Conclusion

I think my favorite discoveries on this learning journey had to do with the vast availability of podcasts on subjects I am very interested in, and also all the wikis out there. These discoveries will help me keep on learning for a long time to come and will go a long way toward helping me to become more comfortable with computers. I notice already that a lot of my fear is gone, and I am able to just poke around more. That is sure to help. I have also noticed that I am able to help patrons better with problems they come across with the public computers, even with things we have not covered in this journey. This has been a very pleasant surprise for me (although my patrons, of course, think I know everything!).
I really don't know what you could have done differently - this is not a one-on-one course, but you were good to answer any questions. Besides, one theory says that more is learned through constant trial and error. Perhaps, I don't know. But, this is working for me this time.
If you offered another discovery program I would definitely want to take part. It's been fun, but it's not over yet!

Wikis

Now here is a really interesting subject. I'll need to go back and look around much more. I've noticed that I need more exposure to some of the other elements we've covered so far

Anyway, what do I find interesting about this wiki exploration? All the wonderful things other libraries have done with this. We are not alone out here! Not by any means. What a wealth of suggestions is out there!

I'd like to eventually make up a library wiki which has information such as technology guides - for example, how to sign up for an e-mail account, as well as more involved things such as how to use RSS feeds, podcasts, etc. Then, we'll need to include subject guides for people to work through, reading lists, a section for changing events here at the library. This would also be a way to get ideas and comments from the community. I'm not completely sure whether it would be better to have a library wiki or a library website. Of course, in a perfect world, we would have both, but considering that I can only at best keep up with just one (though I'm still looking for a volunteer to do this), I do need to focus on just one. As far as I know, there is no way to include public input on websites, so perhaps I should just go with a wiki.

I will definitely keep looking around wikis, see what information is out there I can use.

Delicious2

Wouldn't it be great if many libraries and others would add their bookmarks here so that all of us could benefit? I'm putting in all of the ones we use, though it'll take a while!

Del.icio.us

I made an account under the name library301 with bookmarks which can be shared from all the computers onsite and at home. However, after adding 20 bookmarks, no more add on. Isn't this a free service? I set up the Delicious links and the tag link on my toolbar, and am using the tag button to add bookmarks. Any idea as to what might be happening?

YouTube2

Here's another try with the traditional Spanish Guitar. I don't know why the same video clip keeps appearing, instead of the latest one I copied.

Ah. There it is.

YouTube

This site is easy to navigate, and it was fun looking up many different types of videos.
I looked also at library instructional videos, at things to do and not to do while making them. One interesting one showed poor library instruction, complete with uninterested teacher and confused students:



It would be interested and fun for someone to make up a series of entries on YouTube to include on our website (future) on using the catalog, making holds, and other library tasks. Perhaps even tasks on Internet, such as starting an e-mail account.

Also, on the bottom of each screen, there are lists of related websites, which will take time to go through.

I also like the bits on Spanish Guitar, for one:


Can't believe that is Spanish Guitar! But here is a more traditional one:



Oops! That didn't work. I'll try again with the traditional video:

Podcasts - final?

I finally figured out how to do this. I don't have to do any contortions, if I get the right podcasts (not all of them seem to work), they just automatically start to play. It's unfortunate that I can't get language learning podcasts, though.