CDPT23 #3

My online presence. Has certainly changed.

It is time to work on a personal brand.  I can think of three separate times when I've Googled my name. The first time I didn't even do the searching, and hardly anything came up--it was when I was shopping for my laptop.  The second time was for Library 2.0 Nebraska, and it was interesting, since I knew there were at least two other people with my name. But in the mean time, Google's search algorithms have improved, I've responded to blogs, written blogs, and gone on Twitter.

I've always tried to remember that whatever I write here is going to stay here. And anyone may read it.  But I have lost my temper. And I have a quirky sense of humor. Goodness knows I'm not always concise or clear when I write. And I can write. Usually? ;-)  Both my blogging and my blog comments need to stay professional. But Twitter is more casual, even when it's professional. And the Facebook page I have is personal, which is why it;s been languishing this year. But to be truthful, I was overwhelmed with the number of hits I found through Google.

CPD 23

New 23 things program, and the first thing is to give a reason to go through the 23 things. It's not my first jaunt through this type of program, but I enjoy learning, and this offers a program taylor to library use. And has a slightly different slant. Not to mention a national and international flavor. It also may force me to go outside the 23 things with my blog for once. I'd also like to refine and revisit some of my original skills, too.

I've had a look at the other US bloggers, and feel truly left in the dust. I watched the initial webcast, but since that was only an hour, I could spare the time. It was FYE (fiscal year end), and we had to use up funds. So, included with the usual hurry was ordering and reordering (titles that weren't out yet, but that we needed to encumber funds for...). In other words, some additional madness. It all is taken care of, at last, but I'm far behind. But then, I'd gotten used to having a month to get a thing done in.

But at least some of the US bloggers aren't too far ahead...I can catch up. Maybe.

Thing #45

Behind again. I'll have to write this in pieces--or I'll never remember what ideas go with each software.

BLOGGER
And I'm still not certain I'm in the correct time zone, although the time remains correct. So far. Way too much info about time zones! But a lot of good info about set up. I never know what to put when setting up a new software. How much to share, my real name, to link it to my other accounts, etc.


There was a hoax on Twitter just yesterday that took in a lot of peopl, sign up for connect.me, and many did, without knowing what it was, by giving them their Twitter sign in. Who to trust, what to email

GMAILI hadn't been using Gmail, just my hotmail/Live mail. So I had to set up in Gmail. Now I see why it was touted. All of this is making me want to check my settings in Outlook and Live/Hotmail, and other software I've been interacting with. I had noticed a change with Netvibes I need to consult with someone about--I've already tried to figure that change out for myself.

A WORD ON SIGNATURES
Outlook is my email at work.  So I haveseveral, with the account numbers for the different vendors, or when I forward  online newsletters, the passwords needed to read the newsletters. Signatures sometimes need to be taylored to be recieved in plain text or  can be designed in rich text, in color, italicts, calligraphic texts, and more. It all depends on the audience, the effect, the information, you need to portray. Study some of the signatures you get from vendors for ideas.

GOOGLE READER
Worked on putting my existing blogs in folders, and changed the setting to latest. I think I'll like that. But it had been a while, and I couldn't remember which blogs were from "NE Learns", some searching I'd done for Acquisition & Collection Management blogs--found a few this time on Technorati, and randomw ones I'd found through readings.

FACEBOOK
There is something about the settings in Facebook that always make me want to go crosseye. I think it's the trade off between security and searchability, which I ran into looking for a girlfriend's page. I'd always thought her name was fairly unique. Wrong! But I did discover I could see what my page looked to the public. I'm thinking of loosening up, so I can be found. I have to think about it.

Thing #43

I don't usually go this far, but this time I overachieved. I've struggled for years to find out what's going on in this town, and still am. And here's why.

I looked at Patch, Outside.in, Placeblogger, and a site I found myself.

Patch is adding the country, one state at a time, and acting like the local paper. In that capacity, it will, eventually be a good substitute. But it will take a looong time, I think most of the states shown only have half the state actually set up. Weather, news, crime, sports, classifieds, businesses, ads, a map ( I mean, a map--boon to newcomers and locals alike in the larger towns like Lincoln!) And adjustable and addable. Just slow moving. And getting around in it is easy, so very familiar. I looked at St. Charles MO, and at DesPlaines, IL. DesPlaines even has a Q&A section, with answers to "best hamburger in town", "best pizza in town", etc., and with comments already. But I found it a little harder to get out of each town and back to Patch. But it it doable.



Outside.in was much more disappointing, at least the day I looked at it. It does aggregate newspaper articles, but how up to date is it, and who's keeping it updated? Under the headings to the left, we have no: High Schools, Libraries, Colleges or Universities. Unless you look under the general heading of "Get News About Schools & Libraries", and this gives you: Nebraska Association of School Boards, Union College, Counseling & School Psychology Clinic, Bryan LGH East College of Health Sciences, Southeast Community College Professional Development & Customized Training...., Trinity Lutheran Church and School. Under businesses, there are 62, with several Medical services and hospitals there, not to mention out of business companies. And I thought it wasn't the Westfield Shopping Center anymore? I definitely found an about of business shop under Jewelers--please hold nasty catcalls, it's where I had my watch batteries put in and jewelry repaired. We won't even mention the bookstores--Lee's was still there, of course, and when you clicked on it, no new stories on this business. But when I searched Barnes & Noble, Lincoln, Nebraska, in the blank, the Lee's going out of business story came up. Plus stories about the other B&N. And Indigo Bridge Books wasn't listed, ether.

Placeblogger has some possibilities. The search engine is terrible, unless there's a secret that I didn't figure out. I did use the hot buttons in our text, but after looking at these, I tried to find a few other cities in contiguous states--apparently there's no one blogging about Ames, Iowa; Des Moines, Iowa; or Iowa City, Iowa; or Colorado Springs, Colorado. But, oh, my! are they blogging about Denver. And this is where I ran into my complaint about the search engine. I put it in with the city, and country capped, and found Denver mid way down the page! But this is definitely what the site should be about! The Lincoln and Omaha sites aren't much, Chicago, pretty good. But you really should hunt up Denver. Maybe it's just that bit larger, or something.

Patch, I think, is the best of this lot, and I think a spot on it would be good for a library, just as one would in a local newspaper--new books, book reviews--preferable by locals, story times, program announcements and times, hours, any weather closings, etc.

Outside.in really needs some marketing and someone local to keep it up, in the manner of Patch. It's news aggregator engine needs fine tuning, too, but the links on the side need to be linked to the searching, somehow. I don't remember getting a story off a left hand link. If I did, it wasn't recent. And the links need updating badly.

Placeblogger need marketing too--aggressively. I feel there are a lot of blogs that could go on here that aren't--Lincoln Chief of Police, jumps to mind, for one. And, it too, could be monitored for age of submissions. But this is a place libraries could easily link their blogs too. All of these sites are wonderful ideas for the new, and non native residents of cities, large and small.

I think as libraries we need to monitor, and then participate in the Hyper local service that our patrons are using. Or possible lead them to it. Placeblogger could benefit from LCLs making a few email requests of fellow blogger, like the Lincoln Chief of Police to join and provide more local information.

To be perfectly honest, some libraries already provide some local information on their web sites--but they could benefit from a service like Patch. Especially if their local newspaper has closed. I mean--maps! Businesses! Current events! Best Hamburgers!;-)

I did find a site for Lincoln, Nebraska, not quite so social, but enough so, URL HelloLincoln.com, businesses, maps, opinions both pro and con under"Hyper local & Reviews of Businesses". And events, and yes, there was something going on at Barnes & Noble, and at Bennett Martin, and a Power Farming at the Lincoln Lancaster Event Center...I do have to report that the security on my computer did eventually freeze this site, so there could be a problem with it. On the other hand, I may finally find out what's going on in town before it happens.

Thing #42

Tweet, tweet, yourself, already.

Ok, I couldn't resist. I can really see this working for the libraries and for librarians with services, such as story times, special programs, reference, and even advertising new books, etc. I'm not in that category so it's different for me.
But I didn't remember working with Twitter except for a little searching for tweets about my home town etc., so went a little further, this time, put up my picture, entered info in my bio, and followed more people. I even have followers, this time. I think it's connected to my blog, but I'm not certain. And what others twitter about can be interesting, since I'm following libraries (Omaha Public, Lincoln Public, New York Public, and British Public...real spoilers the last two.) I have written a few tweets, even. And responded to a couple. Although no one has responded to my first one, and that's the one I really wanted to hear from.

I don't see the libraries using it much as a conversation, though. Some do make conversation starting comments, but often its more of an announcement of an upcoming event. And a box about "Twitterquette for Institutions" comments that it should be a conversation, not "a broadcast medium".

I'm also following a couple publishers (Tor--Science Fiction, Penguin--paperbacks), and Penguin, of all things, is following me back.

My next challenge tweeting will be adding a web site, still haven't done that. I've known about tiny.url for a long time, but never used it, and soon I may have to.

I was going to go on and do the next step, then read the articles, and felt like it was all well and fine, but what did it have to do with me. But I came back to it, and tried Twellow, looking for other professional librarians on twitter. And using "librarians" in the search mode didn't pull up as many hits as using their Twellow Categories--libraries and librarians are on page 10. So I clicked the "add me" to the category, so I'll show up. Most of the librarians who twitter are reference or tech librarians, it seems. But I found a few more folk to follow, even some I knew, who hadn't popped up with the first search. And then there's the Twellowhood, click it and get a map of the world, click on the area you're interested in, down to the state/province level, and it lists the cities, and the number of twitterers there. Some very low numbers for some of our small towns, like my home town-2, the country seat-6, but Norfolk was 130 I think. There may have been more, actually, these may only be the ones listed with Twellow. And not as many buisinesses as I would have thought.

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.

http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5853448300527813539&postID=350863056685318153

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

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5853448300527813539

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.

http://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=5853448300527813539

Thing #27

Part 1.
Well. A bit hesitant about doing anything with Facebook, with all the press about it. People putting up too much information, or saying too much, being indiscreet, indiscreet photos, etc. But, well, it's a learning experience. And it certainly has been! Much harder than it looks. Blogging is easier! Butting new things on the blog is easier! I still can't find new apps!

But I have done some new stuff--there's a photo on my profile--still don't have one on my blog. And friends added. I've added a group from our list, and one I found myself (knitting). The parameter I used for choosing the group were--large group, since the smaller ones seemed likely to really be frends, and the other things that were going on at the large group--not just events, but blogs, a link to a new site I'd read about. Since I'm looking to this group for advice, I wanted a large one that might have an archive to search. I also have found that you can find a lot of things when you search through Facebook. Not to mention topics/information gets posted there. I ran accross this in my reading in my email:

Well, isn't that fuzzy. It's a snippet from Information Today [newslink@infotoday.com], an email information news link I get. I thought it was interesting tthat a Company that puts out the Consumer Confidence Index would use not only Twitter, but Facebook for business purposes. And getting the snippet there was an education in itself, too--it's a jpeg file, not a simple copy and paste operation, and it didn't take me forever to figure out! Ha!

http://www.blogger.com/posts.g?blogID=5853448300527813539&searchType=ALL

Thing #26

WorldCat.org. I wasn't initially excited. Searching for titles in WorldCat for ISBNs, for information, even to find titles on subjects, seems to have led to a "so what" attitude. Well, this is a whole new ballgame! I like the lists, and the sharing of lists. Definitely a tailor made social application for librarians, and people who think like librarian, or just like books.



And just as requested in the homework, I created a profile, edited, favorited 2 libraries, made 2 lists, and am "watching" two lists. I didn't review anything, or tag anything, but may sometime. I did email one of my lists to my hotmail account--there seems to be more than one way to do it. I tried to do it the hard way, first, of course, so now I have a Gmail account.



I wonder if school and public libraries in the same towns could use this so share Summer Reading lists (from school), and Summer Reading Program lists?



And think of all the teaching & library students who could create all sorts of helpful subject lists, by grade level, subject, etc., for classes?

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Thing 25, #2&3

Weeeellll. Slid into the assignment #2 a different way, of course. It all started out decently enough, but I looked up the Library Commission, and, lo and behold, there was an obvious mistake I'd been told about by one of the vendors. So I thought I'd fix it. Plus one of the four pointers were pointing to the middle of the intersection of 12th and N. We aren't there. And we aren't in Texas. So I merrily proceed to the next step, never wondering who is supposed to really do this. Fortunately, the person heading the assignments is the one in charge of these corrections, and has been trying to get the Commission out of Texas for a while. Now she's trying to get us out of the intersection, too. Lesson learned--read the next paragraph before trying out the fun stuff!



I did work with the "getting directions" especially since I keep "losing" the South Walmart. I keep forgetting the east/west street it's on, and how far out it is. It's a little disconcerting on the satelite view, since it hasn't been built yet--and it's all built up now! A mini mall, separate food places-fast & slow, etc., and businesses across the highway, too. So that's what I did for my map--laugh if you want, but when I was buying cat food on Old Cheney, I managed to get to and from Walmart without calling the Mounties. Which would have been embarrassing this far from the Canadian border.



I think Google Maps are really impressive additions to social networking for Libraries--show how to get to your library, what it looks like, what you have inside, provide coupons for first timers, first time card holders, coupons for fine forgiveness for certain days--whatever your imagination comes up with! Bookmobile routes, I think someone mentioned, I thought was a really cool thing to show on a Google Map. Maybe coordinate with the local bookstores, too, and other important points of interest. (Like the libraries and bookstores in neighboring towns?) Hmm. http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=5853448300527813539&postID=8342580170875171819

Thing 25, assignment 1. Google Maps

All right, the address we're sent to is the capitol building of NE--you can tell that from the satellite view, and that's were you can see the color of the cars around the capitol. Actually, it's come up at a great time, since there was an article in the paper about those circles in the courtyards--originally there were to be fountains in them. But the state ran out of money, since they built the new state capitol during the Great Depression. So, a state legislator decided it would be a great 4th grader project to raise the money for the fountains?! Of course, his idea was that we were in a recession, there was a nice parallel to it. I have to admit though, the green circles do bother me on a design level.

I love the street level shots in some cities, but in Norfolk, NE, it just made me disoriented. It was great to cruise Tokyo, and Edinburgh that way, but Norfolk never looked right. Wisnser, NE, on the other hand, looked fine. I do like the satellite views, and they do help me find things. I was trying to use the directions to find a tea shop here in town, that I thought would be easy to find--and was glad I looked on the satellite views first! For the store I chose, there were four possible locations--but one of the satellite views ended in a residential crossroad, another, out in the country, and the third was in the north! I still have to cruise to the locations of the two stores and check out what I saw on the map.

I really liked playing virtual tourist with the Eiffel Tower, although again, street view just didn't engage me. I really liked the street views of Tokyo, better photography? It seemed like you could really zoom in on things, that you weren't able to in street view in the smaller towns. And, of course, the kangaroos were fuzzy--both types of fuzzy. The photos are what I enjoyed most--when you put them in context of the maps, they're really more meaningful than, say, in an album.

And, it's really great that it allows for correcting, and suggestions about questionable content--you never know what a camera could pick up just going driving down a street.

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Thing 24

Well, I did want to try out Twitter, and Google Apps. The Twitter entries for the area I'm from were different than I'd thought they'd be. The bulk of twitters on the first pages of any town I searched was for help wanteds, and they weren't all for fast food places, either!

I was disappointed in the lack of twitters about the library, even here in Lincoln. Of course, I just realized, I could have tried Love Library, but no one was twittering about Lincoln Libraries or any of the branches. Still, an interesting exercise, and a valuable tool.

Someone at work remarked that it was the 20-30 year olds that were Twittering, and that is a group you'd want to market to.

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