MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I want to wish everyone who reads my blog a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!  I am old fashioned when it comes to the holidays.  I love to add glimmer to the outside of my home with Christmas lights.  This year, my front porch features a 7 ft. multi-color lighted tree.  Along the sidewalk are two 3 ft. Christmas trees with red lights and a 6 ft. multi-color lighted evergreen.

Featured inside are 3 Christmas trees with decorations throughout the entire home.

During this wonderful season, my home is filled with laughter and chatter of friends and family sharing this most blessed season with me and my family.

Blessings to all of you, and I leave you with an excerpt from Handel's Messiah.

"..... Rejoice, Rejoice, Rejoice Greatly...."

Final Thoughts on 23 Things

Social Media is important in libraries.  I wish FPL could be a major player with YouTube.  If the YouTube videos looked professional, I believe that they could be quite effectively targeted for all ages of our patrons.

The 23 Things made me take time from my busy schedule to explore new web-based technologies.  At times it was difficult, but overall, I have a feeling of accomplishment.

Thank you Elizabeth and Adam!

Thing #22

I chatted with some friends to find out some social media avenues they are using for sharing pictures.  I discovered and played with Plixi.  Plixi is a service for sharing pictures through networks such as Twitter and Facebok.  Why Plixi?  It is a means to instantly share photos.  It is simple to post photo thumbnails on your blog or website.  Mouse over the photo, then copy and paste onto the blog or website.

Also I spent some time today watching YouTube videos.  My 12 year old and his friends are hooked on YouTube.  They like to find "fails" in their video games and post videos of these "fails" on YouTube.  Then, they monitor their videos and talk about how many "hits" they received.  I am simple amazed how many "video game fails" are out there.  Are the developers rushing through the game designs or are they purposely editing them in?

Talking about "fails."  How many times have you read a book and caught misspelled words or words missing from a sentence?  This could be a trivial topic for Un-Shushed!
 

Thing #21

I left a comment for El Fenix on http://www.wiki23things.wiki.zoho.com/

Thing #20 Podcasting

I listened to the Denver Public Library Podcasts.  I don't think I'll subscribe at this time .... simply a time issue.  FPL should podcast some of the computer training courses so they can be viewed by patrons in senior living facilities who may not be able to venture out on a trip to the library.

Thing #19

DVD's will become extinct just like VHS, cassettes, albums and 8 tracks.  It is only a matter of time.  With internet TV's and smart phones, digital delivery is the way to go.  Libraries that are linked to the technology will survive.

Thing #18

I viewed The Adventures of Super Librarian, A Librarian's 2.0 Manifesto and Allen County PublicLibrary Channel.  Super Librarian was too fast and corny, the 2.0 Manifesto was way too slow, so I guess my favorite was the Allen County.  They should have, however, tested the sound before posting it on YouTube.  I can see where the Allen County Video would be useful for upcoming events.  It was set in real time.  FPL should post YouTube videos on all upcoming events. 

Thing #17

I selected Pandora for my listening pleasure.  Pandora is great for listening to a particular artist's music or song.  As usual, I don't like the advertisements.  I couldn't find a way to skip over them. . . . too bad.  Once our patrons try Pandora, I think that they may use it.  I don't see Pandora decreasing our CD circulation.  Downloading music to one's IPOD or Smartphone is still a better way to personalize exactly what you may want to listen to.

Thing #16

Google Docs was new for me.  I created a presentation, spreadsheet and form.  I thought it was neat that one could create these using the same screen.  I can see where a group or committee could utilize this application as a shared doc where several people could work on it in real time and view the changes that each makes.

Thing #15 Google Maps

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=5282+Pueblo+Lane,+Frisco,+TX&daddr=13613+Webb+Chapel+Road,+Farmers+Branch,+TX+75234-3799+(Farmers+Branch+Library)&hl=en&geocode=FXKJ-QEdIU86-inZuV7ojjtMhjEo0__zqoCZdw%3BFc6F9gEdKtM5-iHkZkJsNPlclykLSTiRASdMhjHZ3v91Uv1zIg&mra=pd&mrcr=0&sll=33.006671,-96.900186&sspn=0.495211,1.347198&ie=UTF8&z=11

I use Google Maps for directions to locations that are out of my bubble.  I haven't linked them to anything yet.  Normally, I email or print out directions for my personal use.

Thing #13 & #14

I used TinyURL with hopes to shorten the http://www.librarything.com/ (27 characters).  However, it only shortened it to http://tinyurl.com/2927au (25 characters).  In order to effectively use this, the URL should most likely have 30+ characters.

I tried YouSendIt for the first time.  It was Fast, Easy and quite Painless.  I think it was easier than having to attach a file.  Check out my comment on http://tinyurl.com/2927au

Thing #12 Facebook

After setting up a Facebook account, I visited the Frisco Public Library's Facebook page.  It appeared that FPL has quite a facebook following.  At this time, I most likely will not use the Facebook account that I set up for this exercise.  This may sound vain, but those of you who live in Frisco will understand what I am about to say.........."I will need to get a professional photo of myself posted to my facebook before I can "compete" ... I mean "share" my facebook with my friends.

Thing #10 LinkedIn

I searched for professionals who have been mentors to me from the corporate world.  . . . and their profile was there.  I have heard that this is the link to be a part of in the corporate world.  Head hunters that I know use this as a tool for their business.

Thing #10 Library Thing

I like "Library Thing."  I can use this for my home collection..........especially cookbooks..........to catalog, tag and submit reviews for me to remember.

Thing #9 is Delicious

Delicious is a great tool when you find a site and don't want to forget it.  It makes bookmarking sites easy.  It is also a handy tool for users who access various computers.

Thing #8 Tagging

Tagging has definitely entered the library realm.  Since patron's prefer simpler interfaces, especially through technology, tagging could help to bridge the gap between a library's well organized info system and a patron's need for quick access to information.

Thing #7

I didn't want to download software to my computer, so I used the http://messenger.yahoo.com/web/ to chat with some of my former work colleagues.  I had seen this option before, but I had not tried it.  It is neat to carry on a conversation without having to hold a cell phone to your ear.

Thing 5

I created a Digg Account today.  This was a new experience for me.  I onboarded "Engadget" which should be useful information on new gadgets and consumer elctronics..........especially with Christmas quickly approaching.  Watch out family........there could be some neat gifts under the tree this year!

Thing #5

I opened my Twitter account today.  See http://twitter.com/Rejoiceinfrisco
At this juncture in my life, I prefer to post comments regarding the 23 Things on my blog.  I currently do not see the need to send the same information through various sources.  I can, however, see where libraries could share ideas about new programs that work or about some that may need tweeking (tweeting???)

Thing #4...Flickr

Let's try this as the link to my shared photos:
www.flickr.com/rejoyceinfrisco

Thing #4

I used my Flickr account today!  I didn't even realize that I had one.  I uploaded some photos.  Take a look at them!

#3 of 23 Things

I just added the Frisco Blog of the Dallas News and the Un-Shushed! Blog to Rejoyce in Frisco.  Now I can let the internet send me information of interest instead of searching for the information.  Pretty Cool.

Thing #2 of 23 Things

I completed thing 2........adding subscriptions of 2 of my coworkers and adding Rejoyce to the FPL 23 Things folder.

Hi! Check out my blog!