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Week 9, Thing #21 – Podcasts August 11, 2009

Posted by Collette Adams in PA Online Web 2.0.
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Engadget PodcastI’ve been enjoying Engadget podcasts on their website from time to time, but I finally took the Web 2.0 plunge and added them to my Bloglines RSS feeder.  Engadget is a blog about technology news, and it also includes product reviews and commentary.  I have iTunes installed at home, so I searched a bit through their VAST catalog, and I must say I’m impressed.  Now, the only problem is finding the time to listen to them.

Week 9, Thing #20 – YouTube February 26, 2009

Posted by Collette Adams in PA Online Web 2.0.
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The update to this video was in AL Direct today, but I had been searching for this video for a few days.  I found it yesterday, ironically, and I actually like this version better, despite some outdated stats.  I like that it mentions the One Laptop Per Child initiative and the quote by Albert Einstein.

We can’t solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.

I think that’s so wise, because our mind should always be open to other ways of thinking.  I also like the simplicity of this video over the commercialized look of the 2008 update.  Busy graphics aren’t always more effective at getting your point across.

Week 8, Thing #19 – LibraryThing February 19, 2009

Posted by Collette Adams in PA Online Web 2.0.
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librarything-logoAfter trying and not liking Shelfari very much (except for it’s wish list feature, which prevents family members from giving me really boring fiction for Christmas), I find LibraryThing to be tremendously useful.  Granted, I think it’s more useful to me personally than professionally, but I can definitely see some professional advantages.

For one, I’m a newer librarian, and I’m not as well-read in the “classics” of children’s literature as I feel I should be.  Half the time, I don’t even know what else to read and just browse the shelves of my local library for something that catches my eye.  LibraryThing has those great recommendations in the social information section…which leads to more and more books that I find interesting and want to read.

I can also appreciate the member reviews…because let’s face it, sometimes the professional journals can’t tell us if the kids are going to like it or not.  So finding what “real people,” our potential patrons, think is valuable information.

Another feature I really like over Shelfari is that all of the different editions and covers are in ONE LibraryThing “record” for the most part.  It makes adding books so much easier!

Finally, the only downside I can find…I still can’t get the widget to work on WordPress…something to work on for later.