Method 12 - I Graduated! Woohoo!!

Thank you, TSLAC, for giving us an opportunity to learn new Web 2.0 technologies to better assist and reach our patrons. I learned a whole sleuth of web services that I wasn't quite familar with that I am confident now in navigating through and showing patrons how to use. My favorites were Flickr, YouTube, Delicious, and Facebook. My least favs were IM, Wiki, and Podcasting, although I liked storytelling through Podcast. All in all, I feel that whether libraries use these different technologies or not, they should at least be familiar with them in order to keep up with what their patrons are using and to provide information. Libraries are the information stations of the world and, therefore, should be well informed. I really enjoyed learning about these services through the "In Plain English" tutorials because they were fast, fun, and easy. If you decide to do anymore of these Dozen Steps programs, I think you should definitly implement those tutorials. I learned the most from them. Also, I would be interested in participating in other future programs like this one. Thank you again for the learning experience! Toodles!

Method 11 - Podding Around

At first I didn't like Podcasting. It reminded me of Talk Radio which gets boring real fast (especially if you're not in your car and just staring at your computer) because most people are visual. I didn't like any of the libraries' podcasts about How-To's, or "listening" tours of the library. If I want to take a virtual tour of a library, I want to see what's being described to me. I didn't really see how our library could successfully use podcasts until I came across the Denver Library's podcasts. They are podcasts of children's stories being read aloud. The one I listened to was just over 4 mins so not too long. I can see mother's with children at home going to the library's website and allowing their young children to listen to stories. This is great for days when the library isn't doing a storytime and Mom needs a few minutes of rest. It's like an audio CD with the click of a mouse and there's nothing to download. Patrons can even subscribe to the podcasts to be notified when new ones are posted. This is the only aspect of Podcasting for libraries I liked.

Method 10 - Wiki Who?

This is my least favorite technology. I don't really see a point for using Wikis. I guess it makes people feel important contributing information and superior editing others info? I don't see a use for our library using Wikis and I don't like that others can edit and change info. I must be a snob. And I'm ok with that. I really don't have much to say to Wikis except, I'm just not that into you.

Method 9 - Chatterbox

I have been using Instant Message since Jr. High but the technology has changed since then. Back then, I used AOL IM and could only sign in to it on my family's computer where it was set up. When I moved out to go to college, I didn't IM anymore but instead sent texts through my cell phone. Later, I got a Myspace and a Facebook and was able to chat with people in real time. Through this exercise, I tried to IM through my Yahoo account which I've, up until now, have never utilized. And with good reason...no one is ever available to chat! One person in my contacts showed up as available eventually. It was my sister and when I IMed her she completely ignored me! Not very sisterly in my opinion. So then I tried to chat with TSLACDL using Meebo and they are still unavailable! Most people I know just text or use a social networking site to chat so I doubt I'll be using Chat or IM. And my Momma taught me not to talk to strangers so I don't go to Chatrooms. As for libraries, I think using Meebo for answering reference questions is a good idea as long as a staff member can be available to answer questions readily. Because take it from me, it's very frustrating waiting around for someone to become available to talk.

Method 8 - Socializing Libraries

I'm very aware of the social networking sites as I have a Myspace, Facebook, and Twitter account. These are all personal accounts that are private and only people I know and add as my friend are able to view. I think if a Library wants to utilize these sites, it should be a professional account seperate from their personal account. Our library recently created a Facebook page and we currently have 58 fans. Staff added the library's fan page to their page and then suggested it to their friends. Who then may have suggested it to their friends and so on. We had a few patrons ask questions via Facebook about our events that we posted. At one particualer event, a staff member overheard a participant say he found out about the event from our Facebook page! But promoting our events is not the only way we can use these sites. We can promote materials of interest, add a popular topic for discussion, or add links to fun websites or videos to get people thinking about our library. Also, Myspace and Facebook can be set up to where your updates are automatically updated to your Twitter account so you could essentially update two social sites at once. That saves time which is valuable to librarians. I think libraries should keep up with the times and utilize what their patrons are already using and in turn reach a new audience and potential patrons. It's fun to be social! =)

Method 7 - Delicious and Nutritious

I have heard of Delicious bookmarking but never tried it out before until now. I am now a Delicious addict. I love it! It's super easy and I only have to go to one website where all my bookmarks are kept and I can use any computer to get to them. Amazing. I seriously had websites written on scaps of paper all over the place but not anymore! They are all organized with tags and now other people can find and use them. I think libraries can use Delicious in many ways. If anyone has worked in a library, they have come across the dreaded MSDS sheets for Workplace Chemicals. UGH! I am in charge of finding these MSDS sheets online and printing them out for our records once a year for any new products we get that contain chemicals. It is tedious looking for the good, dependable websites that have lists of chemical products, but with Delicious, I can bookmark all the ones I use. That way I only have to go to one place to get to them. That is just one example of many librarians can use Delicious in the workplace. After adding a bunch of websites to my Delicious page at work, I went home and thought of some more to add and did so right on my laptop. It is very convenient. I just wish I would have been using it sooner!

Method 6 - Lights, Camera, YouTube!

I've always been a fan of Youtube. I don't even have to have an account to search and watch videos on the site. I've watched other people's hilarious home videos and whole TV shows. My husband's cousin frequently posts videos of her cute daughter, and even though we haven't met her daughter, we feel like we know her. I think libraries could use YouTube to showcase their many services to the public. We can upload a video of our Storytime we do once a week. We can broadcast a tour of the library and what we have to offer. We can do How-To skits from how to get a library card to how to request an Interlibrary Loan and the process involved. The possibilities are endless. This world is an instant gratification world that loves to get information with a click of the mouse and libraries should take advantage of this technology. Why read about the library in a newsletter or blog when you can watch it in action? The Youtube video I posted is of my favorite commercial that cracks me up every time!

Method 5 - Flickr is Bettr

texas blue
Originally uploaded by vrot01

Flickr has made it so easy to upload pictures in a fast and friendly way. I have posted personal pictures on sites such as Myspace and Facebook before, and just like those social sites, Flickr lets you choose who can see which pictures you post. It was easy to make an account, and I already have 20 pics uploaded. I think libraries can use Flickr to showcase fabulous events and displays to the public. However, there is all the legal smegal stuff where you have to have written consent if you want to use pictures with patrons in them unless it is considered "news". I don't see then how it is legal for papparrazi to take pics of Paris Hilton picking a wedgie in order to sell a magazine. Is it considered "news"? If so then I'm sticking with CNN! I think if there is a library event going on, we should announce to the participants that we will be taking pics and possibly uploading them to Flickr, and if they don't want to be in them to let us know or step out of the picture. That would take all but 5 seconds. My only concern is for those who might save all their pictures to Flickr without having them saved somewhere else to like their computer or disc. Because even though the demonstration video for Flickr commented on how there could be errors on your hard drive and you could lose all your pics, they didn't mention that Flickr may one day get errors too. Websites have been known to crash. So I wouldn't feel comfortable saving all my pics solely on a website. I chose this picture of the bluebonnet because it is Texas' state flower and also, it reminds me of Brenham, TX which is a place I love to go. All in all, I enjoyed using Flickr and will continue to do so. Libraries could benefit with this innovative tool.

Method 4 - RSS Feeding Frenzy

Before this method, I had heard of RSS feeds but had no idea what the heck they were. However, I found that RSS feeds are simple to use and in fact, I was already using them without even knowing it! In the last method, I played around with Google Docs and stumbled upon Google Reader. I was already following two of my co workers' blogs and saw that I could read their new posts from Google Reader. So today I was able to subscribe to websites to get their RSS feeds directly to my Google Reader. At first when I tried to subscribe from the websites, nothing happened. I found it easier to do a search of the websites from Google Reader and subscribe to them that way. I decided to subscribe to The Boot for all my country music news, Showtime for my Dexter updates, and Beaumont Enterprise for my local news updates. I love how all the information I look for is one place so I don't have to go directly to their website. The information comes to me! I think libraries could implement RSS feeds to automatically give its followers news about events, new books/movies, and features instantly. The only problem I forsee is are there enough patrons who use RSS feeds for it to be worth using? I didn't know anything about them until today, and I feel many of our patrons are unaware of this option too. It would be nice to use though if we had enough followers.

Method 3 - Forecast: Cloudy

This method covered "cloud computing" which means using web-based applications(and saving data)on any computer as long as you have an internet connection. Some of these applications include Gmail, Flickr, Facebook, Google Docs, and Zoho. Gmail and also Hotmail are email stations you can use and access on any computer by signing in with a user name and password. You can upload your pictures on Flickr for easy sharing for friends and family. Facebook and Myspace are social networks you can update about your life and get in touch with people you don't see on a regular basis. And Google Docs and Zoho are a type of Word application in which you can save documents, papers, letters, etc. to without having to save the info on flashdrives, diskettes, or directly to your computer's hard drive. They also have resume templates in which users can just fill in their info and print it out for their future employer. In essence, the beauty of these applications is the fact that you can save your information in the "cloud" and access it on any computer with internet. And they are all free!

I played with Google Docs and found that it was fairly simple to use. I liked the different templates it offered, and I saved a To-Do list and a Family Budget template for future use. I also liked that when I went to Google Reader, I automatically could view the blogs I am currently following. I think the patrons of libraries can benefit from using Google Docs or Zoho because not all of our public computers have both internet and Microsoft Word. This way they can get on any public computer, go to Google Docs, type the info and save/print. We also have patrons who ask us for help in making their resumes or want to know where they can find resume templates online. We can now point them to Google Docs and they can pick a template they like and just fill in their info. It is free and easy. I just wish I knew about this when going to school instead of worrying if I had the disc/flashdrive my homework was saved on with me. It would have made my life a lot simpler.

The only negative aspect of the cloud is how safe is your info? To hackers? To bankrupt companies? Who is to say Flickr won't be gone tomorrow and then where do all of your pictures you uploaded go? I think the safest bet is to use these apps cautiously. Always have a backup or original saved in case these apps become unreliable. You don't want to be working on a 15 page paper for six weeks that you only saved to Zoho and the next day try to access it and come to find out Zoho doesn't exist anymore. Not a good day. =( So like many people, I use the cloud half way because I don't feel comfortable trusting all of my important stuff to the World Wide Web. Not everyday is a cloudy day.

Methods 1 & 2

After going through Methods 1 & 2 I discovered that I was familar with some of the web services in Web 2.0. I feel that libraries can use many of these different web technologies to reach patrons and potential patrons in order to get their information and services out to the public. There are concerns of populations in the community that may be underserved and this may be an answer to these concerns. I can see these internet outlets as being great marketing tools to the public. There are some technologies that I have yet to be familar with and I am excited to learn all about them and what they can do for libraries.

This is my first blog and I was initially skeptical, but I had fun creating it and it was easy to do. The hardest part for me (and my coworkers are witnesses) was coming up with a blog address name. I like getting my thoughts and opinions out there anonomously in a sort of internet journal. I can see libraries using blogs in a professionally way to suggest books from the staff who have read them. Or featuring services/events put on by the library and giving a recap after the completion of the service/event to raise awareness to the public. My concern for creating blogs for libraries is who on staff would be able to access the blog and who would edit the content? And would we allow comments and if so, how would we filter those? I'm excited to explore this option.

High Five by Janet Evanovich

From one red head to another, I really enjoy Janet Evanovich's Stephanie Plum series. I like Evanovich's writing because her books are fast reads and full of sarcastic humor. The plots also keep you on the edge of your seat. I'm reading the fifth installment titled "High Five." In her books, Stephanie Plum is a new bond enforcement agent, or simply, a bounty hunter in New Jersey who is sort of learning on the job. Hilarious and often crazy things occur while she tries to get her man in order to pay her rent. She often joins forces with the sexy cop, Joe Morelli, and the mysterious bounty hunter, Ranger. Even when her worrisome mom gripes at her to get a decent job and her Grandma Mazur tries to "help" with her happy trigger finger, Stephanie always manages to catch the law breakers one way or the other. Usually its the other. In "High Five" Stephanie's Uncle Fred is missing and has left behind some unexplained photos of body parts in garbage bags. Benito Ramirez, a psychotic rapist who was in jail thanks to Stephanie, is now out and looking for the unlucky bounty hunter. Will she find Uncle Fred before Ramirez finds her? I can't wait to find out!