Thing 2: Library 2.0

My mind is spinning from the enormity of Library 2.0! I try not to get bogged down in the semantics. What matters is functionality and accessibility. I was teaching a lesson on the Dewey Decimal system last fall, and found a quote about Dewey's goal of "organizing the knowledge of the world." Imagine, over 100 years ago wanting to organize all of the knowledge of the world! That has been useful for archival purposes, but we need to do more than that. We need to make that knowledge accessible to the world.

How to find time? I have no problem there. I have to remind myself that some things have to get done today, before I GET to sit down and work on my 23 Things. I found time during conference nights last week to watch the video of Stephen Abram, and read John Blyberg's blog. Not all at one time, but here and there. The articles from Library Technology Reports and OCLC Newsletter lead me on and on. Fascinating stuff!

This is one of the best staff development activities I can remember participating in since I finished my masters classes. And it is free! I love having this progression of steps, giving some direction to what can be for me, at times, a dauntingly vast online tangle of resources. Very much like the pathfinders we create for students. The internet has been compared to the Library of Congress all dumped out in one huge pile. (Sorry, of course I would never even think of doing that!) It's all in there, but do you know how long it would take to find what you are looking for? It would be wonderful to create a similar challenge for students. >And I'll bet I'm not the first one to think of THAT!< I would love it if someone would send out info on such a program! I have only begun to scratch the surface. But I'm looking forward to digging in some more, and finding a way to relate it to lessons I teach, and share it with teachers I work with.

Adding my avatar

I am really glad I printed out the directions for how to do these 23 Things. I am having fun, but the network at school today was up and down (and VERY slow), so I gave up and waited until I got home. I have so many tabs open right now, that it is easier to follow along on my printed sheet than to keep track of which tab I can find stuff on.

It was fun to see all of the options available for the avatar. I also went with pretty much real-life me. I did wonder if there are other such sites to choose an avatar that maybe are more geared to professional uses. Not that I don't like all of the fun versions. But since this will be a reflection of my professional work, I decided to not go too casual. Adding the avatar to my blog was very easy, following the directions. It wasn't real intuitive on the screen, but maybe that will come with more experience out here in bloggerland.

I have read through several other blogs from Metronet. They give me confidence that I can do this, too. I have many of the same feelings (Who will be reading this? Should I admit I didn't know how to do this or that?). I appreciate everyone's honesty and openness. I will try to reciprocate.

I was a little ahead of myself, too. I registered my blog before I did anything else. I need to go back now and see how I edit that. Mostly my default email. Because of the network instability at school, I think I will go with my home account.

Thing 1 Set Up a Blog

Here it is, my blog. Day 1.

I named my blog after the book that I always use when someone asks me what my favorite book is, and they won't accept "Why, the book I just read, of course!" It is Travel Far, Pay No Fare by Anne Lindbergh.

I have been an elementary media specialist for the past 9 years. This year I am at a middle school, and also trying to meet the needs of staff and students at 3 elementary schools. A challenging year, to say the least.

I am so excited about this project.

More later!
Ann P