Jessi's Log

Thing 24: I'm BACK!!

2009-01-27T17:02:00.001-08:00

Here are some lovely anime avatars of me and Ryan. Don't we look good? Ryan is much tougher looking in real life...also our heads don't take up fifty percent of our body weight...other than that they are pretty darn accurate!

How much have you blogged since you finished the 23 Things On a Stick? Oh...as you can see, virtually none at all. I'm more of a facebook/twitter user these days. I liked looking back on my old posts where I thought Myspace was the cat's meow. I no longer use it at all!

What do you like about blogging? Ummm...prizes? I like finding silly online games and tools. Like gaiaonline.com. It was suggested in the "avatar" comments and I have wasted quite a bit of my free time on it since.

Have you found other blogs to read? I still read "Passive Aggressive Notes" and "Postsecret" pretty frequently. The Huffington Post is a good one too. There are some really great SF reader's blogs too.

Do you comment on others' blogs? Sometimes, mostly if I'm $%#*! off.

Thing 23

2008-04-15T17:21:00.000-07:00

Hey! I did it! I sent in my evaluation and I am graciously awaiting my fabulous prize. Gimme, Gimme, Gimme.

I look forward to seeing more advanced versions of the "23 Things" in the future. My suggestions were for information regarding widgits and more/better online games.

I also look forward to more prizes.

Seriously though, its really important for librarians to feel comfortable navigating these tools, even if they don't use them personally. Our job is still the same, we help people access information. As long as information remains fluid, flexible and growing...then we have to as well. Old school vs. New school should come to an end, we're all in school together. Word.

Thanks for the opportunity to learn cool stuff and make cool things! (I also enjoy the bragging rights of finishing on time. GO ME!)

Thing 22

2008-04-15T17:04:00.000-07:00

No problem. I'm in it to win it. I'm marring a techie this summer who must have and inform on the newest-latest-greatest. But I'm no slouch myself! And just to let you know I'm serious, I added all those really great Blog links from the 22 prompt to my very own blog! That way I can connect from here, "Things" or no.

I also added some links that have nothing to do with libraries, and everything to do with wasting time. So sue me.

I'll try to keep Jessi's-Log going, but I may regress to making silly photo montages for a while. There might be a rash of Wedding shots as well. (I'm not above it, I get to be wedding crazy for at least 6 more months.) But for now, I'll use it as a hub of operations...Heck! I could even link to my Myspace and Facebook profiles from here.

Officially, I'm plugged in...and I'm feelin' the need for feed.

Thing 21

2008-04-15T16:29:00.001-07:00

As I mentioned in Thing 20, I don't have any personal need for social networking sites other than Facebook and Myspace. The folks I'm looking for are all on Myspace, except for the few Facebook exceptions.

That isn't to say that I can't see the value in other sites. For instance, some sites are for people who want to connect on specific subjects (like knitting, or people who have newly moved to a city) or careers (like Dentists or Elvis Impersonators.) Also, some people want to connect for different reasons. (Dating, the opportunity to hang out in real life etc.)

I'm pretty happy with my current site, though, and don't see myself maintaining any more in the future.

Thing 20

2008-04-15T15:37:00.000-07:00

I am a long time member of both Facebook and Myspace. I started my Myspace page during my stint playing Rollerderby as a Minnesota Rollergirl. It gets more action than my Facebook account, which is more geared to my work/school and friends who have rejected the "Myspace culture."

Its true, that Myspace is a bit sleazier, but I don't mind it now that I've changed my profile settings for greater privacy. The great thing about Myspace is that I am almost guaranteed to find the person I'm looking for...including long-lost kindergarten friends and high school enemies. (I love to see former teen "mean girls" relegated to over-worked, divorced mom-hood...Okay, okay, so maybe I'm the "mean-girl" now, but STILL...) Mostly, I use Myspace for social announcements, planning and catching up.

Facebook is a lot less useful to me, because most of my peeps don't use it. (Although there is a growing number of contributors.) It has some other things going for it though. My Facebook account has silly questionnaires and applications that are pretty fun. For instance, I have a virtual zombie I can attack other Facebook friends with. Myspace doesn't have the same kind of innocent sense of play. None of my old nemesis seem to have caught onto this though, so I can't spy on them there.

In short, both sites are good. I would be loathe to start any other social networking accounts, because they seem to only be useful if they are popularly attended. It's about connecting, and if no one you want to connect with is signed up, then you are out of luck!

Thing 19

2008-04-15T15:27:00.000-07:00

Well, I doubt I'll ever become a podcaster. My talents lie elsewhere. But I certainly enjoy subscribing to them. My family likes to update our regular podcasts through RSS feeds. Our favorites include: Grammar Girl (for kicks,) Coffee Break Spanish (for growth,) Savage Love (for shock value,) One up Show (for video games,) and NYC Radio Lab (for the very best of the best.)

I really, HIGHLY recommend the NYC Radio Labs, the subjects are always fascinating, and the content is always amazing. I often laugh and cry, right out loud.

Thing 18

2008-04-07T12:44:00.000-07:00

Why I like You Tube:

Hilarious, completely innovative, new, and great video for entertainment and information. Anyone with video creating capabilities can create something, and find an audience for it. Cool.

What bothers me a little:

Even though the rules state it clearly, the only one making money from You Tube, is You Tube. This creates problem's for people whose ideas and creations are usurped by others. I'm pretty sure the "Chocolate Rain" guy is not making a dime off of his hit song. Thank God for Cherry Chocolate Dr. Pepper... at least now he has "Cherry Chocolate Rain" money coming in.

Thing 17

2008-04-07T12:37:00.001-07:00

Well, I love ELM. I love databases in general, but these are particularly fine.

I enjoy knowing that there is a universally acknowledged collection of sites and resources that every Minnesotan has access to. It is a great tool for developing cultural literacy. Not only that, but you can do it at home! In your pajamas! The day before your work is due! For free! And no teacher, anywhere, can fault your sources!

I always call these "Wikipedia you won't get in trouble for using, where each entry counts as a different source!" Can't beat that.

Thing 16

2008-04-07T12:26:00.000-07:00

The Assignment Calculator and the Research Project Calculator look really cool. As a student, I plan on trying them out for my next assignment. (But I have doubts on my success with it.)

I like that there are useful inks that lead to appropriate reference sources for the chosen subject. But I'm afraid the plan isn't refined enough to be super useful. I think I may be too set in my ways to approach research this way. For instance, I build outlines much earlier than this schedule has me doing. I also need to accomplish a lot more in a day than this schedule allocates work. I wish there was a way to deselect days where you know you won't be working. In that case, I'd have a more accurate, but admittedly less organized, approach for my time line.

I guess I prefer subject based lists (or subject guides) of databases and websites rather than a schedule for attacking a project.

I can see how this would be a great method to introduce to students in high school and college. I have a feeling the results would be a group of students with a a more methodical approach to research...but I personally may have missed this boat.

Thing 15

2008-04-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

Games. I love them. Second Life. I don't like it at all. Thankfully, I don't think second life can be considered a game. (You can see my earlier blog rantings on why I don't like Second Life...suffice to say, my first life suits me just fine!) My Second Life name if Jessi Heston...and I've used her all of two times now.

Thankfully, there are other really great online games available for me to waste precious time with...and I do...a lot. May I recommend adult swim and game tap? The games are great for us older folk, but are too naughty for your average child. I really love "Kill yourself in 5 minutes."

I've never tried Rune quest, although I think about it a lot. The kids around here are addicted. Even when we have console gaming events, they slink out to play online.

Effectively, online games rule. Second Life drools.

Thing 14

2008-03-24T12:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not entirely sure what I would do with LibraryThing. If I didn't already think of the catalog I work with as "mine," I might be prompted to add my personal collection here. But I live in a very, very, very, small apartment. I have had to cull my herd. I'm not sure my personal collection reflects my reading joys anymore...so much as the REALLY expensive books I couldn't simply donate away.

I can totally see the social aspects of the sight being cool. However, I have a profile with Hennepin County's Bookspace.org, and I use it a lot. The social networking, book lists and comments options on Bookspace fill my needs fully. (And I don't feel limited to my poor little collection at home.)

If I were not a librarian...but simply super nit picky, I could see organising my catalog this way.

I wish they had a site like this that isn't just for books, but for collections in general. That would be super fun. I met a man in Malibu, CA who has a HUGE wine collection, and a terrible system for cataloging it. I feel like he would benefit from something like this two-fold. He would keep better track of what he has, and what he needs. He would also have a public forum for bragging rights. (He did come off as the kind of guy who really wants you to KNOW how cool his collection is.) Same goes for my fella, who unfortunately has had to cull his collection too. However, at one point he had the raddest Star Wars collection ever. He's also the kind of guy who would like a nit-picky little system for cataloging it.

See my five titles at:
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/jessi_face

Thing 13

2008-03-18T12:07:00.000-07:00

Which start page did you choose? Why did that one appeal to you? Will you make it your permanent home page?

I have an iGoogle page, and it is currently my homepage at home. (My homepage at work is the library website.) I like that it connects to my gmail account directly, so I can read my emails from there. (My gmail account is my sacred account, I don't sign up for ANYTHING with it.) I have it set to show me new articles that would most interest me as well as the weather. It also collects all of my fellas RSS feeds, so he can update them in one shot...Also it has cute monster graphics, which we like.

Did you find a tool that has some uses for you at the library or at home? Which tool(s) would you recommend to others?

I like the Hennepin County Catalog search widgit. I have it on my myspace, facebook and now my iGoogle front pages. Super rad!

How can the online calendars be useful to you?

My fella is always trying to get me to contribute to his online calender. I'm sort of the social force in our relationship and often make plans for us to go out and play. He wishes (and I most certainly will get around to it) that I put my, and our schedule into it so he knows what's going on. I DO tell him about this stuff before it happens...despite his claims. I also realize we would have a more amicable weekend if I would just sit down and enter the stuff...It's just that there is a lot of stuff to enter. A lot! i already wrote it down in my personal date book, and informed him via verbal conversation....I now realize that is not enough....just don't tell him I said so.

Thing 12

2008-03-18T11:23:00.000-07:00

I dig Digg. When I'm surfing the news, I usually review the "most emailed or commented" articles these sites post. Because, hey, who doesn't enjoy the entertainment factor? A lot of the grizzly, gossipy, low-down-dirty stuff makes those lists. However, I must point out that sometimes it feels less like news, and more like "popular media."

I really try to focus on the Times site, NPR, and my local papers (all online or through the radio and RSS feeds.) There I get a grip on the aspects of the world that are newsworthy, without having that "hot new thing" aspect. Because if I didn't, the only people informing me would be (well lets face it) John Stewart and Stephen Colbert...Oh yeah, and that weird celebrity blogger guy that broke into tears after Brittany's heinous music video awards debacle.

Still, it's cool to have the opportunity to express and enjoy the opinions of other news junkies...because even the Strib is hiding Iraq on page seventeen these days. I'm not interested in what sells papers, (from what I hear NOTHING is selling papers right now...not even free subscriptions!) I just want to know whats goin' on.

So, this becomes my new task. "Digg"ing the stories that have importance globally (Like the Bear Crash), and trying not to digg the stories I couldn't help but read (like about product placement in the new Sex and the City movie.) Which is what I did...However, I can't help but point out that the sex and the city one is still right up there in the top ten "most commented/e-mailed" without my help at all.

Thing 11

2008-03-11T14:26:00.000-07:00

I've had a delicious account for a while now. I really like having bookmarks that I can take to any computer!!! I also like how it recommends web-sites to me based on what I already enjoy. (I found a lot of Japanese street fashion sites that way!)

This has become increasingly useful with each site I want to bookmark. The tags help me keep everything organized and run searches within my own person catalog of websites.

Me likey!

Thing 10

2008-03-11T13:48:00.000-07:00

We use wiki's a lot in Library school. I like them better than the online document generators from thing 9 for collaborating with other people. Not only can you co-create and alter information, you can also post attachments. For me this is a better middle place between emails and online word processors.

I know wikipedia gets a lot of flack because of the fact that anyone can alter the information, and that can often be wrong. But I like the fact that it isn't static, like a book. Wrong information can be fixed, without a reprinting. Also, its a really great resource for PRE research. You may not use that information in your final project, but it is a powerful tool to get your brain thinking about all your options. Finally, wikipedia covers really OBSCURE and/or CURRENT information. For instance: you can read about the concept of sub-culture groups using zombies as a method of social justice...where else are you going to find that?!! Also, as soon as Pluto was downgraded to "planetoid" wikipedia was on it. A lot of my print resources still claim it's a planet! (Of course, I would steer people to a database for this...still its a good example.)

By the way, I edited the 23 Things wiki. I AM Jessi, and I do rule!!!! (Even though it felt a little bit like graffitti!!)

Thing 9

2008-03-10T15:39:00.000-07:00

I've requested permission to alter the Google Doc, but have yet to figure the other one out...

give me some time on this one...

THING 9 CONTINUED:

Okay, now that I can mess around with them, I have some thoughts regarding these tools.

1. I'm not sold on their greater usefulness to word documents. As I have been using Word since I could walk, these applications don't come naturally. I feel like a PC user in a Mac world. Google Docs feels more navigable than Zoho...I don't know if that's just me.

2. I CAN see the usefulness of this if you are collaborating with lots and lots and LOTS of people. All of whom must be comfortable with the shift from Word to "other."

3. I like the ability to offer word processing to people in the library who can't get a computer that has Word programmed on it. In the most busy of times, this is a good alternative. Also, if people don't have email addresses or flash drives etc. (or are simply poor savers!!!) this is a good alternative to lugging the info around or managing attachments.

It was really easy to set up a Google Docs account. No hassle and no advertising. This is why Google rocks so hard!

Thing 8 afterthoughts

2008-03-04T12:11:00.001-08:00

Well, as you can see, I have made a photo cube. It includes pictures of a taxidermized two-headed calf, my cat splayed out in bear-trap formation, me gazing adoringly at the most handsome boy in the world (one flesh, one fiberglass), a giant cement prairie dog, and me dressed as Turanga Leela from Futurama.

I think this stuff is fun, but I hated wading through all those advertisements! Blech. Again, I could see us running a teen tech camp on these topics...but they may have photo cubes down pat. I also realize that I should start taking photos of things that aren't, well, so very very strange.

Thing 8

2008-03-04T12:09:00.001-08:00

Thing 7

2008-02-26T12:13:00.000-08:00

Describe how your library uses email. Has it improved productivity?

Well, yes. I'm in a huge library system and we often collaborate with one and other on programming, policy and training. We also sub for each other and receive system wide alerts. We'd be lost without it. LOST.

Does it sometimes waste our time? ...sometimes...we email each other silly pictures and the like. But that creates and fosters good working relationships and a playful work atmosphere, and it certainly hasn't stopped us from creating and working in a very exciting urban library hub! Anyways, how else am I going to get hilarious pictures of wet cats?

Also, I can email information for patron's to use at home. That's very helpful for me, and for my thankful customers.

Share your thoughts on online reference using some of the other Web 2.0 communication tools.
Are you an active user of text messaging, IM, or other communication tools?

OH! I used to IM, but dropped it pretty much after my "single status" moved to "seeing someone," and then "boyfriend-girlfriend" and now "soon to married." My social life is a little less hectic now that I can just talk to my most recent crush...as he is at the other side of the couch! If I were still single, or working in a place where we fielded IM questions, I have no doubt I'd still be using it. We are connected to coworkers in an IM network, but I usually use that to say howdy to folks at other branches whom I haven't seen in a while. I can only recall one time where IMing was more useful to me than the phone or email when connecting to another coworker. We had a tresspassed individual come into our branch, I quickly and quietly requested the customer's name from a librarian who was at the initial trespassing, fifteen miles away. Very modern Dragnet!

Also, during Library school, we held an online class discussion on a day when we were snowed out. Because we students had already spent so much time together, it worked out really well. I would defiantly do it again in such a situation. I wonder if the event would have gone as well if we had never previously met.

Which OPAL or MINITEX Web conference (Webinar) did you attend? How was it? What do you think of this communication tool?

I visited the OPAL conferences. I do think they're cool. I imagine this would be a really great resource for a librarian working in a small library or a small system who doesn't have the same level of collaboration or programming as I am fortunate to have in my own system. I often feel like the opportunities I have are more than I can reasonably handle. I sometimes have that, "someday I'm going to work in a tiny lake community library and fish for my breakfast and pick berries fantasy." I will certainly be glad to have this as a tool for staying current. I'm glad that these kinds of resources give everyone in the library community an opportunity to thrive and grow, even if they have a more limited budget than some of us big guys.

I noticed they collaborate a lot with second life...I'll admit to having a second-life avatar, but I'll also admit to only using it one time. My bad? I don't know, I prefer a nice real-life conference, where I can shake hands and eat mini-muffins and coffee from a big carafe. That isn't very 2.0 of me, but I'm happy to have that one fuddy-duddy opinion. Sometimes, I think my peers think I'm all 2.0. That clearly isn't the case.

Thug's Life

2008-02-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

I think we should start getting bling like this to amp up our street cred. We could act all casual about it and when we see each other on the street or at the mall, we could knock knuckles. RAD!

How easy was this? very. I just clicked the link and added my tag line. How useful is this? ummm...well, I could help a customer "pimp" a very cool myspace page...although their myspace pages are already cooler than mine. I'm going for a minimalist look!

Thing 6:

2008-02-26T12:04:00.001-08:00

Thing 5 (part duex)

2008-02-12T14:46:00.000-08:00

This was too much fun. Also, I am clearly disturbed.

Thing 5 (part one)

2008-02-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

Puma meets her match staring down the barrel of a gun! That's the last time she'll bite my ankle as I walk by!

The original photo was taken in poor light and had bad resolution. The Flickr photo editing tools helped me clean it up immensely by changing the heat of the flash and the saturation of color. The image is a lot sharper now. I also added a camera border and tag line. Poor Kitty.

I also posted the original, so you can see how much better the new version is!

Thing 4

2008-02-04T15:09:00.000-08:00

I don't have any pictures of my library, but I do have random pictures of cats, zombies, and wild west libraries! They're related, because (in my experience) librarians like cats, have big brains (thus the zombies) and enjoy historical buildings.

I'm glad to have this opportunity to create my own flickr account, it keeps me form piggybacking off the "family account." I'm also glad I'll be able to help someone navigate the process from beginning to end.

Thing 3

2008-02-04T14:20:00.000-08:00

RSS feeds: terribly useful and convenient...especially for the bus commute.

I used to use RSS feeds all the time. I like getting weird radio programs sent directly to my Ipod so I could listen to them on the bus. There are great ones like; Coffee Break Spanish, Grammar Girl, Savage Love, etc. I also would get my library account updated and sent to me, so I would know my due dates.

Now that I'm tooling around in the car, though, I find I use them less than my fella. He relies on them so much that he's MISSED his bus updating them before he goes out the door.

Of all of the Library 2.0 concepts I feel this one will become more and more popular as people continue to rely on personal information/communication gadgets like blackberries, Ipods and Iphones, lap-tops, or even the new readers like Kindle. I imagine all sorts of things will resort to RSS feeds to send daily updates...like credit card bills and gym class schedules...homework due dates...the sky is the limit!!!

(I imagine in the future -when we all wear spandex and drive in flying cars- that RSS feeds will be sent directly to the chips we will inevitably install in our brains!)

Thing 2

2008-01-26T13:12:00.000-08:00

Library 2.0 doesn't appear to be different from Library "The Original." As a profession, we have always been dedicated to giving people the newest and best access to information possible. If it within the vast reach of Libraries, I am proud to say, we make it happen. If the future of information is collaborative and community based we're already ahead of the game, the technology of Library 2.0 is simply, to me, just a new way we approach those ideals.

One thing that worries me about the terminology, is that it can be alienating for Librarian's of the Old School, as well as our less techno-literate patrons. It's important to remember that these are simply tools for doing our job, not a rewriting of what our job is.

I for one, am happy that high-end technology, gaming, and user friendly online resources are promoting what we already do. Our role as guides is even more vital in a new world where information availability and expansion can be daunting for even the most web-savvy.

I look forward to the future of librarianship as we continue to evolve to meet the needs and desires of our patrons.

...It's also all TERRIBLY cool. We are SUCH hip things, aren't we?

Thing 1 Continued.

2008-01-21T14:00:00.000-08:00

Setting up a blog and adding an avatar proved pretty easy. I was tempted to go with a space theme, as I am a Star Trek nerd. But I decided to be professional instead. I've never had a blog before, except for a random collection on my myspace page. I'm not sure what major contributions to the world of information I'll make in this blog...except perhaps updates on how my wedding planning is going. I'm not sure "Wedding Planning" will accumulate a particularly rapt audience, as I don't enjoy it much myself.

Even so, as long as this blog detailing my experiences with "The 23 Things on a Stick" ends with a prize, I'll be a happy girl. I enjoy prizes. Prizes, prizes, prizes!

First out of the gate

2008-01-21T12:14:00.000-08:00

This is my first blog. As part of a program through my work, I am beginning a Library 2.0 training session that includes blogs. I'm also told if I finish the session I'll win a prize, so here I am!

I'm not entirely sure how this blog will develop. I'm not sure if I'll grow bored of it or simply quit as soon as the training sessions are over. I certainly do not make any claims about the value of my individual voice in the swelling ranks of blogdome.

I am a student librarian, going to graduate school in St. Paul, Minnesota. I am an associate librarian in a large metro library system and am very happy with my job. I am getting married this summer to a pretty boy, who is very polite. I live in uptown, and do all those crazy youth activities that us Uptowners are supposed to do. I imagine this blog will evolve along these lines. I will try not to dwell to much on the wedding bit, mostly because wedding planning freaks me out as much as it bores everyone else!

Good luck to me and Library 2.0!