Join the Ning - Thing 26

Most of the "to do" items in this "Thing", I did in Round 1 of "23 Things on a Stick". This time around, I have left comments for other people, contributed to the current Twitter discussion, joined the CMLE Central Perk group and added music to my page.

As for the usefulness of a Ning, I'm still not sold on the idea. It really depends on the full participation and interaction of the members of the Ning. I can see how a classroom teacher might want to try a Ning with her class and have each student create their own page. I haven't thought of a good use for a Ning in the Media Center. Any suggestions would be appreciated!

I also requested to join the 23 Things Google Group, but I have not received a response yet. All in all, this was an easy "Thing" to finish since most of the work was done in the original 23 Things.

Twitter in the News

An article on CNN.com today relates how a grad student was in Egypt covering an anti-government protest when he and his translator were arrested. On the way to the police station, he used his cell phone and Twittered the word "arrested" to his friends and contacts. The article proceeds to relate the events that followed. Here is the link to the article.

Student "Twitters" His Way Out of Egyptian Jail

Beyond MySpace

"Katie Ellis, 23, a tri-athlete, uses Athlinks as a networking site and even finds people she has unknowingly raced against."

I ran across this article on CNN.com today about social networking sites other than MySpace, Facebook and Bebo. The article explains how people are finding "like-minded" networks specific to their lifestyles. It is an interesting article. Click on the link if you are interested to learn more.

MySpace, Facebook: Big Not Always Better

Text Messaging

I just ran across an article on CNN.com entitled:

FCC Approves Emergency Alert Text-Messaging System

I think this is an awesome idea and just another example of the broad reach and possibilities of Web 2.0

Thing 21 - Online Communities and Conclusion

Are you a member of any online communities?
I am somewhat familiar with on-line communities. I am a member of the Weight Watchers and Jazzercise communities. Also, my husband and I are part of a Yahoo-group for rock-hounds. I don't frequent any of these, but it is nice to know they are available when I have time or a need to visit the sites. I also just joined the "23 Things on a Stick" Ning community...which, by the way, it totally awesome! (Do I get extra credit for that evaluation?!?)

Are any of these social networks appealing to you?
The Gather site was easy to explore and I will probably check back on the Minnesota Readers, Minnesota Life, some geology/fossil groups and beading. WebJunction was awesome! This will be a handy resource for work-related searching.

What did you find that was interesting and that you might use later?
I also liked Craftster and will explore this site when time permits...probably this Summer. I got a chuckle out of 43 Things...maybe we needed to frequent the 43 Things site to accomplish the 23 Things!

Thing 21 - Ning

I successfully joined the 23 Things on a Stick Ning today. I tweaked my page on this Ning by selecting a new theme, adding a picture to my profile, uploading photos and a video, and embedding some of my favorite tunes via a Last.fm widget. I successfully added a Ning badge to my blog, left a comment on the Ning for a 23 Things friend and participated in one of the Ning discussions. The 23 Things on a Stick Ning feels like it is weaving all of us "sticks" (participants) together.

Thing 20 - MySpace and Conclusion

How are libraries using MySpace?
Libraries are using MySpace and Facebook to connect with their younger patrons, and to try and entice more young people to utilize the library.

Did you find anything on a library's MySpace page that would be useful for your library?
Hennepin County Library's MySpace page offers several ways of contacting a librarian, several blogs, a way to add a Hennepin County Library catalog search to individual MySpace pages, links to other groups that young readers would find interesting, pictures and a "friend" wall. All of these are great features. Since both MySpace and Facebook are blocked at ERHS, we will not be creating a presence on either site.

If you created your own MySpace page, how do you plan to use it?
I do not plan on creating a MySpace or Facebook personal page. I don't want another "tool" that I have to keep checking and/or updating. If I did, at some point, I would choose Facebook, only because that is the network my daughter is on and it would be one more way to keep in touch with her. Hopefully, she would want to be my friend!

Thing 20 - Social Networks

I looked around MySpace and liked the Hennepin County Library's MySpace page. I think this is a fun way to entice kids to the library. However, here at ERHS, both MySpace and Facebook are blocked. It would be hard to promote our presence on these sites if the students will not be able to access the site from school. I found the article "7 Things You Should Know About Facebook" interesting. The popularity of these social networking sites is an interesting facet of the "teenage brain" studies that were publicized several years ago. I asked some kids here at school at it seems that most kids here are using Facebook. My daughter is in college and she and her friends are all using Facebook.

Thing 7 - Text Messaging

This weekend I heard about a real-life text messaging application that I wanted to share with you. We have a friend who attends the University of Iowa at Ames. She is home on Spring Break, but at around 3:00 am Sunday morning, she got a text message and her parents got a telephone call at the same time regarding an intruder in one of the dorms on campus who had a gun. The text told a description of the intruder and gave instructions on what to do and that the police were on their way. I just thought this was a very practical use of text messaging and timely in that I have just been learning about it and thinking of ways to use this communication tool in a school setting.

Thing 7 - Communication Tools and Conclusion

• Describe how your library uses email. Has it improved productivity?
• We use e-mail to communicate with the teachers and staff in our building and district and for the business operation of our media center.

• Share your thoughts on online reference using some of the other Web 2.0 communication tools.
• I can see where IM and text messaging would speak to the needs of high school students. We would be meeting them at the technology level they are at. Unfortunately, our district either blocks or discourages this type of use during the school day.

• Are you an active user of text messaging, IM, or other communication tools?
• I text message family and friends, but have not done so in my daily work routine. I look forward to IMing more, since I have set up several accounts during Thing 7.

• Which OPAL or MINITEX Web conference (Webinar) did you attend? How was it? What do you think o this communication tool?
• I haven't attended one yet (hasn't worked with my schedule), but plan to do so during Spring Break. I will blog about the experience after I complete it.
  

Thing 7 - Text Messaging

Again, I can see this as a useful tool, however our school district highly discourages the use of cell phones during the school day. I am familiar with text messaging via my cell phone.

AISI, my gr8 .02! LOL!

Thing 7 - IM

Unfortunately, IM is blocked in our school district. I can see value in being able to communicate with our students in this way, but at this time, we will not be able to use this technology. I will investigate the use of the Web-based IM via AIM.

Thing 7 - IM

OK, I was up way too late last night IMing my daughter! I'm not sure if IM is being blocked at school or not, but I'm going to try set up AIM today at school.

For all of your "23 Thingers" out there, here is a fun stress reliever web-site...have fun!

http://www.therightfoot.net/mystuff/whatever/swf/bubblewrap.swf

Be sure to try the Manic Mode!

Thing 7 - IM

Another addicting and very cool game web-site from the collegiate set!

http://games.mochiads.com/c/g/fdeca3053d646d2e/Boomshine.swf

This seems like a good stress reliever.

Thing 7 - IM

You have to be FAST to keep up with kids on IM! I am happy to report that I now have 2 buddies on AIM (daughter and her roommate). I had to just giggle at how fast they were IMing. It was fun, once I got the hang of it!

They shared a cool web-site you should check out, but be warned, it's very addicting. I think it's pretty appropriate for library folks and it's for a great cause!

Visit: http://www.freerice.com

Thing 7 - IM

OK, I'm not feeling very techy or very loved right now! I started out setting up a Yahoo IM account, since I think my niece in Kentucky uses that. I was having trouble setting this account up (couldn't figure out how to get my cool Avitar to display), so I called my daughter (in college) for help (very humbling!). She told me to use AIM because that is what she uses. Apparently, Yahoo IM and AIM don't get along. I think I have successfully set up both IM accounts (at home), but I haven't figured out how to locate the people I want in my buddy list or how to add them. I think I'm going to have to call my daughter again. (heavy sigh!) At the moment, with no buddies in my list, I am feeling very lonely in this techy world!

P.S. If you want to be my AIM buddy, my screen name is SZSRocks5

Thing 7 - E-Mail

Working in a high school library, many students (our patrons) already have e-mail accounts. We encourage them to e-mail research articles and unfinished school work to themselves. This allows the students to easily access their work at home and at school. We do not include student e-mail addresses in our patron information. This may be an interesting item to pursue in the future. At the moment, the e-mail addresses would have to be hand entered and with 1800+ students, I'm not sure the benefit would outweigh the extra effort.

Thing 7 - E-Mail

I don't have instant notification of incoming e-mails, and I doubt I would ever need this option. I already file my e-mails in specific folders, if they are to be kept. I check my e-mail at certain times during the day. In other words, e-mail hasn't been too much of a time waster for me.

As far as using e-mail in a library setting, I appreciate the public library system of "Ask a Librarian" and think it could be useful in a school setting. Also, if we had access to all of our students' e-mail addresses, it would be a nice feature to send them overdue notices, reading group notices, and other library-relevant messages.