Well, I almost missed productivity tools. What does that tell you? I like the idea because collaboration is so important today, and if technology makes it easier I'm all for it.
I like delicious because it allows me to take my favorites with me.
I'm planning to investigate more about readibility and the password minders...
Thursday, June 2, 2011
Thing 10: the future
Alas, I have no crystal ball. I find it hard to imagine a world without libraries. They have certainly been a part of my life for as long as I can remember.
One of the problems I see is that librarians quietly go about doing really valuable and important work, but seldom toot their own horns. This makes it seem like things are happening by magic. Many years ago in the infancy of the Internet, there was a story about a CEO eliminating the corporate library because he got all his information on the Internet. However, what he didn't realize was that the librarians were the ones putting all the stuff he wanted on the Internet.
I believe there will still need to be people who intrepret information and navigate the vast quantity of information. Who better than librarians?
Whether or not library buildings will continue as we know them, I don't know. Certainly for the near future they will have to since everything is not online. A concern I have is that users will assume that only those things that are online are valuable. Or that important information will be disregarded because it isn't online.
I hated it when database vendors first came out with full-text only searches because it suggested that all you needed was online and students then didn't know anything else even existed. Maybe the exact information you are looking for hasn't been digitized yet. Using full text only you'll never know. There have to be some people who know about that information and can get it for the researcher, or the curious. Easy isn't always better.
I also think, like some futurists, that each library will need to specialize in local information, and diversify holdings to ensure greatest availablility and preservation of materials. No library has ever been able to hold everything. Now more than ever, libraries need to share collections and specialize in what matters most locally.
This has been a great learning experience. Thank you CDLC and Polly.
One of the problems I see is that librarians quietly go about doing really valuable and important work, but seldom toot their own horns. This makes it seem like things are happening by magic. Many years ago in the infancy of the Internet, there was a story about a CEO eliminating the corporate library because he got all his information on the Internet. However, what he didn't realize was that the librarians were the ones putting all the stuff he wanted on the Internet.
I believe there will still need to be people who intrepret information and navigate the vast quantity of information. Who better than librarians?
Whether or not library buildings will continue as we know them, I don't know. Certainly for the near future they will have to since everything is not online. A concern I have is that users will assume that only those things that are online are valuable. Or that important information will be disregarded because it isn't online.
I hated it when database vendors first came out with full-text only searches because it suggested that all you needed was online and students then didn't know anything else even existed. Maybe the exact information you are looking for hasn't been digitized yet. Using full text only you'll never know. There have to be some people who know about that information and can get it for the researcher, or the curious. Easy isn't always better.
I also think, like some futurists, that each library will need to specialize in local information, and diversify holdings to ensure greatest availablility and preservation of materials. No library has ever been able to hold everything. Now more than ever, libraries need to share collections and specialize in what matters most locally.
This has been a great learning experience. Thank you CDLC and Polly.
Thing 9:ebooks
I've been waiting for this one. Although I've been reluctant to jump into ebooks, I think I'm ready now. I see a real advantage especially for travelling. No need to lug around a ton of paper.
When I was working, I use NetLibrary and project Gutenburg books. I was glad to learn of so many more places to access free ebooks. All the classics are there! And I like the idea of having access to vast libraries 24/7.
Like many other technologies, I don't believe ebooks will ever completely replace paper volumes, anymore than television replaced radio. Different strokes for different folks.
When I was working, I use NetLibrary and project Gutenburg books. I was glad to learn of so many more places to access free ebooks. All the classics are there! And I like the idea of having access to vast libraries 24/7.
Like many other technologies, I don't believe ebooks will ever completely replace paper volumes, anymore than television replaced radio. Different strokes for different folks.
Sunday, May 15, 2011
thing 8: video
Love the videos. There are so many about so many things. I've learned some knitting techniques and got some clarifications for other techniques I needed. I have mainly used YouTube, but occasionally get to another video site.
Here is a video I like:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/-aSg_So59bc I think most libraries should be able to do better.
I'm having a great time exploring: sewing, gardening, knitting, home remedies, humor...
I did experience some difficulty with some YouTube videos with buffering, I think. Some of the videos would stop to load every few seconds; others seemed to work fine. I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I even tried another internet connection with the same result.
Here is a video I like:
http://www.youtube.com/embed/-aSg_So59bc I think most libraries should be able to do better.
I'm having a great time exploring: sewing, gardening, knitting, home remedies, humor...
I did experience some difficulty with some YouTube videos with buffering, I think. Some of the videos would stop to load every few seconds; others seemed to work fine. I couldn't figure out what the problem was. I even tried another internet connection with the same result.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Thing 6
I love online webinars! I've used them for software instruction for my embroidery software, for learning how to make a small, soft cloth doll, and oh yes, when I was working I communicated with colleagues.
Thing 5
I'm behind and we even had a week off. This is such a busy time of year. I've been planting bare-root trees, starting vegetable plants and wishing it would stop raining! My network connection is still giving me fits. The tecnicians cannot agree on what the problem is, so I'm stuck with hauling my laptop to a hardwired connection to check my email and do work on-line. Big pain in the neck.
Too wet for golf. Hoping for better on the 19th.
Too wet for golf. Hoping for better on the 19th.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Thing 4
OK, I admit I'm on Facebook, but not very active. All I can think of is those nasty things people used to write on the inside of the bathroom stalls in middle school, and that they are no longer limited to a bathroom door. What kind of cautions should we be practicing? Once it's out there it's forever! A bit scary to me.
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