Week 7, Wikis

I like the definition of a wiki as being a web site that is built through collaboration of the creators and the users.

I think HCPL could benefit from having wikis like the one developed by St. Joseph County Public Library http://www.libraryforlife.org/subjectguides/index.php/Main_Page
This wiki links to websites and databases by subject, all in one easy place. It would be an easy way for newly found websites on a subject to be added.

I also like the use of the wiki format for book discussion groups. What a great place for patrons or librarians to do readers advisory. If patrons don't want to add their thoughts on a book to the wiki themselves, a librarian could certain do it for them. It might be a quick way to get patron reviews on their favorite books, or on books being read in book clubs.

Week 6 Library 2.0

Reading these articles really spelled out for me what Libraries 2.0 is. With the help of interactive technology, users can participate in the dissemination of information, in the format of their choice.

I especially enjoyed reading the articles from OCLC Next Space Newsletter – Web 2.0: Where will the next generation of the web it take libraries? In the past, I have struggled to see what the future of libraries is - a debate I began hearing about with the rise of AskUsNow! These articles discuss so many possibilities - from having fewing print collections as material is available electronically, to making this electronic information available by providing ipods and laptops to patrons for check out.

Once we finish Learning 2.0, I think it would be great to have a brainstorming session to come up with new ideas and ways (Innovation!) to use some of the Web2.0 technology within the library and on our website, as well as coming up with ways to make sure this information is available to everyone!

Week 6 Technorati

This site has so much on it - and some of those blogs have links to so much more - depending on what the focus of the blog is. Looking at Arianna Huffington's blog made me realize that when you get on a blog done by someone like her, the amount of information being made available on a topic is huge. So, I am realizing, blogs could be a good place to research topics - but as always with the web, the researcher needs to keep in mind who is providing the information, and how trustworthy is it. Having said that, I can see that going to a blog on a topic and seeing if they link to authoritative web sites could be a good approach at times.

I also like looking at the tags and seeing where they take you...a game I will need to be careful of as I can see myself spending a lot of time going deeper and deeper from the original starting point.

Week 6 del.icio.us

Del.icio.us is a very interesting concept, and I can see how this can be a very useful tool. I like the idea of being able to find my "Favorites" on a web site so that they can be accessed from any computer. The podcast talks about using this tool as a way of compiling a reading list, especially when one is doing research on a particular topic. I also think that the libraries which are using this tool on their websites to help patrons find helpful sites on much asked for topics is a great idea! Maybe something for the HCPL webpage in the future? This is definitely something I may experiment with later, although for now, I can't think of a great need I have for this tool at this time. I may have to create a need in order to experiment.

Week 5 Rollyo

I find that as I explore new technology and "get my feet wet" that I feel more and more confident trying new things.

Rollyo is an interesting concept, and since I do a lot of virtual reference, it is a nice place to keep track of favorite web sites that I tend to use when doing online research for virtual patrons. So I have created an account with that usage in mind. I have even added the link to my sidebar here (using the same steps as listed below for adding LibraryThing to my sidebar).

However, other than that kind of usage, I am having a hard time thinking of why I would need such a tool. To me, it is easier to just use google (or other search engines) - there are so many sites out there, that I would never claim to know all the best ones, put them in my rollyo account and then search only my rollyo search engine! However, I am going to keep my rollyo search engine out there and I'll add to it - time will tell if I decide this is the best way to go.

Week 5 LibraryThing

I love the LibraryThing. I think it could be a great Reader's Advisory tool - a way to keep track of the books I have really enjoyed. I also like the idea of using this site to get recommendations for myself from other people who have enjoyed the same books I have.

Using this site was very easy - the hardest part was finding how to link my catalog to my blog - on the sidebar. First, I had to log in to my LibraryThing account and copy the URL from the address box of my browser. Then I needed to log in to my blog and clicked on Layout. On the next screen I clicked on "Add a page element". I clicked on "Link List" and put in the title "My Library Catalog" and then I pasted the link I had copied from LibaryThing into the "New Site URL box". I clicked Add Link and then Save Changes and when I viewed my blog the link was there on the sidebar as a live link.

The one thing I don't like about this site is that you seem to need to click on each book you want to put into your catalog. I have a few favorite authors and I've read most of their books, and I would have liked to have been able to move all their books into my catalog at one time.

How will I ever remember all these new sites I have joined since I began this adventure? :)

Week 5 Online Image Generators

I played with several of the image generators. There are so many generators out there with so many options that I find it overwhelming, and really have to ask, do people really have that much free time on their hands that they can experiment with all this?!
In the past I created an avatar with Meez.com. It was fun, but confusing. Today I played with the Yahoo avatar creator and made a lovely avatar - I found this program a little easier to use - especially when it comes to importing your avatar elsewhere. Here is my avatar:

Yea! it worked. I wasn't sure where to paste my link, so I just pasted it right here in the post area and when I viewed my blog, there it was! Hopefully this image won't disappear like the Flickr one, though since this one is my own creation from my own account, I think it will stay where I put it!