DiscoTech Activity 4: Zinnio

Way back when we first got Zinnio I did set up the accounts..I seem to hazily recall some confusion between switching from the library page to the Zinnio page and back, but may this was in an earlier iteration or it only happens initially. I tried checking out some magazines today and it seemed like a fairly smooth process. We don't seem to get a ton of calls regarding Zinnio so I don't know if this means not a lot of people are using it or people are using it and finding it easy to use. We do get calls about e-books and One Click Digital and this is usually people who have something that is confusing them.

In any case, back to Zinnio. I wish they could come up with a way to not have 2 accounts. I get that there is the library page for limiting the choice to what the library subscribes to and the Zinnio page allows one to read, but it seems like there should be a way to do this without two accounts. Although once I have this set up, I don't really notice the two accounts thing, but it does seem better not to frustrate users in early stages (or at any point in the process.)

Zinnio does load magazines quickly and they are easy to move about with the viewer. I am confused about the search feature as I couldn't get it to "find" anything. In the National Geographic Travel magazine it couldn't find the word "geographic" nor other words in titles of articles. I searched other magazines for words that were in titles or clearly mentioned in the articles or captions, and nothing, nothing, nothing..so what does "search" do?

It is very nice to have access to a number of magazines, esp ones that are pricey like the Economist. I wish there were more children's magazines and I thought I had seen a short story mystery magazine-Ellery Queen, but maybe I was looking at the overall Zinnio site and not our library Zinnio site, still there is a pretty good and seemingly growing selection.

If you don't have access to a computer/phone/reader, than this isn't much of a help, but for people who do have access to technology it is a nice resource.

Disco Tech-Activity 3: 3M Cloud

Okay. I think it is easier to download 3M Cloud books, because you find a title and basically you click on it and it downloads. With Overdrive you have to select the format (now of course if you are a Kindle reader user than this is the one you are going to use since you can't use 3M Cloud so in that case it's okay that there is a choice of formats.). You also have to go from the library's webpage with the e-book catalog back to 3M Overdrive to download the books fully. I did discover from doing all of this that there is a way to avoid some of the frustration (minor though it may be ) I've had with Overdrive and getting settings to come up..I'd try tapping at the top or bottom of the page in the book and most of the time I'd ended up paging forwards or backwards and what I really wanted to do was be able to go to settings so, most of the time, I could get out of the book I was reading to return it (this seems easier in 3MCloud). This time I went to the help section of Overdrive in the app and I discovered that if I tap and hold down on the image of the book cover it does bring up 3 small icons with options like delete, return, and share..which is great!

I think it is nice to have both platforms because, although there is some overlap, you do end up with more selection. I think in some ways I like 3M better because it seems like often there are more books not checked out and it seems somewhat easier to use.

I wish our library catalog looked as appealing as the 3M Cloud Library kiosk that we have at Central and Arlington and Hayden Heights...but that's a side matter...

Activity 2:Overdrive

I looked at Overdrive in my browser which is something I haven't really done before.

I chose the book "Engaged to Murder" and found it used the word "library" 13 times. I had trouble with highlighting until I re-read the directions and saw that is says "click" and "hold down" to highlight. Once I tried holding down instead of just clicking..it worked much better.

1. Write about your experience with e-books. Are you an absolute beginner? Do you encounter customers confused by the various formats? Do you have any e-book success stories?

I am not an absolute beginner. I do have apps on our family ipad and I have had success downloading/reading books and mostly I can help people. Sometimes it is tricky to figure out why something isn't working for them, especially when talking over the phone and/or because customers don't always supply you with all the info that is needed, mostly because they don't remember and/or all the details don't seem important.

2. Follow the steps above to either check out a book and open using OverDrive Read or to download an e-book to a mobile device (if you don’t have your own, each library should have an iPad, a Kindle, and a Nook that you can borrow and/or work on with co-workers). Write about the process — what was easy? What was difficult?
I guess the higlighting part for me was tricky until I re-read the instructions. Sometimes one of the readers..I think maybe it is Overdrive, is hard to get the book to close and get back to the beginning..at least this is hard on the Ipad..but other than that I haven't had too many problems. Sometimes it is tricky to diagnose the problems that other are having and as I said, especially over the phone and especially if they aren't so tech savy too...but I am trying to keep learning.

Activity 1: DiscoTech 2.0:

What am I looking forward to: I think it would be to expand my knowledge and to feel and be competent and helpful when working with customers, staff, etc.

Thing 23 (finally)-

Go back to your thoughts/ideas about mobile devices and apps. Has anything changed as a result of this experience?

Hmmm...well, we don't do a whole lot with mobile devices in the library other than help people with downloading books or their wi-fi connection, but I think it is good that I got to try this because we may use mobile devices more and there are a number of tools I can use for presentations,etc..

What were your favorite Things and discoveries?

I definitely liked the Dragon Naturally Speaking-that I am using at home. I have a presentation for a program and I'm going to see if I can use HaikuDeck or Lensoo or Educreations and I think Magistro or Social Cam may be good for clips of kids participating in activities.

How did you connect with others doing the 23 Mobile Things?

I didn't connect with others, other than I did tell some people about some of the apps like VidRhythm and Dragon Naturally Speaking. I guess I did talk with some co-workers a bit. Didn't connect with anyone through their blog..was I supposed to do this..?

Were there any take-a-ways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you?

I am pleased with myself that I finished this one! I started the very first one and did a few postings, which you can see on this blog, and then I told myself I had too much to do and I didn't pursue it..you really have to just keep getting it done. I never even tried the 2nd one..I then went back and thought I'd finish the original and 2nd when this 3rd one started and also our library system had a mini learning exercise called Discotechque where you could try different social media and other online doodads..so I have finished the 3rd and the inhouse one and I am feeling somewhat acomplished, enlightened, and that my horizons have expanded...

What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or content?

Hmm..tricky..sometimes it felt like there were too many things to try and/or not enough time...that is even though you only had to comment on one thing when there were several types to try it felt like I should try several and that got tricky with time. Also sometimes, at least when I do it, I don't master something the first time..I've tried some apps that I think are good, but I'm not getting the results I want and I'm not sure if it's the app, or that I just need to play around with it more...so will have to go back and explore as I can.

If we offered a another 23 Things program like this in the future would you participate?

I think so.

How would you describe your learning experience in one word or in one sentence, so we could use your words to promote 23 Things learning activities to others?

Is it to cliche to say that it "expands your horizons and opens your mind to new possibilities. It inspires you to think of new and different ways to approach your work and life."

Thing 22: Discovering Apps-I have tried Quixey and it seems useful..a little overwhelming when it keeps adding on apps like the search for Whiteboard..who wants to try all those apps, but still after a bit of purusing there are 2 I think I will try.

I do wonder about when there is more than one version and 1 is free and the other or others has/ve a charge...then you have to look through and see what do I get with this and what with that..and then I feel guilty because I feel like people need to eat so maybe you should pay for an app..it's complicated.

I haven't downloaded Apps gone free, because I am on-desk and so I don't have the ipad at the desk with me..I guess I could, but it's not de rigeur...(spelling?) so...in any case, it sounds like this could be useful and most of the reviews seem fairly positive. This could be handy in helping people find low cost apps or apps to try..

websearching seems okay too, but maybe more pokey...

Thing 21-Free for All: I was looking at my ipad to see what apps I might have that weren't added from this whole endeavor. I already mentioned VidRhythm in the video exercise (Thing 14)..this is really cool..so try it..unless you don't like being silly:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/vidrhythm/id457548851?mt=8

If you go to: http://sites.mnhs.org/civil-war/ and look in the lower right hand corner there is an icon for MN and the Civil War which is a free app that was publicized when mnhs had the Civil War exhibit. It is an interactive text book with some audio and you can look at exhibit items and hear/read stories and look at some charts and graphs. It's interesting enough that my son has actually browsed on occasion without my asking him too.

MNHS also links to a website with other educational apps from other museums: http://appsineducation.blogspot.com/2011/10/12-museums-apps-from-around-world.html

I also have an app I haven't played with much yet that I got for free from the Minneapolis Institute of Arts called History Hero: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/history-hero/id661731419?mt=8