Summary of the 23 Things

Yeah! I finished the 23 things. It is such a relieft to have this completed. I learned a lot and picked up a couple of useful tools that I plan to use in my work in the New Year. And, hopefully, I will sound more knowledgeable when I talk to patrons about all this new technology.

NetLibrary

I listened to the podcast about using NetLibrary's downloadable audio books from PLCMC's website. One thing I learned is that Overdrive, the downloadable audio book database JCPL subscribes to is better in the sense that you doen't have to manually delete your files. They automatically disappear after the 10 day checkout period. Though, our patrons might prefer the 3 week checkout that PLCMC has for their downloadable audio. I didn't create an account, nor try to download a book from NetLibrary, as I don't have a portable device in which to listen to downloadable audio books.

Podcasts

I read the description of what a podcast was and what it might be used for. I did a search in a couple of the podcast directories for "library". I didn't find too much of interest. I didn't find anything I liked well enough to add to my blog to get updated podcasts sent to the blog. The only one remotely interesting to me was the Thomas Ford Memorial Library teen reviews. I think other teens would like to listen to blogs of teen reviews of books, movies and CD's.

YouTube thoughts

I like YouTube because anyone can put up a video on what interests them. You can find a video on just about any subject. I like that you can share the videos with others without them having to do the search over; videos can be flagged or added to favorites. The comments can be insightful, too. I did a search for "libraries colorado". I liked the one that West Custer County Library did. It was like a video public service announcement for all their library had to offer. I think in small communities such as theirs; you need to prove to the general public that a library is needed. I think their video demonstrated that their library is used for many things. I think it would even help JCPL to do something like this and it put it on YouTube. Not everyone goes to our library website, but they might after watching our video.

Web 2.0 Awards

I browsed the sites on the Web 2.0 Awards. I was happy to note that I had already used Craigslist long before I even heard about Learning 2.0. I'm not as behind the times as I thought. Of course, I had used C'YAAL's PBwiki previously, too. Today, I tried google maps. I have Mapquest for years and for quite awhile have been unhappy with the results. I tried a search for directions that I did last week in MapQuest in Google Maps today. I think they do a comparable job, so I will try Google maps for a while and see which I think give the most accurate directions.

Candy canes gone crazy

I tried to import a file from Word through Zoho, but forgot that in the file I was choosing, the recipe appeared multiple times. Makes my blog look messy, but I haven't figured out if I can edit a post one it appears.

Candy Cane Cookies

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

 

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

 

Candy Cane Cookies

 

¾ c. softened butter                                                        ¾ c. sugar

1 egg                                                                                    ½ tsp. Vanilla

½ tsp. Peppermint extract                                          2 c. flour

½ tsp. Salt                                                                      ¼ tsp. Baking powder

1/3 c. coconut                                                        1 tsp. Red food coloring

 

Cream together the butter and sugar.  Beat in the egg, vanilla and peppermint extract.  Stir the flour, salt and baking powder into the creamed mixture.  Divide the dough in half.  Stir the coconut into one half and the food coloring into the other.  Cover and chill for 30 minutes.

 

Divide each of the dough into 30 balls.  Keep half chilled until ready to use.  Roll each ball into a 5 inch rope.  For each cookie, twist one white and one red rope together and shape one end into the hook of the cane.  Bake at 375 degrees for about 10 minutes.  Let cool in the pan for a few minutes, and then transfer to a wire rack for cooling.

 

Wikis

On the Learning 2.0 front this week, I spent about an hour and a half learning about and exploring wikis. I had forgotten that I already had some experience at least reading a wiki: C'YAAL has a wiki and I also perused the one the ALA had up for the 2007 Annual Conference that I attended. I recently edited or added a couple of entries to the C'YAAL wiki.
The wikis on the Learning 2.0 site that I explored and found interesting were: SJCPL Subject Guides. I really liked how this was organized. It seemed easy to navigate and I think the language is easier for patrons to understand. I loved the Book Lovers Wiki and found it similar to JCPL's teen page book reviews. I think having the picture of the book covers really jazzed it up. I also liked that it was divided by subject somewhat. It made it easier to find the types of reviews I was most interested in. Library Success: a Best Practices Wiki seemed overwhelming at first, but then I looked under "services for specific groups" and choose "teens". I perused the wikis, blogs and MySpace pages. I was impressed with ALD's MySpace page. I decided not to look at the ALA 2006 wiki since I had used the 2007 ALA wiki prior to attending the conference. Now that I know more about wikis, I would have loved to have had a laptop with wifi at the conference to keep up on the constant changes that were happening while I was there. I noticed immediately that the Bull Run Library wiki wasn't sponsored or associated with the library system. I wonder why? It was interesting and I got a big kick out of the link to the "uncyclopedia" definition of a librarian.
Applications in a library that I think a wiki would work well for: keeping track of what is happening in YASC. Since we meet only a few times a year, I think we could interact more using a wiki. I'm really liking the one we have for C'YAAL, so I think it is great for collaborating. Maybe Nikki and I can use it with the school media specialists. I think we should get book reviews on our website like SJCPL did. I think our patrons would like it a lot. Think of it as an online interactive book display. I can't think of anything else right now - lunch time!

Comments about Web 2.0 and Library 2.0

I like what Michael Stephens mentioned in his article, entitled "Into a New World of Librarianship" that Librarian 2.0 makes good, fast decisions. It would be helpful if JCPL would adopt that philosophy. I think patrons expect it as they expect us to plan our services with them in mind. I also liked what Dr. Wendy Schultz says in her article, "To a temporary Place in time": "Libraries are not merely in communities, they are communities." Again, I feel that patrons expect the library to REALLY be part of the community and would give the library more support if we proved that we are.
I missed the author, but the article entitled, "11 Reasons Why Library 2.0 Exists and Matters" has a great quote: ...the basic drive is to get people back into the lbirary by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives...to make the library a destination and not an afterthought." I can't remember how man times patrons have come to the library to ask for a book or video. Initially, they checked a video store or book store, then remembered the library. The library should be their first thought.

Technorati

Today, I tried to learn what Technorati is good for. The video tutorial wouldn't load. Perhaps our bandwith was all taken up. I read the FAQs instead.
I did a search on Learning 2.0 three times: once with "tags" added; once with "blogposts" added and once with "blog directory" added to the search terms. The tags seemed to get me the most irrelevant information. Blogposts was much more specific - I only got three results and they were the most specific to my search terms. The first few results using "blog directory" were relevant, the rest weren't relevant.

Del.icio.us

I have toyed a bit with Del.icio.us today. I can't say I like the layout nor do I find it that user-friendly. I did manage to add a couple tags of my own. I noticed someone had added a site that dealt with historic precipitation data and remembered patrons asking for this type of information from time to time. So, I thought I would add a couple of weather-related sites I have found useful.
The tags that people choose seem pretty general, but can be personal to their own thought pattersns. I can see it somewhat as a research tool, especially for putting all the best Reader's Advisory tools in one place. Or, it is an easy way to access bookmarks you have created from any where you happen to be.

Play Week

The past few days I have messed around with an image generator, note my cute little avatar I added to my blog. It wasn't easy, I tell you. I did like Library Thing and have cataloged a half dozen books so far. I set up a Rollyo account for searching for "used books" on the web. Frankly, I don't see that I would use this tool. Even the examples I looked at had the same web site listed over and over again. I can get that searching Google.

RSS feeds continued

Well, I have a Bloglines account and receive a half dozen or so RSS feeds now. A couple are from my co-workers blogs, one is a cartoon (Unshelved) and the others are related to libraries as well. The search tools I used to find library blogs were: Bloglines, Syndic8 and Topix.net. The easiest to use was Bloglines and I found 2 of my feeds there. I did find another through Syndic8, but it was confusing the way it was set up (almost like programming language).
My search terms were: libraries and then "Colorado libraries". Sadly, there was very little under the second term. My most useful feeds are from: Tame the Web: Libraries and Technology. This is by Michael Stephens. I saw him speak at ALA on Technology for Teens. He's very knowledgeable, but a little obsessed with Second Life. The other is simply called Blog about Libraries. All sorts of library-related topics are covered. My favorite deals with "I didn't get an MLS to help people with computer problems". It talks about how librarians who aren't up on technology resent the patron computer problems. Another over-the-top feed is called Libraryman. It is kind of funny and very teen-oriented.

What I learned today from Learning 2.0

While playing with Flickr Fun, I discovered that you can use FD Toys to make trading cards from your Flickr photos. I also waded through setting up RSS feeds. I found out after completing the whole exercise that this is the hardest of the 23. Now I don't feel so dumb.
What I like about RSS is that it is a way to get news and information without logging into numerous accounts each day and scanning the page for information I want (not that I have quite figured out how to make it that specific yet). I will use this technology to keep my abreast of new books that are coming out, new program ideas for libraries and get a laugh from "Unshelved".
I think the library could use it to send patron-specific Reader's Advisory information, notify a patron that an item is in or due back.

7 1/2 Habits

I just learned the 7 1/2 habits of lifelong learners. The hardest habit for me is using technology to my advantage. Can you tell?

crazyaboutbcs

Hello Reference Staff,

This is my first attempt at a blog. Please be kind in your comments, though I welcome any suggestions.