Twitter is a strong example of a Web 2.0 technology that needs participants in order to succeed. I originally got my Twitter account as a part of a class assignment, and I thought it was the biggest waste of time. I had no "followers", therefore, what was the point of tweeting? It's like the old philosophical saying: "If a tree falls in the forest, and there's no one around..." But as time has gone by, and I've added followers and followed people, I've grown to like Twitter. It's not my favorite Web 2.0 technology, but it's something different. Most people use twitter as a form of social communication (only in 140 characters or less!) with their friends, but many of my library cohorts treat it as professional microblogging, which I think is how most libraries use it.
One example of a library using Twitter is Cleveland Public Library, who uses Twitter to inform followers on programs, user services, materials, and other library information news. Someone must be reading all the updates, as they have 250 followers.
Another using library is Homewood (AL) Public Library, which informs users on when a new book review is added to their book review blog.
For a teen services viewpoint, the East branch of Dayton Metro Library updates following teens on program pictures, (very) short book reviews, and program announcements.
As for me, I use my personal Twitter account for both professional microblogging as well as social interaction. I'll joke with a friend/follower AND post a link to a library related article I think is cool. But I guess that's how Web 2.0 technologies work, you find a purpose for using that makes sense to YOU. If anyone wants to follow me, you can find me here.
~T
Sunday, October 19, 2008
Saturday, October 18, 2008
Thing #11: LibraryThing
I'm not what one would call an organized person. I am more idea-oriented that detail-oriented, and while my computer files are quasi-organized, I shudder at how disorganized my desk is. Behold, the unorganized (almost) librarian! But when I log onto LibraryThing, I love seeing my "library" organized by Dewey number. My refrigerator may look a mess, but I need my 641s and 818s to be separate!
Anyway, prior to this exercise, I had seen LibraryThing before, but chosen Goodreads instead. Why? Goodreads is completely free. I can add books to my heart's content and not have to worry about going over my "limit". I like LibraryThing's organization features, but that seems to be more for a librarian's needs, to have their own personal library in Dewey or LC. What I like about Goodreads is while their organization scheme is below LibraryThing (just tags), more people use it, which allows for more book review comparison. LibraryThing also has reviews, but nowhere near the same amount as Goodreads. If I'm going to research a book I might want to read, I want reviews, and Goodreads has plenty of them. Also, because so many more people use Goodreads, this allows for a larger opportunity for social book networking. I have over 60 friends on Goodreads (yes, mostly library folk), and I love reading about their reviews and getting reading suggestions! I know of only a few people that have paid subscriptions to LibraryThing. This is one case where the volume of users wins out.
My LibraryThing catalog
My Goodreads account (yes, my profile is locked, but I add all library-community people)
~T
Anyway, prior to this exercise, I had seen LibraryThing before, but chosen Goodreads instead. Why? Goodreads is completely free. I can add books to my heart's content and not have to worry about going over my "limit". I like LibraryThing's organization features, but that seems to be more for a librarian's needs, to have their own personal library in Dewey or LC. What I like about Goodreads is while their organization scheme is below LibraryThing (just tags), more people use it, which allows for more book review comparison. LibraryThing also has reviews, but nowhere near the same amount as Goodreads. If I'm going to research a book I might want to read, I want reviews, and Goodreads has plenty of them. Also, because so many more people use Goodreads, this allows for a larger opportunity for social book networking. I have over 60 friends on Goodreads (yes, mostly library folk), and I love reading about their reviews and getting reading suggestions! I know of only a few people that have paid subscriptions to LibraryThing. This is one case where the volume of users wins out.
My LibraryThing catalog
My Goodreads account (yes, my profile is locked, but I add all library-community people)
~T
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Thing #10: Image Generators
Hee! I love image generators. They literally provide hours of fun, and if you show people what you've made, they're going to say, "That is awesome!! How can I do that??" This is exactly the element that needs to be stressed when teaching Web 2.0 technologies, that even you (yes, you!) can play and have fun! These can also be used as a sort of community building exercise for your patrons. I know CML did a series of ALA Read posters a while back, what about having a contest where patrons make up their own poster that celebrates reading?
So I created a really cute "make your own drug" poster that I found on The Generator Blog, but I can't get it to post to my blog. In case anyone wants to see it, the URL is here.
But I wanted to post something here, so here's an image generator I found from redkid.net.
What an idea, an airline with an on-board library or Amazon Kindles available to rent! Although the name makes me think of the school reading incentive with Pizza Hut.
~T
So I created a really cute "make your own drug" poster that I found on The Generator Blog, but I can't get it to post to my blog. In case anyone wants to see it, the URL is here.
But I wanted to post something here, so here's an image generator I found from redkid.net.
What an idea, an airline with an on-board library or Amazon Kindles available to rent! Although the name makes me think of the school reading incentive with Pizza Hut.~T
Thing #9: Finding Feeds
So now we have a news aggregator set up for reading Web feeds! But now, how do we find topical blogs and news pages to subscribe to? Of course, there are your basic news sites such as msnbc.com, cnn.com, etc. that have feed icons. But what about blogs? There's so many of them, how do you sort out the ones that are suitable to your needs? Fortunately, there are several blog tools that can sort out topical or location-based blogs and information.
Now, I've had problems using Technorati before, but it actually worked a lot better for me this time around, although I can see how users can have problems using it. Those tabs for a specific search can be easy to miss. Also, I tried Topix, which I hadn't used before, and I like how it automatically found me news about my community, Columbus. However, I was disappointed with my search results. Another new one for me, Syndic8, specifically searches not just blogs, but feeds, taking away a step in the aggregating process! I like that its key word, Google-esque search process made searching for specific feeds easy. All of the feeds on my search contained the key word in the title of the blog. Not completely effective, but a good method for users who are used to the primary KW search to find things.
~T
Now, I've had problems using Technorati before, but it actually worked a lot better for me this time around, although I can see how users can have problems using it. Those tabs for a specific search can be easy to miss. Also, I tried Topix, which I hadn't used before, and I like how it automatically found me news about my community, Columbus. However, I was disappointed with my search results. Another new one for me, Syndic8, specifically searches not just blogs, but feeds, taking away a step in the aggregating process! I like that its key word, Google-esque search process made searching for specific feeds easy. All of the feeds on my search contained the key word in the title of the blog. Not completely effective, but a good method for users who are used to the primary KW search to find things.
~T
Thing #8: RSS feeds
Eek, it's been almost a month since my last post. I've been ridiculously busy lately (and will continue to be for another 3 weeks), but I'm going to try to catch up a little on my learning & playing! =)
I think that RSS feeds are a largely unrecognized part of Web 2.0, yet it is easy to integrate RSS feeds as well as social bookmarking (more on that later though!) into practice for libraries and patron use. First, you can alter your feed for any topic you want. Like trashy celebrity news? Looking for a job? Enjoy science and technology news? The perfect newsreader can be made for you with minimal clicking and searching in one easy place to collect information! For library workers, RSS feeds can be altered to provide the latest in professional reading or to keep abreast of community news that impacts their user base.
Patron use of RSS feeds is tricky, though. I'm having a little trouble thinking of how to show users its worth outside of having a specific workshop or technology training session. But I have thought of a good youth services example. Often we'll get young patrons in, asking for cheat code books. Now, we don't carry cheat code books, mostly because they never come back, but also, there's so many new codes all the time, it's difficult to keep up with the hot, new codes that go with the hot, new games. So I usually show the kids how to find them online. (lightbulb moment) HEY! How about setting up an RSS feed to collect new cheat codes when they come out? So easy to just go to one place, and you don't have to fuss with those annoying pop-up ads. =)
~T
I think that RSS feeds are a largely unrecognized part of Web 2.0, yet it is easy to integrate RSS feeds as well as social bookmarking (more on that later though!) into practice for libraries and patron use. First, you can alter your feed for any topic you want. Like trashy celebrity news? Looking for a job? Enjoy science and technology news? The perfect newsreader can be made for you with minimal clicking and searching in one easy place to collect information! For library workers, RSS feeds can be altered to provide the latest in professional reading or to keep abreast of community news that impacts their user base.
Patron use of RSS feeds is tricky, though. I'm having a little trouble thinking of how to show users its worth outside of having a specific workshop or technology training session. But I have thought of a good youth services example. Often we'll get young patrons in, asking for cheat code books. Now, we don't carry cheat code books, mostly because they never come back, but also, there's so many new codes all the time, it's difficult to keep up with the hot, new codes that go with the hot, new games. So I usually show the kids how to find them online. (lightbulb moment) HEY! How about setting up an RSS feed to collect new cheat codes when they come out? So easy to just go to one place, and you don't have to fuss with those annoying pop-up ads. =)
~T
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