Down"load"ables

What an interesting process it was to get everything all set up to go for this task. It felt like a "load" for sure. ;-) At any rate, it is kind of a fun thing to play with. I was able to find a book by an author I enjoy and download it and listen to it a little. I wasn't able to find alot available to choose from, as horrors of horrors! most of it said "Place a Hold". Which I found shocking considering the format. I guess I expect too much sometimes, from technology, but I had assumed that one of the benefits of this form of media would be that patrons would have unlimited access to any one title. I had no idea that there would be such a limited supply. Seems like any and all titles that we "carry" would be available at all times. But, I guess not.

I'm not so sure how often I'd use this format, but it's nice to know it's there. Perhaps it'll inspire me to go get the bluetooth connectivity device I've had my eye on for a while now, so I can listen "cordfree" from time to time.

The iPod compatible audio books (coming soon) also will open up another range of possibilities as well. However, I assume that the same limitations will apply. Bummer.

Del.icio.us

At first I wasn't too sure about this one, but the more I use it the better I like it. I love the idea of not only being able to access all my favorites from both home and work, but I love the organization of it all! Or as was said in the YouTube tutorial on Del.icio.us, I love when "chaos becomes orderly"!!! Awesome. Now if "they" can just come up with a secure place online where I could save all the passwords I've used for setting up all the accts. I've created online over the years, I could die happy!

It's fun to just click on "tags" and "related tags" of things. Interesting to see where it leads you. I was personally excited to learn from perusing our Sno-Isle 20 for 2.0 delicious page that one can use this tool to set up your own personal "cookbook" full of recipes! That speaks to me for sure! Honestly, I think that the posibilities, when it comes to usefulness of this "social bookmarking" and using tags to manage bookmarks, are endless.

Wiki Wiki where's the wiki?

Besides just being plain fun to say the word, I can see where Wiki's can be totally useful. Wow, I can really see them being used by teachers/students. A great place on the web for everyone in one "arena" to go to gather info. as well as input it. I can see the drawback if "control" is really needed, but I'm sure that issue will (if it hasn't already) be addressed somehow. Another issue could be "organization". Some of the Wikis I looked at appeared terribly disorganized to me. At a glance it was hard for me to decide where to look first and even what exactly the info. was that the Wiki intended to convey...So as far as I'm concerned, there should probably be one person who actually "maintains and organizes" the Wiki, (a "Wiki Master") even though anyone/everyone in the group could (and even should) theoretically add to it.

It might be an interesting tool for Acquisitions as a "manual" of sorts, being that things are constantly changing in the actual processes of ordering, etc. within our dept. There are 4 of us who do the job(s), but we aren't always all here at the same time to hear the same info. being shared. The drawback could be that someone would have to always remember to go put the info. on the Wiki as changes occurred. Not to mention the fact that we'd each have to remember to check the Wiki for updates, although RSS Feeds could probably help with that! :-) That aside however, if it were kept up-to-date, and if it were kept nicely organized! I think that once it was up and going and everyone was used to using it, it could truly be extremely useful. It would simply be a matter of someone starting it. BTW -Don't look at me, I'm just the "idea" girl! lol

Jazzercise Clippers Halftime 2008 RC

I used the "share option" which made this even easier.

YouTube, etc.

Well, I seemed to have tried to get into watching a little YouTube on the wrong day. I don't know whether there are too many people signed-on, of if my computer is having problems, or what, but I'm having trouble watching any videos on there. They all want to stop and start. I did manage to suffer through the electronic glitches long enough to watch a few that were pretty good though. I liked the "Gorilla Librarian" and the "Ninja Librarian". Pretty funny. And then I tried to watch, no surprise here, one about "Exercise in the Library", but it wouldn't come up at all. Too bad. It was really highly rated. Maybe I'll try again another day. It did lead me to look up Jazzercise on there though and I managed to find one that I wanted to post on here. So I did, see above.

I like YouTube for not only the obvious entertainment value, but that it can so easily be used as a tool for instruction. I learn best by visual instruction, rather than simply reading it (as in a manual), so personally I find this tool to be extremely valuable. And as we've seen SIL has already utilized it a bit during our Web 2.0 experience. Well done.

As for the other 2, Hulu and Fancast, I'm going to have to wait until another day, hopefully soon, to deal with learning about those, as I've spent more than enough time on just YouTube today. To be continued...