Thing #25

Well, I added a subscription widget and a widget showing who's following the blog. I'm hoping that people who stop by sign up as following so that I can go visit their blog. :o) I also added a poll.

It's easy to get overwhelmed with widgets. I one point you have to ask...is my blog about something or really nothing with lots of cool stuff? It'd be too easy to overdue it (I already feel like I have!). I spent about a half hour just digging through widgets. Trying to see if there was one that really had added VALUE. Right now...not so sure.

I also spent more time when I was at home just surfing. Maybe an hour? I'll be interested to see if anyone builds a widget. I saw that there is coding available but that is something I don't even think I want to dip my toe into.

As you can see I've collected quite a few widgets...I've dropped a lot of them into the bottom of my blog while I ponder if I really want to keep them. I do love my Good Reads widget - ever since discovering that in the first 23 Things I've been recommending it to everyone who could use it. Love it!

23). Summary

Holy cow, I made it! *Happy dance!*

This experience has helped me find tools beyond what I knew. One of the best ways it helped me was that I felt justified in seeing more of what's out there - our library director was very supportive of this program.

My favorite discovery...well, I guess it has to be GoodReads or LibraryThing. The social networks were great - I'd belonged to Yahoo! groups in the past for hobbies and interests and to see how slick so many of the social networks have become. Wow.

I'm still looking for others to network with. If anyone wants an ear for a program or wild idea you've got rolling around in your head I'm here. And, once I've got all my ducks in a row I'll be happy to be a resource for anyone else building a podcast at their library. I've been researching this for a while now and am actually into the doing part so I have a lot to share. :o)

I'd really love to see a website dedicated to the 23Things or a wiki that we can start to put information onto so that it has a touchstone that we can continually come back to.

I would definately participate in 24 Things Plus program.

And, if I had to describe my experience in one sentance...

"This has everything you have been wanting to know more about (or didn't know you should) when it comes to learning about technology in the workplace and library."

21). Beyond MySpace

Okay, so I joined GoodReads and Shelfari. Shelfari - didn't like the graphics. GoodReads - was THRILLED to find out that one of my very good friends is already on there and am happily waiting for her to add me to her friends list.

I also am happy that GoodReads has NO LIMIT on the number of books that can be added to your shelf. As LibraryThing did have a 100 limit and I was bummed.

This will come in handy for those nights of allergy-med induced insomnia. I can keep wracking my brain for all of the books I have read. Ever. YES! [Random high-five Jim Carrey style.]

I will be recommending GoodReads to all my friends who are readers - it'll be fun to compare and see what everyone is reading. Also check out the widgets and the author pages - very cool. Enjoying it like crazy! I enjoy reading authors blogs and pages so this was a fun find.