#23 Summarize your thoughts about this program and learn more about where to go from here

1.What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? I liked learning about bloglines. I haven't had the opportunity to return and see what new things are on the different blogs that I made feeds for. I really like Library Thing. I want to add all my knitting books to mine. Del.icio.us will be very useful. I want to also put it on my home computer so I can add my favorites there to it and have access at both locations I mainly use a computer. I liked learning about Merlin. I will use this alot to see what new things I can learn.

2. How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? That I still can learn new things and keep on task until I finish. I guess I should try somethings a little longer before giving up and seeking someone to help me. I learned a lot as I proceeded through the different parts. I don't know how much I will remember. I have been helping my supervisor also and I do remember how I did different things. I was a teacher before I became a professional librarian. I love the teaching aspect of librarianship. I was a school librarian and liked teaching library skills. This makes me want to teach some of this to someone.

3. What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?And last but not least… The format and concept are good. So much of it was trial and error. Yes, the different things had directions, but not always good enough directions for those people who really do have trouble with technology. I don't have that much trouble with technoloy, but with this, there were times I got stuck I know that another state designed this and Maryland piggybacked it, but each county could have taken a section of it and tested it to see what difficulties individuals would have and designed a faq section or listed notes that a certain section might prove to be difficult. There should have been more instruction for doing it. Not left us out in the wind. If it hadn't been for Annette Gaskins who came to my rescue quite a few times, I probably wouldn't have finished. There were times I emailed for help and did not receive a response. I would then email Annette and she would come to my rescue. It wasn't until today when I discovered there were comments on some of my posts giving me answers to my questions or difficulties. Somehow we should have been told to check back fot comments to have our questions answered.
4. If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again choose to participate? Yes, I would participate.
5. How would you describe your learning experience in a few words or a few sentences, so we can share our successes It was a good learning experience. We were told it was only 45 minutes a week. It took hours to do some of these sections. We were allowed to play. Some of it was just that - play and I am glad there was time to play. Thanks for giving us this opportunity!

#22 Learn about Audiobooks

I did subscribe to NetLibrary, but HCPL will be dropping this shortly. I tried subscribing to Overdrive, but it wouldn't let me. I guess I have to go to a public computer when we are open. I did see different books which I would like to subscribe to. My supervisor is learning Spanish and I saw titles she could listen to. Overdrive has a lot more Juvenile and YA books. I was extremely disappointed when I looked at the choices on NetLibrary. I often listen to J and YA books on tape or CD. This will be a good alternative to CD and tapes when often the book I am looking for is not on tape or CD and perhaps is available in this manner.
The Gutenberg Project has a lot of high brow titles that I have never heard of.
The proof-reading aspect of Gutenberg was interesting.
I will wait until I earn my MP3 player to download anything.

#21 Discover some useful tools for locating podcasts

I looked at Podcast.net and Yahoo Podcasts. I liked Yahoo best. There are some great things out there. I used to watch soaps and there are some that I wouldn't mind listening to. I found a Meet the Press podcast with Tim Russert. I thought Yahoo Podcasts was more general for librarians. Podcast.net had a lot of academic type podcasts, where a public librarian would enjoy more of those indexed on Yahoo Podcasts. Library Channel and Mr. Nice Guy would be fun and interesting. I added both of these to my bloglines account. I found a podcast about uses of Web 2.0. Podcasts could be very useful to teachers. Librarians also. I liked the way Denver Public Library and Kinkakee Public Library in Illinois had different podcasts. Kinkakee Public Library had an interview with Linda Lowry the author of The Giver. I want to return to it at some point and listen to it. Denver had people reading books. I may tell my friend with a three year old about them.
What did I find most useful? All the free educational podcasts one can use. There is alot of stuff out there I wouldn't take the time to listen to such as radio shows with vulgar conversations and jokes.

#20 Discover YouTube and a few sites that allow you to upload video

As you can see I have added a video as a post. I tried to add its embedded script in a page element, but couldn't make it work. The preview pictures copied. It is a video made in northern Adams County near where I grew up. I knew her parents in high school and they sell great fruit and lovely mums in the fall. If you go to Apple Blossom at South Mountain Fairgrounds outside Arendtsville, PA in the spring or Apple Harvest there in the fall be sure to go to Hollabaughs or Sandoe's Fruit Markets north of Biglerville. Why did I choose this one, because that part of Adams County is dear to my heart.
I think videos could be very useful on a library website. You might want to show one of last year's Gala. There might be some done by authors that could be linked to on Reader's Place. If you have a travel section, could have a tourist spot and change it regularly. I am sure there are more ideas than these.

A Different Side of Gettysburg Pennsylvania

#19 Discover any site from the Web 2.0 awards list

I looked at the foll0wing ones:
Furl
Biblio
One Sentence
Games2Web
Farecast
ColorBlender
YourMini (Widgets)
Wayfaring
Wet Paint
Take ColorBlender, it is probably very useful to someone who is developing a web page. It allows you to develop color blends, but also select from several thousands. It does have instructions on how to use it. It is free and you can download it. Perhaps when the branch has a laptop, our Gaming Club can design their own games using this and some other tools found here. It would be extremely useful to a libraries web designer.
Farecast is very similar to any of the websites available to purchase airplane tickets such as Travelocity or Priceline. You could point it out as a possible website to patrons. I didn't think there was any thing special about it.

#18 Take a look at some online productivity tools

As you can see from the previous post, I wrote a letter using Zoho Writer and posted it to my blog. I also signed up for Zoho Planner and received my first reminder.