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Teach Parents Tech
Posted by on January 3, 2011
A few Google staffers considered what their lives are like when they go home for the holidays. Basically, they do tech support for their friends and families . . . a lot! 🙂
Thinking that they could not be the only ones that do this, they created a set of videos on very basic topics — each running about a minute or less. Did I say basic? That’s exactly what I mean. Here are a few:
- Copy & paste
- Make text bigger or smaller
- Upgrade your browser
- Create an email signature
- Attach a file to an email message
These are great videos that could easily be used in a library environment. Short, simple, and to the point! See what you think!
Google’s Multiple Sign-In
Posted by on September 12, 2010
How wonderful is this — I don’t have to log in and out of Google accounts all day long! At least for some of their services.
Let me explain. Currently, I’m working with 4 Google accounts — one for work and three for volunteer work I do for the community. I am constantly in and out of these accounts daily. Logging in and out has been the most frustrating part of it — looking up passwords when the browser doesn’t remember.
But now, I can turn on multiple sign-in for these Google services:
- Calendar
- Code
- Gmail
- Reader
- Sites
- Voice
This takes care of most of it, but adding Docs and Groups would be nice additions.
Bloglines Gone as of October 1
Posted by on September 12, 2010
Many of us started with RSS using Bloglines. However, as time moved on, other RSS readers were developed and Bloglines wasn’t . . . developed, that is. So, we moved on to other RSS options.
Ask.com, the owner of Bloglines, has just announced that they will be shutting the Bloglines service down as of October 1st. Fortunately for those still using the service, there are export capabilities that will allow a relatively painless switch to another RSS service.
Web 2.0 in Texas Libraries
Posted by on September 7, 2010
The Texas State Library is hosting a list of Texas libraries that are using Web 2.0. The list includes Facebook, Twitter, blog, MySpace, Flickr, SlideShare, and a place for other tools like wikis, IM, YouTube, GoodReads and LibraryThing.https://libtechtexas.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=1654&action=edit&message=6
Is your library on this list? If not (and it should be), just add it by registering for PBWiki (free account) or add a comment at the bottom of the page.
RSS In Plain English
Posted by on June 9, 2010
Common Craft is well-known for quick, witty explanations of technical or detailed topics. Their first — the one that started it all — is now 3 years old. RSS in Plain English is still just as pertinent then as it is now and look what it has spawned! We are very fortunate to this two-person team for all their help and creativity!
How to Embed . . .
Posted by on March 1, 2010
Thanks to the LibrarianInBlack, here is a page that explains how to embed just about anything in your web page. From RSS feeds to to events from Google Calendar to Chat to other fonts, Digital Inspiration has it. A great one-stop resource.
Tweets from Outer Space
Posted by on August 29, 2009
Twitter is now “out of this world.” On May 12, 2009, one of the space shuttle astronauts sent the first tweet from space:
From orbit: Launch was awesome!! I am feeling great, working hard, & enjoying the magnificent views, the adventure of a lifetime has begun!
Mike Massimino had been twittering for about a month about his training. So, a tweet from space was the next step!
Deleting Accounts
Posted by on March 11, 2009
Thanks to PCMag.com, we have one place to check if you want to delete your accounts on some of the major services. I don’t know about you, but I have many accounts on different services — primarily to see if they fit me or if I fit them. There are many that I just leave behind. It would be nice to made a clean break and delete the account, but it isn’t always easy to know how. PCMag.com gives us instructions for:
- Social networks: Classmates.com, Facebook, Friendster, LinkedIn, MySpace, MyLife.com
- Online retailers: Amazon.com, Audible.com, Blockbuster Online, eBay, iTunes, Netflix, PayPal
- Blog services: Blogger, Twitter
- Sharing services: Flickr, Photobucket, YouTube
- Online services: AOL/AIM, MobileMe, Google, Windows Live, Yahoo
What Type of Blog is This?
Posted by on November 25, 2008
Hangingtogether.org had an interesting post which included web services that can provide information about different blogs. These blog analysis tools are supposed to provide you with more insight into the blog and its author. So, I tried it. Here’s what I found out about this blog:
Gender Analyzer — “We have strong indicators that https://libtechtexas.wordpress.com/ is written by a man (98%).” [Hmmm . . . ]
Typealyzer (Myers-Briggs) — “INTJ, The Scientist” [Actually, I’m an ISFJ, The Protector]
Blog Readability Test — High school level [Not bad; as a technology blog for librarians, I want to be sure issues and jargon is explained so everyone understands it.]
How Much is Your Blog Worth uses the value of the links within the blog — $1,693.62. [Enough said 😉 ]
Wordle is Fun
Posted by on November 9, 2008
If you haven’t yet found Wordle, then find 30 minutes of uninterrupted time and play. It basically creates word clouds from either websites or narrative you provide. The result can be modified:
- Change case of words
- Remove all numbers from the result
- Change the font and order of words
- Change type of shape or its orientation
- Change the colors used
Here’s mine for the front page as of now:
It also helped me realized that I apparently use the word “just” a little too often — I don’t want it to be one of the largest, so I’ll have to be more cognizant of it.
[from
Library Technology in Texas 