son of a gun, I used it again

I was at a picnic on Sunday with people from my church. Over our delicious picnic food, the conversation turned to computers. I dazzled the crowd with my descriptions of all the wonderful things available over the internet. My listeners, aged 30 to 90 years old, were fascinated. They especially enjoyed my tales of Facebook and my alias of Hepzibah Pontipee. As I was driving home, I was chuckling to myself that I, the least computer-oriented person around, had entertained my companions with the wonders of the computer world. The irony is delicious, I think.

putting this all to work

I just told a customer about podcasts and how to find them on the internet. She was delighted and couldn't wait to go home and try them. Hurrah!

check out the new location!

My reading blog has been launched. Check it out at:

www.carolhashernoseinabook.blogspot.com

The last post (in this format anyway)

Okay, my one sentence description of my 23 things on a stick experience would be: Wow, was there a lot of frustration involved. Not being a techie really put me at a disadvantage. I don't know a lot of the "common" procedures and the language--many of the things we looked at assume more knowledge than I have. Directions were sadly unhelpful for many of the things. I really liked the things that could help me professionally (Library Things; del.ici.ous and the RSS feeds) but the more social things left me cold. I like to be actively involved, not just reading...which I don't enjoy doing from a computer screen. I loved Flickr, could spend hours idly hopping from interest to interest, place to place. This will be useful in the future. I was delighted that I actually knew (and had recommended to customers) about one of the things (the Assignment Calculator), yeah for me! This entire experience has brought me closer to my fellow librarians because they had to answer so many questions and hold my hand through many applications and, bless their lovely little hearts, listen to me whine! It really took a village to get me through this experience!

As I said in my evaluation, please remember the children's librarians next time...or give us our own 23 Things on a Stick! I would have been happier working on this if I could easily picture how to use each thing professionally.

My last words on the subject: bring on the chocolate!!!

Thing 22

How I will keep up with Library 2.0 by Loving Swedish Baritones

Why does this feel like "How I Spent My Summer Vacation" from school days long gone by?

Being human, I know I'll just keep up on the things that really interest me and that I can use to help me do my job better. First, this blog will be undergoing a transformation -- I want to change it to a reading blog because I love to share books, to help my fellow (hmm, we're all women....) librarians with children's reader's advisory questions and to keep my hand in at some of the library things (importing photographs, book lists, etc.) For a non-computer user, I am surprised at how excited I am about this project. I was lying in bed a couple days ago and Eureka!-ed, I need to have a poetry books list on my blog. You should believe in miracles, readers!

I'm trying to figure out a way to keep in close communication with my fellow (okay, one is a guy) children's librarians about programming, things that work, things that don't, etc. so we are not constantly reinventing the wheel --time is short and a good idea should be shared.

I was a little peeved at the learn something every day hint here--computers are not the only way to learn something, you know. Broadening my mind and my experience is very important to me (a history of Alzheimer's in my family has me doing everything I can to keep my brain active and functioning) and now using the computer is another way to do it beyond the wonder of books, the joy of good conversation, my magazine-aholism and every other way information comes at me in the day.

This has been an interesting experience and I am so grateful for the help and support of Librarian D.O.A., the Floating Lush, Libba Bray Cormier and Me and The Gilded Giraffe. Thank you very much.

Thing 21

All of this online socializing...how do people find the time? I'm always busy doing weeding, planning programs, womanning the reference desk, trying to catch up on all that needs to be done...I just don't have time to be a social being during my work week. Some of this is too cute for me but I did get some good stuff off of Web Junction, things I can really use as a children's librarian. Ning is not my thing...too much like Facebook which admits to being just for fun (and actually seems to be fun, so far though my adorable nephew still hasn't accepted me as a friend...boo hoo) and it was very difficult to sign up: I tried to join at the 23 Things on a Stick page and the sign-up block came up, I filled it out (3 different times) but it was not accepted. I was finally able to sign up by starting at the Ning welcome page. Why did this happen? It was very frustrating. Being a shy person, I don't understand why people put their entire lives, complete with photographs, out on the web for strangers to paw through. This is so invasive to me. I want to choose who and how I share my life. I really don't like social networking. I can see some uses for it in a professional capacity but personally, no way.

Thing 20

After much coaxing and encouragement from Librarian DOA, I reluctantly started a Facebook page. I really don't like having my name out there, I don't like strangers thinking they know me so I am Hepzibah Pontipee (one of the alternative names for the baby born at the end of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers). I filled out my profile, joined 2 groups (I yell at inanimate objects and Chocolate = Love) and asked a coworker and my adorable nephew (brother to my gorgeous niece) to be friends. Libba Bray Cormier and Me accepted immediately, nephew is pending. LBCM is going to give me a Facebook lesson later so I can try all the little nuances (ever seen the movie Diner where Paul Reiser's character is discussing words he doesn't like/can't trust--nuance is one of them!). As long as I can do this anonymously, I think it could be fun.

I looked at the linked library sites on MySpace as well as the one for the teen area at Minneapolis Public Library. The music is annoying (thank goodness for the mute button), but, yowza, there is a lot of information on those pages. Our library webpage is strictly supervised by the county which doesn't understand the need for color, action and general attractiveness of a webpage so a MySpace page could be a very fun way to get information out to the public, without the rules interfering....

I must admit I don't understand this need to put all of oneself out where everybody can see it. I don't own a cell phone (can't imagine who I'd need to be talking to all of the time...sometimes I don't want anybody to be able to find me) or a computer (yes, I function quite well without one) so I've never been particularly interested in "social networking" and, as a shy person, I am quite selective on who I let into my private life. That said, I think this could be a merry adventure for me, er, Hepzibah Pontipee.

Thing 19 (the end is in sight!)

Podcasts rather remind me of radio, which I enjoy immensely. I have listened to MPR podcasts before so this wasn't completely new to me. As far as indexes, I liked Yahoo's best--maybe I just chose good subjects on their index but I got results that didn't required a subscription to listen to. I listened to one of St. Cloud State's podcasts to warm up then ventured on with a movie trivia podcast about Batman Begins (it was The Trivia War) and subscribed to one about cooking (Food for Thought) on my Google Reader account. The screen graphics on some of the podcasts are too frenetic (a headache waiting to happen) but they can be minimized so problem solved. I like that I could listen to the podcast and do other things (I'm tidying my desk today).
I was going to try GCast but the user's agreement was too overwhelming so I guess you are not going to hear my dulcet tones reading a fingerplay. C'est dommage. (That was for you, Floating Lush)
I have been trying to think how podcasts could be used to maintain contact/spread the word with schools, home school families, etc. They could be fun things like a poetry break linked to the library's web page or book talks...there are lots of possibilities. Definitely worth looking into.

Oh, no, not Thing 17 again

NetLibrary, a very popular feature at my library--I show several people each week how to open an account. I liked the easy searching, the pages are easy to read, the previews of cover, pages, etc. are wonderful. But, I really love the feel of a book in my hands.... This is great for the nonfiction lover, the researcher but the lover of children's literature/cookbooks/craft books isn't well-served by NetLibrary. Again, I'm glad to know this is here and I do share it with library customers a lot but it is not for me.
I have watched webinars at my desk and they are a great (convenient, simple, accessible) way to learn, especially nice since I can decide the time and the place to watch. Webinars would be great for homeschoolers since they offer access to resources that are normally not available to them. Libraries could do some great promotional and educational things with webinars for use in schools and the sky is the limit on where else.

Thing 17 (yet again)

I tried the Proquest search and nothing in the instructions said search under "topics" rather than do a basic search. The "suggested topics" button is found under a topics search. Thank you to my lovely Libba Bray Cormier and Me cohort for helping me find the correct way to search. (I must say I am doing a lot of social networking by asking my coworkers for help...was that an intended result?). The search steps went smoothly, I emailed the results to myself and to LBCM but downloading the webpage proved to be too much. I selected the download option, got a lovely screen with all of the information but there was not a way to select where to save or even to save at all. Hmmmm.
I think this could be very useful for customers who would like to see the steps of the search and could be easily emailed. As a student, I would have liked this...a lot. I'm glad to know this exists but I'm not sure if I'll ever use it. But then again....

Thing 17

At long last, ELM loaded and I was able to take a look at it and its services. I suffered through making a search alert (chocolate desserts, chosen after the book "Skulduggery Pleasant" and the author "Tamora Pierce" didn't seem to work). Once again, my literal mind was looking for the prompts describe on 23 Things on a Stick and once again, those prompts were not on the screen. Once I found the proper link, the process went quickly and smoothly. My GoogleReader account grew by a huge number. Come on people at 23 Things, provide better directions. I fussed and fumed over this step and proper descriptions of what I was looking for would have eliminated more gray hair!
Next came the EBSCO page composer. I did everything in the instructions but when I saved the web page, a message came up saying it might not save properly. And it did not. The title is saved in my folder but clicking on the file opens only the blank EBSCO page--none of my information was there. Weeping and gnashing of teeth. Good idea, simple process but no results. Sigh.

Thing 18 (in my own words)

This was fun! And once Librarian D.O.A. showed me the embed function (it is not under a heading that says "About this video" as the direction says (as you can tell, I am very literal about things)), inserting it in my blog was a snap. I loved the videos from the links, especially the IT support for opening the book (in Swedish, no less)...just about laughed myself silly over that one. This would be a great way to promote the library to the younger generation--I'd love to do a comic video about the coolness of libraries, librarians and reading. Maybe I could my Ethel Merman imitation....
Anyway, thumbs up on this thing. It is tons of fun.

Thing 18 (I hope)

Thing 17

Endless frustration. I've been trying to open the ELM portal for 2 days now and it will not open. I've tried the link in 23 Things on a Stick, I've typed in the web address, I've done a google search of ELM. All I get is the "Internet Explorer cannot display the page" message over and over again. ARGH. I want to move forward and a giant ELM is in my way. I guess I'll work on thing 18 and check back on ELM in a day or two.

Thing 16

I feel smug about this one. I've already recommended the U of M Assignment Calculator to library kids I knew were doing research projects. I think it's a great tool because it puts down every aspect (including some I may not think of immediately) of a project in an organized way. The kids I've shared it with liked it too, mainly as an organizational tool which would help then do their work in a straightforward way. I think the timeline aspect of this is especially appealing and useful, even in a library setting. Do this now, do this now, do this now....

Thing 15 revisited

I went back for another try at Puzzle Pirate and, guess what? I still don't like it. I hadn't saved (I thought) my pirate so I tried to recreate her but the computer kept freezing and I couldn't do anything and I was getting peeved so I stopped. Later, I tried again and managed to revive little Quilty but we are not natural pirates or gamers. I tried to "converse" with my fellow pirate but my responses were always a couple beats behind their side of the conversation. I felt like you do when you think of the perfect response to someone's comments in the car on the drive home. ARGH. My coworkers (the Floating Lush and Librarian D.O.A.) were insulting me in cyberspeak and laughing at me. Boo hoo, just another confirmation of my feeling about computers being necessary evils. I'm sorry I don't think that typing remarks to unseen others is socializing. The game gets an even lower thumbs down than yesterday.

Thing 15

Well, this thing got me right in the I don't care reaction. I tried Pirate Puzzle and it assumes that you know how to play computer games and navigate your character around. Guess what, I don't know how to play computer games and I didn't know how to navigate my character around. The help options was no help. My character (a curly haired lass in a pink striped t-shirt, answering to the name of Quilty) was adorable but computer games (other than Spider Solitaire, an addiction) just aren't for me. Give me a hotly contested game of Trivial Pursuit with my friend Jane (who is just as competitive as I am) any day of the week. Thumbs down on this thing.

Thing 14

This one I really liked! I made a list of books I am waiting for (with baited breath) that are not actually published yet. Professionally, this could be a great tool for booktalking. Make your list of books, write a short booktalk or the notes you need to spur your memory and save it. Instant preparation for your next booktalking opportunity.
I am really tired of signing up for all of the accounts...I assume there are more to come. ARGH. Will these accounts die from lack of use or will I need to go in and delete the ones I don't think I'll be actively using?
You should include some sort of warning about this at the start of the 23 things program--participants could then be ready with a list of names and passwords (instead of being like me and frustratedly pounding in anything they can think of (and hoping to remember it later!)).
That said, I really like LibraryThing and think this is an account I will keep!

Thing 13 (in no particular order)

I chose to customize IGoogle because I didn't want to open another account. As it was, I had to to do the HELP! I can't remember my account name/password and get email with the information. I really am keeping a list of all the names and passwords but this one slipped by me. Anyway, I like the IGoogle page because of the simple layout and the selections to make it me. Remembering to log into my Google account is a bit of a hindrance but I like the what's important to me aspect of having a customized account. A thumbs up for this one.

thing 13 again

Calendars are definitely not my thing. I have enough trouble managing my email calendar so trying to control another one is just not going to happen. I did look at the Yahoo calendar (I was just not going to open another account anywhere) and it looked okay. I am hopelessly paperbound -- I like to look at my calendar without having to log in, do a back flip, remember another password. I do not own a computer in my real life so I just don't think online is the answer.
I made a tada list (you'll have to trust me on this one) but it is all of my account names and passwords so I am not going to put it in my blog. This one could be convenient for my work-related to-do list since it would be accessible from any computer. Definitely something to keep in mind.

feeling bad because I was avatarless

I felt so bad that I hadn't made an avatar and now I feel even worse because I have. Yahoo's avatar-maker had a very limited amount of choices--obviously they are not catering to the "mature woman" since there was no curly graying hair and tastefully stylish bifocals in the options. Get with it, Yahoo--we old ladies are working the computer game, too! Anyway, here is my avatar and some things about it are correct--you get to guess which ones!

thing 13 (bad luck), part 1

Okay, the counter looked great but was full of zeros. Harumph. No matter what I did, it would not activate. My lovely coworker (and she knows who she is!) suggested trying ticker factory instead. While the counter doesn't show every second of the day (at my age, I shouldn't be that excited about counting down to my birthday!), it will be a daily reminder that I am getting older (and, even if I have to say it myself, better!). So much for that activity....

counting down!

Thing 12

I am a bit of a news junkie, viewing MSNBC several times a day to see what is going on in the world, so this thing really interested me. Well, not what I expected at all. My reactions:
**Digg: not exactly hard news; not every article opened when I clicked on it; rather irreverent and definitely on the liberal side. My favorite article was :The 10 Manliest Superheroes.)
**Reddit: more news but in a home-made, low budget way. My favorite article was: "Bra codes hacked."
**Newsvine: my favorite of the lot; looks more professional had more real news in an interesting mix with news oddities. My favorite article was: :Toddler who dislike spicy food 'racist'" which included a lot of thoughtful, provoking and funny comments from readers.
*Mixx: leads off with popular news; the tour froze my computer so completely I had to reboot. My favorite article was "Muttrimony: Getting married doggy style."

Other than Newsvine, which I would go back to look at again, these three sites were the equivalent of supermarket rags that you look at while you're in the check-out line but cram quickly and embarrassedly back in the rack if anyone catches you reading them.

I did post an article the New York Times on Mixx, the procedure was very simple and the article was about the Anglican Church ordaining women (and other problems they are having). http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/world/europe/08anglican.html?ex=1373256000&en=281d8b3408cedc78&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

This is something that interests me personally (see first sentence above) but I don't see a professional use for it.

thing 11

Social bookmarking...hmm, the things they don't come up with. Del.ici.ous (do people stay up at night to think of these weird names?) is an interesting idea and will be convenient when I am out at the reference desk, straining my brain trying to remember that perfect web page to answer the question that has been placed before me. Signing up was a challenge. Our IT guys have placed so many restrictions on what can/cannot be done on our computers that the installation of the buttons had to be done manually (a big thanks to Librarian DOA for her able and oh-so-patient assistance) but the little buttons are now on my tool bar. Major accomplishment. I think this could be a great way to share information with my fellow children's librarians, who are much more aware of great resources on the internet -- this would be mostly to my benefit since I am a budding explorer of electronic resources. I like the idea of snooping, er, checking on other people's lists--it could be like getting that unexpected great book recommendation from a customer! Hopefully, those little buttons on my toolbar will remind me to use Del.ici.ous and reap the benefits from my efforts.

Thing 9

The long awaited invitations to Googledocs and Zoho writer finally came and I logged in to the Declaration of Independence to put in my opinions. It was hard to deface Thomas Jefferson's poetic words but what a neat way to work with a group. I preferred Googledocs simply because it was easier to log in (I already have an account with them). Zoho writer lets you log in through Googledocs but it required a few more hoops. This could be the up-t0-date way to write an epistolary novel (a la Caroline Stevermer and Patricia C. Wrede with their Sorcery and Cecilia novels). The hodgepodge of changes made it a little difficult to read--it would be nice to have the original copy to refer back to as well as the edited copy. This is definitely knowledge to hold on and to and to use again (and again and again...).

Thing 10

Since I am waiting for an invitation to edit the Declaration of Independence, I am forging ahead to thing 10. I thought I made a new page in the 23 things on a stick wiki but it has disappeared into the ether (not entirely inappropriate since I'm feeling a little airheaded today!). So I added a comment to the list, with the able assistance of my dear young adult librarian cohort in crime. I think a wiki could be a fun way to share library experiences, ideas, a getting to know you sort of thing. I am so fundamentally a paper and pencil/pick up the phone kind of person that I just don't think of the computer as the first way of communicating. It could be a fun to share programming ideas, successes/failures, etc. so we aren't always reinventing the wheel with programs. I get very frustrated because I'm never sure if I'm doing things right, catching on to what I'm supposed to be learning, etc...and it takes me so long to do everything.

Thing 8

Yowza, this is fun! Bright colors, lots of choices for frames and graphics...wish the pictures were bigger so you could see how cute Kayla is! (She is my great niece, 21 this week and studying in Heidelberg for a semester). This could be fun for book talking or bragging about the wonderful things going on at your library.

Thing 7

E-mail is a mixed blessing. Sometimes I'll get a quick response when I need it, sometimes my e-mail gets lost in the shuffle and I have to send and re-send my questions, comments, concerns. Sometimes, it is just easier (and faster) to pick up the phone.
I've done some answering of questions on our "Ask A Librarian" service and have really mixed reactions to that, too. For a straightforward question, it is great. When a customer is frustrated or angry or simply unable to clearly describe what is wanted, it is really difficult. It is hard to soothe someone without your voice, body language, etc.
IM is so foreign to me. I do not understand the language. I do not understand the need for immediacy.
I watched part of the Library 2.0 webinar on MINITEX. It is hard to listen to a disembodied voice and see only the powerpoint presentation. I found my attention wandering and my body resenting sitting in an uncomfortable desk chair. I do like that the webinars are available, some of them looked quite interesting.

back to the trading card idea

LaVonne, one of my coworkers who is in charge of an adult reading program, and I were kicking around ideas on Saturday for how to use some of the things we're learning here. I suggested making recommended reading trading cards for her adult program. I made up a sample with the book cover as the picture, the text was a one sentence tease about the story and a one sentence review/reaction from the reader. It looked really nice (sorry I didn't save it because the quality of the photo wasn't good) and would be a nice add-in to the sign-up packet adult readers get when they join the club. Reader's advisory is a favorite part of my job and I like the idea of using technology to spread the word. LaVonne suggested I use my blog to recommend books, make book lists, etc. and I will definitely look into that possibility when I've done all 23 things on a stick.

Thing 5

Wow! The perfect Christmas present: personalized jigsaw puzzles of favorite photographs. I stand in awe at what can be done with a computer if you have the inclination. Thank you to all of the talented people who share their efforts and talents and great ideas. It is fun...but so is fabric, pencils and paper, the creative mediums I like to use. I can't wait to show some of these things to some of the kids who come in my library...they could be actively involved in creating something--a nice break from playing computer games!

Whining again

I really don't like having to sign up for all of these accounts. I don't like having information out there--required fields are a nasty thing. If I don't want to put in the information, I shouldn't have to do it. Don't tell me about secure sites and all that, I am a private person and I don't like sharing my information.
I do like playing with Flickr and making the trading cards, etc.

More about Thing 4

This gorgeous carousel photo is by Dan Bears. The link is:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/7355435@N04/525309090

The playing card is fun to make up and there are endless possibilities of subjects. This is the first in my Place I Love series. Try it, you'll like it.

Another thing about Thing 4

Oops! I forgot the link. Let's hope this works!

http://www.flickr.com/photos/1430380046_561d142fd1_o.jpg

Thing 4

I feel like Dr. Seuss whenever I post because of all of these "things" I'm adding.
This was the most fun of all, so far. I had a fabulous time in Flickr looking up other people's views of the places I love the most in this world. The Five Sisters window in York Minster, or "the girls" as I call them, is my favorite spot in all of the world. To be exact, my favorite spot is the black floor tile under the arch of the bell tower, facing the window. I can (and have) stood for an hour at a time staring at the windows. But back to the business at hand, the directions were clear and I managed to get the picture into my blog on the first try. I am frantically patting myself on the back for this one. I loved looking at the pictures, enjoying the creativity of the photographers--great uses of time exposures, light, color, etc. This is definitely a web site I'll be looking in at on a regular basis. Plus I get a happy thrill sharing something I love so much with all of you who are checking in on my blog. Go to York--it is a delightful city!

Thing 3

With help from Donell, my cohort in children's services, I managed to sign up for Google Reader and some blogs. It's nice to know I'll be notified when the blogs are updated, but now I have to remember to check on my Google Reader account!!!! I had hoped that notifications would be sent to my email account, which I check regularly during the day, but no such luck.
I taught my second computer class today...and if you've ready my other postings, you know what an accomplishment that is! It was a computer basics class, attended my mainly seniors. I am surprised by now exhilirating it is, even fun. My skills are so basic but it is fun to show someone else the wonders (and there are many of them--I love the word processing programs) of a computer with others. I never thought working with adults could be so much fun but the people attending the classes are so interesting and so vibrant...hope I'm like that in my senior years!

thing 2

I just read about Web 2.0 and every fiber of my luddite soul is screaming yet I want to put a more positive spin on my response. I am a children's librarian and using technology just doesn't fit my perception of how I need (and want) to interact with my clientele. With my older readers, I think using technology would be fabulous but I work so much with little ones and person-to-person contact is more effective with them. I am the face of the library for so many kids and they are connected to the library and its services through me. An image of me on a computer just doesn't fill the bill. So I, officially, am going to wait and see. (And those of you who are avid advocates of Web 2.0, please be patient with the rest of us.)

the first thing

Some people (i.e., me) are being dragged kicking and screaming into new technology. Why can't the new technology have decent directions to make the process easier?