Zoho is cool

I like Zoho. However, I am having some difficulty figuring out how to create a link to the document on my blog. I like the advantages Zoho has to offer:

• portability without having to use a portable device, outside your computer anyway
  
• knowing how to use a slick new technology
  
• easily create links from your blog to your document

Week 9: Thing # 23 Is this really the end? Or just the beginning ...

My favorite discoveries on this learning journey are creating the blog itself and learning a bit more of web2.0 technology.

Though I'm always interested in what's hot in technology, other things usually take precendent. But this program has boosted my interest and motivation to learn more. It's fun too. Facebook is a riot, what a wonderful way to connect with friends, even long-ago friends. Two people with whom I attended art school 20 years ago found me all the way from Hawiai! What fun it is to be in touch with them again. I love the Delicious bookmarks too. A take-anywhere list. I don't have to rely on memory.

The biggest thing that surprised me was all the things you can do with a blog. Downloading images and videos for example, and connecting to favorite YouTube clips or Library2.0 sites. I love that I can just "google" my name and find my blog or Facebook page. Another of my favorite parts of this project is seeing my colleagues' blogs. It's inspiring and cool to be working on a project together and connecting with each other even if we cannot physically be side-by-side.

I cannot think of a thing that I would do to improve upon this program, except maybe present a bag of chocolate chip cookies along with the prize for completion. The concept was great, the format superb -- for as complex a technology as this program is, it was impeccably organized and easy to follow.

I could come up with something but offhand, I cannot think of any other Web 2.0 tools that you didn’t cover.

Week 9: Thing #22 Downloadable Library Media

America in Gridlock. An example of the many genres available in Omaha Public Library's eBook collection. Easy to download, convenient to read or listen to. Even the OD.wma software, needed to download and use the eBook, is easy to install. The instructions are clear and concise, too.

It would work well and help staff become more proficient if Omaha Public Library would change it's policy -- and allow staff to do hands-on practice on staff computers. Not every library employee has Internet access at home. Learning how to use the media would instill confidence and better enable staff to promote the service and help customers. Perhaps there is a good reason for a policy that restricts staff from using the eBook and MyLibraryDV products to learn on staff computers on work time. Barring that, I think it would behoove the library to lift such a policy in order have its staff well versed in how to use all of the library's electronic media.

Week 9: Thing #21 Podcast

I ferreted around and found a really cool postcast site, LearnOutLoud.com. Clink on the link above to hear up to 15 stories from a postcast of Aesops Fables. This would be a very cool feature to add to the children's page on OPL's website. Also, with kids who are naturally techno saavy, the library could invite them to submit their YouTube videos for posting on the children's page and/or teen page.

Week 9, Thing 20 YouTube

Click the link above for a YouTube video of Julie Andrews touting the value of libraries. How about putting this, or a little YouTube vid of one of OPL's librarians, Friends, Director, or Foundation members on OPL's website. Better yet, let's get a short vid of the Mayor promoting OPL's Books for Kids campaign.

As was suggested, I found a lot of videos that were not worth watching. Even some of the well-intentioned YouTube vids about and by librarians were entirely too long. However, I did find the Julie Andrews video worth adding as an entry. I chose this particular video because it was well-done, concise, and relevant. It was just as interesting rooting around the video hosting sites such as Yahoo and others.

Since videos, like music downloads, are bandwidth hogs I wouldn't embed a video any longer than 60 seconds. I think 30 to 45 seconds is a good guideline unless the video is particularly captivating or entertaining. Too many videos are entirely too long.

Week 8, Thing 18 Web-based Apps: not just for desktops

Annette Lamb's NLA blog presentation offers solid advice for using various technologies in a practical way to connect with customers and the community at large. For example, families that are interested in Omaha Public Libraries wonderful storybook character programs can sign up for updates on when Clifford the Big Red Dog or other characters are visiting the library. They can choose to receive simple notices as text messages on their mobile phones, or they can get library blog updates on their laptops or work computers. Now, I will figure out how to post the slide presentation I just created on Zoho.

I love how easy Zoho Writer is. I'm not posting a slide presentation as I mentioned above but a simple document instead. It's a demonstration of what can be accomplished with Zoho Writer. There are also other web-based applications worth exploring.