Web 2.0 Awards

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Thing #19
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I read through the Web 2.0 Awards and can definitely see myself using some of these sites. The health sites like Healia and Medstory would be useful because I am always diagnosing myself and loved ones with various ailments. The Eventful, Confabb, and Upcoming sites would also be useful for trying to find local events and different things to do. 43 Things might be interesting, as well as Pandora.

Web Apps

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Thing #18
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I added my name to the Google Docs document and yes, the setup is very similar to Microsoft Word. I think this is an extremely useful tool, not just for collaborative work but individual work as well. I am constantly working on things and then emailing them to myself so that I can access them from home. With Google Docs I would never have to do that because it would be available from anywhere. I think there are many possibilities for using this for a branch project.

Play in the Sandbox

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Thing #17
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I went to our wiki and added a link to my blog. I like how you can change the font and color. Then I added my favorite candy (candy corn) and then I tried to upload an image of my favorite book but it didn't work out. The first was too small, then when I tried with another image, all that would show up was a red X. I also added my favorite activity, "laying around with my cat." Playing in the sandbox was fun.

Wikis

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Thing #16
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I went to the Library Bloggers Wiki and was surprised to see how many public library blogs were listed. This could definitely be a useful resource. Nancy Pearl's Wiki was very interesting as well. At the Library Success wiki, I was very impressed with the wealth of information available. I thought the EZ Library Program Database was a great idea. I would think that would be a pretty difficult thing to maintain however. I found the items under the "Professional" topic useful, particularly, Keeping Up With the Profession. I will visit this wiki again.

Then I went to Ocean County Library's article on Wikipedia and clicked on the history tab. I did some other looking around and had to laugh when I saw that the previous mascot of OCL was a sea captain called Captain Book. I just thought this was really funny. As a former school library media specialist, I am still not sold on Wikipedia. I just can't get passed the fact that all of this unreliable information is out there and kids are taking it as fact. I had a rule that they could not use Wikipedia as a source.

Friends Earth Day Display

The IH Friends put together a lovely display for Earth Day:

Cute

A patron cut this out of the paper and brought it to us today (click to view the full strip):

On Library 2.0 and Web 2.0...

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Thing #15
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I read Web 2.0: Where will the next generation of the web it take libraries? by Tom Storey and then looked at Away from Icebergs by Rick Anderson and Into a new world of librarianship by Michael Stephens.

Anderson discusses three"potential disasters" for library's progress with Web 2.0:

1. "The 'just in case' collection" (print resources that don't really seem to be needed but are there just in case someone may need it. He says we need to turn our attention instead to "digital collections of journals, books, blogs, podcasts, etc.")
2. "Reliance on user education" (We should understand that thinking we can teach every patron how to be tech savvy is unrealistic: "[...] if our services can't be used without training, then it's the services that need to be fixed--not our patrons")
3. "The 'come to us' model of library service" (Anderson points out how libraries no longer have the monopoly on information and that we have to come up with ways for users to use the library other than just physically visiting the library)

According to Michael Stephens, "the Library is human" and the most important qualities of Librarian 2.0 are:

1. "Librarians 2.0 plans for their users" (Librarian is completely user centered and focuses on removing barriers for the patron)
2. "Librarian 2.0 embraces Web 2.0 tools" (Librarian recognizes advantages of these technologies and connects with users online)
3. "Librarian 2.0 controls technolust" (Technology decisions are based on what will be best for the user, not simply on what is new and cool)
4. "Librarian 2.0 makes good, yet fast decisions" (Project plans made too far in advance are not conducive with 2.0 because things are changing all the time)
5. "Librarian 2.0 is a trendspotter" (Librarian is always on the lookout for ways to improve service)
6. "Librarian 2.0 gets content" (Librarian knows that the library's future depends on how patrons "access, consume, and create content")

Of equal importance is that "Librarian 2.0 also listens to staff and users when planning, tells the stories of successes and failures, learns from both, celebrates those successes, allows staff time to play and learn, and never stops dreaming about the best library services."

I think both of these authors make some great points and I agree with their comments. I am still developing my own concept of what Library 2.0 means to me but reading what others say on the topic is definitely helping to form my own definition.

Technorati

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Thing #14
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When I did a search for "Learning 2.0" at Technorati I was surprised to see that it turned up 1,472 results. Obviously, there are other areas than education, technology, and business where lifelong learning applies. When I explored popular blogs, searches, and tags, I was surprised that quite a few of the popular searches were people or things I had never heard of before. One blog that I found that I will continue reading is PostSecret. I had heard of it before but I don't think I ever saw it. The image below is a funny example postcard someone sent in:

del.icio.us

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Thing #13
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I watched the tutorial and now have a better understanding of what this is all about. I went to del.icio.us through the OCLwebthings account and looked around a little. I clicked on some bookmarks and saw other people's comments and tags.

I am not sure I can see myself using this tool for my general Internet use. But I will try it the next time I am researching something. It would be better than just doing a Google search because you would be accessing other people's tags, not just the words that are in the actual article or whatever. So yes, I can see how it could be useful in this sense.

NetLibrary and WorldCat

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Thing #12
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NetLibrary

I set up a NetLibrary account and took a look around. I found it easy to set up the account. I browsed through an ebook titled Caldecott on the Net, which I think would be a useful resource for teachers and librarians. I think the best thing about NetLibrary is that once you have created your account you can access it anytime. I do think I could show a customer how to use NetLibrary. I think there are some patrons who would find this very useful while others might not understand.

WorldCat

I did a search for a book called No One Heard Her Scream that one of our Island Hrights patrons recently filled out an ILL form for. The closest library that owns the title is Mercer County Library. I think WorldCat's Advanced Search Screen is set up in a way that people will easily understand and would definitely be useful when filling out the "Request for Materials" form.

Library Thing

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Thing #11
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I can definitely see myself getting into using Library Thing. I would love to have a catalog of all of my books, and I think it would help me to not buy so many books, too! I could just go into my catalog and see that I already have something that might work for what I am looking for.

Here is a link to my catalog. All of these books are required texts for the current R.U. course I am taking in Gender and Culture in Children's Picture Books. Almost all of the books had preexisting tags, which I edited based on my own opinions. Some of my books were more popular than others. There was some discussion about my favorites while others had little or no discussion at all.

Technology Blogging

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Thing #10
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I read Stephan Abram's article "20 Things to Watch" and have decided to write a little about my experiences with e-learning. For me, this is an ideal way to use technology and continue my education at the same time. I really cannot say enough good things about it.

When I was in grad school at Clarion University of Pennsylvania, I did not have the same attitude, however. I had to take a management course online and some of my other courses had web based elements that I did not enjoy. I guess I prefer one or the other, meaning at that time I lived in Clarion and went to most of my classes in a regular classroom setting already, so having to do certain things online didn't really make my life more convenient, it actually added more stress. Now I am involved in a completely online certificate program, and I love being able to go to class in my pajamas and work for the most part at my own pace.

For the second part of this exercise, I have added a comment to dlheyson's blog. This Web Challenge player left me a very friendly comment and I wanted to return the favor. I love the photo they have with Thing #6!