#23 YouTube

I am familiar with YouTube from my many friends who send me crazy videos (such as the famous Diet Coke and Mentos act and Mary Poppins recut as a horror film) and I agree that it can be addictive. I posted an old anti-drug PSA that I used to see on TV from YouTube's site (though you have to sign up to do this).

Here I'll embed my very favorite YouTube video of all time, one of fainting goats. These are goats who are genetically predisposed to "faint" (all their muscles freeze up and they fall over) when startled.



As for how libraries can get in on YouTube, they already are. There are plenty of library-themed YouTube videos, including this one that was made by a library in St. Joseph County IN for their staff day and parodies a Madonna video. I am not sure if anyone that wasn't a member of a library staff somewhere watched this, but it definitely made the rounds. Could this make libraries cooler in the eyes of YouTube audiences?

It would be a great place to post video of library programs (not sure if there would be a liability issue here, would we need permission to record and post the authors, etc. who do our programs?). Storytimes could work, though some creative videography would need to take place so that someone could actually see the book on the small YouTube screen.

"You alright? I learned it by watching you!"

My husband and I quote this ancient anti-drug PSA.

#22 2.0 Awards

I chose to look at the Web 2.0 Awards and chose the category Mapping and explored a site called Wayfaring.com. What a neat resource! Partly practical, partly social network, all fun. I looked at a cool dog walking map in Phoenix, but when I tried to go back to it, I couldn't find it. Then I tried the search feature, but the site was really slow to respond and seemed to be having some issues. Too bad, because it seems really cool. People had maps of their favorite places to shop for specialty foods, places to go when visiting NY, and Indian restaurants in San Francisco, among others.

Since this wasn't quite working the way it should I, also looked at Etsy.com which I have looked at before, but I was impressed that it won an award, so I peeked again. I mostly would use it to get craft ideas for jewelry and card making (my hobbies).

#21 Google Labs

I actually am familiar with the idea of the Google Labs. When I attended the ALA conference in New Orleans in June of 2006, I went to a Google presentation. The speaker mentioned things galled "Googlets" (not sure how to spell) which were basically the brain-children of Google employees.

When you work at Google, you are designated a certain amount of time per week to work on your own ideas. I thought this was an amazing concept, to allow an employee to spend work time being creative and free to work on anything they like. Google applications such as Google News and Google Book Search started out as "Googlets" (or so the speaker said).

So, the first thing I tried was the very first on the Google Labs page, the Google Voice Local Search (Dial 1-800-GOOG-411). How cool! And free! I called and said my city and state, then said "Mario's Pizza" (which I wasn't sure even existed) and got 2 "hits." Then I chose the one I wanted and it started to connect me (I hung up quickly because I didn't want to actually call Mario's and feel like a dork for bothering them). I didn't wait long enough to see if they actually read you the number, too, but I am guessing they do. Really cool.

Next I tried the Transit Trip Planner. OMG, again, so cool! I put in the library's address and my home address, since I have searched the Trip Planner on the metrokc.gov site for this trip before and it gave me ridiculous results (take, like, three different buses and 2 hours to get here, plus routes that only run until 8am and stop at 8pm). Guess what??? There is a bus that picks up at the door of the library and stops within 3 blocks of my house! This will be fantastic for helping patrons find bus routes. I actually emailed the Metro Trip Planner site to let them know that it is unacceptable on their part to have such a poor tool.

Lastly, I looked at Google Trends, since it was suggested. I wasn't really into it, but can see why it could be interesting depending on the search terms you choose.

#20 Online Software

First I played with Google Documents. I created a document with the poem "Jabberwocky" and then posted the document to my blog (see previous entry). It was all very simple.

I did the same thing in Zoho, and it was just as easy. However, the Zoho word processor had more features and was a bit easier to use.

This does seem like a good way to create content. I would be a bit hesitant with sensitive items, since it seems fairly easy to give others access to these documents. I know it's old fashioned to think that documents created on my own PC are "safe" from others' eyes, but it does feel that way!

Test Doc

This is test document number 2.  Another random poem:

 

Edgar Allan Poe

Evening Star

 'Twas noontide of summer,     And mid-time of night;   And stars, in their orbits,     Shone pale, thro' the light   Of the brighter, cold moon,     'Mid planets her slaves,   Herself in the Heavens,     Her beam on the waves.       I gazed awhile       On her cold smile;   Too cold- too cold for me-     There pass'd, as a shroud,     A fleecy cloud,   And I turned away to thee,     Proud Evening Star,     In thy glory afar,   And dearer thy beam shall be;     For joy to my heart     Is the proud part   Thou bearest in Heaven at night,     And more I admire     Thy distant fire,   Than that colder, lowly light.  

This is a test document. I will include a poem I like:

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe:
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe.

"Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
The jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
Beware the Jubjub bird, and shun
The frumious Bandersnatch!"

He took his vorpal sword in hand:
Long time the manxome foe he sought --
So rested he by the Tumtum tree,
And stood awhile in thought.

And, as in uffish thought he stood,
The Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
Came whiffling through the tulgey wood,
And burbled as it came!

One, two! One, two! And through and through
The vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
He left it dead, and with its head
He went galumphing back.

"And, has thou slain the Jabberwock?
Come to my arms, my beamish boy!
O frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
He chortled in his joy.

`Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
Did gyre and gimble in the wabe;
All mimsy were the borogoves,
And the mome raths outgrabe

#19 2.0

Library 2.0 feels like a teeny tiny step in the right direction for libraries. It can be very scary to re-imagine something that has been around in its present form for so long, but it is essential for libraries to move ahead with its patrons and provide what they want where and when they want it. The OCLC articles brought up several points I would agree with, including the need for a choice of searching experiences for the patron. Not everyone searches the same way, and traditional library systems don't give a lot of wiggle room to individuals who want choices.

I really gravitated toward the idea that cross-searching could streamline the discovery process by allowing a patron (or librarian!) to search across many resources at once. A reliable and relevant search like this could save so much time, and help find information that would have been lost to the user with the current methods.

#18 Wookin' Pa Nub...

I was really excited by Rollyo, because I feel that there are definitely times when I wish I could skip all the garbage that's out there and just search "good" sites. And I like the idea of being able to decide what a "good site" is.

First I tried the suggested search roll called Public Domain eBooks. I found out that Bartleby has full text eBooks and even include biographies of the author, like this one for Crime and Punishment. What a great resource for students who need a book that's checked out! At least, a classic, public domain book...

I searched Rollyo for bookclub rolls, and I found one that was okay, but I got tired of all the interspersed "sponsored links."

Next I went over to Google Custom Search. I couldn't figure out how to search for other people's search engines, so that kind of sucked. Then I found this blog post from on "unofficial news and tips about Google", which gave two work-arounds for that. I searched the KCLS & Neighbors custom engine for bookclub, and got three hits...not great stuff, but at least no annoying interspersed ads.

I created a roll with Rollyo, since then people could search and find my roll if they wanted to, without having to know weird work-arounds. Here's the Find A Book Search Roll that I did.

#17 Total Silliness!

I had to include the tiara on my South Park character, so people would recognize me!

#16 Wikification

Okay, I did my little exercise, but it would have been easier if I didn't have to wait for some slow person to edit the page, then not save it porperly, so I couldn't get in and do my activity.

It's okay, I did get in and all is well. Whew.

#15 Wiki-tiki-tembo

I am, of course, familiar with the wiki, Wikipedia. In the past, I have not found more specific wikis very useful, but I thought I would give these a try before giving my final word on them.

Now, something like the SJCPL Subject Guides wiki is something I can definitely see as useful for a library setting. There are many times when I access the KCLS Weblinks to find that the links are outdated, or there are some good links that aren't part of the list. It would be great for staff to be able to add information to these pages as they come upon it. I also love the idea of the pathfinder-esque setup.