Thing 23--Evaluation

What I really found out is that I don't want to be too connected.  It seems no one send email anymore, just business and ads, so I follow facebook to see what everyone is doing.  I don't text or answer my cell phone for that matter.  Experimenting with all the things has expanded my horizons!  

Thing 22--Discovering apps

Great idea for finding even more information.  I can't wait to find a free for apple app that I want.  When we were doing hobbies I was disappointed not to find some in the way of beading, but I will search again using Quixley and see what turns up.  Oh, I forgot to same that I also play Words of Wonder.  

Thing 21---free for all

I like EBay!  I love the app!  I try not to go too crazy on buying things.  I actually use eBay at work for when a patron wants to know what something might be worth.  It gives a good ballpark figure.  I have also found old pictures from a patron's description, old cross-stitch patterns and things like that.  My other favorite app is Pinterest, but you all know about that one.  One I was delighted to find, was a timer I could set so I can take a short snooze on lunch.  Or if I am trying to do my clenching exercises while sitting in my chair.

Thing 20---Games

Really?  I am on level 189 of Candy Crush.  I downloaded two of the games apps you listed and have enjoyed Word Collapse, and the bubble popping save the baby kittens one.  I think I use my iPad more for games than anything else.  Isn't that sad to have a device so powerful it can access all the information in the world, and I use it to play with!

Thing 19---Hobbies

I really like the idea of "Road Ninja".  I have a great GPS which has totally changed my life, seriously, but the little Ninja guy gives more detail on stops.  One downfall is that you have to have it on the device that has a data plan.  Well of course everyone would realize that but me, the first time:). I am thinking about how great this will be for parents on a long drive with crabby bored kids in the back seat.  "Hey kids, want to stop and see the world's largest ball of string?

Thing 18---Education

I use Wikipedia all the time and love it. I have several patrons who only want Wikipedia information  no matter what other sites I recommend. Our schools here do not allow students to use or site it, but my granddaughter in Apple Valley can,and is encouraged to do so. Go figure.  I have downloaded Rhymes Dictionary!  I am working on some sonnets and it is just the handy little app to use.

Thing ---17---Connecting to community

I like and enjoy the handy little apps that tell you what is going on and where.  My daughter lives up in Apple Valley and it is fun and useful to check on what is happening around her area. I definitely will add the Minnesota State Fair.  Now, how fun is that?  Before trying these new apps I really thought I was connecting when I could see what movies were playing.

Thing 16---Audio

Here is the thing, I love audiobooks, but I truly hate audio on sites.  Especially when the audio is automatic!  Perhaps if you composed a library rap song and wanted to share it with your followers then you could use it.  Creating a YouTube video on how to do something, like download an audiobook from your website would be cool. But not just a sound bite saying, "Wow, did you know you can download books free from your library?"

Thing 15--info graphics

A neat catchy way to make a sign or posting more vibrant and eye catching. I think this could be really useful in many ways.  Sort of like a static DYNAMIC sign if you catch my drift.  Plus it is fun and fast.  If you want to let people know what is going on right now, make an info graphic or a Vine video.  Live library life in the fast lane!,,

Thing 14--videos

I tried Vine.  First of all I could find a free one, the free ones looked to be just playback and not record.  So I bought the app, and it just sat there.  Big home screen but no controls.  It just gave me the option to watch ones already created.  Thanks a bunch, too much stuff to watch now.  What I did like was the 6 second idea.  Perfect!  Back to the short attention spans again.  I think this would be fantastic for Facebooks postings.  Make a quick comment, show what is going on, and Zinio, hit send.

Thing 13--presentation

I went for the Haiku deck.  Mainly  because it seemed simple and short.  Personally, I dislike Haiku a lot!  Only because it is being taught simply by syllable count and not meaning or following the rules.  Sorry, I digress.  A simple presentation that looks great is a nifty find.  It could be used as a presentation to City Council (short attention spans) to a Tweet about the Adult Book Discussion.  I am thinking of doing one about a project I would like to have happen at the library, and then present it at a staff meeting.  That way I would have visuals and short facts right there.  Quick and easy, also good for short attention spans!

Thing 12--Books, Books and more Books!

Can one ever have access to too many books?  Probably, I can get information overload pretty darn fast.  I decided to try Wattpad and noodle around.  I really like the idea of reading reviews from "readers" as opposed to "reviewers" as that might be more helpful in purchasing.  The idea of actually writing and sharing with others is pretty nifty.  My oldest granddaughter was here all weekend and spent the whole time giggling and writing/reading/watching Animai.  She loved the interacting and having her character do things and the comments from other readers.  What I came away with was thinking about how the library could engage these young teens in some interactive book reviewing and fan fiction.  Cool, huh?

Thing 11--Library and Reference

     I decided to delve into our Zinio app and see if I could do it well enough to explain to a patron.  One thing I have noticed is that you really need to go back to "your library" if you want to add another magazine to your list.  Otherwise you are in the Zinio site and they want you to buy it.  I am going to keep looking around until I can come up with a sort of workaround.  I opened July 2013 Consumer Reports" and went through all the control, sizing, skipping, I didn't try printing yet.  It was fun! 

     Now here is the best part.  Just then a patron came in looking for July 2013 Consumer Reports.  Our circulating copy was checked out so I showed her the year we keep in Reference.  She wanted to check the ratings on refridgerations and I said I was doing that in our on- line app.  I showed her how to get in, create an account and find the magazine. She was so excited! She said "now I don't even need to make photocopies!"  So I think covers the Library & Reference thing!

Thing 10--sharing photos

I downloaded Snapchat and snapped away!  I will admit I had my granddaughter wiz through the ins and outs of useage.  Snapchat will work great posting pictures of fun things going on at the library.  It would work a lot better if I was still allowed to post on the library site, but only supervisors or librarians can.  Dang it.  So I will just post library snaps to MY peeps.  I am really loving this whole exercise.  PLUS I am now eligible for badge TEN!

Mobile thing 9--editing pictures

We'll hello there!  What I did was download Splash.  I like the idea of adding just a bit of color.  I took a lovely picture of my granddaughter Karly on her way to a murder mystery birthday party sleepover.  They were all to be beauty contestants and she was Candy California.  Then my grandson wanted to help color her in.  We had a blast.  I tried all the features of cropping, enhancing , filtering, etc.  I am going to give a serious try too, but for now here is "our" photo.

Mobile thing #8 Managing social media

I decide to try Hootsuite as my management tool.  I read the users guide, looked around, signed up and signed in!  It turns out that I enjoy Flipboard and Pinterest much more and those can't be on the Hootsuite.  I love reading Twitter on my Flipboard.  I will tell my son-in-law to check HootSuite

out as he uses all the social sites and should enjoy having them all in one place.  I am looking forward to thing 9 and photos!  You'll hear from me soon 

Mobile thing 7--sharing information

I do love Pinterest and tack all sorts of beading, household hints and recipes I want to try on it.  I think it would make a cool Library hangout spot.  We could add book reviews, hot books to movies ideas, lists, and  items other than holiday closing  sand hours.

I invite you all to follow me on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest and of course, this blog.

Carol Borzyskowski

Carolborz@gmail.com

Carolb@selco.info

Twitter @Bluecat59

Pinterest. Bluecatcarol

Come on, find me<3

Mobile thing 6-- editing docs

I downloaded Cloud On and have been working through it.  I sent all my poetry to the cloud and using the iPad to edit and write that is going to turn out to be pretty cool.  I wrote, edited and saved a poem and then I emailed it.  I still have tons o things to learn about this mobile device, like how to get my mail contacts in here.

Meanwhile I am having a great learning experience and feel like I will be able to serve the public better.

Mobile thing 5--notes

I did download Bamboo Paper because I love to play with color.  On my iPad I have NOTES so I opened that and posted a few comments.  Again, it is something I would use more on a phone or iPod, but still usefull.  I think I will take my iPad to our next staff meeting and take notes.  That will be a blast, I will look like one of the "librarians"!  

I do have a serious and useful project I will use note taking ability for. I will go into the Bookshelf, and write down interesting book titles,and then  check the list against our library holdings and if we don't own the book, use our gift credit to buy it!  Right!

Mobile thing 4--keeping up

I decided to download Flipboard.  I really enjoy the graphics on my new iPad Air, the retinal display is great.  I did create 2 magazines so far, one on humor and one called cool oddities.  I like having Facebook and Twitter on Flipboard.  I would like to have Pinterest available too.  That and news headlines.  That is about all the keeping up My brain can manage any more.

I think working on a project, say strategic planning, would be a good use of Flipboard.  I could add articles, pictures and videos and have them all together.  Maybe even a magazine about Adult Programming.

Off to practice some more!

Mobile thing 3--Utilities

Okay, upload some utilities, hummm?  I went for Google because I wanted to try the Goggles.  I have so often wished I could just post a picture, hit search and find similar items, or what the heck it is.  It took me quite awhile to figure out how to use the app.  Plus the goggles app isn't on the home screen, only when you open the typewriter.  And then only sometimes, it isn't very consistant.  When I could take a picture, it never knew what the image was, even when I goggled a computer!

Then I downloaded  QR reader.  I couldn't get the one suggested but I got one.  I can see how this would be really cool on a phone, but not so much on an iPad.  I don't lug it around everywhere  even though I do have the new cool iPad Air !

Mobile thing 2---tips and tricks

Okay, I did a lot of searching around and found some really cool tips I can use.  My number one FAV is that I can turn off that annoying Control Center.  I must tap it six or seven times a day.  I had just said to myself, out loud, "I wish there was a way to turn this off!!"  And there is!   Go to Settings, tap on Control Center and slide the buttons to the left.  The green goes away and you can still access Control Center from the home page.

I also learned how to take a screen shot.  I am not exactly sure how often I will use it or need, but I can if I want to now.  I am embarrassed  to say how easy peaty it is.  Hold down the on/off bottom and the home button at the same time.  You will hear a "click" and it screen shot is placed it you photo stream. I feel better informed already!

Thing mobile 1

I need to learn something about all the new technology out there.  I am hoping this course will fill the bill for me.  I expect it to be both entertaining and enlightening .  Hear me ROAR!

WWII Pilot

Today's most interesting patron interaction was a request to help a gentleman place an online order to a seed catalog.  He was 92, a former pilot, legally blind, and his hearing aid was broken.  He did have his debit card with him.  I got the order placed and the old gent wanted to talk about the war.  Patrons were piling up at the reference desk and looking at me. Then a young college student came over and said she heard him talking and she wanted to say thanks for serving our country.  She ended up spending a half hour with him hearing his stories.  They both went away happy.