The Code Game promotional

Thought you might enjoy seeing Reference in action--trying to "solicit" new students to participate in the library code game. As you can see by some of these pictures that was easier said than done. Some people gave our staff a WIDE berth. This seems like a great project so I hope the promotion is a success. Good luck!

#23 continuing the journey

I loved this project. It really strengthened my confidence to try new applications and explore their possible uses. Some things I particularly enjoyed were blogging and Flickr. I was amazed how many websites have incorporated blogging as a way to allow feedback from their users. Now I almost feel let down if there is nowhere to give my response when viewing a website.

I enjoyed seeing how other libraries are connecting with their patrons by using the web 2.0 applications. My vision of what libraries can be has really shifted. One unexpected outcome of this project was gaining a glimpse of the personal interests of my co-workers. It was fun to discover a little bit of who they are--besides being an OU employee. They are wonderfully creative.

One of my favorite blogs outside OU is the one done by Helene Blowers.

I would like to participate in more projects like this as part of my own lifelong learning.

#22 - Social networking

I looked at MySpace, Friendster, and facebook. The first one seemed too cluttered and since someone had already invited me to be a friend (it is a pretty powerful feeling when you get an email announcing that someone wants to be your friend), I decided to take the plunge and sign-up for facebook. It is a rather vulnerable feeling at first--wondering who might actually find and read my profile. (I didn't enter much personal information.) I don't see it as something I will incorporate into my life, but I could see how fun and addicting it would be for college students. I looked up one of our former student workers who had graduated and sent him a message. Hmmm...if I don't have someone else's email this might be a way to contact them????

I think that these tools could be a good way for academic libraries to connect with their students if we want to reach patrons where they are at instead of waiting for them to show up on our doorstep.

#21 - Podcasts

So far this application isn't "clicking" for me personally. I keep feeling like I am missing something here, but then I read other bloggers reactions and find that I am not alone in my response. I tried to search for some language instruction, a "Prairie Home Companion" episode, and finally did a search for "library 2.0" to see if I could find some useful examples of how other libraries are using podcasts. The last search led me to a high school that uses podcasts for booktalks and I noticed that the presenter recommended using LibraryThing to find additional suggested titles for reading. Hopkinton (NH) High School Library Podcast

Here is a link to the latest podcasts available from Alden Libraries. Behind the Desk

educational blog - Design in Asia

I found a link to this blog while reading an article in the University Outlook. It documents a trip taken this summer by OU students working on a multi-cultural, multi-disciplinary design project with other students from various parts of Asia. The use of blogging, posting images, and video casts creates a unique opportunity for anyone to get a "you are there" look at this student project.

The picture is from the blog, Design in Asia

Library use of YouTube

Obviously my earlier post of a YouTube link was not exactly related to official library business. So I will add one that seems a little more relevant.

I enjoyed the way this library used YouTube to advertise their reference services. I have noticed more and more websites, i.e. online journals using this format on their front page to communicate recent updates of general interest to their users. It would definitely be a good way to grab the patron's attention when they come to the library's homepage.

YouTube

My introduction to YouTube came when I worked during the wee hours of the night at the Learning Commons. A co-worker wanted to share a humorous video about something a friend had seen on TV. The topic--fainting goats. Just remember, no goats were harmed in the making of this video. Apparently they were bred to do this so the sheep would have a chance to get away first if a wolf came?? At least that is the story I heard.

I laughed til I cried the first time I saw the video, but maybe it was just because I watched it at 4:00am after being up all night.

more online apps--a scheduler

I was checking my bloglines today and found a new (to me) online application that Firefox users might enjoy--Mozilla Sunbird for scheduling. There is a great introduction on how to use the product in a blog that I have been following called, "The Simple Dollar". The blog is about money and debt, but it is a nice mix of common sense and useful financial information for people who want to find ways to have a better working relationship with their money. I love the down-to-earth and personal way that "Trent", the blogger, writes while still dispensing solid advice.

Web 2.0 awards

As usual I am struggling with information overload. I seem to work best with sites that I have seen someone else using or which have been recommended by a friend or co-worker--otherwise I tend to get lost wading through a site without actually seeing how it might be useful to me. I liked the way the award list was arranged by categories so that you could determine which site most closely suits a particular task. I really liked the small summaries after each of the award winners--it helped clarify their function and mission

I explored "craigslist" and "Farecast" just to see how they worked. craigslist could be helpful for someone new to an area who wanted to find housing from a central website instead of trying to figure out which newspaper to use for a particular city. It seems to be limited to larger cities and may not be as helpful for more rural areas.

Farecast had a very easy to use interface when searching for flight information and provided links to several other major travel websites as well. I don't do much traveling, but Farecast offered some great search options for even a novice like myself.

web-based apps

I decided to give the Google docs and spreadsheets a try with a new project that needs to be shared among several people in our department. I will be taking an inventory of current print periodicals in CIC and then other staff will look at the list to determine what titles need to be canceled, bound, continued, etc. Although, the same function is essentially possible using the Library "s" drive, the Google application will offer even more options for accessibility from various computers.