23 more challenges to explore and complete.
2 more months of discovery, inquiry, and procrastination.
Keep an eye out here for Tech Challenge 2: Electric Boogaloo.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
The End (Or is it?)
Well, that's it folks. Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to everyone who completed the challenge. I hope you enjoy your prizes as much as you thought you would. :)
For those who have asked, the entire program will remain here at this blog, so that anyone who didn't get to participate can do so at a later date, or so anybody who wants to finish the challenge just for the heck of it can access all the challenges.
As for your blogs, you're welcome to keep using those for your own personal use. I will still be using mine, and will continue to keep all of yours subscribed in my bloglines so I can keep up with the very entertaining blog posts of my coworkers. Who needs TV?
So again, thanks everyone, and I'm looking forward to whatever we do next.
For those who have asked, the entire program will remain here at this blog, so that anyone who didn't get to participate can do so at a later date, or so anybody who wants to finish the challenge just for the heck of it can access all the challenges.
As for your blogs, you're welcome to keep using those for your own personal use. I will still be using mine, and will continue to keep all of yours subscribed in my bloglines so I can keep up with the very entertaining blog posts of my coworkers. Who needs TV?
So again, thanks everyone, and I'm looking forward to whatever we do next.
Monday, January 22, 2007
Game Night Pictures!
Pictures that I took at the Staff Game Night Saturday are uploaded onto my Flickr site. Enjoy!
Also available: Video!
Watch the Video
The rest can be found on this page. I really really would love to put these up on YouTube. Any objections?
Also available: Video!
Watch the Video
The rest can be found on this page. I really really would love to put these up on YouTube. Any objections?
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Task 23 - Play!
Welcome to the end of the Technology 2.0 Challenge. You're almost there! If you've made it this far, congratulations!
Gaming is an ever-growing part of life in today's society. But video games and gamers have changed dramatically since the very first Ataris and Apple IIs. The Electronic Software Association publishes "Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry" every year, detailing who gamers are and what they play. Did you know the average age of gamers is 33? And in a world where everyone worries about the effects of games such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto, nearly half of all video games bought in 2005 were in fact, rated "E". Check out their statistics on parents and gaming too, you might be surprised.
This final task is the fun one (or evil, I suppose), where you all get to come down to the library basement and experience Game Night for yourselves. On Saturday, January 20th from 5:00-7:00 PM, there will be a Staff Game Night, featuring games like Dance, Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero! (There are also alternate times I can hold another game night if everyone can't make the Saturday night, either Friday the 19th or Monday the 22nd.) Pizza will be provided, so come prepared to play!
Gaming is an ever-growing part of life in today's society. But video games and gamers have changed dramatically since the very first Ataris and Apple IIs. The Electronic Software Association publishes "Essential Facts About the Computer and Video Game Industry" every year, detailing who gamers are and what they play. Did you know the average age of gamers is 33? And in a world where everyone worries about the effects of games such as Halo and Grand Theft Auto, nearly half of all video games bought in 2005 were in fact, rated "E". Check out their statistics on parents and gaming too, you might be surprised.
This final task is the fun one (or evil, I suppose), where you all get to come down to the library basement and experience Game Night for yourselves. On Saturday, January 20th from 5:00-7:00 PM, there will be a Staff Game Night, featuring games like Dance, Dance Revolution and Guitar Hero! (There are also alternate times I can hold another game night if everyone can't make the Saturday night, either Friday the 19th or Monday the 22nd.) Pizza will be provided, so come prepared to play!
Task 21 and 22
Task 21 - Library 2.0 Reading List
I know that faced with a new technology, it's easier to see how you can use it yourself than it is to see how you can use it at work. With many of these designed for personal use, the possible benefits for libraries are not always the first thing to come to mind. Fortunately, Web 2.0 is all about sharing ideas, and libraries and librarians all over the world are coming up with new and interesting ways to use technology in libraries and sharing these ideas with the rest of us.
The ALA offered an online bootcamp on "Library 2.0" (while many people aren't fond of the name, it's what is being used to describe libraries who are using these new online services to their fullest advantage, providing more of a link between the library and their patrons), and provided a Squidoo page with links to what people were saying about it. There are links to blog posts, flickr pictures, del.icio.us links, as well as podcasts and webcasts on the subject.
Your task: Skim through the reading list. You don't need to read everything, but click on something that sounds interesting and see what people are saying. I saw many of these people speak at Internet Librarian 2006. They're all worth listening to. Some suggestions are this post by Michael Casey, this one by John Blyberg, or any of these by the ALA TechSource Crew.
Task 22 - Online Seminars with SirsiDynix
Now, we obviously can't afford to send everyone in the library to California next year for Internet Librarian. However, you don't need to spend a lot of money and travel time just to hear what the movers and shakers of the library world have to say. The SirsiDynix Institute provides free online seminars on library topics, many of them pertaining to Web and Library 2.0. From Podcasting, to Gaming in Libraries, to Blogging, all of these topics have been discussed in SirsiDynix Seminars, and are available free during the original broadcast as well as in the seminar archive which provides access to seminars you might have missed.
Your Task: Explore the SirsiDynix Institute page. See what's coming up, as well as take a look at the archive and see what they've already covered. I know that not everyone has a fast enough internet connection to view these at home, but consider taking a minute or two the next time you're at the library to check one of these out.
I know that faced with a new technology, it's easier to see how you can use it yourself than it is to see how you can use it at work. With many of these designed for personal use, the possible benefits for libraries are not always the first thing to come to mind. Fortunately, Web 2.0 is all about sharing ideas, and libraries and librarians all over the world are coming up with new and interesting ways to use technology in libraries and sharing these ideas with the rest of us.
The ALA offered an online bootcamp on "Library 2.0" (while many people aren't fond of the name, it's what is being used to describe libraries who are using these new online services to their fullest advantage, providing more of a link between the library and their patrons), and provided a Squidoo page with links to what people were saying about it. There are links to blog posts, flickr pictures, del.icio.us links, as well as podcasts and webcasts on the subject.
Your task: Skim through the reading list. You don't need to read everything, but click on something that sounds interesting and see what people are saying. I saw many of these people speak at Internet Librarian 2006. They're all worth listening to. Some suggestions are this post by Michael Casey, this one by John Blyberg, or any of these by the ALA TechSource Crew.
Task 22 - Online Seminars with SirsiDynix
Now, we obviously can't afford to send everyone in the library to California next year for Internet Librarian. However, you don't need to spend a lot of money and travel time just to hear what the movers and shakers of the library world have to say. The SirsiDynix Institute provides free online seminars on library topics, many of them pertaining to Web and Library 2.0. From Podcasting, to Gaming in Libraries, to Blogging, all of these topics have been discussed in SirsiDynix Seminars, and are available free during the original broadcast as well as in the seminar archive which provides access to seminars you might have missed.
Your Task: Explore the SirsiDynix Institute page. See what's coming up, as well as take a look at the archive and see what they've already covered. I know that not everyone has a fast enough internet connection to view these at home, but consider taking a minute or two the next time you're at the library to check one of these out.
Monday, January 8, 2007
Task 20: Online Databases
This might be a review to some people, but I think a lot of times we forget to refer people to our wonderful online databases when they come in trying to do research.
Have you ever had someone come in trying to write a paper (especially for a college class) on a topic we didn't have much information for? What if they need several sources and we only have one book? Do you suggest our EBSCO database or any of the other databases we get through the Kentucky Virtual Library? When people come in looking for genealogy information, do we remember to mention that we have access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest? Do you refer patrons to Novelist when they want to know what other books are in a series?
Many of these sources can be invaluable in helping our patrons do research. As an example, suppose a patron came in looking for information for a paper they were writing on "dangerous" dogs breeds and the ordinances many cities are passing in order to protect citizens. (Louisville just passed one of their own.) In our non-fiction section, we have general books about dogs, and more specific books about some of the breeds that are considered "dangerous", but probably not enough information to write a paper on this topic. However, a quick search of the KYVL database brings up articles on dangerous dog ordinances: several from a veterinary magazine, and one from USA Today. These articles give information on at least three different locations with laws designed to control certain breeds that are considered "dangerous", and information on people who are fighting against designating certain dog breeds as "dangerous". A search of EBSCOhost (don't be intimidated by their choose a database page. when in doubt, check it) brought up several more articles in full text. These results could be all a patron needs to complete their paper. (Search hint: Once you find an article, try clicking on the subject links to see similar articles.)
Your task: Make it a point to explore the databases we have access to. What did you find that you had never seen before? What can you see being the most useful in helping patrons find information? If you need help navigating through the KYVL databases, ask someone who has taken the "Intro to Reference" class through KYVU. They should be able to help.
Have you ever had someone come in trying to write a paper (especially for a college class) on a topic we didn't have much information for? What if they need several sources and we only have one book? Do you suggest our EBSCO database or any of the other databases we get through the Kentucky Virtual Library? When people come in looking for genealogy information, do we remember to mention that we have access to Ancestry.com and Heritage Quest? Do you refer patrons to Novelist when they want to know what other books are in a series?
Many of these sources can be invaluable in helping our patrons do research. As an example, suppose a patron came in looking for information for a paper they were writing on "dangerous" dogs breeds and the ordinances many cities are passing in order to protect citizens. (Louisville just passed one of their own.) In our non-fiction section, we have general books about dogs, and more specific books about some of the breeds that are considered "dangerous", but probably not enough information to write a paper on this topic. However, a quick search of the KYVL database brings up articles on dangerous dog ordinances: several from a veterinary magazine, and one from USA Today. These articles give information on at least three different locations with laws designed to control certain breeds that are considered "dangerous", and information on people who are fighting against designating certain dog breeds as "dangerous". A search of EBSCOhost (don't be intimidated by their choose a database page. when in doubt, check it) brought up several more articles in full text. These results could be all a patron needs to complete their paper. (Search hint: Once you find an article, try clicking on the subject links to see similar articles.)
Your task: Make it a point to explore the databases we have access to. What did you find that you had never seen before? What can you see being the most useful in helping patrons find information? If you need help navigating through the KYVL databases, ask someone who has taken the "Intro to Reference" class through KYVU. They should be able to help.
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Task 19 - Downloadable audiobooks
We all know that some of those big libraries offer downloadable audiobooks for their patrons, and even though we don't offer those yet our patrons can still choose to buy downloadable audiobooks from most online stores. But what happens when they want something new? Can you find free downloadable audiobooks online without being a patron of one of the libraries that offers those as part of their collection? Sure you can.
Podiobooks is a site that offers free audiobook downloads of unpublished books (and one or two in the public domain) in all genres. Fantasy, Mystery, Humour, Drama, and even books for children and young adults!
Another site available is Librivox, which offers free audiobook downloads of books in the public domain. Many of these books are classics, read by volunteers and posted for your enjoyment. Non-fiction, as well as books in languages other than English are also available.
Like Podcasts (in fact, many of these books are available by podcast) you are not required to have an iPod or any other MP3 player to listen to them. All you need is a computer program that will play music.
Your task: Explore the two websites above. I'm not going to require you to download anything, or to write a report on an audiobook you listened to, but just go and see what each site has to offer. You never know when you might need to recommend either of these sites to someone.
Podiobooks is a site that offers free audiobook downloads of unpublished books (and one or two in the public domain) in all genres. Fantasy, Mystery, Humour, Drama, and even books for children and young adults!
Another site available is Librivox, which offers free audiobook downloads of books in the public domain. Many of these books are classics, read by volunteers and posted for your enjoyment. Non-fiction, as well as books in languages other than English are also available.
Like Podcasts (in fact, many of these books are available by podcast) you are not required to have an iPod or any other MP3 player to listen to them. All you need is a computer program that will play music.
Your task: Explore the two websites above. I'm not going to require you to download anything, or to write a report on an audiobook you listened to, but just go and see what each site has to offer. You never know when you might need to recommend either of these sites to someone.
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