IM on Google

I already have Yahoo and AIM IM, so I'm trying Google Talk. My username is:


jillkpatterson

However, I couldn't get it to work when I tried it--it kept giving me an error message. Probably because I continually have issues with my home computer which we haven't been able to figure out.

My Own Wiki

My Wiki is pretty empty, but I've started it and just have to think of a way to use it. It's:
http://libraryjill.pbwiki.com

Actually, I think I'll see if my Girl Scout troop will use it to help create our camping list!

Library Wikis

Wikis: Our library system has started its own wiki about our event: Literary Orange. Most of the library wikis on this list only allow staff input. Ours will allow outside input (Google "Literary Orange" and there's an icon for the wiki somewhere on the site). Actually, I may be wrong...I've been able to post a comment, but I haven't figured out how to change information already there.

I understand that the wiki is a collaborative effort, but it's interesting that one can limit the participation. Sounds like a way to get around having to ask the IT department any time you need to update or change an online page.

Library Blogs

I'm not a blog reader, so this is new to me. I liked the content of the Lansing Teen blog (http://lansinglibraryteen.blogspot.com/), but I thought the links to the library main page was not prominent. There's an RSS feed AND when I was on, the "I'm online send me a message" icon was up. Cool! Too bad my computer wouldn't let me do so.

Couldn't get into libraryforlife with the given link--had to go into libraryforlife.org and then click on the game blog. Well! They're serious about their gaming! Once you're in though, how do you get out to go back to the library page? Back arrow, back arrow, back arrow.

I like the aadl blog (http://www.aadl.org/catalog/books) because I discovered a new author and that he (before he died!) was married to KK Beck--who I don't think has written anything for the past several years. However, the navigation isn't that great--once you leave the book blog (say, to find out which library this is), there was no link to go back other than the back arrow.

Now, the Waterboro blog (www.waterborolibrary.org/blog.htm) is nice in that it has the info to get into the NY Times and Chicago Tribune without having to register yourself. It has a nice navigation bar along the side, but I like Ann Arundel's top navigation bar as being more visible.

The Western Springs (http://www.westernspringshistory.org/street/grand/) site is cool--we're trying to create an online photo-history file for Orange County that will allow the same type of interactivety.