Beyond Method #12

"Beyond Two-Steppin' " has increased my exposure to Web 2.0 technologies and has given me some new resources to utilize both professionally and personally. Method #2 (Customize your window to the Internet) and Method #8 (Capture your computer screen) were two of my favorite methods. A nice additional resource would be a bibliography of all the links and articles presented in each method so participants would have a quick reference source after completing the course. If TSLAC offered another program in the future I would certainly consider participating. Thank you to those who designed this course and shared their research and resources.

Beyond Method #11

I have completed some online surveys, particularly when I was in college, but have never conducted an online survey. To my knowledge, the only regular patron survey conducted by my library is a paper survey handled by our children's services department in connection with our summer reading program. In the past, some adult programming satisfaction paper surveys were also conducted.

If I were assigned the task of conducting a patron survey, I would seriously consider utilizing one of the online survey tools presented in this method. Live audience survey tools could become increasingly user friendly in the light of the rise of cell phones, smart phones, and tablets, and might be an interesting option for future programming satisfaction surveys.

Beyond Method #10

I have attended a few webinars which utilized online conferencing tools and I think WebEx was the specific platform used by the webinar host. In the past my family has used the phone feature of Skype to make long distance calls.

My library is not currently using any web conferencing tools in conjunction with staff or patrons. Our library does not have branches, so all the staff is in the same building and therefore can communicate in person rather than long distance. At this time I don't perceive a patron demand for web conferencing services from our library, although perhaps in the future some experimentation could take place with offering adult programs in the form of webinars in addition to traditional in-person events.

Beyond Method #9

Customize your own photo slideshow

I used Smilebox to explore the online scrapbooking digital storytelling method. The process was fairly smooth, although I wanted to make some formatting changes that were not offered within the pre-designed templates. I do not see any immediate uses for digital storytelling in my library. At this time, our patron's library usage seems to be more technology and entertainment oriented rather than creativity or community focused.

Beyond Method #8

I decided to try Screenr and created a screencast showing how to access OverDrive ebooks and utilize OverDrive help tutorials through our library's website. The recording process was very smooth and easy; I was able to begin using the software quickly without sorting through extensive directions or installing multiple pieces of software.

Screencasting tools allow instruction to occur remotely and would allow our patrons to access help resources 24/7. Although my library does not currently utilize this technology, I could see possible uses for screencasting in our library, both to offer assistance to patrons through our website, and to share knowledge among library staff.

Beyond Method #7

I chose to explore Google Docs and this was my first experience with any of the "next generation" presentation tools described in this method. Google Docs offers an interface similar to Microsoft Office PowerPoint, but with limited features and design options.

In general, online presentation tools would be subject to many of the same pros and cons as any cloud based application. Based on my experimentation with Google Docs, I would choose Microsoft Office PowerPoint, when available, for its broader selection of features. However, online presentation tools would lend themselves better to collaborating with other individuals or accessing a presentation remotely. Further experience would be helpful in order for me to offer informed assistance to patrons seeking to use online presentation tools.

Beyond Method #6

I found Project Gutenberg easy to use, at least to the extent of reading a book on a computer. Here is the link to the ebook I opened: http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/1342 .

I was interested to discover this title is also available as an audiobook, and I think some of our patrons would be interested in Project Gutenberg as a source of classic, downloadable audiobooks in contrast to the newer releases offered through other ebook/eaudiobook platforms. Method #6 prompted me to do some research, and I learned the process of transferring an ebook or eaudiobook from Project Gutenberg to an ereader is fairly simple.

At my library, ebooks in general continue to be an often confusing, but very popular, library service. I wonder sometimes where this current ebook trend and its associated technology will go in the future and how we will look back on these early years....

Beyond Method #5

LibraryThing or Goodreads could be valuable readers' advisory tools for the right target group of patrons, but I don't think these resources would automatically appeal to all patrons. Searching the sites to find similar books or book recommendations could be time consuming, and would require users to be comfortable using a computer. In terms of comparing the two sites, I actually found LibraryThing easier to navigate. I quickly found lists of recommendations after searching for a specific title, but I never felt like I found the same extent of information on Goodreads. LibraryThing also seemed to present fewer ads, which I appreciated.

Beyond Method #4

I believe using an employment website to find a specific job posting or to complete an online application could be very challenging to a user who is not computer literate. Individuals who are comfortable using a computer can perform tasks including using a mouse, sending an email, uploading a file, or printing a confirmation page without difficulty, but to an individual who has very little exposure to computers each of these tasks may involve multiple steps, any one of which can become a hurdle.

I discovered the Goodwill Community Foundation training website just before beginning Method #4 and have been very impressed with the site's interface, scope, and currency. I would definitely recommend it to patrons seeking to improve their computer skills. Also, my library offers one-on-one computer classes and basic resume classes, both of which could be assets to job seekers.

Beyond Method #3

Our library website currently includes a static map of our location, but I could see benefits to replacing our current map with a Google map which would allow patrons to get specific driving directions or to expand the map to see more of the surrounding area. I did not find Google Maps quite as easy to use as I had anticipated. Creating a new map was not a problem, but I expected to be able to enter an address as part of the creation process, rather than returning to the search box to enter an address and then saving the identified lcoation to the map I had created.

Here is the link to the map I created for a place I would like to visit someday:

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid=217048749985251574552.0004a9794913e24baba46&msa=0&ll=38.887008,-77.004762&spn=0.007282,0.013583

Beyond Method #2

Since I have very little experience with customizable homepages, I would lean on the recommendations of more experienced users and suggest NetVibes as the best option for librarians. The NetVibes interface seemed a little sharper, or more professional; on the other hand, a Google homepage might be subject to fewer restrictions on availability due to technological support issues or updates.

In many cases, I would assume a library's website would naturally be the homepage displayed on computers in the library. But if library staff had limited control over their website or limited web design skills, a customizable home page might be an alternative which would allow library staff to easily and quickly make changes or updates. Customizable homepages could be especially useful for small libraries or special libraries, cases where the staff is few or the library is just getting started.