Wiki is fun to say, if nothing else, which puts it on my radar.
Anyway, in exploring some of the wikis offered by the learning 2.0 class, I have really expanded my knowledge of them. Prior to today, I had used wikipedia for finding a variety of quick information, filling in my gaps of knowledge when something small came up, or doing some preliminary thinking about research. Senior year at Kenyon, several of my friends began working on Kenyon's version of Wikipedia, KCPedia, which provides historical information about Kenyon, though is still a work in progress.
Looking today at some of the other wiki sites out there, I realized what a useful and collaborative effort it has potential for being for a library. I particularly like the idea of a book review wiki that links into the library catalog like this one developed by Princeton Public Library. Granted that site is old, from 2006, but as a model I think it is interesting. There are many possibilities for wiki functionality in the library today, and it's only beginning.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
La Plaza Mayor de Salamanca
After spending a bit over a week looking into the Library 2.0 world and all the various forms it can take, I've really grown to appreciate all the technology out there. In my mind, the role of the library has always been to foster knowledge and introduce people to new sources and information. Therefore Library 2.0 and the Web 2.0 tools available fit well into the established goals of the library.
My thesis for my Spanish major at college was about the Plaza Mayor of Salamanca and it's role as the social/political/cultural/etc center of the city. In America, the majority of towns and cities don't have a center that is as multi-functional as this lovely architectural gem in Spain, , however we do have libraries. What drove me to be a librarian was, in part, my desire to see the interaction of people and place in a completely accessible and public space. I feel that the direction of library 2.0 in part will lead us to this point, where a library will not just be a space for books, but a space for public interaction and discourse in whatever medium is appropriate. The public library has a great deal of possibility, if it can ride out the waves of change.
Dr. Wendy Schulz's article, describes how the library is an ever-changing part of society and will continue to morph and grow through various trends and desires of the public. I like her library 4.0 vision, and hope the transformation of libraries can seamlessly meet the wants of the public. I also like Michael Stephen's article about librarian 2.0 and that this person needs to understand and anticipate the needs of the patron, keeping on top of the changes going on in the world around us. All of the articles offered by this section of the learning 2.0 course are interesting, though these two are the ones that stood out to me.
Sunday, July 27, 2008
Tagging and Technorati
Because I was lazy yesterday and decided to go to the beach and to the movies instead of working the learning 2.0 program, I am now sunburned and trying to make my ailing computer stay alive while I work out two tasks this morning.
I like the idea of Technorati as a good way to search for blogs relating to specific topics, but I have to admit that I am still new to reading blogs on a regular basis. I think I'll have to report back on this one.
Also to consider: how do blogs function as a source of information? My mother, a high school history teacher, found that this year was the first time blogs were used as sources in the research papers she assigns. I'll spend some more time looking around Technorati to find this out.
However, I like the idea of tagging though I don't often think to do it. But I am going to try, if only to track where my mind is at any given moment.
I like the idea of Technorati as a good way to search for blogs relating to specific topics, but I have to admit that I am still new to reading blogs on a regular basis. I think I'll have to report back on this one.
Also to consider: how do blogs function as a source of information? My mother, a high school history teacher, found that this year was the first time blogs were used as sources in the research papers she assigns. I'll spend some more time looking around Technorati to find this out.
However, I like the idea of tagging though I don't often think to do it. But I am going to try, if only to track where my mind is at any given moment.
Del.icio.us
Apparently, according to the del.icio.us blog, they are soon to be fully changing their URL to delicious, and I won't remember how to punctuate and spell at the same time.
In terms of technology, I see how this site could be immensly useful. I am happy I came across it today, because I'm getting a new computer sometime this week (how long does it take to get a macbook from Shanghai to Cumberland?), and would really like to keep my bookmarks when I trash this puppy. However, once del.icio.us imported all my bookmarks, I realized that I am glad they don't automatically share them all. Because I am sure that no one needs to know the angsty song lyrics I bookmarked at 19 when breaking up with someone. Or the crazy internet videos that were funny at 2am in college, but are frankly a little embarrassing to share with the masses.
Or maybe that's my problem, I need to accept that del.icio.us isn't about proving who has got a more refined list of bookmarks, but rather tag things appropriately. Because apparently 267 people on del.icio.us also have this video saved, for whatever reason, and poking around using del.icio.us's tools has shown me that they too are people with otherwise interesting bookmarks and tags, and that this strange video was for them, like for me, something that was hilarious at the time and sentimental enough to keep in bookmarks, but not, perhaps, something we use every day or even think about more than once a year.
The moral of this story? I need to weed out some of my bookmarks, but I also need to own up to the fun times I had, the subsequent bookmarks created, and the dorky internet videos which my friends will still send me, despite trying to feel more mature than I was 5 years ago. Because I'm still going to laugh and think of Terrell when watching "We Like the Moon" at 23 or 83.
In terms of technology, I see how this site could be immensly useful. I am happy I came across it today, because I'm getting a new computer sometime this week (how long does it take to get a macbook from Shanghai to Cumberland?), and would really like to keep my bookmarks when I trash this puppy. However, once del.icio.us imported all my bookmarks, I realized that I am glad they don't automatically share them all. Because I am sure that no one needs to know the angsty song lyrics I bookmarked at 19 when breaking up with someone. Or the crazy internet videos that were funny at 2am in college, but are frankly a little embarrassing to share with the masses.
Or maybe that's my problem, I need to accept that del.icio.us isn't about proving who has got a more refined list of bookmarks, but rather tag things appropriately. Because apparently 267 people on del.icio.us also have this video saved, for whatever reason, and poking around using del.icio.us's tools has shown me that they too are people with otherwise interesting bookmarks and tags, and that this strange video was for them, like for me, something that was hilarious at the time and sentimental enough to keep in bookmarks, but not, perhaps, something we use every day or even think about more than once a year.
The moral of this story? I need to weed out some of my bookmarks, but I also need to own up to the fun times I had, the subsequent bookmarks created, and the dorky internet videos which my friends will still send me, despite trying to feel more mature than I was 5 years ago. Because I'm still going to laugh and think of Terrell when watching "We Like the Moon" at 23 or 83.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Library Thing
LibraryThing, if you aren't familiar with it, is a social site that allows you to catalog your personal library online. If you pay a very reasonable fee you cal list as many books as you want. I've put most of my collection up, although this often results in piles of unregistered books sitting on my shelves in distinct places. Needless to say, I must catalog them soon or else I may be buried in a avalanche.
My current great idea for putting my LibraryThing to use is that as I pack my books to move, I can tag them all as packed as I do it, and then make sure everyone makes it through the move okay. Will this realistically happen? Probably not, because I have a bunch of books, and it would take time to tag them all for a basically foolish reason. However, what it also offers is the chance to designate between all the books I own, and all the books that moved into an apartment of undetermined size, and those which continue to live in my parent's basement.
But, we'll see.
My current great idea for putting my LibraryThing to use is that as I pack my books to move, I can tag them all as packed as I do it, and then make sure everyone makes it through the move okay. Will this realistically happen? Probably not, because I have a bunch of books, and it would take time to tag them all for a basically foolish reason. However, what it also offers is the chance to designate between all the books I own, and all the books that moved into an apartment of undetermined size, and those which continue to live in my parent's basement.
But, we'll see.
Searching
I guess I search haphazardly on the internet, because today when my learning 2.0 web task was to come up with a custom search engine, I didn't have many sites that I reliably used to look things up. I am pretty dependent on google for my primary search, and then from there often go further.
However, I did create a little engine to help me get information about Salamanca, Spain, which is where I lived from 2005-2006 as a student. I'm sure the search engine will require some tweaking, and I have great hopes for developing it further in the future. Also when I get JStor access again!
However, I did create a little engine to help me get information about Salamanca, Spain, which is where I lived from 2005-2006 as a student. I'm sure the search engine will require some tweaking, and I have great hopes for developing it further in the future. Also when I get JStor access again!
Thursday, July 24, 2008
LOL
Today's learning 2.0 exercise is about image generators. One of my favorite ones is the whole lolcats phenomenon, which involves putting ridiculous words on ridiculous pictures to make an enjoyable cartoon for viewers. Here's one of my favorites, (though not a cat):
I was a good girl scout, but never quite that cute!
Some other fun sites:
Translate anything you want into nightingale songs.
Learn about possible theories for Lost.
Make a custom receipt:
Needless to say, lots of fun options out there for online image generators.
I was a good girl scout, but never quite that cute!
Some other fun sites:
Translate anything you want into nightingale songs.
Learn about possible theories for Lost.
Make a custom receipt:
Needless to say, lots of fun options out there for online image generators.
The Internet is AMAZING
So, yes, I continued playing around with RSS feeds today and have decided that I better review carefully each item I really want to see each day, or else I am apt to be reading more than I can handle. I wanted some library blogs and sources; there are tons. Which is wonderful, but I do need to weed some out.
In other news, I quickly put "Salamanca" into a search on one of the sites, and ended up and some student's blog who is studying in Madrid, but was in Salamanca for a day, and who also posted something about iJam, which may be the most amazing parody ever. (If that link doesn't come up in English, there is an option at the bottom of the page to do so).
The year I spent in Salamanca was a very formative part of my life, and the legs of jamon hanging from shop windows disgusted me at the time but enthrall me now, how I miss huge chunks of meat and their associated smells!
In other news, I quickly put "Salamanca" into a search on one of the sites, and ended up and some student's blog who is studying in Madrid, but was in Salamanca for a day, and who also posted something about iJam, which may be the most amazing parody ever. (If that link doesn't come up in English, there is an option at the bottom of the page to do so).
The year I spent in Salamanca was a very formative part of my life, and the legs of jamon hanging from shop windows disgusted me at the time but enthrall me now, how I miss huge chunks of meat and their associated smells!
Wednesday, July 23, 2008
RSS Feeds
Okay, screw my technological knowledge until this point, I don't know why I never did anything about RSS feeds previously! How much time it will save! I find that even though I consider myself very comfortable with technology, I don't necessarily know that much about it, or that many different ways to use it, which makes this learning 2.0 course so valuable. I love the idea of being able to see what is new in one place, rather than looking at individual websites. I knew there were ways to do this previously but hadn't taken the time to do so.
One thing this will make me do is try to balance out the information I read each day. I tend to ignore the news and read something like Go Fug Yourself instead because it is fun. But hardly a good thing for my brain, not to mention my role as (future) librarian and citizen of America. How can I vote if I don't pay attention? (Wait, don't answer that, I know that there are plenty of people who do the same, and I don't want to think about those implications currently).
I am so psyched about RSS!
One thing this will make me do is try to balance out the information I read each day. I tend to ignore the news and read something like Go Fug Yourself instead because it is fun. But hardly a good thing for my brain, not to mention my role as (future) librarian and citizen of America. How can I vote if I don't pay attention? (Wait, don't answer that, I know that there are plenty of people who do the same, and I don't want to think about those implications currently).
I am so psyched about RSS!
Technology
Today's learning 2.0 task is to blog about technology. That's kind of vague, in my book, so I messaged Greg to complain a little and try to get some inspiration, which of course presented the obvious. Technology rules my life. And not just my professional life, but at the moment my personal life as well. My three closest friends are in Doha, Qatar, Istanbul, Turkey, and Palo Alto, California, while I am in Maine. Needless to say, very far away. But, thanks to technology like facebook, flickr, various blogs, and of course, email, those thousands of miles are hardly distant at all. And the more I delve into this course and look at new social networking technologies and ways of finding/sharing information, I know that the distance only grows closer.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
More Flickr investigation
So the latest assignment was to play around with Flickr's mashup tools and figure out what all is available. Which is kind of a silly task, as it appears you can do anything you want through various programs developed by all sorts of people. I made a little comic strip, featuring Oliver, my boyfriend Greg's cat, and Greg's pictures as well.
It appears, that after I "publish" the comic on the external site, Bubblr, I can't go back and fix the text size. This link might work better to view it.
Needless to say. this is one of many very interesting ways to play with Flickr photos, and some great ideas for how to make memorable and personal holiday gifts.
It appears, that after I "publish" the comic on the external site, Bubblr, I can't go back and fix the text size. This link might work better to view it.
Needless to say. this is one of many very interesting ways to play with Flickr photos, and some great ideas for how to make memorable and personal holiday gifts.
Monday, July 21, 2008
7 1/2 life-long learning habits
Part of doing the learning 2.0 program includes reviewing the seven and a half habits of life-long learners. Here's the list:
1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent life-long learner
5. Create your own learning toolbox
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach/Mentor others
1/2. Play
Evaluating my own skills, I feel pretty confident about using technology and accepting responsibility for my own learning. I'd like to work on developing a learning toolbox, because I often feel that once I've begun something, I often have to scramble to find pieces of what I need. I do think this is a valuable list to go back to and look at, because all the things on it are important to keep in mind as I continue learning, especially when out of a structured academic environment.
1. Begin with the end in mind
2. Accept responsibility for your own learning
3. View problems as challenges
4. Have confidence in yourself as a competent life-long learner
5. Create your own learning toolbox
6. Use technology to your advantage
7. Teach/Mentor others
1/2. Play
Evaluating my own skills, I feel pretty confident about using technology and accepting responsibility for my own learning. I'd like to work on developing a learning toolbox, because I often feel that once I've begun something, I often have to scramble to find pieces of what I need. I do think this is a valuable list to go back to and look at, because all the things on it are important to keep in mind as I continue learning, especially when out of a structured academic environment.
Beginning
Before I head off to Simmons to actually begin my library studies, I thought it would be beneficial to familiarize myself with some of the web 2.0 items available other than the ones I already use. I'm following the Learning 2.0 program through the Public Libraries of Charlotte and Mecklenburg Counties, which seems to be a popular guide to many common web programs.
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