Thing # 23

Party Time!!!! I have actually made it to the end and it is prior to the due date!!!

I have learned and been exposed to a lot of new things that I had very little or no knowledge of prior to pursuing this quest. It has been a worthwhile learning experience and a good investment of the time put into it. I have seen different ways that we can reach out to our patrons.

A quote made by Steve Campion in the article "Building a social networking environment at the library" says it best: "The library is already a community space. Let's make the social web a new meeting room. We already interact in person. Let's begin interacting online."

Here's to what the future may hold in the form of Web 2.0 and Library 2.0!

Thing # 22

After having gone through this exercise for the past several weeks, I do plan to try to stay more current and up-to-date with Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 tools. Subscribing to some key blog sites and library social networking sites, along with attending some appropriate webinars, seminars, and conferences are some of the means I plan to employ to accomplish this goal. This experience has "gotten my feet wet" so to speak. It has given me an initial exposure to some of the things I had only heard of in the past and has unveiled for me a "whole new world" of the library and reaching out to our patrons.

Thing # 21 - Other Social Networks

It was rather fun exploring the other various social networking tools that exist on the web. There certainly are a lot of them! There seems to be a social networking group for just about any interest one may have, and if one doesn't exist, you could always create one.

In exploring Gather, the social networking and media site for adults, I found that I really liked two of their suggested groups. The first one was called First Chapters, which is basically a writing competition site for first time authors to have a gateway for publication. the second one was called Art Deadlines List - which was a listing of film / video festivals, competitions, grants, scholarships, and internships. I know of some young adults that would really like these types of group social networking utilities.

I currently am a member of Webjunction Minnesota. This online community is a great utility tool to support library staff with technical and library development materials. I have used this site in some of my MSLIS coursework as a reference tool for projects I have worked on.

Other social networking sites that were of interest include: Classroom 2.0, College 2.0, and the Teacher Librarian Ning.

Thing # 20 - Libraries and social networks

I am currently a member of Facebook and have been for a few months. The one group that I am a part of is the Berntsen Library group at Northwestern College. While I have not used the site a whole lot, I do find it useful for keeping up-to-date on events that are occurring with "my friends."

The library has also used Facebook to advertise student-worker parties or library outreach events. Utilizing Facebook to communicate events has worked well. Students at the college regularly check their Facebook accounts and many have attended advertised events through the invitation extended through this medium.

Thing # 19 - Podcasts

The podcast that I chose to listen to was one that was found under the MN Public Radio podcasts - Grammar Grater with Luke Taylor. This site is a weekly podcast about English words, grammar and usage in the information age. It basically takes words that can be easily confused in usage, such as "assure," "insure," and "ensure," and explains proper usage giving examples along with the explanation. This particular weekly podcast is a neat tool as a gentle reminder of proper usage of the English language. This would be one that I wouldn't mind using with the RSS feed feature.

In browsing through the podcast directories, I found that I could not access podcast.net. I could look at each of the other ones, however. One of the features that I particularly liked in the directories was the ability to pick the genre that I was interested in. Podcast Alley had a link in their directory to do exactly that.

I also liked the Educational podcast network and how that was laid out by grade level - elementary, middle, or secondary or by subject specification. One of the podcasts that caught my eye on this site was the weekly web tools podcast - a great way to stay up-to-date on Web 2.0 tools.

Thing # 18 - You Tube and other online videos

Browsing around YouTube was a lot of fun and one could easily spend a large amount of time exploring what is out there. It is amazing the actual number of videos that have been posted.

The video I chose to post was a time lapsed image of a flower blooming. We live in a world surrounded by beautiful things, unfortunately we sometimes get too busy to appreciate them. These types of videos remind me to take time to "smell the roses" - slow down a bit and enjoy that which is around me.

The way that YouTube could be utilized in the library would be similar to some of the examples presented in this thing. The one I particularly liked was the tour given by the Winona State University.

Thing # 17 - ELM Productivity Tools

As in Thing # 3, the ability to get RSS fields is a fantastic utility tool. This tool enables the user to stay current on areas of interest. The implantation of this tool into the databases enables the user to receive up-to-date information from journals or other applicable sources of their choice. For research being conducted in a particular area over a period of time, the use of Search Alert can save the seeker valuable time.

Page Composer can be a useful collaborative tool particularly in creating resources for patrons. Patrons have the ability to access the web page and utilize its suggested resources as part of a shared group. I really liked the web page examples that were created by various teachers and librarians.

NetLibrary notes is another excellent feature for the student or learner. Notes from the e-book can be taken in relation to the text being referenced. This facilitates the ability to recall what the thought process was as one read through a particular passage. These notes can also be accessed by multiple users facilitating collaboration on a book that is being shared among several users.

Thing # 16 - Student 2.0 Tools

The University of Minnesota's Assignment Calculator and Research Project Calculator are great tools for students who need that extra structure in laying out what to do when. It was fun playing around with different deadlines and watching how the program would disperse the amount of work over the specified time deadline. These tools would probably be nice additions to a library or learning center's web page.

I also really appreciated the resource support materials that are available for both the students and the teachers. The students are able to link on various pages from various institution's writing centers to get guidelines as to how to do the recommended tasks, and teachers are able to link on handout materials for the students to assist them in their research projects. Both of these tools have usability for those that need a formal structural layout or for those that just want to see some recommended deadlines to help give some basic guidance.

Thing # 15 - Online Games and Libraries

I actually tried both Puzzle Pirates and Second Life. It was a little odd getting used to the chat portion of the programs since I have not had a lot of exposure to chat, but I imagine the speed and ability to multi-task would become second nature the more one uses the program. The only other odd thing, especially with Second Life, was the movement of the screen as the avatar walked, drove a car, or flew. I sometimes have trouble with moving screens. I have often tried to watch my kids as they play video games and find the jerky movement can lead to some headaches. Probably limiting elongated periods of time spent on Second Life would help this difficulty.

As to the usability in the library setting, I think it can be another tool to reach out to today's generation of learners. Today's learners are often very savvy with online programs. Multi-tasking is second nature to them. My daughter often is IMing, watching a video, and playing a game all at one time on the computer. It sometimes boggles the mind of us "older folks." The bottom line is - if this is where the next generation of learners conglomerate, this is where we should be offering our services.

Thing # 14 - LibraryThing

I think LibraryThing could be utilized quite well by our library to highlight certain types of books. It could be used to highlight new acquisitions that have been added to the library collection. With the ability to include reviews and comments on the books, it would let students know how the new resources could meet their information needs.

Another use would be to utilize it to highlight materials that are available in the library that align with a particular theme. Monthly, a wall display and book case display are set up which usually center around a particular theme. LibraryThing could merely be an extension of this display - showcasing online what is featured in the book display case.

Thing # 13 - Online Productivity Tools

I chose to use PageFlakes for my startup page. My rationale for this selection was that I felt it was one of the easier ones to understand from the presentation on the product. I also found it initially visually appealing. It took me a few minutes to organize my chosen sites in a fashion that I could work with, and I did post it as my permanent home page.

One of the tools that I plan to recommend is the MoRUN.net sticker lite. This computer sticky notes program is just what my daughter was looking for a few days ago. She likes to have post-it notes to remind her of things she needs to pay attention to and this will work well for her needs.

In regards to online calendars, I think I have found a personal use for one of them that may prove invaluable. Our family of six shares two vehicles. These vehicles must transport three individuals to school and five individuals to jobs. We are constantly asking each other the night before - "okay, who needs the car tomorrow and what times do you need it?" We currently have a paper copy of a calendar laying on the counter for everyone to put in their schedules. An online calendar would work well, in that it can be updated from anywhere as the need arises.

The to-do lists were interesting. I think they could prove useful for large projects / lists or for projects / lists that need maintained over a long period of time. For short everyday lists, I might find them more of a time-consumer.

I found the PDF converters an interesting tool. It is neat that one is able to take a document and convert it into PDF format. This could come in handy at some point.

Thing # 12 - Do You Digg?

One thing that came to mind as I explored the various Share tools was that this would be a useful tool in the classroom setting. The class could be assigned various topics for which they would required to find corresponding articles. Once they found articles, they would post them to one of the tools such as Digg. The class would then be required to comment on the posted articles and rate them on their relevancy or utility to the topic at hand. This could be a weekly class assignment enhancing not only research skills, but also thinking, processing, and analytical skills, as well as communication among participants in the class.

I also liked the customization ability that was presented on the Mixx Tour. I could see this as a productivity enhancer as you stylize the information that is available to you. It is also a good method to stay updated on items of interest.

This was my first exposure to these types of sites. I appreciate their usability and feel they could be utilized in both the personal world as well as the professional one.

Thing # 11 - Tagging and Del.icio.us

Creating a Del.icio.us account and tagging my entries was not only enjoyable, but very easy to do. I had heard of Del.icio.us before and had actually looked at the site, but had never invested the time to become familiar with it. I thought the site was rather intuitive once I started to play around with it.

I could see the utility of this site as both a means of creating bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere and also as a potential research tool. As with any research tool involving the Internet, one must consider the purpose, authority, objectivity, appropriateness, currency, responsibility, clarity, and accessibility of the site. Just because others tag a site does not guarantee the quality of the site.

I think it would be possible for libraries to utilize Del.icio.us to tag various reputable sites that would be useful to students in their research. Tags would permit students to access sites related to their topic of interest.

Thing # 10 - Wikis

Wikis are wonderful tools for collaboration. I have seen it work really well in both the work and school environment. At our academic library, we use PBWiki as a source of collaboration on recurring reference questions. The site is a one-stop compilation of handy reference tools to use based on the topic, course, or professor. As a current student in an MSLIS program being pursued via distance education, the use of PBWiki was an invaluable tool to write a group paper on Collection Development.

In looking at some of the sample wikis that were offered for examination in this "Thing," two really stood out to me. One was the Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki. This site was actually stumbled upon in the above mentioned Collection Development paper. It proved to provide several ideas that could be implemented into our overall document. The other site that I really appreciated was the St. Joseph County Public Library System Subject Guides. I really like the idea of offering patrons "subject guides" or "pathfinders" to kind of "jump-start" them in their research. Prior to this demonstration on SJCPL's wiki, I had not considered that as an option for offering subject guides to a patron. It is a neat idea.

Thing # 9 - Online Collaboration Tools

In exploring both Google Docs and Zoho Writer, I found that I really liked the idea of such collaborative tools. These are wonderful utilities for group distance learning projects. With the rise in Distance Education and the need for collaboration in our society, group projects are actually doable with tools such as these when students are not centrally located at the learning institution. The ability for anyone anywhere to access a created document and update it as needed is a real positive factor in the learning environment.

I think both of the tools have potential and it is probably more of a personal preference as to their individual usability. Personally, I preferred the layout design of Zoho Writer. I really liked the toolbar addition which put all main devices visible without having to search within a menu of any type. I also liked the template library that is available on Zoho Writer. There were numerous templates that could be used and tailored to one's individual needs. These templates ranged from employee accident reports, to fact sheets, to fundraising proposal forms. Frankly I am amazed at what is available on the Web for "free" (barring advertising). We live in an exciting time! I am sure the founding fathers would have loved such tools as they put together the Constitution.

Thing # 8 - Sharing slide decks, photos, or presentation slides

Well, this "thing" took more time than I anticipated. I actually ended up working on it over several different days, at various intervals, as time would permit. I am amazed at the number of creative tools that are out there to share information. I also must admit that I am slightly overwhelmed with trying to expose myself to all of the various tools at once. I really would like more time to "play" with them and become more familiar with their utility. I imagine this will come with time. I am very pleased, however, that we have the opportunity to gain an initial exposure to the various utilities through the exercise of 23 Things.

One of the tools that I really liked during my exploration of THING # 8 was the presentation sharing features that are offered through Thumbstacks and Zoho Show. To be able to create a presentation that can be accessed by multiple individuals at the same time with the only requirement being access to the Internet is a real plus. Both sites seemed fairly accessible and user-friendly, however, Thumbstacks carried a disclaimer, since their site is still undergoing revisions and further development.

Thing # 7 - Communication Tools

Email Usage - our library utilizes email as one of the many means of communication among the staff. Email is used to pass on announcements, post meeting agendas or meeting minutes , give information regarding the status of a work project, offer a means for education on a topic through listservs, or a dozen other uses. It is utilized highly throughout the day. The current layout of our email system allows for customization of one's email. This enables the user to organize and archive emails that are important for future reference. Productivity does seem to be enhanced through the current email system we have in place.

Online Reference - We currently have email reference at our library. Students are able to write in and ask anything ranging from simple questions about their account to detailed reference assistance. Questions are usually responded to within a 24-hour period.

At the current time, we are investigating Instant Messaging - to see if we can start to implement it within our institution. I think offering tools that reach out to all spectrums of our audience is a wonderful idea. Many of the younger generation IM and chat all the time and offering that as one more way in which they can contact us is an excellent idea. I do think, however, that it will take some time and training to become proficient and comfortable with Instant Messaging (particularly for those of us that are not from the younger generation). The whole premise of Instant Messaging is for quick (almost instantaneous) answers. A service that is not quick would soon become unattractive to our patrons.

Throughout the readings and videos in this exercise the idea of text messaging was also brought up. I could possibly see this as another means of reference, however, due to the fact that many phone companies charge an extra fee for every time someone receives or sends a text message, some patrons may not see this as a viable alternative. I also have a picture in my mind of the future reference librarian standing there with all of his / her gadgets attached - cell phone in one hand and the hand-held portable computer in the other.

Web Conferences - I really like the establishment of Web Conferences. They are easy to attend, do not require travel time, and can fit easily into the workday schedule without requiring you to miss a half-day of work to attend one. The one drawback that I see, however, with many Webinars is the lack of personal interaction. Some permit interaction via the phone, but there is something to be said of the personal networking that occurs at a conference you attend in person.

Thing # 6 - Online Image Generator

What fun! I really enjoyed playing around with creating a trading card.

This would be an excellent tool for classroom teachers to create study cards for their students. Kind of the old "flash card" idea. It functions as a visual review method to learn those key facts.

The trading cards would also make a great bulletin board display. When the new year starts, let everyone meet the staff by posting a trading card about each individual on the bulletin board, instead of just posting a picture. This gives just a splash of life to the traditional picture display.

The image on the trading card was provided through Flickr. The title of the image is "Computer Cat Looks at E-Bay." The photo was provided by parmoolah.

THING # 5 - More Flickr Fun



Well, it took a bit of time to figure it all out (along with the assistance of some very gracious co-workers), but I was finally able to upload a mash-up to the blog. Yeah!!!

As mentioned in the newsletter, I can definitely see how these tools can become addicting as one "plays" with creating all kinds of items.

In reality, these could be utilized to create more attractive advertisments for activities being held within the library. These advertisements could be on the library's homepage, on blogsites, or put into print format. Often visual attractiveness is what invites someone to read an advertisement in the first place.

The puzzle format is a fun item as well. One can also order a copy of the actual puzzle that is made.

Thing # 4 - Flickr

This photo was found on Flickr. It was posted by catherine.caf on October 7, 2007. The link to this site is: http://www.flickr.com/photos/catherinecaf/1508457980/


Being a cat lover, I found this picture irresistible - thus its inclusion on my blog as part of Thing # 4.

Taking a look at flickr was an awesome experience. As with most Web 2.0 tools, the idea of sharing information, and in this case, photos, is an outstanding one. I can really see the utility of this as a way of staying in touch with long-distance family and friends.

Beyond the personal level, I think the ideas that have been implemented by the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University of utilizing photo-sharing to highlight books in a collection is an excellent one. This would work well especially for new books that are added to the library's collection - a way of informing the community of what is new. It could also be a means of highlighting a particular topical series of books - possibly spotlighting a certain genre or a subject section of a reference collection. Many academic libraries offer their patrons subject research guides; this could possibly be a means of hosting a visual subject research guide.

Thing # 3 - RSS

I really like the features of the RSS feeds. This can be a tremendous tool for the information librarian that wants to stay on top of developments in his / her particular subject discipline or area of interest. Being able to be notified of new postings at one location can be real asset to managing one's time and keeping up-to-date on the latest.

Thing # 2 - Perspectives on 2.0

I really like the idea behind Web 2.0 and Library 2.0 - tools for "bringing together the small contributions of millions of people and making them matter." ("The Ongoing Web Revolution." Library Technology Reports. Sep / Oct 2007. p. 10.) The cooperative and collaborative nature is outstanding - pretty much a win-win situation.

The move of society in this direction behooves the library to become involved in that move. We need to be aware of the tools that are out there and investigate whether these tools can be a way of extending our services and partnership with the community we serve.

Growing up in the late baby-boomer generation, I currently lack exposure and knowledge of these tools. It is for this reason that I am attempting to learn "23 things". It is my hope and desire that I will not only gain an exposure to the tools but will also see ways in which I can implement these tools into the work that I do.

Thing # 1. Set up your blog

Thing # 1 is finished!!! I actually had fun putting various outfits and accessories on my avator. The hardest part was deciding which attributes to save and export into the blog. There were so many possibilites that could have worked. Just as I have never made an avator before, I also have never set up a blog before. It was actually easier than I was anticipating. I guess that which is unfamiliar to us always seems scarier than it actually is. Mmm...I guess it's a good thing there is a program like this to expose us to the many new things we are unfamiliar with.