This is the official blog of the Brevard County Libraries 23 Things project.

Scroll down to see earlier Things, or click on the Thing # under Labels.

Some Final Thoughts

The last activity for the 23 Things program was to blog about the program.  Here's a sample of some of your thoughts:

I learned a lot through the 23 Things program. I feel like I am more in touch with the latest technology, and I am more confident in my abilities.
This was such an interesting and invigorating exercise.

I have learned so much through this process, and had fun while doing it.

Everything I learned will help me become a better informed librarian which helps when I'm helping other people.

Great learning experience.

I have to say, too, that this program was a real boost to my computer confidence.

The 23 things program has opened my eyes to so many things that are out there available for use that I didn't even know existed.

We HAVE to keep learning, reading, growing and being a part of the world that we actually live in, not the work environment that we wish still exists. Skills like the 23 things are so important in keeping us fresh, and relevant, and helping to prove to the world that libraries are still necessary and have something to offer them.

Great job, everyone!  Keep learning.

And the Prize Winners Are...

The three special prizes generously donated by the Brevard Library Foundation have been randomly awarded as follows:

Dell Mini Netbook:     Ivy Hover, Melbourne Public Library
Kindle:                        Irma Fordham, Melbourne Beach Public Library
iPod shuffle:                Gary Russell, Palm Bay Public Library
           

Special Drawing Prizes
Courtesy of Brevard Library Foundation

Congratulations!

Our 23 Things Program Has Ended

Our 23Things program ended on Friday, May 27, 2011.

Stay tuned for an announcement of our prize winners.

Thanks to all who participated! 

Tying Up Loose Ends

As we move into the final week for the 23Things program, a few important reminders: 

Check Your Work

You must double-check your work:
  • Check your gmail account for any messages from me
  • Review your blog and read and respond to my comments/questions if necessary
  • Make sure your work on each Thing is correctly recorded:
If you were to send me an email, make sure you sent it to 23things@brev.org
If you wrote a blog post, make sure it is labeled ("tagged") with the correct Thing Number
If you posted to the 23Things wiki, make sure you put your name with your post
Be sure to blog about both parts of Thing 23, Florida Electronic Library and Final Thoughts
Help Sessions

To help you finish, I will be opening the Training Lab at Central for drop-in sessions for anyone needing assistance with the 23 Things. Here are the remaining drop-in sessions:

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, May 19, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm

Deadline 

The 23 Things program will officially end on Friday, May 27. You must complete all 23 Things, per the blog instructions, in order to receive an incentive prize and your name will be placed in a random drawing for one of the three special prizes. The prizes are a Dell Mini Netbook, a Kindle, or an iPod shuffle. All prizes were generously donated by the Brevard Library Foundation.

UPDATE: Blogger Issues, 23 Things Deadline Extended

Here's some important news about the 23 Things...

An update from Blogger late last night says: "Update (5/15 10:55PM PST): Blogger should be back to normal for the vast majority of people affected by this issue -- if posts are still missing, please check your drafts (you may need to republish)."

I have checked and my post from Thursday, May 12 now appears as it should.

However, you must check your own blog. If you posted something and it didn't appear, I have no way of knowing that. I will not be sending additional progress reports.

Please check your blog -- if something is missing, login and go to Edit Posts to see if there are any Draft posts. If so, publish the drafts.

Because of this last-minute delay, I will be expanding the deadline by one week: you now have until 5 pm on Friday, May 27 to complete the 23 Things.

And remember, to help you finish, I will be opening the Training Lab at Central for drop-in sessions for anyone needing assistance with the 23 Things. Here are the remaining drop-in sessions:

Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, May 19, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm

Thing #23: Florida Electronic Library, Final Thoughts







The Florida Electronic Library (FEL) is a gateway to select Internet resources that offers access to comprehensive, accurate, and reliable information. Available resources include electronic magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias, and books, providing information on topics such as current events, education, business, technology, and health issues. This site provides access to a rich collection of databases offered by Gale-Cengage Learning and OCLC FirstSearch, plus a number of relevant websites.

These resources are available, free, to anyone with a valid library card from any public library in Florida. Users just need to enter their Florida public library bar code number when requested.

The Florida Electronic Library is administered by the Florida Division of Library and Information Services.

Resources

Over 50 databases and websites are available through the Florida Electronic Library. Subjects covered include: African Americans, Agriculture, Art, Books, Business, Children, Education, Health, History, and Science. There are even resources for Spanish speakers. They can be viewed alphabetically, or by subject, here.

Florida-specific resources include: Florida on Florida, the Florida Photographic Collection, and the Florida Memory Project.

Special Features

The Florida Electronic Library offers information for all age groups, including homework help for students, resources for teachers, and training opportunities.

The Student Resources page highlights recommended resources for students and is grouped by grade level. Sample resources include Gale’s Kids InfoBits, Infotrac Junior Edition, and LitFinder, plus a link to the Florida Kids website from the Florida Division of Historical Resources.

Recommended resources for teachers include Books and Authors, OCLC’s ERIC and Gale’s Professional Collection. Lesson plans using the FEL are also available.

Training Opportunities are available in different formats, including downloadable on-demand, self-paced classes and scheduled online webinars. The self-paced classes include: FEL Quick Start – General and Academic OneFile Searches, Getting Down to Business: Effective Use of FEL Business Resources, A Healthy Perspective: Health Research Using FEL Resources, and Homework Help Using FEL Resources. Go to “Login/Create New Account” to set up a free account to access these, and other, courses.


Thing #23 Activities: Explore the Florida Electronic Library, Blog Your Final Thoughts

Please note: Thing 23 has Two activities. You must complete both.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

Activity One:

1. Explore the list of resources available through the Florida Electronic Library, here.

2. Select a database and perform a search on any topic. Note your results.

3. Write a blog post about your experience: How can these tools be applied to your everyday work? How can these tools benefit your patrons?     Remember to label this blog post “Thing 23”.

Activity Two:

1. Give yourself a pat on the back for completing this program! Remember, for completing all 23 Things prior to May 20, 2011, you will be eligible for the incentive prize and the prize drawings, you must complete the 23 Things by May 20, 2011.

The Brevard Library Foundation has generously donated prizes: all staff members who complete the program by May 20, 2011 will receive a customized 1GB flash drive! And, their name will be placed in a random drawing for a chance to win one of three special prizes: a Dell Mini Netbook, a Kindle, or an iPod shuffle. Our thanks to the Brevard Library Foundation for its generous support.

2. For your last and final (yippee!) activity, please reflect on your experience in the 23Things program and post a few thoughts on your blog. Here are a few last blog prompts: Which was your favorite Thing? Why? Which activities did you enjoy? How has the 23 Things program affected you?  Do you feel you met the goals you set back in Thing #3?  Be sure to label this blog post “Final Thoughts”.

Thanks for participating in this program!

Your Blog Posts, Broken Links and Other Updates

Hey everyone!  Just wanted to give you an update on our program:
  • I am still catching up on your blog posts. Remember, I read and comment on all of them.  Sometimes I even ask you questions, so make sure you check your blog! 
  • I have been going back through this entire blog trying to fix broken links add some updates to Things.  Please email me at 23things@brev.org if you find a link that doesn't work and I'll fix it!
  • I have prepared a new checklist, reflecting the changes in the topics Things 20 - 23.
    It was sent to everyone's gmail address and is also posted on Sharepoint here.
  • We are nearing the end of our 23 Things program!  Thing 23 will be posted on Friday, April 22.
  • The 23 Things program will officially end on Friday, May 20. You must complete all 23 Things, per the blog instructions, in order to receive an incentive prize and your name will be placed in a random drawing for one of the three special prizes. The prizes are a Dell Mini Netbook, a Kindle, or an iPod shuffle. All prizes were generously donated by the Brevard Library Foundation.
  • To help you finish, I will be opening the Training Lab at Central for drop-in sessions for anyone needing assistance with the 23 Things.  Here are the remaining drop-in sessions:

    Thursday, April 28, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Thursday, May 05, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Monday, May 09, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
    Thursday, May 19, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thanks to everyone for participating!

Thing 22: Library Extras






In this Thing, we will explore some 2.0 tools for book lovers. Websites such as LibraryThing, Shelfari, Goodreads, and others are allowing readers to connect in new ways. These sites can be used to organize your book collection, track your reading histories, and discover new authors and network with a community of other bibliophiles.

Library Thing

LibraryThing describes itself as “a cataloging and social networking site for book lovers”. You can, however, make your account “private” so no one can see your titles. All that is required is a user name and password – you don’t even need an email address! The free account lets you add up to 200 books. Paid accounts with no limits are also available.

Besides adding your titles and tagging them (Thing 9, Tagging and Social Bookmarking), you can also create reading lists, read reviews, get recommendations, participate in forums, and look at the other people’s libraries. You can also search by title, author, ISBN, series, tags and more.

After creating an account, you can add a book to your LibraryThing catalogue by entering the title, author or ISBN. LibraryThing then searches a number of online sources (including Library of Congress, Amazon and about 700 library catalogues) and retrieves the book's data. You can then edit, tag and customize the information for your own library.  You can even create widgets and add them to your blog, like this:



Tour LibraryThing here, then read A Short Introduction to LibraryThing. To view some cool stats about LibraryThing (like the number of members, largest libraries, top books, etc.) click the Zeitgeist tab.

LibraryThing and Libraries

Small libraries are using LibraryThing to catalog their holdings, or highlight special collections. Libraries are using the LibraryThing widget on their web pages or blogs to recommend books and list new titles.  It's great for Reader's Advisory, and can replace card files and reading lists of recommended titles.

Our Own Marlena Harold, Youth Services Librarian at Satellite Beach, has over 800 titles in her LibraryThing account.  She gives here titles star ratings, makes recommendations, and signs up for Advanced Reader Copies.
You can see her account here.

Other Sites for Readers and Book Lovers

LibraryThing is not the only book lovers cataloging site. You can also visit Shelfari or Goodreads. For a comparison, view "Personal Library Tools for Librarians" on slideshare.

BookMooch, Bookins, and WhatsOnMyBookshelf are online book trading communities.

Wondering what to read next? Try these helpful sites: BookBrowse, WhichBook.net, and the aptly-named What Should I Read Next?

LitLovers has great resources for book clubs.


Thing #22 Activity:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Create a free account on LibraryThingIf you already have a LibraryThing account, try Shelfari or Goodreads.

2. Search for and add a least 5 books to your library.

3. Blog about your experience.  In your blog post, include a link to the library you created.  The URL for your library can be found on the Profile tab here:


Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 22”.


Additional Optional Activity:

1.  Create a LibraryThing widget, like the "Some of My Favorite Books" box above, and embed it in your blog. Instructions are here.  (Remember, before embedding the code into your blog post, be sure to click the "Edit HTML" tab above the menu bar.)


Additional Optional Resources:

To manage you collection on LibraryThing, read “Your Library and Your Books” To learn more about LibraryThing, check out the LibraryThing Blog and their ideas blog, Thing-ology Blog . You can also check out the Librarians who LibraryThing group.

The End is Near! Help is Available!

With the posting of Thing 21, we are nearing the end of our 23 Things program.  Thing 22 will be posted on Friday, April 15 and Thing 23 on Friday, April 22.  Then you will have one month to finish up all the Things.  The 23 Things program will officially end on Friday, May 20. 

You must complete all 23 Things, per the blog instructions, in order to receive an incentive prize and your name will be placed in a random drawing for one of three special prizes.

To help you finish, Training Coordinator Susan E. Szymula will be opening the Training Lab at Central for drop-in sessions for anyone needing assistance with the 23 Things.

Here are the remaining drop-in sessions:

in April:

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Monday, April 18, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, April 28, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm

in May:

Wednesday, May 04, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, May 05, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Monday, May 09, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Tuesday, May 10, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Tuesday, May 17, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Wednesday, May 18, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, May 19, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm

All are welcome and no registration is needed. Remember to bring any usernames/passwords for any accounts you have created for the 23 Things.

Thing 21 Virtual Worlds











Wikipedia defines a virtual world as “a genre of online community that often takes the form of a computer-based simulated environment, through which users can interact with one another and use and create objects”. Once they create an account, users interact in these communities using an avatar, or a graphical representation of themselves. They walk, stand, sit, fly (!), shop, chat, and more!  Just like all the user-created content we have talked about in the 23 Things program, you may not like this Thing, or there may be content you find objectionable.

There are many virtual worlds: some are free, others require a paid membership. A few are web-based, but most require special software to be downloaded onto your PC. There are virtual worlds for all ages, too, such as:

• For children: Disney’s Club Penguin, Webkinz, Jumpstart  Note:  sites for children generally have safeguards in place to prevent users from sharing personal information.  Even in chat, the users can only select from a set of scripted statements.
• For teens: Gaia Online, Habbo Hotel
• For adults: Simcountry, Twinity, Entropia Universe, Blue Mars, Second Life

Second Life

One of the most popular virtual worlds is “Second Life”, a massive user-created community. Second Life requires users to download special software, a ”viewer”. You cannot download this onto a library PC, so watch this introductory video to take a peek at Second Life. Then view “Learn the Essential Basics of Second Life” here to learn how to move and interact with others on Second Life. Browse through some of the categories in the Destination Guide to see some of the best locations and creations in Second Life and special events being held “in world”.

Avatars

In this Thing, when we talk about an "avatar", we are not talking about the James Cameron movie, or this. We are talking about a graphic representation of you. On sites such as Second Life, your avatar is the embodiment of you – maybe better. It can look and dress practically any way you want it to! Read about “The Daring Librarian” having a custom avatar created here.

Even if you are not active in a virtual world, you can still have an avatar. You can use a photo, or create some version of yourself, or something that represents you. You can use it on the web, add it to your blog, or even use it on our Spark system.

Here‘s a few examples of avatars:




Avatars created at: DoppleMe, Digibody, The Simpsons Movie, Meez

There are many sites to locate and create avatars. Here’s a few that make it easy to create and save your own:

DoppleMe
Digibody
The Simpsons Movie
Meez


Thing #21 Activity: Create an Avatar

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select a avatar creation site from the list above and follow the site’s instructions to create an avatar. Save your avatar to your PC’s desktop for easy retrieval in Step #2.  HINT: Try creating an avatar and then right-clicking on it to save.  You shouldn't have to create an account.

2. Write a blog post about your experience: Which avatar maker did you select? Add your avatar to your blog post. Here’s a hint: Your avatar is an image. We already added images to our blogs in Thing #11. Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 21”.

3. If you wish to keep a copy of your avatar to use in the future, copy it to a flash drive, or email the file to yourself before deleting the avatar file from your desktop.


Optional Activity:

1. Create an account in, and explore, a virtual world.

From library PCs, you may create accounts and visit Simcountry and/or Habbo Hotel. They do not require downloads.

If you are on your own PC, and would like to explore Twinity, Entropia Universe, Blue Mars, or Second Life, you will need to download their software first.

2. Write a blog post about your experience: Which virtual world did you select? What did you do there? Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 21”.

Additional Optional Resources:

You can find a helpful glossary of virtual world terms here.

For Second Life Assistance, read “Getting Started in Second Life” and the guides on SL for Nowt's “Newbie?” page. To learn about Second Life etiquette, click here. The Help Forum for Second Life can be found here.

To learn more about Libraries using Second Life, view techsoup’s “Using Second Life to Collaborate and Connect”, archived here.

2011 Library Journal Mover & Shaker Gwyneth Anne Bronwynne Jones, often posts about her participation in Second Life on her blog, “The Daring Librarian”.

Special Thanks to Marlena Harold (SBA) and Jennifer Hopwood (FTD) for their contributions to this Thing.

A Week Off!

Since I am out of the office this week, there's no new Thing! 

So...

If you have completed everything through Thing #20: Congratulations, you're up-to-date.

If not: You have some time to catch-up.

If you even haven't started: Why not join us? There's still time!
 
 
Additional Drop-in Sessions Scheduled for April

Wednesday, April 06, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Tuesday, April 12, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Monday, April 18, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, April 28, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm

Drop-in sessions take place in the Training Lab at Central. All are welcome and no registration is needed. Remember to bring any usernames/passwords for any accounts you have created for the 23 Things.

So if you need help catching up -- or even getting started (remember, it's not too late!) -- come on in!

Thing #20: Security & Technology Threats













(Hey everyone, I know your checklist says Thing #20 is "Browsers", but -- due to some technology requirements that we are still working on -- we are skipping that topic for now.  So Thing #20 is Security & Technology Threats instead.)

Our computers, our personal information, and even our reputations are at risk from online security and technology threats. A PC can become infected with viruses, spyware and other malware. You can visit an insecure website, or be a victim of phishing. Our library computers are protected by a number of security measures and maintained by knowledgeable staff. What about your own computer? Here’s some of the bad stuff to look out for:

Malware

Short for "malicious software," malware is software developed to cause harm. Read “What’s the Difference Between Viruses, Trojans, Worms, and Other Malware?” on lifehacker here.

Insecure Websites

Before sending sensitive information over the Net, make sure the website address you are using in secure. In Internet Explorer, look for a Look for a yellow padlock to the right of the address box, and make sure the web address begins with an “https”. The “s” stands for secure. View CommonCraft’s “Secure Websites in Plain English” here to know what to look for.

Phishing

Phishing is the term used to describe an attempt to trick a user into revealing personal information (like social security/bank account/credit card numbers). Watch another CommonCraft video, “Phishing Scams in Plain English” to see how it works.


How Do I Protect Myself?

While nothing can protect you and your PC from every possible threat, there is a lot you can do to limit your vulnerability: update your software, install anti-virus software, use a firewall, use strong passwords and protect your online reputation.

Update Your Software

Keeping your PC’s software, including the Operating System (e.g. Windows) and browser (e.g. Internet Explorer) updated is vital. As problems, or “bugs”, are discovered, developers release service packs or patches to fix them. If you do not install important security updates, you may leave your system open to attack. Your Windows PC can be set to do this automatically, using Windows Update.

Use a Firewall

A firewall blocks unauthorized access to your PC and its files. Windows includes one, make sure it’s turned on. You can also research alternatives online on sites such as cnet.com and pcmag.com.

Install Anti-virus Software

Install an anti-virus program to detect and remove viruses. See pcmag.com's list of “The Best Antivirus Software in 2011”. Some are even free! Paid versions offer more features.

Use Strong Passwords

Don’t use weak password like “password” or “123456” or “abc123”. (Those are all popular passwords, believe it or not.) Unethical hackers, using special software, could figure those out in less than a second! Try one of those weak passwords -- or better yet, one of your passwords -- here to see how quickly it would be broken.

Create a strong password instead. A strong password does not include: a name, your phone/house/social security number or birth date, a place, or even a word found in any dictionary. A strong password should be: at least eight characters; a mix of upper case, lower case, numbers and special characters. But, you must be able to remember it. For some great tips on a technique to generate strong passwords, view Mozilla’s “How to Choose Strong Passwords” on YouTube here.

Protect your Online Reputation

To learn about the long-term risks of sharing inappropriate information on the Web, view Commoncraft’s “Protecting Reputations Online” here. Share it with any social-networking teens and tweens, too.   UPDATE 4/21:  The New York Times Tech Talk Podcast this week discusses "Managing Your Online Image".  Listen here.  The discusion starts about 8 minutes in, at 26:31.

Meredith Farkas wrote about privacy concerns for American Libraries.  Read her column here.

Thing #20 Activity: Blog About Security & Technology Threats

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Write a blog post about your biggest security and technology threat/concern. What will you do differently from now on?  Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 20”.


Additional Optional Resources:

To read more about passwords, read: “How I’d Hack Your Weak Passwords” by John Pozadzides and “How to Update Your Insecure Passwords and Make Them Easy to Use”. To learn about tools to manage passwords, click here.

To learn about how to keep your PC running at its best, read “Resolved: How to Keep Your Computer Safe, Clean, and Backed Up in 2011”.

For general information online safety, try these helpful sites: OnGuardOnline.gov, GetNetWise, the National Cyber Security Alliance, and Norton’s Family Resource Center.

For more information about PC and network security in libraries, view teschsoup’s webinar: “Security Basics: Keep your Computers Safe”. Its archived here. Click the Recordings link.

UPDATES:

View an "Online Security Education" webinar presented by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children as part of YALSA's Teen Tech Week:

Part I
Part II
Part III

Thanks to Marlena Harold, SBA, for the links.

For another take on passwords, read "The Usability of Passwords"Thanks to Diane Vosatka, CLA, for pointing me to this post.

Progress Reports and Other Updates

No new thing this week, but we do have progress reports, updates, and a couple of requests:

Progress Reports

This week, progress report emails were sent to all registered 23 Things participants!  Please check your gmail account to see yours. 

If you believe you have completed more Things, or you didn't receive a progress report, please ensure that you have "reported" your progress as directed on each Thing:
  • If you were to send me an email, make sure you sent it to 23things@brev.org
  • If you wrote a blog post, make sure your post is labeled ("tagged") with the correct Thing Number
  • Make sure your blog post addresses the points/question(s) in the step-by-step instructions 
then send me an email telling me which Thing(s) I am missing.

By the Numbers

Here's where we stand with the 23 Things:

  • 19 Things posted
  • 119 staff members participating -- one of whom registered just yesterday! 
  • 81 blogs created
  • More than 1,500 blog posts
  • 1,200+ emails sent

Request #1: Read Your Blog Comments

Be sure to read the comments on your blog. I read each and every blog post and comment on almost all of
them. I may have even left a question for you!  So be sure to read and respond as needed!

Request #2:  Help a Colleague

If you are all caught up, or have completed a Thing that a colleague is struggling with, please offer to lend a hand.  Why not share your new-found knowledge?

Request #3:  Recruit a Colleague

Please invite a colleague who is Not participating to join us.  It's Not too late.  At the very least, I want to break the 120 participants mark -- and with 119 staff members already registered, it shouldn't be hard.

Almost Done!

We're in the home stretch.  We only have four more things!  Don't worry, after Thing 23 is posted there will still be time to finish.  The deadline for completion will be one month after that last Thing is posted.

Thing #19: Search Engines










We have all used search engines to find information on the Web. You may use Google, Yahoo, Ask, Bing, or any number of other search engines every day. In Thing #19, we’ll be looking at these, meta search engines, and exploring some lesser known, specialized search engines.

According to Wikipedia, a search engine is “designed to search for information on the World Wide Web. The search results are usually presented in a list of results and are commonly called hits. The information may consist of web pages, images, information and other types of files.“ The most commonly used search engines include Google, Yahoo, Ask, and Bing.  Infopeople, a staff training site from the California State Library, offers a nice comparison of search engines and their features on this chart.

Meta Search Engines

A meta search engine searches other search engines. Your search terms are searched in several popular search engines and the results combined in one set of results. Metasearch engines include metacrawler, ixquick, and zapmeta. The meta search engine Yometa searches Google, Bing and Yahoo, reporting the results in a Venn-diagram type display.

Specialized Search Engines

There are also hundreds of specialized search engines – ones that search for a particular type of media (like podcasts), content (like blog posts or tweets), subjects or even geographic areas.

Here’s just a few:
  • Find Sounds for sound effects
  • Technorati to search blog posts
  • SlideFinder searches Microsoft PowerPoint presentations
  • Topsite claims to find the Best sites for a particular subject
  • TOPSY offers real-time searching of the social web and can limit searches to only tweets
  • Rollyo allows you to create a custom search engine using sites you trust
Even More Search Engines


Internet Consultant Phil Bradley’s list of 150+ general web search engines can be found here and his website has more helpful information, including a list of search engines by country.   NoodleTools, an academic site, offers starting points for different types of searches here.

  
Thing #18 Activity: Explore Search Engines


 Step-by-Step Instructions:


1. Perform a search on any topic using your favorite search engine. Note your results.

2. Select another search engine and repeat the same search. Note your results.

3. Select a meta search engine and repeat the search a third time. Note your results.

4. Write a blog post about your experience:  Which search engines did you select?  Compare your search results. Which meta search engine did you use?  What results did you get? Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 19”.

  
Additional Optional Resources:


Ask.com com offer s a searchable help database, and Frequently Asked Questions, here.

Bing offers a help page here.

For Google web search help, click here. For information on Google’s search features, click here.

Help for searching in Yahoo is here.

For general tips, watch CommonCraft's "Web Search Strategies in Plain English" here.

It's Catch Up Week!

No new Thing this week, so..

If you have completed everything through Thing #18: Congratulations, you're up-to-date.

If not: You have some time to catch-up.

If you even haven't started: Why not join us? There's still time!

I believe I have answered every blog post and comment and responded to every email -- whew!  You guys have been Busy! 
 
Next up:  I will be sending an email update to each and every one of you with a status report.  I'll tell you which Things I have marked you as completing.  Please remember to label/tag all your blog posts with the proper Thing number. You'll need to do that to make sure you get "credit" for completing that Thing.

Thing #18: More Google Products






Since the start of our Web 2.0 exploration program, the 23 Things, we’ve been using Google. In Thing 1, we created a free Gmail account. In Thing 2, we created a Google reader account. Blogger, part of Google, was used to create our blogs in Thing 4.   We created an iGoogle page in Thing 15 and looked at Google Docs in Thing 17.  And, believe it or not, those are just a few of the many Google products.

You can use the social networking Orkut, explore and share photos of the World on Panoramio, share your photos on Picasa and edit them on Picnik. Get directions from Google Maps.  Search for Images, News, even a Patent.

This Thing is a chance to explore some of Google’s other offerings. Click here to see Google products and their descriptions. Have fun trying something new!


Thing #18 Activity: Explore Google

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. From this site, select two Google products/resources that we have not previously used in the 23 Things. (Hint: we’ve already used Gmail, Google reader, Blogger, iGoogle and Google Docs.)

2.  Spend some time exploring the two products/resources you selected.

3.  Write a blog post about your experience: Which two Google products/resources did you select? What did you learn?  Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 18”.


Additional Optional Resources:

Though not a Google product, Google doodles -- decorative changes to the Google logo to celebrate holidays, anniversaries, and more -- are a lot of fun. Here’s an archive. The recent salute to Jules Verne is an underwater marvel!

UPDATE 3/25/11:

The New York Times reports Judge Rejects Google’s Deal to Digitize Books.

Additional Drop-in Sessions Scheduled for March

Here are the dates and times:

Wednesday, March 02, 2011 2 - 5 pm
Thursday, March 03, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Friday, March 04, 2011 9 am - 12 noon
Monday, March 07, 2011 2 - 5 pm
Tuesday, March 08, 2011 10 am - 1 pm
Tuesday, March 15, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm
Wednesday, March 16, 2011 9 am - 12 noon
Thursday, March 24, 2011 9 am - 12 noon, 2 - 5 pm

Drop-in sessions take place in the Training Lab at Central.  All are welcome and no registration is needed. Remember to bring any usernames/passwords for any accounts you have created for the 23 Things.

So if you need help catching up -- or even getting started (no, it's not too late!) -- come on in!

Thing #17: Information and Document Sharing

One of the hallmarks of Web 2.0 is sharing -- sharing thoughts, sharing ideas, sharing photos, sharing videos, and more.

In our Web 2.0 exploration program, Brevard County Libraries 23 Things, we’ve been learning about using Web 2.0 tools to share. We can use blogs and wikis to share our thoughts and ideas, Flickr to share photos, and YouTube to share videos. We use Delicious to share bookmarks and social networking sites like Facebook to share, well, just about everything else.

Our own Sharepoint site is also used for information and document sharing. Announcements, shared documents and Carl-X reports are posted there. Youth Services has a slew of helpful link. A committee of Circulation staff used the Circulation Wiki to draft a revision of their manual.

Google Docs which we learned about last week in Thing 16 allows you to invite others to collaborate with you on the documents you create. Here’s what happened when staff members from Minnesota’s 23Things program used Google docs to collaborate on editing and commenting on the Declaration of Independence!

Slideshare

Slideshare is a business media site that allows you to share your Powerpoint, OpenOffice or pdf presentations.

With Slideshare, you can:

• Embed slideshows into a blog or website
• Share slideshows publicly or with a chosen audience
• Synch audio to your slides

Slideshare also lets you create “slidecasts” (slideshare + podcast = presentations with audio), network with others, and easily share content on social networks, blogs and bookmarking sites.

Even if you choose not to add content to slideshare, there are thousands of presentations to browse through. It’s like YouTube, or Flickr, for slideshows!

Here’s a slideshow I found on slideshare and embedded in this blog:

Some of the Most Beautiful Libraries In The World
Click the arrow to view the slideshow.
UPDATE:  Here's a new idea -- posting resumes on slideshare!!


To see what slideshare can do, take this Quick Tour.

Slideshare and Libraries

Libraries use slideshare to promote themselves and to share information with patrons and/or staff.

For examples, view some of these library-related presentations:

Casa Grande Public Library (AZ) offer database instruction
Roselle Public Library (IL) promotes its monthly events
Pima County Public Library (AZ)shared its annual report
Hamilton Public Library (Canada) provides a library introduction for children
Mountain View Public Library (CA) patrons learn to pay their fines online

Slideshare is also a great resource for librarians to share ideas, resources and look for inspiration:

• Former British librarian turned Internet Consultant/Trainer/Author Phil Bradley has some great slidecasts (remember, presentations with audio) like “25 barriers to web 2 implementation”

• Librarian in Black blogger Sarah Houghton-Jan just posted “3.0 tools without 3.0 million dollars” and “Best Free Web Stuff for Broke Libraries”

And, for presentations about, umm, making better presentations, view “Death by PowerPoint” and “The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs”.

Thing #17 Activity:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Search for and view some presentations on a topic of your choice on slideshare. If you can't think of a topic try looking for more library-related slide shows – there are plenty!

2. Write a blog post about your experience: What's your take on slideshare? What uses do you see for it in your library? Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 17”.

Additional Optional Resources:

Slideshare Help is found on its forums.

Optional Additional Activities:

1. Embed the slideshare presentation you selected into your blog post. Here’s some help on embedding.  Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 17”.

AND/OR

2. Create a slide show of 5 or more slides. Create a slideshare account and upload your slide show. Embed it in your blog post. Here’s some help on embedding.  Be sure to tag your post as “Thing 17”.

It's Catch Up Week!

No new Thing this week, so..
  • If you have completed everything through Thing #16: Congratulations, you're up-to-date.
  • If not: You have some time to catch-up. 
  • If you even haven't started: Why Not? There's time!
Please remember to label/tag all your blog posts with the proper Thing number. You'll need to do that to make sure you get "credit" for completing that Thing.  

Thing #16: Online Applications and Tools








What are Online Applications?

Online applications are the web’s version of software previously required to be loaded on your computer (think Word or Excel from Microsoft Office).

These free, or low-cost, tools have many of the same core features, if not all the bells and whistles of costly software suites, like Microsoft Office.

Since they are housed on the web they can be used from any computer with Internet access, without the need to purchase, install, or download software.

In this Thing, we are going to use one such application, Google Docs. We’re also going to read about a concept called “Cloud Computing”.

Why Use Online Applications?

Aside from the ease of access and cost, there are other benefits to using these online applications:

• The interface and features look similar to Microsoft Office products
• Your documents are automatically saved periodically so if your Internet connection fails, your document is not totally lost
• You can open a variety of file formats and versions
• Many of these applications can easily be edited and shared by several users, so they are great for collaborating!

Google Docs

Google Docs, yet another Google product, allows you to create documents, presentations, spreadsheets, drawings and forms online.

View the video “Introducing a new Google Docs” and read and click through this Google docs tour.

Other Online Applications

Google docs is just one of many online applications. Others include: Zoho, ThinkFree Online, and Writeboard.

Using Online Application in Libraries

Online applications such can be useful in libraries for:

• Providing patrons an alternative to costly software suites, as is done at the Monterey (CA) Public Library
• Collaborative working (e.g. on projects) with colleagues,
• File storage, especially if staff works on multiple PCs
• Publish a library operations manuals. See the Mt. Mercy College Library Interlibrary Loan Manual.
• This 23 Things program used a Google docs form to gather information about your blogs in Thing #5.

What is Cloud Computing?

These tools are examples of “cloud computing”. In his article, “Cloud Computing for the Masses”, Greg Cruey provides this definition: “The concept of cloud computing is one of a user sitting at a terminal taking advantage of services, storage space, and resources provided somewhere else – on another computer, through an Internet connection.”

Lots of things we have done in the 23 Things program have been done “in the cloud”. We’ve read blogs, watched YouTube videos. Our blogs, our Gmail, our Flickr photos are not stored on our PCs. They are stored in the cloud.

For an excellent multi-media explanation of cloud computing, read “A trip into the secret, online cloud” and watch the two included videos. (Sorry about the ads leading into the videos :-( but they are short and the video content is good.  

We should always be aware of security concerns and the possibility of limited access or data loss. It’s always a good idea to keep backup copies of very important files and photos. Think “LOCKSS” -- Lots Of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe.



Activity:  Create a Document in Google Documents

Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to Google docs.
2. Login using you Google (gmail) username and password.
3. Click Create new.
4. Drop down menu appears.
5. Click Document.
6. A new, blank document opens in a new window.
7. Begin typing your document. Type your first and last names and a sentence describing your experience with the 23 Thing program.  Notice you have menu and tool bars at the top to edit and manipulate your document.
8. On menu bar, click File, Rename and rename this document “My First Document”.
9. As you work, your document will be saved automatically.
10. When your document is finished click Save Now.  You will be using this document again in a future Thing.
11. Click Sign Out.
12. Close window.
13. The document you just created appears in the documents list on your Google docs screen.
14. Click Sign Out.
15. Google docs sign in screen appears.
16. Log back in again. You should see My First Document on your All Items screen.
17. Sign out of Google docs.
18. Create a blog post about your discoveries: How does Google docs compare to word processing software you’re familiar with? What features did you like/dislike the most? Can you think of any ways the application you chose would be useful to you, or your patrons? Remember to label/tag this post “Thing #16”.


Additional Optional Resources:

About Google Docs

Help for Google Docs can be found here.

View the “Learn More about Google docs” videos on YouTube here. You can also watch the excellent “30DC – Using Google Docs”.

For more information on using Google docs to share documents watch this introductory video: Google Docs in Plain English.

For more information about creating forms, view Using Forms in Google Docs.


About Cloud Computing

This video from Common Craft explains cloud computing advantages for businesses.

For more information, and opinions, on Cloud Computing, read the following blog posts:

Doug Johnson’s “Could you live in the cloud?”
Michael Stephens’ “How Can Libraries Use the Cloud?”
Jenny Levine’s “We’re Not All Ready for the Cloud Yet”
Lori Reed’s “Living in the Cloud: My Top Five Apps”
and
Lori Reed’s “Living in the Online Cloud: The Dark Side”

UPDATE:

Worried about your Google Doc only exisitng in the "cloud"? Read "Backing Up Your Google Docs" from tech-tips.

How to Edit a Post

If you need to go back and edit a blog post -- maybe you want to change what you wrote or add a tag (see *HINT below), follow these directions:
  • Log in to your blog.  Dashboard appears.
  • Click Edit Posts.
  • Click Edit next to the post you want to edit.
  • Post appears in an editing window: 
  • Make desired changes.

  • Click Publish Post.
Don't forget to Sign Out when you are done!


* HINT:  To add a Label ("Tag"), type it in the Labels box at the bottom of the editing window.

Thing #15: Online Productivity Tools







According to a study by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, seventy-nine (yep, 79%) percent of all American adults go online.

Some people feel that the Internet robs them of time. Others feel that the Internet has made their lives easier. Still others may feel a little of both.

You can use the Internet to increase your productivity. In Thing #2, we learned about RSS feeds getting updates from your favorite websites to you automatically. In Thing #9, we explored how tagging can help you quickly retrieve information. Other tools allow to set up online calendars that you can even share with others, create to do lists, manage projects, and set reminders. Others just make it easier to work online.

In this Thing, we’ll introduce a few specialized online productivity tools, beginning with the Gmail account you established in Thing #1.

iGoogle and Google Calendar

Once you created your Gmail account, you also used it to access Google Reader. That same account can give you access to iGoogle, Google Calendar, and lots of other Google products.

Google describes iGoogle as a “personalized homepage”. It has a Google search box at the top and the user’s choice of “gadgets”. Gadgets let you quickly access general information (like news headlines and weather) and custom information (like your Gmail and Google reader accounts, calendars, and more).  

With a customized design, and your choice of gadgets, you really can design your own "page", like this:




There are hundreds of designs ("themes") and gadgets to choose from. iGoogle easily puts it all in one place and lets you access it with your Gmail account and password! Watch this very brief YouTube video, iGoogle: A Mini Product Tour.

Google Calendar allows you to create an online calendar that you can access online. You can share your calendar with others. You can set reminders for events and be reminded by email or text message. Here’s how to set up a calendar in Google.

Remember, you can use these tools for free with your Gmail username and password!

Other Online Productivity Tools

There are many online productivity tools available on the web. Some can be incorporated into your iGoogle page. Some also work with handheld devices like smartphones. Here is a selection of some others you may find interesting and useful. Most are free:

List Makers

Remember the Milk
Toodledoo
Ta-da Lists
Todoist
TEUXDEUX


Online Calendars

30 Boxes
Cozi


Online Note-Taking

Springnote


Project Management

Basecamp (free trial)
Backpack (free trial)


Brainstorming, Mind Mapping, Information Visualization

mindmeister
spicynodes


Activity: Create an iGoogle Page and Explore Another Online Productivity Tool


Step-by-step instructions:

1. Go to Google.
2. Click iGoogle, in upper right.
3. Click Sign In, in upper right.
4. Enter your Gmail address and password to access your Google Account. Click Sign In.
5. Click See Your Page. Note the local weather, your Gmail account, a clock, and other gadgets automatically appear on your page.
6. Click “Change Theme from Classic” and browse for a theme you like – there are hundreds! When you find one you like click “Add It Now”.
7. Click Add Stuff to search for Google Reader. Click Add it Now.
8. Click Back to iGoogle Home.
9. Feel free to customize your iGoogle page by adding, deleting and rearranging the gadgets on your page!
10. Remember to click Sign Out when you are done.
11. Explore another online productivity tool from the list above.
12. Add a post to your blog: Tell us how you customized your iGoogle page and what other online productivity tool you explored. Remember to label/tag this post "Thing #15".

NOTE: If you already use iGoogle, have a look at Netvibes to see what it offers. Add a post to your blog: Tell us how you customized your iGoogle page and what other online productivity tool you explored. Remember to label/tag this post "Thing #15".





Additional Optional Resources:

For additional information on iGoogle, watch these tutorials: How to edit your iGoogle homepage, The iGoogle Online Tutorial Part 1, and The iGoogle Online Tutorial Part 2.

For more information on the use of Google Calendar by libraries, read this post from the “Musings about Librarianship” blog and look at this example from the Ikeda Library or this one from the Cambridge University Library.

Thing #14: E-books and E-readers

E-Readers! E-readers! ereaders! E-Books! E-books! ebooks!

No matter how you spell ‘em, everyone’s talking about ‘em and our patrons want ‘em!

So post-holiday, when folks have their brand-new e-readers in hand and lots of questions in mind, Thing #13 is an introduction to e-books and e-readers.

What is an e-book?

Wikipedia defines an e-book as a “text and image-based publication in digital form produced on, published by, and readable on computers or other digital devices”. It’s not a print book, but an electronic version.

What is an e-reader?

Wikipedia defines an e-reader as “an electronic device that is designed primarily for the purpose of reading digital books and periodicals”. It is a portable device used to read an e-book. There are different brands of e-Books, like Amazon’s Kindle, the Nook from Barnes & Noble, the Sony Reader, the Kobo eReader from Borders, and others. Here’s a comparison of some of the most popular.

How do I get e-books?

When it comes to getting e-books, it all depends on What You Are Looking For and What You Have.

Here’s why:

• There is a common misunderstanding that all e-books are free. A lot of them are, but many of the free ones are books in the public domain, meaning they are not covered by intellectual property rights, or their copyright has expired. They are probably not the latest New York Times best sellers. In other words, you can find free Jane Austen or a copy of Virgil’s The Aeneid, not so much the latest Patterson or Eat, Pray, Love.

As you can imagine, this can be a real disappointment to people who just bought a device and now need to purchase titles to read!

Some libraries are offering services like Overdrive, which allow patrons to borrow new and popular E-books.

• E-books are created in different file formats and not all e-readers use support all file formats. You need to determine which files your device supports and find the title in that format. Check the device, the device website, or Supported File Formats to see what is compatible.

Once an E-book in the proper format is located and if necessary, purchased, it is downloaded to the device.

Sources for e-books

Beside device-specific websites like Amazon and Barnes and Noble, there are other sites that offer e-books. Here are just a few:

The Online Books Page, listing over 1 million books, freely readable over the Internet. Hosted by the University of Pennsylvania Libraries.

Google Books offers nearly three million books in the public domain which can be viewed in full or downloaded for free. Also offers print and additional e-books for sale through a variety of vendors.

HathiTrust contains digitized collections from research libraries, such as the University of California and the University of Virginia. Can browse subject “collections”.

Open Library provides access to 1.7 million scanned versions of book and over 20 million catalog records. E-books are available through the Internet Archive.

Project Gutenberg over 33,000 public domain e-books for free download to PCs and various portable devices.

NOTE: Each site works differently. You may need to set up an account to fully utilize its services. Check the “About” or “FAQ” pages for more details.

NEW:  For info on converting e-books to different formats, see Stephen Abram's post "Converting Ebook formats to make them compatible with your e-reader".

UPDATES: 

Librarian and educator Meredith Farkas just blogged her thoughts in Ebooks and Libraries: A Stream of Concerns. Good post!

Stephen Abrams' blog brought my attention to this helpful "Getting started with ebooks: a beginner's Guide v2.01" , listing different eReaders and their compatible formats; and sources for books and help. It's a cool chart!

Librarian in Black Sarah Houghton-Jan suggests "The eBook User’s Bill of Rights".

New York Times reports "Publisher Limits Shelf Life for Library E-Books"


Activity:

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Use the “Sources for E-books”, above, to try to locate an e-book version of a favorite book.

2. Add a post to your blog about your experience looking for your book. Tell us the sites you searched and whether or not you found an e-book version. If so, which format is the book is available in? Is the e-book is free? Label/tag the blog post “Thing 14”.


Optional Additional Resources:

The Reference Staff at Eau Gallie has created a bookmark of free ebook websites and has generously agreed to allow me to post it on Sharepoint.

Digital Delight, the Tampa Bay Library Consortium’s digital download site, has great Cheat Sheets and other Resources.

The eBook and eReader Guide/Device Comparison Chart from Manatee County Public Library, is an excellent resource. NOTE: It was written in August 2010, so some information (like pricing) may be out of date. You can always check the E-reader manufacturer’s website for the latest info.

Additional Resources for E-books and E-readers in Libraries

Libraries face a number of issues with E-books and E-readers. Read some of these articles for more information:

Playing Hard to Get: Purchasing and Reading E-Books gives a good overview of some of the issues involved in eBooks: DRM, Platform Confusion, more.

For a timely discussion on libraries lending eBooks, read: Will Your Local Library Lend E-Books? (Or Can They?)

Stephen Abrams (remember him?) thinks eBooks are good for libraries and has the numbers to back up that opinion in his blog post: eBooks in Libraries – A GOOD THING.

For a discussion of Content v. Container, read this blog post: What’s a Real Book? by David Lee King.

Thing #13: Podcasting












What is a podcast?

A podcast is an audio or video broadcast that is distributed over the Internet. You don’t have to have an iPod or a MP3 player to listen to podcasts. You can listen to them right on your PC! Note: In the activity for this Thing (below) you will just be listening to a podcast on your PC.

For a quick explanation of Podcasting, watch “Podcasting in Plain English” from CommonCraft here. (Note: this links to Sharepoint and is only accessible in the library.)

When you come across a podcast on the web you can usually listen to it or view it, simply by clicking "play" or "listen". But there’s more! Podcasts use RSS (from Thing #2), so you can also subscribe to them. You subscribe using a feed reader designed specifically for podcasts, called a podcatcher. 

Why is it called a "podcast"?

The word "podcast" comes from the combination of iPod + broadcast. iPods were the first portable devices that had scripts that allowed podcasts to be automatically transferred to the device. You can find more details about the derivation of the term on Wikipedia, here.

If it’s a podcast, don't I need an iPod?

No, remember that although you can listen to podcasts using an iPod or an MP3 player, using a computer with speakers or headphones works just as well!

What about iTunes?

iTunes, from Apple, is commonly associated with podcasts. It’s a great, free tool for finding, subscribing, and listening to podcasts, but it is software you must download and install on your PC. Then you can set up an iTunes account to manage your podcasts, music, videos and more. But iTunes isn’t the only “podcatcher”. Click here for a list of others, including some that do not require software downloads.

Will I have to download anything for this Thing?

No. In the activity for this Thing you will just be listening to a podcast on your PC. No special software, no downloads, no iPods or MP3 players needed.

How do I find podcasts?

There are some easy ways to find podcasts:

• Use a podcast directory, like:
Google a subject, including the word podcast as a search term

• Check out your favorite web sites to see if they have podcasts available

Like YouTube, there’s something for everyone and you may find stuff Not Worth Hearing or Watching.

How Libraries are Using Podcasts

Libraries use podcasts to share storytimes, booktalks, book discussions, author readings, oral histories, or other library events. They even prepare podcasts about upcoming library events.

Here are just a few examples:

For a list of library-related podcasts, visit Podcasting – Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki.

Thing #13 Activity

Step-by-Step Instructions

1. Listen to one (or more) podcasts that you find on:

New York Times Podcasts: Choose a podcast that interest you and click on the arrow to hear the latest episode.


or

Podcast.com:  Choose a podcast that interest you and click play:

then click play again in the Now Playing window:

2. Add a post to your blog about your experience with podcasts. Tell us which site you used (New York Times Podcasts or Podcast.com) and the name of the podcast you listened to. Label/tag the blog post “Thing 13”.

Optional Additional Resources:

For more information about podcasts on iTunes, check out these resources: Tips for Podcast Fans, and FAQs: For Podcast Fans.

For libraries, our own Marlena Harold recommends: Teens Podcasting @ Your Library: A Getting Started Guide. 

Optional Activities:

1. If you have already use iTunes, or another podcatcher, to listen to podcasts, blog about it: What do you use? Which podcasts do you subscribe to? Do you put the podcasts on a portable device like an iPod? Label/tag the blog post “Thing 13”.
AND/OR

2. Consider creating your own podcast. For more information on making podcasts, see iTunes’ Making a Podcast, view Podcasting 101 or other how-to posts from Podcasting News, or try a site like PodBean. If you do, put a link to it in your blog. Label/tag the blog post “Thing 13”.

UPDATES:  The Social Media Examiner just added a quick tutorial "5 Steps to Starting Your Own Podcasting Show".  The Slids and transcripts from David Lee King's "Is this mic on?  The basics of Podcasting" presentation can be found here.


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