You-Tube

How do I trace my family tree? Well I would recommend following the steps of Mr. Tree



or Mr. Peeps



Genealogy can be fun!!!

Wiki Mania

Did you know the genealogy department works with a wiki? Genealogy works with WeRelate which allows genealogy researchers to share their family trees. They recently completed a place index, where many volunteers added descriptions for the localities mentioned in the family trees. Very helpful information for genealogy users! They have plans to roll out more enhanced features and materials in the future.

Training Tutorial

I enjoyed learning how to create a Training Tutorial. I spent time learning how to use the Windows Movie Maker. We can incorporate this into our work by creating tutorials to demonstrate how to use databases and improve search methodologies. I learned how to create my "movie", manage the timeline, and narrate the tutorial.

So I present for your viewing pleasure, a tour of My Blog ...

MySpace

MySpace has created a controversy in libraries. Several library systems have decided to block it, others have chosen to allow people access to the site. Now there are discussions of whether libraries should participate in the "social network". I think libraries should use it for their purposes. They should use it to advertise their services and programs. Libraries can use it for PR purposes. They can also entice new library users by showing what a library has to offer. Upon discovering what the library has, several people have stated to me, "I didn't know the library did that". This is very telling that the public is not aware of our purpose. I have concerns with the "friends" groupings. I do worry about profane and inappropriate content being involved in the library's image.

For myself personally, these "social networks" do not appeal. I have always questioned those who feel they need to join a "clique" to feel important. Reading articles about kids who are excited about the number of "friends" they have on these sites concerns me. Shouldn't they be meeting friends through school and extracurricular activities?

Technorati/ Library Thing

While looking through Technorati, I saw a posting that the Library of Congress is posting some of their photo collections on Flickr. I found it an interesting tidbit. I found the site a little daunting to use.

I really enjoyed Library Thing. Even though I do not have a large library at home to catalog material, I found the discussions interesting.

MP3/ IM

I have previous experience with both of these. I love my i-pod. I listen to it in the car, walking the dog, when I'm traveling. Initially when registering my i-pod and initially downloading music, I had a few hiccups. To this day I can not explain to others how to begin the set-up process. I continually download my music. I'm unsure what I'll do when my computer dies.

I started IM while in college. I used to IM friends and chat. Unfortunately, it was hard to keep up the flow of the conversation at times. My previous employer was a part of a state run Ask-A-Librarian service that included chat. The software we used was called DocuTek. It was interesting from a librarian standpoint. You had 2 windows sharing the screen. One was the IM conversation, the other was a browser window. You could cobrowse with the patron and show them how to complete a search.

My dilemma with IM is patience. I have none. I get frustrated when the other person gets impatient with me and my responses, yet I find myself becoming impatient waiting for their responses.

All Consuming Part Deux

All right, after a discussion with Becky I went back and tried All Consuming again. I am an avid romance reader. I devour a large amount of books. The other day I was trying to remember a book that I knew was planned to be released soon. I could not recall the series, author, or previous titles. Yet, I checked out the two previous books from the library. If I had been using All Consuming, I would know what books I had previously read. I agree I can see its value for our customers. I am now keeping track of my reading material using this service. I still do not appreicate the comment section. Sorry!

SEC Football

I am very proud of my Conference, the SEC. I know we had losses in the bowl games this year...Florida, Arkansas, but seven of the SEC teams won their bowl games this year. Let's also not forget that the SEC took the National Championship once again. Maybe Florida did not get back-to-back championships, but the SEC accomplished it thanks to LSU. Now I have to wait until next fall for college football to return.

Google/ All Consuming

I like having everything available from the same spot via Google (e-mail, blog, reader, etc). I love my Flickr account though, so I still have to maintain a Yahoo account. I am still debating the Google Docs. I think I may test this theory further.

I'm not that impressed with All Consuming. I guess it will help in keeping track of what I read, but my opinions varied so much from others. Maybe I'm too stubborn. I have no interest in other people's opinions of what I consume.

Flickr

I love Flickr! I have been using it since I moved here. It was an easy way for me to keep my friends and family informed. I posted pics with comments, so they could all "see" how I was doing. My one friend, the other "Mel", updates pics all the time, so I can see what's going on with her. My sister also places pics of my nieces on Flickr, so I get to watch them growing up. I really enjoy it. I don't feel like I'm so far away from my family and friends, since I can regularly "see" them.

Since I am an avid photographer, I have debated storing all my photos on Flickr. Yes, I love my digital camera, but I still create photo albums. I have a photo album for every year with notes documenting what the photo is and when it was taken. I have stored all my digital photos on my computer and back-up discs. I still have my negatives for my older photos. All of these back-ups are kept in a safe.

Would it be easier for me to store it all on Flickr and save physical space? How do others feel about storing their personal photos on a network out-there that someone else controls?