Thing 9: More Facebook

As my son warned me, Facebook is "sucking me in." I have contacted three good friends and have several more I want to find, if they are on Facebook. The groups I joined are the Texas Library Association, Gardening, and Go Green. I selected groups with a large number of members for legitimacy. I added links to my library and to the Tarrant Area Guild of Storytellers. It was difficult to locate the groups, they are imbedded so far into the Friends section. I have some minor issues with the layout and use of Facebook but I suspect I will become more comfortable with it as I use it. Some of the postings I see on my friends pages are interesting or amusing, some just a waste of everyone's time. Not having time to spend an hour doing social networking every day, I will probably just focus on my friends' postings to me and mine to them. I don't want to forget that I have no control over who may be seeing my comments! I don't know all the friends of my friends. So more mental editing is needed than in an e-mail to my friends. A plus, I can update all friends at once. (Well, I can do that on e-mail too.) I am not sure yet that I need Facebook when I have e-mail. These are just musings. I will probably get sucked in and spend way too much time doing this!



I can see a Library Facebook page as something very useful for special interest groups in the library such as the Teens or a book discussion group.

Thing 18: Wikis

I've used Wikipedia for some subjects, I will admit it. I remain cognizant that some articles may be more authoritative than others. Factual articles are more reliable than subjects open to interpretation. For example, I looked up redbud trees because I wanted to find out more about ours. It turns out that the article is part of an official project to make the botanical entries better. I was very interested to learn that parts of the redbud tree are edible, especially the flowers and young twigs. There was nothing on cultivation, care and maintainging then, however. This was a big omission.

I created my own wiki page on wetpaint and added three subpages. It was easy, and fun.

Thing 16: Library Thing

This is a wonderful place for book lovers! I started a catalog of my home library, entering about five titles. I liked the option to select LC cataloging rather than Amazon for precision, though I didn't take advantage of it yet. I can go back if I decide to use it. I used several tags, including "autographed", as I want to be able to identify which of my books are autographed by the author. The next day there were several suggested books that I had read or want to read, just from that small sampling. I can see that I need to enter more of my library to narrow down the "50 libraries most like mine" list. That will be interesting to peruse--I expect to get lots of titles I will want to read. I have started a list of books I have read from titles that are popping up, and plan to start a list of books I want to read. The groups were interesting, especially Librarians who Library Thing. I spent too much time in there. I was interested in the discussion thread on whether or not to keep Dewey classification, as at least one library in our area is experimenting with browsable collections. I agreed with most of the folks posting -- I think we should keep Dewey (or LC if that is used) and add useful signage, such as "cookbooks" or "history". I also wasted way too much time reading the thread on annoying things that patrons do. LOL. They were all the same things our patrons do or say, and sounded alot like a staff group sitting around the table in our staff lounge.

This site also has real potential for cataloging a small library, and Thingology has useful information for those libraries or anyone serious about cataloging their collection, such as ThingLang, ISBN Check, and MARCThing. Book discussion groups can even be started for their library users. This is a good example of using both traditional cataloging and tagging to catalog and access material. I am looking forward to using Library Thing and participating more actively at some point.

Thing 13: Tagging

I think tagging would be a positive addition to our OPACS. All public service librarians are aware of the big gap between the way the public asks for information on a subject and the way a title is usually cataloged. Allowing them to "tag" an item that they found useful with their own term for it would supplement our added subjects through which we attempt to make titles more findable.

I will make an admission here that will make some catalogers gasp and cause reference librarians to chuckle and nod. Many subject headings are NOT the way most people (including librarians) would think to look for material. As an example, pick any subject within United States history. I am not the only reference librarian on our staff who routinely uses title keyword first to get one or more quick hits, and then hyperlinks to the subjects listed to locate more. Scrolling through a long list of subheadings in a lengthy list to be sure we don't miss anything takes a long time. Most of our public want something in their hands fast, or they will say "that's okay, I'll go to Barnes & Noble", and turn and walk out the door while we are still talking. We know they probably won't find it at the bookstore either without looking through book after book, but they don't want to wait.

I am not advocating the elimination of traditional cataloging. We need a systematic way to organize and look for material. Our cataloging staff here has always been open to suggestions for added subject headings as the need becomes apparent, and this is essential. Tagging would add another, patron led, layer to accessibility.

There would need to be some way to control and edit entries--spelling, inappropriate language, spam, incorrect usage (they have obviously used the wrong word).

Tagging is another way to make our libraries more accessible to our users.

Thing 19: Google Docs

Google Docs is one of the most useful sharing tools I have seen so far, though I really liked Flickr. It's formatting was so similar to Word that using it was a breeze. Yet it is simpler than the Microsoft Office programs, with fewer options, therefor less daunting for inexperienced users. I would probably get frustrated with the lack of some of those options in Word, as I use it a great deal. I never really use Powerpoint, so I was pleased with my success in creating slides, with background and/or color in Google Docs. The program has some formatting choices, such as a choice of backgrounds, or one can insert graphics, pictures, or backgrounds from elsewhere.

I had some tasks that lent themselves well to this assignment, so did actual work. My document was a draft revision of our Proctoring Policy, copied and pasted from Word. I shared it with other staff who need input. Those who are doing 23 Things were really excited by it! While Word does have document sharing and editing at the Advanced level, I only used it one time, because the staff I shared it with could not successfully use it. I like the way Google Docs gives me a list of each update and adds the updates as they occur. I also appreciated the ease of inserting comments and the way they show up in the document, with the person who made the comment noted. I will be able to save the final result in Word and copy it to our shared Office folder for policies.

I was also excited to see that I could save as a pdf file. We are asked by the public from time to time how to save to a pdf file, and because our public computers only have Adobe Reader, had to direct them to free online services such as Cutepdf. Now I will be showing them Google Docs.

I created a brief presentation to explain how to go through the Special Events permission process with the City, since I had just done that and wanted to make it easier for other staff in the future. My spreadsheet was from a template "to do" list, to keep up with the dozen things I need to do during the next 2-3 weeks. Finally, I created a form to update emergency contact information for our regular adult volunteers. I can e-mail the form, they will complete it online and submit it, and the information will automatically show up on a spreadsheet. How simple! Google Docs walks you right through the process of setting up an online form. I can see using this to establish online registration for an event.

Thing 8: Facebook

I will admit I wasn't thrilled at the idea of establishing a presence on Facebook, partially out of a concern for privacy and because I didn't want strangers asking to befriend me. However, I created my Facebook profile and immediately two pictures and names popped up--my best friend from high school and my current next door neighbor. I was excited! I assume they had searched for me by name, because I had not put in much information yet. As I filled in my profile, more pictures popped up as possible friends, largely from my high school and a few from the library world; I had no idea who they were. This encouraged me to put in my work history to hopefully locate people I have worked with over the years. It will be kind of fun to see who pops up, and I am eager to search for a few people by name. I'm still finding the format somewhat confusing. How do I confirm someone as a friend, and how do I know that I have successfully asked to befriend someone? I think I had better look at the tutorial. I am working on the assignments in Thing 9: More Facebook, but this is proving to be time-consuming. More later on that. I am opting to limit what people can see until I accept them as a friend, and will only be selecting actual friends that I want to keep up with or re-establish contact with. I am also uncomfortable with showing my friends, though it might be a way to find mutual friends. It seems to violate their privacy.

Thing 7: RSS Feeds

I added the Unsubscribed website to my Google Reader. Their site had an RSS logo to click on. I've always enjoyed those comic strips about library life, especially the reader's advisory and reference desk topics. If the public could only see themselves from our side of the desk! Adding an RSS feed was really easy, and should make it easier to keep up with favorite websites, news, whatever.

Thing 6: Blog Readers

I really like the Blog Reader, the idea of pulling any blogs I am following together in one place. This should make it much easier for me to keep up with them, though I don't have many yet. I think I will be less hesitant to add other blogs knowing that I can congregate them here. I loved being able to star items that I found interesting, so that I can find them again if needed. I keep thinking that I may need this information in the future and want it at my fingertips. I don't think I'm ready to share yet, unless someone pulls together a group of those of us working through North Texas 23 for mutual comments, tips and advice. We see some of that in the comments on each Thing as it is posted. I have found a few of those posts very helpful myself. If one is going to blog extensively, this is the way to do it!

Sending e-cards

Over the weekend I used Poetry Blender on Image Chef to create and send two birthday e-cards. One was to a library volunteer who is celebrating his birthday, and the other to my husband. I had to tell my husband that the post really was from me and that it was okay to open it. Anything sent by e-mail that has to be opened and run may be viewed with suspicion unless the recipient is expecting it, and rightly so. The major e-card companies tend to be recognized as safe, but my husband had not heard of Image Chef, quite naturally.

Libraries ARE spectacular!

I created the image below on Image Chef using Poetry Blender. I selected one of their backgrounds and there were choices for the text color. However, I felt limited--I wanted the slogan to run across the middle of the picture. I can see using this to promote a teen program or a special performance, if I could find a way to put more text on top of the picture. Maybe I don't understand how to use it to mix and remix yet. I tried to save it but was unable to, only do a direct post. I'm going to try a few more in this section. It seems as if I could experiment forever and still not really be able to use these tools effectively. I wish there could be a hands-on workshop in the future with guided instruction. Most of the sites provide little or no real help themselves--I guess other people have loads of time to just play on the computer. There's unlimited potential here, but very limited time. I think we often use the tools we know because we are working under pressure (e.g., in between customers or in a precious hour or two off the floor), rather then trying new "tricks." Well, this granny still has some tricks to learn!

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender

Mashups

I could spend alot of time in this section just playing! But I can't. I spent some time in Big Huge Labs trying framing and making posters. The picture I downloaded from Google Images through Creative Commons and chose to make an inspirational poster was disappointing. It came out fuzzy with some of the picture not visible. It looks like I left my glasses off. But here it is. Perhaps the fuzziness says something in itself. Some days it is easier if the world looks a bit fuzzy..... Big Huge Labs has a puzzle making section that I want to try with my granddaughters. They love puzzles and would enjoy pictures of themselves, their pets and toys.

Mashups and Flickr

I tried Spelling on Flickr and had fun, but couldn't find a way to save or copy it, other than laboriously one letter (or picture) at a time. The html code would not copy to my blog. A suggestion to save the picture and then download it onto my blog post worked very well. I'm sure I will be able to use that technique in the future. I think that Creative Commons will come in very handy in the graphics work that other staff and I do related to publicity, newsletter, website, etc. I noticed that it applies to Google Images and some other sources of photos in addition to Flickr. Hoorah!

A concern that comes to mind whenever I think about using library photos in a photo stream on Flickr or posted in any other way is that of permissions. Our current City policy requires that anyone identifiable in the picture sign a release form, or their face be blurred out to be unrecognizable. Unless planned for ahead of time and forms distributed at the beginning, this becomes difficult to impossible. I think in the case of children, especially, it is a necessary safety precaution in today's world. There are also women running from abusive mates and other reasons to maintain privacy. Once I tried shooting a storytime from the back while the children were engrossed, and of course more than one little face turned around to see what I was up to. I was able to crop them out in one shot, and blur the faces in another.

I'll find time to try 1-2 mashups but am behind and need to move on to things that I feel will be of wider use in the library setting.

Flickr is amazing!

I've never seen so many impressive photos in the same place. I think it would be a great site to create a photo stream of library activities, and link to it on our webpage. And I am toying with the idea of creating a family photo sharing stream, restricted to family and close friends of course. Here is a favorite picture http://www.flickr.com/photos/paulngan/112434565/in/set-1077818/.

Concerns that came to mind were the amount of time it took to find exactly what I was looking for. Also finding pictures that are available to use. Every picture I looked at had rights reserved. I understand there is a way to search for creative commons but did not find anything about it in my perusal of the site. And I saw many pictures of beautiful women and precious children there for anyone to misuse. At least I did not see personal identifying information that would lead anyone to those children.

It would be easy to spend hours looking at some amazing photography!

Learning about Web 2.0

Technology has been changing libraries, or at least how we interact with information and with people, and, it is becoming apparent, will continue to change us at an ever increasing rate. I watched both videos, read the Blyberg post and tried to read the first half of the lengthier one. I liked Stephen Abram's comment that we are putting people back into information technology. "Shifted librarian" focused on the sharing, trading, and collaborating aspects of the new technology. That reminded me of something I read recently on the Millenial generation and their preference for being part of a group, team or community. Much of Web 2.0 is being driven by the younger generations, so this change is going to be inevitable and librarians need to find the most useful aspects and apply them to our services and communication with our public.

At the same time, I was reading comments about making organizational and budgetary choices and decisions, and that some services or activities might have to give way to the new. I think we should be careful to remember our entire mission here, which is to serve all of our population. We will undoubtedly have to make budgetary decisions, we already are--which databases to retain, which expensive reference print resource to eliminate, which department gets a new staff person, if anyone does, what percentage of our budget is going to which part of the collection (print and nonprint). It is critical that we do not neglect the users who still feel more comfortable with, or indeed only know how to use, the traditional library services. Retirees may have 20-30 years of life and will need and expect library services. They won't all want to learn to use e-mail, blogs, and online databases. The baby-boomer generation (of which I am one of the first wave) is still vital, working (many with computers), and learning new things. Most of us have some level of computer knowledge, and some are really engaged. Do not refer to retirees and baby boomers as if our needs do not matter as much as the younger generations. We vote, and we pay taxes--many baby boomers are at the height of their income producing years.

This is an exciting time to be in our profession. Let's make our choices wisely, and those choices many vary from community to community.

Katie bar the door

Apparently the true origins of this saying are not clear. It is generally used in the South and refers to trouble coming. It may have originated with the story of Catherine Douglas and her attempt to save the Scottish King James I in 1437. The room he was in had a door with a missing locking bar. The story goes that Catherine Douglas tried to save him by barring the door with her arm. Her arm was broken and the mob murdered the King. The 'lass that barred the door' - Catherine Douglas, was henceforth known as Catherine Barlass. The event was commemorated in Dante Gabriel Rossetti's poem The King’s Tragedy (1881).

Me, create a blog?

Well, this is going to be a grand experiment. My grandson could probably do this, he's almost twelve. Here goes!

Like most of you I am a librarian, and today I am on a service desk answering questions about the summer program, which starts June 1. We are expecting record numbers of all ages, so "Katie, bar the door!" Or rather, don't bar the door, hold it open for the floods of children Monday.

Where did that phrase come from, anyway? I'll look it up and report back in a future posting.

Ta for now,
Learning Granny