Wikis are fun, like a common wisdom website. So OK, common wisdom may contain errors, use with caution - but there is a history and discussion to check. It's another form of community. I had been watching the Library Success Wiki for a while and was disappointed to find so few postings. ( did I post anything? ....nooo) Things are picking up there-the OCL Diversity Cookbook has a link and so does NJ Library events - Yea for NJ. We will have to be sure to include some OCL photos on that flickr site.
I've used Wikipedia when there is little or no info on a topic, often there is some sort of citation or links for the information, though not always live links. There is a garden wiki that has just begun. Only a few postings so far.
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Thing # 15
The interesting thing about Web 2.0 is that it is about community. It lets people share ideas and information. People with common interests can communicate any time and anywhere. Blogs are one way that people talk about shared concerns, interests, political views, religion, knitting, gardening...you name it. Will it change the way Libraries do business? Surely it will.
A very interesting report was put out by OCLC which showed libraries were not even in the top 5 places people went to for information! Most people will ask a friend or co-worker first. QanANJ is a service that might bridge that gap. It's live chat and allows customers and librarians to share webpages, talk in real time - anytime. QandANJ uses software that is developed with OCLC.
A very interesting report was put out by OCLC which showed libraries were not even in the top 5 places people went to for information! Most people will ask a friend or co-worker first. QanANJ is a service that might bridge that gap. It's live chat and allows customers and librarians to share webpages, talk in real time - anytime. QandANJ uses software that is developed with OCLC.
Thing #14
I'm not crazy about Technorati. Maybe I'll play around there a little more and feel differently but for now I'm not a big fan. Using Techorati I did find a few feeds for my bloglines back on Thing # 9 including Lifehacker. Lifehacker has some really useful tools and websites. I prefer those to most of the things I've seen so far on Technorati overall.
Thing # 13
I've been using del.icio.us for a quite a while to save pages I like or would like to access quickly. I liked seeing how many others saved the save page but didn't really think of using it as a social or sharing tool. I like the suggestions for tags, though I don't always use them. The index along the right column is really helpful to me to find the articles again.
Tag clouds are pretty cool. One way I've seen them used is with a program called AquaBrowser which attaches itself to the OPAC and creates a "web" of tags related to a particular item.
Tagging is a good way for customers to search using the terms they try to find (unsuccessfully!) in our catalog.
Tag clouds are pretty cool. One way I've seen them used is with a program called AquaBrowser which attaches itself to the OPAC and creates a "web" of tags related to a particular item.
Tagging is a good way for customers to search using the terms they try to find (unsuccessfully!) in our catalog.
Friday, May 16, 2008
Thing # 12
I have had a NetLibrary account for a long time. I've used NetLibrary to research a particular topic but do not read the books online. The format is awkward and slow. I have demonstrated its use to library customers when a book on a particular topic cannot be found. I will show them the Table of Contents and if the book has an index, show them how to use it to locate a particular page or section.
WorldCat has been helpful in finding bibliographic information for ILL's. I searched for a book written by one of my cousins and found it had 302 entries. Then I searched for anything written by William Dunlap who was born in Perth Amboy NJ and is one of the first American playwrights. Copies of his work are held by several NJ colleges and universities.
WorldCat has been helpful in finding bibliographic information for ILL's. I searched for a book written by one of my cousins and found it had 302 entries. Then I searched for anything written by William Dunlap who was born in Perth Amboy NJ and is one of the first American playwrights. Copies of his work are held by several NJ colleges and universities.
Thing # 11
Library Thing could be fun, I'll need to play a little more. I made a list just for fun and posted it on my blog. I haven't tagged them but there is a theme....
I like to keep a running list of books I want to read and cross them off after reading them. I may try to use Library Thing to organize my lists. It is unlikely that I'd use ISBN's.
I like to keep a running list of books I want to read and cross them off after reading them. I may try to use Library Thing to organize my lists. It is unlikely that I'd use ISBN's.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Thing #10
New developments in technology are coming along very quickly. Though I'm not the sort who runs out to get the newest shiniest gadget and gizmo, I do agree they are useful and fun - and doesn't mean I don't want them.
Sooner or later a really good book reader will be developed- Kindle looks pretty good but still has limits.
I'm interested in seeing how all the various services will be provided through one source and on one device .....tv, wireless, cell/phones, internet, email. As long as they don't have tiny print and tiny pictures on a tiny gadget it will work for me!
Sooner or later a really good book reader will be developed- Kindle looks pretty good but still has limits.
I'm interested in seeing how all the various services will be provided through one source and on one device .....tv, wireless, cell/phones, internet, email. As long as they don't have tiny print and tiny pictures on a tiny gadget it will work for me!
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