Thing 19

Danger...Danger...Danger...too many fun ways to waste time! I signed up for Twitter to keep in touch yet another lazy way. This one even more so than Facebook or MySpace since it's just one line answers. Niiiice.

Etsy. That's dangerous. Not only do I want to buy the homemade gifts, I'm inspired to run out to Hobby Lobby to try my hand at making my own handmade gifts to sell (and this usually turns out bad...somehow the image in my mind is never what I end up holding in my hands)

I love Farecast and Kayak. I love traveling and the librarian in me always has to research good deals. These sites are great.

None of the above would be used in school but they sure are fun for me!!

Thing 18

I'm working from home off an old PC and even with our high speed internet, this old baby can't handle much and grinds and snorts when pushed to her limit. Therefore I didn't even bother to download the Open Office. I have a Google account so off I went to Google Docs.

Now, I've been using Google Docs with HISD for our preview book program but I just logged in and put in my reviews. I didn't fully embrace the Google Docs. I love them--presentations, spreadsheets, word. I can share (or not) and this could be used for collaboration with teachers when planning a library lesson or for doing some of the paperwork (i.e. writing the school improvement plan) when everyone needs to work together but can't find the time to sit down to write it out together. COOLIO!

Here's my brief presentation...I was feeling nostalgic....
http://docs.google.com/Present?docid=dfczqhdx_1cq7h8zch&invite=ffk6gv5

Thing 17

I created a search for Children's Lit using some good Children's Literature sites. For when I'm searching for new or notable books, etc.

I can't for the life of me figure out how to link it here. I can tell you that it's under Children's Lit by J-Lib. Hope you can find it when you explore Searchrolls. I can find it, I just hope you can.

I would say, by far, that this Thing had some of the least 'how to' instructions and I'm a little lost. This Rollyo is one of the things I don't think I will use but it's good to know about. Especially if I want to search fashion sites via a searchroll by a fashion designer. Good to know. Especially for someone who shops at Target (but when I buy clothes there, I like to say it with a French accent. You know, Tar-zhay)

Thing 16

I added to a wiki! I'm so proud of myself! As I said in the sandbox, I am really excited to learn about wikis. I've spent too much time hollering about Wikipedia and showing students its evil ways. I want to imbrace the wiki-world. I can see many educational purposes. I could create a wiki space for each grade level and then they could have student collaborate when working on projects. For example, if 5th grade students are researching science projects, whenever they find a good site with multiple project ideas, they could add it to the wiki.

Thing 15

What does Library 2.0 mean to me. Does this have to be a 5 paragraph essay with correct margins? No--ooooh, I see because of 2.0, I can respond via blog or wiki and gone is the 5 paragraph essay--hoo-ray!

But seriously, I love the concept of Library 2.0. I love that we're evolving and embracing the new. I was a 'forward thinking' librarian back in 1999 when I, shockingly, suggested that my students do some research via SIRs ONLINE. Oh yeah, I got down with my bad self back then. However, I've noticed that I'm still suggesting SIRS. That I got comfortable in what was once the 'new' and 'hip' ideas in Library Land and have been passed by when the new technology toll road opened. This is important to me. This is important to my school. I need to know this and so do the students (or, for those that already know this, I need to know this to keep up with them!)

I liked the perspective of "Away from Icebergs". I think his thoughts on collection development were spot on. I also thought he was spot on about placing the information for our patrons out on the web for them--not so they have to come to us. Good stuff.

Thing 14

Hi, I'm J-Lib and I am a blog-a-holic. I think technorati would get me in trouble. I also am amazed that the blogs I love to read: Pinkisthenewblog, Dooce and Greek Tragedy are not in the top 100 via technorati. These people make a living off of blogging and yet, they're not in the top 100. Weird.

I found it interesting by finding the 'popular' button that people seem to be doing a lot of tagging or labeling for Crocs. Wha?!? Ok.

Again, if there was an assignment for students to keep track of something, say, McCain/Obama, via blogs or posts, then this is great. They can link to a whole world of information.

However, I have to ponder if tagging would be similar to filing. The problem with filing is that I always forget did I file it under 'appliance' or 'refrigerator' or was that 'fridge'. I wonder if I'd do the same thing with tags--today I meant YA Lit but tomorrow it'll be Young Adult. This isn't a technorati or tagging problem, seems like a personal problem to me. HA!

I, myself, am going to stay far, far, faaaar away from something that will only lead me to read more blogs. Stop the madness!!!!

Thing 13

Boy, taking a few days off for the holiday weekend and I'm running slow. I have searched and saved via Del.icio.us using tags like YA Lit or School Libraries but I'm just not quite 'getting it'. I'm not quite where I completely understand how this will help me. Can't I just put these sites that I like up on my iGoogle page? Does going to Del.icio.ous site help me or is it just another step to take?

However, I can see if a teacher is having students do research on specific topics and would want to revisit those sites or find other sites/blogs with similar tags, then sure, it's good. I'm just starting to feel like all I'm doing is creating more work when this should be easier, right?

Maybe I need to take another long weekend holiday break....