Thingy 23: Final Thoughts

I have learned many new Library 2.0 applications as a result of the 23 Things experience. And I feel more empowered to actually use the ones I only vaguely knew about before, like Flickr, wikis, blogging, and RSS feeds. It was great to have an excuse to look at YouTube and listen to podcasts on work time. I was happy to rediscover Library Thing and now have a way to catalog my personal book collection and keep track of my book group books. I'm still trying to figure out the best way to do an online component for a book group--a blog? a wiki? a MySpace page? Library Thing account?--but I certainly have some new ideas. An unexpected happy outcome of the program was feeling connected to other librarians out there (thank you for your encouragement, you know who you all are) and even learning new aspects of my own co-worker's lives (Lynette had a gorgeous honeymoon location!). In a sometimes unsettling way 23 Things blurred the distinction between my work and home life. I know I will use many of the Things at home even more than at work. I think I would have had a hard time completing the 23 Things if I didn't have high speed Internet access at home but I don't really like bringing "work" home. To improve upon the program's format or content, I'd recommend making the Things more consistent: some had many different steps and required a lot of reading/viewing/listening while others could be completed in much less time. Maybe add high bandwith and low bandwith options? As far as content is concerned, consider adding more information about electronic books and book readers like Kindle, e-text and audio, e.g., Overdrive, and music. 23 Things has helped me to keep current with new library technology and actually use some of the applications I had only heard about and read about before. I'm looking forward to the next 23 Things!

Thingy 22: What did I learn today?

...that there seems to be no end to the number of library blogs I can add to my Bloglines feeds! I do resolve to keep current by spending at least 15 minutes a day to check Bloglines and learn about Web 2.0 library applications. Well, most days anyway.

Stick Thingy 21: Beyond MySpace

If only I had more time on my hands I could see myself really getting into the Minnesota Readers group on Gather and becoming a real mouse potato! I liked the Ning site too. Facebook and MySpace have some appeal and some of the other 23Thingers have mentioned Live Journal which also sounds interesting. But so far the only networks my family and friends have invited me to join are Plaxo (which the PC Magazine writer compared to a yuppie bar--you wake up the next morning with a hangover and a handful of business cards from your new best friends whom you never want to see again) and the even more obscure WAYN ("where are you now" which seems to be off the professional radar). As a music librarian, I was intrigued by last.fm but am not really sure I want everyone to know what I'm listening too. My tastes can be painfully eclectic and I end up listening to a lot of things I don't want to listen to because of patron's recommendations and complaints. You should see the kind of things Amazon recommends for me based on my recent searches! But that is another post. I am interested in social networking as a way to create communities of readers, or listeners, or friends. We have Senior (citizen) Techies classes and workshops at our library--it would be great for them to have their own network to share photos and tips. But getting support from administration and then finding someone with the time and expertise to maintain it aren't so easy. I am looking forward to attending the Minitex Interlibrary Loan Conference in May to hear the keynote speaker on "forecasting the future of social computing."

I keep forgetting to mention that I haved added over 200 books to my Library Thing library and am now a lifetime member! Maybe LT will be my social network, though at this time it is more a catalog of the books that I own and/or want to read or have read.

Thingy 20: Social networks

I took a look at MySpace because I really don't want to register for a social network at this time. I started by doing some searching and am not sure whether or not to be surprised that I didn't find anyone with my last name there. I did find a few libraries and was amazed to learn that my library is female and a Capricorn! Library bloggers seem to spend a lot of time agonizing over the pros and cons of using social networking sites to promote their libraries and worrying about invading patrons'/students' space. But why not? These sites give patrons and students a way (ok, another way) to interact with us, a voice in what is really their space--the library.

Thingy 19: Podcasts

I used Podcast.com to search for some music and book-related podcasts. I ended up listening to quite a few segments on NPR and MPR. As time allows I hope to check out these sites in the future to keep up with new books and new music. As with online video there are any number of library applications for podcasts including point-of-use instruction. Having trouble using the online catalog? Listen to this...

Thingy 18: Online video

I enjoyed exploring YouTube and Google Video. The links to related videos and user comments were helpful. Librarians can use video in a number of ways for library instruction, training, and progamming. My only concern is with the heavy use of bandwidth causing our computers to slow way down.

Thingy 17: ELM

I use the ELM databases all the time at work and at home so I was pleasantly suprised to learn about a few new tools and applications. I had previously set up an account in Ebsco for journal alerts but didn't realize that Ebsco and Proquest also allow you to set up websites for your research topics. It's also great to be able to add notes to your NetLibrary books and search book contents electronically. I hope that students and teachers are aware of these helpful features.

Thingy 15: Online games

I took a look at Puzzle Pirates. It's attractive and very detailed and might be fun if solving puzzles with pirates is your cup of tea. But it just isn't mine. Aarrggh! I prefer the arcade type of games where I can take out my aggressions by mindlessly shooting asteroids or UFOs, so I was happy to find some of the "classic" games on the PBS program site. Then I followed the skater dude around Info Island and became quite dizzy. The instructions recommended trying Second Life at home, but for me this begs the question, if I am going to have a virtual second life, do I really want to spend it in a library? I realize that sounds like heresy. I'd better find some asteroids to blow up before my next reference desk shift.

Thingy 16: Student tools

I knew assignment calculator tools like these existed but had never looked at them or tried them before. I was impressed. The RPC support materials look extremely helpful for library research, e.g., using Boolean terms, citing sources, and even for non-library research topics like conducting interviews and public speaking tips. The calculator is helpful in breaking down large projects into smaller manageable tasks and creating a schedule. The calculators could be used or adapted for almost any kind of project, like preparing for a book group presentation or a conference or studying for a test. Now if someone would just develop a dissertation project calculator, that would help me out a lot!

Thing 14: The Library Thing Thing

I started adding and tagging some books I have recently read or am currently reading. While it was fun and the site was attractive, I admit that it took me some time to figure out how Library Thing could be worthwhile or useful to an individual or to a library. But now that I have done some exploring and some more tagging, I am hooked on Library Thing! I may even have to splurge on a paid account so I can enter and catalog ALL my books. Libraries can create subject lists; school/ academic libraries can tag books according to a specific class or program. Book groups can use for discussion and sharing information; individuals can find others with similar interests. I'm not sure how well it would work for older books, though I see you can also search the LOC for bibliographic information. A friend of mine (a non-librarian) is looking for a way to catalog his collection of rare books--I'm not sure this is it. He's also concerned about privacy. I have a collection of Modern Library editions that I'd like to tag if I can find them via LT.

Thing 13: Online productivity tools

At home I use an iGoogle start page. It includes a calendar, headlines from selected new sources, weather, my horoscope, links and gadgets of my choosing, and sports a lovely beach theme. At the library we use Groupwise for our e-mail and scheduling needs. Those are about all the productivity tools I can handle at the moment, but if I ever feel the desire to post some online stickies or convert a PDF, I'll know where to go.

Thing 12: Diggin' Digg! (or not)

Just when I feel I can barely keep up with my local newspaper and national news I find out about these social media sites. As if there were enough hours in the day! But I did take a look at Digg and Mixx, where I see an article about Brett Favre retiring, well, I'd read that already somewhere else this morning, but here's something interesting, another "is it fiction or non-fiction" controversy "Author Admits Acclaimed Memoir Is Fantasy." I see we have this book (Love and Consequences) on order. Sounds good. I want to read it. Reserve placed.

Thing 11: Yummy delicious

I tried some tagging (see previous post) and set up a del.icio.us account. Now I have attractive new icons on my tool bar. The material and examples presented were helpful in showing how libraries and scholars could use social bookmarking to share and organize bookmarks. Thank you. However, as many people have commented, it's just one more thing to have to check. I think I would have used del.icio.us more if I were just starting out collecting favorites/bookmarks or preparing for a class. As far as tags go, I suppose the caveat is that they can be subjective and not necessarily accurate, unlike carefully crafted (ha), politically correct (ha again) library subject headings.

Thingy 10: Wiki Wonderland

We changed our internal library Intranet into a wiki about a year ago. The wiki format makes it easier for anyone to add information and edit, kind of like an electronic bulletin board. I was really impressed with some of the library wikis out there and the creative uses librarians found for promoting new books/materials information, subject guides, community resources, directories, patron feedback, and more. I've been toying with the idea of starting a blog for a virtual bookgroup, but perhaps a wiki would be the way to go. I have to admit that I've found Wikipedia extremely helpful as a starting point for finding information on some pretty obscure topics--it often includes maps, timelines, and bibliographies of resources for further research. And it can be an ego booster when you find something that is blatantly wrong (or ego deflater depending on which side of the screen you're on). I wouldn't promote the practice of limiting information by format but would urge students/patrons to consider the source. I also take into consideration that by the time patrons approach me at the reference desk they have already seen the Wikipedia and other googled information; it's my job to go beyond. I'll be heading over to visit the 23 Things wiki shortly.

Thingy 9: Online collaboration tools

We have Google Docs on our Internet menu for our patrons to use because we don't have a full word-processing program on our public Internet stations. I think that tools like Google Docs or Zoho Writer are most helpful in a situation like that or if you are traveling or collaborating with people in different locations or workplaces. Otherwise I would normally say I prefer a full program like Microsoft Word and using shared folders for collaboration. However, I recently lost a rather important document in Word because I did not save it correctly (talk about a senior blonde moment!) so maybe I'm not so sure. We also use a wiki here at my library, but I see that's another thingy...

Chicago Cube 2

Thingy 8: Sharing creations

Here is my new improved cube. As you can see, I tried Picture Trail and made a cube using some photos I took on a short trip to Chicago a couple months ago. I also tried some of the slide show formats--very cool. I found this tool relatively easy to navigate and understand, even for a trailing edge baby boomer like me. A friend of mine from my library school days who is now exiled to the bad lands of western North Dakota recently talked me into registering on something called Plaxo. I've created a few photo albums there. It's been a fun way to keep in touch.

Thingy 7: Communication Tools

Oops, I was having way, way too much fun with the Flickr toys and got a little mixed up on my numbering. Of course our library uses email for just about everything from internal and external communication to managing interlibrary loan requests. We also receive and answer reference questions via email. We started doing IM reference about a year ago. It can be a little frustrating trying to juggle IM questions with library users standing in front of you at the reference desk. The IM users seem to be always in a hurry and the patrons in front of you think you are ignoring them or surfing the net when they see you typing away...especially frustrating when the IM questions are inappropriate, e.g., "Are u a boy or a girl?" (and worse). For awhile we did virtual reference with libraries across the country and soon we will start doing virtual reference with some other libraries in Minnesota.

I watched the "Basic VDX Workflow Training" Minitex Webinar and picked up a few tips on handling the VDX work queue.

Thingy 7 Way, way too much fun

Library Flickr

I just found out our library has its own Flickr page!

Thingys 5 & 6 Way too much fun with Flickr

Wow, the Flickr toys kept me busy for awhile! These are some helpful tools for jazzing up one's blog or website, posting photos from programs, creating logos, or killing time on a blizzardy Tuesday evening.

Thing 4: Flickr

What fun! Uploading was a little frustrating, but here is the Main Street of my hometown by twincitiesdan. http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1237/848025826_b1b61bbe39_m.jpg

Thing 3: RSS

I took the opportunity to revisit the Bloglines account that I set up last year and then didn't look at for months. After perusing 200 some Unshelved strips (now that was fun) I marked "all read," unsubscribed to some feeds and added some others. In some ways I think it would be easier to just go through my list Favorites to look at each blog.. It seems most helpful when the blogs aren't added to on a regular or daily basis. Having the feeds delivered via E-mail looks promising, too.

Library 2.0

This Library 2.0 stuff isn't really new to me. The Internet and other new technology has made possible a lot of exciting and useful library applications and has brought us many new users. But here in the library world we are required to be all things to all people. Even if we invest a lot of time and $$ in these new applications it doesn't mean that people are going to use it or even like it. Many people, I'm convinced, prefer a low-tech library experience.

But as for myself, I'm grateful for being required to do this program as an excuse to try some of these new applications. I used a computer only once in library school to do an ERIC search. I would still have the results of the search but the ink has long ago evaporated from the roll of thermal paper. Now I'm not sure how I got through most of my life without word processing or being able to call or email my parents and friends every five minutes or google the answers to crossword puzzles. I think I've already done or tried or read about many of the 23 things, but I'm sure there will be some that are new to me.

Thing 1

I have set up my blog and imported my Yahoo avatar a.k.a. Blonde Librarian and her pet gnome. 22 Things to go!