This is my first try at posting a video from YouTube. Is there anything on earth cuter than a kitten????
Monday, April 30, 2007
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Web 2.0
The water looks so serene I can almost hear the soft waves touch the shore....(yet another MASSIVE HUGE SIGH!) Alas, one day...
I went to Web 2.0 Award Nominees and selected 'peanut butter wiki'. It says it's an "easy to use webpage that multiple people can edit." There was a quick podcast that described the benefits of using such a service mainly that people can build ideas together as a group as opposed to the blog model.
I set up a test wiki there at http://bassetbudi.pbwiki.com I used a recipe template and typed in one for a favorite recipe given to me years and years ago by a dear friend (Scottish Shortbread...yum!)
They call it pbwiki because "it's easy as making a peanut butter sandwich." It defiitely was easy to do...very user friendly...and free! More advanced features can be purchased a la subscription service.
As I mentioned in my post about wikis in general a few weeks ago, I can see using a wiki to have an easily searchable and editable procedures manual for the Order Dept. I will be investigating that possibility. It is definitely more cumbersome to have multitudes of documents posted on a CMS server to mull through to find the information one needs.
I went to Web 2.0 Award Nominees and selected 'peanut butter wiki'. It says it's an "easy to use webpage that multiple people can edit." There was a quick podcast that described the benefits of using such a service mainly that people can build ideas together as a group as opposed to the blog model.
I set up a test wiki there at http://bassetbudi.pbwiki.com I used a recipe template and typed in one for a favorite recipe given to me years and years ago by a dear friend (Scottish Shortbread...yum!)
They call it pbwiki because "it's easy as making a peanut butter sandwich." It defiitely was easy to do...very user friendly...and free! More advanced features can be purchased a la subscription service.
As I mentioned in my post about wikis in general a few weeks ago, I can see using a wiki to have an easily searchable and editable procedures manual for the Order Dept. I will be investigating that possibility. It is definitely more cumbersome to have multitudes of documents posted on a CMS server to mull through to find the information one needs.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Google Labs
Today's pic shows the utter serenity of a basset hound asleep. Bassets have the "total relaxation" thing down like few other creatures. I like this photo because I feel like I can reach out and touch this hound's velvety ears.
Google rules! (I guess they already know that, eh? :-)
I checked out the Google Trends. I see a lot of potential for business owners to fine tune their marketing using this tool. It shows the locations of any search i.e. where the search originated from.
I REALLY liked "Google Voice Local Search." It searches for local businesses by name or category by simply saying what you're looking for into your phone. I called the toll-free number 800-466.4411 and it asked me for the town I wanted to search then what I wanted to search. I said "bookstores" and voila! It clearly listed local bookstores, provided addresses and the ability to be connected at the touch of a button. All of this is free of charge (if phoning from a cell phone it may incur airtime fees per one's individual calling plan.)
The idea of "perpetual beta" is good because things are simply changing so fast. The old models of providing a product, selling it, then providing a "new release" (e.g. Millenium) are just that: old. Today's technological world is one of ever-evolving newness from day to day...hour to hour...second to second.
No wonder it feels like time itself is accelerating! But I'll let the physicists among you wrestle with that idea :-)
Google rules! (I guess they already know that, eh? :-)
I checked out the Google Trends. I see a lot of potential for business owners to fine tune their marketing using this tool. It shows the locations of any search i.e. where the search originated from.
I REALLY liked "Google Voice Local Search." It searches for local businesses by name or category by simply saying what you're looking for into your phone. I called the toll-free number 800-466.4411 and it asked me for the town I wanted to search then what I wanted to search. I said "bookstores" and voila! It clearly listed local bookstores, provided addresses and the ability to be connected at the touch of a button. All of this is free of charge (if phoning from a cell phone it may incur airtime fees per one's individual calling plan.)
The idea of "perpetual beta" is good because things are simply changing so fast. The old models of providing a product, selling it, then providing a "new release" (e.g. Millenium) are just that: old. Today's technological world is one of ever-evolving newness from day to day...hour to hour...second to second.
No wonder it feels like time itself is accelerating! But I'll let the physicists among you wrestle with that idea :-)
Scotland - Inveraray Castle
(Massive huge SIGHHHHHHHHHHHHH) What a beautiful place! Wish I could teleport myself there right now....
Alas, on to the topic for today: Google Docs and Zoho.
I had no idea there was free document/spreadsheet/slide production (etc.etc.) programs on the web. This is incredibly cool! It's very true I don't use even a 10th of what powerful programs like Word and Excel can do. Google Docs and Zoho were really easy to use. I love the ability to collaborate in real time and it being accessible from any internet connection. This lesson has opened a whole new world for me. :-)
Alas, on to the topic for today: Google Docs and Zoho.
I had no idea there was free document/spreadsheet/slide production (etc.etc.) programs on the web. This is incredibly cool! It's very true I don't use even a 10th of what powerful programs like Word and Excel can do. Google Docs and Zoho were really easy to use. I love the ability to collaborate in real time and it being accessible from any internet connection. This lesson has opened a whole new world for me. :-)
Friday, April 20, 2007
Library 2.0
I read through the "OCLC Next Space Newsletter" article named "Where will the next generation Web take libraries?" My overall opinion is that it's an interesting (mostly) philosophical statement on where libraries have been, where they are now and where they need to be going. Like many things in my lifetime, there has been a radical shift in defining what a traditional informational (or recreational) setting would be like. I remember being in elementary school and being told that by 1980, computers would be a part of everyday living. Then, when I saw it starting to happen, I found it intriguing and scary at the same time. Now with the internet, I've seen our lives transformed in something akin to what happened after the Industrial Revolution. So, the question for me is, "how do I negotiate all the rapid transitions required in order to assimilate the constant barrage of 'newness' in my life?" And, the question for libraries is, "how do we collectively negotiate the transitions necessary in order to bring our services to all of our patrons without disengaging patrons who have varying degrees of ability to cope with all that change?"
Now, back to today's post...
1. The following is a quote directly from the OCLC article mentioned above:
<< Another key lesson that O’Reilly emphasizes is the notion that “users add value.” For OCLC and its member libraries, this means expanding our definition of “collective intelligence” beyond the library professional to faculty, researchers, library patrons and others by building into our systems services that encourage these users contribute their expertise to the cooperative. OCLC’s work in this area to date has included a pilot program that allows anyone using Open WorldCat to contribute and share tables of contents, notes and reviews. This of course is just a beginning; over the next year we are planning to offer a variety of “social” services to allow non-cataloging library professionals, library patrons and others to contribute to and use WorldCat. Services under consideration include including tagging, list creation and sharing, citation management, personal cataloging, and the like. >>>
The idea that "user's add value" is something I'm (finally) beginning to understand as it relates to online information. The admonition "don't believe everything you read" is always in the back of my mind. I haven't been able to fully embrace the idea of how collaborative editing is completely useful. My problem stems from validation of the sources doing the editing. For example, while Wikipedia interests me, I still can't embrace it in the same way I do "World Book Encyclopedia" because in the latter's case, I know validation of sources is done and they have a consistent history of providing authentic information.
As I think about the possibilities with WorldCat in the quote above, I see how the collaborative environment could really enhance OCLC's services. I'm reminded of how often I scroll down in Amazon to read what people have to say about the item I'm interested in...and those opinions do affect my buying choices.
Now, back to today's post...
1. The following is a quote directly from the OCLC article mentioned above:
<<
The idea that "user's add value" is something I'm (finally) beginning to understand as it relates to online information. The admonition "don't believe everything you read" is always in the back of my mind. I haven't been able to fully embrace the idea of how collaborative editing is completely useful. My problem stems from validation of the sources doing the editing. For example, while Wikipedia interests me, I still can't embrace it in the same way I do "World Book Encyclopedia" because in the latter's case, I know validation of sources is done and they have a consistent history of providing authentic information.
As I think about the possibilities with WorldCat in the quote above, I see how the collaborative environment could really enhance OCLC's services. I'm reminded of how often I scroll down in Amazon to read what people have to say about the item I'm interested in...and those opinions do affect my buying choices.
2.
<<
These ideas make a lot of sense to me. It's really akin to the Google model: everything in one easy to understand search box. People want 'one stop shopping' where all the choices are presented. This is where the custom search engines would be especially helpful. It will be interesting to see how KCLS is able to work these ideas into the web interface in the future.
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Great Customer Service
I found this article on "Library Marketing: Thinking Outside the Book." I think it shows just how important excellent customer service is...absolutely delighting the customer. Even though the example here features a restaurant experience, there is still much to be gleaned here for KCLS.
The good of customer service
The good of customer service
Custom Google Searches
Couldn't resist this bevy of bassets! :-)I created a Basset Hound custom search engine and added it to my blog. Fun! I also added the KCLS 27 Things Search Engine.
One great idea for search engine use in the library comes from Diana in the Order Dept. She's working on setting up a search roll with a list of vendors to search all the sites at once instead of having to go into each vendor website. I've seen her draft version and am encouraged by her results. This could really help an essential part of our acquisitions workflow.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Search Rolls
As always, I hunt for a cool pic on Flickr before I post here. Since I don't have a digital camera, I don't have a lot of my own photos to work with. I do have some on cd and will *try* to remember to get some of my own pics uploaded here.
Yep...I'm a knitter. This pic reminded me of what I'm working on now: socks made with 2 circular needles instead of 5 double-pointed needed. Love the hand-dyed colors here...especially the upper left frame.
Today's Learning 2.0 lesson asked me to take a good look around Rollyo. I went to: http://rollyo.com/kcls27things/kcls_neighbors and searched "collections."
What struck me off the bat was the number of sponsored links that aren't clearly diffentiated from the real links I might be interested in.
Then I went to Google's version http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=007655418999623294614%3A3ioesbwugmu and did the same search "collections" I liked this interface much better as I didn't see all the advertising I didn't need. I also found the clean look of Google much better. Google is a site I use a fair amount so my eyes were already used to that kind of interface.
More tomorrow after I create a search roll of my own and post it on this blog...
Yep...I'm a knitter. This pic reminded me of what I'm working on now: socks made with 2 circular needles instead of 5 double-pointed needed. Love the hand-dyed colors here...especially the upper left frame.
Today's Learning 2.0 lesson asked me to take a good look around Rollyo. I went to: http://rollyo.com/kcls27things/kcls_neighbors and searched "collections."
What struck me off the bat was the number of sponsored links that aren't clearly diffentiated from the real links I might be interested in.
Then I went to Google's version http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=007655418999623294614%3A3ioesbwugmu and did the same search "collections" I liked this interface much better as I didn't see all the advertising I didn't need. I also found the clean look of Google much better. Google is a site I use a fair amount so my eyes were already used to that kind of interface.
More tomorrow after I create a search roll of my own and post it on this blog...
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Generator-Themed Sites
Besides the leprechaun name generator, I played with other sites listed on the "Generator Blog." Most of what I saw made me think some folks have wayyyyyy too much time on their hands!
I created a motivational poster, a baseball card and the mirrored "bassetbudi" you can see at the end of my blog. I looked at some of the others like 'create a weird word', etc.
Back to work and my coffee...
I created a motivational poster, a baseball card and the mirrored "bassetbudi" you can see at the end of my blog. I looked at some of the others like 'create a weird word', etc.
Back to work and my coffee...
Monday, April 9, 2007
Leprechaun Name
Well, I asked for it! Cabbage lips indeed mon petite chioux chioux :-)
| ||||||||||||
Monday, April 2, 2007
Wikis
'Tis the season for lamb-ies! Too cute...
As with most Learning 2.0 subjects, I find myself meeting internal resistance to the latest 'trend.' In trying to absorb the idea of wikis and asking myself when/how would I ever use it, I came up with very little. That's due, though, to my dependency on email and my comfort with email. I can't fully wrap my head around the idea of wikis.
One idea I heard that would be used in one department at KCLS is to establish a wiki as a department procedures manual. The idea of wikis having the ability to be edited by everyone and the idea of collaborative content is what appeals to this department.
I thought about this idea for my own department. Currently, I have assigned each staff person several topics to write about. Then, as supervisor, I edit the documents as needed and post them to a shared internal-user-only server. The downside of this method is that each topic would have to be opened in a separate document; in a wiki, it would all be accessible in one continuous
document' and more easily updatable...and accessible.
In looking at the ALA Midwinter wiki, I could see how it would be valuable to have the most current information posted in one updatable place. My 'internal resistance' comes up again because I wonder how easy it would be for a lot of non-relative content to be posted there. However, I understand the 'wiki community' is supposed to quickly revise the wikis because the community is 'lively and active' and wishes to maintain the wiki in a creative...but editable way. Wikis are described as 'community policed forums.'
Wikis put website creators and non-tech-folks on somewhat equal footing. Librarians who don't know how to create websites can become equal partners of a wiki community simply by knowing how to access the wiki and type. www.libsuccess.org is a "one-stop-shop for great ideas for librarians" that provides easy access to helpful hints from librarians far and wide.
Since I tend to 'process' ideas through writing, I find that I've turned a corner even by writing this blogpost: I definitely want to try out a wiki model for our department procedures manual. :-)
As with most Learning 2.0 subjects, I find myself meeting internal resistance to the latest 'trend.' In trying to absorb the idea of wikis and asking myself when/how would I ever use it, I came up with very little. That's due, though, to my dependency on email and my comfort with email. I can't fully wrap my head around the idea of wikis.
One idea I heard that would be used in one department at KCLS is to establish a wiki as a department procedures manual. The idea of wikis having the ability to be edited by everyone and the idea of collaborative content is what appeals to this department.
I thought about this idea for my own department. Currently, I have assigned each staff person several topics to write about. Then, as supervisor, I edit the documents as needed and post them to a shared internal-user-only server. The downside of this method is that each topic would have to be opened in a separate document; in a wiki, it would all be accessible in one continuous
document' and more easily updatable...and accessible.
In looking at the ALA Midwinter wiki, I could see how it would be valuable to have the most current information posted in one updatable place. My 'internal resistance' comes up again because I wonder how easy it would be for a lot of non-relative content to be posted there. However, I understand the 'wiki community' is supposed to quickly revise the wikis because the community is 'lively and active' and wishes to maintain the wiki in a creative...but editable way. Wikis are described as 'community policed forums.'
Wikis put website creators and non-tech-folks on somewhat equal footing. Librarians who don't know how to create websites can become equal partners of a wiki community simply by knowing how to access the wiki and type. www.libsuccess.org is a "one-stop-shop for great ideas for librarians" that provides easy access to helpful hints from librarians far and wide.
Since I tend to 'process' ideas through writing, I find that I've turned a corner even by writing this blogpost: I definitely want to try out a wiki model for our department procedures manual. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
BassetbudiBETA.png)