So what have we learned with Learn & Play?

Wow! We are at the end. It is finally here. I see others who are still catching up, and know of many who will still the next few weeks to complete the 23 Things. But is only just dawning on me that I am done and feeling a little let down. It has been wonderful to participate in an activity like this with lots of other people involved. I think that it is exciting that CML to is behind this initiative to educate the staff about Web 2.0 tools, if for no other reason than for them to be aware. I know I heard some frustration from people about how much time it took to do each of the tasks. The time involved really varied, depending on either the persons familiarity with the tool (if you knew nothing it might take longer figure the basics out) or their interest level with the tool (if you were just checking it out, you could get it done fairly quickly but if you really wanted to understand it, it might take longer). I do not think it is necessary for people to continue using all or even most of the Web 2.0 tools. If you have found some gem in the pile, that's great! At the very least, when our customers talk about one of the tools we have a clue what it is they are talking about.

MOLDI

I kinda feel like I'm cheating on this one. I have an existing account arleady with MOLDI. I recently came to CML from another local public library system, and I was their MOLDI rep, attending the annual meetings to determine where the focus of the money should be, who was interested in obtaining download stations (so glad to see CML has one in AV at Main!), etc... This is not at all new to me, though I realize there are many who have yet to discover it. For those of us who love to listen to audiobooks the potential for this iniative is exciting. But having been a longtime user of it, I have two quibbles with it. The first is small - is there a worse acronym in the world than "MOLDI"? I keep thinking of bad rhymes with 'old moldy librarian' in them. Not a good image. The second is much larger - and potentially damaging for users - when will iPod users be able to download audiobooks too? I realize that the issue is not with MOLDI itself, and rather with OverDrive who runs the system. But there are so many users they are alienating right from the beginning by not downloading to iPods. Just my thoughts....

Podcasts

I have listened to podcasts before and even subcribe to a couple on my Google Reader account. The most useful feature for listeners of Podcasts is that they can do it on their own time. One person might have time to listen in the morning but another not until the evening. And both can access the Podcast and listen at their convenience. The most useful thing for podcasters is that there is the opportunity to get their message out, whatever the topic, to a wider variety of people than a simple broadcast would.

YouTube!

I have teenage kids and was exposed to YouTube years ago. We have spent more time laughing over videos they have brought me over to their laptops to see than I'm willing to admit. I have never posted a video there myself, but I have seen some work by family members (posting a video from a class, a video of their kids for the holidays, etc....). Because humor is very important to my family, and humans in general, and many of us here have feline companions I want to share a video I recently uploaded to my Facebook page for my friends enjoyment. It is part of a series of animated shorts about "Simon's Cat" and this one is entitled "Cat Man Do". I hope you enjoy it too! (As an aside, I have a cat who does the "face pat" too).

CML's Tool Box

Wow! Has it really been that long since my last post? Today I spent time exploring CML's Tool Box of Web 2.0 tools. I feel good that I recognized all of the items listed, even if I didn't always use them. Played around a little on Boing Boing, already subscribe to the RSS feed for MAKE, and spend WAY too much time on Twitter already. Thinking about downloading the Library Toolbar at home. Good jumping point for those who are new to the whole Web 2.0 thing, but not necessarily interesting for anyone already living it. Wish there was some note on the page, however, indicating to newbies that this is only a sampling and not necessarily the full experience.