Thing #23: Wrapping Up!

The OCL Web Challenge was all good stuff so it is hard to pick just one favorite. But, if I have to pick, I would have to say my favorite was Flickr. I went to a fish reunion this past week and brought my camera. The very next day I posted the photos on Flickr which really impressed everyone. I could not have done it without the OCL Web Challenge.

Actually, I don’t think there is anything that I liked least about Web 2.0. I liked it all. I think the library should get more involved in the collaborative tools that Web 2.0 offers to get work done more easily and efficiently. This will leave more time for hunting for goldfish crisps and playing with glass pebbles.

Il est fini! It is now time to party in the fishbowl! I raise my fin in a toast to you Web Challenge Committee!

Thing #18; Web Apps

I added my fin-print to "Web Players on Google Docs." It was very similar to Microsoft Word so it was easy. I have already used Google Docs at my branch to order and track materials for our summer teen program. That teen librarian group is a school of smart fish.

Like playing in the Sandbox, Google Docs saves time by allowing one to work on a single version of a document rather than having multiple copies floating around the fishbowl. It especially saves time when you are the chair fish of a project. I have often edited the wrong version of a document. What a waste of time when I could be searching for goldfish crisps, eating aquatic plants, or playing with glass pebbles.

There are several projects that I am working on where I can use Google Docs right away! OK, I am now a convert.

Thing # 17: Play in the Sandbox

This was fun, fun, fun.

So, what are the potential uses of pbwiki for work? Well, for one, Big Goldfish is on a lot of committees so that means getting lots and lots of emails, and organizing lots and lots of emails, and trying to keep it all straight. Plus I am ALWAYS going over my email box size limit. Size is always a challenge for me as a BIG GOLDFISH. Pbwiki seems to be a much more efficient way of communicating with my fellow committee members rather than email.

I also like the easy conversational style and ability to have fun with pbwiki. This is very appealing to us fun-loving and friendly goldfish since we would rather play than organize or search for emails any day of the week. I am going to teach Tom Dewey how to use this pbwiki stuff pronto! Tom is one of those fishy types who would rather email me than swim over to my side of the fishbowl to talk to me in-person, or rather, in-fish. pbwiki will be perfect for him!

Thing #12: Part Deux "WorldCat"

With a little encouragement from K. of the OCL Web Challenge Committee I decided to venture into the world of cats. Yes, I tried the WorldCat database.

I took a look around WorldCat (awful name!) and searched for a recent book title on Goldfish. I entered in the zipcode for the Berkeley Branch 08721 and found a book titled “Pet Goldfish” by Julia Barnes published in 2007.

Pet goldfish
by Julia Barnes
Type: Book; English
Publisher: Milwaukee, WI : Gareth Stevens Pub., ©2007.
Edition: North American ed
ISBN: 0836867785 9780836867787
OCLC: 64511305

Unfortunately the closest library that owns the title is the Mercer County Library (NJ), followed by the Delaware County Library System (Media, PA). I clicked on the tabs such as Details and Subject and found the following information:

Item Details:
Material Type: Juvenile (no specific ages)
Document Type: Book
Description: 32 p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm.
Contents: First goldfish -- Perfect pets -- Goldfish's body -- Goldfish varieties -- Aquarium -- Tank setup -- Right choice -- Feeding goldfish -- Goldfish care -- Goldfish behavior -- Glossary -- More books to read/websites -- Index.
Responsibility Julia Barnes.

Summary/Abstract
Provides instructions and tips for keeping a goldfish as a pet, along with information about the behavior and physical characteristics of fish.

Note that WordCat says that Goldfish are ***Perfect Pets*** Although flattered, I am surprised to hear a compliment come out of a cat. Usually, a cat would come up with a snarky comment such as “Purrfect Pet: For Your Dining Pleasure.”

However, since the nearest title is located in Mercer County then I must fill out "THE FORM." I understand that it is no longer called the ILL Form, but the Request for Materials form. Yes, WorldCat will help me, Big Goldfish, in filling out the form. Not sure if it will help the customers. Oh, maybe it will help a few. There are still some secret codes on the form. For example, I know what an ISBN number is because I live with a librarian. For all you non-goldfish and non-library people an ISBN stands for “International Standard Book Number.” I often tell library customers that the ISBN is similar to the serial number of a car only it is the serial number for a book. They seem to understand that.

Any flaws with WorldCat is not the fault of you, or me, or the library customers. Remember, it was DESIGNED BY CATS! CATS ARE TRICKY! The whole thing would be much better if it was designed by GOLDFISH. Imagine a database called WorldGoldfish. Just imagine....

Waiting to Finish the OCL Web Challenge

Sigh. I am still waiting to finish the OCL Web 2.0 Challenge. I still need to complete Things #17 and #18 but I need the passwords. We tried GOLDFISH and then BIG GOLDFISH, but these were not the correct passwords. Below is a picture of Tom Dewey and me waiting for the passwords from the people-who-control-such-things.

Until we get the passwords we will bide our time by mindlessly pushing these glass pebbles around the fish bowl. You watch television when vegging out. We push pebbles around with our noses.

Thing #22: Listen NJ

Big Goldfish has downloaded many books through ListenNJ. The most annoying thing about ListenNJ is that they do not support ipods and they have wait lists. The best thing about Listen NJ is that they have a wide variety of books on topics that interest me and it is MUCH CHEAPER than BUYING books on CD from Barnes & Noble or Amazon. Goldfish are thrifty critters you know!

My latest ListenNJ book is All Fisherman are Liars: True Stories from the Drydock Bar by Linda Greenlaw.

Thing #21: Podcasts

I used Podcast.com to find Animal Radio, America's most-listened to "pet talk" show starring Hal Abrams and Judy Francis and featuring celebrity guests. On episode #443 a listener named Mary Ellen talks about how she trained her 5 persian cats how to swim! Cats swimming! Oh, the horror! See why it is important to learn about podcasts--this is news I definitely need to know. The info on the swimming kitties is about 12 minutes into the podcast.

http://podcast.com/show/27594/