CML Tools

I love the CML Power Tools page. The toolbar is sitting on all the computers that I work on regularly (4 or so) and I love the fact that IE opens my account in a new window and Firefox opens in a new tab. Power tools actually encouraged me to update my browser (on all computers) to Firefox (THANK YOU!!!) The only downfall of CML's Power Tools is how hidden they are on the main CML page. I want to see a PowerTools button across the top...

Web-Based Apps

So I played a little with Google docs. I added the app to my iGoogle account, and decided to play around. I was looking forward to some outstanding functionality as I LOVE my gmail account. Sticking to my comfort zone (MS Excel), I went to the spreadsheet functionality. I am so used to the keystrokes and formulas playing with data in Excel, that I decided to see how the functionality translates. Many formulas work the same, which I was happy with. I was unable to find filters, which is a function I cannot live without, but will continue to play with until I find it. Since I've updated to include Google docs, I will continue to play with some of the non-confidential information I come in contact with and Google docs to see how it works for me. Google docs (or some other platform) would have been really beneficial with my previous employer where information needed to be shared across the globe; would have loved that for some of the docs that I worked on across language barriers. I did love to see the import export feature. Will continue to play; look for blog posts created with Google docs.

L&P Wiki

So I spent some time looking through the Learn & Play wiki, learning about fellow staffers favorite things (raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittena...) has been fun. I was unable to add content as easily as the vids/instruction said. As a matter of fact, nothing populated when I went to the edit tab. I will wait for the admin, and hope my attempt (this blog) will count (as I don't have a tremendous amount of time to complete)...

Wikis

I love the idea of wikis. I know that most of my knowledge comes not from having the knowledge in my head, but in knowing where to find an answer. Usually this comes from checking with others. I get partial answers from multiple sources and pull bits of information together to fit it all into THE answer for which I was looking.
Wikis can offer one stop for all the sources of information to get my answer. My trouble with wikis is finding a site that I trust. The few times I land on a wiki in my frantic search for answers, I make sure to verify information. I have not yet ventured into adding/editing content onto a wiki, but hopefully L&P will help me get over that fear (much like my former twitterphobia). We'll see what happens. In the meantime, I will continue to skim information that others post.

Wrap it up

Okay, so I thought I was on the home stretch when I got to twitter, but it looks like there's ten things left if I want any prizes (which of course I do). I feel like I'm back in school (which I need to do, also).
Being in a support department, I don't have the touch with the public that the majority of CML employees have. Growing up the library was a once in a while thing, but as an adult, I had the good fortune getting together with an AVID library user who walked there every week and stopped in on off days (Sanger). Fast forward, we get together, live in a crappy rental for a bit and did not have the weekly walk to the library as the library was a bit pretentious (aka old school) for me. Then we moved to our current home, and fell in LOVE with CML and resumed the weekly walk and occasional stop ins (REY) (who knew I'd end up an employee). As a customer with internet access at home, the library is books for me; I stop in I wander through the stacks, and I start pulling what interests me. As an employee (out of the public space) the idea of library services that our customers need (i.e. Library2.0 services) did not occur to me fully. As I've worked here (almost two years, and counting, I hope) I've seen the unique challenges that face libraries in keeping services current. It's good to see that CML is not behind in looking at the model of library services, and seeing that the issues facing our future are shared globally. L&P has given me more exposure to staff and how they are keeping current. It's been a truly rewarding and eye opening experience.

Delicious... not sure

For a group of people needing consistent access at their fingertips, I can really see the benefit of setting up a delicious account, for me, not so much. It may be because I am a little anal about organizing my favorites, and I go through an update the three computers with two browsers each that I use about every month. I have different favorites for work and for home use. I also find that a favorite last month is no longer relevant this month. I also tend to google topics before looking through saved websites. I may be doing myself a disservice by not setting up an account, but I have become accustomed to finding things years after everyone else is doing it... Oh well, maybe I am missing out. I have put delicious in my favorites (at home) for further playing and continued learning (we'll see if it makes the cut next month).

Twitter

I've joined. Thanks to an invite from a friend; I've faced my information overload/garbage for your head fear, and signed up for a twitter account. I am forced to utter (type) one of my least favorite lines (but I am willing to say it when needed), I was wrong. Garbage for your head, not at all; information overload, it comes in spurts and with any data I should be able to be discerning enough to determine my own interest in tweets and filter information as necessary.

What a wonderful tool to keep updated on peoples' lives! As a huge proponent of face-to-face contact, I assumed twitter removed that element. Much to my surprise (makes perfect sense, just took me a while to figure it out), it really enhances face-time. I like opening up one-on-one conversations in a personal way, "how is you daughter doing in school?" "is your wife feeling better?" etc. Outdated information may make for inappropriate conversation (unfortunately I have run into this more than once...) Twitter gives more updated information, so I can know what someone did last night and ask him or her how it went when I run into him or her the next day.

I am having trouble actually finding people (email finder is great, but with people with multiple addresses, guilty, it becomes a little bit of guesswork). Thanks to L&P I can follow co-workers, and sap off of who they are following; thanks. For anyone who has not tried it out, twitter is lots of fun! Sign up, follow some people, gain some followers, and invite friends.