Beyond Method #12: Favorites

I have a box of tools that I have accumulated over the years.  I use the tools to fix things around the house.  Some of the tools are specialized for specific tasks.  I have bought them when a particular project requires a special tool to complete.  There are other tools that might be nice to have in case I need them, but I won't buy them until I need them.  Just knowing that they exist is good enough for me.

That's how I think of the Web services and applications surveyed in this course.  Some of the Web tools I can use right now.  Others seem less useful, but it is nice to know they exist.

Here are the tools I can find a use for right now ...

1) LibraryThing ... we use it in our small academic library as an OPAC substitute.  We also look at the comments on books we are considering for purchase.  It supplements the recommendations from more traditional sources

2) Screencasts ... I make a number of presentations to students to acquaint them with library resources that can help them complete their course work and improve their chances of academic success.  Screencasts can be used both during the actual presentations, and as useful items to post to the student portal

3) YouTube ... an instructor from AIU Online created a very good YouTube on how to format a document in APA format (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rV3fD9QkyiA&feature=player_detailpage).  Many students find APA rules to be a major hurdle.  The AIU YouTube helps to reduce the fear factor surrounding APA.  This, combined with my experience in completing Beyond Two-Steppin', has inspired me to explore other possible uses for this tool

These are my top three.  The others I will use as the need arises ... now that I know they exist.

Beyond Method #11: Surveys

Embedded below (I hope!) is a survey I created on PollDaddy.
In answer to the questions posed in Method #11 ...

If you’ve never used any before, do you see that changing in light of this method?
Yes

How does your library typically survey its patrons?
The AIU-American International University organization conducts a student survey once a year which includes a selection of questions on library services.  The survery is delivered online via the student portal

Do you see that changing in light of anything covered here?
Probably not. 
Why or why not?
The library has no input into the survey process.

Regarding live audience survey tools such as PollEverywhere, do you see a use for such tools in your library?
Once each quarter the library presents a brief orientation to the students as a part of a general course called University 103.  I can see myself polling the students after the presentation to see how I am coming across.

Beyond Method #10

My Thoughts

 

"Skype at Maine State Library" provides the clearest, step-by-step instructions I have seen on this technology.  So simple even I could follow it.

The Halifax handout is equally helpful.  I especially like the table showing what's free and what's not.

"So maybe this is why no one uses our Skype Reference Service" articulates something that has been tickling my brain for some time ... my own resistance to using video with my telephonic communications.  Interesting to see how it played out in the experience of the author.  I like Chad's concluding remarks on whether or not to consider the Skype experiment a failure.

Watching Tine's Webinar on Prezi I realized that no matter how good the Webinar is, there is no substitute for face time with a presenter.  And yet I do understand that the economics of getting a bunch of people together in the same room makes face time a luxury that must be reserved for special occasions.

So, in a nutshell, here's what I take away from Beyond Method #10 ...

• Skype has its place, but don't use it for reference
• Try out a technology in real world settings ... hope for success, be prepared for less than stellar results
• Handouts are handy ... put your best effort into making them useful
• Web conferencing is here to stay ... get used to it

Beyond Method 9

At the core of the modern art of digital storytelling is the ancient art of storytelling.

That's why I found the TechSoup presentation by Margolis so compelling.

My story explains how I came to be in Texas ... it was the result of a serendipitous event in a library in Boston.  And I present the story in my library orientation to new students as an example of how the library can change your life.

The YouTube I made of this part of my library orientation is crude, but I think it captures the gist.

Beyond Method #8 update: My screencast - Embedded

I finally figured out how to embed the screencast in a post.  Here it is.



Note to myself (for future reference): Log in to YouTube, click Share, then click Embed.  Copy link, then paste into Blogger post.

Beyond Method 8 - My Screencast

Here is my screencast, using Screencast-o-matic.  I do not have a microphone, so I created the screencast sans mike.

I uploaded the screencast-o-matic file to YouTube, but haven't been able to figure out how to embed the video in this Blogger post.  So if you want to view it, please visit the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rmHCFfIEoGI

Beyond Method 8

I have discovered something about myself.  I am not interested in learning how to do every bit of tech whiz bang stuff myself.  This surprised me,  because in some tech areas I am proficient.

I AM interested in knowing what is possible, so that I can encourage people who ARE interested in doing it themselves to do so.

And, I enjoyed watching some of the screencasts highlighted in Method 8.

Beyond Method 7

I viewed many of the examples listed in Method 7 and found many of them to be extremely interesting ... but I chose to stick with Google Docs.  Time is precious to me.  I already know how to produce a presentation in PowerPoint. 

I find it far more efficient to use PowerPoint to create the presentation, then upload it to Google Docs to make it accessible in the Cloud, than it is to create the presentation directly in Google.

Here is the URL for the presentation I sent to the Cloud:

https://docs.google.com/file/d/0BxysjlXeifLvZkN0WHFyUkxWYVE/edit

Beyond Method 6

I searched for R. Caldecott's First Collection of Pictures and Songs by Randolph Caldecott

http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/20777

Question 6. Click on the title of the work to open up the book record.  Looking at the downloads, would you know which file to select if you had a Kindle?

Answer: Yes, it is clear which is the Kindle file.

Question 7. Open up the basic HTML version of the text.  Do you find this easy to read?

Answer: It would not be my favorite way to read a long novel, but it would be far better than not having access to it at all.

Question 8. On your blog, add a link to the book record that you viewed and post to your blog about this exercise. (Please include “Beyond Method #6″ in the title of your blog post.)

Was Project Gutenberg easy to use?

Answer: Yes. very

Do your think your patrons would be interested in a public domain service like Project Gutenberg? If a patron wanted help putting a title from Project Gutenberg on an eReader, do you think you would be able to help them?

Answer: Not sure about this.  I have yet to use an eReader myself.  I'm sure I could figure it out, but would hate to put the user through my learning how to do it.

Beyond Method 5

The library I work at (AIU-Houston) uses LibraryThing for its "OPAC" so I am familiar with the service.  I had not considered using it to organize my own collection ... just too lazy to do so.  But with a prod from Method 5, I have begun to do so.

Here is my LibraryThing link ...

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

Beyond Method 4

When I was laid off three years ago the company provided us with a month's worth of classes with an outplacement firm.  To my surprise, I found the classes to be worthwhile.

That's where I learned about the job board aggregators like Indeed.com.  Thanks to them, I also learned about and joined LinkedIn.

It is thanks to these two free services that I am now employed full time once again.

I personally don't find much value in the other resources mentioned in Beyond Method 4, but I know that others will have a positive experience.  So I will be recommending all of them to the students at our for-profit university.

Beyond Method 3

Creating a Google Map is so easy, thanks to the instructions in Method 3.

Here is the link to the map I created:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=201576693472686683397.0004bfa4c573b58e99185&msa=0&ll=29.727415,-95.548096&spn=0.107777,0.153637

Beyond Method 2

#2 Customize Your Window to the Internet
Lots of work and not much time to spend on the Beyond Two-Steppin' project, but I promised myself to take a break ... So I re-read Creating a Librarian’s Info-Portal with Netvibes and RSS, and revisited the NetVibe pages produced by Cranbury and Dublin public libraries for inspiration.  Then I went to my NetVibe account and went to town.

I am a little frustrated by the number of widgets that don't seem to work, but you can't beat the price.

And the ease with which you can create interesting Web pages has made me want to explore the possibilities for staff participation.

NetVibes User Manual

After reviewing the resources mentioned in Step #2, I viewed a Tutorial on the NetVibes site.  I then downloaded their User Manual and am beginning to read it.  This dashboard business is still new to me, even though I created and iGoogle page some time ago.  I am really intrigued.

A gleam in DARPA'a eye: Beyond Method #1

#1 Dust off that blog
When I first entered the library field the Internet was just a gleam in DARPA's eye.  Today, I don't know how we ever got along without it.

My problem is keeping up with all the new tools being created.  Even more difficult is comprehending how to organize them in such a way that they all work together toward a common goal.

I have high expectations for this Texas Two-Stepping sequel.  The first one was great ... I sense this one will be greater.