The End

23 Things is done! Team23 is all...


But it was an independent, self paced training so really


My favourite part was learning things from other people's blogs. I learned about books, coworkers and tech tricks.

Librarying Things summed up very nicely some of the more general "Things" I took away from this training:

what we need to be learning from all of these “things” is a general comfort and aptitude for navigating the digital world and using internet-based tools (not necessarily how to do these specific things). It seems to me that there is a fundamental shift from the way tasks were done in the workplace of the past to the way tasks are done in the more fluid and changeable digital world. Many of my coworkers want step-by-step instructions; they want to be told, “click here” “click there”, and they expect it to be the same every time. 

Navigating your way through prompts for signing up for an account or through an ever changing site interface is a skill. Seeking out additional information (in the online world that could be the "Help" section, Googling a video tutorial, finding an article or asking for help) is the way to continuous learning and important in personal and professional development. "Play" is still an important part of learning and sometimes you just have to try something to find out how it may be useful or how you cotton on to it (and yes, it is hard to have the time to do that. Totally). Don't worry about playing on the internet. You aren't going to break it.

Apps, Part 2: What's on my iPad

I read this online tech magazine (wish I could remember which one) and they had a regular feature where they would show someone's device screen and have them talk about their favourite apps. It was great for finding new apps since it's sometimes hard to find new, useful apps.

I read somewhere that the average device user has 42 apps. I have...exactly 42 apps on my iPhone. Wow. So average. I have more on my iPad since I tend to use it for work and not just play. So here is what my screen looks like (yah, I haven't upgrated to the new operating system on my iPad yet. Also, the background is by Katie Daisy):

 

All of the defaults are there, as well as some standard free apps for many of the tools already covered in 23Things: Pinterest, Twitter, Blogger...

 

Some favourites:

Duolingo - for language learning

Evernote - easily syncs across devices and so good for list making or jotting down reminders

iPhoto - for photo editing and organization

Bescherelle - for French verb conjugation

 

The heart of this iPad is in the "Create" folder.

 

 

Paper 53 - is fun for doodling (and is a lot like Adobe Ideas)

iDraw - this one is pricey for an app ($9), but fun for creating vector images or for drawing over images you import

GoodNotes - you can draw on or highlight pdf documents

iMovie - for editing or making videos. It has some templates available in it

Phoster - easily makes posters from templates. You can use solid colors, import photos, adjust image size...

Figure - allows you to create music files. I am in no way musical, but have had a lot of fun creating beats with this app

Adobe Kuler - take a photo of anything and Kuler will save the color scheme (with RGB values!)

LetterMpress - this is one of the most expensive (at a whopping $6) and frivalous apps on my iPad. It doesn't have that many uses, but man I love it. The interface is just like a letter press; you can lay out typeface, make prints, mix colors, print in layers with different opacity etc. It sounds just like a letterpress, too!

 

Phoster, LetterMpress and iDraw are great for creating promotional images.

Apps

Install OverDrive Media Console. Check.

I've had it on my iPad for a while now and use the Electronic Library often, especially when I am studying up to give booktalks to students because there are a number of titles available for J/YA that tend to have shorter holds lists in the Electronic Library.

Right now I have the audiobook for Doll bones by Holly Black. I really like getting audiobooks from the Electronic Library. It is just such a convenient format.

For an ebook I have The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo (because I read Flora and Ulysses and it was so adorable I now have an urge to read ALL THE THINGS Kate DiCamillo).

I usually use the Electronic Library to check out romances on those days when I just want something light and fluffy to read. I particularly enjoy Sarah Addison Allen and Kristan Higgins.

Explore the BiblioNB app. Check.
This app comes in handy. Particularly when the OPAC is being slow and I have my phone with me so I can just look something up faster in the app. It would be handy to advertise the app next to OPACs for patrons in a similar situation. There's totally a tent card for that. It's on the NBPLS Sharepoint site under "Technology and Computers" and then "Promotion".

Pun dog

Sharing and Scoop.it!

Scoop.it! is a great tool for staying current on library issues, finding out about libraries in the news, books in the news, new technologies or ideas for innovative programs and services.

I am more of a consumer on Scoop.it! than a sharer (hmm...like Twitter. This seems to be a trend for me). Some of my favourite Scoop.it! pages I keep bookmarked (and they're all curated by NBPLS librarians!):

AboriginalLinks - LiensAutochtones - Patricia's links related to Aboriginals
LibraryLinks - LiensBiblio - Robin's links for library staff
ProfessionalDevelopment - PerfecionnementProfessionnel - Robin's links about skills for information professionals
Bibliolecture - Michelle's links for library staff
Bibliotheque et Techno - Patrick's links about libraries and information technology

When our Electronic Library first went live and new ereaders were being cranked out faster than you could keep up with and publishers were trying to peg down an ebook lending model (not that that isn't still happening), I curated a Scoop.it! page about ereading. It was time consuming and I stopped doing it about a year ago, but I still follow other ereading Scoop.it! accounts like this one to stay current.

Multimedia: Podcasts

I only have a couple of podcasts that I subscribe to. Neither of them are particularly library related:

Stuff You Should Know - It's like Wayne's World meets the Discovery Channel. They just present research on different themes.
Welcome to Night Vale - a fictitious community radio station for the town of Night Vale where weird and suspicious things happen.

 

There are others I check in on and only download if the topic interests me (most of them are CBC and are about information in general, information sources or information issues):

CBC's Ideas - documentary style episodes on topics in science and social studies.
CBC's Quirks & Quarks - mostly popular and new science.
CBC's Rewind - a look back on older broadcasts and how they covered specific events or themes.
CBC's Spark - kind of like Ideas, but covering more tech stuff.
Nerdist - pure pop-culture. Usually interviews with comedians or actors.

I try not to download too many because I'll get stressed out thinking there is too much I am missing if I don't get caught up on them all! I am always up for recommendations, though.