Hi, this blog post is being written on Google Docs.  I have been using Google Docs since I bought my new computer three years ago.  I didn't buy Office because it was sooo expensive.  I thought my daughter had a copy and why pay for it when I could borrow hers, don't tell MicroSoft.  Unfortunatly; she did not have a copy, she had borrowed hers from someone else.  I was budgeting for the expence when a co-worker told me about this free software.  Wow was I happy.  I mean, who has an extra $250 laying around? 

I've never used the share feature but I can see how usefull it could be.  I also love that it is so simaler to Word.  I didn't have to work very hard to get that hang of it. 

I hope every one likes it as much as I did and have fun using it.

sandbox

I received my authorization yesterday and entered CML Learn & Play Sandbox. Huh, I guess I just don't get it. I don't see what the big deal is. I added a few of my favorites and add my blog link, although my didn't indent. Hopefully someone will fix that. I couldn't get it to put that bullet in front of my link. :o(
Using a wiki for a collaboration between a group at different locations is a great idea. If I want to see what someone favorite book is I have many other sites to choose from. I personally like to share this information personally, face to face.
One a different subject. I am glad we are being given more time to complete these activities. I have managed to keep up but I know several people who have not. thanks for the extension.

wiki's

I have looked at Wikipedia before but never spent the time to go through the tutorial, which was very interesting. I like the fact that if you change or add something you also need to cite your sources. That makes me feel better about the information I am reading on their site.
I don't remember all the brackets and colons used to change the fonts. I would have to print out the instructions and play around for a while.
I have heard groups here at
CML talking about using wiki's to edit or create documents and if the group is small it could work but, with a large group I can see a lot of problems. When a large group is trying to decide on a format for a damaged item letter, for example, not everyone agrees. The changing text and crossing out could be endless.
I am looking forward to playing in the Learn & Play sandbox, hopefully next week I'll have time.

library 2.0

I had heard of web 2.0 and am embarrassed to say that I did not know what it meant. I let it go until I was told at work that I needed to learn web 2.0. OK, I broke down and ask a co-worker what was web 2.0. Boy, was I relieved to find out that it was things like flickr and blogging, things I was already doing. I don't know everything of course but it was just the name I didn't understand.
Library 2.0 is just as important as web 2.0. If libraries want to keep up and keep customers we need to know what our customer are doing and what they want to do. Last year, I proposed cross training our staff so that every staff member would at least have seen some of these sites. I assigned sites to different staff members to train the rest of us. We also wrote short cheat sheets. On when a customer come to us having a problem on MySpace, any of us can help them. If libraries don't keep out our customer will not continue to use and support us. If we really want to shine we should keep ahead of what the customers are doing and offer services they didn't know they needed yet. I was very pleased to hear that we now have a station to download music or audio books from our virtual branch to Mobile devices at our main branch. This is a great start and the direction that we need to keep moving in.

week 6 thing

I looked at and joined Delicious. I entered some bookmarks and looked at library bookmarks.
I can see how open bookmarks can be useful. I enjoyed reading the readers advisory website that were entered and many I had never seen before. I will revisit these when I have more time.
I am not sure I will use my own bookmarks. I know the sites I use alot and don't need this on-line fravorites sites. It didn't save it on my work computer anyway. It is set up though so if I ever need it it will be there.

twitter

Twitter can be pretty cool. I joined last month and am going to try to post more often that I do to my blog ;o)

image generators

Boy, this weeks thing was pretty simple, once I had help from a co-worker. I checked out the site sudgested and did some searching. I am still hoping to find that site that lets you change a pic of yourself. wish me luck.