Wicked Mutant Librarian

Gratz!

2008-01-09T23:43:00.000-06:00

Congratulations to all the iPod winners! Way to go!

Lolcats

2007-12-28T21:21:00.000-06:00

Alas, another reason why cats will never be allowed in libraries. Ever.

Thing 23 (At Last!)

2007-12-13T15:19:00.000-06:00

What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
I agree with Old Number 14 -- creating my blog was fun, and looking at other people's blogs was also fun.

How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
This program has made me more aware of specific websites (ones that I might not have used otherwise), such as Thinkfree.

Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
Since I'd never even created a blog before, I was surprised at how easy it all was.

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?
How about ensuring off-desk time (at work, not home) to accomplish this project?

If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?
Yes.

List 3 things you will use in your work life or home life.
Last.fm
Library Thing
Del.icio.us

Thing 20

2007-12-07T14:38:00.000-06:00

I've been playing in the SPPL Sandbox Wiki by adding a few things here and there, then editing my additions like a crazy old bat. Cuckoo, I know, but then again, I am the Wicked Mutant Librarian (cackling madly)...

Family Art (Just Had To Share)

2007-12-04T09:11:00.000-06:00

Drawing by my great-grandfather, Oscar S.

Doodle by my nephew, Stefan B., age 8.

Thing 17

2007-11-29T00:07:00.000-06:00

Here a tag, there a tag, everywhere a tag, tag. Old McDonald had a tag...

Seriously, I'm not sure if I agree, disagree, or feel a bit of both about this folksonomy article from the NY Times, but tagging would make searching library catalogues much easier, especially for patrons, so that's a major reason to support it even though it's a bit controversial at the moment. Oh, and I'm sorry for disturbing your slumber, Mr Dewey.

Thing 21

2007-11-28T12:45:00.000-06:00

Having never used an online word processing site before, I decided to try Thinkfree. I thought it was cumbersome at first, but then again, I was trying to figure it out (editing, saving, sharing, etc.) during some "down time" -- hah! -- in between helping patrons on a Saturday at Highland. Not surprisingly, it took me quite a while, on and off, to compose my Alchemist review, which I then submitted to Booked in St. Paul. At least all's well that ends well, eh?

Thing 22

2007-11-23T12:26:00.000-06:00

I've used Pandora for a while, but I might switch to something new now: Whilst browsing the list of Web 2.0 award winners, I came across Last.fm, a website where users "scrobble" tracks which collectively help to build a vast social music platform. Cool. I also created a playlist and added the widget to this blog. Check it out...

Kiernan & Lovecraft

2007-11-18T19:45:00.000-06:00

One of my favourite writers, Caitlin R. Kiernan, discussing connections she sees between H.P. Lovecraft and King Kong. Can't wait to see the whole documentary!

Thing 19

2007-11-12T17:09:00.000-06:00

Assorted library wiki sites:

Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki
Wikis and Libraries: Resources, Articles and Links
Using Wikis To Create Online Communities

Info galore.

Thing 18

2007-11-12T12:53:00.000-06:00

After reading a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and the future of libraries, I think Paul Miller, writing in Ariadne Issue 45, has a great take on this. He states:

"Libraries were once the guardians of knowledge, and the point at which those seeking knowledge would engage with it. With the rise of Google, Amazon, Wikipedia and more, there is an oft-stated fear that many users, much of the time, will bypass processes and institutions that they perceive to be slow, unresponsive, unappealing and irrelevant in favour of a more direct approach to services offered by others that just might be 'good enough' for what they need to do."

This being the case, libraries need to challenge these perceptions and reach out to these users in ways that will engage them. According to Miller, libraries should "push their genuinely valuable content, services and expertise out to places where people might stand to benefit from them; places where a user would rarely consider drawing upon a library for support."

I couldn't agree more: As library workers -- the Bastions of Knowledge -- we have to take the leap of learning and incorporating Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 into our repertoire or suffer the consequences. In short, evolve or die.

Boo!

2007-10-31T10:22:00.000-05:00

Something for Samhain:

Reading the Gothic Podcasts

Bloody good.

Technorati

2007-10-30T23:01:00.000-05:00

Explored Technorati, created an account, claimed Wicked Mutant Librarian, and added a widget to this blog. Wee!

Edit: Decided to change my username on 12 November 2007. Had to close the old account and create a new one.

Thing 15

2007-10-26T22:16:00.000-05:00

Created my own searchroll with Rollyo, titled it "Dark Fantasy Authors," and added a widget to this blog. I'm adding to this searchroll as I think of more authors who I've personally read and can recommend, so it's a work in progress.

Flickr

2007-10-26T22:12:00.000-05:00

My Flickr page.

Warning: Very Furry.

Thing 16

2007-10-24T11:20:00.000-05:00

I first heard about the Del.icio.us website during my MORE training this summer. Now, finally, I've created an account and added a widget to this blog. I can definitely see the potential for having all of one's bookmarks on a page that can be accessed anywhere, both for work and personal use. Hence the mixture of websites that I've collected so far...

Thing 13

2007-10-22T17:48:00.000-05:00

Today I played around with an online image generator and made my own tarot card: High Priestess gone wicked. The fun never ends.

Thing 12

2007-10-22T16:36:00.000-05:00

Came across a website that had listings for library-related blogs and feeds from all over the world. Interesting. I set up a Del.icio.us account and bookmarked some of them there. My favourites so far: LibrarianInBlack, Library Geek Woes, and PaperCuts. There's something for everybody, that's for sure.

Thing 14

2007-10-21T20:30:00.000-05:00

Created a LibraryThing account and catalogued some of my favourite books. Also added a widget to this blog that highlights those said books. Fun, fun! :)

Thing 10

2007-10-18T14:57:00.000-05:00

Looked at the NetLibrary website and shopped around, so to speak. Not long ago, I learned how to download audiobooks, thanks to Barb P. It'll be interesting to see how popular these become, once they go live. Hmmm...

Thing 9

2007-10-18T13:08:00.000-05:00

Recently found a decent article about locating podcasts. Perused Feedster, Podscope, Podcast.net, the Podcast Network, and Open Culture. Also listened to Edgar Allen Poe's "Tell-Tale Heart." Thump, thump.

Thing 8

2007-10-17T20:49:00.000-05:00

As you can see, I'm doing these 23 things a little out if order. Turns out, I've discovered the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly that is YouTube quite a while ago. I have, however, never investigated sites that let users upload and share videos, so that's what I did today -- checked out Metacafe, Eyespot, and Castpost. Oh, joy.

Also found a clip of Leslie Cheung practicing Peking Opera (which I love) for his part in Farewell My Concubine, one of the greatest films ever. Two thumbs up!

I Vant To Suck Your Blood!

2007-10-15T21:49:00.000-05:00

Just had to post a picture of another cat of mine, Olivia. ;)

Thing 11

2007-10-15T13:58:00.000-05:00

Added a link to my public Bloglines account to this blog and subscribed to some feeds. Maybe one day I'll need feeds for my feeds...

Thing 7

2007-10-15T12:33:00.000-05:00

For my blog post about anything technology related, I'll just say that I've been thinking about the ideas that the Internet alienates people by eliminating face to face contact and that the Web brings people together via Myspace, chat rooms, online gaming, etc. Both ideas have merit, but for me, the way I look at it is this: Technology is here to stay, so be optimistic and move forward. In other words, embracing change may be hard, but getting left behind is harder. Survival is *not* optional.

Thing 6

2007-10-13T19:44:00.000-05:00

Just created my own mashup of a trading card depicting a gothic dinosaur I saw on the North Shore of Minnesota this fall. :)

Thing 5

2007-10-12T22:11:00.000-05:00

Played around with Flickr today and created my own photo page, starring one of my cats, Devon. Meow.

Thing 3 (Part II)

2007-10-12T21:37:00.000-05:00

Easiest habit for me: Play, when I have time (I admit, I love computer games).

Hardest habit for me: Using technology to my advantage, simply because I need to learn more about and routinely use a wider variety of technologies that are out there.

Thing 3 (Part I)

2007-10-11T18:17:00.000-05:00

Although I regularly read my favourite authors' blogs, I've never created one of my own. So this is it, my first blog and my first post!