Thing #20: The Library Routes Project

Since I did complete Thing #10, and discussed my route to being introduced to this wonderful position, I want to focus this post more on the Library Routes Project.  I really enjoyed looking at these Librarians routes.  Being in my Twenties I am still looking into "where do I go from here?"  Currently I am looking into completing several certificates in Library Science and then I am very interested in reaching a Bachelor's Degree.  The reason I am looking into several certificates is to just get well informed of my decision's and to meet others that are in the field. 

I feel that my own path is somewhat typical in the idea that I just fell into librarianship, but how I arrived here and where I was at before the library I feel are very unusual! I also noticed that alot of the librarians that have posted on the Library Routes Project were English majors!  I really liked the comment in Annie's - Assistant Library - Smiley Someone post.  When she was discussing the placement tests from highschool, I remember these.  HHAHAHHAAA  I remember that I was supposed to be a ship captain.  What a career.  An exciting one, but I don't think I would fit the bill. 

Even though I am not posting to the Library Routes Project, I feel that I will in the future after I have completed some of the projects that I mentioned at the beginning.  I feel that I may be encouraging to other entry level librarians after I have become not so entry level.  Thanks for Thing #20 very informational and encouraging!

Thing #17 Prezi - I like to move it, move it!

Prezi - WOOOOOWWWWW!  I love it.  I have never seen Prezi before, but I love the tutorial of the whole thing. This is a very useful tool.  It is much better than some of the things we have had as Things because this is a free tool with no download!  I am very impressed with the smothness of Prezi!  I don't know why this is, but if any one knows, or has played Little Big Planet for the Playstation 3, I think Prezi has some similar features or feel.  The movement of Prezi is smooth and interesting not just a whizzing by slide like Powerpoint.

So, I am posting my first attempt at Prezi.  This is very elementary, not very informational, but I wanted to get a feel for it.  Check out my first attempt here:  http://prezi.com/ivur_gngsnsv/prezi-for-23-things/  I am very interested in making a REAL Prezi presentaiton for the NECC library.  I will be working on this in the future and will post it here when I am finished.  I Really Liked Prezi!  Two thumbs up for Thing #17 Prezi!

Thing #19 Sometime to think about how you might integrate the Things so-far!

Well I suppose I am feeling ambitious, because I feel like discussing several.  hahaha....  Anyway, here we go! 

Thing 1:  Blogging, well I think there is an obvious answer to this one!  I enjoy blogging, maybe not for myself, but I really enjoy working on this blog and the blog that I have created for our NECC Library.  Interested in seeing what exactly I'm Blogging?  Well here check it out. follow my link!  http://necclibrary.blogspot.com/

also check out our Facebook page and like us at:
http://www.facebook.com/LibraryNortheast

Thing 2:  Online Pressence:  I have been trying to keep this in mind while I'm blogging, or doing things on our Facebook Page, but I think I have one conflicting issue.....I like Change!  I think that my pretty little black kitty picture for this blog stands out and I may be able to stick with it, I like it.  I have changed the background of this blog and the library blog twice, and I am still not sold on either one.  I do understand where this is important, and I am still working on this.

(Don't worry, I 'm not feeling so ambitious that I will do every Thing, but I do enjoy blogging.)

Thing 6:  I also really liked the Google calendar.  I actually used this to setup a Birthday party that I was throwing for a friend of mine.  It turned out great and I have Google Calendar to thank!

and last but not least,

Thing 15:  I have not attended my planned seminar yet, but I am definetely keeping in mind all the great tips to use when I do attend.  This will be my first Major seminar so I am very nervous, but I am going to concentrate on relaxing, taking in the information, and meeting new people.  I really hope it goes well and I will definetely Make the Most out of it!  :)

In conclusion, 23 Things has been great!  I mean I have learned so many useful tools and have gotten to share many of these great tools with my colleagues.  :)

Thing #18 Jing / screen capture / podcasts (making and following them)

Jing is cool!  I was unable to download it at work, but I did get it downloaded where I could use it.  This is very cool.  I was very interested in the video part of Jing, this was my main focus.  I really thought it turned out nice.  You really had to get things right in the center of the screen to get it captured on your video.  I wanted to post the video that I created but I felt that it pertained to our library strictly and didn't want to post it to the internet.  It was more informational for our staff.

I was also very interested in Camtasia!  I watched the preview for Camtasia and was very impressed.  It seemed a little more interactive than Jing.  I was also unable to download Camtasia as well, because of how our computers are locked up.  I have already forwarded Thing #18 to my co-workeres and am suggesting to have Camtasia downloaded on my computer.  Even a 30-day trial would be interesting. 

Thanks, for Thing #18!

Thing #16: Advocacy, Speaking up for the profession and getting published.

I do believe in "speaking up for the profession and getting these things published," because obviously any positive library publicity is a good thing!  I also think that even here in an Academic setting, such as myself, my job focuses on getting the word out that,  "We are the NECC library, and we have lots of Great Resources, and you should stop in!"  I think that banner-waving and shouting are not even totally out of the question.  It's actually a really good idea!  Maybe, (being inspired from the last Thing) going through the campus and waving banners saying stop at the library wouldn't be a horrible idea!

On the publishing note, I guess I could post this event on Facebook and announce on Twitter that we will be having a march at such and such a time and see what happens.  It could be fun and good publicity.

So, in conclusion, although I don't think I will be out protesting in a picket line, all good publicity is good for the library!

Thing #15: Attending, presenting at and organising seminars, conferences and other events

I can't believe the timing of these "Things."  Just today I was busy signing up for and making up my

Itinerary for the National Library Association 2011 Conference.  I have been in the library society for just over one year now, but this will be my first major conference.  I have attended other all day seminars, but never one like this. 

Therefore, YES!  I am very nervous, but I am really going to focus on meeting new people.  I want to socialize and meet people that are interested in the same topics as myself and that I can learn from.  I would consider myself an introvert, so this will be challenging in itself. 

I have never been a speaker at any conferences, and I do fall in the category of being most of afraid of Public Speaking.  I don't think that I will be planning on organising any events to speak at, but I am definetely excited for the National Library Association 2011 Conference!  I will be using the advice from the section labeled "Making the Most". 

Thing #14 Zotero / Mendeley / citeulike

I really like this session of 23 things for Professional Development.  To be able to keep all your resources together like that is incredible.  I have used the tool in Word many a times where you can insert your citation and then insert your bibliography at the end of your paper.  This has always been a useful tool, but these tools are much more advanced, and much more responsive.

First of all I would like to start with the CiteULike.  I really thought this tool reminded me alot of a tool called print what you like.  This could be a very useful tool for a collaborative project, and the lack of a desktop element is great.  Here in our Library we do not have administrtive rights to download things, so this is definetely a plus.

I like Mendeley, for it's organization features.  I really felt that it is a very well thought out program, and that you can easily organize all your files to be used.  I also liked the Word compatability.  I realize that most things can be manipulated to be used in Word, but I like the co-existing that was present. 

Lastly, I was obviously unable to use the Zotero tool because of our setup, but watching the tutorial, it really looked like a Great tool as well.

Working in an academic setting I will be definetely referring students to these sites!  Although I am not writing a lot papers that need to be cited or have references, our students are!  All of these are quite useful, and now that I have background on each one, I will be able to help students decide which one will work best for them.