The End: Summary

Congratulations!! You’ve reached The End. Be sure to give yourself a pat on the back for completing the program. There's just one more post to make to your blog.
For your last and final exercise for this program please reflect on your learning journey and post a few thoughts. Here are some questions to prompt you if you're drawing a blank ...

- What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey?
- How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?
- Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?
- If we were to do it again, what could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?

And last but not least…
- If we offered another similar self-directed discovery program like this in the future, would you choose to participate?

Look for information in your email about the Grand Prize Drawing for staff members who finish the program by the April 30th deadline.
Also look for information on this blog about closing your Playtime 2.0 accounts (coming soon).

Thanks for participating in Playtime 2.0. I hope you enjoyed it and learned a lot. And I hope you will continue to look for ways to allow and encourage online interaction with your friends, family, and co-workers, and our Library patrons.

~~~~~~~~

Although we have come to the end of Roselle Public Library's Playtime 2.0 activities, you don't have to stop!
The Librarians at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County, who started this Library 2.0 learning phenomenon, continue the adventure in Learning 2.1: Explore... Discover... Play!

This blog has been set up to support on-going exploration and learning of new web technologies. It is a continuation of Learning 2.0. Questions or comments about this site should be directed to Matt Gullett, Emerging Technology Coordinator for the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County (PLCMC).

Playtime never ends on the Web!

Thing #10: Roselle's Virtual Library

According to Generations Online in 2009, a Pew Internet and Life report published in January 2009, "...over half of the adult Internet population is between 18 and 44 years old. But larger percentages of older generations are online now than in the past, and they are doing more activities online, according to the Pew Research Center's Internet & American Life Project surveys taken from 2006-2008."

These Internet-savvy people expect to find everything they need or want on the Internet.

Define

Our website is the Library's online presence. Anyone with a Roselle Public Library card and an Internet connection can access our website 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It's like having the library open all day and all night except you never have to leave your home. When patrons visit our website, they expect to find answers and interact.
When was the last time you visited our website?
Do you know what is available to patrons? to staff? Does it provide answers and interaction?

Discover

Let's do a little exploring!
Visit the Library's home page: http://www.roselle.lib.il.us
From the home page, there are several ways to navigate the entire website:
- the main navigational buttons on the left side link to each of the main areas of the website
- the graphic links on the right side link to several featured areas
- the A-Z Index in the middle of the page is an alphabetical directory to the website

Did you know that you can chack your Library email and access the Employee Intranet from the Library's home page?
Pull down the A-Z Index and scroll to the bottom of the list. Click the links to Staff email and Staff Intranet. Use your network login and password at the prompt.

In addition to all of the navigational links, headlines from the Library's What's New blog appear in the center column.

Most of the information on the Library's website is about the Library: departmental information, hours, location, contact information, collections, etc., but the website also hosts a significant amount of interactive functions for patrons.

The Library Catalog is, of course, an index to all of the Library's print and audio-visual holdings. Patrons can browse the catalog, place holds and, by visiting Your Account, see items they have checked out and on hold. They can also see if they owe any fines.
Of course, in order to borrow items, patrons have to ultimately visit the Library.

Let's look at the ways patrons can use our services without visiting the physical building.
- Calendar of Events: patrons can browse the Calendar and sign up online for programs and events. The Calendar (and the sign-up page) are consistently most popular pages on our website.
- Meeting Room Reservations: a new service, patrons can apply online to use the Library's meeting rooms.
- IM Reference: patrons can ask questions via Instant Messaging during all hours the library is open.
- Digital Archive: patrons can browse local history photographs from the Roselle History Museum's collection.
- Recommended Websites: patrons can browse and link to a extensive list of websites that have been reviewed by Library staff. Adult Services links are listed in subject categories; Youth Services links include Cool Sites for Kids, Kid-Friendly Search Engines and Sites for Parents.
- Downloadable resources:
- - patrons can download movies and videos directly to their person computer by accessing MyLibraryDV
- - Tumblebooks Library features animated storybooks, middle school readables, puzzles & games, and audiobooks - e-books for e-kids!
- Databases: patrons can access a variety of premium databases through the Library's website with their Library card and PIN. The Databases page is consistently one of the most popular pages on our website.

Do

Let's take a closer look at some of the premium Databases.
Most are available both inside the Library and outside. If you are in the Library, use the In-Library link or click on the logo to access the database; if you are at home, use the Remote Access link. Outside the Library, you will need to provide your Library card number and PIN, then re-select the database from the resulting list.

Scroll down the Databases page and click on the link to NewsBank. At the NewsBank site, click on America's Newspapers and search for "Roselle Public Library" (in quotes). What is the headline of the first article?

Back on the Databases page, use the Heritage Quest database to search for Abraham Lincoln in the 1860 Census in Illinois. Can you figure out from the results, which was the President? How did you know?

Log into at least one more database of your choice from the Databases page to explore further or take a look at the Local History Digital Archive.

Now, let's write your "Thing #10: Roselle's Virtual Library" blog post

Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right), log in and create a new post.
Use "Thing #10: Roselle's Virtual Library" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write:
- the answers to the NewsBank and Heritage Quest questions
- Which other ddatabase did you explore?
- Of all the databases the Library offers, which do you think would be the most popular with our patrons; least popular?
- Did you learn anything new about the Library's website?
- Is there something you think should be on our website that is not there?

You're all finished with Thing #10.
You've taken a close look a the Library's home page and explored a few of the premium databases available to patrons. Hopefully, you are more aware of the interactive features of our website and are able to navigate the website more easily.

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
Ebsco provides training for all of its databases, including:
- Automotive Repair Reference Center
- EbscoHost (magazine articles)
- Literary Reference Center
- NoveList and NoveList K-8 (readers' advisory)
Training sessions are live online, intended for Library staff who will be assisting patrons.
To see what's available, go here (http://training.ebsco.com/training_request.asp), select the desired class from the "Which service?"drop-down list, and read about the session. Complete the form if you want to register for the class.

CONGRATULATIONS! You have finished all of the Playtime 2.0 Things! But wait...check back next week for one final summary post and information about closing your accounts.

Thing #9: Lifelong Learning

Playtime 2.0 isn’t just about Web 2.0 and how to apply it to the Library. It’s also about encouraging you to be brave about exploring new technologies and to recognize the importance of lifelong learning and how it can help you adapt more easily to change.

Exploration requires a spirit of curiosity, open-mindedness, and playfulness. Lifelong learning requires the same spirit, but also a commitment to being personally responsible for your own education. Don’t be afraid of what you don’t know, just be brave enough to play and find out more.

Discover:

Take some time to read the articles and visit the sites listed below. They will help you think about your own attitude, why exploring is important, and how you can approach your own development as a person and a library professional.

- Yes, And (Creative Outlet Labs)
- Three Hard Things (Library Journal, 6/15/2007)
- 15 Steps to Lifelong Learning

Do:

Let's take a look at some of the free learning resources that are available to you.
Two of the best are WebJunction and OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries).

WebJunction offers an extensive course catalog
Most courses are free thanks to the generosity of the Illinois State Library.
Most of the courses are self-paced so that you can do them on your own schedule. You can see from the list that they cover an array of subjects from Application-specific classes to Interpersonal skills.
If you haven't registered for WebJunction, do that now so you can take advantage of the courses and the other resources available on WebJunction. Be sure to declare your affiliation with Illinois to take advantage of the free classes!
While you're still logged in, browse around some of these other resources. WebJuntion Illinois aspires to be the central repository for all library-related things in Illinois. Are they accomplishing that goal?
Follow this link to register for Webjunction: http://il.webjunction.org.
In the "My Account" box in the upper right corner, click on the [Create Account] link.

OPAL is another great resource.
OPAL is an international collaborative effort by libraries and other organizations to provide web-based programs and training for library users and library staff members.
These live events are held in online rooms where participants can interact via voice-over-IP, text chatting, synchronized browsing, and other functions.
Everyone is welcome to participate in OPAL programs. Usually there is no need to register. Nearly all OPAL programs are offered free of charge to participants.
Examples of OPAL public online programs include book discussion programs, interviews, special events, library training, memoir writing workshops, and virtual tours of special digital library collections.
Take a look at the variety of programming that is offered. Note that on this page, you can subscribe to receive email notices of upcoming programs.
The chronological list of all upcoming programs is here.

In addition to these resources, ongoing workshops, seminars and programs are offered by the Illinois State Library, DuPage Library System and each of the other Library Systems in the state. All of these offerings are aggregated on the L2 (Library Learning) Event Calendar.
The Library Learning (L2) calendar is a statewide calendar for events and continuing education taking place in Illinois. Keeping all statewide events in a single calendar makes registeing for programs as easy as clicking one link.
If you haven't already registered on L2, do that now and be sure to note your affiliation with DuPage Library System.
Follow this link to register on L2: http://www.librarylearning.info/.
Click on the "Register" link in the blue box at the top of the screen.

Now, let's write your "Thing #9: Lifelong Learning" blog post

Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right), log in and create a new post.
Use "Thing #9: Lifelong Learning" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write about:
- what course piqued your interest on WebJunction
- If several people are interested in the same courses, it might be possible to reserve a meeting room and take the course as a group. Would you be interested in doing that?

You're all finished with Thing #9.
You've learned a bit about lifelong learning and browsed the course catalog at WebJunction and the list of upcoming programs at OPAL. You've registered for an account on WebJuntion and browsed some of the other resources available to you as a member. You've also registered for an account on the L2 Event Calendar.
We hope that you've been inspired to continue your independent learning after your Playtime 2.0 experience.

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
Watch this presentation by the people who originated the Library 2.0 learning experience, the training specialists at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners (http://www.plcmc.org/public/learning/player.html) from PLCMC. Note that you don't have to create a learning contract at the end of this presentation, but why not?
1. Make sure you have headphones or speakers attached to your computer.
2. Open up the 7 & 1/2 Habits online tutorial and view the online tutorial.
3. As you watch and listen, write down which habit among the 7 & 1/2 that is easiest for you and which is hardest. Use your blog to post your thoughts about lifelong learning.

Have fun! It's never too late to become a lifelong learner.

We are approaching the end of this journey! Good for you for hanging in there thus far. Next week, in Thing #10, we'll "get local" and explore the Library's website and some of the Library's databases. C'mon back!

Thing #8: Online Apps

Define:

In the Daily Herald's Business section, Friday, January 9, the e-buzz columnist asked several local experts and executives to share their thoughts about what to expect in 2009. Fred Hogh, president of Illinois Technology Association and Mark Gambill, chief marketing officer for CDW Corp. both mentioned virtualization and cloud computing. Hogh said that "virtualization and cloud computing are the key technologies driving a massive transformation in the world of computing."

What is "cloud computing?" In the simplest terms, it is accessing and using applications on the Internet (Web-based applications) rather than on the hard drive of your computer.
The availability and use of online productivity web-based applications (think word processing and spreadsheets) has exploded over the past two years and for good reasons! These powerful applications provide users with the ability to create and share documents over the internet without the need of installed desktop applications. Some experts speculate that this emerging trend may mean the death to Microsoft Office and other software-based productivity tools, while others think web-based applications have their place, but not in the office. But no matter which side of the office suite platform you side with, on this both sides seem to agree; web-based apps have their place.

One large benefit to web-based applications it that they eliminate the need to worry about different software versions or file types as you email documents or move from PC to PC. Another bonus is that they easily accommodate collaboration by allowing multiple users to edit the same file and provide users the ability to easily save and convert documents as multiple file types (including HTML and pdf). And, you can even use many of these tools, such as Zoho Writer and Google Docs* (formerly known as Writely) to author and publish posts to your blog. It’s this type of integration with other web 2.0 tools that also makes web-based apps so appealing.

Oh look, here's yet another one of those easy-to-understand videos from commoncraft to teach about more benefits of Google Docs! Sit back and enjoy!

Discover:





Let's take a closer look at Google Docs.
Google Docs is a free online suite of tools similar to ones offered in Microsoft Office, including…

- a word processor (like Microsoft Word)
- a spreadsheet (like Microsoft Excel)
- presentation software (like Microsoft PowerPoint)

The advantage of using Google Docs (and cloud computing, in general):
1. Access documents from any Internet-connected computer
- the interface and features are similar to the Microsoft Office you know and love;
- no need to purchase expensive Microsoft Office software for your home computer;
- create documents at work, using MS Office then upload to Google Docs so you can work on them at home;
- no need to save documents to a disc or flash drive to transport between computers
2. Collaboration is easy
- colleagues and co-workers can work on the same document so there is no need to merge changes
- there is only one document, so you never need to figure out which is the most current
- if more than one person is editing a document at the same time, a chat box is available to discuss changes
- you will not be "locked out" of a shared file because someone else is using it
3. Self-Publish : click the "publish" button and a web address is created for your document so you can link to it or share the address
4. Backups
- you won't lose your work if your computer crashes, your work is not on your computer, it's on the Google servers
- your documents are automagically saved periodically so if your Internet connection fails, your document is not lost

And did I mention, you can take documents created in Microsoft Office and import them into Google Docs.
And then you can export a document back into Microsoft Office, or in PDF or plain text format.
Or you can create your document from scratch in Google Docs.
With all of that going for it, why wouldn't you use Google Docs?

Here's how some libraries & librarians are using Google Docs:

- Offer it at public-access Internet workstations for patrons to use:
Google Docs is offered as a Microsoft Office alternative at the Monterey (CA) Public Library. Here’s what they say on their web page: “Library computers do not have word processing or spreadsheet software, and you cannot access Library disk drives. However, you can read, create, edit, and email word processing documents using Google Docs & Spreadsheet, and download your documents later on another computer in Microsoft Word and other popular formats.”
- Publish a library operations manual easily:
Mt. Mercy College Library (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) published their Interlibrary Loan Manual for student workers.
- Playtime 2.0 Progress Spreadsheets:
We are keeping track of the progress of Playtime 2.0 participants on a google Docs spreadsheet. You can check it here.

Do

Use this URL http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgcj82hq_0g26mkhkp&invite=435272663 to access a shared document I created on Google Docs.
Sign in (click on the "Sign In" link in the top right corner) with:
- Username: rosellepl
- Password: rospld40
Edit the document and save your changes (be sure to add your name!). Does it feel like the Word documents you are used to?

Now, let's write your "Thing #8: Online Apps" blog post

Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right) and create a new post.
Use "Thing #8: Online apps" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write about:
- how you think Google Docs compares to MS Office
- do you think you would use Google Docs as an alternative to MS Office
- can you think of any applications for using Google Docs, or other online applications, in your job at the Library?

You're all finished with Thing #8.
You've learned a little bit about cloud computing and Web-based applications. You've looked at how other libraries are using online applications and played with Google Docs a bit. Good for you!

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
Time for some real playtime! Play the spreadsheet-based Flash game called Excit (the game’s name is a play on the words “Excel” and “exit”). The goal of the game is to exit the level you’re on. Each level is a number of walls arranged in different patterns with a clearly marked exit cell, as well as other objects that your cursor can interact with. Use your keyboard’s arrow keys to move the cursor up, down, left or right. Your cursor will continue in a direction until it hits an object that stops it, or continues off the screen; if it goes off the screen you start over at that level. Each time you complete a level you get a password—you can return to the game and be back at the same level.
Have fun!

We are coming down to the home stretch; just two more Things to go. Kudos to everyone who has stepped up and met the challenge of each of these Things. Next, we will learn how to continue on this path of Lifelong Learning in Thing #9...coming soon!

Thing #7: Wikis

Define:

A Wiki is a quick-to-build, easy-to-edit website on which all information can be edited, changed, or rewritten by the users or members of the site. It is an incredibly useful tool for collaborative writing, pooling knowledge or exchanging ideas, especially on a subject that changes or needs updating frequently.

Here's another one of those great videos from commoncraft to help us understand wikis "in plain English:"



The word "Wiki" comes from the Hawaiian phrase "wiki wiki", which is commonly used to indicate something fast. The first Wiki ever made was WikiWikiWeb, an attempt to make an easily updatable website about certain trends in software development. It was started in 1995 and has been added to and continually updated since then.

Some of the benefits that make wikis so attractive are:
- Anyone (registered or unregistered, if unrestricted) can add, edit or delete content.
- Tracking tools within wikis allow you to easily keep up on what been changed and by whom.
- Earlier versions of a page can be viewed and reinstated when needed.
- And users do not need to know HTML in order to apply styles to text or add and edit content. In most cases simple syntax structure is used.

As the use of wikis has grown over the last few years, libraries all over the country have begun to use them to collaborate and share knowledge. Among their applications are pathfinder or subject guide wikis, book review wikis, ALA conference wikis and even library best practices wikis.

Discover:

Wikipedia is probably the most well-know wiki. It is essentially a free encyclopedia on the web that anyone can edit. Take a look at the entry for Roselle, Illinois.

Let's also take a look at some library and library-related wikis:

SJCPL Subject Guides – a pathfinder wiki developed by the St. Joseph County Public Library system (South Bend, IN)

Library Success: A best practices wiki for libraries

2009 ALA Midwinter Meeting.Denver, CO – an example of a wiki created to support a specific event

Twelve Weeks to 2.0 - Schaumburg Library's Learning 2.0 project was done as a wiki rather than a blog as was Park Ridge Public Library's All Wired Up

Libraries and organizations are using wikis for Community and Information Guides, Conference Sites, Intranets, and many other things. See examples of these and other ways wikis are being used.

Now, let's write your "Thing #7: Wikis" blog post

Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right) and create a new post.
Use "Thing #7: Wikis" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write about:
- what did you find interesting about the wikis you looked at and about the concept of wikis, in general
- did you find the Wikipedia entry for Roselle, Illinois
- What did you think of Schaumburg Library and Park Ridge Library's Learning 2.0 wikis? Does a wiki make more sense for a project like this? Why or why not?
- how could we use the wiki format at Roselle

You're all finished with Thing #7.
You've learned a little bit about Wikis and taken the time to look at a few. You've seen examples of some library-related wikis.

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
About that Wikipedia article about Roselle, Illinois. Is there anything you would want to edit add or delete? If you feel brave, go ahead and create a Wikipedia account and update the information. If you're not that brave, but you'd still like a little more hands-on experience with wikis, Register for an account,and play in the Wikipedia sandbox. Edits to the sandbox page are deleted every 12 hours (if not overwritten by other users before that).

Have you heard about cloud computing? It's all the rage in Web 2.0. Find out what it is and the advantages and disadvantages in Thing #8: Online Apps (Coming Soon)

Thing #6: Instant Messaging

Define:

Instant messaging (IM) allows users to chat with each other in real time. It is more immediate than e-mail and many programs also allow file, picture, and even video sharing. IM services are used by millions of people around the world, and are especially popular among teenagers and college students.

IM has been around for more than 10 years, but it’s only in the last five years or so that it’s gained massive popularity. We’ve all heard about how teens prefer IM to e-mail, but it’s not just the teens who are using IM. In a study published in September 2007, a whopping 84% of undergraduate students surveyed indicated that they IM on a daily basis. Going back to 2004, a Pew Internet study found that over 40% of adult internet users use IM to varying degrees. With statistics like that, you may have already used IM. If you haven’t, don’t fear! This Thing is designed to get you chatting in no time.

Web-based IM services do not require any special downloads, only a web browser and internet access. Popular IM services include AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), Yahoo! Messenger, MSN Messenger, and Google Talk. The caveat with each of these major IM services is that you and your friends must all be using the same program. For example, if you use AIM and wish to chat with your friends, they must also be on AIM.
In the last few years, "multiprotocol instant messengers" such as Trillian and Meebo have made life easier for IM fans by allowing users to log in to multiple IM networks at one time. With these tools, an AIM user can chat with a friend on the MSN network.

Web-based IM services such as Meebo are websites that allow instant messaging from absolutely anywhere. Whether you’re at home, at work, or traveling foreign lands, hop over to Meebo.com on any computer to access all of your buddies (on AIM, Yahoo!, MSN, Google Talk, ICQ and Jabber) and chat with them via the Internet, no downloads or installs required, for free! Trillian also allows you to talk to buddies on different IM services, but you need to download the program to your computer.

Discover:

Libraries all over the country, including Roselle, have been using IM to provide a way for patrons to get in touch and ask questions. This Library Journal article describes IM reference service in public libraries.

Take a look at this list of Illinois libraries providing IM reference service. Select a few local libraries and explore how each presents IM reference to its patrons.

IM can have a language of its own. Do you recognize "lol, btw, bff? Acronyms keep typing to a minimum but can be hard to decipher if you've never seen them before. This Acronym Dictionary from AOL will help you sort things out.

Do:

Use your Playtime 2.0 email account to set up an IM account.
If your email account is Hotmail, use MSN Messenger (Click on Start MSN Messenger)
If your email account is Gmail, use Google Talk (Click on Launch Google Talk Gadget - not Download...)
If your email is Yahoo, use Yahoo! Messenger (Click on Sign In)

As with any "real life" IM experience, you'll have to find out which of your friends you can connect with by asking their screenname and which service they use.
Can you find someone who is using the same service as you? You'll need a partner for this one.
For the sake of this activity, it will be helpful if you and your partner are logged in to your IM service at the same time.

Ask your partner for her/his screenname. Add her/him to your Contacts list by entering their screenname into the "Search, add, or invite" box. You should see your new contact in the list if you are both logged in at the same time.

If you can't find a partner, add the Reference Desk to your contacts. See the Reference Desk's screennames here. The Reference Desk uses Trillian for chat. Trillian works with AIM, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger, but not with Google Talk.

Start a chat session with your partner. Open a chat window by clicking on your partner's name from the Contacts list. You'll see an open whitespace with a field for typing at the bottom. Start typing and see what happens!

So where does Meebo fit in? Meebo works with AIM, Yahoo Messenger and MSN Messenger, and Google Talk. It even works if you do not have an IM service!
The Playtime 2.0 chat window in the right sidebar is powered by Meebo. If you haven't tried it yet, say hello!

Now, let's write your "Thing #6: IM" blog post
Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right) and create a new post.
Use "Thing #6: IM" as the title of your blog post.
In the post, write about:
- your experience using an IM service
- any other IM programs you've used.
- How do you feel about IM as a mode of communication?
- Do you think IM Reference is a valuable service?

You're all finished with Thing #6.
You've learned a little bit about Instant Messaging and created an IM account. You browsed the list of Illinois libraries offering IM Reference and perhaps chatted with one or two. As a bonus, you may have learned a few IM acronyms you didn't know before.

Optional BONUS CHALLENGE:
If you're already using an IM program other than the one you set up for this Thing, why not set up a Meebo account so that you can monitor all of your Buddy Lists?

1. Go to Meebo to sign up for an account. You'll want to configure your accounts so that Meebo signs in to all of them at once. HINT: When logged in, look for the "Accounts" link on the left.
Now, anytime you want to chat with someone, you can go to http://www.meebo.com, login and chat.
2. Share your experience using Meebo by blogging about it. Is Meebo something that you might find useful?

How much do you know about wikis? You're about to learn all about them in Thing #7!

Thing #5: Podcasting & Video sharing

Define:

A podcast is an online audio broadcast distributed over the Internet using syndication feeds for playback on portable media players and computers. The term is a combination of the words "Pod" and "broadcast", the Apple iPod being the brand of portable media player for which the first podcasts were developed for its iTunes website. Though podcasters' web sites may also offer direct download or streaming of their content, a podcast is distinguished from other digital media formats by its ability to be syndicated, subscribed to, and downloaded automatically when new content is added, using an aggregator or feed reader capable of reading feed formats such as RSS.

Oh great! Another of those helpful videos from commoncraft. This is Podcasting in Plain English, of course. Sit back, relax, enjoy!



Discover:

There are many, many podcast directories and finding tools out there. Here are just three of the more popular ones that, unlike iTunes, don't require a software download:

- Mediafly.com
- Podcastalley.com
- Podcast.com

Many of the above listed sites have also recently added vodcasts, which are the video version of podcasts. One of the biggest advantages to podcasts and vodcasts are that they can be listened to or watched anytime and anywhere you choose. You can also find thousands of vodcasts here!

While we are looking at "media," let's take a look at YouTube, as well.
If you haven’t heard about YouTube by now, what rock you’ve been living under? As the source of all things video on the Internet, and we do mean all things. YouTube is the place to go to watch [mostly] short videos (1-10 minutes) on whatever interests you. You may have noticed that the "Plain English" videos from commoncraft are from YouTube.
The good, the bad, and the ugly are all there for all to see — which is one reason many school districts and libraries block YouTube. Another reason is bandwidth. Like music, video is a bandwidth hog. We recommend you complete this activity during light Internet usage times.

Do:

Visit one or two of the podcast directories listed above and see if you can find a podcast that interests you. Are there any interesting library-related podcasts listed? Can you find a book review podcast or library news?

Add the RSS feed for a podcast to your Bloglines account.

As you did with Podcasts, Take some time exploring YouTube. Find a video worth adding as an entry in your blog. The video you pick does not have to be about Web 2.0, it can be about anything that interests you. You might want to take a look at these really funny library-related videos on YouTube.
Promoting Librarians:
- Super Librarian from New Jersey Libraries and The Adventures of Super Librarian from the McCracken County Public Library
Promoting Summer Reading:
- Denver Public Library's Summer of Reading
- Get in the Game READ! from Glen Ellyn Public Library
Promoting ...??
- The Haunted Library (Happy Halloween from the Glenside Public Library
Promoting Technical Services! (yay!)
- The TS
And the classic...
- Dumb Blonde in the Library
For other great library videos on youtube, search for "iACPL," "Allen County Public Library," "McCracken Public Library," or the name of your favorite public library or library system.
(Update 3/2/09: Check out Roselle Public Library's Channel on YouTube for RPL Book Talker's Book of the Week videos, produced as a direct result of this Thing!)

Now, let's write your "Thing #5: Podcasting & Video Sharing" blog post
Browse to the "Playtime" blog you created in Thing #1 (it should be listed in the Participants' Blogs on the right) and create a new post.
Use "Thing #5: Podcasting & Video Sharing" as the title of your blog post.
In the post:
- Add a link to a podcast, vodcast, or YouTube video and write a quick note about why you found it interesting.
- What did you learn about podcasting and/or video sharing that surprised you?
- How can we use podcasting and/or video sharing as tools in the Library.
Don't be afraid to be completely honest in your opinions.

You're all finished with Thing #5.
You've learned what a podcast is and how it is different from a vodcast. Perhaps you listened to or watched a few interesting ones.
You also learned about YouTube, and perhaps you discovered why it is such an incredibly popular site.
Way to go! Are you having fun yet?

Optional BONUS FUN!!
In addition to user-created audio and video sharing sites (Web 2.0), don't forget the profesionally created video sites on the Internet.
Did you miss this week's episode of your favorite show? Forget to set up the VCR or the DVR? If you don't want to wait for the summer reruns, visit Hulu or Sling to see if you can catch it there.
Hulu and Sling provide free access to a variety of movies and TV shows...for free! Check them out.
Browse to either and see what you've been missing.

More Optional BONUS FUN!!
Make your own podcast! Creating and sharing a podcast is as easy as 1-2-3!
1. Create an account on either gCast or GabCast.
2. Call a toll-free number and record your podcast (note: beginning 4/1/09, gCast charges a subscription fee to phone in a podcast; uploading to their site is still free; GabCast remains free to phone-in).
3. Copy the code that the sites make available to you to share on your blog.

Next up...we're going to learn about all chat in Thing #6: Instant Messaging.