was excited to come across - local music locator! How fun is that?
I enjoyed the virtual tourist website. I looked up Columbia, MO and there were many recommendations for interesting things to do in the town. This can be helpful in figuring out what to do when I go down there.
Last year I went on a tour of Europe through the travel company Contiki. Before I went, I scoured their website to find out as much as I could from what other travelers had to say. I read the discussion forums to figure out what to pack, interesting things to see, and just to get a basic idea of what the trip would be like. I found this a very helpful thing to do. In the same way, I think that visiting the different travel journal sites and travel blogs would be interesting to do if I were planning a trip but since I don't have any big travel plans in the near future, I'm not that interested in them.
I think I will revisit this topic in June, when I will be preparing for my summer getaways.
To be honest, I haven't used either my google reader or delicious accounts since the first go round of 23 Things. Now that I've been researching them further, I remember why they were useful and I hope to keep up with them from time to time. I guess the thing I like the most about my reader is the way it feeds the posts of all the blogs I follow into one area and how easy it is to categorize them all. I enjoy being able to see the latest posts listed, especially of the 23 Things blogs I follow. This way I don't have to go into each blog one by one to see how they have been updated by other participants. Maybe I just haven't spent enough time with it but I haven't yet felt the full value of RSS feeds for myself, personally or professionally. In an effort to explore this thing further, I have subscribed to many more feeds and I have categorized all my feeds into seperate folders (blogs, music, film, 23 Things, library, news, etc). I plan on spending some time with my google reader and seeing if it is something I can get more value from on a daily basis.
One of the most interesting things I discovered while researching google reader was the usefulness and simplicity of its keyboard commands. To see the basics, while in google reader, just click shift + ?. This will bring up a menu overlay which shows all the basic commands that can be used on the keyboard to navigate through google reader without a mouse. I love this feature! I found out lots of great tips by reading an article from LifeHacker.
When thinking about how to get myself to utilize RSS more often I thought it would be nice if I had access to it on my iphone. There is no actual google reader app for iphone but it is really simple to add a bookmark to the safari browser which leads straight to google reader. I found the info I needed in this short article. I then added a shortcut to my iphone homescreen so with one click I can access my reader account at any time. It is so simple to use reader on my phone and will be another great resource to have on hand when I'm out and about and need to pass the time.
Although RSS can be fun, I'm more interested in what delicious has to offer. I come across so many great links while doing research for this blog and just by following awesome people through twitter, that it is nice to have a central place to bookmark all the great things I find. It is also nice to be able to access those bookmarks from anywhere. I added an extension to my firefox browser so that I can access delicious easily from anywhere that I am browsing. Hopefully this will keep me in the habit of bookmarking and tagging, as I would like to gather many of these. I also added a delicious linkroll to my sidebar which I think is a fun way to share the latest links that have been of interest to me.
The inbox feature of delicious is a good idea but it is not something I have found a lot of use for since I do not have people in my network yet that I can share links with. If I decide to continue using delicious regularly I will try to add people to my network but for now I'm enjoying it just for personal bookmarking.
"If enough people think studying the media is a waste of time, then the media themselves can seem less influential than they really are. Then they get off the hook for doing what they do best: promoting a white, upper-middle-class, male view of the world that urges the rest of us to sit passively on our sofas and fantasize about consumer goods while they handle the important stuff, like the economy, the environment, or child care." Susan Douglas Where the Girls Are
As a participant in the More Things on a Stick Program, this is my Library Learning 2.0 blog. I'm a recent graduate of The College of St. Scholastica and am now working in the AmeriCorps program. I have a few years experience working in a public library and have ambitions to be a librarian. I enjoy art in all forms - especially literature, music and film and will try to incorporate them into this blog.
