Monday, October 22, 2007

Quest 11....Online apps.

For this Discovery Exercise, participants are asked to take a look at a web-based word processing tool, create a simple document and then write about your discoveries in your blog. Of course, if you're up to a challenge, you might even export your document as an HTML file or publish it through Zoho to your blog. With Zoho and other web-based applications, the possibilities are endless!



Since I'm a member of Google I chose to use their Google Docs. I have never used it before today. I didn't even know it existed, and I have always considered myself pretty up to date as far as computers go.



Anyway, this Friday is Aiden's very first camp out with the cub scouts. (and popcorn is on sale now for anyone interested-I have the order form at my desk ;o) And since we are going camping I figured I would make a list of things for the camp-out.

Haunted Cub Scout Camp Out

Overall I must say I think it is great. I don't know how much I will use it but it's great knowing it's there!

Quest 10.......Just for fun

Dogster or Catster - Social networking for pets! These sites were created to give free web space to our favorite furry friends. Owners can add videos, pictures, and stories to their pet’s web page as well as connect with other pets and their owners. Don’t have a pet? Search for local animals and leave them treats!

I'm not quite sure about the exact purpose of social networking for pets, but it was neat to create a page for my 2 hobbits.







Visit my family
Join the Catster community

Friday, October 12, 2007

Quest 9...... Wiki....Wiki

"What did you find interesting? What types of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki?"
For the discovery exercise I viewed the Book Lovers Wiki and the Library Success: A best practices wiki.
The Book Lovers Wiki was a great idea of the Princeton Public Library inspired by their summer reading program. The participants got to post reviews of the books they read. I think that it is a worthy idea to use as one element of our summer reading program. Classes on Wikis could be offered by TLC as an introduction and it could be utilized by the adult and teen reading programs.
Library Success: A best practices wiki is a good example of a professional networking tool. A good way for Librarians and their fellow assistants to share ideas and experiences relevant to the advancement of Libraries.
Personally I do not see myself using Wikis as of present. It's good to know this resource is out there if I ever do.

Thursday, October 11, 2007

Quest 8....Social Networking part 2

"Explore the following social networking sites’ Home Pages and view a few profiles.........Blog about your discoveries...............Which sites did you find easiest to use, which sites would you consider creating an account with..."
BEBO I had never heard of Bebo before this quest but I have heard of MySpace, Facebook, and Friendster. It seemed a bit cluttered for my taste as far as the layouts and the ease of finding things on individual profiles. Like other sites it has musical artists, authors, videos, etc. One thing I really liked was that on the home page it had a blurb about safe social networking and a link you could click on to learn more. It struck me as very responsible.
FRIENDSTER Was a lot less cluttered and had cleaner layouts, I like the featured pictures section, that was neat. Seemed pretty straight forward and the set up reminded me of the way MySpace is set up. If I did not already have a profile on MySpace I might have considered this site.
LINKED-IN Never heard of this site either. It seemed cold boring and pointless.
FACEBOOK Layout reminded me of Friendster. It was clean but personalized and less like a love connection. In the tutorial I liked the notifications of changed friend profiles which is hard to keep up with on MySpace unless you check them regularly or if your friend notifies you. I also liked the fact you could choose how private you want your profile to appear. Instead of blocking every thing from view, it seems you can select what you want the public to see yet keep some aspects private.
MYSPACE This site is where I have my profile. I've had my profile there since 2/1/06 and have been very happy with it. I like being able to personalize my page, yet the privacy settings aren't very flexible. It's either all or none. Blogging on this site from my profile page is great because it guarantees that my friends all know what's going on in my life and they don't have to go to another site to find out about it. They can even subscribe to it and get notified when I post a new one.
"how do you think social networking services could be useful to libraries, etc."
~See Quest 8 Part 1~

Wednesday, October 10, 2007

Quest 8....Social Networking part 1

"Take a look at a few and detail your reactions in your Quest 8 blog."

The blogs/articles I looked at were,Building a Social Networking Environment at the Library , Libraries Use MySpace to Attract Teens, How to Talk to Young People about Socializing Safely Online.

I think using MySpace to link libraries is a great idea. It can serve as a way of keeping up with what every one else is doing as well as a way to gain guidance on current library issues that we may not be familiar with. Sharing ideas and socializing with others in the industry.

In my general observations and reading, it seems as time goes by and technology advances, the younger generations are quicker to jump on the bandwagon than the older generations. This being said, it makes perfect sense that Libraries should use MySpace to attract Teens and Tweens. It's a great way of getting them to feel comfortable with the library, our services, our collections and to encourage their reading habits.

At the same time, I believe that one of our additional services should be to educate these young people about online socializing safety. As I was reading that particular article, it occurred to me that a TLC class on the subject would be a perfect setting as well as maybe having programs on the subject which could include the police department speaking on the subject.

Monday, October 1, 2007

Quest 7.....Photosharing




Option A:Take a look around Flickr and discover an interesting image to write a blog entry about.


When I was exploring the "mapping" feature on flicker I looked at our grand city of Charleston and came across a few pictures, one of which reminded me of the events of June 18th's fire. I then did a search for the "Charleston 9" and it pulled up several pictures. All of which brought back memories and feelings I have been dealing with since then. This Picture encompasses all of those feelings.


My husband Todd was there that night. The feelings I had worrying for him and our friends. Once footage started playing on the news channels, every time I saw one of our close friends I couldn't help but say a prayer that they were still safe and that they would remain that way. My heart went out to them. I didn't sleep that night. When Todd finally came home late the next morning, he was changed. The exhaustion, and the burden of loosing men he thought of as family was etched on his face.


When I was told who was lost my heart broke. I either knew them personally, had been introduced to them at one point, or had heard of them in conversations previously. I can't even begin to convey how I felt then or the emotion that wells up now as I look at these photos.


Bottom left is a picture of the blaze in progress. The thought that they didn't know what was yet to happen is my first feeling. Top left is the exhaustion and beginning realization. Top right brings back my memories of the Memorial service. My first thought that Friday morning when I first walked into the auditorium was that it felt unreal. Then as we sat there, it sank in. Who they were, how they lived, who we lost.


Bottom right is the procession of fire trucks. Every day Todd had to report to the parking lot of the Citadel mall. That is where they organized the trucks for the processions. I was only able to make it to one of the funerals. Melvin Champagnes. He went through training with my husband and was his relief for about a year.


When Todd and I arrived to Citadel mall the day of Melvins Funeral. I was touched by the fact that Chick-a-filet's owner was out there supplying EVERYONE with breakfast. Completely free and out of appreciation for the men and their families.


I was told of the story that the night of the fire, he was at the scene and that he along with the help of some others went back and opened one of their stores so they could make sandwiches for all the firemen and rescue workers their that night. I was also told of Pizza stores supplying food for the men as well. And other local businesses pitching in. I was in aww of how the community seemed to have come together.


When it was time, we loaded the buses that were to follow behind the trucks. As we pulled out in the procession, we crossed over Sam Rittenburg Boulevard, past Quadrangle shopping center to Hwy 17. We took a left and I knew we would be passing by the remnants of the Sofa Super Store. When we passed by, I could not hold back my tears.


As we continued along people came out from businesses, stopped their cars in the road and got out, saluted, waved or just stood their in awww. It helped knowing that most people felt some degree of emotion and that it wasn't just us.


But there were those people that stayed in their cars talking on their cell phones and impatiently sped around those that had stopped. Those are the people that don't car until it's them, and when it is, it won't be good enough.


User name Ladybug1016 is the creator of the above picture. I think she did a wonderful job.