Thing #23: Summary

Overall, I guess I did enjoy my experience with using the "23 Things" program. Mostly I had already had some kind of experience with all of the items listed in the "23 Things" activities, so nothing was exactly "new," but I was able to learn more about them and to relate them to use in a library setting.

That being said, I enjoyed this project more when it was an optional self-paced learning activity. I started out really appreciating the opportunity to learn more about technology and Web 2.0/Library 2.0. Even though I'm done and really haven't had a problem with any of the tasks introduced in "23 Things," I would have preferred that all the information concerning it's effects on my performance been made available in the beginning.

Things #20-22: Podcasts, Video & Downloadable audio

YouTube is great, lots of funny stuff.

Podcasts are lame. Not interested.

Used Overdrive before and recommended it to patrons, as well as showed them how they can use it.

Thing 18 & 19: Online Applications & Tools

I am very thankful for the emergence of free software which offers everyone the ability to use work processing tools without the need to download/purchase Microsoft Office. I am only familiar with open source tools like the Open Office suite that the library uses; but I always tout it's uses and let patrons know that they can download the software for free and use the program just like Microsoft and even save their documents in the form of "word documents."

I explored Google's Google Docs and Spreadsheets for the second part of this "Thing." Since I already have a Google account I felt that this would probably be the most useful. I like that you can store all your paperwork in your email (kind of like our DeskNow) and don't need to use flash drives to carry your information from computer to computer. I think libraries can use this technology to help patrons save their work. Many times I have seen our customers lose their work because the computer failed to save the document to their floppy or flash drive or the saving process was completed incorrectly. Here to, one no longer needs to worry about losing said flash drive or floppy disk, the document is available as long as they have access to a computer. The only drawback I see to this kind of technology is without a backup, should the email system not be available, one would not be able to access their work.

Things 16 & 17: Wikis

I already had an idea about how "wikis" work through my use of Wikipedia. I like that wiki users can add, update, edit, etc. each other's postings. I wonder, though, if this kind of technology decreases the merit of some of information found on these sites. For example, while I use Wikipedia to find information about books in a series, I would never recommend this site to someone doing research; as it's ability to be updated by anyone makes it somewhat unreliable as source material.

Technology like this makes it easier for "non-techie" types to build websites without needing knowledge of html or other website building tools. Libraries could use wikis in a variety of ways; i.e. to promote library events, encourage book discussion/recommended reading, offer instructions on any kind of topic for library users, etc.

I added my blog to the favorites page on the Maryland Libraries Sandbox Page. It was thrilling.

Thoughts on Library 2.0/Web 2.0

I read some of the perspectives about Library 2.0 provided under Thing #15. I agree with what most of them said about libraries having to keep up with technological trends in order to better meet patrons' needs and wants. Therefore projects like "23 Things" help library staff to become familiar with technology they wouldn't normally use and are better equipped to assist patrons.

Week 6: Del.icio.us & Technorati

I tried to learn about del.icio.us this week, but when I signed up they wanted me to install buttons that are already on our toolbar, so I quit at that point. However, I've used del.icio.us in the past, albeit a very long time ago, so I kind of have an idea of what it's about. It's used for organizing one's bookmarks and favorites. For example, if you bookmarked a lot of articles or something like that, you can assign keywords to the article to make it easier to find next time (at least, this is my understanding of it, and I could be partly, if not completely, wrong about this). I could probably use this to organize the crafts ideas that I find online and arrange them according to a bunch of different subject headings. In a way, sites like this are turning us all into librarians of some sort or another.

I claimed my blog in Technorati. That's all I have to say about that.