Thing 23

23 Things was fantastic! I loved it! I loved it so much I am even recommending it to my mom! This project reaquainted me with technologies and resources I already knew about but had not used much/enough/in a while. However, there were things I had never played with, like Picasa, that I am looking forward to using in the future. I really enjoyed the brush up on RSS feeds too, I had forgotten about them a bit. It has been fantastic spending work time playing and learning new things- I really hope there will be another 23 things soon (Please, please!!) I feel so much more confident with the library's resources and with the internet in general because of 23t. I think the patrons would greatly benefit from a program like this too. Perhaps we could post something like this online for them to go through themselves- maybe the advanced version and host library classes on 23 things, make it a series...?

Next time, I would like just a little more time- maybe one thing per week? It is hard to balance all the other work stuff and 23 things on top so just a little more time to work would be helpful. I think the databases were the most intimidating for me (and lots of other people) but I think it would help if you could go step by step doing "research" to answer questions while showcasing database capabilities.

Thank you, TAG for all your incredibly through work and dedication. You deserve a round of applause!


Can we please have a wiki?

Thing 22

It was interesting using Novelist- I found they had book discussion questions so now I know that they may be a good resource for book clubs outside of just recommending books. I looked in magic realist fiction and found "The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake," now also on hold for me. I also found "The Fifth Life of the Cat Lady" which we don't have :(. I looked at the teen books and there is an "If you like" link which I thought was fantastic but the adults don't have one (yes, I know Novelist is really a giant "If you like" but I just enjoyed the link). On the plus side, it is making me want to read a little fiction again.

It is a great readers advisory tool! The next time I get a patron who wants to talk about what books to read, I will sit them down with Novelist.

P.S. Using Novelist, I found the third book of the graphic novel series I started reading a while ago, Amulet. And I found the second book of the series, "The Astonishing Life of Ocatvian Nothing"-beautiful, devastating and amusing all at the same time. So happy!

From the last two "Things" my holds list is getting ridiculous.

Thing 21

I just subscribed to Bookletters' Book Sizzle, Fiction Best Sellers, Non-Fiction Best Sellers and Teen Scene. Already my hold list is growing exponentially...
I think this will be useful for keeping up with what is new in the book world and a good tool for readers advisory.

Thing 20

I recommended Collapse by Jared Diamond to Joe. I hope he likes it.

Thing 19

As I am a Star Wars fan, I checked out Wookiepeidia and was happy to find it wasn't all about Wookies! I learned that
trifaraleen gas was a poisonous gas that was used by IG-88 during the Galactic Civil War. It formed a cloud around the target, choked them, and would finally turn them to dust. Trifaraleen was acidic and could chew through metal. Despite its effectiveness, trifaraleen dissipated quickly outside containment or a host.

I definitely think the libary needs a wiki!It would be a great way to pool our intelligence, encourage colloaboration and tech savvy. Plus, I think it would make finding answers to common questions and such so much easier!

Thing 17

I had forgotten about my Grammar Girl- I subscribed to it a few years ago through my iTunes haven't listened to it in a while. So I am listening again. There are so many podcasts available-it is quite overwhealming. If fact, when I went to Korea, I actually subscribed to a podcast in an attempt to learn some Korean. I didn't learn much but it nice to hear the language a bit before the plane landed.

I listened to Storynory and The Marriage of Two Cats. It was cute. But I will be honest and say that I didn't get to finish the whole podcast since I had to go do other work stuff. Browsing the list on the blog was kind of fun! There were some great suggestions there-I will be looking forward to going through them again, when I have more time to browse.

Thing 16

Netlibrary Audio Books
Tomato Girl by Jayne Pupek Duration: 10 hours, 15 minutes
50 Psychology Classics: Who We Are, How We Think, What We Do by Tom Butler-Bowdon Duration: 12 hours, 23 minutes

Thing 18

I edited the Restaurant List (Leagal's Seafood, Boston, MA) and the Favorite Books (The Nickle Nackle Tree) in the wiki sandbox. I have used a wiki before and was required to build my own to get my MLS. This one was much, MUCH easier to use and edit although, I think it would have been good practice to ask us to create another page to link to it. Not that I am not already woefully behind and in desparate need to catch up already.

Bottom line: I really enjoyed the wiki and I think we should have one for our branch and the system as a whole for reference links.

Thing 15: My college roomate

Thing 12

I think Morningstar was pretty useful. But I think I will probably use the newspaper search for obituaries the most often (I thought I heard we couldn't get those online, but hooray, we can!)
We should probably be telling more about the Consumer Information- I have never answered a consumer reports reference question with a database (yet).

If we could only keep one database! What kind of question is that?!??!!! That is hard, I would have to choose one of the bigger general ones like Academic Search Premier or InfoTrac One File. Lots of varied information in those.

Things 13-14: Really Simple Syndication

Thing 13: Discover Google Reader
Thing 14: I subscribed to some images at NASA and the lastest news of the Library of Congress. I was happy to find all the blogs I follow there as well along with the people I have followed. I think it is an excellent tool for the lifelong learning toolbox! I have enjoyed it already :)

I also added an RSS feed to my iGoogle

Things 10 & 11: LFPL's Research Tools

Things 10 & 11
10b) Obituary for Betty Jean McMicheal published: March 18, 2008
Number of sons:4
How I found it: I used Newspaper link and Courier-Journal to get to Pro Quest's Database. I did an advanced search and gave a date range but it can be done on a basic search by typing Betty Jean McMichael.

10c)Telos Full Text Available? Database: not available ,
British Journal for the History of Philosophy Full Text Available? yes with 12 month delay Database: Ebsco- Academic Search Premier
Clinical Medicine and Research Full Text Available? yes Database: Ebsco Academic Search Premier

How I found them: I used the Journal/Magazine/Newspaper Search link under Research Tools

11a))Vanguard Target Retirement 2020
Manager: Duane F. Kelly
Stewardship Grade: B
Morningstar Rating: 4 stars

How I found it: I looked in the Morningstar Database for this retirement- I only found 2020 not 2025

11b)Yep. How I found it: Under Consumer Info >InfoTrac OneFile>Advanced Search with the parameters of LCD TV between dates 1/1/2008 to 12/31/2009 I found quite a few articles "Top High Definition LCD Tvs under $2000) on a color PDF no less!

11c)Your main competition is Starbucks (go figure?)How I found it: I highlighted the blank space in the blog :)

What research tool do you find most useful, either for library or personal use? What research tool should we be telling more people about? If LFPL could only keep one research tool to carry out its mission, which one would you choose and why?

Bonus:I was happy to find that the library could help advise me on my wrinkle cream needs as well as nurse my obsession with the OED. Additionally, it is of note that the official foods of the U.S. are not apple pie, french fries, ice cream, tacos and pizza) according to the Culture Grams database. According to them, official US recipes are:

• Fast Family Lasagna
  
• Southern Fried Chicken
• Mashed Potatoes with Roasted Garlic
• Blueberry Muffins
  
• Chocolate Chip Cookies

Things 8 &9: Flickr

I have never used Flickr before 23 Things but I like it (I am a late adopter). I can remember people encouraging me to find their pictures of ALA or graduation but I never really got into it. It is another great way that the internet makes the world a smaller place.
I searched my hometown of Boston while I was on and found some great pictures of the city I love. I even marked one as a favorite.
While I haven't had any questions involving photo sharing on Flickr, I don't see why someone wouldn't ask. It could be used as a reference tool to introduce someone to another part of the world- "I am looking for pictures of Java." but then, you can't always trust what is on it or its other sites, like Earth Album. I clicked on quite a few places but there were a few pictures that didn't change, which made me question them all. I also checked out Flickr Chia Pet from guy who made Colr Pickr- it was weird. No reference uses for that one...

Things 5-7

So I finally finished the rest of my Twitter things. Hooray! I have not thought of a reason yet to use Twitter or Facebook in a reference scenario. Unless it is to find someone's information. I have used that for my own purposes actually. However, patrons are always asking about how to use these sites so I think it is very important as a librarian to know how to use them.

I do love social networking. I feel more connected to the people who I can't physically connect with because of distance. Plus, it really helps to underline the idea that we are living on a tiny planet with people who really are not so different from each other... :)

PS- My LinkedIn account took over my mailbox! I had no idea I was so linked in already! Pretty cool!

Thing #7 Bonus- LinkedIn

I also set up a LinkedIn account. I am still trying to figure it out.

Thing #7- Facebook Addiction

There is a good reason I not to log into my Facebook account- it totally sucks me in and I get distracted. In fact, I do not check or update it often enough for the this very reason. However, I did benefit from taking a better look at my privacy settings which I have neglected for the past few FB updates. They are still rather confusing but at least this part of he 23 Things gave me a way to refresh my page. How do you unfriend? I think I may have missed that somewhere.
As a librarian, I have had a ton of Facebook questions so it does behoove us to have some familiarity and comfort with it. I haven't really used it to to answer non-Facebook reference questions but who knows. It could be useful for following up on some of the players in current events. Or if you are doing some research on a contemporary famous person. For example, I am friends with the President and while campaigning he would have updates and info on his FB page. (I haven't checked in with him in a while, maybe I should...)

It has been really interesting how Facebook has evolved. I remember the buzz it caused on my college campus (Emory University) when we were finally added to it. Suddenly everyone was on it and totally addicted. By the time I had graduated, I still hadn't joined and now I wish I had since I know I would have had better connections with the people from my past. Back then, (you know waaay back in the early 2002's?) no one really thought much about privacy and security since there was already facebook's inherent edict that only college students were on it. No parents, no professors, no family-or only the young college age ones. It felt a little safer. Now that it is open to the world, privacy is a MAJOR issue. One must watch what gets posted and what you post about other people and how their privacy settings affect you.
Real life examples 1) By the time I got to grad school, all of my profs were on FB. I HAD to be on it too and then had to navigate the should-I-friend-a-professor? waters. (I only friended them after I was out of thier class.) 2) I worked at a middle school where all of the kids and most of the staff were on facebook. Friending the staff opened up my network of friends to include the kids. Not cool! Even though my security settings were ok, I had to get on the staff about friending students and not changing thier security settings so that they couldn't find me since all these little faces kept popping up in my "Suggested Friends"- I am not your friend, I am your librarian and you do not need to know about my life! It was a hassle and I finally stopped friending the staff.

Ah! The Joys of Google- Thing 3ish

I have had gmail for years and love it! Google really knows how to get things right. If only they made library software...
I made a discovery - Google Caller! I had never stopped to look at this before Google made it a little popup. So you can call anywhere in the US and Canada for free using video chat?! That is pretty cool. But back to the basics:

Google Docs- this saved me so many times in grad school! Since so many of the students are commuter students, it is really hard to work on group projects using Google Docs. It spread like wildfire! After I learned how to use it, I never did a group project without it. When I went to Korea, we made all of our Korean classmates use it when we worked on our group papers. Here, the Job Shop (and now I do too) advocates getting people a gmail account so they can always have easy access to their resume for printing/editing/attaching close at hand. They can't loose it like a flash drive- nor will it get stolen. It is so much easier for the patrons (and thus us) to keep up with their needed information this way. I am a total convert and cannot speak highly enough.

Google Books- kind of useful. In instances of big name authors, links to their pages come up so you can see all thier books. We could tell patrons they could preview books on Google and then request them here but then that could lead to the question- why aren't the books in our catalog linked to Google books in the first place. Pretty neat- I had a good time playing around but in some ways it is competitive with us. Some. Great for reviewing and previewing books in the comfort of your jammies.

Google Scholar- Whoa... I was just playing around with this and typed in my name for fun. Whoa! The first thing on the results list was MY paper I wrote back in grad school about Surpass, a library automation system. I had to post it to a wiki, I think. Or else Simmons moved it. Anyway, this would be a good option for patrons looking for scholarly articles and information.

Google Patents- May be useful for patrons looking for information on what patents are already out there. I found a UV comb meant to sanitize hair and fur and a sister curling iron to keep it curly and germ free.

Google Uncle Sam- As always, using Google is easier than looking at government websites. I found a tax form pdf in less than a second. A search for "kentucky jobs" came up with OET as the 4th search result. As of January 25th the unemployment rate for the state of KY is 10.4 percent, 44th out of 51 states.

Google Sites- SO AWESOME! I want my own site now! Plus it looks pretty easy. I also encountered Google Weddings. Neat-would have been quite useful a year ago as a maid of honor. I will keep that one for the next bride.

Google Maps- I literally don't go anywhere without using Google maps. I have found it to be quite reliable and I have refused to use anything else since.

There is so much to Google!!! Hooray! (can I also say that my spell check on blogger caught that I in fact did not originally capitalize Google properly?)

23 Things

I haven't updated my blog in FOREVER. Mostly because I used it to talk with my adviser in graduate school (Hi Rong!). But here goes...

I think 23 Things is such a great idea! And I am looking forward to learning more about the
Google I already have :)

"I have the Google."- Fat Vampire: a never coming of age story by Adam Rex