Wrapping it Up

I found this to be more fun than I expected, and think this should be a mandatory task for all new hires to the library, especially if they work with the public, because I have a feeling that they are more savvy about this stuff than most staff.

While I agree we should know about this technology, I think much of it really isn't relevant to our day to day library function. This is especially true for anything reference that is created and maintained by the public. It's like the old "SOME say that blah, blah, blah"--you can't vet the information, so don't give it out as an answer to a question!!!

Much of this technology is used to connect people socially, which could possibly be used to connect professional librarians.

Del.icio.us

I guess this would be useful if you traveled a lot--you could access your bookmarks no matter where you were. Librarians on the go could use it with different logins, so depending on how you log in, you could access subject-specific lists of sites. Although, why you wouldn't just create some subject folders in the first place, I don't know.

I looked at the most popular, and it appears to be very tech oriented. If you're looking for any kind of programming or technology, you might be behooved to check del.icio.us for information.

Technorati

Interesting site. The little demo I watched must be old, because the site has a completely different look. I actually prefer the old version because it seemed to contain more options and was better organized, clearer and more colorful.

I checked out Boingboing--not very practical, but it did contain some fun stuff.

I actually used Technorati to answer (or semi-answer) a question at the staff desk. A man needed info on how to play the banjo. Of course we only had one book, and it was just sheet music. I went on Technorati, thinking there have to be some tech savvy banjo pickers, and I found a blog which had a link to a PDF article interviewing a well-known-in-the-banjo-circle guy and one of the questions was how he taught himself how to play. He listed some of his favorite books, so I printed it out for the man, and told him we could inter-library loan them. I found another blog which listed some DVDs too, and the man was quite happy! Go technology!!!

Web 2.0 Library

I agree with much of what was written in these article, but one additional item I think should be included is the necessity of training and informing the staff. True, many of the new librarians have grown up in the post Donkey Kong era, and are quite comfortable with the technology, but to keep up with trends and to use new technology in an innovative, useful way still requires some degree of continuing education--not only learning the technology, but to apply it in a useful, library-enhancing way.

Libraries of the future, in order to remain relevant, will have to push themselves into people's consciences. There are so many distractions in peoples' lives, that libraries must compete for attention. If we are passive and wait for people to come to us, then we are doomed. We will always be repositories for a print collection (who wants to bring a laptop to the beach?) but we must try to embrace new technology, or at least the technology that people prefer, and remain relevant to peoples' needs.

I did have a bit of a problem with the "users add value" statement. It depends on the user and their qualifications. If you let morons "add" their input, it dilutes the purity and accuracy of information, so there does need to be professional monitoring to act as quality control agents.

Learn About Audiobooks

I could only look at Gutenberg because the library suspended our license for Netlibrary, and since I don't have a computer at home, I couldn't look at Overdrive, unfortunately.

Gutenberg is pretty nice--I've used it numerous times for people. Just the other day, someone needed the original tales of the Brothers Grimm (you know, not the Disney version, but the version where evil step-sisters lop off their heels to try and fit into dainty slippers!) and I found it for her on Gutenberg.

Granted, it only contains public domain titles, but still, it's great for history questions. One nice trick is if a book is heavy on the images, you can download the HTML version, and then the audiobook version, and you can read along. Pretty cool, huh! (I really need to get a life...)

Web 2.0 Tool--Clipmarks

I first came across Clipmarks when I was meandering through Firefox addons. As a librarian, I use this almost weekly--if someone just needs a part of a page, I just clip and print, saving a lot of wasted paper! The down side is that it must be installed on every computer you use, but it only takes a second to do it!

clipped from web.mit.edu On August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans and surrounding areas. There were more than a thousand fatalities, billions of dollars in property losses, and tens of thousands of people were stranded and/or lost their homes. Despite a long history of flooding and dire predictions, all levels of government failed to act in a timely and organized manner, which further exacerbated the problems. In the past year, recovery efforts were slow and there was much discussion of topics such as race, class, government response, and how the nation as a whole should think about New Orleans and the Gulf Coast’s future.

MERLIN & Blogs/Feeds

I tried Feedster, but couldn't connect, so I'm hoping they're just doing some maintenance and will try them again.

I used Technorati, and was able to find a good library technology blog located at http://tametheweb.com/ and is authored by Michael Stephens. It has some good links about trends in technology that are of interest to librarians, but it also has the fun stuff, like Second Life (which I just can't get into--why not live the first life. It can get creepy. I found a Second Life memorial to the victims of the Virginia Tech shooting, complete with mourning avatars. I guess the next step is virtual funerals. Now you can mourn great aunt Mathilda in your underwear, with a beer in your hand.) A lot of the info (and presentations are available, too!) is directly related to what the Web 2.0 and 23 Things cover, so I strongly recommend checking out this blog if you like doing the 23 Things.

One thing that would be nice is if when you search a term, when it retrieves the relevant posts, if it would automatically highlight the search term. I performed a search on this blog for the term "koha" and it returned three posts. When you open each post, then you have to perform another search for the term within the post. A minor point, I know.

I used Topix, which visually reminded me of Yahoo. I did some searches, and the thing that struck me was the number of ads on the site. I did find some good info on libraries, including a great site which recommends Native American children's literature. Evidently, many of the popular titles are horribly inaccurate. The site is found at http://www.fremonttribune.com/articles/2007/11/05/opinion/columns/doc472eff4727836465640450.txt

Another article I found listed links to a couple libraries that use podcasts for book reviews--I really, really like this idea! The article is at http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6495177.html

Unfortunately, Feedster is still down. :-(

I tried Sydic8 and the first thing that struck me is how each entry resembles a catalog record, so it was really easy for me to find the info I needed. The ads were there, but much more subdued than Technorati. Through this site, I found a nice feed for what's new in science at the Library of Congress. http://www.loc.gov/rr/scitech/whatsnew/whatsnew.html

Easter Bunny Hates You

Enjoy!

Locating Podcasts

This is pretty neat. I used podcast.net to search for some items for which people ask, such as literature reviews, book reviews, political and historical information, etc.

I was pleasantly surprised to find some great resources, including dramatic readings and interpretations of Shakespeare and other authors, Jeff Shaara discussing his latest title, and a fabulous list of podcasts from Pritzker Military Library. It reminds me of C-SPAN's book talks. Some are quite professional and others are, well, like me...completely unpolished!

Of course, like my opinion of Wikipedia, I would vet the info before using it. Sometimes it's easy to tell if you should be extra wary. One podcast was titled Pod Casting at Its Worse which is either a clever or incredibly stupid title. Even if the site is professionally produced, that's still no guarantee the speakers are completely nuts, but if it's an author you recognize, then it can be pretty informative and entertaining.

One trick with podcast.net is to search under "Episodes" and type in your keywords. I looked for "suicide bombers" and while nothing appeared under the "Keyword" search, some great and relevant sites appeared under the "Episodes" sites. This is a quibble--it's difficult to find appropriate information because the casts are poorly tagged and labeled.

I also tried Podcastalley.com but wasn't as impressed, especially with the poor search options. Also, it will say how many MBs it is, but not the actual length of the broadcast.

Hey, did you know you could play more than one podcast at a time, and have the sound for both at the same time...I love all the voices in my head!!! :-)

YouTube

A fun site--you can really waste a lot of time there! It's pretty easy to search, and it makes you realize people want more than their "15 minutes" of fame. I think new bands could use this to advertise themselves, but there are so many videos, the possibility of being "discovered" is remote.

Libraries could use it for tutorial purposes, either for staff or customers. Of course the speakers must be enabled and headphones available.

I saw this fun video at the 2007 Computers in Libraries--how to use a book...

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Introducing Le Book

Untitled

Online Productivity Tools: Zoho Writer

Pretty nice to use. Fairly intuitive, although someone who is not already familiar with word processing software might have a difficult time because there is no "Help" offered. There is a FAQ section, but it doesn't go into details about all the features, and there is a "Forums" where people have asked for assistance.

As it is free, you can do some basic word processing, but there seem to be some bugs. Sometimes the cursor marker will disappear, so you have no idea where you are in the document. Also, the "Undo" button is a bit flaky--I used it on a template and it totally screwed it up. If I was to recommend this to someone, I would highly recommend constantly saving your work because you will most likely have to revert to a saved version.

All in all, an okay bit of software. You get what you pay for, so there are some problems with it. If you just need to type up a brief paper, it is just fine, but if you are writing something like a dissertation, save yourself from ulcers and go with a more stable product--even Open Office.

I couldn't believe all the great templates available--50 when I checked. Everything from resume cover letters to invoices and bill of sale for a car. Very nice, but again, they behave a bit flaky when you edit them.

Technology

Just a couple neat sites:

Turning the Page
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/ttp/ttpbooks.html
This a neato, peachy site from the British Library which has digitized some books, allowing you to "turn the page". Check it out because it is sooo cool! Not many titles are available, but it sure is fun. My fave is the atlas and Carroll's Alice--with the original drawings. If developed further, it would revolutionize how historians work. Imagine working with original texts, but without the worry of destroying them!

Map Builder
http://www.mapbuilder.net/
Another cool mashup site--create your own maps and include photos! Mashups are fabulous because you don't have to know the coding (or very little of it) to be creative. Why struggle to create your own code, when someone else has already done it? Kinda like the addons for Firefox...

Rollyo

Actually, I've used this site before. I first heard about it at a Computers in Libraries conference in D.C. It's really handy for school assignments because you can load in the sites that answer the questions (WW II, Ancient Greece, Fairy Tales, etc.) and it will search them simultaneously. Now if the teachers would only give us a heads up on what the assignments are...

One tip--the more sites you load in, the loooonger it takes to generate results. I did one for law and legal forms which has four sites I use often.

http://rollyo.com/marksk/legal_forms_info/

Avatar

Okay, there's my (lame) avatar! It's really easy and there are a lot of options. If you want to try it, go to http://www.meez.com/

My Avatar!

Wikis

I posted my opinion on the sandbox, and basically said that wikis are a good place to start when you have absolutely no idea where to start when researching a subject. I never, ever use it as a source in and of itself. To see why, go to

http://wiki.answers.com/Q/How_did_Edgar_Allan_Poe_die

and after reading the "answer" you'll understand. Woe to the person who looks on a wiki for medical advice!

I read some of the library wikis, and I do like the idea of book reviews and opinions. However, if it's open to the public, a librarian needs to monitor the site to correct grammar and deal with inappropriate entries. Yes, one more task for the librarian. Since I've started this post, I've been interrupted four times. You get the picture.

I would really like to see a librarian access only community wiki. It would be nice for people to think of the library wiki as a place to start when they need info about local government, election information, post offices, history, etc. That is a valuable service!

If you want to search for a wiki on a subject, but don't want wikipedia, in google, just use the inurl:wiki command, and it will pull up some wikis--if the site has the sense to include "wiki" in it's url.

Lifelong Learning

After viewing the 7 1/2 habits, I would have to say the easiest for me would be viewing problems as challenges. One thing that has driven me batty since I was young(er!) is when I have observed someone facing a challenge they do not know how to approach, and after asking for assistance, they walk away (literally or figuratively) before the challenge has been resolved. They learn nothing. One thing I have experienced, is that challenges (i.e. problems) tend to repeat themselves. So, if you walk away from it, you are just as ill-equipped to deal with it the next time.

The most difficult of the habits would have to be using technology, although this is becoming easier. I do not have a computer at home, and really, really do not want one. I work with them all day, and the last thing I want to do is sit in front of a screen on my off time. If I absolutely, positively need to know the GDP of Bolivia in 1990, I can always call the library! Also, there's a logistical problem--our house is tiny and there is no nook or comfy space (and I mean NONE) to work for long periods of time. Plus, I'm cheap, but we won't go there... I do say it's becoming easier because I have bought an iPod, I now have an MP3 player, and of course, the ubiquitous cell phone. I prefer the portable electronics because I can be doing something else while listening to music or, my favorite, listening to NPR. So, I try to learn as much as possible on the job, and attending professional conferences. Good thing I'm fairly organized and efficient!

Image Generator

Hmm, I think people have waaay too much time on their hands--but it does bring out the comedian in everyone...

I was able to create my very own magazine cover...

LibraryThing

Actually, I discovered this site a long time ago. Since I work the children's desk a lot, I have read many, many kid's books but I can't keep them in my addled brain. This site is terrific because not only can you sort the list, you can add your own tags and reviews! That comes in very handy when, for example, you're asked for a realistic fiction with a dog as a main character--just search the tags! This is one of my favorite sites!

Here's a link to what I have read...

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/marksk

Flickr

Pretty nice site. I was able to create a slideshow of historic images regarding Elkridge. This would be a good tool for teachers--they could grab public domain images to use in the classroom. It's great that you can annotate the photos, but like Wikipedia, you have to beware of the source and any bias or misinformation. Also, you could save your personal images for archival purposes.

For the best pizza in the western world, go to Shakespeare's in Columbia, MO.

http://flickr.com/photos/azrael_malik/146869413/

Bloglines

Wow, this is a neat feature! Now I can REALLY waste time! :-)

It is pretty nice to have news stories pushed to you, but at the same time, I wonder if people have time to really read everything. After subscribing to some of their "top" sites, I realized how schizophrenic my interests are--from the Daily Show to BBC News. Hey, I'm an informed moron!!!

Blog Classes

Well, not much activity on the blog--it's been busy! Once this is up and going, and the rest of the staff are comfortable with it, I think it would be pretty neat to create a class for seniors on how to set up their very own blog. (I'm pretty sure anyone who thinks the remake of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is better than the original has one already. Isn't is now mandatory, when a baby is born they automatically get a hotmail account and a page on Facebook? I dunno...)

It would be a great way for seniors who normally wouldn't be interested in technology and who can't get around to form their own interest groups and interact with others.

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

First time blogging

Well, this will be interesting--my first time using a blog. We'll see how useful this is, since I've always thought of a blog as someone posting their diary and opinions online.

I don't have much use for YouTube at work, either. Sure it's fun to watch, but I have other, more pressing things to do.

I don't own a computer at home, and quite frankly don't miss it. A colleague stated she spent three hours one weekend trying to download and make a specific software run successfuly on her computer. This was a gorgeous weekend, and I would much rather be outside gardening, playing with the dog, or bicycling.