Branding Doesn't Have to Be Painful
I will admit that I was not looking forward to this thing. I hate the idea of the personal brand and the whole elevator speech. But I felt that what was being presented in this thing made a lot of sense.
I did the Google Search and given my rather unusual name everything that came up was for me. And most of it was professional -- there is some extra-curricular activity as I am a long-time board member with a social justice group. I don't go around promoting my involvement at work but I don't hide it either. I was pleased that my Facebook did not show up as I have that pretty tightly locked down. I do tend to mix professional and personal with more emphasis on personal on FB and I will probably keep it that way.
However, this blog and my Twitter account are things that I have kept generally professional. I have only used this blog for online continuing education and I have tended to use my Twitter account only for library-related tweets (although initially I set it up for my mother's benefit she never quite got the hang of it and for at least the past year or two it has been only work-related tweets).
After reading the post about branding I have been thinking about trying to make these two accounts more alike and ways to be more professional. I have tended to use my middle names and my personal email rather than my work email for these accounts but I should change that. I will work on making these accounts less anonymous and more about me as a professional librarian.
The only thing I am leery about is keeping things private but that tends to be hard to do anyhow so I'll work on a balance between private and professional. But this thing has certainly got me thinking and I'll work on developing my online professional persona more as time allows.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Friday, June 24, 2011
CPD23 Thing 2
Reading Blogs
Oh what fun! This was my favorite part of running a 23 things program for our library -- reading what people had to say. There I learned how much people loved library work.
And I am getting that feeling again. A lot of us are a bit nervous, not quite sure what we'll might be learning but also willing to try something new.
I picked out a few catalogers to look at their blogs: Blogging Cataloging and Dark Side of the Catalog (what a great name!), both are from the UK and new to blogging. And both seem to be off to a great start. I will go back to their posts to see their takes on what we do.
Then I found some fellow Nebraskans, some by accident and some by design. It is nice to know that they too are doing this project along with me. It is good to know who to turn to for advice or commiseration!
Oh what fun! This was my favorite part of running a 23 things program for our library -- reading what people had to say. There I learned how much people loved library work.
And I am getting that feeling again. A lot of us are a bit nervous, not quite sure what we'll might be learning but also willing to try something new.
I picked out a few catalogers to look at their blogs: Blogging Cataloging and Dark Side of the Catalog (what a great name!), both are from the UK and new to blogging. And both seem to be off to a great start. I will go back to their posts to see their takes on what we do.
Then I found some fellow Nebraskans, some by accident and some by design. It is nice to know that they too are doing this project along with me. It is good to know who to turn to for advice or commiseration!
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
CPD23 Thing 1
Why, Where, What, Which and How
So, why am I doing this course? Basically, I like learning new things. I helped to set up and run a 23 things for my library a few years ago and have taken part in some of the continuing "things" that the Nebraska Library Commission has offered since -- as can be seen by the earlier posts in this blog. I look forward to learning not just new technologies but those that can be applied to my work.
Where am I in my career? I have worked at the same public library for about nine years now -- the longest I have worked anywhere. I am in the position I want to be in -- managing tech services. I love the challenge of my work. This is an exciting time to be in tech services as we go through many changes. Added to that at my library where are in the throes of changing ILS. This is going to be such a fun summer! I am not quite sure where I want my career to go -- I'll see where things take me.
What do I hope to learn? About things I don't know about or how to use things I have not used.
Which? I have taken the opportunity to look through the calendar and there are some interesting topics. I must admit I am not thrilled about the idea of branding for next week, but I am willing to listen and learn and will try not to prejudge. I use some online tools a lot, particularly google docs but have not used some of the presentation ones mentioned and look forward to learning more about using those.
How? I also would like to learn more about how to blog well. I can write okay but I wonder if that is best way to be blogging. I have had this blog for a while but only used for these type of learning things. I have started a few others -- one a personal for sharing recipes with my family and another where I have tried reviewing cookbooks for the library. The main problem I have had with the latter is finding the time to do that regularly. I just cannot fit it into my work day so it has to be done at home and it hasn't gotten done.
Overall I am looking forward to doing some different things and learning about some new things over the next few weeks.
So, why am I doing this course? Basically, I like learning new things. I helped to set up and run a 23 things for my library a few years ago and have taken part in some of the continuing "things" that the Nebraska Library Commission has offered since -- as can be seen by the earlier posts in this blog. I look forward to learning not just new technologies but those that can be applied to my work.
Where am I in my career? I have worked at the same public library for about nine years now -- the longest I have worked anywhere. I am in the position I want to be in -- managing tech services. I love the challenge of my work. This is an exciting time to be in tech services as we go through many changes. Added to that at my library where are in the throes of changing ILS. This is going to be such a fun summer! I am not quite sure where I want my career to go -- I'll see where things take me.
What do I hope to learn? About things I don't know about or how to use things I have not used.
Which? I have taken the opportunity to look through the calendar and there are some interesting topics. I must admit I am not thrilled about the idea of branding for next week, but I am willing to listen and learn and will try not to prejudge. I use some online tools a lot, particularly google docs but have not used some of the presentation ones mentioned and look forward to learning more about using those.
How? I also would like to learn more about how to blog well. I can write okay but I wonder if that is best way to be blogging. I have had this blog for a while but only used for these type of learning things. I have started a few others -- one a personal for sharing recipes with my family and another where I have tried reviewing cookbooks for the library. The main problem I have had with the latter is finding the time to do that regularly. I just cannot fit it into my work day so it has to be done at home and it hasn't gotten done.
Overall I am looking forward to doing some different things and learning about some new things over the next few weeks.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Thing 35, Wakoopa
Boy, I hadn't realised I had taken that looonnng a break -- January to April, my how time flies when you are, uh, busy. But I've come back to learn more. I found this assignment quite interesting as it was not something I had considered at all -- tracking software and how you might use it. I can see how it would be very useful on public access computers. It allows for certain navel-gazing when done only for the individual.
I was able to install it first on my home computer and then also on my work computer. I use the computer differently in each setting. At home it is mainly social use (and I swear it wasn't me using WebKinz!) but my work use seems to have provided some new software to Wakoopa -- such as an ILS (which is what Deer Hunter -- aka Horizon 7.5 -- has to be as nothing else comes close) and using OCLC's Connexion -- both of which I tried to write descriptions for on Wakoopa but I wonder if they'll be accepted or not. Perhaps I'll try reviewing one of them (okay I reviewed Connexion). I could not fit either one into the specified categories in the description. Interesting that there is nothing there for even a database which might be the closest category.
I tried inserting the code in the post but that didn't seem to work well so I went and did the badge on the blog and that is rather cool. I don't mind people seeing my top 10 software. I do admit that I am not sure I like the whole level of tracking involved here and that I had to individually set the privacy for each software program rather than being able to do something in a blanket fashion, say block all games.
And I do wonder what use, if any, Wakoopa, makes of the information collected through its service. We see the kind of tracking that happens in gmail -- those ads that pick up on what is in your messages -- and I know it is all computer generated (and sometimes rather amusing) but it is still personal information that may well be being collected. I'll have to see whether I stay on Wakoopa or not -- for now it is interesting but I'll have to either stick with it or deactivate my account.
I was able to install it first on my home computer and then also on my work computer. I use the computer differently in each setting. At home it is mainly social use (and I swear it wasn't me using WebKinz!) but my work use seems to have provided some new software to Wakoopa -- such as an ILS (which is what Deer Hunter -- aka Horizon 7.5 -- has to be as nothing else comes close) and using OCLC's Connexion -- both of which I tried to write descriptions for on Wakoopa but I wonder if they'll be accepted or not. Perhaps I'll try reviewing one of them (okay I reviewed Connexion). I could not fit either one into the specified categories in the description. Interesting that there is nothing there for even a database which might be the closest category.
I tried inserting the code in the post but that didn't seem to work well so I went and did the badge on the blog and that is rather cool. I don't mind people seeing my top 10 software. I do admit that I am not sure I like the whole level of tracking involved here and that I had to individually set the privacy for each software program rather than being able to do something in a blanket fashion, say block all games.
And I do wonder what use, if any, Wakoopa, makes of the information collected through its service. We see the kind of tracking that happens in gmail -- those ads that pick up on what is in your messages -- and I know it is all computer generated (and sometimes rather amusing) but it is still personal information that may well be being collected. I'll have to see whether I stay on Wakoopa or not -- for now it is interesting but I'll have to either stick with it or deactivate my account.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
Thing 32, Netvibes
I was really excited by the potential of Netvibes but am less thrilled but what I have come up with. I am probably not thinking it all through but I seem to be just collecting links with thumbnails and presenting them. Not thrilling.
Then I worked out how to get the webpage to display when they don't have a thumb nail. I used a combination of the different kinds of links to make it more visually appealing. I can see how you could spend a lot of time tinkering with this.
I tried to find ways to link to photos but couldn't find that without going through flickr and not all my photos are on flickr --they are on my home computer or on Facebook. There were many widgets which would link me to others photos which I was not interested in. Hmm.
I can see how this could be well used by libraries but it takes a lot of time to learn how to do it well -- you need to get you own widgets (which scares me, I'll admit). And you need to spend time thinking about what to put on the pages, how they are laid out and all that.
But it also does allow templates and it is much easier than trying to code it yourself. So I have mixed feelings about it.
As an end note: Omaha public library is going to be changing it's website so I might lose a lot of my links.
Then I worked out how to get the webpage to display when they don't have a thumb nail. I used a combination of the different kinds of links to make it more visually appealing. I can see how you could spend a lot of time tinkering with this.
I tried to find ways to link to photos but couldn't find that without going through flickr and not all my photos are on flickr --they are on my home computer or on Facebook. There were many widgets which would link me to others photos which I was not interested in. Hmm.
I can see how this could be well used by libraries but it takes a lot of time to learn how to do it well -- you need to get you own widgets (which scares me, I'll admit). And you need to spend time thinking about what to put on the pages, how they are laid out and all that.
But it also does allow templates and it is much easier than trying to code it yourself. So I have mixed feelings about it.
As an end note: Omaha public library is going to be changing it's website so I might lose a lot of my links.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thing 31. What is the future of Libraries and Librarians
David Lankes on libraries, librarians and the future of them both. I found his talk to be idealistic and inspiring but is it realistic?
One of the things that came out strong is the need for innovation in libraries and for librarians to be innovative. I agree but we still need to work out how to innovate. We need to be flexible and willing to change, and adapt. But how do we do this?
Lankes presents predictions and encourages us to think in innovative fashion but do we know how to do this? This seems to be something lacking in our professional. How do we think about the future? How do we predict the future? How to work with those predictions and change society?
Change society. That is a scary idea. And very idealistic. Can we really do this? Well, we already have done it in some respects -- the idea of libraries have changed society through history -- lending to the masses, learning for all, the people's universities. So how do we do this now?
How do we change our catalogs? How do we shift our focus from things, artifacts to knowledge, knowledge creation, and serving and changing society?
Lankes talks (in the questions session) about a need to talk to our members and use outcomes based asssessment to start changing library. This is structured and practical but hard to do, hard to put time, effort and money into. Can we make this a priority? It is hard to do that when we have lots of other pressing things to do.
One of the things that came out strong is the need for innovation in libraries and for librarians to be innovative. I agree but we still need to work out how to innovate. We need to be flexible and willing to change, and adapt. But how do we do this?
Lankes presents predictions and encourages us to think in innovative fashion but do we know how to do this? This seems to be something lacking in our professional. How do we think about the future? How do we predict the future? How to work with those predictions and change society?
Change society. That is a scary idea. And very idealistic. Can we really do this? Well, we already have done it in some respects -- the idea of libraries have changed society through history -- lending to the masses, learning for all, the people's universities. So how do we do this now?
How do we change our catalogs? How do we shift our focus from things, artifacts to knowledge, knowledge creation, and serving and changing society?
Lankes talks (in the questions session) about a need to talk to our members and use outcomes based asssessment to start changing library. This is structured and practical but hard to do, hard to put time, effort and money into. Can we make this a priority? It is hard to do that when we have lots of other pressing things to do.
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thing 30: Webby choice
We get to explore a website from Webby for this assignment. I chose the category of Cultural Institutions -- as I scanned the nominees I noticed the International Quilt Study Center's name. I know that is a Nebraska institution, one I am familiar with, so I chose the International Quilt Study Center's Explorer website to explore.
The first thing I notice is that it takes time to load. But there are so many pictures and interactive features the slow load time is understandable. I also found it crashed on me when I tried to do my own pattern. However, the quilters I know could really get lost in this website.
It is a beautiful website and makes excellent use of their content (quilts) in an innovative and fun way. I wonder if such sophisticated and flexible searching could be used on digital collections such as Nebraska Memories or the Western Trails projects. I really like the interaction that is available -- such as the Threads section -- where you can explore the quilts that someone has grouped together, or create you own group. You can also explore various stories -- recordings made by visitors to the museum.
Although this is a visual medium you could perhaps apply it in general to a catalog. In both the Collection and Threads section you can browse or search in a variety of ways. You view records which include photographs but could just as easily be bibliographic records. The main drawback would be the size of the database you might need. This database is only 800 some quilts -- most libraries are much larger than that and would have many more records. I wonder how scalable this would be. But I love this site and will visit it again, to play around and be inspired.
The first thing I notice is that it takes time to load. But there are so many pictures and interactive features the slow load time is understandable. I also found it crashed on me when I tried to do my own pattern. However, the quilters I know could really get lost in this website.
It is a beautiful website and makes excellent use of their content (quilts) in an innovative and fun way. I wonder if such sophisticated and flexible searching could be used on digital collections such as Nebraska Memories or the Western Trails projects. I really like the interaction that is available -- such as the Threads section -- where you can explore the quilts that someone has grouped together, or create you own group. You can also explore various stories -- recordings made by visitors to the museum.
Although this is a visual medium you could perhaps apply it in general to a catalog. In both the Collection and Threads section you can browse or search in a variety of ways. You view records which include photographs but could just as easily be bibliographic records. The main drawback would be the size of the database you might need. This database is only 800 some quilts -- most libraries are much larger than that and would have many more records. I wonder how scalable this would be. But I love this site and will visit it again, to play around and be inspired.
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