information literacy: I'm not good at math, but my avatar is (presentation)

Sheffield

View more presentations from PeggySheehy.

Interesting.

4 hot trends in libraries

The list:
1. Mass customization
2. Mobile
3. Front end interface
4. Shared data

Yes, please. #1 can't come soon enough and in reality, we kind of have been doing that for a while (different services for different audiences/patron groups) but that was still at a group level. Individual personalized choice and experience -- yes please. Front end interfaces and shared data seem to go hand in hand to me. ;-) ..and mobile, well, it's not going anywhere any time soon. LOL

read more here @ americanlibrariesmagazine

Twitter demographics for my account (hmm. )

So, I ran across tweet sentiments which attempts to analyze your posts for things like positivity and educational level. LOL I guess it counts emoticons ;-) I do use slang, especially when posting to twitter (sigh... character limits) but I think it's funny that I'm somewhat flamboyant yet gender neutral. heh. How in the world do they come up with that? You'd think since girl (okay, GURL) is in my name, they would've tagged that one. LOL Also, the other categories seem to be on a sliding scale. So, is it just boy/girl/gender neutral? Whew, they probably are going to wish they didn't go there. LOL

Here is how it works. Of course, even this company realizes that it is not an exact science(?), which is a good thing considering I have one graduate degree and probably enough credits toward yet a third. According to them, I'm probably in about 5th grade. Perhaps, that has something to do with the slang I use? ;-)

The profile is estimated based on the recent tweet content and writing style, the Education level could be interpreted as person with that level of education is capable of writing the tweets, and does not necessarily reflect reality.

Interesting.

Visual mapping search engine

http://www.visualthesaurus.com/

A visual mapping search engine which has a free demo, although it is a paid site.

Art the process (Video)

Starring a few friends & fellow artists.

Better face to face networking

For some of us, networking online is way easier than face to face. I think it's the old E (extrovert) vs. I (introvert). The talky/chatty face to face world is very E centered; I think by nature the technology that drives the social media and the distance between people online (at least, generally) is more appealing to Is.

I'm gearing up to go to a conference and I'm not a naturally a face to face networky person (I know some of you will not believe that, but it's because of years of being a fragrance spritzer girl during college I CAN fake the E... LOL). So, this article could not have come at a better time.

I'm summarizing here, but please go read the full post. It's definitely worth the read. My comments are in teal.

• Set some goals for yourself. I do this alot. Okay, 1) I make myself go to the event and 2) I make myself talk to SOMEBODY. ;-)
  
• Arrive with something to share. This is a really good idea and I'm considering how I can use this.
  
• Know who you want to talk to.
  
• Ask people to introduce you. Okay, I can (and do) do that.
• Leave your comfort circle. AAck! Too easy to stay where we are comfortable, no?
• Don't pitch, listen.
  
• Check in once you're home. Okay, I can (and do) do that.

See those are good, aren't they? Very practical and good reminders, too.

Reading increases the imagination (video)

This is cute.

What is a public library? (ipad parody: video)

remove background in google -- did this pass usability testing? really?

If you've been to google today, you got to see a hideous background image -- pretty, but impossible to read the font. Want to replace with the default google page? Sorry you are out of luck -- at least for today. However you can choose a plain white image from Editor's picks which changes the background to plain ol' white background -- well sort of. The google logo will be white too.

On the lower left of the screen: Change background image
Click on Editor's Picks



Click Select.

There ya go, better than nothing, I suppose.

I'm all for creativity and customization, but I already use a google theme and all of these images clash terribly! So, this one goes under BAD IDEAS in my book. Usability testing, peeps! Give users a way to opt out and/or reset to something more plain, especially since different users have different needs, including interpreting visual information.

Visual mapping search engine

http://www.visualthesaurus.com/

A visual mapping search engine which has a free demo, although it is a paid site. An interesting way of looking at information.

Top 25 Librarian blogs

http://www.teleread.com/2010/05/31/top-25-librarian-blogs/

heh, heh. Wonder who they paid off? LOL

Multitasking.. what? huh? (interesting article)

Interesting post at the NYT Blogs today on multitasking:

For better or worse, the consumption of media, as varied as e-mail and TV, has exploded. In 2008, people consumed three times as much information each day as they did in 1960. And they are constantly shifting their attention. Computer users at work change windows or check e-mail or other programs nearly 37 times an hour, new research shows. .... “We are exposing our brains to an environment and asking them to do things we weren’t necessarily evolved to do,” he said. “We know already there are consequences.”

Especially found the references to creativity and deep thought to be interesting.

http://tw0.us/Fk4

Flexible screens

ok, this is cool. Can't wait -- hurry up & make it affordable, please. ;-)

Sony Showcases New Rollable, Flexible Screen
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/26/sony-showcases-new-rollable-flexible-screen/< NY Times 5/26/10 Imagine carrying around a tiny screen that can act as a cellphone or movie display and when it’s not in use, you can roll it up to the size of a pencil and slip it into your pocket or behind your ear?

Sony’s research and development labs is one step closer to this reality with a new fully rollable organic screen the company showcased today