Concluding Thoughts

This has been a fantastic opportunity to learn about present and emerging technology.  This is the future; it’s valuable to be exposed to it.  For me, not having been born in the computer age, it’s rewarding to realize I can learn about and work with these things.

I had worked with a few of these items in my MLS program, but this was much more broadening with so many areas of exposure.  I hope the site remains available for a while so we can continue to explore a little more.

I also appreciate that I can obtain an MP3 player for participating – a nice bonus for learning.

Thank you.

Audio Book

Terrific.  This is great.  I walk for exercise and will not have to carry a bulky tape or cd player anymore.  The list of titles will probably only increase as time goes on.

PODcasts

Tried both directories.  Had more hope for Odeo, but only found four library podcasts; three of which were extremely outdated (by years. ) Listened to one for Library Geeks, sorry – dead boring.

Can see the usefulness, though.  Someone phoned the library a few weeks ago wondering whether a lecture that had been given was available.  Had to say no.  However, a podcast could take care of this.  Could also see a use with book reviews.

You Tube

Somewhat familiar with YouTube from having my children show me things and my son putting videos of his footbagging on the site.

Used my ongoing preoccupation-The Battle of Hastings-thinking not much would come up but was surprised; there was a lot from narrated videos of the Bayeux Tapestry, a re-enactment of the battle, a BBC show analyzing British battles, etc.

The following is, of the ones listed (that I watched) on YouTube, the most succinct and accurate account of the preceding issues and the battle:

Looked at Westchester, NY, YouTube video of their new bookmobile showing basic truck unit, renovation into a bookmobile, travels around communitees and festivals.  Another library used YouTube as a video showing “library services”.

Exploring Social Networking

I believe the Facebook/My Space presence may be an excellent resource to connect with teens (at the moment, as it’s so much of their world) and perhaps others who are oriented to social networking sites. It will be interesting to see what happens when current teens become adults – whether such social networks will follow them into adulthood.

From what I saw, the Facebook format seemed more user friendly and adaptable compared to My Space.

From what was available, it appeared libraries are using Twitter for brief notifications of events, which could be useful to those utilizing that format.  Read the article “Reference Service and Twitter”, which lists pertinent possibilities about such use, including the fact that one must be aware of texting costs on cell phones.

I also think someone must be adept at using these sites and have the time/staff to maintain them.

Web 2.0 Awards

Really just knowing Web 2.0 Awards exists is helpful – one can simply view that site and explore the site to see what’s going on in 2.0 land.

Discovered Google Blob Search by accident the other night (I was proud of myself) when I tried a search to see if there was such a thing as blog searching.  Was looking for a recent addition to blogs and didn’t want to check all potentially relevant ones for what I was seeking.

Looked at the Biblio site and liked it.  Entered a book based on my family that is not so easy to locate and a couple offerings came right up.  Could be helpful for patrons looking for obscure books not readily available.

Zoho

Great idea.  Will try Google.docs also, which I’ve wondered about for a while.

Microsoft has held us all hostage much too long, i.e., periodically creating expensive revisions which are not really necessary (or if needed, charging a lot of money for improvements when we’ve already spent many dollars for the original).  The ability to easily collaborate and use Zoho for multi-purpose needs, such as blogging is beneficial also.

23 Things Learning Wiki

Like the way this works.  Could be a great resource for finding interesting places.

Saw the Rochester, NY, wiki through an earlier wiki (I’m from there.) and thought it was a great way for residents and visitors to gain information about places to go, things to see, and activities to experience.

Wikis

In looking at the examples from St. Joseph’s and Bull Run Libraries, it appears that they are in the form of internal wikis? It seems that the wiki is open for staff of the library to participate in publishing the wikis, but that the path is only one-way in that the public cannot add or alter.  This makes sense as information supplied on the site needs to be accurate, but I am not certain this constitutes a wiki.

The ALA concept of using a wiki for a single event has potential – those planning or attending an event could really benefit from interaction with each other.

I think a public library wiki would require careful planning in order to screen for content that might be of offensive or objectionable character.

One of my library science classes last year created a wiki of motivational ideas, and it worked quite well.  However, that was within a closed classroom group, which certainly made it a lot easier – it couldn’t be sabotaged and was by people with something in common.

Library 2.0 Reactions

I read Library 2.0: A Guide to Participatory Library Service by Michael E. Casey and Laura C. Savastinuk (available through CCL) before the Library 2.0 seminar we attended in October, hoping to get a grasp of 2.0.  While the book was interesting and attempted to define and explain the concept of Library 2.0, there wasn’t much demonstration of exactly how the ideas could be incorporated into public libraries.

Just read Basic Competencies of a 2.0 Librarian: Why Learn This Stuff? and can see the validity of his points.

While I realize the world is heading in a 2.0 direction, there are issues to be addressed.  In our zeal to get youth and those computer-oriented to participate in the library world, we must be careful of extremes.

I believe there is a difference between information and knowledge, which is based more on long-term exposure and expertise.  Yes, we can find lots of quick information that can be useful, but it desirable to sacrifice depth?

Found an article (a bit lengthy) that addresses many aspects of what I believe could be some of the limitations of 2.0. dominance.

Literacy Debate: Online, R U Really Reading? Available at:

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/27/books/27reading.html