Thing 22: Flickr Mashups

This was interesting and fun.
I explored mashups and applications.
Some i was able to figure out and that i enjoyed were:
Flicktionary(you guess word from pic clues), Retrievr(finds images similar to one you create),
Kaleidoscope, Postcard Browser(find Flickr postcard images from keyword search),
Montagr(sounds like fun tho i couldn't use this right).

Thing 21: Flickr tagging

Tagging allows wider access to your pics by subject, place name, etc on Flickr.
Flickr is one of the most user-friendly sites for organizing and storage of pictures and illustrations. It allows the user to set up various levels of privacy or control over
who may view his/her work. One could allow access by specific friends, the entire public or
maintain strict privacy. There is a guest pass feature if say a friend on your contact list wanted
to allow 1 person access to your pics.

Thing 20: Flickr

Me and my friends after a Mary Kay consultation. Don't we look nice and so kissable?

This Flickr thing is pretty cool. It seems more

versatile and has more controls for privacy than

MySpace. Also more user-friendly in my humble

opinion.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/bermudafan8/69891868/
Here a Golden Retriever that looks like mine.
I think this Flickr thing is pretty cool.

Thing 19: Web 2.0 Awards Lists

This was a fun one. The Web 2.0 awards gateway offered many interesting sites to explore.
My favorite site was Yelp which was great for relocation, visiting or vacationing in different cities. I could see events, entertainment, dining, housing, etc for an area. It also offered reviews
from individual viewing the blog.

Thing 18: Technorati

Perhaps my opinion of Technorati is "no big deal" because i spent all
kinds of time i did not have on trying to find the technorati " blog directory"
since it was listed in the discovery exercise as something to compare and contrast
against w/"blog posts". I figured i was too inept to locate it so i tried on 2 different days
staying late after work. Then, i finally find out from a co-worker who had had similar
problems that the website had changed and the directory no longer existed. No wonder
i couldn't find it! The coworker said she had mentioned this to the Virtual librarian but it was not removed from the exercise in Thing 18. Please take this off of the discovery exercises so that more people do not become frustrated trying to find it and waste their time as well.

Thing 17: Delicious

I can see that this is a useful bookmarking tool because by using it i only
need to create one set of bookmarks. The bookmarks follow me wherever i go
as long as i log onto delicious. No more changing desks or computers to find totally different
bookmarks on each computer. I started my own delicious acct w/the help of Matthew in October.

Thing 16: MySpace tour etc.

MySpace is well presented on the tour in terms of reasons to join it however when it
came to logistics of how to do it and tips from the help screen I was lost. I found it confusing
and overly busy and distracting w/ pop-ups. Even if i had wanted to make a myspace page i was not up to untangling the rubics cube to do it. Perhaps if i were an isolated teen in the boondocks looking to connect w/someone i would be more persistent. Essentially my opinion has not changed regarding MySpace. It's nice that it exists; I can see that the novelty of meeting people online from all over the world would be intriguing BUT after all the media attention and negative feedback i've heard i would still not want my child to publish a page.
Of course they probably would regardless of how i felt about it but I would certainly educate them re the dangers and discourage it. There is just too many unknowns and weirdo's out there and children are just too trusting for me to feel comfortable regarding MySpace.

Thing 15: social networking for libraries?

Since technology is moving so fast in the development of modes to communicate
then why not keep the library out of the fray of controversy? When in doubt about the value
and possible negative repercussions of posting on Myspace or Facebook etc., why not stay out?
A library could create a wiki or a blog on something else where we may have more control and monitor or edit.

Thing 14: Wiki's for libraries

Yes it was pretty easy to post in the library wiki.
This seems like useful tool for library teams.
Bringing diverse ideas together in one space.

Thing 13: Library Wikis

Libraries could use a wiki for promoting book clubs, story times, virtually any event or
activity happening at the library. We could also use it for ongoing recommendations for books,
dvd's etc. For reference or research we could create a FAQ wiki or subject area wiki.
Also members of library teams could put together various pieces of a document and then post
it as a whole wiki and then update/revise too.

Thing 12: VBPL and IM

I can see that IM is a convenient way for youth to ask questions of the library.
Most of the questions have been very simple and related to: hours, computer lab services,
placing holds, notary hours, etc. There have been some prank comments made such as i saw
Dorothy get today. Her IM wrote in "I have to pee". Dorothy simply did not respond so as not
to facilitate more foolishness. Fortunately, most questions are of the type that are usually answered quickly by phone. IM'ing is another mode to answer simple distinct answer questions.
I think it has limited use currently but since it may draw in non-traditional library users i guess it could be helpful for outreach w/youth.

Thing 11: IM in Libraries

IM differs from other forms of communication in that it offers immediacy of communication among several people in different geographic locations. IM may draw a disproportionate number of younger customers just due to the fact that they "grew up
w/computers" and multi-tasking and are therefore more likely to use IM than personal visits,
telephone calls, or email to a library. Students who can't drive or have no transportation now
have a way to ask questions and receive guidance from library personnel w/o leaving their homes. This may help w/their homework and research pursuits or even save them from getting fines on overdue items.
There is a time and place for IM w/in libraries as long as there are clearly defined hours and limits as to what we can and cannot answer instantaneously.

Thing 10: Useful newsfeeds/blogs

I explored Feedster and Topix for RSS feeds.
Feedster i found confusing and too busy to follow.
Topix was spaced and organized in a more readable manner.
I liked the major headings at the top of the page on Topix. If i clicked on a
heading it would lead me to pertinent feeds related to that top heading.
While looking in the sports feeds i saw in bright orange at the top of the page
"BREAKING NEWS: Magnitude 7.3 Earthquake Rocks Eastern Caribbean".
When i clicked on that for more info there were lots of blogs from people there or trying
to find out what happened. Then there was a graph w/seismic activity plotted on various areas
in Eastern Caribbean.
Very interesting.

Thing 9 RSS advantages

I tend to follow news websites thru-out the day.
Now w/RSS i can see many news headlines at once w/o inputting a bunch of websites.
Saves time and keystrokes.
I can keep abreast of hobbies like fishing or switch to my fun folder if i need to
smile or lighten up or go to news all within a few keystrokes.

DISADVANTAGES of RSS: Too busy. Makes a busy screen even more busy.

Thing 5: Thoughts about Web/library 2.0

Frankly, much of the reading went right out the other ear.
Much of the reading was too technical or indepth for me to articulate upon.
I agree that as librarians it is necessary to know about new technologies in order to assist
Customers. I wish that the articles could relate to the layperson(me) w/o using so much jargon.
It makes it hard to understand the theory or purpose of their writing.
I think that the writings as a whole gave a strong impression that this is THE wave of the future: either jump on the boat or be left alone sinking— disconnected and unable to communicate w/the rest of the world. I do not agree with that.
Computer technology is here to stay yes but it’s manifestations and modes of communicating may change so that stuff we think will be “forever” today may be no more than a passing fad till the next piece of technology comes around which may or may not include a computer.
Also, all these blog spin-doctors are forgetting that there are sizeable segments of the population that have no knowledge or perhaps interest in the internet nor do they have the funds or the desire to learn new technology(thinking about senior citizens and even many baby-boomers here). Baby-boomers still make up the majority of the US population and even I cannot stare at a computer all day long. Short snip-its are fine but anything long becomes taxing on the eyes.
I print it out and take it home. How about elders who cannot see all the tiny writing in blogs even if they wanted to?? How about folks who have arthritis or carpal tunnel?
I think people are going to want to be more mobile and not tied to computers to communicate or learn about the world.

Assignment from Thing 2:

Thoughts about lifelong learning habits:
Easiest=open attitude and ability to play.
Hardest=setting goals at work because as reference staff I never have blocks of time away from the public desks to do these assignments. I have to work w/bits and pieces of time full of interruptions.