Thing #41

Loved the how to do it sites. All sites should be this easy to use! I went to Grasper, Instuctables, and Monnkeysee, and all had good points.

Grasper had more videos on the topics I looked at, or at least had more videos in small segments. Chineese calligraphy was well covered, and there were some lessons on copperplate, too. But the segments on knitting were plentifull. And some were very good, with slow motion and full screen options. I searched for the wider topics I was intersted in.

In Instructables I first used the tabs, and was impressed by the youthfullness of the projects, and the inventiveness and creativity. I did find the search box, and searched on knitting, and found more "how to" type instructions. I was a little disapointed that it was "slides" or "stop action", but when I thought about it, realized this was something that could be printed out and taken to where I knit--which isn't in front of the computer. And there were different ways to display the instructions, too. A little edgier, more fun site.

And the there was Monkeysee. First time I looked at it, I couldn't get rid of the live action ads, and they showed up on every clip I watched. Then there was a little add at the bottom, but there was a X you coul click for that one. The second time was much less ad intensive. This is video again, with stop action, slow motion and full screen. Fewer vids, again, but some that are very well produced. The calligraphy series I watched did advertise her studio, but shse was very good, and had very good advice.

I think these are very good additions to the do it yourself and hobby books that we own and have in our libraries. I know from time to time, I go through my books, and am still not certain what the magazine means by it's instructions, especially if it's a British magazine! But even the U.S. instructions can be confusing, taking for granted that you'll know to do_________ when you get here, in your knitting pattern.

I can see how some might go to them instead of the books, but I really can't think of them as replacing the books. Even a laptop can't be held in the lap while you're knitting--at least not for long, and let's not mention sewing, engine repair, cooking, etc. The laptop is fragile, overheats, doesn't respond well to hot/cold dusty/oily environments, or flour. Neither do our books, that's why for some hobbies, it's best to buy your own....still.

Thing #40

I started with Pixlr, and really prefer it over Aviary. Played with several things before settling down, which is, I admit, a pattern in many of my examples. First I played with a head shot of me, but I lost the example I liked, so it stayed lost. I chose this photo because it was already out of focus. Playing wasn't going to ruin it. One of the things I did was to use the Pastel filter on it, which brought out he center of the daisies. I've tried the Pastel filter on other photos with no effect that I could see. Then I used the Solarized filter on it.


This one I believe I used the Unsharp Mask filter, to soften the hard edges of the snow scene, then used the Vignette filter for the grey edges in the corners (they can be made closer or further away), and lastly, as an experiment, tried the Embossed filter.

Then I tried something in the Adjustment column, I think it was, the column before the Filter column, and used the "curved" effect to get a sort of solarized Blue jay in the snow, but slightly different than the filter.


Then I finally went to Aviary, which in contrast I found confusing. I also had to create another password for it. And then importing was a little more difficult, not much, but a little bit more opaque. After awhile I came up with the below. I think it's the Pointillism filter. Something I don't like about Aviary is that it prints it's title on the picture.When you start saving, it wants you to share it on it's interior social space. It's also set up for "layers" a lot more than Pixlr.


I did try to move a photo to peacock, but never got one over there. I tried to work with other parts of the software, but learned quickly, that I'd no idea what it did. I finally came up with this by using a couple different filters.


I finally went back to Pixlr to try to figure out how Allana had done the Kaleidoscope photo--and at least in part, she moved the picture a half turn, and used the Kaleidoscope filter on it again. At least that's how I came up with the following. She may have enlarged part of her photo.


As you can tell, I learned a little more about blogger, too. I had started the entry, and downloaded the first photo, then tried to do it again, and couldn't that day. When I closed down for the day, I discovered the window behind all my others. When I brought these in , I tried to have them justify left and center, and all that remained, was the justifying center. It certainly is a learning experience.

But this has exposed one to free software that can retouch and artistically restyle photos for the library. And I can see teens at a library really loving this.

Thing #39

Well going in I knew there was more than one person with my name. But it did make a big difference how I searched--full name, full name with middle initial, shortened name, and name with "" around it! Well, sometimes the "s helped.

I started in Google, full name and last name, and of all things, came up with three people finding sites in the first three hits. A geneaology project--Nebraska Genealogical Preoject, Colfax County Press, which had my Dad's obitauary, even though we're from Cumming County. There was another that came up with a totally unrelated Catherine _____ _____ Hatterman, which was interesting. A response to a request for information I'd made to Acqnet-L was there--I'd forgotten all about that. That was the most interesting, and startling thing about this search. Not too many years ago a friend Googled me here at work, and there were hardly any hits--maybe part of a page. On one of my searches there were three pages, and what wasn't people search sites, or geneaolgical search sites, were events I'd forgotten, the few responses I've made to blogs or columns in the New York Times. The most successful search was under the shortened form of my name and last name. That I'd forgotten the items I'd responded to was bad enough, but finding things that I hadn't really attached my name to, like this blog, my Netvibe page online, and my Facebook page, (Facebook didn't really surprise me that much. And the really disturbing ones, like geneaology pages that neither I nor family had entered--I know, because the names attached are totally unknown to me. They had my name, my ex's name, our marriage date, and an approximate divorce year! It also brought up pages from NLC's staff pages, the NLC Commisioners Notes, the Statehouse Observer (15 years of service...). I was surprised. But searching on my name also brought up search sites for names, genealogical sites for names, and most common names by %.

And one site even had the other people with my name, "alias's" (one's married name shouldn't count as an alias!) and addresses. Something of a creepy feeling from that one, too. At least I know the other people by my name are out there, yet. This time I couldn't find them.

Then I tried Bing, on a different day. Same assortments of my name. Bing had a tendency to take my name appart, so it really wasn't great for this exercise. And apparently, my full name happens more often on the genealogical sites. The shortened form did pull up more sites about me.

Lexxe was a much better site for this exercise. Agian, the full name was more genealogical, but the shortened form nearly brought up all the hits that Google did, but Google is still the Big fish in the pool. At least the first two hits weren't searching sites, or genealogical sites.

I'm already in Blogger, Facebook, and LinkedIn, with possibly the most minimal profiles possible, but from a search, you could find out I was a librarian at NLC, my position, my supervisor, etc. However, looking me up isn't as simple as it may seem. There are all those historical Catherines, that aren't even related to me. In Ohio. Greatgrandfather may have gone through there, but as far as we know, he didn't leave any kin there. Actually, a prospective employer searching on my name might need to be a little careful, to be certain he found the correct person, time period, and state of origin. At least for me. An I thought I had afairly unique name, at least the last one!

Thing #38

Ok, the Marketing thing.This one I had to make notes for. First I went through everyone else's blogs, to see what they'd said. One of the points I thought pertinent was that many of her patrons didn't have computers. And from my own experience with cell phones, I know coverage isn't as uniform as one thinks it should be--after all, we're not in the Rockies, but go over a hill and the phone drops your call, no matter how new your phone, or how good your coverage.

But, a good point was raised, that if one missed a program, and it was recorded and stored online you could watch it at a later date. Even if you had to go to the library to use a public-use computer. And that fact could be announced with the announcement of the program in the paper--or in the Library column in the paper!

I had an idea that one might be able to use Netvibe as a home page on the public use computers, and have some URLs there. Like a page devoted to Job sites, or one for home work help sites, or even a gamer page. And even some social networking sites. Although I'm not sure how that would work.

I think that advertising a program on the library's home page blog, the newspaper, and with posters in town would be good. Then videotape/record it, and take still shots as the program is in in process. If it's the type of program that can be totally recorded and archived, that would be great, too. A lot of parents today can't get everywhere they want to due to their kid's activities. Advertise that it will be archived on your website, and that they can come in and watch it on the computers if they don't have one at home. Then afterwards, also put short, edited bits of the program on UTube, stills on Flickr, and connect to your home page.

One thing I thought of while writing this is what a great place the library is when you're waiting for the mechanic to finish working on your car. Could be a marketing program there.

Thing #36

Revisiting Flickr was fun, and the presentation on Webjunction wasn't bad. It would be particularly good for a small public library for marketing purposes. Especially showing all the services, materials, and programs going on at the library. And there are ways of getting around showing the littlest of children during story time--the librarian with puppets, the librarian being animated during the telling, and the backs of the children's heads. Older kids participating in game days at the library. The new book shelf with the latest titles. Maybe even showing the technical services side of the larger libraries--catalogers or acquisitions librarians at work.

What really appealed to me was the sense of creating a historical narrative of the library and the community, that hadn't existed before. Capturing today, while it can be correctly annotated, unlike "Nebraska Memories" where some of the information is sometimes missing or incomplete.

I also really like the concept of using existing photos from one's own library for posters as portrayed in the presentation. A good way to present we're more than just books...or a way to show we''re part of the community...

And uploading pictures has gotten a lot simpler. I haven't tried to do it from home yet, or to share from Facebook, but moving them from the work computer to Flickr seemed much easier this time, especially moving more than one photo at time.

Thing 32

Here's my URL for Netvibes.

Fuzzie Logichttp://www.netvibes.com/fuzzielogic

At least I think I have a Netvibes page on public. It didn't load when I looked at it. I'll give it another try later. I used the Wizard, and then weeded several widgets out. I was really blank about what to put on the pages, really didn't want to make a "library page" Netvibe, and the more I thought about it, added some of my bookmarks via the general widget for comparison shopping for books, a tab for review sources, and a tab for Used/Antiquarian bookstores. I really felt like this was starting to be a page I could use as a homepage.

I'm still uncertain if one can add Facebook, Twitter, etc., without letting everyone in? So I didn't add Facebook after all. I did have trouble adding some of the book store sites, two were too big.

In the end, it's useable for me, and may give others some ideas about how shop for lower book prices online. Once you get used to the sites, it doesn't take too long.

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Thing #30

Finally getting to do Thing#30--which only shows how busy November was. Well, actually started on it, but didn't get to do the blog thing until now. Excuses, excuses.



Here it is. I added Visual Bookshelf, and Living Social Book, which just seems to echo it. As usual, when I was asked what to add, my mind went blank. And then the old favorite popped up-C.J.Cherryh. So I started entering her books. And the software didn't keep up. I think I entered eight or nine titles, and nearly got thrown out my first exposure to Visual Bookshelf. Later I played with entering more titles, and even trying out the recommendation tab--and I did find a few titles I hadn't heard of , but looked interesting. But it does have a tendence to go after authors I have read--and that means I get to add to my "have read" section. But it also means that the recomends have a tendency toward those authors, too.



I'm very suprised at the reading list put up by the recommenders--in there with the "hot" books are classics like Tom Sawyer, and even Shakepearian plays! I'm not sure what to make of the last. Reading the play isn't as much fun as watching it, but I understand in the UK they do have a tendency to watch it with a copy of the play on their lap--at least at home. (I wouldn't lug my copy of the Bard's works to the theatre!)



It is interesting to find out what my friends are reading. Everyone has such different taste in literature.



I did find it more usable for the "layman" than worldcat, although worldcat was more robust for working with. Any time I entered information in Visual Bookshelf, I wondered what would show up next--and it wasn't always a return to the same screen. I did go into Living Social Book which at that moment at leasst, just seemed to be the same thing as Visual Bookshelf! All the way down to the lists! So confused. But I think it will be VB, in the end.



And now to go Christmass shopping

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Thing #28

I really like Google Reader, its easier to use than Bloglines, much easier to add new addresses to, and very intuitive. I really like intuitive, especially at the end of a day. Added the NE Learns 2.0 to my account, fellow learners, and several blogs from American Libraries (educational, of course...well, professional reading, like "Blue Skunk Blog", "Library Law Blog", and "EarlyWord: the Publisher/Librarian Connection"), and of course, I searched and found one for fun, on calligraphy. I'm trying to get an image to "share" but it's not happening. Guess I'd better read the instructions this time! I should have an image as soon as I have it figured out...maybe.
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Thing #27, part 2

Well I'm having fun and learning how to get around on Facebook. It's still a little frustrating from time to time, getting the hang of commenting on someone else's wall, getting used to the comments showing up under someone's original comment, and all. And I finally found the apps. All by myself! Took long enough! And I really need to do sometning about that darn picture, but do I find to upload pictures from home, when I'm there? HA! I finally got a batch printed. But guys, I've got a question. Why do you all take so many pictures of yourselves? Oh, drat, that's right, you're not all single, so those aren't just your own cameras. But, but...I don't take my own picture...(I've tried, they look weird.) I even got the Facebook app., er, whatever on my blog. I've even sighned up for a couple of groups not suggested by our fearless leader, and hope for help on one or two questions I have.

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