WRAP UP!

Yes, I'm done. What have I learned this summer.
1) I have learned that it IS time consuming but sometimes in order to reach certain audiences, you need to put in the time.
2) I do see the marketing/publicity aspects of this challenge and will use several things/tools that I have acquired. I will me making a Facebook and Myspace page for the library. I think a wiki would be great for our building project. I also would like to start Podcasts of program info and interview our visiting authors and bookclubbers.
3)YouTube is addicting and fun. Can find some library stuff on there. I had used YouTube in a program before. We had an "Austen-tacious Tea" focusing on the works of Jane Austen. It was fabulous. We had several videos from YouTube that we played. The older generations loved it. And yes, we had a hat contest.
4)I will keep up my blog
5) I learned that I really hated having to set up so many accounts. I realize because different organizations own different sites it would be impossible to link them all together. Google tries, but I really hate my info out there for anyone to have. The great thing is that I can control how much or what info I put out on the web. I will close most of my accounts after this challenge.

I am really glad I took this challenge and I found the most difficult part and the most challenging thing was to find the time to do this. Time is valuable to everyone and it all comes down to how you want to spend it.

Wiki

Wikis are great! Of course, as a librarian, I do have to raise an eyebrow. The Wiki is only has good or creditable as the information given. So, of course, this is with a grain of salt. But I can totally see using it for readers for a library's website and maybe for program news, reading lists, history of your library or perhaps a building project.

Delicious

SAWEET! I totally love this. I wish I had known about this a long time ago. I like this almost as much as I like RSS. This has been very cool and I can totally see the practical, time saving, advantages of this.

Facebook

I did the Facebook thing, but its really thrown together because of the lack of time. A few years ago I had a MySpace and Facebook page for the library and at the time there weren't a lot of people who used it. Not like they do now. I really think Facebook would be a way to reach our younger and middle aged adults. Isn't that why many teens are getting tired of Facbook? Because the adults have taken over with their pictures or their kids, dogs, and blah blah blah. But, for libraries, that is great. Just think of how many moms looking for Story Time programs that we could reach. I think it might be time to bring the library Facebook page back.

This has been a cool experience and I can incorporate these things in our library marketing but, for myself personally, I don't have or want to put that much time into that type of networking. I would rather meet my friends for breakfast on a Saturday morning at a local restuarant and chat for hours over coffee. I'm old school.

Google Docs

I have been using Google Docs for awhile now and I really think they are great. There are so many uses for them. I created a registration form for a book club we are launching. The registration will be automatically put into an Excel spreadsheet and its so easy sneezy I love it.

I also work with a reading teacher at a local middle school and we work on lessons and presentations I do in the classroom. We recently worked on an activity for SD YARP books. It really rocks.

Adding Video

It was much easier than I had thought to put video on my blog site. The Secret Life of Book Carts is hysterical....probably only for librarians, but we have great senses of humor. Enjoy.

Gardening Guy

The Secret Life of Library Book Carts

Podcasts Added

I had a great time looking/listening for different Podcasts to add to my blog site. It was interesting and I do know they can be a great tool to get the word out. Sometimes if people hear someone talk about a book or an interview with someone who has just read the book or participated in a library program, that's all they need to become interested. Sometimes just the written word of an event, no matter how great the poster or flyer may look, just doesn't interest people. That's been VERY obvious to us at our library with the feedback we get from just our radio broadcasting and advertising. I have some ideas for using Podcasts for our library. However, it does come down to time for both me and the reader and if others will actually use it. The benefit; is it going to bring people to our events and through the front doors, or is it just going to be a fun project that takes us away from our costumer service duties? I really think this will have a pay back. More than other types of tech.

Trading Card

That was so easy. It was fun and I realize the photo is usually on of yourself or with your family, loved ones, etc.....but I think if you've read my blog, I'm kind of a private person and don't really want my pic posted everywhere. AND, I thought I would give people a break from Gracie pics. However, she is sooo cute.

Trading Card

Flickr & Photos

I think Flickr is cool and I had forgotten all the neat things a person can do. I agree that a person should have their prescious photos saved, but I'm not so sure I think Flickr is the answer. If I have my photos on a USB drive or CD I can put them in a saftey deposit box or a copy at my sister's or whatever and if something happens to my originals, they are safe. I don't consider them uploaded on a public server as safe. They are not doing us a favor, they are using it for marketing information. Most people could care less about this because if it doesn't inconvenience them directly, who cares??? Something to ponder I suppose.

It is a great way to communicate and of course I can see the benefit for a business, or library. Does the bennies our way the nays? Good discussion question.

Okay, Finally Catching Up

I am finally catching up. I took a few weeks off and now realize I am sooo far behind. But alas, today the goal is to get back to this challenge. Summer reading program over and all, this shouldn't be too bad.

The whole twitter thing is just beyond me as far a patience. Who wants to share the minute by minute play back of their day. It made me feel that maybe I don't have as much important happenings as others. After reading several things on twitter, I realize I was mistaken. I can see the value in it. Like all technology, it started with a great idea and after awhile, people get sloppy and users get so far from its original intent. Like even the television or radio. Both started as we way to get information to the public. Who knew that TV would be filled with reality shows and 24 hour news anchors sensationalizing everyday happenings to fill the hours? So, I think twitter had a great beginning. Short and sweet, to the point and then it really caught on and now some feel they have to tell us when they are leaving their desk to go to the bathroom. Far from the intent I am sure. I can see that twitter would be useful in libraries. Things happen suddenly here...like the building flooding and we must cancel programs. Or, booksale items or new books just off the cart. Could be useful.

Sorry for the rant, but c'mon....do people even read the stuff they tweet?!

Best thing about habits

I didn't realize that I was supposed to actually answer a few questions.
Hardest thing about the habits is probably attitude when crunched for time. I do believe in technology and have set up our online registration for our library programs. Its been a great hit from all areas. Have had parents, teens and elderly people thanking the librarians for doing this. That kind of feedback is magical. It is difficult to get staff to "buy in" to it sometimes but the amount of hours it saves me, is worth it. Are there mistakes and questions? yes, but they can be fixed. So, sometimes just because we are busy, its difficult to change the way things have always been done. This challange I see as a way to get out of a rut and reach out a bit.

I would like to have our librarians in our library blog just to each other. It might help in communication. When more people take this challenge I think they will be more comfortable with technology and not see it as "something more to do" I do recognize and have felt the same way at times.

I would like to see a patron book review blog for our website in the future. I can see the pros and cons with it, but I think it would be a great customer service feature.

Holiday is Over

OK. holiday is over and back to work it is. I did enjoy the 71/2 habits of Highly successful lifelong learners. The title is a bit intimidating but actually they are really common sense. common sense that we all need to be reminded of from time to time. i like the idea of goals and not just floundering about wondering why your situation/life isn't changing because we want it to. this was more concrete. problems as challenges...yes, isn't that what we say in customer service as well? "a complaint is just more information." "we can't change unless we know things are not what they should or could be." yes, it boils down to communication or lack of.

My goal is to do a podcast and my really big goal is to do one that someone would care to listen to. I haven't podcast before so I do recognize the challenge here but not to worry, the journey will be a great one if not just a great story.

Life Long Learning

I finished the first of the 2.0 library challenge and was relieved that I knew what they were talking about. I can't imagine a librarian not being a life-long learner.

First Blog

I can't believe I got to this point without having to call someone. I guess I'm not as technically challenged as I thought;)