I decided to explore the Google Web History. I can see this as a useful tool. For me I think I would use it more at home than at work. At work I am more apt to bookmark useful sites and/or add them to my del.icio.us account. I know I've had times when I've done a search for something and can't recall what the web address was...it would be great to have this history to refer back to. I'm not overly concerned with the privacy issue for a couple of reasons: 1) it does require that you log in and use your own login and password to access your search histories and 2) I wouldn't be looking for anything that could be deemed illegal or otherwise concerning from the perspective that I wouldn't want others to know what I was searching for or what I had found.
One drawback for me of this tool is the recommendation to download a Google Tool Bar. I chose not to do that so I only have the option to see the history of my web searches right now. In their prompt suggesting you download the Tool bar they say that it will help you bookmark pages more easily. My first thought was that is what I use del.icio.us for!
For the Productivity section I decided to stick with MyYahoo Calendar rather than set up another one in Google. I had mentioned in an earlier post that I've used MyYahoo Calendar for social engagements with friends. It worked well and we were able to share our calendars and coordinate that way. I do see value in these tools in the workplace as well. I think organizations may use an internal product like Microsoft Outlook which has sharing capabilities as well. Many times it may be what most people are comfortable using.
I loved the "advertisement" for the Goog-411. I'm not sure I would have much cause to use it, but I think the concept is great! I'd be interested in hearing from others if they've used it successfully...I think I just came up with something to Twitter!!!
Sunday, May 24, 2009
Saturday, May 23, 2009
Thing 28 - Customized Home Pages
I ended up working on MyYahoo page that I had created about a year and a half ago. At that time, I was getting into using the Yahoo Calendar to schedule weekends with other friends on Yahoo. It worked pretty well and I did a little customizing of my page then, but I've updated it more now to include one of the RSS feeds I have on my blog and also did some other of the customization options within the tool. I think it's pretty user-friendly and was easy to set up since I already had a Yahoo account established. It does seem to have more pre-programmed tools rather than advertising how to add your own. One of the widgets they offer (and I added) is a Calorie Counter - who couldn't use that?!?
I have looked at Page Flakes in the past as well. One of the graduate classes I took this Spring semester talked about Page Flakes so we saw some examples of that during our Webinar sessions. I decided to stick with the one I'd already created in Yahoo, though, rather than redeveloping another customized home page.
I have looked at Page Flakes in the past as well. One of the graduate classes I took this Spring semester talked about Page Flakes so we saw some examples of that during our Webinar sessions. I decided to stick with the one I'd already created in Yahoo, though, rather than redeveloping another customized home page.
Thing 27 - Twitter
I've been hearing about Twitter more and more, but had never taken the time to go out and look at it. I didn't realize the posts were to be so short!! That is a tough task to keep things that concise.
My Twitter site is: https://twitter.com/psukalski
I'm not sure I'll continue to use this tool. Maybe if I find a handful of cutting edge librarians to follow I will be interested in reading others' tweets. At this time, I'm not seeing how my posting in here will be beneficial. As I watched the YouTube video about it, the emphasis there was on the Social Network side of Twitter and asking questions for people to respond to as they would in a conversation. I have kept up with my Facebook account since starting that in the first round and have found it useful and fun on a personal level; I've kept that more on the personal-only side by connecting with high school and college friends and not looking for professional connections there. Perhaps Twitter can fill the professional side for me and I can connect with more librarians throughout the state and country.
I looked at the Luria Library Twitter site and it is mostly hours and campus updates. I can see this as way for libraries to keep in touch with their patrons who are on Twitter. I suppose the success of the tool would depend on how many relevant posts there are to make and how many in your clientele are on Twitter.
My Twitter site is: https://twitter.com/psukalski
I'm not sure I'll continue to use this tool. Maybe if I find a handful of cutting edge librarians to follow I will be interested in reading others' tweets. At this time, I'm not seeing how my posting in here will be beneficial. As I watched the YouTube video about it, the emphasis there was on the Social Network side of Twitter and asking questions for people to respond to as they would in a conversation. I have kept up with my Facebook account since starting that in the first round and have found it useful and fun on a personal level; I've kept that more on the personal-only side by connecting with high school and college friends and not looking for professional connections there. Perhaps Twitter can fill the professional side for me and I can connect with more librarians throughout the state and country.
I looked at the Luria Library Twitter site and it is mostly hours and campus updates. I can see this as way for libraries to keep in touch with their patrons who are on Twitter. I suppose the success of the tool would depend on how many relevant posts there are to make and how many in your clientele are on Twitter.
Thing 26 - NING
I joined NING in the first round, but haven't been a participant of it. Today I updated my photo, added a photo of my daughters with their new kittens, and added the Badge to my blog. I actually thought I had added the badge during Round 1...
There are so many avenues of communication that at this time I'm not seeing a use for the Ning in my professional life. I do like to see what others are adding, many of which are more on the personal level (such as the kitty picture I added). The group I would be most likely to join would be the MnSCU Librarians group, however I find that for my professional work I am more apt to keep in touch with that group via listserves and Forums available through our library consortium.
There are so many avenues of communication that at this time I'm not seeing a use for the Ning in my professional life. I do like to see what others are adding, many of which are more on the personal level (such as the kitty picture I added). The group I would be most likely to join would be the MnSCU Librarians group, however I find that for my professional work I am more apt to keep in touch with that group via listserves and Forums available through our library consortium.
Thing 25 - Bloggers' Toolkit
I ended up adding SnapShots, a Clock, Recent Comments, and gVisit to my site. I'm not sure I would have added more widgets/gadgets to my blog without the requirement of Thing 25 to add at least four. For the purpose of my blog which I'm using to document professional development activities, etc., I don't feel these tools are adding value to my blog. I'm happy to learn more about them, but probably wouldn't have actually added them to the site.
With the large number of options to look at on this Thing, it took quite a bit of time to explore. I didn't look at all of them, but probably close to half so I spent more time on this than I would have liked.
With the large number of options to look at on this Thing, it took quite a bit of time to explore. I didn't look at all of them, but probably close to half so I spent more time on this than I would have liked.
18th Annual Minitex Interlibrary Loan Conference - May 19, 2009
I enjoyed attending my first ILL conference. Marshall Breedings' morning presentation (Next Generation Library Automation and Its Implications for Resource Sharing) was thought-provoking. As he described it, this is his 'niche.' His Library Technology Guides will be worthwhile to keep tabs on: http://librarytechnology.org/. He is very involved in the OLE project which we also have heard about at previous MnPALS meetings.
During the MINITEX Update, Bill DeJohn mentioned a resource for licensing and e-journals: http://librarycopyright.net/ . I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but this topic is of interest to me so I anticipate I will explore it a bit more in the future.
The afternoon session was more hands-on and was led by Ray Wilson: Seven Quality Improvement Tools for your Workplace. The tools he reviewed were * Agenda * Affinity Diagram * Check Sheet * Operational Definition * Pareto Chart * Cause & Effect (Fishbone) * Cause Analysis * Force Field * Multivoting * Plus/Delta. I had heard of many of these before, but it's always good to have a refresher and to find ways to immediately implement some of them.
During the MINITEX Update, Bill DeJohn mentioned a resource for licensing and e-journals: http://librarycopyright.net/ . I haven't had a chance to look at it yet, but this topic is of interest to me so I anticipate I will explore it a bit more in the future.
The afternoon session was more hands-on and was led by Ray Wilson: Seven Quality Improvement Tools for your Workplace. The tools he reviewed were * Agenda * Affinity Diagram * Check Sheet * Operational Definition * Pareto Chart * Cause & Effect (Fishbone) * Cause Analysis * Force Field * Multivoting * Plus/Delta. I had heard of many of these before, but it's always good to have a refresher and to find ways to immediately implement some of them.
Monday, May 18, 2009
Finally Getting to it...
I registered for More Things on a Stick months ago, but am finally finding some time to get into them. I've updated my Avatar to a great summer scene! It felt like summer today. I am in St. Paul for the Minitex Interlibrary Loan Conference tomorrow. Looking forward to hearing Marshall Breeding speak. I'm also looking forward to learning more "Things!"
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