Thing 10: Tagging and Delicious

Delicious...been there done that. I like using delicious as mentioned in Thing 9. Although these tools are not extensively used in the library setting, I see the possibilities. For example; our libraries "cool links" can be bookmarked and available through our library webpage. I think that delicious is a great way to store links because tagging makes cataloging and rating these bookmarks possible.

Thing 9: Sharing - slides, photos, databases

I began sharing bookmarks with a Delicious account over a year ago. I found the ability to store bookmarks online quite useful, especially when trying to access a difficult to remember sites from remote locations. One aspect I enjoy is the ability to share bookmarks and browse through other bookmark collections. I find that shared bookmarks are entertaining and educational. I also link from others who also saved the same links to explore their interests. It is important to remember that you can choose to share or keep private any of your saved favorites.

Flikr was the next tool I used to share images which I found helpful when sharing work related images. I recently decided that Flikr is not as user friendly, deciding instead to save and share my images through Facebook. Recent proprietary concerns regarding Facebook have come up which leads me to re-evaluate photo sharing.

Youtube was introduced to me by a friend who played around with video production and I have since found that it is a superb resource for any how-to situation. Being a visually oriented learner, I find that Youtube tutorials are a great help to my understanding of how things work. For example, I recently looked up how to dance cajun style and how to build a chicken tractor, both activities which require the added dimension of visual demonstration.

I tried Twitter last month but dropped it after experiencing the multidimensional aspects of Facebook. Through facebook one can chat, email, post on a board, share images and link with other circle of friends. Facebook is both easy to use and expands one's network of friends.

Thing 8: Communication - Web 2.0 Style

Online communication is one of my favorite web tools.
IM, instant messaging can be distracting when the message box pops up when you are in the middle of something. Nevertheless I can see the advantage of this tool for the reference staff for receiving queries. Ask a librarian is very much like instant messaging because in occurs in real time though the Ask a Librarian toolbox is enhanced with all the bells and whistles that enhance our refernce services such as links to the patrons home library and databases and the ability to 'push' a screen to the patron. I also see the value of IM for discreet communications with staff. For example, you may find yourself with a problem patron and need to communicate to staff to call 911 and locate the PIC immediately. An IM would be broadcast to all the staff computers communicating the need and the level of response.

Text messaging
I find text messaging is a useful tool, especially when it is enabled to communicate between a PC and a cell phone. I imagine that we could text patrons' cell phones who are interested in a program for which they are registered.

Web Conferencing
We conferencing is the ideal tool for group projects to be carried out when participants are in remote locations. I imagine that our library district will be able to save thousands in fuel cost once we enable this function. Of course each branch will need a camera and mike mounted to a PC and I know that the interaction between participants will lack the synergy of having everyone in the same room, nevertheless, this tool can aleviate the hundreds of repeated trips made by those dedicated to serve on comittees.

Twitter
I have tried twitter and found it too unidimensional. I prefer using facebook to chat because it provides a more interesting communication between a group of people using multiple formats such as instant messaging, posting on a board, private emailing, image sharing and the ability to network through our diverse groups of friends.

Thingy 7- online generators

Oh me, oh my, sounds scarry. I made a badge using a photo I took, uploading the photo to bighugelabs.com. I saved the image to my desktop and here it is. This kind of tool could be fun to use during the summer program, highlighting patrons' participation.

Thing 6- mash-ups

I like the word mash. It sounds mushy, warm and gooey. I am not certain that anything flicker would qualify as mushy. Flicker just is not very user friendly as far as I am concerned.

For the mash-up exersize I decided I wanted to create a puzzle from an image.
I uploaded an image that I took of Snake Key off of Ceday Key and mashed it into a puzzle. I will now attempt to post it on this page:

Okay, my first attempt using the URL failed. Ooops, gotta deal with confliger virus, gotta go....
Okay, thank you William for the

This time I will attempt to save the mash up to the desk top.
Okay, the upload from the desktop worked but the puzzle doesn't work the way I had hoped it would.

Thats all I want to mash today.
TTFN

Thing 5b- Flicker continued

Sometimes I can only do these things in small increments. This image was taken this weekend at the medieval fair. My son is dressed as a warrior in armor similar to that worn in 900 AD, so said the SCA folks who were tending the booth where this armor was kept. Pretty cool.

I have uploaded the image several times from the flickr URL and it has not worked, will keep on trying. I had the most difficult time loading this image from Flickr. The directions did not help me and if it wasn't for the help of a colleague, I would have resorted to posting from my desktop. Instead, I used the source code to find the line with the "farm4.static" language, copied the line and added it to the URL line for upload.

We already use Flickr at the library and I do use it for my personal photos.

Thing 5- Flicker

I finally made it to Flicker. I recently opened a Flicker account to post pictures of the library's participation in the homecoming parade.

Thing 4- RSS world

I began subscribing to RSS readers a couple of years ago through my Yahoo mail. I have environmental, science, library NPR and post secret updates that feed on my email homepage regularly though I rarely read them. I created an RSS reader for staff at the last branch I worked at and populated it with library related blogs. I found that these would help fill in the the slow times and help keep staff interested in what was going on at other libraries rather than browsing electronic news and outlet sites. What I observed was that staff were generally uninterested in these feeds unless I pointed out a particular one for them to read.