Spring Cleaning #30: Take a Load Off Our Drives

Interesting to learn about all the drives. I wasn't aware of we had so many....so I am clutter free in the z and s drive. I did know about the p drive. The only file I have there is for the upcoming summer reading kickoff party and it contains all the elements I used to create poster/flyer. I expect that when everything is to press and handed out I can delete my share. I did delete one file item from Feb. 2, 2008 because it can be found on Harriet too.

Spring Cleaning #29: Email

AH...spring cleaning. I do actually enjoy it.
I think because I feel like I'm getting a chance to start over, start freash...be it my garage, closet, scrapbook items or email. It would probably be best if I could just stay organized along the way.

But while I have good intentions...it usually doesn't happen that way. I did go through my email files and sort to folders. Didn't really have a lot saved...or so some of my coworkers who have been around longer have told me. I made folders and filed away a few items. Can't ever get email totally clean though. You come back the next day and there;s another 30 or staring at you.
Now, I need to go home and work on my personal email...that is where I'm bad about keeping things I might use or might want to refer back to...and NO i wasn't using folders there either.

Hopefully, now that I have my folders for work emails I'll be able to keep things a little more clutter free by filing emails away when I get them and saving to disc or printing attachments if needed.

Spring Cleaning #28: Don’t Clutter Up Expensive Cyberspace

GTD is useful...if used. It helps you clear the junk and sort the important stuff. My work account has very few emails. It is somewhat easy to organize.
Home is a different story. I set up folders but when in a rush I still tend to pass by them and come back later...store coupons, organizational newsletters, jokes sent by friends, bill pay confirmations etc flooding in especially during limited time make keeping organized difficult.
GTD has reignited my desire to empty out my home email too....when you get organized or slightly less cluttered you can feel the difference.

I hadn't used the calendars suggested in the organize until this exercise... but I do use Yahoo calendar. I like the calendar email reminder system...its a back up memory. Moving on...

Week 10: #23 Is this really the end? Or just the beginning...

Ta...Da....I am finished.
I made many discoveries along the way. My favorites I would say were creating a blog, library elf (most used as of now), Flickr, Avatars and Downloadable Media...then Podcasting.

I hope to remember everything I learned so I can continue using these or find time to delve deeper into the topics where time limited me.

This program fit right into my career goals and at the perfect time.

The only take away --- time. It was difficult to always find time to do the exercises. I found myself 2-6 exercises behind at times which left me a little panicky since I'd come so far and didn't want to lose out on the lessons or the training hours. As it turns out, I am finishing on time. I do like having the option of gaining some training hours online. I don't know if I'd want it to totally replace other in person training but I definitley think it has its place.

Merry Christmas!

Week 9: #22 Downloadable Media

I had looked at the library digital site once just out of curiosity and thought it looked very interesting. Unfortunatley, I actually forgot about it since it is not my current practice to get books that way.

For this exercise, I found several books I wish I'd realized were downloadable. I requested several Thanksgiving and Christmas craft books and could have just downloaded the "All New Crafts for Thanksgiving" and "All New Christmas Crafts" by Kathy Ross.

I homeschool my daughter and several of the titles she has or will read this year are on the digital media site including Anne of Green Gables, Tales of Fourth Grade Nothing and Cricket in Times Square.

I found the library to have a much greater selection than Wowio. I also thought it was easier to use than both Wowia and Librivox. I did not compare exact selection titles. It would be nice if Wowio has some the library doesn't so I can take advantage of those as well.

Working at the library my 5 yr old son expects me to bring a book home every night. Now I can just hop on the computer and download one if I forget.

Week 9: #21 Podcasts, Smodcasts!

I am excited to learn podcasting. I don't know that I have enough time to really delve into making my own podcast now....but I think I have learned the basics to know where to begin. I had no idea how to make my own MP3 file. I don't own an ipod or MP3 player so my knowledge on podcasts and mp3's was very limited. (it took me a long time to give up cassettes for CD's too). My husband and daughter are now interested in it as well.

I checked out several podcasts including movie/book reviews, homeschool, news and bible study. I found one homeschool site that will be a great addition to our homeschool lessons. I added several podcasts to my bloglines account.

I do wonder about the authority of some of the podcasts. But it is an interesting way to get information and put information out.

I don't know if I used the directories right or not. I wish some gave more information. But all in all, using a search I found podcasts that were interesting, informative, entertaining etc.

Week 9: #20 Discover YouTube and other video sharing sites

I enjoy YouTube. There's always something interesting to watch. My kids love the Banana Phone videos. My daughter watches Hannah Montana clips. My husband, daughter and I look up videos of people playing various piano versions of songs--particularly Simon and Garfunkel songs. It is a great way to send video for friends to see across the country or world. I've used it to look up movie previews, watch a comedian act. You can even get how to videos for home repair.

As for library use, the videos used in this exercise have either been entertaining or informative or both. I can see the library using it to train employees, teach patrons to use the library catalog etc.