Week 7 Thing 16

I've only been aware of wikis for a little over a year and found my biggest exposure to them to be through Wikipedia. In my Google searches, I find Wikipedia coming up more and more often and make sure I explain to customers to use the information found there as more or less a jumping off point for more research because of the ability of that information to be altered so freely. I do find it helpful in providing some level of information on the newest "hot topics".



As a librarian I can also see some great possiblities of using a wiki for readers' advisory. I loved the idea of the "Book Lover's Wiki"--a site like that could promote a lot of customer interaction in a branch. There are a lot of people out there who can't fit a regular book club into their schedules, but would really like to share/express their feelings and/or insights about what they've read.

I think the use of a wiki taylored to an individual library's specific information or to it's calendar of events has potential. BUT, being a bit of a control freak I do worry about "just anybody" being able to make changes. I think I understand the "limited wiki"--but is that an oxymoron?? Or does that make it a blog?? See...a little information can be dangerous!!!

Week 6 Thing 15

There was a lot of reading concerning Library 2.0 and I actually read all 5 perspectives. With much of my life focusing on cooking, I'll have to say that the articles provided a lot of "food for thought". The basic premise of the collection is that times are changing and libraries will have to make changes in order to be useful in the future. Speaking for BCPL I believe it is making serious efforts to be ready for that future. Express-checkout, RFID, online renewals and holds, the availability of research databases and web resources, ILL, WiFi, e-Books, etc. are great in-roads. Individual libraries are working to reconfigure collections and floorplans to meet customer demands for materials and wireless accommodations. I think BCPL's best effort is in working to provide information and training to its staff to get them ready for the future. The Maryland 23 Things has been an excellent opportunity for us to be exposed to the latest in technological developments and how they can be put to use. (However, my mind does get slightly boggled when I try to imagine the bandwidth requirements to meet the needs of all these technological advantages!)

I have to say that I did enjoy the Library 4.0 neo-library vision of "knowledge spa": "a WiFREE space, a retreat from technohustle, with comfortable chairs, quiet, good light , coffee and a single malt." Personally, they can do without the coffee (the smell makes me throw up) and the single malt (I think the patrons would throw up)!

My final comment on Thing 15 is that I LOVED the YouTube video "The Machine is Us/ing Us". I found it entertaining and informative (even if it did force me to read really, really fast). It made me look forward to the day when/if I get enough skills to be "teaching the machine".

Week 6 Thing 14

Technorati is real proof that blogging is becoming a VERY popular activity and Technorati seems to make the blog-search quicker and more efficient. After reviewing some of the top searches, top blogs and tags I'm forced to reconcile myself to the fact that I'll never make it to "omnivore". There's just too much information and technology out there and it's changing too fast (and I have to be honest enough to say that I just don't care about alot of it! I will make sure I'm aware of it, but I can't see myself spending hours immersed in it). At this point in time, I can see the value of blogging for some of my work-related information (like the CCD blog), but I prefer my social interfacing to be more "real" face to face. (Guess my age is showing!!)

To find my own blog I had to do an advanced search to get it to appear--but then there it was in all its glory! I didn't mind it not coming up in the basic search because I don't have a need for people (strangers) to read my work! I like my privacy.

Week 6 Thing 13

I went to "this one" to view the tutorial. I found it interesting to be on the "other side" of the streaming video ban because I was working off a public computer in the training room and some of the sites I wanted to visit were blocked. As soon as one of our staff computers was free I logged off the public computer and "jumped ship" so I could better explore this concept.

I can see some uses for Del.icio.us in my personal life--especially for favorite recipes that people are always asking me for since I don't carry them around with me. I also have certain other favorites that it would be nice to be able to quickly access whether at home, work or on the road. Our work computers are pretty well bookmarked for any job-related needs that I have right now. As I become more knowledgeable I may find more of a need for using it in my work.

Bandwidth

OH MY GOD!!! What a time difference. Playing with adjustments to "de-stress" the bandwidth has had amazing time-saving effects. I was able to complete 3 THINGS in the time it took me to do one the other day. YAHOO!

Week 5 Thing 12

I registered with Rollyo and created a search engine for food and recipes. See if you can use it to find an epicurean delight.

Select...food finderSearch The Web

Week 5 Thing 11

I registered on LibraryThing and created a small catalog of my favorite books. I can't wait to come back and work on this catalog in depth.