I added a Simon and Schuster podcast to my Bloglines account so I'll be updated on the latest books out by this publisher. I also added NPR's All Songs Considered to my RSS reader because I often find new, unique musical acts I like through this program. This way, I won't have to worry about missing the broadcast on air, and can listen at my convenience. Literally, music to my ears!
Since I am interested in podcasting and learning how simple it appears to be, I plan to try Odeo but the page wouldn't load here at the reference desk. Perhaps it will work better on my laptop at home.
I've enjoyed learning about podcasting and hope to pursue it more!
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Week 11- Podcasts Post 1
Podcasts....fun and free!
I have a bit of familiarity with podcasts through a project one of my library science professors invited me to be a part of. The library school @ USC in Columbia wanted to start a storytelling portal to put stories on the web for anyone to
enjoy. The purpose was to add exposure to the "art of storytelling", promote literacy and imagination, and promote USC School of Library and Information Science. Being a musician and a student in the storytelling class, I was glad to be a part of this project.
If you're interested in seeing one way to use podcasting in a library setting view the storytelling portal here: http://www.libsci.sc.edu/storytelling/stories.htm
Friday, September 14, 2007
Week 10-Extra Tools
Here's my 2 cents:
Pandora is awesome. Free music tailor fit to your taste AND you are in control of what music you like to hear or don't like. Plus, you can have different channels for when you want to hear a a specific type of music. For instance, I like Edwin McCain, Shawn Colvin, the Gabe Dixon Band, and acoustic guitar....but not at the same time. So I have seperate channels. When I feel like listsening to a bit of acoustic guitar, I chose that channel. Simple as that! GET AN ACCOUNT...TRY IT! IT's FREE!!!!!!
Digg is okay...not my favorite site, but it's neat!
I didn't like my Moo cards, but I think I'll revisit later when I can give more time to it.
Firefox Addons are plentiful...I recommend Cool Iris and Answers. Cool Iris lets you preview a webpage without even clicking to "go" to the site. In essence you can do a google search, then move your mouse of the link while a pop up of that webpage appears. But, it's not just an image---it's the webpage, so you can navigate the page without ever leaving your google results. For a reference librarian like me, this is GREAT!
Answers isn't as time saving as that, but it is just as neat. After you download the addon into your Firefox browser, just hold the ALT key and click on ANY WORD on ANY WEBPAGE and a pop up box will provide spelling, audio sample of the word, definition of the word, plus related links associated with that word. For example, I held ALT and clicked on the word "audiobooks" on our the library's home page. The pop up 'answer" box gave me a definition of audiobooks and some neat information related to audiobooks. It's cool!!
Alright....it's your turn!!!
Pandora is awesome. Free music tailor fit to your taste AND you are in control of what music you like to hear or don't like. Plus, you can have different channels for when you want to hear a a specific type of music. For instance, I like Edwin McCain, Shawn Colvin, the Gabe Dixon Band, and acoustic guitar....but not at the same time. So I have seperate channels. When I feel like listsening to a bit of acoustic guitar, I chose that channel. Simple as that! GET AN ACCOUNT...TRY IT! IT's FREE!!!!!!
Digg is okay...not my favorite site, but it's neat!
I didn't like my Moo cards, but I think I'll revisit later when I can give more time to it.
Firefox Addons are plentiful...I recommend Cool Iris and Answers. Cool Iris lets you preview a webpage without even clicking to "go" to the site. In essence you can do a google search, then move your mouse of the link while a pop up of that webpage appears. But, it's not just an image---it's the webpage, so you can navigate the page without ever leaving your google results. For a reference librarian like me, this is GREAT!
Answers isn't as time saving as that, but it is just as neat. After you download the addon into your Firefox browser, just hold the ALT key and click on ANY WORD on ANY WEBPAGE and a pop up box will provide spelling, audio sample of the word, definition of the word, plus related links associated with that word. For example, I held ALT and clicked on the word "audiobooks" on our the library's home page. The pop up 'answer" box gave me a definition of audiobooks and some neat information related to audiobooks. It's cool!!
Alright....it's your turn!!!
Week 10- Making a Widget
Don't you think "widget" is a funny word!?!? Web 2.0 (and thus, Library 2.0) is full of cute, fun words. Think about it: wiki, widget, flickr, blog....I love it!
You can see the widget I created through widgetbox on the left hand column of this page...see!
Creating the widget was EASY! Try it!
You can see the widget I created through widgetbox on the left hand column of this page...see!
Creating the widget was EASY! Try it!
Monday, September 10, 2007
Week 9- Online Tools
My experience with Google Docs and Zoho Writer is limited due to the fact that I've only recently started using them. I recommend Zoho products, and in fact, chose Zoho Wiki as the platform for the Local Author wiki I made a few weeks ago.
I was introduced to Google Docs a couple of months ago when I went to Sirsi training @ Bluffton. If I remember correctly, Pete uses Google Docs to keep track of students in the computer classes he offers @ Bluffton. Since I saw the feature, I began using it @ Beaufort to keep track of the various "lists" associated with my job. For example, I have the following:
I was introduced to Google Docs a couple of months ago when I went to Sirsi training @ Bluffton. If I remember correctly, Pete uses Google Docs to keep track of students in the computer classes he offers @ Bluffton. Since I saw the feature, I began using it @ Beaufort to keep track of the various "lists" associated with my job. For example, I have the following:
- "Display Case 2007-2008"- Click HERE to view
- "Program Ideas 2007"- Click here to view
- "Program Ideas 2008"- Click here to view
- "DVD order suggestions" - Click here to view
These are just a few of the ways I've used Google Docs. It provides the ability to work on projects wherever I am, as long as I'm connected to the Internet!
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Social Networking- Week 8
Let me preface my blog entry today to explain that I am an avid MySpace and other social networking site user. (I even tried relationship sites like eHarmony.com and Yahoo!Personals but found NO matches...what a bummer!! Ah, well!)
Add me to your MySpace friends if you want: www.myspace.com/amandabrewer
Questions to consider this week:
1. Which of the social networking sites appealed to you most? Why?
MySpace appeals to me most because I've been using it for a while now. I also like it because most of my friends have their own "spaces" and we connect through the site through messages, comments, and picture sharing.
I like our BCL MySpace page and would think a staff photos album, pictures from programs(with permission to use) album, plus a video or two describing how to use the library or something similar could be cool, too. Can our Instant Message widgets be placed on the site too?? That would be great!
2. Can you see yourself using these sites? Which one?
I'm not a personal fan of Facebook but that could be only because I know it started out as a high school age site. For me and my circle of influence, MySpace trumps them. It would be great to have a social networking managing site like Meebo is for IM. That way I could manage pages in all of these sites and not have to give up any extra time.
Ning was okay, but I didn't find it too helpful in any of the group searches I was looking for. I doubt I will use it again...neat concept, though.
I like Bebo simply because it places a prominent place for authors!
3. Can you see a use for these in libraries?
I definitely think libraries should utilize these sites. I'm sure there is much argument as to which site would be best. For libraries in the U.S., I would think
MySpace and Facebook would be the top choices.
4. Why do you think these sites are so popular, particularly among teens?
By nature teens are social people. A sociology professor once told my class, "teenagers can be classified as social beings--everything they do, enjoy, and crave is social!" These websites are social--they allow users to talk, share, comment on their friends pages, keep track of their favorite celebrities (and even be added to their friends list)....It feeds their very nature! (and if we admit it, ours too!)
Add me to your MySpace friends if you want: www.myspace.com/amandabrewer
Questions to consider this week:
1. Which of the social networking sites appealed to you most? Why?
MySpace appeals to me most because I've been using it for a while now. I also like it because most of my friends have their own "spaces" and we connect through the site through messages, comments, and picture sharing.
I like our BCL MySpace page and would think a staff photos album, pictures from programs(with permission to use) album, plus a video or two describing how to use the library or something similar could be cool, too. Can our Instant Message widgets be placed on the site too?? That would be great!
2. Can you see yourself using these sites? Which one?
I'm not a personal fan of Facebook but that could be only because I know it started out as a high school age site. For me and my circle of influence, MySpace trumps them. It would be great to have a social networking managing site like Meebo is for IM. That way I could manage pages in all of these sites and not have to give up any extra time.
Ning was okay, but I didn't find it too helpful in any of the group searches I was looking for. I doubt I will use it again...neat concept, though.
I like Bebo simply because it places a prominent place for authors!
3. Can you see a use for these in libraries?
I definitely think libraries should utilize these sites. I'm sure there is much argument as to which site would be best. For libraries in the U.S., I would think
MySpace and Facebook would be the top choices.
4. Why do you think these sites are so popular, particularly among teens?
By nature teens are social people. A sociology professor once told my class, "teenagers can be classified as social beings--everything they do, enjoy, and crave is social!" These websites are social--they allow users to talk, share, comment on their friends pages, keep track of their favorite celebrities (and even be added to their friends list)....It feeds their very nature! (and if we admit it, ours too!)
Flickr Mashup Toys-Week 7
I explored a few of the applications users have added to Flickr. I recommend trying all three of these I've listed below:
a) Retrievr With this tool you use your mouse to sketch a basic image and the tool retrieves Flickr photos that are supposedly related the sketch you drew. In my brief experience, the sketch doesn't match the photos retrieved. Nonetheless, it's a neat thing to try! Give it a whirl!
b)FD Flickr Toys SO MUCH TO DISCOVER....GO THERE RIGHT NOW! HAVE FUN! Make a mosaic, a Andy Warhol styled picture, trading card, magazine cover, CD cover, calendar, and so much more!
c) My Spell with Flickr Name:
d) FlickrSlidr This free tool allows you to create a slide show and post in a blog entry, blog layout, MySpace page, or ANY other editable webpage (wiki, too?)
Here's a random slide show I created from my public Flickr Photos:
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
a) Retrievr With this tool you use your mouse to sketch a basic image and the tool retrieves Flickr photos that are supposedly related the sketch you drew. In my brief experience, the sketch doesn't match the photos retrieved. Nonetheless, it's a neat thing to try! Give it a whirl!
b)FD Flickr Toys SO MUCH TO DISCOVER....GO THERE RIGHT NOW! HAVE FUN! Make a mosaic, a Andy Warhol styled picture, trading card, magazine cover, CD cover, calendar, and so much more!
c) My Spell with Flickr Name:
d) FlickrSlidr This free tool allows you to create a slide show and post in a blog entry, blog layout, MySpace page, or ANY other editable webpage (wiki, too?)
Here's a random slide show I created from my public Flickr Photos:
Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.
Flickr Post #3-- Week 7
Here's a beautiful night picture of the Beaufort Branch one of Brenda Beasley's friends took. It is a truly beautiful photo!
Uploading photos to Flickr is really user-friendly and, (dare I say), EASY! Placing photos from Flickr to my blog is even easier. Since Flickr allows you to post to Blogger through their Flickr page, I don't have to toggle back and forth between my blogger page and my Flickr account. Wonderful!
To view any other photos I have set to public on my flickr account, go to http://flickr.com/photos/amandabrewer/
Flickr Post- Week 7
Place I'd like to visit #2-
The Museum of American History
Imagine all of the cool stuff they have! Especially, the Muppet exhibit. Check out Dr. Teeth, Jim, Kermit, and Rolf in this display case photo!
Flickr Post- Week 7
Place I would like to visit #1:
Perfect combination of rock music and art! I love this picture of the Rock'n'Roll Hall of Fame (Cleveland, Ohio) with the massive guitar exhibit outside. These guitars are huge and each is painted according to their own theme. I want to explore each one like our locals explore the Mermaids around town.
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