This is a really cool way to explore the best of what's out there in the web 2.0 universe, and I found many sites that I had not known existed. Also, this seems like a good way to sift through the plethora of sites and tools that are multiplying like rabbits and pick out the best from amongst them. I was pleased to see how many categories of sites and services are covered in this process as well.
I have used Threadless before to shop for cool T-shirt designs, but I had not really thought of it as a Web 2.0 tool until I saw it listed on this awards page. In retrospect, this site is certainly in line with the Web 2.0 philosophy of user generated content and it is a great example of how we are fast becoming the arbiters of cool rather than simply consumers of what others think is cool. Kind of like the democratization of cool, since designs can be added by customers and "voted" on in a sense by the number of people who purchase them. This site also offers designers an interesting way to be compensated for their work, so that is an added bonus for users to contemplate when evaluating the site. All in all, I think the award for best retail site was well chosen in the case of Threadless, and I urge those who have not yet checked it out to do so.
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Technocrati
The concept behind Technocrati is interesting, and I like the idea of assigning authority to blogs to help readers discern their worth. Unfortunately, I don't think I am a big fan of the way in which that "authority" is measured. While I think that measuring the number of blogs that link to any other can certainly help one to determine if a blog is popular, I don't necessarily think that popularity in this sense can be viewed as authority in the way that we are used to thinking of it. Beyond that, I can see how this measurement could prove useful for those wishing to see what all the other sheepole are viewing... OK so maybe some of that is just sour grapes because I only have an authority ranking of 2...
del.icio.us
Mmmm Mmmm, it really is delicious to use del.icio.us... I have been using this tool for quite some time to deal with a problem we face in the library system, namely that our favorites do not follow us from computer to computer. Del.icio.us solves this problem by creating a centralized place for me to store my Internet favorites so that I can pull them up on any computer I am logged onto, even away from work.
To tell the truth though, I had not really considered using del.icio.us to help me develop reading lists as is described in the web tutorial. This is an interesting feature that seems to be well suited towards those of us who need to keep up with current research on any particular topic. I was interested to hear the commentator speaking about the "magic middle" and about the need to be judicious when balancing the amount of content that can be realistically processed by any one person. I have similar feelings about the overwhelming amount of material that can be found online and also feel strongly that as information professionals we need to understand the best ways to sift through all of that info. Unfortunately, while tagging can lead you to content that you might not have reached through other means, there is also the quite real problem of false drops associated with synonymy, homonymy, and polysemy. I think that tagging has great potential to help us to better categorize and classify the vast amount of content available on the Internet, but I also think that the technology is still in its infancy and will have to undergo several growth spurts before it becomes as functional as it might be.
To tell the truth though, I had not really considered using del.icio.us to help me develop reading lists as is described in the web tutorial. This is an interesting feature that seems to be well suited towards those of us who need to keep up with current research on any particular topic. I was interested to hear the commentator speaking about the "magic middle" and about the need to be judicious when balancing the amount of content that can be realistically processed by any one person. I have similar feelings about the overwhelming amount of material that can be found online and also feel strongly that as information professionals we need to understand the best ways to sift through all of that info. Unfortunately, while tagging can lead you to content that you might not have reached through other means, there is also the quite real problem of false drops associated with synonymy, homonymy, and polysemy. I think that tagging has great potential to help us to better categorize and classify the vast amount of content available on the Internet, but I also think that the technology is still in its infancy and will have to undergo several growth spurts before it becomes as functional as it might be.
Monday, December 17, 2007
As mentioned in my last post, I am not a big fan of Rupert Murdoch and his multimedia empire. Because of that dislike, which I will not elaborate on here, I have chosen to use Facebook as my online social networking outlet. Facebook works more with educational entities than other OSNs and this is another reason that I feel this service is a good fit for my purpose. I have many classmates who use Facebook, and since many of them have at least some interests in common with me, this just seems to be a natural choice.
Setting up an account in Facebook is very easy, as is adding content to my profile and searching for friends. Though my profile is very sparse right now, there seems to be many interesting ways to customize it without having it become overly visually confusing, a problem that seems to plague other services. I can't say that I have too much more to add about the process at this point, but I am sure that as I explore the ins and outs of the service I will have much more to discuss. With that in mind I will probably come back to this post to add any thoughts I have about the experience once I have more experience with it.
I know what you're thinking: "what does Matt in a kayak have to do with Facebook?"... well this is the picture I used on my profile, so there's your tie in.
PS. Come visit me on Facebook and we can make like friends :)
Online Social Networking and Libraries
You may notice that I am not specifically referring to MySpace in the title of this post. This is largely a reflection of my opposition to so many of the things that the owner of MySpace (Rupert Murdoch) stands for, and you couldn't make me like him or it in a thousand years... having said that, I'll write the rest of this with an eye to the concept of online social networking in general, rather than focusing on specific sites.
Like many of those whose articles are featured in this discovery exercise, I think that online social networking is a very interesting and intriguing development, and one that holds much potential for librarians and libraries. The idea of libraries connecting with these established and growing online communities is especially interesting since it represents new ways of thinking about promotion of our programs and services. The ability to connect with large numbers of users at once presents us with a wealth of new opportunities to market to these communities and to help them to better understand what the library can be and do for them. OSN also presents us with a unique channel for receiving feedback from customers and potential customers about the quality of our current services, and new ways to connect those customers to our services as well.
Of course, there are some concerns that OSN use raises, and these are not to be taken lightly. However, institutional use of these networks does not expose us to the same types of risks that individual users face, and even presents us with some opportunities that are not available to individual users as well. Overall, I think that many libraries could benefit from establishing an online presence in these communities as long as they are willing and able to keep up with the added work and responsibility that may accompany that presence. I am excited that we, as a system, are actively engaged in exploring these communities and thinking about how we might use them to our benefit.
Like many of those whose articles are featured in this discovery exercise, I think that online social networking is a very interesting and intriguing development, and one that holds much potential for librarians and libraries. The idea of libraries connecting with these established and growing online communities is especially interesting since it represents new ways of thinking about promotion of our programs and services. The ability to connect with large numbers of users at once presents us with a wealth of new opportunities to market to these communities and to help them to better understand what the library can be and do for them. OSN also presents us with a unique channel for receiving feedback from customers and potential customers about the quality of our current services, and new ways to connect those customers to our services as well.
Of course, there are some concerns that OSN use raises, and these are not to be taken lightly. However, institutional use of these networks does not expose us to the same types of risks that individual users face, and even presents us with some opportunities that are not available to individual users as well. Overall, I think that many libraries could benefit from establishing an online presence in these communities as long as they are willing and able to keep up with the added work and responsibility that may accompany that presence. I am excited that we, as a system, are actively engaged in exploring these communities and thinking about how we might use them to our benefit.
Friday, December 7, 2007
The RA Wiki
I have mixed feelings about this wiki for several reasons. On the one hand, this is a great space for staff to share a book/author they think is worthwhile, but the fact that everyone can not only add their own entry, but alter others entries is problematic. It may turn out to work fine in this setting where all of the contributors are fairly homogeneous and well meaning, but in circumstances where that is not the case I think the lack of registration could present problems. The interface here was pretty simple, but a little tricky as well in spots, and it took me a while to figure out that you could fix the editing bar in place while scrolling far down the page. Other than that it worked pretty well and the changes were easy to make (after the edit bar thing).
Tagging was not really useful in this instance, since there is no way to really tag each entry without just putting it at the end as many people did. (Tags: Sci-Fi, Space, etc.) Because you can see most of the stuff that would be in the tags in the main entry it seemed kind of pointless. By the same token, if you were to add all the collected tags from each entry to the entire page, you would have a huge mish mash of tags that would perhaps aid searching, but would create many false hits as well.
Tagging was not really useful in this instance, since there is no way to really tag each entry without just putting it at the end as many people did. (Tags: Sci-Fi, Space, etc.) Because you can see most of the stuff that would be in the tags in the main entry it seemed kind of pointless. By the same token, if you were to add all the collected tags from each entry to the entire page, you would have a huge mish mash of tags that would perhaps aid searching, but would create many false hits as well.
Wikiworld
Wikis, in my humble opinion, are cool as all get out... I love that you can so easily create and maintain a web space that can be used collaboratively with others. The possibilities for their usefulness are wide and really only limited by our own imaginations, especially in the library setting. Obviously the examples shown in this exercise provide a good cross sampling of some of these many uses, and highlight the ways in which wikis can be used as collaborative tools to enhance productivity and enrich library services. I particularly like the Princeton RA wiki and the Library Success wiki because they are wonderful examples of this collaborative spirit at work.
In the Library Success wiki, we as librarians find both a portal for exploring what others in the profession find works well for them, and a forum for contributing to that discussion as well. Similarly, the Princeton RA wiki provides a space for that community to share their reading suggestions and to link to library materials and services in unique ways. Both wikis require passwords to edit content as well, so there is a fair degree of control over the content that is included on their site. I am excited that we have begun to use wikis for our system, even if they are still kind of unofficial from what I understand, and look forward to reaping the rewards of the collaborative interaction that they offer.
In the Library Success wiki, we as librarians find both a portal for exploring what others in the profession find works well for them, and a forum for contributing to that discussion as well. Similarly, the Princeton RA wiki provides a space for that community to share their reading suggestions and to link to library materials and services in unique ways. Both wikis require passwords to edit content as well, so there is a fair degree of control over the content that is included on their site. I am excited that we have begun to use wikis for our system, even if they are still kind of unofficial from what I understand, and look forward to reaping the rewards of the collaborative interaction that they offer.
Monday, November 26, 2007
Ask VBPL... Maybe I'll Answer
I am approaching this from the perspective of a convert to the way IM can be used for reference services... I love our new IM reference service (Ask VBPL), and really have enjoyed using it from both sides of the interface. The evidence overwhelmingly suggests that IM and text messaging are the preferred tools of younger Americans, and we can infer, younger library users. For this reason alone it would be irresponsible on our part to ignore the possibilities this communication format offers. But it is not only tweens, teens, and twenty-somethings that are making use of the connection to library services through IM. Though we don't ask for a birth certificate when conducting IM transactions, I am positive that I have helped several people that are older than what we might stereotypically think a user of IM would be. I think that many adults are making use of this technology and are finding it to be a useful way to connect to the library as well. While we are only just beginning to tap the possibilities that IM services can make available to us and our customers, I think we are heading in the right direction by getting our feet wet now. Additionally, while the technology will almost certainly change and evolve as time goes by, I think that we will be well served (as will our customers) to keep up with those changes and look for new ways to take advantage of them.
I'm into IM
Before I began my graduate studies, I was ambivalent about IM and its uses. Since then, I have come to appreciate the spontaneity that IM affords users, allowing them to communicate thoughts and ideas in a much more interactive manner than is possible with email. I have had many opportunities to text chat and IM with classmates and friends who are hundreds of miles away, and I have to say that this technology has made cooperative, synchronous learning not only possible but exciting as well. The ability for several participants to bounce ideas off one another in real time can greatly enhance cohesiveness and productivity. On the other hand, because the technology is so ubiquitous, it can sometimes be a distraction to accomplishing other work. Like all technology, it is definitely important to balance your immersion in IM with other work, and means of socialization. Done correctly, IM is one of the most productive ways to communicate thoughts and ideas quickly and collaboratively. It is exciting to think of ways in which libraries can begin to more fully utilize that potential in our everyday work.
Sunday, November 18, 2007
Locating Feeds
After trying several of the feed search tools that we were given to explore, I have to say that I still like finding my feeds the "old fashioned" way... use my list of frequently visited sites and paste their URL into the add subscription box. In this way, I am able to be fairly certain about the type of content I will receive without getting bogged down in content I don't really want. On the other side of that coin, I am restricted to those sites that I am already aware of and that have RSS feeds built in. Searching with the tools mentioned in this exercise could help me to expand upon that list if I needed, so I can see the benefit. For now, I have plenty of content to keep me busy, and am finding new sites on my own all the time.
RSS
I have to admit that I am slowly coming around to RSS... honestly, I sometimes feel like there is just too much to keep up with already through my normal news delivery channels. However, after listening to several of the presentations on the benefits of RSS I have decided to give it a shot. What I do like is that I am in control of the channels and therefore the type of content that I receive. In essence, RSS works like a funnel to bring all the news sources that I find useful and informative together in one location. Subscribing to new feeds is easy, as was signing up for the Google Reader account since I already had a Google ID established from my blog.
On the other hand, that same ease of adding new feeds could potentially dilute the benefits of the service. It only took me a few minutes to add a dozen or so interesting feeds, and I doubt that it would take much more time to build my subscription list even further, but having more feeds also means that I would need to spend more time reviewing the content delivered by each. Luckily it is also easy to unsubscribe, but balancing the right number of feeds for each person is something that deserves consideration.
On the other hand, that same ease of adding new feeds could potentially dilute the benefits of the service. It only took me a few minutes to add a dozen or so interesting feeds, and I doubt that it would take much more time to build my subscription list even further, but having more feeds also means that I would need to spend more time reviewing the content delivered by each. Luckily it is also easy to unsubscribe, but balancing the right number of feeds for each person is something that deserves consideration.
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Learning 2.0 and Libraries
I think it is fascinating to think about all of the interesting new tools and applications available online at this point and time, and even more so to contemplate the directions those new technologies may go in the future. I am also intrigued by the seemingly endless possibilities that these new functionalities open up for those of us in the information profession. The idea that we as librarians are uniquely positioned to be at the forefront of the development and utilization of these tools is exiting as well.
Of course, this also means that we will constantly be reevaluating the direction of our services, but I agree that it does not mean that we need to change our fundamental values or mission. Yes, we may not need to have the "just in case collections" described by Rick Anderson, but I don't know that we have to resign ourselves to precipitous drops in circulation just yet either. Even if things like that do come to pass, I believe that we only need to be more flexible in determining how we define and measure success. We also need to be constantly aware that our journey may not have a final destination, and we should commit ourselves to the idea of being the most knowledgeable travelers we can be.
Of course, this also means that we will constantly be reevaluating the direction of our services, but I agree that it does not mean that we need to change our fundamental values or mission. Yes, we may not need to have the "just in case collections" described by Rick Anderson, but I don't know that we have to resign ourselves to precipitous drops in circulation just yet either. Even if things like that do come to pass, I believe that we only need to be more flexible in determining how we define and measure success. We also need to be constantly aware that our journey may not have a final destination, and we should commit ourselves to the idea of being the most knowledgeable travelers we can be.
Lifelong Learning Habits
The lifelong learning video really reaffirmed my natural inclination towards lifelong learning. Whether I am consciously pursuing knowledge for its own sake, or simply being curious, I am most at home when learning new things. Sometimes this takes the form of concentrated study, sometimes it is a much more casual process. In either case, the easiest and hardest of the 7 and 1/2 habits seem to remain more or less the same for me:
Easiest to overcome- View problems as challenges... this is never an issue for me, since the problem is often the thing that spurs my desire to learn something. If I have trouble with a concept or tool, leaving quantum physics aside, I go out of my way to find out more about what causes the problem and how I can overcome it.
Hardest to overcome- Begin with the end in mind... In some cases this is not so much of an issue, but in others it can bog me down in my learning process. If I am clear about my end goal, I usually have no problem following through with the steps that will carry me there. However, many times I seek knowledge with little idea of what it goal it will ultimately help me achieve. I don't believe that learning for its own sake is necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to a head full of arcane knowledge with no useful outlet.
Easiest to overcome- View problems as challenges... this is never an issue for me, since the problem is often the thing that spurs my desire to learn something. If I have trouble with a concept or tool, leaving quantum physics aside, I go out of my way to find out more about what causes the problem and how I can overcome it.
Hardest to overcome- Begin with the end in mind... In some cases this is not so much of an issue, but in others it can bog me down in my learning process. If I am clear about my end goal, I usually have no problem following through with the steps that will carry me there. However, many times I seek knowledge with little idea of what it goal it will ultimately help me achieve. I don't believe that learning for its own sake is necessarily a bad thing, but it can lead to a head full of arcane knowledge with no useful outlet.
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