Knowing that tools like Zoho Writer and Google Documents are available and quite easy to use may change the software marketplace. Having just had a problem with my old version of Microsoft Office 2002 and finding that Microsoft says the cause of the problem I was having was my purchased software (theirs) and recommending I upgrade (read purchase) a new version just rubbed me the wrong way. I have the same hardware and operating system as when I bought Microsoft Office and now it won't work? When free online tools are there for use people having this experience may reconsider what their options are. Maybe buying software which quickly becomes obsolete isn't the best alternative.
I edited both in Google Docs and Zoho Writer after I received my invitation to share the document. Both were easy to use, although I did initially have a problem with Zoho Writer, but a quick look at a few things enabled me to continue successfully. Google Docs was quite intuitive for those familiar with basic word processing software and seemed easier to use, but both were acceptable. I looked at some of the other applications, but playing with them will have to wait for another day.
Those visionary founding fathers would probably be amazed at how productive they could be without meeting face to face, although their documents might tend to get buried in the comments and criticisms that they vented into the air and which never made it to print on paper in their own time.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
More Thing 8
Despite dreading yet another login and password to remember I signed up for PictureTrail, quickly and easily uploaded a small collection of photos, and created a slideshow. It took hardly any time at all (once I had the pictures selected!) Then it was so easy to send the slideshow right to my blog. Only problem was that the first size I sent was a hair too big for my post area so it was cut off. So I went back and edited the size, copied the new info and replaced it in the edit html window of my post. It now fit nicely into the space. But rats! As I watched it, I realized that the picture that should have been last was #7. So back again to Picturetrail to edit my creation. And even that was easy..just drag the pictures where you want them and save the thing. The changes automatically show up in your post. It couldn't have been any easier. Wow, am I glad I tried it. I know I'll be back with some other projects I want to share.
I'd highly recommend this to even novice users as it is so easy to use.
My subject of choice was my grandson engrossed in his book. He didn't even know I was taking the pictures of him as he was so taken with the pictures in his storybook. (I think it was Flotsam by David Wiesner, but I could be mistaken.)
I'd highly recommend this to even novice users as it is so easy to use.
My subject of choice was my grandson engrossed in his book. He didn't even know I was taking the pictures of him as he was so taken with the pictures in his storybook. (I think it was Flotsam by David Wiesner, but I could be mistaken.)
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Thing 3 - Redux
I happened upon this blog post which compares the RSS Feed readers Bloglines and Google Reader. It has a nice comparison of features and some thoughtful commentary so I thought I would add the link to my blog so I could find it again should someone ask what the differences are: http://whitneyhess.com/blog/2008/02/bloglines-vs-google-
reader-a-usability-evaluation/
reader-a-usability-evaluation/
Monday, March 17, 2008
Thing 8 - Share Your Creations
Little Mother Cinder took her job very seriously from the day DJ was born and when Elwood was adopted, she watched him too.
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Thing 7 - Web 2. 0 Communication Tools
E-mail is a really efficient tool for library use. It was one of the first tools that my library cooperative in Michigan provided for us. Getting some of the more technologically timid library staff to use it was another matter. However, once they began using it they became devotees. And as it became more commonly used among the general population, it became a good way to let people know about their reserves and overdues. Since the NCLC region area is so great, e-mail is an effective, inexpensive way to keep in touch with member librarians to keep them informed if they take the time to read it.
I use my Eudora program as a big part of the interlibrary loan process. Most libraries requesting materials use the web forms on the NCLC web page to submit their requests. Those requests go to the ILL mail address which is checked on my computer. When I get the requests, I file them in mailboxes by type of library. I can sort them in many ways once they are filed: by name, date, etc. Once taken care of they get moved to a completed mailbox.
I have to laugh when I read articles like this about managing e-mail. Everything suggested in the article as not to do usually is something I need to do in order to do my job. A big part of the job is answering questions and solving problems for member librarians. E-mail is the most convenient way for most of them to get a question to me. They want a prompt answer so I need to check it regularly. Monitoring listservs is also important and often has timely information that needs to be passed along. It only becomes a distraction if you let it.
IM: I've had an AIM account for a long time, but seldom use it. Not many of my friends use IM nor have I found many work associates who use it. I can see the possibilities for reference use in a library, but most small rural libraries have inadequate staff to be able to use it. Another problem would be learning the short cut language for IM or texting. It's like "valley girl" speak and something we'd have to learn and use a lot to remember. I noticed that my gmail account has a chat capability, but haven't yet used it. I will try that out.
I'm not going to be among those who text message. I am not crazy about telephones and make conversations short and to the point. My husband and I share a cell phone which I very seldom carry. When I am out of the office or not at home, I chose not to be tied to a telephone. Nothing is so important that it cannot wait until I get back to work or home. Onstar is my telephone solution for trouble when I am traveling. I don't need an electronic tether. When at the cabin I'm there to get away from the world. Why would I want to bring it with me?
Web conferencing: The multitype directors have been using OPAL for a while now. It is not without its problems but getting there early to work out any connectivity issues works for the most part. Not as satisfying as face to face meetings, but beats having to drive hours for a meeting that lasts less time than the drive takes.
Webinars are also great in that you can attend without having to travel and take a whole day off of work just to go to a workshop. The Minitex webinars have been very helpful. I participated in an ILL workshop this way and was able to ask any questions I had and have them answered the same as if I were there in person. This is great in Minnesota when from November to March we have a lot of "iffy" traveling weather. That Minitex archives them is great too. I've been able to view some when I couldn't fit the program into my schedule as well as direct library staff to them for use.
Meebo sounds like a good idea, but again, it's IM which I don't use much. Webjunction is loaded with all kinds of good stuff. It's really worth exploring if ever there is the free time. I do use it as a resource when I'm looking for particular information they might have. I've found lesson plans for computer applications in libraries put there by staff at the Hibbing Public Library among other things.
I've been receiving the Google Librarian newsletter and using their resources, but it seems to be a sometime thing for Google. They haven't had new stuff since last summer that is specific to librarians. On the other hand, most of what Google has been doing is of interest to library people. Reader, chat, gmail, Scholar..the list just goes on and on. Most of their apps are quite intuitive and easy to try. This is not the case with some other software and application developers.
I use my Eudora program as a big part of the interlibrary loan process. Most libraries requesting materials use the web forms on the NCLC web page to submit their requests. Those requests go to the ILL mail address which is checked on my computer. When I get the requests, I file them in mailboxes by type of library. I can sort them in many ways once they are filed: by name, date, etc. Once taken care of they get moved to a completed mailbox.
I have to laugh when I read articles like this about managing e-mail. Everything suggested in the article as not to do usually is something I need to do in order to do my job. A big part of the job is answering questions and solving problems for member librarians. E-mail is the most convenient way for most of them to get a question to me. They want a prompt answer so I need to check it regularly. Monitoring listservs is also important and often has timely information that needs to be passed along. It only becomes a distraction if you let it.
IM: I've had an AIM account for a long time, but seldom use it. Not many of my friends use IM nor have I found many work associates who use it. I can see the possibilities for reference use in a library, but most small rural libraries have inadequate staff to be able to use it. Another problem would be learning the short cut language for IM or texting. It's like "valley girl" speak and something we'd have to learn and use a lot to remember. I noticed that my gmail account has a chat capability, but haven't yet used it. I will try that out.
I'm not going to be among those who text message. I am not crazy about telephones and make conversations short and to the point. My husband and I share a cell phone which I very seldom carry. When I am out of the office or not at home, I chose not to be tied to a telephone. Nothing is so important that it cannot wait until I get back to work or home. Onstar is my telephone solution for trouble when I am traveling. I don't need an electronic tether. When at the cabin I'm there to get away from the world. Why would I want to bring it with me?
Web conferencing: The multitype directors have been using OPAL for a while now. It is not without its problems but getting there early to work out any connectivity issues works for the most part. Not as satisfying as face to face meetings, but beats having to drive hours for a meeting that lasts less time than the drive takes.
Webinars are also great in that you can attend without having to travel and take a whole day off of work just to go to a workshop. The Minitex webinars have been very helpful. I participated in an ILL workshop this way and was able to ask any questions I had and have them answered the same as if I were there in person. This is great in Minnesota when from November to March we have a lot of "iffy" traveling weather. That Minitex archives them is great too. I've been able to view some when I couldn't fit the program into my schedule as well as direct library staff to them for use.
Meebo sounds like a good idea, but again, it's IM which I don't use much. Webjunction is loaded with all kinds of good stuff. It's really worth exploring if ever there is the free time. I do use it as a resource when I'm looking for particular information they might have. I've found lesson plans for computer applications in libraries put there by staff at the Hibbing Public Library among other things.
I've been receiving the Google Librarian newsletter and using their resources, but it seems to be a sometime thing for Google. They haven't had new stuff since last summer that is specific to librarians. On the other hand, most of what Google has been doing is of interest to library people. Reader, chat, gmail, Scholar..the list just goes on and on. Most of their apps are quite intuitive and easy to try. This is not the case with some other software and application developers.
Thing 6
Exploring all the graphic tools and image generators could be a real easy way to get sidetracked. One thing just leads to another. Big Huge Labs has so many really easy apps and is very intuitive to use. I did discover one quirk when creating a slide show with photos from the web. If I exported it to my blog with their tools, when the slideshow played there was one photo which I had not put into the show which came with it. So I finally decided to just put the link in a list as when I did that only the photos I had included played. Just a little digital quirk apparently. I made a license plate with Image Chef and put it in the sidebar of my blog. For those who don't know, Yoopers refer to those living "below the bridge" in the Lower Peninsula as trolls (yes, the reference is from the folk tale).
My trading card also got posted in the sidebar earlier. And I had to play with Spell with Flickr again to figure out how I got the image to show up so I could help out another blogger. I liked the way the word turned out, so I left it in my blog.
Another person wanted to manipulate her image so I looked for a way to do it and found a possibility that I have to try out myself later.
Just for fun, I went to Findr and searching on the tag snowman viewed a really neat collection of pictures of (mostly) snowmen which was fun...only one photo seemed out of place..but I think I figured out how it got there. (There's more than one kind of snowman, apparently.) I did the same thing with Splashr: My Presentation
These tools which are freely available online are a great resource that cash strapped libraries can tap to give promotional materials a professional look without spending a lot of time doing it. Spending time exploring them is well worth the time and their use is only limited by your imagination.
My trading card also got posted in the sidebar earlier. And I had to play with Spell with Flickr again to figure out how I got the image to show up so I could help out another blogger. I liked the way the word turned out, so I left it in my blog.
Another person wanted to manipulate her image so I looked for a way to do it and found a possibility that I have to try out myself later.
Just for fun, I went to Findr and searching on the tag snowman viewed a really neat collection of pictures of (mostly) snowmen which was fun...only one photo seemed out of place..but I think I figured out how it got there. (There's more than one kind of snowman, apparently.) I did the same thing with Splashr: My Presentation
These tools which are freely available online are a great resource that cash strapped libraries can tap to give promotional materials a professional look without spending a lot of time doing it. Spending time exploring them is well worth the time and their use is only limited by your imagination.
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