The End of All! Thing 23

Wow. The end has come. It seems like it was only yesterday that Sam and I took up the ring and... wait....nevermind. Indeed, the journey has been long and hard and at times very very frustrating. However, my knowledge has grown and with it my ability to help all the masses... aka library patrons. I'm super glad that I was a part of this, and super excited by the sheer amount of information I learned. I thought I was pretty well versed in all this 2.0 stuff, but I was truly suprised! There is so much out there and with more coming out it is great to feel on the 'edge.' To all those who are still toiling, good luck and go crazy! It's worth it!

Keep on Moving! Thing 22

As a person that knows some things about technology, I am dedicated to being a part of the Library 2.0 craze. It is all about staying aware and keeping an eye on what I've learned and what else is out there. I plan to continue blogging, and keeping an eye on the multiple 2.0 sites that I've seen throughout my time doing the 'Stick.' If I stay aware, there is no way that anything can pass me by!

Deep Space- Thing 21

Hmmmmm... life beyond Facebook? Is that even possible!? J/K. I did some looking around, and Gather seems like it could be way fun. As I get older I can see myself looking for a site that caters to individuals my own age. Not only that, but it allows you to really talk in depth with other people about the things you love! (AKA books) Who wouldn't want to hang out on the site? It seems like a way for people to have a book club who may otherwise not have the opportunity. So, I applaud them and their awesomeness!

Face Off- Thing 20

I have had both a MySpace page and a Facebook page for a long long time. I don't use MySpace very often, but am completely addicted to Facebook. It's easy to use and a great way to keep in touch with friends. When I was in college, Facebook as THE way to get into touch with someone. More than any other social network, Facebook is the wave of the 'future' in my opinion.

I'm totally a member of many groups on Facebook. Some of them are silly, some serious, but all help to reflect the person I am. These groups give me the opportunity to connect with other people that share my interests. (I even have a friend who's now dating someone she met in one of her groups!) It's a win win situation for all those involved!

The Pod People- Thing 19

I have been listening to podcasts for over a year now. I enjoy them a lot, they're a great place to listen to other poeple take about the things you love! Usually I find podcasts on iTunes, but the sites that were listed were really easy to use. Podcast.com was especially easy. Just plug in what you want- and BAM!!!! podcasts galore! Most of the podcasts I listen to involve Harry Potter. I'm a HUGE Harry Potter fan, and these podcasts talk about everything from the movies, to the books, to JK Rowling news!

How to spend 10 hours a day on a computer- Thing 18

I'm not going to lie. I love YouTube! I have known about it for a long time, and although I don't usually 'browse,' I have seen tons of stuff on there. I chose this video because Twilight is one of my FAVORITE books, and I am SOOOOOO pumped for the movie!!!! I'd be a bit careful about using YouTube for library purposes, it's easy to see that anything and everything can be found there. Patrons may stumble across something they deem inappropriate and then ask us why we endorse such a thing. However, I can see that it would be beneficial for library staff. We could share videos (perhaps some of the many that I have seen during my 23 Things experience?), advice, and tons of other stuff.

E to the LM- Thing 17

Hmmmmm.... Well, as a Library Assistant I don't use these databases when helping patrons. Like other Assistants, if a situation occurs when a database needs to be accessed, I 'pass it along' to an Associate. (And the Associate, sobbing in gratitude, continues on) However, I use them for myself. It's a good way to see what's out there if I'm going to be stopping at a library farther away and am looking for a book- or if I'm considering ILL and want to know if such a thing may be possible. I used this opportunity to do some more 'snooping' and 'exploring' on what exactly is possible on these databases. So, although I don't use them to help our patrons, I know that they are truly a tool that are patrons benefit from!

The thing I wish I'd known about in college- Thing 16

Wow. Browsing through the awesomeness that is this thing led me to a note of college longing. If only I were still in college I could REALLY use these awesome tools! I was a total procrastinator in college, or at least, I never felt 'on schedule.' These assignment 'calculators' not only would keep me on track, but would help me not freak out and worry that I was behind or that I was forgetting something important. Many individuals that I know would jump at a chance to use these tools, but they are just as unaware as I was!

It would be such a great tool for both students and teachers, I can't see myself NOT recommending it to someone in need of assistance. Not only does it provide an outline, it has numerous links that go into detail on each step! With this tool I can help those who are unfamiliar with basic parts that go into a project/paper/etc... More importantly, these tools allow people to help themselves! As a person that used to tutor, it was really frustrating to help people that didn't even know where to start. They would look at me as if I knew all the answers, and it was hard to tell them that I couldn't 'make everything all better.' With these tools, I don't catch fish for them, I really teach them how to haul in the fish by the armload. And the smell of fish has never been so sweet.

1/3 Life- Thing 15

There are tons and tons of online virtual games. I'd heard of Second Life in passing, but didn't really know all that much about it. There are soooo many online games that they all tend to jumble in my head. And to be honest, the more I found out about Second Life the more scared I got. It seems to me that these sorts of sites can slowly take over a person's life and render them socially awkward. (Or, in many of their cases, MORE socially awkward) I'm not saying that it looks terrible, it doesn't. However, it does pretty much sound like a simulation of the real world (with flying). In that case, doesn't it make more sense to simply LIVE your own life? I'm trying to look at it objectively, but at least in most online games there is a point/storyline/something. Second Life not only seems like a waste of time, it seems to be encouraging the exact opposite of what people should be doing. LIVING. A poor replacement isn't in my opinion 'fun,' its freaky weird.

Booking it up! -Thing 14

Well, setting up an account was incredibly easy and it was tons of fun browsing through all the books. Some of the books I chose were very popular. (Who doesn't love Harry Potter?) Others were a bit more obscure (Caught Stealing, an awesome book full of intrigue and broken kneecaps), but it was way interesting to see how many other people were interested in what I was. I enjoyed paging through the reviews, but I don't know how applicable this is for the library. It may be fun to encourage patrons to join up and explore, perhaps even have a class on it, but I'm not certain that it is easily applicable. Perhaps librarians could use it to help answer patrons questions. How popular is the book? Where else can I find reviews on it? Hmmm... this may require more consideration.

But, while I'm considering- Feel free to glance at my 'shelves.'
Miss Sticky's Library

The Homepage Makeover- Thing 13

My roommate is an individual that LOVES her homepage. She has it set perfectly to her preferences, and spends at least some time on it everyday. There she manages a calendar, creates lists, checks whats going to be on television that night, and sends herself reminders for all sorts of things.

My own homepage (MyYahoo!) has never gotten much time from me. I'd occasionally set it for this or that, but in the end it usually ended up neglected and ridiculously outdated. So, for this Thing I went ahead and tried to really get to know my page. I don't think I'll ever be good at the whole 'calendar' thing. My life tends to be unorganized to a certain point, and now that I'm out of school- I see no reason to force myself to write down the few appointments I have or the work schedule that rarely changes. It was actually a lot of fun to set a background, and go through all the different modules that I could add. In fact, I think I'll actually set it as my 'homepage' on my personal computer. Once I really took the time to spiffy it up, it had a lot of things on it that I'd like to see daily. Sort of like that room you have in your basement that is old, grungy, and no one wants to use. Once it gets a good cleaning, a new coat of paint, and some decoration- it's the hippest place in the house!

So too has MyYahoo! page become something that makes me grin! At home or even at the workplace I could see myself using it to get a quick look at something important (the weather or what movies are showing at the local theater). Do I think that it will become the most indispensable thing I use online, probably not. However, will I use it more often now that I know more about it? Heck yes!

Digging my way into a hole- (Thing 12)

Hmmmm... I would never call myself a 'news' person. Do I watch it if it's on? Well, until they give the weather forecast. Or if they're making something delicious or talking about spring fashions I'll tune in. To be honest, news tends to be a bit repetitive and dull to me. You can only watch them report on the same things OVER and OVER again for so long.

However, what I really like about Digg and other social media sites is that they have a HUGE variety of articles, and a lot of them are ones that aren't seen on other sites. They're the most popular, the oddest, the ones that more reputable sites may simply 'pass' over. When looking at them, I was struck by the massive variety of subjects that were covered. Everything from the humorous to the serious was a click away. Because of the variety, I could see myself glancing at it from time to time for a look at what is going on in the world. Not only that, but because a person can recommend/share/etc an article, the reader has an idea of how many other people have read it and found it helpful. I also LOVE the idea that if I read an article and love it, I can post it to Facebook for my friends to see.

I'm not sure how helpful a site like this would be for a library. While they are entertaining, I for one ran across a few articles that seemed a bit 'R' rated. While for me, I simply blushed and clicked back (Miss Sticky, what are you looking at!), the adult nature makes it less than friendly for a library environment. We cannot police what goes onto these sorts of sites, and if we endorse them openly, there is a chance that children could run across inappropriate articles. So, while I personally think these sites are a fun and fascinating look at internet/news/pop culture, I am less than eager to recommend its use in a professional environment.

Tagalicious- Thing 11

Tag, YOUR IT!!! Naw, I'm just joking. I wont be discussing the most awesome game that many of us indulged in while still children. (And some of us even later...cause honestly, who can resist?) Instead, I'll be delving into the deep dark world of Tagging and Del.icio.us.

Tagging. It's something that you (or in this case, I) see everywhere. Miss Sticky reads a blog, and there are many small highlighted words at the bottom. Some make sense, some do not. If she clicks on one, it'll take her to a new and exciting world...or something. Before this I never really understood tagging to be quite honest. It was something that was done and I'd be all like, "Well, that's cool....what's the point?" So, I can say now that I feel much more 'aware' of the benefits that can be had through tagging. In fact, I have started to tag on my own blog. If anything, it will help me be more aware of what is going on.

Del.icio.us is like a way to 'super awesome book mark.' I can see a lot of positives from using the service. I have (multiple times) been up late at night found an amazing website! I'll bookmark it on my computer, but who knows- the next time I want to look at it ...I may be somewhere else! This would give me the opportunity to really track down and organize my favorite internet sites. But for research, I can honestly say that I can see how this would be extremely helpful for students who are doing TONS of research. Through this site they can organize and do more research. Not only that, but when I was still a student, I sometimes had to print out an article or try and jot down tons of info because I wasn't certain if I could find the site again. Through Del.icio.us, a student can save paper and still have their research materials close at hand!

Bravo!

Wikis (AKA- Can I use this as a source in my paper?) Thing 10

Wikis started to become really big when I was just starting college. (I'll let you guess which year....) At first, I didn't really pay attention to them or give them much credit. Most people (at least my age) have heard of Wikipedia. I heard this site get both a lot of respect and a lot of criticism while in school. Teachers' lips would curl at the mention of the site, and students would pop over to it for a quick look at a subject for a quick study. I for one was a bit unsure of how to feel, but soon enough jumped onto the 'love it' wagon. I love Wikis, because they allow a free flow of information that is continually going to be the newest and most updated. It's bookmarked on my computer and I stop over there at least once a week.

One of my professors (or one of my professors told me about another professor, I can't remember) that HATED all things Wiki tried to disprove their credibility. He purposefully went on a Wiki website that tried to have factual info, and listed incorrect things. Unfortunately for him, within 24 hours all of his 'mistakes' had been removed and he'd received a warning email. Although I'm not sure if Wikis should be allowed as sources, I will say that dismissing them as total rubbish is incredibly foolish.

Four hundred billion seconds ago... (Thing 9)

I played around with both Google Docs for awhile. To be honest, I had a bit of a problem with Zoho. I for one didn't even get it to do all the things that I wanted. Hmph. So, instead I played around a bit (more) with Google Docs. The slide show I published was my first attempt, and it reminded me a lot of Power Point. (My later attempts were even more sweet- but no one can say that hat isn't amazing.) It actually brought back some high school memories...(shudder) I can see this tool be helpful for libraries over a long distance that work together. It could be an awesome communication tool that could allow libraries to really work together. Of course, not to be a Debbie Downer, but although there is potential to use it- I for one am just fine using some of the other tools that accomplish similar things. For me, I've decided that it is all about who can offer the most. This tool, though useful, is somewhat limited. I don't particularly want to have to open many accounts to do all the different things I want to online. If I can accomplish something, even if it isn't as nice, while accomplishing something else, then why bother with having two accounts when you can have one?

I guess I'm just lazy that way.

Where you get to see what makes me tick- Thing 8

Things That I Love to Read

Above there is a link that lets everyone in on what makes me 'me.' Most would claim that my wit and style sets me apart, but in truth, its my mad reading skills (look out books, I'm coming for you...). Making a database was a bit harder than I thought it would be... because again... I didn't read the directions completely. I sort of just went with it. Suffice to say, not doing what I should have done from the beginning made everything a bit more difficult. Hopefully this time I really did learn my lesson. Once I did read the directions, using the 'database maker' was relatively easy. I can see how this could come in handy for patrons. It's a great way to share what you're all about. Because you can do things like add ratings and keywords, a user is able to share so much more than a simple list. In fact, it would be an awesome tool to create a way for patrons to interact with each other. An online community that wasn't as time consuming (or weird!) as many others.

Many online sites allow a user to make these sorts of lists. Facebook has a 'favorites' section, and it has expanded to include bigillions of other applications that personalize a user's Facebook page. Because it is relatively easy to 'share' now-a-days, it does seem a bit like overkill to have ALL of the different tools from the multiple sites. I probably am going to do a bit more exploring before deciding on one to stick with. Otherwise, I'll end up with tons of accounts that I wont even use. (Which seems perfectly ridiculous!)

OMG - Thing 7

Technology and I aren't always the best of friends (why is my computer screen blue and what the heck does that error sign mean?), but if there is one thing that I am pretty comfortable with, its the many ways that individuals communicate online. I may not have been sending email messages to my doctor from the womb, but I sure as heck was sending them in the seventh grade to my current BFF (her name was Katie and she loved horses, piercings, and her mom's porkchops). I never grew up in the age where people sent actual paper letters to one another. Seriously, how many trees were killed so that one person could give a shout out to another? I was a part of the group that created false email accounts and then emailed their crush embarrassing love notes so that the crush would be clueless. Although, I never did that myself, I can count out at least five friends that did (those were the days).

Today, I have four email accounts (one of which I don't even remember the password for and therefore haven't been able to check in 5 months), IM on MSN and Yahoo (although I'm always 'away' so that the people I'm friends with but don't want to talk to never know when I'm around), a Facebook and MySpace account (the MySpace one being old and rarely updated), and I text constantly from my phone (my sore thumbs prove it!). For people who think that online communication tools should be learned because they're the 'wave of the future' I have one comment. What hole have you been living in? They aren't the wave of the future, they are the primary source of communication for millions upon millions of people now. And most of the people that use these communication tools are those who will truly influence what the library will become in the next 50 years.

At my college library (back in the day....cough cough) the librarians had just begun to really embrace the new techno world. You could email or IM a reference librarian, you could be a 'friend of the library' on Facebook. My boss used Facebook to make sure all of her library workers were on the same page, to keep us updated and create a fun space for us all to communicate and bond. Just like how you can order a pizza online (the best idea ever!) so too can you renew a book or ask a question about a late fee or item you ordered. The library has no choice but to move into the online communication world (and most are more than on their way!!), because if the library doesn't go willingly, the patrons will undoubtedly drag it kicking and screaming.

In Which I Have Way too Much Fun- Thing 6

Again, there are so many ways now to connect with patrons on another level. Through this sort of stuff (the many online crazy things you can create using many websites) libraries can hopefully connect with those who are younger and looking for things more 'happening.' Overall, I think that libraries that are familiar with these websites and the possibilities they offer will gain a whole lot more in the long run.

Here I Go Again- Thing Five

Hmmmm....So, this was one of the most fun tasks that I have done so far. Miss Sticky enjoys the fun that can be had through third parties and Flickr. Not only would these help make library posters/websites/etc... more creative, they're also incredibly easy to use. Creating posters for library events using pretend trading cards, movie posters, or other unique qualities could really draw attention to the library. In fact, teaching a class on how to use these item would be equally awesome. I think that there are a lot of things, such as the awesomeness of flickr, that many of our patrons would really enjoy if they simply knew about them. I know that I find it highly enjoyable.

Flickr..... The 'Urgh' factor (Thing 4)

Well, to be quite honest, this was an interesting experience. I ended up opening a Flickr account, and uploading a couple of photos. I also did a lot of browsing. There are a lot of really cool things to see! I don't have a camera, so I had planned on finding on awesome pic to comment on. However, there is either something funky going on with Flickr right now or I'm taking crazy pills, because it is giving me the hardest time. Instead of working....the pictures I try and upload look like little empty boxes. So, I ended up using a photo of my own from a trip to Japan that I'd loaded onto Flickr. Cause of course, that one worked fine. It was taken in Nara, and as you can tell- I had a blast. I'd like to use Flickr in the future. In many ways it reminds me of Facebook, but because it is devoted only to photos, there are many more options. I can see myself using it more as I grow older (its a great place to store personal photos) and no longer use Facebook as much. I'll have to play around with it more, because urgh..... not having it work sort of made me want to throw the keyboard. Of course, I knew that Miss M. (a coworker of mine who usually sits in this place and will from now on be referred to only as Miss M.), would probably be unhappy if her keyboard went missing/broken/etc.... So instead, gnashing of teeth it is.

Really Simple Seriously (Thing Three)

Hmmmm... RSS.... To be quite serious, I've never encountered RSS before. Well, I've seen it from a distance, as if I were watching someone puke from far away. I know they're doing something, I recognize the motion, yet I have absolutely no clue what exactly they're doing. I'm all like, "Why are they doing that?" It all gets jumbled up. So, although I couldn't recognize RSS from far far away, as I got closer I had an "Oh yeah" moment. RSS makes a lot of sense in the information overload world we live in. I hadn't used it before, and to be honest, I'd made due without. However, RSS will simplify my life exponentially. I wish that I'd made use of it while in school. Not only could I have been more up to date with classroom subjects (potentially), but teachers could have employed it to organize their own lives. Come on, let's face it, teachers are wayyyy disorganized. So too does RSS have the potential to help connect people in business settings. Already, I'm excited because I'll finally know when my friends/business buddies, (yes, plural- I am popular), update their blogs. Personally, I am a podcast addict, and this will allow me the freedom to no longer obsessively check the site for possible updates.

When it comes to actually using RSS, it was a bit confusing at first. I may know this and that about the inter-web, but Miss Sticky is still a pupil in many other ways. I wait and watch sort of like a stalker, but not as creepy... or as obsessed. I'm still tweaking my searching techinques. How do I find that obscure podcast and where the heck is its RSS feed!? It will take a bit of time for me to feel comfortable in the RSS world, but it has the potential to knock my socks off. I know it can't be as easy as pie, but that doesn't mean I don't wish it was.

After all, who doesn't like pie?

Technology, the final frontier (Thing Two)

As an individual who grew up in a world that was 'gone crazy' with technology, I can say that many of these 'scary new' things are old cheese. I, like many other twenty somethings, got an email in junior high, have had a MySpace and Facebook account for years, and know that LOL isn't some new plague. (Unless online IM dating is considered a plague, I've seen that strike and it isn't pretty. "U R 2 Cute" Gag.) So, when I first heard about some of the different parts of 23 Things I was left thinking, "so what, this isn't new."

And that's what makes it so unfortunate. The library, like baggy sweaters and the band Poison, has gotten stuck in the not so distant past. While its patrons are busy MySpacing it out, the library worker (especially if they're over thirty, sorry to say) is the one who has the questions. I'm lucky enough that in many ways the library I work at is making the effort to move into the next century. "A computer room? Golly, I'm on the interweb!" We do try to connect with our patrons, and give them what they want. The programs we have seem to be based on what our patrons might enjoy, and it seems to me like we're always looking ahead. Which is good.

With the world hurdling (does that make sense?) itself into an age where all a person needs to survive is internet access, a computer and the website of a pizza delivery place, I almost worry that the library will become obsolete. The library evolves for its patrons, but how much change must happen before a library is no longer a library? I've actually had nightmares about a day when a library contains no books. After all, if they can just be downloaded and read on your computer why have them at all? (Seriously!? Does that not make anyone else slightly nauseous? I must feel the paper and smell the ink!) And, did I spell nauseous correctly? It might be, nausous...no, I think I had it right the first time.

It is a bit weird to see a library really branch out and get 'with it.' (Anyone else have fond memories of card catalogs?)Most of these changes really are for the best, and I applaud the efforts of library workers everywhere. Others though, seem a bit much. A coffee shop in a library? Really, is that giving our patrons what they want or just jumping onto the bandwagon of 'coolness'? Because of the 'hipness' that is found in technology, I sincerely hope that libraries will be able find a balance between retaining their origins and embracing the new world. You know, now that I think about it, this might have all come about because of how much I love history. The idea of so much change, with a disregard of all that has come before, really wierds me out.

If a library no longer has books, just what is it?

Freaking scary, that's what.

Bloggy Bloggy Blog (Thing One)

I, like many, have decided to embark on the wonderful adventure that is "23 Things on a Stick." I'm sure there will be laughter, tears, and keyboard mashing, but with my fellow librarians, I'm sure we can pull through. (Well, at least 75% of us....some stragglers I'm sure will be devoured by wolves or sink with the ship or etc, etc, etc...) Step 1- create an awesome blog that everyone will be totally jealous of. I'm sort of familar with the internet and all its trappings, so this wasn't as hard as I feared it might be. Although, to be fair, I had a wee bit of trouble exporting my avatar. That could be because at first I only sort of read the directions. Bad Miss Sticky! After going back and reading them thoroughly, it was much much easier. Now I can stop and gather my bearings before continuing on. Does anyone else sort of feel like they're on a magical quest? Just me? Give it time.