THE FINAL COUNTDOWNNNNNNNN

Welp, here we are, at the end of our 23Things journey.

StumbleUpon was a website that I discovered years ago through a friend; I dabbled a bit but haven't used it in a while. It was nice to re-discover this tool, as it did cater to my interests and found articles/sites that I really enjoyed. This would be a nice, casual tool to use when you have a free moment and want to discover something neat (which you could then add to, say, a Pinterest board!)

A neat infograph detailing all of the "super powers" imaginable #NB23 http://t.co/mkdldjcDNZ
— Cat VanLuckyLou (@DeceptiCat) March 27, 2014

In regards to this project, I have to admit that I've already been aware of/ using most of these "things". However, it allowed me to explore these tools a bit further, enough to learn a few new things (ie scanning an ISBN in BiblioNB? Neat!), as well as continue to embrace them. It also provided me with some added confidence, as I've been able to provide some help to a few colleagues *pats self on back*.

Appies!

Welp, apparently "appetizer .gifs"  aren't a thing, but I couldn't help myself with the wordplay, so here's a random, bizarre, .gif from a restaurant:

Source: http://ktnsushi.com/images/appetizer-coverq.gif

I used to believe I didn't need a smartphone; I also hesitated to purchase one, knowing that we would soon become One. However, no regrets; my iPhone is a magical, magical machine. For apps, though I mostly use them for social media purposes, I also have several apps related to movies, music, books, food, fashion, etc.

As for books, I have three apps that I use: Overdrive, BiblioNB and GoodReads.

I've used the Overdrive app on both my iPad and iPhone. To be honest, I don't read very much on devices. I understand the appeal, but reading a physical book is part of the experience for myself, when I do find the time to read.

That said, I've downloaded myriads of cookbooks onto my devices; it can be easier to stand up an iPad or iPhone to follow a recipe rather than a book, plus the text is clear and there are usually some beautiful, vivid, delicious photographs.

My latest download is Edible DIY ; I'm not an especially crafty person, but I do enjoy creating edible goods for friends and family! I'm really enjoying it so far; from preserves to booze, crunchy to spicy, this title covers the great food gamut.

I also downloaded the memoir Yes, Chef but soon realized that it was available in paper format through our system and promptly returned it; easy as pie, of course.

Though I hardly use the BiblioNB app since I'm able to browse the catalogue/Workflows at work, I did use this app while on leave, placing a hold on a title I had wanted to read (another food memoir).

I'm not sure how often I'll be using it, but the ISBN scan option is pretty neat. Hint: if you're at Chapters and want to find out if we have a certain title in our library system, why not scan the barcode :)

Lastly, I want to talk about Goodreads; the app is just as easy to follow/use as the website, and I'll be honest, I think it's fascinating to see what my friends, colleagues and acquaintances are reading. I stumble across some good recommendations that way!


...And I just realized that this post was mostly about food. Yup. Hungry?

Scoopin' it Up

I appreciate the concept of content curation; I love Pinterest (see week 5 ), and like the organizational/visual aspect of content curation.

And so I was curious to explore Scoop.It further than surface level. When I'm at work, I consult LibraryLinks on a daily basis, as well as Professional Development and Aboriginal Links; aside from the blogs and newsfeeds that I usually follow, it is a great source of library-related news.

The interface is very busy, and using it is not entirely intuitive at first, but after a while, I got. I created two topics relevant to my interest in public libraries: reaching out (outreach and promotion of the library and its services to the community) and learning spaces (such as makerspaces).

As suspected, I'm not entirely sure I'll be using this tool for myself, at least not at the moment; while it's a great way to gather professional-level articles and videos, it's not an essential tool for me, in addition to all of the others that I use and the research I perform. However, if I'm able at some point to focus on a speciality task in my work, such as outreach, I would definitely consider using Scoop.it as a place to gather my information/inspiration.

You mean there are YouTube videos that don't contain baby animals?

Hey folks!

I've been on leave for the past month, so bear with me as I do the catch up dance...

Source: http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/George-Costanza-Hitting-Ketchup-Bottle.gif

I don't shy away from multimedia. Ooooohhh, I embrace it. My daily intake of YouTube/Vimeo videos is at least two, and I try to squeeze in at least one podcast a week. As is most of my web usage outside of work, I tend to use multimedia on a personal front; comedy, baby animals, 90s music videos and movie trailers are my go-to. However, I have used these tools for professional development purposes. Webinars set up in advance for us can be great, but it's nice to explore library-related topics on my own and watch tutorials, conference talks, listen to podcasts, etc. It gives my eyes a rest from reading articles and blogs. 

For the example below, I started by searching for library-related videos, relying on whatever caught my eye... I began with one of my favourite library bloggers, Ingrid Abrams, then explored the YouTube channel for her library system, Brooklyn Public Library. I stumbled across this inspiring talk by rapper KRS-One, about his experience being homeless and finding some refuge at the library. If you can, take 10 minutes to watch this. 

"Your mind is wherever you tell it to go."

Though I've listened to Q's debate on the future of libraries pretty much as soon as it came out, I decided to listen to a podcast I hadn't heard about until today, LibPunk. As an avid punk music fan, stumbling across this made my ears perk up. This podcast is a NSFW, informal, alternative podcast where three librarians discuss relevant topics.

Episode #39 was titled "How can we make Library School useful beyond a piece of paper?"
It was an interesting discussion, because while all three enjoyed their programs, they felt it wasn't quite enough. They discussed if perhaps an apprenticeship program would be more beneficial, where you take a few classes but mostly need to work xx amount of hours in a library setting. Personally, knowing that I wanted to work in public libraries, I took as many courses relevant to public libraries as possible. Did it prepare me for the daily challenges I face with the public? Not really, but it provided some tools and knowledge in terms of information literacy, research, critical thinking and management. Then again, I wouldn't hesitate to say that anyone interested in working at libraries with the public (whether it's with university students, toddlers or adults) should have previous work experience with the public. My years of retail experience prior to library school have taught me a lot about how to serve the public. 

This was an interesting venture, and I hope to discover more interesting podcasts along the way...

Pinterest, Pinterest, watches-moi sur mon Pinterest...

I felt it was coming, and am so happy it's here...a week about PINTEREST!

I love Pinterest; a few of my closest friends and I love it so much that one of their partners created a song making fun of our obsession (see title for first line).

I have used and continue to use Pinterest for so many things: meal inspirations, workouts for when I played roller derby, preparations for my BFF's baby shower, programming ideas, funny pictures of cute animals, etc. Here's a peek at a few of my boards (I'm not kidding around):

Due to the personal nature of some of my boards, I hesitate to share my personal account. HOWEVER, I have been working on the Moncton Public Library's account over the past year or so. I believe Pinterest is a good, visual medium to promote our collection and services, and share what's great about libraries in general. Simply put, it's fun. Our account seems to be a split of programming inspiration for employees and promotion to our patrons. I created a new board displaying some of the fun things we do at the library via pictures I took. What do you think? Any boards you think we should add? What's your favourite board?

New York Public Library, unsurprisingly, has some fun and creative boards, my favourite being  What's on the Menu? 

Images and Copyright (DUN DUN DUNNNNNNNNNNN)

Admittedly, I'm pretty awful at creating posters for library events. I love creating them; I simply do not have an eye for layout/design and graphics, and am REALLY envious of those who can make them in a pinch (my coworker B in particular is a magical design wizard). Discovering new tools and resources certainly helps alleviate some of that pressure to create.

I believe in the importance of attributing works to their author/artist, but when you just need a bit of filler in a library poster, sometimes Clip Art isn't enough. Creative Commons is my usual go-to site, but I'm grateful that this project led me to morgueFile ; strange name, but it has some great high-quality photos, if you know what you're searching for. In terms of copyright, some things still are a little confusing to me: are we allowed to use images of book covers on our posters? If we use a small, simple graphic on a poster, does that need to be credited?

Here's a beautiful wild cat that I stumbled across last week; the Manul (or Pallas's Cat) is a small wild cat that lives in the grassland and montane steppe of Central Asia and whose conservation status is sadly classified as "Near threatened".


Source (via Wikimedia Commons): http://flickr.com/photos/25222486@N06/2561402671

We were asked to create a Wordle , or what I refer to as a word cloud; these fragments can be visually enticing in a professional presentation (especially if it's a Powerpoint presentation, ugh). Just be careful not to go overboard with lingo (the term "synergy" especially irks me). I'm not sure how word clouds could be used in terms of promoting library programming and resources. Any ideas?

Because I'm in a wintry mood, I chose Émile Nelligan's celebrated poem "Ah comme la neige a neigé" as my base: what do you think?




Overall, I aspire to become even just a bit better at creating visuals, which I believe is increasingly important in public libraries. What catches the eye stays in the mind!

Social Reading (Bibliocommons VS Goodreads)

As soon as our library system introduced Bibliocommons in 2011, I created an account; I got excited at the thought of creating lists, keeping better tabs on my holds & checkouts, and simply working with a more interactive, user-friendly interface. I'll admit that the novelty wore off *fairly* quickly on a personal front, but I still enjoy creating and sharing lists along with several other colleagues via Moncton Public Library's account. Any lists that catch your eye? Guess which ones are my favourite (hint: OM NOM).

These days, I'm much more apt to check in on my Goodreads account; I have more people to interact with, and I prefer the interface and usability. I stumble upon some great treasures while browsing Goodreads, ie by seeing what my friends & colleagues are reading, so much so that my "to-read" list is becoming daunting. The only con of Goodreads VS Bibliocommons is that if ever a title interests me, I need to double-check if we have it in our catalogue (due to mountain of books currently residing in my home, I rarely buy books nowadays).

Are you on Goodreads? Add me :)