BCL 23 Things I learned in 2010 and 2011

I enjoyed doing most of the 23 Things.  Some I was already using, some I am still using, and some I don't think I'll ever use....

Facebook is my favorite application for the computer because I personally use it every day to keep in touch with friends and family near and far.  I communicate with some relatives I haven't seen in over 30 years and actually got together for lunch with one a few months ago.

I have enjoyed using Google Reader to keep up with some blogs and read articles in Booklist and American Libraries magazines.  Regretsy is my "guilty pleasure".  I had not used this sort of application before and found it to be helpful.

I gave up on Twitter after  a month or so and cancelled my account.  It was just too trivial, and I don't have a smartphone.

I can't imagine wasting time with virtual worlds such as "Second Life", and am a bit wary of cloud computing after Amazon's big meltdown last month.

I'll keep using Florida Electronic Library, but hope that the BCL webpage for data bases is updated to me more usable by patrons and staff.

The major problem I had with 23 Things is that it took at least an hour per thing.  With the time constraints at work - there are just not enough people to do everything that needs to be done in a regular day - I could not find time to work on it on the job and did all my work on 23 Things at home.  This was possible because I only work 20 hours a week at the library.

23 Things was a useful exercise and wil help many of us dinosaur librarians come up to speed in the 21st Century.  Unfortunately, many of the most computer phobic would not even attempt it.  I recommend that a similar long-term training be offered online every year or so.  It is so difficult to schedule training away from the library.

Thing #23 Florida Electornic Library

Finally the twenty-third thing. 

I enjoy using the Florida Electronic Library resources, and only hope that the Brevard County Website will get updated on its data bases page and have the inactive ones removed, and the active, Florida Electronic Library one highlighted.

I first used the Florida Electronic Library sites when acting as the Ask A Librarian on duty.  I find the websites easy to use and full of lots of good information.  I especially like the magazine databases, though at times, it is hard to convince the patrons that these are the actual magazine articles and not just Internet information.  I did take two webinars on using these resources, the Business one, and the Books and Authors one.  The Business one was especially helpful as I am not very good with this sort of information.  I found out that Demographics Now has all sorts of Florida demographic information and you can compare different locations in Florida.  The Small Business database is also helpful for peoople want ing to start a business as it has business plans, and other information. 

The Books and Authors site is useful and somewhat like Library Thing in #22.  It has lots of features you can use to customize it to your library.

For this exercise, I perused the Florida Photographic collection on the Florida Electronic Library.  It was interesting to see historical photos of my town from the olden days - back before paved roads!  I could also see photos from the heydays of the Space Program when everything in Cocoa Beach was go, go, go! I remember lots of the motels, and when Ron Jon Surf Shop was little (but still the world's largest!)

Ron Jon before it really grew...

This was the twon hardware store.  I think the building is still there.

A1A in the '60s - motel after motel.  The Ko Ko motel had a dragon with fire in it's nose.



Thing # 22 Library Extras

For my next-to-last of the 23 Things, I created an account on Library Thing. 

I found this enjoyable, since I read a lot and will find this helpful in new book recommendations.  I had already used the book website, Visual Bookshelf, which is linked to my Facebook account.  This site is very similar to Library Thing.

I see that you could spend a lot of time on Library Thing, if you wanted to rate or review every book you read.  Since I read a lot, this could be pretty time-consuming. 

I have found it useul to use the Discovery Catalog on the BCL website to add tags and reviews after I read a book I especially enjoy.  I know that this will enhance our local catalog, and make it more helpful for our library patrons.

One more "Thing to go!"

BCL 23 Things Thing #21 Virtual Worlds

Okay, I'll admit I hate games and think online games are a huge waste of time.  I've read about people, even librarians, who get all caught up in their virtual lives, to which I say, "Get a real life!"  Did you notice that all the girls on the online Second Life tutorials were buxom Barbie dolls in one form or another?  There's a reason my keyboard keeps typing "Second Lie" for "Second Life".  I have way too much stuf to do in real life, to get caught up with virtual people and projects on the internet.

It was kinda' fun to create avatars, though:

Here's one I made using DoppelMe:

She looks a bit demented...

Here's a nicer looking one I made in FaceYour Manga...

I'd use her on websites and Facebook as an avatar.  You'll notice that I avoided the glasses on both!

It was kind of fun making Avatars, similar to paper dolls.

Marilyn Johnson writes about modern librarianship in the book, This Book is Overdue, and spends several chapters on her work with Second Life.

Thing #20 Security and Technology Threats Online

Okay This topic always makes me a bit paranoid.... Are my passwords strong enough? Are there viruses on my computer? Should I answer this e-mail? 

I try to be security-conscious and have virus protection software on my computer.  I try to be vigilant about downloading suspicious things and am annoyed when people send me thing with viruses in them.

I found the information on password protection sites such as Roboform or Keepass very interesting and would consider using them.  This would also be useful in the case of your demise, if your loved ones had your password to this sort of system, they could get into all your accounts.  I recently read an article about this problem, now that many people are paying bills online and have many other online accounts. After Death - Protecting your Digital Afterlife - a book by Evan Carroll and John Romano  addresses this topic. http://www.npr.org/2011/01/10/132617124/after-death-protecting-your-digital-afterlife.

In the future I'll try to be safe, but not paranoid....

Thing #19 Search Engines

As most people do, during my daily searches for esoteric information on the web, I just go to that little Google box in the upper right of my Internet Explorer screen.  It's easy to type in just about anything and get way more results than anyone needs.

For this my 23 Things ecercise, I was to use 2 search engines and one Meta Search engine to look up a topic on the internet. 

Because I am thinking about opening an ETSY shop for my collection of vintage aprons that have been languishing in a trunk since I moved to Florida three years ago, I searched for Vintage Apron images on Google, Yahoo and Metacrawler.  I wanted to look at ways people displayed their aprons in order to present them at their best.

I found that Google had 1,390,000 results - not all were really aprons.  Yahoo had 33,000 images, but when I used Metacrawler I found that all the images they gave said "Exclusively at Yahoo". 

Here are some of the aprons:

So many options!  I guess I'll wait until my daughter visits and helps me in setting up "Nancy's Aprons" as a shop on ETSY.  Meanwhile, if you need aprons, I've got 'em.

As far as the search engines go, The Meta engine would be good if you had a very esoteric or hard-to-find topic.  Using the Metacrawler did lead me to searching my name and wonder just what someone would get if they did the $49.95 background check on me.

Thing # 17 SlideShare/ Information and Document Sharing

Just a bit of catching up as we discuss Slideshare.

I don't really like Power Point presentations.  Many times they are so badly done, with too much information on each page, and deadly dull.  Sllideshare presents Power Point from  all over the world, and most that I vewed were in the dull and badly done categories.  I think the Death by Powerpoint one was amusing and very apt.

I can see some possibilites for this application: If you're a teacher or instructor, you can load your class presentations on the site for your students to use at home.  Most Colleges and Universities have a similar program in Blackboard.

I'm wondering if this would work in libraries for an easy tutorial in using the Library's databases.  Usually they have so many steps that users need instructions.