# 23 - Summary (and # 2 - Life-long learninng)

Well, this is the end (until I start #24). I believe that I have gained (and benefited from) what I hoped to accomplish from this project. I definitely have the understanding of what RSS feeds, blogs, podcasts, YouTube and wikis are. Some, I already understood a little about them. Others, I had never heard of. I rushed through most of them and, at least for some of them, would very much like to go back and delve into them more deeply. Others did not generate the much of an interest. However, I could see that many of these technologies could be applied to library service.

At the beginning of the journey, I listened to the podcast on life-long learning but neglected to make a blog entry about them. Doing so now, after going through the previous 22 steps and encountering the challenges and rewards, makes it easier. Perhaps the easiest habit was to have an end in mind -- simply having a goal of completing the 23 steps. The hardest was seeing the problems as challenges. I prefer to have all of my instructions in front of me in writing. With computers and the internet, things often aren't very clear and you often must experiment with what is presented on the screen and learn for yourself. (Shouldn't "Anger" and "Denial" be included in the seven and a half items???)

This project certainly presented many challenges but offered many more rewards.

# 22 - NetLibrary

I am somewhat familiar with e-books. When we first began to purchase them from OverDrive, I downloaded a title, so I was sure to understand the process. I understand the appeal that people have for audio books but I have yet to try them. One of these days, I want to try the Harry Potter books. I am told that the narrator is fabulous.

Well, I created an account at the NetLibrary site. I search for titles on "technology" and the first title in the list was "A brief history of the internet: the bright side, the dark side". I read the first part of the introduction that showed a humorous and interesting perspective on the internet. I must read more.

However, I have about reached the end of my journey...

# 21 - Podcasts

I looked at all three podcast directories and found Podcast Alley to be the easiest to use. I conducted a search for podcasts on book reviews and was presented with a list of 200. I checked out the Booklog Book Review Podcast and the New York Times Book Review podcast. However, my favorite was Technology and Beer, a series of podcasts that review technology topics and brands of beer in the same broadcast. I really wanted to create an RSS feed to this site but was unsuccessful. Instead, I created a feed to This Week in Tech or TWIT.

# 20 - YouTube

I went to YouTube and conducted a few searches. I was amazed at the variety of videos on this site. I searched on the term, "library", and found interest items, like "Japanese Silent Library" and "Betty Glover Library Workout Tape Ad" -- neither being exactly educational but interesting, none-the-less.

However, I can see definite applications for the library. For instance, there were several videos on how to use a self-check terminal. I can think of any number of topics for which a video would be beneficial to patrons or staff. In fact, the vendor of the book cover machine that we are using in Technical Services uses videos on their web site to help to train their customers how to use their equipment (http://www.colibriusa.com/documentation_colibri_videos_video.php?vid=3.wmv&section=Covering%20a%20Soft%20Cover%20Book).

Of the many videos that I looked at on YouTube, it was difficult to pick only one to put on my blog. However, after much thought and careful consideration of the potential educational value of my select, I eventually chose "Achmed, the dead terrorist".

#18 and #19 - Web-based apps

Well, I am creating my first document using Zoho Writer.  Generally, it has a look and feel similar to Microsoft Word.  However, some features don't work quite the same way and it takes some getting used to.

However, I can easily see the advantage of web-based applications and, more important, document storage.  I certainly would be much easier to share documents this way. 

I have inserted a picture from Flickr and saved the document as an HTML.  But I found it really easy to "publish" it to my blog from Zoho Writer.

# 16 and #17 - Wikis

Explored the subject of wiki's on the PLCMC site. An interesting concept. I liked their use of a wiki for the Core Competancies Project. I can see how a similar application could help us here, especially on topics like Millennium Circulation and Outlook. I can also envision a wiki of our SIB's.

I went to the Library 2.0 Sandbox, added my favorite vacation locations and inserted my blog in the list.

# 14 & #15 - Technorati and Library 2.0

I explored the Technorati site and found it fascinating. It's a wonderful tool for finding blogs in a topic. Searched for Library 2.0 in the tags, blogs and entire posts. Thought that the list of blogs was interesting but found the search of tags the most helpful. The results of my search of the entire posts was somewhat overwhelming.

I read some of the perspectives on Library 2.0 and find that my viewpoint keeps swaying back and forth as I read others' thoughts and discover new technologies during my odyssey through our Library 2.o project. Some claim that it is where libraries must go as a solution to declining library usage. A study reported in the OCLC newsletter just today stated that use of library web sites has declined by 33 percent in the past two years. Others are concerned that the hype of Library 2.0 may cause us to lose our focus on basic library service. Perhaps the truth is somewhere in between. Even the non-technophobe is being drawn into the "technological world" with everyday devices like digital cameras, MP3 players, online banking, selfcheck in libraries and stores, etc. Libraries must keep up with the times. Library 2.0 can help us to enhance our service and meet our user's changing needs. However, we must not forget that we also provide good service to that library user who simply want a good book to read or even a movie to watch on a Saturday night.

In summary, Library 2.0 is a wonderful tool but not the "solution" to library service.

# 13 - Del.icio.us

I went to the Del.icio.us web site, created an account and entered two web sites with tags. This has some great potential. I can see how librarians could create one for use as a mutual reference source.

http://del.icio.us/weekendduffer

# 12 - Rollyo

Well, I played around some on the Rollyo website and created a few search rolls. I also inserted a search box on my blog.

# 11 - LibraryThing

Well, I created a LibraryThing account and added some books to it. I only wish I could be this organized.

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/duffer

# 10 - Image Generator

I looked at several of the image generator sites and found most rather confusing. I found the Dummies Generator site and created this book cover "for my book".

# 8 & 9 - Bloglines Account

Well, I created a Bloglines account and numerous feeds. I also went to Podcast Alley and subscribed to two podcasts on technology. Pretty cool!! I even added a link to my blog -- Amazing!!

New Technology

Although this may be a little out of the scope of our project, I encountered this article about a new device, called a "coffee table computer". It is complete interactive and looks simply amazing. Check it out.

Microsoft Surface Video - Touchscreen, Multi Touch Coffee Table - Behind the Scenes - Popular Mechanics

Well, I've spent some time at the Flickr web site and am amazed at the content, both pictures and tools, available there. As a new owner of a digital camera, I found several that will be useful, if I ever find time to learn how to use it.

Since all of my pictures are in the form of slides, I found this picture of my favorite national park, the Grand Teton National Park, as I experiment with designing my blog.

Maybe I can just duct-tape some slides to the computer monitor...

The beginning

Well, here I am.

It feels just like my first golf outing. You stride onto the course with great expectations and dribble the first shot into the woods. Oh, well.