Thing #24 - Mango languages

Well, of course I went for the Spanish, it seems like a good language to learn in our area. I took Spanish for two years in high school and later had an Hispanic friend that talked to me quite a bit in Spanish. I remember thinking one day, after we had had a slow conversation together, that I was really learning the language because I did NOT have to translate each word in my mind to have it make sense to me.

Then alas, that friend moved away and now my Spanish skills are beyong rusty.

Enter Mango Language Learning!! I did the first couple of lessons and it was a LOT of fun, very repetitive, which I liked. I did go through the lessons quickly but realized I can go back and take my time and probably really learn something.

I definitely like it!

Thing #23 - SPL Website

I like the new website's graphics, I think it definitely has a "cooler" look to it than it used to.
However, it still seems difficult to find things. If you know that you've seen a database in the past...say Mitchell's on Demand...what do you click on to get to that database? And the click for "D0, make, be for teens" is different than the "teens" link at the top...

And if you type something into the search screen, "Find in the Catalog" - you get Encore, which I think is confusing to a patron that just wants the regular "I'm used to it" library catalog, and how do you get to the regular catalog if you're in Encore? But if you click on the word "catalog" on the Home Page you WILL go directly to the regular catalog....

Maybe we need a search screen that searches SPL's website. Like a "site map", I've used that on other businesses websites - like Universities.

I guess I'd have to do research on other library websites to see how it could be more user friendly. But again, the GRAPHICS are great, I love them, it just seems like finding actual information is difficult and frustrating and might make people still flock to Google or Amazon.com

Thing #22 - downloadable books

This is an easy one. I've been downloading audiobooks for over a year and I really love it! I started a year ago in the springtime when I was working on my flower beds. It is so nice to listen to a story while you are working in the garden. I have played around a little bit with the "Search" feature and I think I've really figured out how to find things easily. I love the Overdrive interface and am excited to try the new program out.

Thing #21 - Podcasts

Well, hopefully this works! I got onto podcast.com and am making myself a widget for books podcasts. These podcasts are book reviews, etc. It seems like podcasting is pretty cool!

Too Cute not to share...

see more Lolcats and funny pictures

House update

Coming along! Inside is sheetrocked, taped, textured and inside doors are going in. Outside is about the same as it was before, no changes....

Thing #20 - YouTube!

Here is my YouTube posting - a cute lil' kitty! I think I should post something on YouTube! I have been videoing my house being built....hmmm...maybe some "time-lapse" video, with music. Lights - Action!