I hate myspace. Not because it is pointless or un-useful (is that a word?). No, I hate it because it is ugly. It is terribly aesthetically unpleasing. And some people make their profile pages just horrendous to visit: hard-to-read text over jarring graphics, audio files that autoplay when I don't want them to, those stupid meme graphics. Just, ugh.
But I do have a myspace page. I signed up for it earlier this year. I did it mainly to promote the new library zine collection -- to connect with other zine publishers and people interested in zines, as well as other zine libraries and librarians. I have used it to announce events and talk up some of the zines in our collection. I don't know how much my actions on myspace have resulted in drawing in new patrons to the library, but I have received a few zine donations because a publisher found me on myspace. Makes it worth it to me. I don't frequent the site, though (I already have plenty enough places to keep track of online). I try to drop in every couple of weeks, look for new "friends" to add every couple of months.
So, for this exercise, I decided to explore Facebook. I've been thinking about signing up for Facebook for a while now, so I'll go ahead and bite the bullet. I am hoping that Facebook will help me connect with other library school grad students and maybe others in the library profession. (Networking is important!) But, realistically, I don't know how much I'll keep up with it. As I said, all I need is one more website to visit. I can't even keep up with the grad school-related Yahoo groups I'm subscribed to.
I do think Facebook is a more aesthetically pleasing site than MySpace. I'm still feeling my way around, so I don't know yet how useful it will be to me, or if I'll keep my profile active in the longrun.
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Thing 18 - Google Docs, etc.
I've already used Google Docs for a couple of things. Most recently, someone with YCAC created a spreadsheet using Google Docs for she and I to jointly edit / access, which we can use to track registration and attendees to our zine workshops. I found it very easy to use -- working quite similarly to Microsoft Excel. I was really surprised by the variety of tools offered by Zoho. I'm planning to try out its database option to see how well it works.
I don't think that these applications are particularly helpful for in-house staff use -- if we need to share a documents, we can do so by saving it to the Everyone folder on the network. However, they could be helpful for collaborating with folks outside of the library (like in my YCAC example above).
From a personal perspective, I've been thinking about starting to use Google Docs or a similar application in publishing my zine. I have multiple people who contribute content to the zine, which they usually send me as a MS Word attachment. But some people don't have access to Word (or Open Office), or they instead send the text within the body of an email, which messes up the formatting. Having them post their content to a site like Google Docs and then allow me to access it might be an easier, less messy way of handling their submissions. If the database application is versatile enough, I may use that for the zine, too, to share contact & assignment information with the review staff.
I don't think that these applications are particularly helpful for in-house staff use -- if we need to share a documents, we can do so by saving it to the Everyone folder on the network. However, they could be helpful for collaborating with folks outside of the library (like in my YCAC example above).
From a personal perspective, I've been thinking about starting to use Google Docs or a similar application in publishing my zine. I have multiple people who contribute content to the zine, which they usually send me as a MS Word attachment. But some people don't have access to Word (or Open Office), or they instead send the text within the body of an email, which messes up the formatting. Having them post their content to a site like Google Docs and then allow me to access it might be an easier, less messy way of handling their submissions. If the database application is versatile enough, I may use that for the zine, too, to share contact & assignment information with the review staff.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Thing 17 - LPLS wiki
Well, I suppose that I could mention here that I set up the wiki, including the front page, the sandbox page, and the Checking In Materials entry (as an example) and call it a day. But I'll go an extra mile and throw up a couple of additional entries: the opening procedures and closing procedures for MGL Library.
One thing I like so much about this wiki, a feature that I think will make it very useful, is that it's searchable. Have a question, type in a term, find pages that are related. Awesome! And pbwiki is a very easy site to use -- much easier than some other wiki sites I've visited and explored.
If it isn't obvious yet, I am really excited about this project. This week's activities are the ones I have been most looking forward to. I've been wanting to create a staff wiki for some time now, and this Learning 2.0 program was a great excuse to finally get it going. I'm glad to see that some of you fellow L2.0 folks are into this idea too -- now we just have to convert the rest of the staff!
One thing I like so much about this wiki, a feature that I think will make it very useful, is that it's searchable. Have a question, type in a term, find pages that are related. Awesome! And pbwiki is a very easy site to use -- much easier than some other wiki sites I've visited and explored.
If it isn't obvious yet, I am really excited about this project. This week's activities are the ones I have been most looking forward to. I've been wanting to create a staff wiki for some time now, and this Learning 2.0 program was a great excuse to finally get it going. I'm glad to see that some of you fellow L2.0 folks are into this idea too -- now we just have to convert the rest of the staff!
Thing 16 - I like wikis
I do! I think it's a great concept and I love that it's so popular. You can harp about the questionable reliability of wikipedia all you want, but I use it all the time for general information. Sure, I don't consider it to be on the same authoritative level as Encyclopedia Britannica or the OED, but I do think it is a good resource. I also use another wiki, ZineWiki, which is a wiki dedicated to zines. I've made a few entries and edits there. Here's the entry about the zine I publish, Zine World. Here's wikipedia's entry on ZW.
Anyway, about wikis in libraries: I think there are a lot of possibilities for using wikis. I think the sites mentioned in this exercise are good examples. I like the subject guide / pathfinders idea. And Library Success is a great resource. I could see wikis also being useful in a school setting -- for group projects, class assignments, syllabuses, etc.
I really hope that we're able to build a comprehensive staff resource using the wiki. I've already given a few other ideas about what we could add: procedures, instructions, library forms (with instructions), reference resources (website links, links to entries in the catalog, etc.), training guides, party planning. I'm interested to see what you guys suggest!
Anyway, about wikis in libraries: I think there are a lot of possibilities for using wikis. I think the sites mentioned in this exercise are good examples. I like the subject guide / pathfinders idea. And Library Success is a great resource. I could see wikis also being useful in a school setting -- for group projects, class assignments, syllabuses, etc.
I really hope that we're able to build a comprehensive staff resource using the wiki. I've already given a few other ideas about what we could add: procedures, instructions, library forms (with instructions), reference resources (website links, links to entries in the catalog, etc.), training guides, party planning. I'm interested to see what you guys suggest!
Monday, November 26, 2007
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Thing #15 - Library 2.0
I read all the articles, because I’m a geek like that. I thought Dr. Wendy Shultz’s article (temporary place) was really interesting, to imagine her predictions for libraries of the future. The article that resonated the most with me was Michael Stephens (new world) because that’s really how I see “Library 2.0.”
Though I disagree with some of the points Rick Anderson (icebergs) made, I think this comment really sums the topic up well: “There was a time, not very long ago, when libraries exercised something close to monopoly power in the information marketplace. … In the post-print era, libraries no longer have the monopoly power that they had in the days before the Internet.”
I’ve always thought of libraries (at least public libraries) as a center of the community: a place where everyone had equal access, no matter your wealth, to information and entertainment. And, right now, they still are. But we’re losing that edge. We’re all struggling to keep our circulation numbers up. As they are going down, our computer usage numbers are skyrocketing. And what of the people who no longer come to the library because they have Internet at home and through the Internet, they can find everything they need?
Most people do not think they need a guide in navigating the Internet. We can’t wait for them to come to us so we can show them all the lovely things we have to offer. We have to find a way to go to them. We need to meet them where they are. And that’s where I see the true benefit in using Web 2.0 tools. Just because a person doesn’t physically step foot into one of our library buildings doesn’t mean we should write them off as a library patron. We have to find ways to make it happen.
#12 roll your own
This has been my least favorite activity so far, which I guess is why I put it off. I just don't really see myself using this very often. It took me a while to think of a topic I could use: what's something I repeatedly search for that involves looking at multiple websites? Finally it dawned on me: recipes. So I loaded up several sites and viola.
Interesting that when you do a search using your rollyo tool, you still end up with results from places other than the ones you selected -- "sponsored links."
Other ideas I came up with which might be useful rollyo searches: Crafts or coloring sheets (could be useful for YS programs). Or medical sites (better to used trusted sources than a google search, if you're looking up diseases or symptoms, etc.). Maybe parenting tips / advice.
Anyway, it's not something I'd add to the library website, but I could see it being used by specific staff or in specific departments, maybe.
Interesting that when you do a search using your rollyo tool, you still end up with results from places other than the ones you selected -- "sponsored links."
Other ideas I came up with which might be useful rollyo searches: Crafts or coloring sheets (could be useful for YS programs). Or medical sites (better to used trusted sources than a google search, if you're looking up diseases or symptoms, etc.). Maybe parenting tips / advice.
Anyway, it's not something I'd add to the library website, but I could see it being used by specific staff or in specific departments, maybe.
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