Thing #23 Reflection - What next?

Well, I have really liked these 23 things.  I have learned some new tools, I have stepped out of my box and thanks to Nebraska Learns 2.0 I am working on furthering my education.  Thank you Nebraska Learns 2.0!  I have really enjoyed these 23 things and would love to do this again sometime.  My plan right now is get into the library Information Science programs and start learning.  I love my position here in the library and 23 things is just helping me to become the best I can be in my position. Thank you again, and I will be working on furthering my education so if I ever run into any of you from Nebraska Learns 2.0, I say keep at it.  :) ;) :) ;) :) ;) :) ;)

Thnig #21: Promoting yourself in job applications and at interview Thing #22: Volunteering to get experience

Thing #21
I feel that in my position in the library I excel the best when it comes to the students I work with.  That feeling of satisfaction (that is discussed in the second paragraph of Thing #21) is the feeling that I get when I have successfully helped a student understand a research problem.  When I have helped a student to better understand how and why they have to write a business letter in the correct format, I get that feeling. 

I really enjoy working with computers and feel that this is an important assest to my position.  The students that I am working with are always learning new things on the computer, and this is how most students communicate the most now.  I feel that if that is where the students are, then that is where I should be.  I love taking classes to better aware myself of new and upcoming technologies and this is important to the library field.

On the subject of tips and personal experiences, I am having a current moment on this topic.  I have recently applied to further my education therefore, I am trying to present myself to these colleges in a manner that I can meet all the required criteria, so that I may keep moving forward in this profession.  I am also gathering references and personal information to prove what I have accomplished and to be accepted.  

I am very excited to achieve my goals, and thing #21 definetely demonstrates where and why these things would come into play.  Wish me Luck!

Thing #22
I have to admit that I have not volunteered to further my career, but I have done volunteer work before.  I have assisted at our local VFW, I am on several committees that I have done volunteer work for, but maybe this is something I need to look into.  Volunteering in a library to further educate myself.  I think that volunteering in the library is definetely not a bad thing.  Either if it is in a small library or a large library there are always things to be done.  If it is a small library I am sure the librarian or librarians could definetely use the help and if it is a large library the same rule applies. 

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!