Thing #7: I heart SKYPE

For my technology-related blogging topic this week, I wanted to share my thoughts on Skype. I happen to love this online service, as it allows me to keep in touch with family, living over 3,000 miles away (not to mention the service is free!). Ever since moving to the East Coast, my husband and I make it a weekly "date" to catch up with family and friends using Skype's online voice calls service. Similar to AOL Instant Messenger, Skype boasts a chat service as well as video/voice calls. I've given my parents a tour of my new house, shared a couple of my favorite recipes, and met my sister's new dog, all through the completely free, Internet application known as Skype. Skype lovers unite! :)

I cannot wait to use Skype on a professional level. I can foresee my fellow librarians and I conferencing over Skype calls or perhaps providing reference service to library users via Skype (putting a face to a name/chat ID goes a long way from the customer service perspective). The opportunities are endless!

Thing #6: BigHugeLabs: Do fun stuff with your photos

BigHugeLabs: Do fun stuff with your photos

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I really enjoyed creating this very simple librarian card. I'd like to continue to adding fun notes to my card, and possibly playing around with different fonts and backgrounds. Learning how to embed the card into my posting was a little bit more difficult, but I can definitely see the fun in learning how all of the different websites "mash" together. My fun little note for this card was that I did not have a current photo of myself, so I took a snapshot using Skype, saved the photo, then uploaded to Big Huge Labs. I previously had tried using my Facebook profile picture but that came out quite blurry. The idea of different websites linking to others really works to help people stay "connected" so to speak, but also to create new content while building on other web-based content. I like the idea of "mash ups" and think that there are many opportunities to utilize these tools in the library world.

I also liked the list of sample ideas of ways that mashups can be used to "provide and extend library resources and services" that Courtney illustrates on pages 70-71. I for one like using LibraryThing.com as we had an assignment in another cohort class that introduced us to using this tool. The fact that this site is linked up with the Library of Congress and Amazon ensures that materials are accurate and reliable. I also like that the fact that people can connect over cataloging the same books--nice! I also want to check out the Delicious Library as I think the ability for users to manage their collections of books, materials, etc is a neat and interesting concept. One thing I also thought interesting from the Courtney reading on Chapter 6 was the issue of fair use versus protecting intellectual property. With mashups, just exactly identifying who created content and who has rights to the protected use of that content seems to be a little difficult to decipher. I think it's important that those sites that provide mashup content are fully aware of licensing and protections are followed to ensure that the creators of work are being protected accordingly.

Thing #5: Good as it is to inherit a library, it is better to collect one. (172/365)

Good as it is to inherit a library, it is better to collect one. (172/365)
Originally uploaded by alibubba

This photo really struck me. To me, it represents a view of what I've always wanted in my own library. I always envisioned a room in my house devoted purely to books! (I wish I had the space for that now...) The books would fill the room to the brim, there would always be rain on the windows, it would always smell like a mix of musty books and cinnamon or vanilla candles, and there would be a comfy reading chair in the corner (calling my name so to speak)...

Inside my dream library, I always thought I would have a collection of classics...old, mint edition books of some of my all-time favorite novels like Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Emma, etc...This shot captures the beauty of books to me! I love that the shot is somewhat blurred and the titles slightly obscure. Perfect for someone like me to simply imagine what books the photographer is actually capturing on film. A great photo indeed.

Week 2, Thing #3 and #4--Blogging

To blog or not to blog that is the question...for me, the answer is "YES"! I started blogging for another LS class, but swiftly "fell off the wagon" so to speak when the assignment (and class) ended. This week reminded me how much I enjoy setting up a blog and adding my own little touches the final product. While this blog certainly isn't by any means finished, it is definitely a start or move in the right direction. I particularly enjoyed creating an avatar, something I was not at all familiar with.

I found the avatar selection process a lot of fun! I think I ended up spending way too much selecting what my avatar would look like as well as what she would wear (kinda like shopping but without the having to spend the $$ part). I definitely see the advantages and enjoyment in creating virtual representations of ourselves and can see the appeal of gaming programs and virtual worlds like Second Life. Maybe I will give that a shot after alll...

I'm really hoping to continue using this blog past this assignment. I tried to come up with somewhat of a catchy name, based on the television show I watched periodically for another class (trying to immerse myself in YA culture, I became a fan of the show Secret Life of the American Teenager). I see myself working in a YA library environment in the future and definitely plan on using my online diary for a variety of uses (as well as "connecting" with library users).

I also registered my blog with Classroom Learning 2.0 and got my first comment! It would be nice to set up my blog to receive an email notification when someone commented...interesting!

Week 1, Thing #2--Life Long Learning

I really enjoyed the overview of the 7 ½ habits towards highly successful lifelong learners. As we’ve learned before (and indicated in Information Power, put forth by the American Association of School Librarians), the notion of creating a community of lifelong learning is an essential part of our role as librarians and educators. This tutorial clearly and explicitly illustrates the ways in which we as librarians can take active roles in our own processes of learning.

For me, the easiest habit to follow or keep in mind is “using technology to your own advantage”. I think that the avenues and options available for learning through the use of the Internet are vast and the opportunities are endless. I would have to argue that our class itself is a great example of this. In my own personal experiences, I have used the Internet and technology for everything from shopping, travel destination research, studying, cooking, reading (for school and pleasure), balancing my checkbook, paying bills, keeping in touch with family living in other places (Skype), and connecting with long-lost friends (Facebook)—just to name a few. Not to mention the time I triedunsuccessfully to teach myself how to cut my husband’s hair, in order to save a little money. Needless to say, that instance of online learning was not a success, but perhaps next time I should have done more research than simply relying on a home-made YouTube video. According to my husband, I still get credit for trying! The wealth of information available on the Internet works to serve as an excellent source of learning. I also believe that assisting people in how to evaluate information on the Internet is a vital aspect of using technology responsibly and an important part of successful lifelong learning.

In my opinion, the hardest habit to form is to “begin with the end in mind”. For me, sometimes it is difficult to keep focused on the future. At the beginning of this program, my goal was to become a librarian. However, sometimes in the middle of a semester when one is completed overwhelmed by work, family obligations, outside responsibilities, and school, keeping the goal of learning in mind is often the last thing I want to think about. Looking back, this is probably the most important time to remember what my ideal outcome of learning is; in this case, a Master’s degree in library science. I also think that having a goal of what you would like your ideal library environment to look like is extremely important when utilizing this habit. Seeing each piece of the puzzle come together to complete the picture of your ideal library setting works to ensure that you are striving to achieve a specific goal—providing the best possible service to library users.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog--Secret Life of a Techie Librarian

This blog was created in response to the Classroom Learning 2.0 23 Things tutorial produced by the California School Library Association. Each of my posts will provide reflections on each of the exercises of the 23 Things tutorial and provide information of the aspects of working with technology in the library environment that I liked and disliked. So far, blogging is fun! We'll see how the remaining tasks pan out..,

Feel free to leave feedback, comments, questions, or concerns about my online diary. I look forward to reading about the experiences of others and learning about the many different ways we can connect to library users!