Google Spreadsheets
Google Spreadsheets is a Google service that lets you create, store and share spreadsheets online. You can have multiple people able to update the spreadsheets. Either start fresh or import an existing spreadsheet. Very slick!
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July 31, 2006
LibVibe
LibVibe is a podcat of library news headlines. It is very professionally done, and makes a nice change from reading news via blogs. It offers RSS feeds or email notification when new casts are released. Highly recommended.
July 28, 2006
Dino Directory
The Dino Directory from the Natural History Museum of London offers an interactive look back to the age of the Dinosaurs. The site offers an alphabetical index of different dinosaurs, an interactive timeline, looks at how the globe has changed since the dinosaurs, and information on what countries specific dinosaurs lived in. You can also subscribe to the RSS feed.
SlimTimer
SlimTimer is a very interesting site. It allows you to list your tasks, share them with others, and then you can even time how long you work on a project. Reports can be run and exported to Excel or subscribed to via RSS feed. Slick! This is perfect for a workplace looking at the tasks their employees spend their time on, as well as employees who wish to know as well.
July 27, 2006
GuruLib
GuruLib is a site that lets you organize your book, DVD, CD, game and software collections online. The site handily lets you list what you own, what you have currently lent out, and share reviews.
Talis Competition
Talis has announced that they will be having a competition for the top idea to make library information more accessible or show it off to best effect. Their press release has lots of information on the competition, including how you can enter.
July 26, 2006
Science Blogs
news@nature.com has a recommended list of 50 science blogs written by scientists. Enjoy!
Commentful
Commentful is an online service that lets you follow comments on sites that you select. It can be blogs, Digg submissions, Flickr pictures, and many other online sites. You must register using your email address, and then you will be able to follow comments in real time and more easily join in the conversations. Great for keeping abreast of your favorite blogs, contentious posts, and much more.
July 24, 2006
BookLoversWiki
I always love to see what libraries are doing with technology, and I think that BookLoversWiki / Princeton Public Library is a great example of what a single library can do with a wiki. It offers book reviews, ties into their adult summer reading program, and promotes upcoming programming as well. That is one dynamic site that draws people in, creating a book-loving community.
Maps from the LOC
Maps in Our Lives is an online exhibition from the Library of Congress. The maps include views of George Washington's River Farm, the New Orleans Riverwalk, Northwest Orient Route Map, Relief of the Surface of the Earth, and many more. There are a wide range of maps here that are fun to flip through and explore.
July 23, 2006
Irrepressible Info
Amnesty International has started a campaign to fight Internet censorship. Take a look at the site, sign the pledge, and if you have a site consider posting some of the banned materials on it. This is a very inventive way to fight censorship on a world-wide basis.
July 21, 2006
Blogger Survey
The Pew Internet Project has just published its Bloggers Report. I love the subtitle: "A portrait of the internet's new storytellers." It is fascinating to see a snapshot of what kind of people bloggers tend to be. Interestingly, I match some of the criteria but not all.
I am not young. (54% of bloggers are under 30)
My main reason for blogging is not creative expression, but sharing information and professional insight. (77% of bloggers said that creative expression was one of their reasons for blogging.)
I am an avid consumer of online content. (95% of bloggers get news from the Net.)
I love politics. (72% of bloggers look online for political news.)
Cool huh? Where do you fall on the charts? And if you don't already blog, why not? 59% of bloggers spend 2 hours or less per week working on their blog.
July 20, 2006
CBC Podcasts
The CBC is now releasing some of their most popular Radio One shows as podcasts! You can subscribe via RSS feed or iTunes. They also provide a feed for CBC Radio 3's weekly new and emerging Canadian musicians. Sweet!
July 19, 2006
Aging or Elder?
Information Wants To Be Free: Skills for the 21st Century Librarian is a must-read not only for new librarians and those who are in the field of library science education, but it should be read by all of us.
As an aging librarian, rather like a cheese or wine not like a rotting peach, I really think that we all need to be aware of what we as a profession need to know. The basic tech competencies listed are vital to all of us. Add on the higher level competencies and you get a real blueprint of what librarians who are looking at doing Library 2.0 projects need to be.
Because I am an aging librarian, maybe elder librarian would be better, I am in management. As managers, we need to have these competencies listed here as well as others. We must begin to lead from a position of embracing change. Actually that one is probably the toughest of them all for us elders. Embrace change, see change everywhere you look, and see it through the eyes of your patrons. That's where it must all begin and end. Patrons.
July 18, 2006
GreatDad
GreatDad.com is a blog about being a father with sections on pregnancy, babies, preschool, kids and teens, it covers a lot of years. I love seeing a site from the perspective of fathers. You will also find medical advice, legal advice and fathering tips.
July 17, 2006
whowhatwhen
whowhatwhen is a site that offers lists of important people and then creates timelines for the person you select that show their contemporaries and world events throughout that person's life. You can view the lists by whether the person is alive or dead as well as their vocation.
July 15, 2006
Rick Steves Blogs
Rick Steves, the author of a multitude of travel guides and host of his own PBS travel series is now blogging! His blog, Rick Steves: Blog Gone Europe, offers insight into what is happening while he films the next season of his TV program. Very interesting travel perspective from a veteran traveler who loves to experience life with the locals.
July 14, 2006
Page Strength
SEOmoz's Page Strength offers a way for you to gauge the impact of your own site. It can be a domain or a specific site like a blog inside the domain. I checked it out for my own blog and scored a 4.5. Hurrah! My children's lit blog scored slightly higher at a 5. Of course, you can't just leave it at that, you must see how other libraries in the area score, and how larger sites like ALA score (9). It is a lot of fun, and perhaps a bit addictiing.
Markaboo
MarkaBoo is a site that offers online bookmarking and much more. It also has the ability to do blogging and podcasting easily, have online groups that share comments and documents, create scrapbooks and photo albums, and share music and video playlists. It doesn't seem to have the same broad social experience of sites like del.icio.us, but this will appeal to those who want a slick online bookmarking and Web 2.0 hub.
July 13, 2006
US-CERT
Cyber Security Tips is a site from the United States Computer Emergency Readiness Team that offers non-technical information on computers and the Internet. You can find basic information on anti-virus software, worms, Trojan Horses, phishing, security, passwords, and much more. The site offers an RSS feed for updates as well. This should be useful for librarians who want to offer basic information on Internet issues to their patrons.
July 11, 2006
More Words
More Words is an online dictionary to help find words for word games like Scrabble, Upwords, and crossword puzzles. You can enter missing letters as well as unknown letters and much more.
July 10, 2006
Orato
Orato is a news site that offers first person journalism straight from citizens. There are top stories or you can browse current events, entertainment, health, sports, travel, business and more. You are also welcome to post a story yourself.
TagFetch
TagFetch is a search engine that lets you search by tags on popular sites like Flickr, YouTube, NewsVine, Reddit, TailRank, Technorati and Feedster. You can select whether you want it to search news sites, blogs, bookmarks or media. It is a slick way to browse a wide range of social bookmarking sites quickly and easily.
July 7, 2006
Scandoo
Scandoo is a very clever idea for a search engine. Scandoo uses other search engines but scans the results for issues with spyware, viruses or offensive content. But it doesn't just block the sites then, it offers you the information on what concerns them about the site and then you can still choose to visit it yourself. It is a very empowering way to stay protected online.
Chat Creator
ChatCreator.com lets you create your own online chat room. You are given a unique URL for your room and away you go! Invite anyone you like to come and chat. I see many uses for this one in a library setting. How about a place to discuss things with other librarians, department heads, or general staff. It could be an ideal way to communicate when everyone is stuck as a service desk and can't get away for a meeting. Of course, it is also a lot of fun to invite friends and family to chat together as well.
July 6, 2006
Google Does Government
Google U.S. Government Search is a Google site that allows you to limit your search to only government sites. You can also sign in and customize the opening page for yourself where you can include information on armed forces, the White House, top news stories, or prominent newspapers.
Snacksby
Snacksby is a site dedicated to recipes of an interesting kind. They are not for the faint of heart, because they require you to be a bit of a risk taker. Many of the ingredients in any given recipe are not measured out, but are guesstimated or left to your own taste. Actually, this is the way that many of us cook already and it takes the guesswork out of figuring out which ingredients can be played with and which must be strictly followed to have a successful dish in the end. You can browse the recipes or enter in the ingredients you have on hand and figure out which dish you can make.
July 5, 2006
Mashup Dashboard
Oh my, how cool! Programmable web has a Mashup Dashboard that lists new mashups on a daily basis. You can subscribe via RSS feeds to their blog, or to receive information on the latest Mashups. Or choose to browse the newest additions and most popular mashups. Very cool.