Thursday, May 21, 2009

Fun @ Your Library!

Monday, May 11, 2009

Thing # 46 WebJunction

WebJunction has some useful tools - but it's a bummer that it's not a more active community. When I looked at the "more active" groups - some of them hadn't been posted to in weeks or months.

I did use the class function last year - it was pretty slick and very nice that classes are available for free.

I'm unable to do the "remember me" function at work so I have to do that at home, which is fine.

I'd like to see more of a presence on WJMN. It's just not an active forum very much but I really don't know how you'd get more participation. :o(

Thing # 37 Digital Storytelling

(((This sentance added after publishing the following post. Maybe BubbleShare wasn't so easy!! Look how it messed up my scrapbook page display thing.)))

I liked BubbleShare - it was super easy and fast.

BubbleShare: Share photos - Play some Online Games.


RockYou was cheezy - definately more for the teen crowd. Animoto was slick...and definately a professional grade tool. And it was easy.

I think these will make great tools for both personal and professional use. We use Flickr at the library but these tools will make the event photos more visible and attractive on our blog. Very neat!

Thing # 39 Photo Tales

I enjoyed using Scrapblog. I've played around a simplified version of this before on ofoto when I was contemplating having a collection bound into a book. (But I never did that.)

I can definately see a use for this at home. At the library...it'll be something I recommend to patrons. But won't really enter into something the staff will use that is work related.

When I went to publish the scrappage on my blog the instant entry tool did not work. So, I had to copy and paste the code manually into a widget. I tried it twice and it didn't work as slick as it should have.

I was bummed to see that some of the themes on Scrapblog aren't free. But they were reasonable...more than anything they gave me ideas.

Scrapping is something I've always wanted to try...but realize I don't have the patience for it. This was a fun way to get around that. :o) I also have family and friends who are far away and I really liked that I could design a scrapbook, add music and send it on. That was way worth it!

If we offer special computer classes again this would be a tool I'd love to recommend for the advanced user - I don't think it'd be easy enough for beginners. A lot of the functions are too advanced.

Thing # 42 Music 2.0

I've been using LastFM for a while after a colleague recommended it.

I also like AmieStreet - music is offered for sale inexpensively - you pay based on the popularity. Which is an interesting concept. They also offer free downloads of new artists to increase their exposure.

I am a fan of RadioHeartland...and all of the old downloads of the Dale Connely and Jim Ed Poole Morning Show. Super great music and funny skits! The music selection is so good I'm actually thinking of upgrading to a digital radio in my car that has 240,000 miles in it. So that is saying something!

I haven't had any difficulties with any of the services. It's mostly just tons of fun. Rhapsody is also nifty - you can listen to 20 songs for free each month of your choice...so when I am really, really jonesing for a song and I have to listen to it right now I sometimes go there as LastFM can lead you around a little bit, teasing you.