AzLA2013, Useful Online Tools

Notes from AzLA: 6 Essential Apps & Other Assorted Notes

Lindsay O'Neill

Today I offer you a guest post from AzLA attendee Patricia Watkins, who is a Research Librarian and Information Resources Coordinator at Embry-Riddle in Prescott. She shared her notes from the presentations she attended.

From Patricia’s notes, I reproduce her notes on “6 Essential Apps” and have also attached her notes from the other presentations she attended (see bottom for link). I added links to the mentioned apps:

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6 Essential Apps for a Connected Librarian

  • Key: Making sure the apps are a seamless operation, secure, and supported.
  • Evernote – replaces the note function on the iPad, flawlessly. Can organize into notebooks or tags, translates into Word  … Navigates to the notes … Synchs to the web
  • Chrome browser – Customizable, fast. Runs Java script, smoother than other browsers. .. Clean on a smartphone, accesses all bookmarks … Takes place of De.lic.ious  … Firefox now has bookmarks … Google Drive: now loads your docs to the cloud like Dropbox.
  • WordPress – Creates simple, flexible websites, search engine optimized  so Google finds them; expandable with plug-ins … Tumblr easier than WordPress … Looks good on a mobile device, cleaner for screen size and smaller phones …
  • Feedly – Replacement for Google Reader (RSS feed)  Easy to import feeds … Social integration, easy to share on FB or Twitter …
  • Spotify – Free or subscription music service like Pandora … Takes a look at music you own on a device and matches with theirs, and shares the music onto other devices … Facebook integration
  • Dropbox –  Hard drive in the cloud, get 3g in the cloud, easy to upload images, etc.
  • Tips: Have lots of copies in various locations, to keep stuff safe: copies in Google. Music backed up in Dropbox and Google cloud …  Always examine the privacy policies of your apps
  • Subscribe to Gizmodo for updated tech info and new apps … MCLC Tech Talk  technology interest group for librarians in Maricopa county.

I’d like to throw in my endorsement for Dropbox in particular – you can work on your files anywhere and it syncs automatically. I’m also a big fan of WordPress as a web platform and for Chrome as being an easy, customizable web browser.

Patricia’s notes also include:

  • Jamie LaRue’s Keynote Speech
  • Best Practices for Guide on the Side Tutorial Creation Software
  • Opening Minds to Open Access: Best Practices at ASU
  • A World of Pure Imagination: Running a Digital Library
  • eLectrify, eNgage, and eXcite with Online Collaboration
  • Sonoran Desert Tales – Children’s Author Panel
  • Sustainable Libraries

Download all of Patricia’s notes here: Patricia Watkins – Notes

Thanks again, Patricia!

Also, still waiting on word when AzLA presentation slides will be uploaded. Hoping soon! And I’ll let you all know.

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