#12 - Rollyo

Discovery exercises, #3 - "Create a post in your blog about your experience and link to your search roll. Can you see a potential use for tools like this?"

I did a search roll called "Adopt Us". I put in websites of adoption "agencies" for cats and dogs, mostly in Maryland. I have no idea how to link to it - if you, dear reader, can figure it out, kindly enlighten me. I logged in as c5mxmgr and I already told you the name of my roll.

Can I see a potential use for tools like this - NO! Except for a few that I know, I used Goggle to get other sites to add. Why bother? Why not go ahead and just use Google in the first place? In addition, when I tried to seach my own roll, I put in "german", since I had specifically included Mid-Atlantic German Shepherd Rescue (MAGSR). The first site I got, which I had NOT included in my roll, was a Tampa German Shepherd rescue organization. While I am pleased that Tampa has such a rescue, I didn't have it in my roll. MAGSR came up, but only on page two. Shouldn't it have been the first website returned, since it was in my roll?

Total waste of time, in my opinion.

#11 - Library Thing

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/akc5c17

I can't really get into this. That's the link of my created library, if YOU want to get into this. I think it comes down to - I have no desire to be part of some global discussion group. I'm far more apt to discuss a book I've read with friends or colleagues than I am to post about it on a blog. I can easily use Novelist to find other titles with the same themes of books I've read. So, while this may be a lark for those interested in blogging or engaging in an email discussion about a book, it's not for me.

Badge Generator

This is my creation from the Badge Generator. It was fun to do. It comes from the reminiscences of my friend Lanie Warren. She was at an Alan Jackson concert at the MCI Center with her son and his friend. The inconsiderates in front of her were passing a "cigarette" back and forth and constantly standing, blocking Lanie's view and those of her charges. Lanie leaned forward and quietly said, "You shouldn't be doing that. I'm a cop." The smokers mysteriously found seats elsewhere.

So here ya go, Lanie - I made you legit!

MERLIN

I recall having an introductory training to MERLIN, perhaps 18 months or so ago. As a result of that training I felt I would use the site most to view the calendar of system-wide trainings. I see now that the site has more potential than simply the calendar, but for me, I still think this will be the most valuable - IF the calendar were actually being USED by Maryland libraries. I see very little in the way of trainings open to library staffs around the state.

One feature that I do like about MERLIN is the listing of online courses and web seminars, although I wish there were more on non-technology topics.

Technology-Related

I've long pooh-poohed MySpace as an indulgence of youngsters with far too much time on their hands. So I was intrigued when, at a Washington Glory game (Women's Fastpitch softball - they play at George Mason University - go see them!) an announcement was made that attendees were invited to visit their MySpace page. So I did. There is more information on the MySpace page about the individual players than on the Washington Glory's homepage (which, admittedly, is still under construction). I discovered that I would need to set up another account in order to post a message, so I didn't do that. In this case, an email to their general information email address, which is on their website but not their MySpace page, will do. I want more information about Glory, their mascot. (I SAID you should go to see the team in action - you'll love Glory!)

RSS feeds, etc. - Thing 8

Not that this has anything directly to do with creating the RSS feeds and such, but one of the annoying things about doing the 23 Things is that every time I turn around I am setting up another account. Google account. Yahoo account. What's next?!

My ten feeds are:
A Phrase a Week
About Literature: Contemporary
Joke of the Day
Librarian's Index to the Internet: New This Week
Library Journal - Audio Reviews
New Urban Legends
The Shifted Librarian
Unshelved
WJZ Baltimore Maryland News
Yahoo News: Top Stories

Some of these sites allow the user to subscribe in such a way that the information will be sent to an email account. For things I would be interested in being certain I saw every day, that would be my tendency. For silly things, such as the Joke of the Day, the blogline approach works better for me.

One thing I would love to see on PGCMLS's website is the availability of RSS feeds when new items are received in certain categories. For example, I enjoy Nevada Barr's books. If I could sign up to be notified via my RSS feed, when the library has received a new book by Barr, I could then immediately seek out that title. This would be very valuable to "regular" customers (rather than those of us in a PGCMLS branch five days a week!) and could potentially increase circulation.

Trip Planner using Yahoo

I explored this feature this morning. Perhaps because I was planning a trip to a lesser-visited site (Sitka, Alaska - why be mainstream?), there weren't a whole lot of links. Few of the hotels suggested had their own websites and there were few helpful reviews attached to the Yahoo listings. However, the beauty of using a lesser-visited locale was that I COULD get information in a on-stop shopping experience. "Things to do" led me to some websites on which I could find more information about my desired destinations. I was unaware of this feature on Yahoo and plan to use it for real-world trip planning (although I DO plan to go to Sitka, although it may not be on the dates I entered!).

Times Two

Times Two, originally uploaded by sashvh.

Just perfect! I think the original description had something about ballerinas. Does this mean we could title this "A Paws De Deux"?!

dancing.kitty

dancing.kitty, originally uploaded by Lara604.

What a great photo! This cat's name is Radar (I don't know him; I learned that from reading the original caption). Looks like he has an appreciative audience in the grey and white cat to the right.

7 1/2 Habits

Probably the easiest of the habits for me will be to view problems as challenges. That's how I grew up - being told to take a stab at things before asking for help. The most difficult? This whole "create your own learning toolbox" thing - it's not something I do in a formal way. I know pretty much who are good resources and I know how to find these people. I don't need to create another piece of paper with yet another list on it. I can't stand a lot of extraneous "stuff" around me!

First blog

OK, here goes. This is my first post to my first blog (which will probably remain my only blog), as part of my participation in the 23 Things computer technology training module for Prince George's County Memorial Library System in Maryland. Not much to say yet, stay tuned.