I am soooo pathetic. Over two months and not a single post.
Sigh.
Well, now that my work-life has slowed down a bit (book clubs are over, massive MELSA programs are finished) I may actually have two seconds to sit down and work on the 23 Things project.
My techno news of the day is that I got a nano (IPod) today! Am currently rockin' out to Tito Puente and his excellent orchestra. I adore Cuban music. Makes me happy. I think I've mastered the "wheel" but still have a bit to learn about creating playlists and manipulating images on the 'pod. Thanks to Tami Lee for the excellent resource : IPod - the missing manual a no bones, basic book (owned by my lovely library) which is essentially the missing manual. The IPod comes with a teensy-weensy little booklet ... and that's it. Nada. So, for dumbells like myself, a big thick manual eases my mind.
OK, back to the toonz ...

We won a prize!


Our lovely library, the Maplewood branch of Ramsey County, has won an ALA award (yay!). So excited, so proud, love my new digs (opened in 2007).



Funny thing is ... on the facing page of the Maplewood branch photo in the architecture issue of American Libraries is my hometown and childhood library, the Evanston Public Library, which also won an award (renovation of the children's area).


Doubly-proud!!

Thing 10 - Wikis

Not difficult at all, pretty much easy as pie. I've used three separate Wikis in the past, and in fact this "thing" prompted me to look at my library system's reference wiki, and lo and behold! Found some stuff there that I didn't know existed. When my library opened (new building) last year, it was nice having the building wiki to track deliveries coming to the library (furniture, etc.) A nice place to go and check on what was coming when without massive emails being flung back and forth. Don't know that I'd ever create one to use on my own, but I see how it works, at least. I messed around a bit with the 23 Things wiki, but something must have been wrong with the server because, gosh darn it, my posting wouldn't save! (not that I had anything important to say ... just that they've opened up Round Two of 23 Things for us losers that didn't finish in time the first time around. Now I'll shoot for fall so I can win fabulous prizes!).

Thing 9 - Online Communicatin'

I tried both Zoho and Google Docs and actually liked the look and feel of Zoho better (although I am so wedded to the MS products, I kept looking for things that must have been there, but I couldn't find). However, nothing beats not having to log into another site! Loved that I could login ONE TIME to Google and see my blog plus fiddle around with the Google Docs site.

Now. Onto evaluation and usability. I guess I can see where this would be useful, but in my current job, we all have access to the same word processing software. When we want to share and edit things, we simply send an attachment and voila, we can change wording or whatever else we need or want to change.

However, there have been times in the past that I've wanted to flip from working on a document at home and at work. Currently, I have the dreaded Microsoft Office 2007 (yes, it really takes some getting used to ) so to switch back and forth I have to remember to use the "save as" option. Additionally, we've had patrons come in needing certain editions of word processing software and (for obvious reasons) we can't accomodate everyone. Using one of these online software products (especially if you can upload or download your stuff) to create a personal document would negate that necessity and you'd be able to access your work from anywhere. That's where I see the usefulness of this product. But for me personally? No. Probably not.

Thing 8 (nomer dva)

Well, I think I'm just going to skip Thing 8. I see all the cool and neato things one can do with photos and, again, I can even sorta kinda see how this might be relevant to a library (presenting an end-of-SRP party scrapbook for kids to view online, promote some special event or "Month Of" event at the library), but I just don't have the patience to do this with the limited time and tools at my disposal. I think I will just move on ... this one ain't gonna happen.

The Deadline is Here

Well, it's April 16th and, uh, I didn't exactly finish in time (shocker, I know). I will continue to plug away at this, however, and if nothing else, I know that I'll keep a blog of some sort going. It's just been too much fun (and slightly addictive) to completely give it up. In the meantime, Thing Eight is on its way ... sometime.

Thing 8 (nomer adin)

Can't do this thing yet because I don't have any photos at work! I'm getting increasingly annoyed with this project that requires us to manipulate all sorts of stuff that we have to already have on hand : "Create a slideshow", "Share your photos", "Organize your photos", "Create motivational posters with your photos", &etc. This thing will have to wait until I remember to a) bring my flash drive home and b) remember to put photos onto said flash drive and bring to work.

Oy vey. I think I'm just annoyed because Michael Johns went home on Idol last night. Grrrr....