Discovery Exercise #14 - Library 2.0

My understand of Library 2.0 is the integration of Web 2.0 tools into the library environment. In the Wikipedia entry on this subject, Michael Casey (who coined the term Library 2.0) said that Library 2.0 will allow patrons to be active participants in a two-way exchange of information.

My initial reaction to this idea is, "Do patrons truly WANT to be particpants in a two-way dialogue with the library?"

I continued on to read Meredith Farkas's blog entry (http://meredith.wolfwater.com/wordpress/2008/01/24/the-essence-of-library-20/) and found much that I agreed with here.

First of all, Farkas said one of the most important directives for Library 2.0 is assessment of patron needs. Before assuming our patrons want a certain type of service, we should ask them what they really want.

And, in some of her own research, Farkas discovered what many of us in public libraries already know: patrons just want to be left alone! They want to have access to computers so that they can join social networks, but not necessarily network with their local public library. They want to be able to easily access reference materials, without having to ask too many questions of staff.

The truth is, people want to interact with other people less and less. I don't really have a problem with that, but if this is the future of libraries, we do need to have the tools available for patrons to access information easily, and from any location.

One aspect of Library 2.0 that I do think could be helpful is a "tagged" catalog. I remember reading an article in the New Yorker when the New York Public Library was retiring their "card catalog" for an electronic catalog. The article lamented the fact that all of the years of notes handwritten by librarians on the cards would be lost. Ta da! Tags will allow patrons to find information more easily, in plain language.

I think our county system could invest more in making our website, catalog, and database access more user-friendly, and would serve a larger number of our patrons than Web 2.0 training for staff.

Sorry, I guess I'm just an old-fashioned rodent.

Discovery Exercise #13: Technorati

This tool appears to be one of the least useful in my work and personal life. Looking at the most popular searches and tags on Technorati, this tool seems to be geared toward popular culture and technology. I don't really see myself using this tool at this time.

Discovery Exercise #12: Delicious

I checked out CCLS's delicious account. I did a search for storytime themes. Many of the websites and blogs are ones I already use. However, I did find some I haven't seen before and would like to use. Since I was doing this exercise at our house in the mountains, I didn't want to bookmark the sites, because my storytime bookmarks folder is on my computer at home. So guess what I did? I wrote the websites down on a piece of paper, so I can put them on my bookmarks at home!!! How old-school! My own delicious account would have made this task much easier. I am considering my own delicious account, but I am a bookmark junkie and am afraid to make it easier for myself. I'll think about it.

Discovery Exercise #11

Library Thing is a very cool networking site. I entered five books into my library, including an out-of-print poetry book written by my mother. Just seven other Library Thing subscribers had the book included in their libraries. When I visited one of the libraries, she (?) had included many books by authors I love, but which seemingly have no connection, such as Tasha Tudor and Eudory Welty. Do you think people have a "library print," like a fingerprint, that uniquely identifies them? Or is there someone out there with a library identical to mine? My "reading double?" Cool, and maybe a little creepy. This website would be great to show to our patrons who are looking for book suggestions.

Discovery #10

I made this with PiZap, but as you can see, some of the areas I did not intend to appear in my post were included in the transfer. Here's the link: http://www.pizap.com . It's a very easy generator to use.

Discovery Exercise #9

I found it difficult to use the blog search tools; as with Google, I received too many "hits" for the searches I put in. I found it much easier to go to websites that I already visit frequently and look for RSS icons. I am also certain that once I spend time reading through my blogs, I will discover new blogs by association. I currently subscribe to several newsgroups, and I am trying to figure out how to receive them through the bloglines RSS, rather than through my email, so everything will be in one place.

Discover Exercise #8

Discovery Exercise #8: I have set up my bloglines account, and have added several feeds, but now what? It was easy to set up the account, but there are so many feeds, I don't know where to begin. I plan to check with others at work to see what they are reading, and also to find out when, exactly, they check their blogs. Is once a day enough to keep up with feeds from 10-plus sources? I have subscribed both to feeds I am interested in personally, and feeds that will provide me with professional information. I think it would be interesting to set up a bloglines account for our library, that patrons could access with feeds from our "favorite" blogs.

I am not happy!!! When I went to set up my bloglines account on Saturday morning at 6 a.m. when all was quiet at my house, the site was closed for updating. Now it's Wednesday morning before work, my son is standing at my right elbow wanting to talk about his Christmas list, I'm trying to get laundry done in addition to my Web 2.0 exploration, the holidays are looming ... and you want me to blog? And keep up with 10-plus feeds on my bloglines account? Ha! That's a good one! My initial reservation about the 23 Things has been borne out: being an active member of the online community is a very time consuming endeavor.

Technology with all the trimmings

I've really been slacking with the 23 Things ... until right now! I just happened upon the website of a crafter who makes the most amazingly cute clothes and jewelry covered with ... oh, I've got goosebumps ... rick-rack! You know, that wavy trim that graced nearly every church bazaar dish towel or apron? (By the way, are there still church bazaars? And if so, do they blog?) As I explored the crafter's website, madewithlovebyhannah.com, I discovered her blog, and so many links to so many other cool sites and blogs. Who would have thought that rick rack would be my entree to technology? I immediately went to the 23 Things blog so I can learn how to set up my RSS feed and delicious. Yes, yes, I'll put the New York Times on my feed ... but the rick-rack lady has first dibs!

Discover Exercise #6 - My New Trading Card

Business Card
Originally uploaded by Mrs. Scoobers

My current mantra

Remain positive
Originally uploaded by MagicAttic88

OK, related to my semester in England, I recently learned about the mystic Julian of Norwich who wrote, "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well." A good way to send positive energy forth, I think ...

Discover Exercise #5

OK, I don't know whether this will "count" toward my 23 things, but Flikr led me on a search today which may end up in my connecting with a family I haven't heard from in 20 years.

I checked out the map feature on Flikr, which imposes photos on a world map. I started looking at photos from the area in England where I attended college during my junior year. I also spent a week on a farm near Norwich, with a very kind young family who lived in a beautiful, old house called Coston Hall. By using Flikr's map, I located the town of Coston. No photos there, but a google search using the family's name and the town of Coston turned up a small number of sources, including this farm trade magazine article:

http://www.afmp.co.uk/appl/GB/GB145FAR/gb145cfg.nsf/b8e0504b45746174c1256d1700341133/1e93c761b49fc364c12571e2004e43b6/$FILE/Spring06.pdf

And there was a picture of the farmer I lived with! How exciting; I am going to drop a letter to the family right away, and try to reconnect with them. So, that's my Flikr story, and I'm stickin' to it.

The easiest of the 7 1/2 Lifelong Learning Habits for me is, of course, play! That is because I learn best when I can be playful, creative and unihibited. If I am having a good time, I am probably learning a lot. I am hoping that the 23 Things will give me opportunities to express myself in new and exciting ways.

The hardest part for me I know will be accepting responsibility for my own learning, primarily because of time constraints and other demands on my energy. I tend to put things off until the last minute, and am not accustomed to disciplining myself.

Discover Exercise #1 - 4

Alright, here goes ... nothing? or Something Big? Time will tell if the 23 Things are 23 Time Wasters or 23 Things I Can't Imagine Living Without Now That I Have Them (like the microwave oven, DVD player, and Starbucks). This is my first test post.