Online Image Generators -- Thing #6

Okay...I could seriously play around with this tool ALL DAY!!!! What a fantastic idea for libraries to use in programming! How cool would it be to have your own trading card as a little kid?!? Here is my first fun image generator thing....



I used the Image Chef "Spacewalk" tool.



Here is my trading card....for my hubby!! :)



SO COOL!!!

Flickr Fun part 2

Here are some more "Quirky Chick Creations":



Created with the Warholizer tool.




Created with the Framer tool.

Flickr Fun -- Thing #5

As you can see below, I have already had some fun with the Spell with Flickr and the Mosaic Maker tools!

I think tools like this can be fun for libraries or anyone--it's a great way to take pictures and turn them into something unique. Libraries can use these tools on their websites and teen groups can use these tools to document special events or to create personal items. Since I have been introduced to these special tools during the 23 Things program, I've been hooked! Really cool stuff that's totally useful. I will post more of my lovely creations later....

My nephew, Logan, on his 1st birthday

Online Games--Thing #15

Okay...so I'm going WAY out of order, but I was looking at the list of the things and this is something I have already had a lot of experience with. While I was getting my Master's at the University of Illinois, I was introduced to Second Life. During my Change Management class, Kitty Pope, the director of the Alliance Library System came to my class and showed us all how to use Second Life--each of us created an avatar and actually attended class IN Second Life on Info Island. We were able to see the virtual reference desk, to look at slides while hanging out in the virtual amphitheatre, and tour the library. We even learned that the Alliance Library System holds some board meetings in Second Life! Another thing I found amazing was that people were actually using the reference desk in the library to ask questions about homework or other interests. This virtual library was reaching patrons that were not coming into the "real" library--technology like this is so important because a library staff's main goal is to try and help everyone that needs help searching for information.

At first, the whole idea of Second Life was sort of overwhelming. But because I was introduced to it in a classroom setting with an experienced instructor and I had my classmates to help me, I really learned Second Life can be quite fun! Check out this link for more information on programs that are going on in Second Life in relation to the library field: http://infoisland.org/
For example, here is a program that's coming up this weekend in Second Life:

Mersey Beat Poets Discussion
February 16th at 2 PM SLT
Bell Library - Central Library 11th Floor Info Island
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Info%20Island/212/27/123 (location)

These programs are great because you can attend them from the luxury of your own home!

Second Life definitely isn't for everyone, but if you are looking for a new way to look for information, to meet new people in the library field from around the world, and to discuss your interests, you should try Second Life and see what it's all about.

Sidetracked.....

Okay, so I was checking out Alinore's 23 Things blog and for Thing #4, she used the Spell with Flickr tool. Even though I'm not on #4, I wanted to try it out!! Here it is....



So cool....okay, back to Thing #2.

An Ode to Mason--Thing #1

I'll mention it again.....I have a blog!! I have two other blogs that I post to on my MySpace page and my Facebook page, but I really wanted to explore my options before creating my blog for 23 Things on a Stick. I chose Blogger because it seemed very user-friendly, and I was right. Because I already have a gmail address, I had the google account set up. I named my blog The Quirky Chick Who Loves Books instead of something more "23 Things-ish" because who knows--I may keep blogging after this project is finished! :)

Also, I just imported my avatar from Yahoo. I created one a while back because I have a Yahoo account, and I use the avatar as my IM picture. It definitely represents me--I love hockey, I love scarves, and I love my dog! My husband and I had to put our dog, Mason, down on January 18th, so I couldn't bear to create a new avatar and not have him in the picture. So, as you can see, Mason is still with me in my avatar and it's going to stay that way forever! On to Thing #2....