Week 7: Thing 16 - Wikis

I became familiar with wikis after joining a group of library students who had organized a wiki as a means of studying and sharing information. What an experience! Each of us contributed by posting interesting articles, resources, relevant notes, etc. It was very helpful to be noified via e-mail whenever anything was added or edited. All in all, I have found it to be an invaluable learning tool.
That said, I do believe that wikis need to be approached with caution. There is no editor, and it can be difficult to ascertain whether specific pieces of information are accurate. This is one of the major problems with Wikipedia, which is best used as an additional, rather than the sole resource when seeking information. It's surprising to me that so many kids head straight to Wikipedia (only) for answers to their assignments!

Week 6: Thing 15 - Library 2.0

To think that just a couple of months ago, I didn't fully understand this concept! It is truly mind-boggling to contemplate the resources we have at our disposal. Ranganathan's Five Laws of Library Science are as timely now as they were in 1931, but the final law "the library is a changing organism," truly reflects the transformation that is taking place in libraries the world over. I chose 3 of the articles on the topic and especially enjoyed what John Riemer had to say about expanding bibliographic services and exploring new initiatives. He mentions the Endeca-based NC State catalog, which benefit's the user's experience with an exciting, intuitive interface which allows for various ways of navigating information.

I also enjoyed the following article from Library Journal (2006, Sept. 1), by Casey and Savastinuk, which not only gives an excellent overview (along with some terrific 2.o sources), but also clarifies that the Library 2.0 model is not all about technology. There is much that can be done to transform libraries with limited funding, or those struggling to bridge the digital divide.

http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6365200.html

Library 2.0 is most definitely about embracing change and collaborating with our users to meet their needs.

Week 6: Thing 13 -del.icio.us and Thing 14 - Technorati

I have SO many favorites stored on my laptop that I figured this could be very useful to me. I proceeded to register and added a few bookmarks that I refer to frequently. Wow...so efficient! What I enjoy the most is that they are now accessible anywhere, regardless of location. No more Google searches for a specific URL!
As far as the "social" aspect of del.icio.us, I don't see myself taking advantage of that yet. Perhaps at some point.

I also established an account with Technorati and was initally overwhelmed, but this is the type of program that becomes much easier with a little use. Once I began to take the time and add tags, the concept became much clearer to me. I am so amazed by the explosion of blogs on the Internet...at least this allows users to browse areas of interest and discover some hidden gems. I'll definitely come back to this site often!

Week 5: Thing 12 - Rollyo

I was fascinated with Rollyo and would love to create 3 or 4 additional search roles when I have more time. For now, I created one for off-the-beaten-track travel called "Road Less Traveled." All of my favorite travel sites in one place for easy reference (plus a few additional ones that are new to me)! I will definitely refer to this when planning my next major vacation (long overdue!!).

There are so many possible applications for this, but first and foremost, I see it as a useful tool for anyone who wants to zero in on authoritative information on any topic without having to initiate a much more time-consuming search on the WEB. It's also a great starting point for anyone whose curiosity has been piqued and would like to learn more about any given area.

My head is beginning to swim with all of these registration procedures -- keeping it as simple as possible!

Week 5: Thing 11

I can't believe how easy it was for me to begin adding titles to LibraryThing (yet another addictive site!) One thing I am learning through the 23 Things program is that some of the sites I have stayed away from (for fear that they would consume too much of my time) appear quite effortless. And as long as I continue to add memorable titles to LibraryThing, organization becomes a breeze!

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/avidtraveler

Week 4 and 5: Things 9 & 10

I explored MERLIN a bit and was overwhelmed by the number of social networking sites! I'm not sure that this is something I want to invest much time in.
A couple of months ago, I created an avatar for Second Life (Nova Upshaw) but was somewhat disappointed to learn that one actually has to spend some money (US dollars converted to Linden dollars) to wear a spiffy outfit, buy some living quarters, and even change your hairstyle! Nonetheless, it was amazing to "fly" to Info Island and visit the library, where I browsed through the Chicago Tribune and the London Times. What a diversion!
I had great fun with playing with an online image generator, specifcally with the Meez program. I loved reinventing my avatar, and finally chose one which I can relate to, this time immersed in timeless music for piano.

Week 5: Thing 8

I've discovered RSS! To say that this is addictive is an understatement. I have subscribed to 15 feeds and the list continues to grow! This is truly a timesaver that will encourage me to check in periodically to my favorite websites and blogs. Some current favorites: National Geographic News: Animals and Nature, Tame the Web: Libraries and Technology,and Moose Peterson's Wildlife Photography blog. This is great!!