I have some friends who love love love podcasts, and I have to admit, I am a skeptic. Partially this is because I am a very visual person, and while I can enjoy radio and audio things...for me there are best utilized when driving, when I have a limited number of things I can be doing at one time. And that time is usually filled up with audiobooks already!
Podcasts to me are one more layer of information, and personally I'm a bit overwhelmed already.
But on the plus side, it is a very personal direct way to share information and connect with others, which is very cool.
How could KCLS use this? I think the best use would be to have a series of interviews with various staff members about their jobs, what they do, or upcoming projects they are excited about. Stuff the public might find interesting, and would make us seem more transparent, and worthy of continuing support.
Video podcasts could be great for booktalks, storytimes, fingerplays, and special events, too!
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
Fly on the Wall - Booktalk
Here is an good example of how a booktalk could be shared online. Makes me think...I could do that!
Exploring YouTube
I've been a long time fan of YouTube, and am very excited by all the posibilities it has to offer. As someone who doesn't watch very much TV, but likes to stay in pop culture loops, it has proven invaluable for me to keep up with must-see events...such as Stephen Colbert's speech at the White House Correspondent's dinner, which I otherwise never would have seen.
My favorite thing to look up is music videos, such as the treadmill dance of OkOk and Christopher Walken dancing in Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice. Classic!
The one that has infected my brain the most, for the least reason is a pet store commercial for a place called Wet Pets. I love it!
How could YouTube be used at KCLS? The most obvious use to me, as a Teen Librarian, is for booktalking. Or special projects with teens. When I was a teen active in a library group, we made a short video of theatrical booktalks called 16 Minutes. To do this we had to enlist the help of a crew from the local PBS affilate. The only people who say these were kids in schools, and who knows where it is now. But today, it would be so easy to do that sort of project, with just a little equiptment and a few teens. So cool!
My favorite thing to look up is music videos, such as the treadmill dance of OkOk and Christopher Walken dancing in Fatboy Slim's Weapon of Choice. Classic!
The one that has infected my brain the most, for the least reason is a pet store commercial for a place called Wet Pets. I love it!
How could YouTube be used at KCLS? The most obvious use to me, as a Teen Librarian, is for booktalking. Or special projects with teens. When I was a teen active in a library group, we made a short video of theatrical booktalks called 16 Minutes. To do this we had to enlist the help of a crew from the local PBS affilate. The only people who say these were kids in schools, and who knows where it is now. But today, it would be so easy to do that sort of project, with just a little equiptment and a few teens. So cool!
Thursday, June 7, 2007
MTV discovers Wizard Rock!
Harry Potter Fandom Reaches Magical New Level Thanks To Wizard-Rock Bands
We had Harry and the Potters at Crossroads, and though I was skeptical going into it, they really won my over by the end of the show.
I love how this article talks about what good things can grow out of the books, ever after the series is over, and how these crazy little rock bands can help mobilize for positive change in the world, inspired by Harry Potter.
Don't forget...Harry and the Potters are at the Kirkland Performing Arts Center on July 8th!
We had Harry and the Potters at Crossroads, and though I was skeptical going into it, they really won my over by the end of the show.
I love how this article talks about what good things can grow out of the books, ever after the series is over, and how these crazy little rock bands can help mobilize for positive change in the world, inspired by Harry Potter.
Don't forget...Harry and the Potters are at the Kirkland Performing Arts Center on July 8th!
Thursday, May 31, 2007
Exploring brand new Web 2.0 sites
I really liked looking at Webware. Not only does it explore the concepts around developing 2.0 sites, and put them in a context, but it has a wide range of sites featured, from super techie - to silly, fun and useful.
I specifically explored the networking area, thinking it would give me good ideas for connecting with teens. But the one I found was kinda silly, but something I would totally use all the time if my telephone had the web technology needed for it.
MizPee is a site where people can list and rate public bathrooms. So if you are out and about and suddenly find yourself desperate to go, you can just log on and not only see the closest ones, but know which one is least likely to be disgusting our out of paper. Simple and a bit goofy...but some of the most basic essential problem solving I've seen one of these sites address.
And, why not put all your public library's bathrooms on it? We always talk about finding new ways to get patrons in...why not promote this service, in which we rarely brag, but almost always excel. Library loos are some of the best around! And people might come in for a quick visit, and discover just how much more we have to offer :)
I specifically explored the networking area, thinking it would give me good ideas for connecting with teens. But the one I found was kinda silly, but something I would totally use all the time if my telephone had the web technology needed for it.
MizPee is a site where people can list and rate public bathrooms. So if you are out and about and suddenly find yourself desperate to go, you can just log on and not only see the closest ones, but know which one is least likely to be disgusting our out of paper. Simple and a bit goofy...but some of the most basic essential problem solving I've seen one of these sites address.
And, why not put all your public library's bathrooms on it? We always talk about finding new ways to get patrons in...why not promote this service, in which we rarely brag, but almost always excel. Library loos are some of the best around! And people might come in for a quick visit, and discover just how much more we have to offer :)
Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Exploring Google Labs
I had not heard of this before, and had no idea that Google had so many irons in the fire! Very interesting stuff they are experiementing with. Here is what I explored:
Ride FinderFind taxis based on real life locations. Now, I don't use taxis very often, so perhaps I'm really not the target for this one. But I am curious what this could mean for the future of how we move about. Right now it is showing a Yellow Cab within a mile of my library. Are these all available cabs? Otherwise, who cares where they are. If it showed competing companies, and you lived in a more isolated area...it would be very good to know who had a cab closest. One time this would have really come in handy for me, was last summer in New Orleans. A friend and I took a cab out of the city to go see a movie. Getting back took hours, because we had no way of knowing which company had a cab near by. This tool on a portable device would have been a godsend.
Google SuggestI think this has been in place in the Google toolbar for some time. I really like it, and think it could be a handy feature for library catalogs, too. Even an expert searcher like me gets good ideas for keywords to use, and it doesn't get in the way of the search at all. I like it.
Google Music Trends: Could be a good way of keeping up with what teens and other patrons are listening to. I'm terrible about keeping up with pop music, so this could be handy.
Google Trends: Again, a good way to keep up with pop culture news, and see what is buzzing out there. The search function I didn't find so interesting, but the hot trends of the day are facinating.
I was also interested that Google, in the experiements section, is working on keyboard shortcuts. I confess, part of me misses the days when you could generally avoid using the mouse altogether...just for the speed factor as much as anything. This intregues me about as much as any of these other ideas!
Ride FinderFind taxis based on real life locations. Now, I don't use taxis very often, so perhaps I'm really not the target for this one. But I am curious what this could mean for the future of how we move about. Right now it is showing a Yellow Cab within a mile of my library. Are these all available cabs? Otherwise, who cares where they are. If it showed competing companies, and you lived in a more isolated area...it would be very good to know who had a cab closest. One time this would have really come in handy for me, was last summer in New Orleans. A friend and I took a cab out of the city to go see a movie. Getting back took hours, because we had no way of knowing which company had a cab near by. This tool on a portable device would have been a godsend.
Google SuggestI think this has been in place in the Google toolbar for some time. I really like it, and think it could be a handy feature for library catalogs, too. Even an expert searcher like me gets good ideas for keywords to use, and it doesn't get in the way of the search at all. I like it.
Google Music Trends: Could be a good way of keeping up with what teens and other patrons are listening to. I'm terrible about keeping up with pop music, so this could be handy.
Google Trends: Again, a good way to keep up with pop culture news, and see what is buzzing out there. The search function I didn't find so interesting, but the hot trends of the day are facinating.
I was also interested that Google, in the experiements section, is working on keyboard shortcuts. I confess, part of me misses the days when you could generally avoid using the mouse altogether...just for the speed factor as much as anything. This intregues me about as much as any of these other ideas!
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Using online applications
Today I played with both Zoho's word processing program, and Google Docs. At first I felt a little uncertain about them, but by the end of the exercise, I was sold. This is so great for folks who can't afford to buy software, but want to be able to access their documents regardlessly. And I like the idea of group access to a document, though I'm not totally sure how that would work best.
Some of the ways I think this could be handy for a librarian:
1) working on booklists over time...being able to add books without having a disc handy
2) working on articles...can just add a bit at a time when a new thought comes to mind
3) working on booktalks...could have multiple librarians add their own variations
4) any ongoing project you need to take notes for.
I'm going to have to explore these further!
Some of the ways I think this could be handy for a librarian:
1) working on booklists over time...being able to add books without having a disc handy
2) working on articles...can just add a bit at a time when a new thought comes to mind
3) working on booktalks...could have multiple librarians add their own variations
4) any ongoing project you need to take notes for.
I'm going to have to explore these further!
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