Thing 23 - Looking back

I really enjoyed going through this program & getting more information on the variety of Web & Library 2.0 products out there for people to use. When I started on this journey, I wasn't sure what to expect, but I learned a lot and had a good time doing it.

This 23 Things program was well thought-out & planned, but there were a couple of other things I'd have liked to see, including:

1. Survey Tools
   
2. Diagramming & mind mapping
   
3. Music sites

That said, I know that not every topic can be covered in one program...otherwise we'd have "TONS of Things on a Stick"! I hope to participate in a follow-up program some day that may cover more Web 2.0 programs.

Thing 22 - Keeping current with 2.0

I resolve to:

1. Post to this blog at least once every two weeks information, tidbits I find interesting, fun library news/stories or other professionally related stuff.
   
2. Continue to explore new technologies - especially those that are applicable to libraries &/or their users.
   
3. Read & keep up with a couple library-related blogs.
   
4. Encourage others to learn about & use Library 2.0 applications.
   

Thing 12 - I've Reddit

I took a look at the four sites included in this thing, and decided to register and play with Redditn today. What an interesting way to get my daily news fix.

I can really see how this kind of site would appeal to the populists out there. Everyone who registers is able to help or hinder a news article, image, website or YouTube video's ability to be seen by more people. It's really easy to select the up or down arrow if I like or dislike something that's been posted. This will be a fun site for me to play with, but unfortunately I do not really see a use for this in the library world for the following reasons:

• Librarians like to select what they present to their patrons. Reddit doesn't really allow for this kind of professional filter.
  
• The articles & other postings I saw were for funny or political in nature. The articles did not include any real serious or pressing news.
  

I did post an article from MPR on the arrest and charging in the school bus crash tragedy from earlier this week in Cottonwood, MN. It hasn't gotten any points from others in the 33 minutes it's been available on Reddit. I'm not really surprised since the other postings on the list are much more fun and upbeat.

Thing 10 - Wikis

Let me say this again...I love the Common Craft videos! They are such fun and are informative at the same time. :)

I have used a wiki before with other librarians at my old job. It was a good place to share ideas for library instruction, and also to have a place for fun and funny links for our breaks. The issue I saw with it was that it was well-used at its inception, but this dropped off steadily as time went on. We all enjoyed it for a while, but then only 1 or 2 people actually added to it or visited it. So it was under-utilized.

I see Wikipedia as a wonderful place to get research started. Most articles have bibliographies so people can look to reliable (hopefully!) sources on the topic. When I was working in an academic library, I steered most students away from Wikipedia, since they were not willing to go the extra mile & check the info they got here against other resources. This is the key to using this open encyclopedia in my book. Users need to be prepared to verify the information they get here in other places, since ANYONE can make changes to any article.

Thing 8 - Lazybase

What a great way to track things! I am a member of a group the does Middle Ages & Rennaissance recreation (kind of like Civil War Re-enactment - only we cover 600-1600 Europe). Here is a database I've created to keep track of projects I've worked on and put out for disply or competion.



I can see this coming in handy for libraries, for MANY things - upcoming events, book club selections, new books, librarian contact info, etc. Very cool tool!!

Thing 7 - Web 2.0 Communication

Email - I've been using email for nearly 15 years now, and I am very impressed by the improvements that have been produced in this time. The spam filters are wonderful as are the rules that direct email directly into predesignated folders. I love having folders to organize my incoming mail, and have vowed that I wil not use my inbox for storage. I WILL read, reply & file them right away. And so far, so good.

IM - In my years online, I have used many different instant messanger services including AIM, ICQ, Yahoo, Google Talk, and others I don't remember. (I currently use Yahoo {screen name rlgray001} & Google {screen name rlgray01}.) I love IMing and chatting real time with friends from around the country and also with co-workers just down the hall. It is quicker and less formal that calling or emailing, and I also like being able to send files quickly & easily.

Text Messaging - I am not a fan of texting, and have never sent a text message. I know if may seem odd since I do so much IMing ont he computer, but I feel that if I can send a text message on my cell phone, I can call the person much easier.

Web Conferencing - I have been a part of a couple webinars via SirsiDynix. They offer free webinars on a wide variety of library-related topics and the best thing about them is they archive their confrences so people can get the info long after the session is completed. I have also attended web confrences through my past employer, Minnesota School of Business. The online librarian holds basic library instruction sessions each quarter to teach students about using the matierals available to them on their webpage. The power of web confrences & webinars is in their ability to connect people from anywhere together at one time and teach them the same thing. A very powerful tool!

Thing 5 - Flickr Fun

My creation, originally uploaded by Lib Gray.

I took this self portrait in December at Barnes & Nobel, not even realizing that the reference sign was behind me...what fate! For this thing, I Warholizer-ed it. What a fun tool!

For using this in libraries, I could really see this tool being used for program promotion. This tool is a lot of fun, and the resulting image can be used for postcards, posters & bookmarks for popular (or young adult) programs.

This kind of tool could be a very fun way to have staff pictures on a l ibrary's website. Each staff member can pick one of these Flickr toys and create the way they want to introduce themselves to their public. A good way to say "See, we're really NOT stuffy!" :)

Thing 4 - Flickr

OK...I just want to say that I LOVE that video introduction of "Online Photosharing in Plain English." What a great way to communicate this information!

I have used Flickr and other online photosharing in the past, and will share those images from that experience here. Here is my Flickr account: msblibrary.

Here is a coworker of mine when I worked for Minnesota School of Business - Dave Stevenson. We nicknamed him Super Dave, since we had lots of Daves on staff, and this one could fix just about anything!

Thing 2- What is Library 2.0 anyways?

Library 2.0 is the library community's response to all the exciting and interactive things that have been developed for Web 2.0. I am really looking forward to exploring in-depth things like Facebook and Flickr and Wikis, and seeing how they can be applied to my professional life as a librarian. I am lucky that working at SELCO, I am given the time for exploring these new ideas through-out the work week.

Even though I am well versed in many aspects of the web and web developing )I worked for an ISP for 3 years in the late 1990s), many parts of Library 2.0 & Web 2.0 ellude me. I've used social networking sites in the past like MySpace, but have allowed my accounts to languish since I do not have time to maintain them, and in all honesty, I don't see their attraction to so many people. I hope that with participating in 23 Things on a Stick I will see the usage of all these applications as they relate to libraries and serving our publics. This is what I ultimately hope to gain from this experience.

Open ID

I got this from Unshelved Blog. Quite interesting, but I'm not sure of if I like it or not yet. Basically, Open ID is there to let you have a site so you only need to remember your password for one site (the one you pick for Open ID of course!). Once you're connected to it, it automatically signs you in to your other accounts online, like LiveJournal. I'll explore it, and post again later.

Thing #1 - blog updated!

I'm registered, I've created an avatar, I'm ready to go... I've started my 23 Things! Stay tuned for the next 22. :)

The Library of the Future?

I got this from a fellow librarian. It's a wonderful 7 minute piece on the possibilities of libraries in the technological age. I'm not sure where this library is, but I'm thinking a Scandinavian country somewhere. I hope to see something similar in the US sometime. It looks like a lot of work, but if it is successful, I can see the work being worth it completely!