Online Image Generators

I can see how online image generators can be a fun tool for people who like to play around with the pictures they take. While this isn't really for me, it's nice to know this stuff is out there for when I need it. For example, we made this Quibbler cover to use in the scavenger hunt at the Harry Potter Release Party last July.

Downloadable Media

The first time I ever tried to use Overdrive was a few years ago while I was in grad school in Indiana. I was taking a class on children and Young Adult literature and wanted something to listen to on my road trip to St. Louis that weekend. At that time, although I thought it was a great service, I wasn't completely impressed. There were only a few titles I was interested in listening too and had some trouble getting the software and upgrades downloaded. (I also had some problems downloading the files, but I suspect this was an issue with my internet service and not Overdrive.) I burned the first few parts to a CD and listened to some of on my trip, but I never finished the book. After that initial experience, I didn't play around much with Overdrive until now. (Since the downloads couldn't be played on my iPod, I didn't have much use for them.)

This time was completely different. The software and upgrades download and installed easily and the selection was vastly improved. (I can't wait to explore the videos and music more!) And I'm excited that some of the files will soon be able to be used with iPods. Even so, I'm not sure how much I will use this service. Mainly because I don't listen to a lot of audio books (my commute is too short). But the next time I go on a road trip, I'll give it a try!

Social Bookmarking

I've played around with del.icio.us and can see how it could be very useful. Especially since you are able to access your bookmarks from any compute, anywhere. Personally, I don't see myself using the site very often. Not because I don't think it's useful, but because I don't tend to bookmark sites. I usually have the sites I access the most memorized and can find other I need with quick Google searches. (I take that back--when looking at my web browser, I noticed that I do indeed have sites bookmarked at the top of my tool bar...but I like to be able to get to these sites from any window I'm in and don't think I would log in to del.icio.us to find them if they weren't there.)

I can think of at least one example of how social bookmarking sites could be very useful in libraries or schools and that is creating an enhanced syllabus with readings and resources all pulled together and shared with a whole class or group of students.

If I were more of a "bookmarking person" I think I would use it all the time. Who knows, maybe I'll change my mind! :-)

Wikis

I know wikis are out there, and I don't really have anything against them, but I don't use them much. At least, I don't use them in a collaborative sense. When Wikipedia comes up as a search result, I often look at the article to find out background information and many times find a link to a reliable, informative site. But editing, or adding to a Wiki article is not something I can see myself doing.

I can definitely see how a wiki could be useful in planning an event or sharing ideas. I used the Teen Read Week Wiki last year to get ideas, but again, it wasn't something I added anything too.

Streaming Video

I have to admit, I enjoy watching YouTube videos. There are a few vloggers that I watch on a semi-regular basis and sometimes use the site to find a video or song that I want to see. I have never spent a lot of time just browsing around the site (but I love that other people do and send me links for the best videos!).

This was my first time trying Hulu and Fancast. I was excited to see how much material is available for free out there! Of course, many of the network sites have the same shows available for viewing, but here they are all in one place! I don't know how much I will use them. Mainly because it's hard to find the time, and if I am going to sit down and watch a movie or a show, I would prefer the larger screen and better quality from my TV/DVD. But it's also nice to know these sites are available for patrons who are looking for shows and movies that may not be in our collection. I will keep them in mind as a place to refer patrons.

Social Networking

I have accounts with both MySpace and Facebook. Although there is definitely some overlap, I've found that most of my friends form college are on Facebook and most of my friends from high school are on MySpace. I tend to prefer MySpace to facebook. I think the main reason for this is all the applications facebook has. While the first couple I added were kind of fun (I enjoyed sending Harry Potter spells to my friends) I soon started to find the constant request to add other applications rather annoying. I especially don't like the fact that I have to send additional requests to my friends to use any of the applications on my own page. I also find MySpace easier to navigate. But this may be because I'm used to it.

This sounds horrible, but I also found it easier to "stalk" people on MySpace. When I come across an old classmate's profile on MySpace, depending on their privacy settings, I could take a look, see what they're up to without necessarily adding them as a friend. On Facebook everyone had to be added as a friend to view their profile (I think this might have changed now). And sometimes it can be difficult to tell who the person is by the small picture.

I think social networking sites are so popular because they are an excellent way of keeping in touch with people. My graduating class from high school has a MySpace page, and that is how I've found out most of the information about the upcoming reunion. Teens probably enjoy the fact that they can leave their MySpace profile up in the background while working on something else and be able to respond immediately when someone sends them a comment or a message. (Some may argue they could do the same thing with email, but it's easier to personalize a Myspace profile by adding your own background, pictures, etc.) And MySpace (and maybe facebook, too--I don't use it enough to know) is a great place to be introduced to new music, as well.

And finally, social networking sites are an excellent procrastination tool. If I'm trying to avoid doing something, I can always find more to do on my MySpace page! :-)

Flickr

Teens and Chocolate
Originally uploaded by Marysville Library Teens

I've been using a Flickr account to backup pictures I take of teen events at the library for a while. I think it's a great way to organize your photos and it makes them so easy to share. I particularly like how you can organize the photos into sets and then share a whole set with someone. I used this when we were working on the Harry Potter party. All the teen volunteers wanted to see the pictures we took and Flickr made it easy to email them all a link to that set. Although I haven't played around with it too much, I also enjoy how you can send flickr slide shows to your blogs, mysace pages, etc. And the upload tools are fabulous--making it so easy to upload all the pictures from a teen program at once instead of selecting each one individually (like I have to do when adding pictures to the library's MySpace page). I also appreciate that I can set some photos to private while making other's public. This way I can back up every picture I've taken while only showing the ones I have a photo release for.

The one complaint I have with flickr is that you can only do so much with the free account. You can only organize your photos into three sets. So in my case, everything after our first couple events is in one big list (making it NOT as easy to share pictures from a specific event). And, perhaps most annoying, only the most recent 200 photos you upload are available. You can still get to them if you pay to upgrade to a Pro Account ($25 a year), but otherwise, you have to delete photos to get to them. It doesn't take long to reach 200 pictures and this really limits the use of a flickr account as backup. These are just a couple of the problems I've started to run in to in using my library flickr account. It may be time to ask the Friends to pay for an upgrade to a Pro Account.

In writing this blog, I've started wondering why I don't use flickr for my personal photos. Probably because the thought of the time it would take to upload my hundreds of personal photos (my dad used a slide/negative scanner to scan in all our print pictures from the last 20 years or so) on to flickr is a little daunting. But the upload tools would make it easier and the backup would be great. And I sure would be upset if I lost them all to a computer crash!