Altho Microsoft is the "standard" it is good to learn about applications that are free and non-Microsoft. Librarians can use this collaborative software to work together on bibliographies or other library documents. Libraries also benefit just by having more knowledgable librarians. Library patrons benefit because instead of paying money for yourmeetingsonline.com, the document sharing software being advertised on television, we can let them know that there are other collaborative applications out there that are free.
I tried to use the "organizer" feature on Zoho--I'm still not organized! It was pretty hard to figure out. I prefer Google Docs--it worked similarly to the Microsoft products I am used to.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Week 7 - Wikis
Two additional ways libraries could use Wikis? Hmmm....
What about a Wiki we could use "internally" to share those local documents that each branch uses but does not put out for the public. As a part-time librarian moving from branch to branch, I've notice that one branch may have some useful information that another branch does not. For example, one library might have an internal list of local orgs. that take volunteers who are under 16. Another will list nearby businesses that fax. One might know where to send people for citizenship classes.
It would be very helpful to the part-time librarians and LAs to have one place we could look up a topic and see the sites specific to the branch we are working at.
A Wiki could also be used for Bibliographies or Read-Alikes. It would be simple for anyone on the Wiki to add the latest title in a series or remove a title that's no longer popular. They would be updated constantly and available for printing, if need be.
What about a Wiki we could use "internally" to share those local documents that each branch uses but does not put out for the public. As a part-time librarian moving from branch to branch, I've notice that one branch may have some useful information that another branch does not. For example, one library might have an internal list of local orgs. that take volunteers who are under 16. Another will list nearby businesses that fax. One might know where to send people for citizenship classes.
It would be very helpful to the part-time librarians and LAs to have one place we could look up a topic and see the sites specific to the branch we are working at.
A Wiki could also be used for Bibliographies or Read-Alikes. It would be simple for anyone on the Wiki to add the latest title in a series or remove a title that's no longer popular. They would be updated constantly and available for printing, if need be.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Week 6--Delicious/Library Thing/Technorati
The way our computers currently are set up, I can't see ANY use for DELICIOUS in our library. In libraries in general, it's a nice way to have sites all pulled together in one spot that answer some FAQs from patrons. I'm sorry but I'm not much of a book marker so DELICIOUS is pretty much a "bust" for me.
On the other hand, I am THRILLED by LIBRARYTHING. I have many favorite books at home that I want to recommend to others or that I forget what they're about and why I loved them so much. It would be wonderful to have my personal library organized so I can share it with others. It was very simple to add the three books I selected. It will take more time, however, to figure out how to add personal comments, tags, reviews, etc.
Should libraries consider showcasing bibliographies and small collections using LIBRARYTHING? I think we should. It would be the electronic equivalent of a special display and should boost both awareness and circulation. Any other potential uses for LibraryThing in the library setting? How about letting patrons write reviews and we can put it out for other patrons to see?
Technorati is great to know about. I haven't got any questions, yet, about finding specific blogs or posts, but when I do, I will be ready.
On the other hand, I am THRILLED by LIBRARYTHING. I have many favorite books at home that I want to recommend to others or that I forget what they're about and why I loved them so much. It would be wonderful to have my personal library organized so I can share it with others. It was very simple to add the three books I selected. It will take more time, however, to figure out how to add personal comments, tags, reviews, etc.
Should libraries consider showcasing bibliographies and small collections using LIBRARYTHING? I think we should. It would be the electronic equivalent of a special display and should boost both awareness and circulation. Any other potential uses for LibraryThing in the library setting? How about letting patrons write reviews and we can put it out for other patrons to see?
Technorati is great to know about. I haven't got any questions, yet, about finding specific blogs or posts, but when I do, I will be ready.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Week 5--Social Networking/Facebook (update)
I was feeling kind of popular there for a minute when all these people from work wanted to be my "friends". Then I realized I missed the "add friends" assignment we had last week as part of Social Networking!
I hope Jane L. Brarian will accept me as a friend--she sounds pretty cool (in a purely professional kind of way).
I hope Jane L. Brarian will accept me as a friend--she sounds pretty cool (in a purely professional kind of way).
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Week 5--Social Networking, Facebook, Twitter
Why should we care? One reason is because of the "connections" to jobs and other useful information social networks can provide that I wasn't aware of.
I enjoyed this quote--"Do we really need to know when someone we’ve never even met chooses Burger King over McDonald’s or decides he’s going to read a newspaper? Are we really that interested in the excruciating minutiae of everyone’s day?" It is referring to Twitter but that is how I feel about a lot of the social networks.
I have appreciated hearing from old friends through Facebook but there seems to be a lot of "inside" stuff about other people's life that, frankly, I don't care to wade through. I have real "live" people to socialize with--more than I can handle in a busy life with two p/t jobs, three teenagers, volunteering, etc.
I'm thinking Facebook and subject specific blogs are the way to go for libraries. In the Facebook vs. My Space comparison, I preferred the Facebook version. That may just be because I am more familiar with it.
I picked some libraries and authors to "follow" on Twitter. Now I have to figure out how to put them as an RSS feed on igoogle. Otherwise, I could spend all day going from one networking site to another reading all this stuff.
Information overload. ARGHHHHH!!!!
I enjoyed this quote--"Do we really need to know when someone we’ve never even met chooses Burger King over McDonald’s or decides he’s going to read a newspaper? Are we really that interested in the excruciating minutiae of everyone’s day?" It is referring to Twitter but that is how I feel about a lot of the social networks.
I have appreciated hearing from old friends through Facebook but there seems to be a lot of "inside" stuff about other people's life that, frankly, I don't care to wade through. I have real "live" people to socialize with--more than I can handle in a busy life with two p/t jobs, three teenagers, volunteering, etc.
I'm thinking Facebook and subject specific blogs are the way to go for libraries. In the Facebook vs. My Space comparison, I preferred the Facebook version. That may just be because I am more familiar with it.
I picked some libraries and authors to "follow" on Twitter. Now I have to figure out how to put them as an RSS feed on igoogle. Otherwise, I could spend all day going from one networking site to another reading all this stuff.
Information overload. ARGHHHHH!!!!
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Week 4--Mashups
I thought of a use for Flickr in libraries right away. Libraries often take photos of programs and then toss them in the back of some old file cabinet. Years later another librarian will find them while cleaning out the cabinets and throw them out because (s)he doesn't have a clue who, when or what the photos are about.
Flickr could help us preserve the activities of a library at a certain point in history and keep a record for future librarians and library users.
What about archives? The library could store old photos and other scannable items that document the life of the community in Flickr. They could be made as public as the donor allows them to be--perhaps made accessible to researchers and historians?
Mashups are a very new idea to me. Off the top of my head I thought it would be fairly simple to create a labelled map to guide patrons to nearby businesses that provide fax services.
Flickr could help us preserve the activities of a library at a certain point in history and keep a record for future librarians and library users.
What about archives? The library could store old photos and other scannable items that document the life of the community in Flickr. They could be made as public as the donor allows them to be--perhaps made accessible to researchers and historians?
Mashups are a very new idea to me. Off the top of my head I thought it would be fairly simple to create a labelled map to guide patrons to nearby businesses that provide fax services.
Week 4--Flickr
Being forced to learn about 23 Things (or 5 so far) has been so helpful and actually quite fun. I appreciate the scheduled time off the desk to learn.
I vaguely knew what Flickr was but thought it was used mainly by fancy photographers.
Now I see that you can make your account as private or public as you want. You can use it as a safe place to store family photos in case your computer or CDs are damaged or destroyed. It's like a back-up that you can share with whoever you want to!
I was trying to think of some uses--e.g. I am the caretaker of a lot of old photos from my husband's family. We could put them on Flickr and share with other family members. We also have some old christening gowns with crocheted lace. We could photograph them and share with family, as well.
My last name, W-------, is extremely rare. The family is Swedish, but it must be a "made-up" name since there is no "W" in the Swedish alphabet. Most people with the name in the U.S. or Canada are related to us, altho there are quite a few others listed in the Stockholm phone book.
I typed W------- in Flickr "search" and found photos of a Swedish young lady named Marie, a nice looking young man named Eric who is probably my husband's nephew and some old sepia toned army photos, labelled in French, showing someone named Ralph W------- from Montreal performing.
It gave me some idea of all the interesting things I could turn up in Flickr now that I understand a little bit more about how it works.
I vaguely knew what Flickr was but thought it was used mainly by fancy photographers.
Now I see that you can make your account as private or public as you want. You can use it as a safe place to store family photos in case your computer or CDs are damaged or destroyed. It's like a back-up that you can share with whoever you want to!
I was trying to think of some uses--e.g. I am the caretaker of a lot of old photos from my husband's family. We could put them on Flickr and share with other family members. We also have some old christening gowns with crocheted lace. We could photograph them and share with family, as well.
My last name, W-------, is extremely rare. The family is Swedish, but it must be a "made-up" name since there is no "W" in the Swedish alphabet. Most people with the name in the U.S. or Canada are related to us, altho there are quite a few others listed in the Stockholm phone book.
I typed W------- in Flickr "search" and found photos of a Swedish young lady named Marie, a nice looking young man named Eric who is probably my husband's nephew and some old sepia toned army photos, labelled in French, showing someone named Ralph W------- from Montreal performing.
It gave me some idea of all the interesting things I could turn up in Flickr now that I understand a little bit more about how it works.
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