iPhone Update

Ok, so it's been a few months since the iPhone 2.0 update and I'm still as enamored with it as I was on day 1. Everyday, it seems, I find a new functionality available that makes my life either easier or more fun.

Some of my favorite new [free] apps:
1. Pandora (especially since the update that makes it more stable)
2. Shazam - ever hear a song and wonder what it was or who was singing, yeah, Shazam does that
3. Whitenoise - insomnia, you have one more enemy
4. Urbanspoon - always a good restaurant recommendation, I only wish it had recs for the region in which I actually lived
5. Solitaire - cause sometimes you just need it
6. WordPress - I moved my kidlit blog over to WordPress so I could mobile blog

The only drawback I've found is that it takes forever to backup my phone. I understand that 2.1 helps that a bit. I'll have to update the phone tonight.

Thing #12 Part 1 - NetLibrary

NetLibrary doesn't appear to have changed much since I used it while in graduate school. Then I was using it to read YA fiction not in University Library nor IMCPL. My desire to read said books was great enough to make up for the frustrating interface. Indeed, the only time I anticipate using NetLibrary is if I can't get my hands on a physical copy of something.

I find it difficult to read large pieces of text on screen and having to click a button to get to the next page frustrating.

The one change I've noticed is that I don't have to log in every ten pages. Of course, I'm using the service from within the library so don't know if I would have to do that at home or not. That was a major frustration for me four years ago.

It is useful to remember while helping patrons. I was able to find a book we didn't have here when working the ref desk one Sunday. Great tool, but as the recent American Libraries article asserts ebooks are not close to taking the place of printed material.

On the other hand, (yes, I know I'm rambling), I have a friend who refuses to buy printed books for environmental reasons. Unfortunately, I don't think he uses the public library.

Pink Snow

I walk by these trees every day on my way to work. Last week the branches hung low with the weight of all the flowers. I wanted to take a picture then. Now all we have is pink snow.

I took this picture on my afternoon break walk around the block. I really wanted throw the petals like confetti.

Thing #23 - Wrap Up

I've been loving this challenge. Seeing every one's reactions and learning processes has been a joy. Not to mention getting to be in contact with so many staff members I've never met before. (And still haven't really.)

Several people have offered new perspectives and uses for technology that I've been familiar with for a while. I've gotten to know some of these tools better and have even discovered a couple of new ones.

Will they all be part of every single day? Probably not. But most of them have been and will continue to be until something better comes along. I'm particularly excited about how participants plan to move ahead with the technology and what that could mean for the library and our customers.

Thing #22 - ListenNJ

I love the theory of ListenNJ. In practice, however, I can't use it. I have a Mac at home. So for the time being the service is completely useless to me.

That said, I like the selection of books they have. It would be nice if it was more easily browsed and YA books weren't listed as children's and vice versa.

Thing #21 - Podcasting

I actually tried podcasting for myself this past fall. There's way too much background noise. However, I can see interviewing kids about books regularly. I don't listen to podcasts, ever. It just isn't my thing*, but the potential for what can be done with them is huge.


Click here to get your own player.


* I listen to music or audiobooks.

YouTube

The only YouTube video I'm in (part of the large crowd):


And the same event as videoed by another YA author: