Thing #26 - Join the Ning

Thing #26 - Join the Ning

I joined Ning the first time around. I have to say I was surprised to see that our NLLN group hasn't made use of it since last April, so I started a new discussion. I think there has to be a current discussion going to get people to come to the site. I added a couple of friends, commented on Alice's picture, sent a message to Glenn, and created a Ning badge to include in my blog. I definitely think LARL employees could use a Ning group to discuss various topics - we always appreciate the chance to get together at All Staff Day to talk with one another - this is one way we could continue the conversations.

Thing #25 - Bloggers Toolkit

There were so many tools to explore - this Thing took a really long time! I chose several widgets to add to my blog, as you can see. I added a picture of an old Coast Guard station - taken from my Flickr account. I considered doing a PictureTrail, but decided not to spend any more time (since I'd already done one in an earlier post). I added a search box. I also added ClustrMaps so I can keep track of visitors to my blog from all over the world (ha ha ha). But the coolest thing I added was the automatic podcast generation, using Odiogo - this is awesome! I learned not to type in caps, because the reader reads the letters instead of the word. He/it? is a very good reader, but doesn't know how to pronounce Agassiz. Click on "listen now" and check it out for yourself!

Thing #24 - Refresh Your Blog

Here we go again! As you can see, I have not made a single entry in this blog since I completed the first 23 Things last year. I had good intentions of re-purposing my blog and adding it to my school library home page, but things have not gone the way I'd planned. My position at school was cut to .3 FTE and I've had no time to play with blogging - it's all I can do to accomplish the bare minimum. For this Thing I added a photo and a new avatar, changed some colors, but did not change the template - guess I liked what I already had. What do I like about blogging? Well, it's kind of like keeping a journal, and I have enjoyed re-reading last year's entries. I also enjoyed reading the other participants' blogs as I worked on completing those first 23 things. I commented a few times, but not very often. Does that make me a voyeur???

Thing #23 - Final Thoughts

Wow! I feel supercharged!! This was the best continuing ed experience ever. When I began this project, I wasn't really sure what Library 2.0 even was. I have learned so much. What were my favorite things? It was hard to pick just three (for the survey) - I enjoyed setting up my blog, I especially liked learning about Flickr and all the fun things I can do with photos (that included several Things), and I love LibraryThing. Those were my favorites. What really surprised me was that I actually managed to complete all of the Things before the deadline - there were times when I wondered how I'd get it all done. I'm looking forward to repurposing my blog for my school library media center next year, and I like the idea about adding my blog's URL to my e-mail signature. There were times during this project when I became frustrated because things weren't working they way they were supposed to. The newletters helped, also the comments from other participants, but it would have been nice to have had the original Thing ammended once we realized there was a problem, rather than having to wait to read the newsletters. But, hey, I managed to figure lots of stuff out all by myself, and that's part of the magic. This was an experience that, if I were to describe it in one word, was EMPOWERING. Thank you so much!

Thing #22 - What did I learn today?

It really doesn't take that much time? It really doesn't take that much time?? You must be kidding! I wish I had kept a log and kept track of the hours I've put in to getting these Things done. Maybe it doesn't take Jennifer Hootman much time, but it took me forever (at least it seems like it). Please don't get me wrong - I am not complaining - my time was well spent and I don't regret a minute of it. But it DOES take time. Going on to the other points mentioned: I know I can do it. I wasn't always so sure of this, but now I feel much more confident. And yes, it IS fun to use these tools. The need to stay informed seems obvious. At the public library I am routed the journal, Computers in Libraries. I'm supposed to read them and then send them on to the next person on the list. I used to look at the journal and think "this is Greek to me", but lately (since I started working on the 23 things) I've actually begun reading and enjoying the articles - there were some very good ones that dealt with the tools I was trying to learn to use! So this is one way I will stay informed. Webinars is another way I'll continue to learn. I feel fortunate to be part of NLLN and also the Lake Agassiz Regional Library because both of these organizations help keep me moving forward - sometimes being a school library media specialist (I don't have a para or even student helpers) is a pretty lonely business, and we DO need to support each other. I'll also make use of the groups I've joined - they'll help keep me connected to others in my profession and hopefully motivate me to keep developing my Web 2.0 skills.

Thing #21 - Beyond MySpace

View my page on 23 Things on a Stick

Thank you, creators of 23 Things, for introducing me to Gather and Ning - both social networks that I like a WHOLE lot more than either MySpace or Facebook. I joined Ning (23 Things Group and the NLLN 23 Things Group) and left some messages and added a picture. I had a heck of a time getting my badge into this blog!
I joined WebJunction back when it first started and I've used it to find helpful resources a number of times. I registered for a class a few months ago, but haven't had time to take it yet - as you might guess, I've been otherwise occupied with the Things!