Thing 29 - Google Tools

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!!!

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.