. . . when it comes to new technology and most of the time, at least when I'm in public, I don't scream. I decided to take this course because I realize how important a role technology has in today's libraries but I tend to be slow at embracing technology. I didn't buy a CD player until I could no longer buy cassettes, which I could still use in the car I drove at the time. I have a very basic cell phone, the kind where I buy cards to add minutes as I go. It doesn't take pictures or have any apps. It will text but I don't know how and my family knows better than to leave messages because I haven't bothered to find out how to access them. Since I see my cell phone as being for my convenience, most of the time it isn't even turned on. I do have a Facebook account, which I confess my daughter helped me set up, but only because a while ago I was talking to my 77-year-old aunt who had called to ask about email addresses for my nieces whom she wanted to invite to a party. My aunt said she didn't need addresses for my children because she had already contacted them through Facebook. Now, if she can make use of social networking, I guess I could, too!
Upon looking at the list of 21 things we will be expected to do in this course, I noticed several that I already have experience with. I have been reading blogs for a couple of years and have created one for teen patrons at my library - more on that in another post. In addition to Facebook, I do have a Twitter account, but true to form I have not used it. Confession: I signed up only because several months ago a co-worker was assigned to create and maintain a Twitter account for the library and followers were slow in coming. A few of us signed up for Twitter so we could follow her. I have attended several webinars and find them to be a very convenient way of presenting workshops that don't require a hands-on element. YouTube is impossible for me at home because I still have dial-up (if you've read this far you're probably not surprised to learn this) but I can explore this on my office computer.
A drawback: Last week when the introductory message appeared in my inbox I remembered that I had signed up for a course and my immediate reaction was "what was I thinking!?" Not that I think I won't be able to do the work, but because my life, both professionally and personally, goes into overdrive at this time of year so I am concerned about time. I make no promises but will try to do my best.