Beyond Method #10

We use Adobe Connect for our webcasts from the local NNLM office and it is a fine and easy product for our uses. I've become accustomed to it and have attended probably a dozen or more Adobe Connect webcasts over the past couple of years. I've also watched some archived webcasts, such as the most recent MLA2011's offerings that were just put up.

My library does not yet have the capability to produce webcasts (I just asked IT about this a few weeks ago) but I know it's an idea we've been kicking around. I'm guessing the Education Librarian is or will be working on incorporating webcasting at some point.

Beyond Method #9

I did a very basic scrapbook at Mixbook. I would have preferred to do a narrated slideshow but as we know from the previous method, I am computer-microphone-challenged.

| View Sample Photo Books | Create your own Photo Book

My impression is that these tools are simply going to have to take some time to get used to, as with any other online application/program. But yes there is definitely a learning curve and one that easily takes hours/days.

Another reason I'd prefer to do a narrated slideshow is I could put it to music and also this online scrapbooking, while definitely a cool thing, has its creative limitations, specifically (at least on Mixbook) that the template offerings are BORING and cliche and too girly and quotidian for me. Still, it was fun to play with, I just had to delete a bunch of the cutie graphics and icons.

Beyond Method #8

So this was a fun method to get into, as I have zero experience w/screencasting. However because my computer has "no audio" device installed I was unable to totally complete the screencast. I used Screenr which was mostly easy to use (signed in with my LinkedIn account) and I just grabbed a quick shot so I could have something to "turn in" for this assignment. My screencast is called "My favorite Podcasts" and if I had audio I'd be describing why I like these Podcasts the most.



I wish I knew how to get an audio device but the TechSoup article was not up and the ScreenJelly link btw did not work. Screenr doesn't seem to have a FAQ anywhere that will help you out. None of the other articles described how to get an audio device. Do I have to go buy a USB microphone or something? Sometimes the most obvious things are not that obvious to others, people!

Beyond Method #7

I already know PowerPoint of course, and I've used Slideshare to share speakers' presentations with others so for this method I chose SlideRocket as my choice of online presentation tool to try out and created a brief slideshow (thought it sure didn't take a brief amount of time to create, chuckle!).

I like SlideRocket ok, although I didn't know it timed out and that was a little annoying. I don't do many presentations since my training that I conduct is always done live online, as part of my job is training on NLM health resource websites. I've seen a Prezi presentation and thought it was a nice change of pace from the usual PPT's, but I can see where it's a little dangerous to use if you don't do it JUST RIGHT!

I like the idea of online presentation tools, though as I was just finishing up my SlideRocket presentation my computer was hanging up and just taking awhile to do anything, so I will still definitely always consider and recommend having a backup presentation on thumb drive.

Beyond Method #6

Well, I don't own an e-book reader and I don't expect to own one anytime soon. Main reasons being, I have a million other expensive things I'd prefer to spend my money on (i.e., I'm a freelance professional musician and I am currently in the market for a couple of new musical instruments and other equipment) as well as the fact that I still enjoy reading print books and even the process of going to the local public library branch, browsing the shelves, and picking out new reads.

I will confess however, that I have just downloaded the latest Carol Burnett autobiography on my (work-provided, again see $$$ factor) iPhone and am enjoying reading it although it takes me literally about 9 seconds to read each "page". Anyway, continuing with this post and its assignment.

I went to Project Gutenberg's page on Little Women by Alcott. This website is clean and easy to use and they certainly have a lot of the major classics as offerings. As far as reading the HTML page, I generally don't like to read for extended periods of time on the computer screen and I'd probably burn out after about 5 minutes of reading this e-book. I do see this being a valuable tool for high school or college students, as an example, who might need to refer to one of these texts for a homework assignment or some such thing.

Beyond Method #5

I seem to remember creating an account w/LibraryThing way back in the day--I'm talking years ago, probably late 90's. But I forgot my password and consequently didn't use it. I got into GoodReads about 3 yrs ago when a friend sent me an invitation to join, and I was curious so I created my account. I was elated when I found out about the feature that I use most, and that is the "To Read" list! I never had a good way to document which books I wanted to read, and the list grew and grew with each Library Journal etc. Pre-Pub alert and Newly Published alert! I'd frequently just jot the title/author down on a scrap of paper on my desk, only to surely misplace it weeks later. Today I have a perfect system for tracking these books and I currently have 130 books on my GoodReads "To Read" list! Now my only challenge is finding the time to tackle it!

As far as these tools assisting with Reader's Advisory, it has been years since I worked in a public library branch that had significant RA patrons and that was always tricky for me since I am a heavy nonfiction reader and read very little fiction, much less genre fiction. I would have definitely used these tools for RA had they been around back then (mid-90's). Back then I would hunt down the other librarians and even our head of circ who read heavy genre fiction for RA assistance.

Beyond Method #4

Clearly the message is that in order to be competitive in today's job search market, your computer skills MUST be competent at worst, sophisticated at best. I think the computer basics page from Goodwill Community is awesome. Easily understood and basic, it's a great place for the computer-hesitant to start.

A lot of the job search websites that the Finding Jobs pages from the TX Workskills Dev. in Libraries link to are quite cluttered. Heck YES you'd need to have good navigating skills, or I could see how some of these pages could be overwhelming.

At my library however, we are specialized (academic/medical) and so we do serve a clientele that is sophisticated and more intelligent than the average job searcher out there. We don't get too many job search questions. My past at the public library was filled with job seekers, however, and this page would be a great resource to have printed out and ready to hand out at the public library.

Beyond Method 3

Created my 1st Google Map! It is the map to my Library (day job library anyway!).

Here's the map to my evening job Library while we're at it. What the heck. Hopefully I'll get extra credit in this course!

This was fun, working with maps, I've never done this before. I look forward to exploiting some of the sites named here as well.