Thing 9.5: Image Generators

This was a lot of fun. Here is a sign pointing the way to information literacy.

I found this image generator on Imagechef. I would like to spend more time with this. One I would have liked to try is FdFlickrToys but it was blocked at my library. Apparently it is considered to be a gaming site. All of these programs make blogs and websites visually interesting.

Thing 9: Photos and Images Option One

Here is a picture from Colonial Williamsburg.

Wow! It works!

It was interesting to see what images came up when I searched my library. I think if someone else such as a prospective student would do a similar search they would be impressed.

Thing Eight: Screencasting Part One

I have registered for ScreenToaster, but the record feature is currently unavailable. (And I don't want to register for a different program.) Here is an example of a screencast that would be helpful to our students.

Screencasts and videos online

I would like to revisit this. When I worked at the public library having icons on the desktop linked to brief screencasts would have been really helpful for new users. Having a link on the desktop to a screencast describing the print procedure could be helpful too.

Thing 7: Sharing Slide Presentations

Virtual Book Groups

View more presentations from lsopchak.

Tip: To embed the slide show you must be on the "Edit HTML" tab. Which took me a week to figure out and still couldn't have done it without Suzanne's help.

I do think Slide Shows could be helpful for students who want quick, small bits of information on topics that staff repeat over and over--releasing a print job, buying a print card, that sort of thing. That said, sometimes those repetitive questions are a segue to other research type questions.

Thing 6: Chat

I love chat--probably even more than talking on the telephone. I started with AIM to "talk" to my family, used Meebo in my previous work and now take a turn on LRC live now and then. Monitoring LRC live is alternately dull and exciting. When no one is asking a question I feel like the Maytag repairman but as soon as a question is asked, I'm thinking "how will I ever find the answer?" It is quick and informal compared to email, but that can be a drawback too. With LRC you can verify your answer (because the patron must enter an email address) and refer to the transcripts. That was not the case with Meebo. I would like to see a LRC qwidget on the JTCC library site.

Thing 5: Wikis

I really liked the Book Lover wiki. I am always curious to know what other people are reading. I am also curious about what resources students find most helpful. As with the Book Lover wiki students could post where and what resources they were using. Other students could benefit from that and library staff could keep informed on what books, databases, etc were most valued.  The question is whether students would contribute.

Thing 4: Social Networking

When my daughter started college in 2004 she came home for Christmas break and spent hours clicking through something called Facebook. A few years later everybody was clicking through Facebook and there was even a site called My Parents Joined Facebook. While I haven't joined yet I may be the last of the family to do so. I can check my husband's page without putting my own self out there. I do belong to Goodreads because I like to know what my reading friends are reading. It requires less of a committment than Facebook.

John Tyler is also on Facebook. I find institutional Facebook pages repetitive. They never go on vacation or out to eat!

Thing 3: RSS Feeds

This was a little harder than I had anticipated. Not technically, but I had no idea what to subscribe to. I chose to subscribe to the News, Sports and Staff Picks recommended by Google. I can see how this may become addictive--I spent quite a bit of time reviewing Googles recommendations and now there are more recommendations. Seeing News(10) is almost like seeing a to-do list. I know this is supposed to make web browsing easier and more informative, but what a time drain! Now if you will excuse me I'll get back to those feeds.

Thing 2: Getting Started / Web 2.0 Concepts

As I said in my previous post I have been a blog consumer and occasional blog stalker. I have been entertained by CakeWrecks, moved by PostSecret and informed by JTCC's LibrarySpace. Recently in helping my daughter prepare for moving to Kenya as a Peace Corps Volunteer I combed the web for blogs detailing life in Africa. In my previous job I was thrilled to find blogs written by other story time presenters and used every idea posted. I kept tabs on the Library of Virginia Youth Services wiki for story time ideas as well. I continue to be amazed at all the ideas out there. That is the beauty of Web 2.0.