Beyond method # 8 (Capture your computer screen)

I really like this lesson , though I haven't had a chance to practise doing this at work. I used Screenr to make a short screencast at home when I was making dinner, showing my husband how to cook quick soup.It was fun.

Screencasting tools provide a lot of uses in the library: how to seach books online, how to renew books online, how to access database at home ...and so much more..
Our library is already using screencasting tools for some programs and they work well for library users.

Beyond Method # 7 (Next Gen Presentations)

This is the URL to my presentation in Prezi. Hope it works
http://prezi.com/ynuna_enswbx/beyond-2-step/

I have used online presentation once in a while with Google Docs for my class, but not for my job. For this method, as recommended, I chose a different tool that I have never tried before : Prezi and created my Prezi by using the sample fake presentation provided. It took me a while to figure out how to make it though they have instruction. It seems not as easy as they show. I was very interested to see that I did it at last, but still I need to spend more time if I would like to create a very good online presentation as those in the popular Prezi.

There is no doubt that online presentation tools bring a lot of advantages and interest for users of all fields. Library is not the exeception. I think online presentation can be of great support in teaching library skills, in giving tutorials on how to renew books online at home, on how to access the school database at home....

If a patron came in to our library asking for recommendations on presentation tools that are freely available online, of course, we would be able to provide them with the websites, but further than that if they need help on how to use those tools our school has an open lab with lab assistants to assist them.

"Beyond Method #6" (eBooks and eReaders)

I really appreciate ebooks, however, if I have a choice, print book is always my priority. I tried Project Gutenberg and looked for the book " Little women" and this is the URL for the book:

http://www.gutenberg.org/files/514/514-h/514-h.htm

The HTML version was easy for me to download and read online.Readers can search by authors or title if they know what they are looking for. With the function "search by subject", it gives you a lot of options such as Sort "by Popularity" , " by Release Date" or "Alphabetically". Moreover, readers can select the language of books they would love to read, though the language of books I would like to read is not available there.
I think some of our patrons would be interested in the public domain service like Project Gutenberg, though our library has a good collection of eBooks as well.
I think I would be able to help patrons if they wanted help putting a title from Project Gutenberg on an eReader.

Beyond Method # 5 (Tag & Social Cataloging)

Books and Library are companions(though nowadays, patrons might not see physical books in some electronic libraries).It is obvious that Libraries can make a good use from the social cataloging tools such as LibraryThing or Goodreads. Librarians can get more feedback from readers about the books they have ordered, or about the books they are going to add to their collections. Librarians can recommend these websites to readers , so they can manage their own readings. With the Rating and Sharing features in these services, readers can have a better judge on the books they want to spend time to read or money to buy. Social cataloging would be a useful tool for librarians and book lovers.

"Beyond method #4" (Employment)

"Finding Jobs Page" from the Texas Workskills Development in Library Websites is really helpful for job seekers,in this current difficult economy state, to look for a temporary or full time job. To me, in order to make use of these sites, patrons should have some knowledge of basic computer skills in order to search through the online job resources and apply the jobs they want online.
Though each site has a different appearance, I couldn't see any confusions on the employment site.
Goodwill Community Foundation's Computer Basics Page is useful for patrons, to some extent, in learning how to use the computer and would be a great support for them to do their job search online.It gives patrons general ideas about the computer or laptop; however, if the tutorial had more practical steps on how to use the mouse, what is a cursor, link, browser...,where to click to see the ad.., it would be more helpful for them. The two online computer tutorials:"Computer Basics Page" and "Internet Basics Page" provided in this step, patrons who really would like to learn and would spend a lot of time on computers by themselves will get some benefits from this tool. Otherwise,I don't think librarians in our library are able to face-to-face assist one patron to go through the whole computer tutorial. Furthermore,our school has an open lab with lab assistants for those who need help at computers.
After looking at the employment resources mentioned in the step,I can see that the website Indeed.com is set up like a Google search, whoever is familiar with Google can find it easy to search.careerbuilder.com seem good and easy, too,for job seekers to search and the jobs on both websites are updated.
Not many of our patrons have asked for job search help in our library since the school has a department to take care of that; however, we could help jobseekers,by providing them more job searching websites.

"Beyond Method #3" (Where in the World?)

View South Austin Campus Library in a larger map

This is the link of a library that I created on my Google map. I really want to put the link on a line with some words like " my map to .." or "see maps" as in the examples , unfortunately I do not know how to do that. I have tried a lot of times to create my map following the instructions in the step, but still couldn't figure where I could copy the link to on my map. I saw the chain "link" function and got stuck at that point.I opened the link, copied it and did not know where to paste it to.
A photo or a map speaks more than a thousand words especially in giving directions. Maps mashups have made it convenient for public or private users in creating their own personal maps.

"Beyond Method #2" (Customize Your Window to the Internet)

Netvibes or iGoogle?
After reading the articles in Step 2 and looking at how some libraries utilize Netvibes and iGoogle, I have created a customizable homepage from these two services and had a lot of fun. To me, a customizable homepage from Netvibes is the best option for librarians because it lets them make their Netvibes page public, it is easy to create dashboards and widgets and it is pretty to look at. Librarians can make varieties of dashboards for their different categories: catalogues and instructions on how to do research, library news and activities, world news…
It is easier for me to add my own widgets to a page from Netvibes than to add my own gadgets to a page from iGoogle. I have tried several times to use the function “Add feed or gadget” from iGoogle to add my own URL, however a note “Not found” popped up all the time and I couldn’t make it.

Method 12

I did it, eventually! Thanks to all of you who have launched and extended this program , so I can have a chance to go through the whole process of learning and benefit from this excellent program. I was interested in most of the exercises in the training. These exercises are related to each other to some extend. The way the 'creator' explains and guides me from setting up my own Blogs, adding my first Post to exploring Cloud Computing, RSS & Newsreaders, Photos & Images, Videos, Tagging & Social Bookmarking, Social Networking, Chat & IM, Wikis and Podcasts is really amazing, professional and informative. This shorter version of the popular 23 things program gives me a comfortable feeling that I can reach the goal in a shorter way, and how great and smarter I feel upon finishing this course! This program has assisted me in my Professional Development at work and in my daily use. The Certification after the online training is another stimulation to mark our achievement. I would definitely participate in the next program you offered in the future. I would like to say thanks again to all of you who brings Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 to us , who work in the library.

Method 11

Together with the development of computers and high speed internet, Podcasts are popular and have lots of applications and amusement. Podcast.com and Education Podcast Network are marvellous. Users can choose the podcasts by the topics they are interested in. It is easy, fast, convenient to download the podcasts from some websites. Those podcasts are very helpful and it is really interesting and helpful to listen and view them from your computer.
In terms of creating podcasts, our libraries do not create podcasts at the present time, however, with the potential use of podcasts, we will have them in our libraries soon.

Method 10

Wiki is doing a great job in collecting and organizing good blogs, useful websites as well as sharing information and saving time for other users. It is great in another way that the community of librarians have a playground to make use of their talents, learn from other librarians and at the same time help those who are not professional in searching on the internet. One more interesting thing is that once you create a log in account, you can add to or edit topics on the wiki. Create a log in account is easy and simple , all you need is an email address. I logged in to the "Library Development A Dozen Ways to Two Step Favorites " Wiki, left the URL to my favorite blog on the "Favorite Blogs " page and it is very interesting to do so.
A lot of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki. Librarians can post their workshops, their research , any news or events happening in their own libraries , etc.. Wiki is a good place where they can exchange valuable resources ad good links and all others can benefit from that.

Method 9 - Option 1

Chat/IM are very interesting and helpful to me. They went smoothly. It's not very difficult for me to chat on line with my friends as long as the internet connections both ways are on. I have used chat through Yahoo Messenger for quite a long time. To me, chat is a quick way to communicate and of great help in some aspects, especially when you commonly work with computers, so you can be right there to know if someone on line and you can keep contact with them quietly without disturbing other people or other members in the family, and it is really helpful for those with hearing problems who do not want to talk on the phones. Webcam is a good way to communicate with others , too, especially for those who live far from each other, so they can hear and see each other as they were right in front of you, which is really lots of fun. However, in order to use Webcam service, people need to have very strong computer and high quality service of internet. Chat/IM is really a good function in communicating in libraries. My library is currently offering chat, I tried this option and it turned out very sucessful.

Method 8

I heard about Facebook a couple of years ago and that millions of people around the world are

its fans, especially students. I couldn't understand how and why that website attracts such many followers. Until I tried it, I found what the answer was. It's easy to sign up and it takes me some time to figure it out most of the functions. And I log on to it whenever I have time just to enjoy reading from friends and sometimes to leave a comment and feel very glad that it works! To me, the social networking sites satisfy the needs of people's communication to keep track of what is going on with your friends , family and acquaintances, to share photos and information not with just one person at a time but a whole lot in a fastest way and much more... Though interested in what it brings to me, I still have privacy concerns about keeping my personal life separate from my professional life in the online environment. And even in my personal social life account, I am still not confident to share a lot of my personal things on line for everyone (I mean friends I know but not very close to me) , and according to what I read , even if I delete my things, they are still in the database on line. My College has use Facebook , unfortunately, my Library has not used Facebook yet , I hope some time in the future it will . However, it is using some other social networking tools such as Instant Message, RSS Feeds, Twitter.