# 24 Wrap-up

(Not my knitting: this is from snickclunk on flickr: cozy for a chilly February morning, eh?)

I've had great fun with the 2.0 learning program. Thanks to the trainers who set up the challenges, and especially to my mentor, Paul Taylor. I've begun to use some of the tools already; others I'll definitely use in the future; some I still want to try.

I list below: what I'm now using now; what I'll be using; what I'll want to try later.

What I'm using now:
My personal Google account
Flickr
RRS feeds
Google reader
Del.icio.us
Subscription databases
YouTube
eBooks

What I'll be using
blogger
Library Thing
podcasts
audiobooks


What I want to try
creating a podcast
downloading a video on YouTube

Look forward to learning more. Keep it up, folks!
And thanks again!!

# 23 Audiobooks and eBooks

The last of the 23 things!

I downloaded Overdrive for BC's Library to Go ages ago, when the audiobooks were first available. At the time I tried the first chapter of a Mankell thriller and thought it sounded awfully familiar (rats! I'd read it already)....then I think Bleak House which was quite wonderful, something I could definitely read again--but I didn't make the time to continue. Listening to someone else read aloud takes practice.

Reading text with my own eyes is a different matter. I can't stop myself. So yesterday I signed out five e-books, a combination of travel, language and literature, and I can't wait to start reading them at my computer. Love the way they look via Adobe Digital Editions.

In Project Gutenberg, I followed my interest for things Celtic (my photo above shows part of a ruined cottage on Rathlin Island, Northern Ireland--one of my favourite spots on last year's UK trip), unearthing a couple of old texts which I will look at soon: Celtic twilight by Yeats and Samuel Johnson's Journey to the Western Islands of Scotland . Project Gutenberg is grrrrreat!

Looked over the offerings at LibriVox--audiobooks in public domain read by volunteers. I entered Heart of Darkness, chapter 1, perhaps hoping for a dark male voice describing the interminable, grey Thames. This is what I got. My disappointment was similar to what Taped Books readers sometimes expressed to me in my Extension Services days. Still, a wonderful resource for anyone who can't use print.

# 22 Podcasts

I do like the idea of radio that I can pick and choose for myself, and today added NPR book reviews and author interviews to my iTunes playlist.

Searching podcast.com (podcast.net, suggested on the NVDPL playground no longer exists: is podcast.com its replacement?), I discovered and listened to a delectable podcast for learning Spanish called Coffee Break Spanish. Mark, the instructor, has a lovely, sexy Scottish accent.

The intro music has a Latin beat and the jingles are a nutty mix of Scots and Spanish. Mark and his student, Kara, also teach the basics of other languages including French, German, Italian, Mandarin, Danish, Catalan. I can see these easy lessons would be fun for holiday learning.

I also checked the the radio section, and along list of podcasts available through CBC radio including some of my favourite programs, like Ideas, Writers and Company, C'est la vie.... Might come in handy. I'll subscribe.

By the way, I've targeted a sample episode of the NPR book review program on podcast.com. Just hit "play now" as well as the start arrow on the playing machine at the top right hand corner of the site.

# 20 Askaway

Finally called Askaway, and what a pleasant experience! Very smart people out there.

What happened was...a patron came up to me yesterday with one of those questions that are set up to humiliate me; ie: "The tall blonde librarian showed me a fantastic online practice test site for SSAT exams. It was something she just whipped up from the library's web page." Oh Krista, where are you when I need you? My search wasn't so miraculous!

So I emailed Askaway, and sure enough, within 5 minutes we had all the SSAT help info the man could ever want. He was thrilled!

# 21 YouTube

Had a young actress in today looking for Newfoundland accent for a play. I suggested YouTube, looking up CODCO or Mary Walsh.



I haven't previewed this, but enjoy....

# 19 Grumpy with NVDPL databases

Quite frankly, looking at this list of databases gives me a headache. I hope the new website will give users better guidance: what a hodge-podge! Could we at least know from the initial list who provides what database? For example, Gale or Facts on File?

I checked out a couple of the new history databases, and discovered that they were all produced by either Gale or Facts on File. A quick search in one of the Gale databases gets you hits from any of them. Same with the Facts on File products.
(By the way, the Facts on File databases aren't working today, though they were fine when I made my notes earlier in the week.)

Searched for topics on the industrial revolution and migration to the new world in Gale modern history titles. Useful for broad information and a start for research. There's extensive cross referencing and bibliographic help.

I would say that the information is typical of a general American encyclopedia. Gale has material on the history of native American groups, but check "Haida" and the only reference is an environmental hit from the Encyclopedia of Biomes.

The Facts on File products give briefer information. For Ancient and Medieval History, FoF does point out that they are only covering eight civilizations. Nothing pre-medieval or far-flung in European history, for example, unless you're marching with the Romans or sailing with the Greeks. There are no bibliographic references in the individual articles in FoF; but a separate tab at the introduction to the database will yield a general bibliography.

Warning for these databases: They have the limitations of small encyclopedias: Only to be used with books and the rest of the internet!!!

I do look forward to using Bloom's Literary Reference.

# 18 Office 2007

All the graphic helps on the new ribbon panel might make it easier to liven up my Word texts, bring in pictures, quote bits in little boxes, add footers. Though the old helper man was rather sweet....

I have never done a Power Point presentation, haven't even begun to learn all about Office 2003, so how do I make comparisons?

This is a great place to go to update myself. Thanks!