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