Sunday, August 26, 2007
Thing #19: You Tube
I've never really dabbled in YouTube. I've seen a few videos my brother or friends have emailed me, but I've never really sat down and searched for anything. I feel like I should....I feel like I'm missing out on this cultural phenomenon. I searched for UCSC and I found some stuff on Practical Activism, the "police brutality" video, some biking videos, and the naked run. I think YouTube would be a good tool---tours of the library, how to do basic searches.....and maybe (someday) how to use our self-check machines? I remember watching the SJSU Second Life presentation on a YouTube video too. I think this tool has potential, but again it is up to us to use it and make it available to our patrons.
Thing #18: Firefox Add-ons and Extensions
I really like Firefox and the nifty extensions it offers. I've been using LibX for months now and I can't live without it. It drives me nuts when I'm working on a computer that doesn't have it. It was especially helpful before we could search by ISSN/ISBN in Cruzcat. Incidentally, if you click "New Search" from cruzcat, or if you are navigating within search results, the ISSN/ISBN search criterion is not there (When the URL root is http://cruzcat.ucsc.edu/search/......)
I think the Cruzcat search engine was extremely easy to install and I'm sure our patrons can find it useful. Personally, I'll probably us LibX more especially for the right-click, xisbn, and UC-eLinks features. However for simple searching I think the search engine is perfect for patrons.
I think we should have some type of link to download both Libx and the Cruzcat search engine on the library homepage. The only way I knew about LibX was by word of mouth and the Cruzcat search engine from this exercise. These are awesome tools and we should make them more available to our patrons.
I think the Cruzcat search engine was extremely easy to install and I'm sure our patrons can find it useful. Personally, I'll probably us LibX more especially for the right-click, xisbn, and UC-eLinks features. However for simple searching I think the search engine is perfect for patrons.
I think we should have some type of link to download both Libx and the Cruzcat search engine on the library homepage. The only way I knew about LibX was by word of mouth and the Cruzcat search engine from this exercise. These are awesome tools and we should make them more available to our patrons.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
I'm so cool.
By the way, did anyone notice that a famous guy commented on my blog?
I know you all check your bloglines on the hour to see if I've updated my page and all, but serioulsy, one of the guys who wrote an article on Thing 14 commented on my blog.
Do I get extra credit for that??
I know you all check your bloglines on the hour to see if I've updated my page and all, but serioulsy, one of the guys who wrote an article on Thing 14 commented on my blog.
Do I get extra credit for that??
Thing #17: Online Applications & Tools
I really like the idea of online documents. ILL uses libsnap to store the majority of our important documents which works ok, but what if it ever crashes? (oh lord, just had to go knock on wood) Or if someone accidentally saves an excel sheet incorrectly it will make a copy instead of rewriting the original document. Also, I cannot access some of my process maps from the computer at the desk since I used a more recent version of Visio to create them.
Sarah and I have already been working on a shared Google spreadsheet--the ILL timeline. I just created another document and I am now sharing it with Sarah and Polly Mae. I really like that we can all edit it online and then save it in many different formats (pdf, text, rtf, html etc)
I think Access Services could use Google docs to better organize things we have on libsnap. (Stats, shipping sheet, process maps, etc.)
Sarah and I have already been working on a shared Google spreadsheet--the ILL timeline. I just created another document and I am now sharing it with Sarah and Polly Mae. I really like that we can all edit it online and then save it in many different formats (pdf, text, rtf, html etc)
I think Access Services could use Google docs to better organize things we have on libsnap. (Stats, shipping sheet, process maps, etc.)
Thing #16: Library 2.0
Away from Icebergs
Iceberg #1: I don't think I know enough about libraries and collection planning to form an opinion about this. All I know is that it scares me to think of a library that has more of a digital collection than print collection...but at the same time I can see his argument that it is wasteful to collect items that are never used. Hmmmm...
Iceberg#2:What IS our patron to staff ratio?? ....I think this "iceberg" is a very real concern for our library. I don't really see how this is a NEW concern though... if anything new technology is making it easier to connect with our patrons.
Iceberg#3: Wow. I totally agree with this. I think Anderson put it well when he wrote we need to be humble. Before UCSC I did not have access to a decent library. In fact, the 'library' at my high school was on the San Diego news for having a ridiculously outdated collection. (Yeah, we still had books calling for the Berlin wall to be torn down.) I couldn't imagine anyone NOT wanting to come to a library...I sometimes mistake patron's attitude of "I want it now" for taking the library for granted; I have to remember that in today's research world, patrons are used to getting things instantly delivered TO them. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Why shouldn't we adapt to this need?
To better bibliographic services
Man. Sometimes it has been difficult for me to think of library uses for all this new technology I'm using. I like the idea of tagging-- like in the LibraryThing. I also like the author's idea of using RSS feeds to help streamline bibliographic data. Some of this stuff is over my head though...but I'm glad someone is thinking
To a temporary place in time
This article was quite interesting. From the previous SL lesson, it seems like the author's visions of Library 2.0 and 3.0 are happening simultaneously in some cases. I think it will take some time fore most libriaries to move into the 2.0 phase....simply doing these 23 things does not make me a Library 2.0 expert. I am just more aware of these tools. The idea of a virtual librarian appearing to help you when you log on to Amazon seems cool, but I don't know if people will start collecting them. It's also strange to think of librarians competing over user reviews....maybe I'm just thinking of my crazy aunt in Texas who obsesses over her ebay stars. I'm not sure I understood all of 4.0 either....
My thoughts on Library 2.0...
I like this vision of a new and technologically integrated library. I kinda wish that these 23 things were mandatory for libstaff; I think we all need to be aware of the new tools technology brings us and how we can use them to provide better service to our patrons.
Iceberg #1: I don't think I know enough about libraries and collection planning to form an opinion about this. All I know is that it scares me to think of a library that has more of a digital collection than print collection...but at the same time I can see his argument that it is wasteful to collect items that are never used. Hmmmm...
Iceberg#2:What IS our patron to staff ratio?? ....I think this "iceberg" is a very real concern for our library. I don't really see how this is a NEW concern though... if anything new technology is making it easier to connect with our patrons.
Iceberg#3: Wow. I totally agree with this. I think Anderson put it well when he wrote we need to be humble. Before UCSC I did not have access to a decent library. In fact, the 'library' at my high school was on the San Diego news for having a ridiculously outdated collection. (Yeah, we still had books calling for the Berlin wall to be torn down.) I couldn't imagine anyone NOT wanting to come to a library...I sometimes mistake patron's attitude of "I want it now" for taking the library for granted; I have to remember that in today's research world, patrons are used to getting things instantly delivered TO them. This is not necessarily a bad thing. Why shouldn't we adapt to this need?
To better bibliographic services
Man. Sometimes it has been difficult for me to think of library uses for all this new technology I'm using. I like the idea of tagging-- like in the LibraryThing. I also like the author's idea of using RSS feeds to help streamline bibliographic data. Some of this stuff is over my head though...but I'm glad someone is thinking
To a temporary place in time
This article was quite interesting. From the previous SL lesson, it seems like the author's visions of Library 2.0 and 3.0 are happening simultaneously in some cases. I think it will take some time fore most libriaries to move into the 2.0 phase....simply doing these 23 things does not make me a Library 2.0 expert. I am just more aware of these tools. The idea of a virtual librarian appearing to help you when you log on to Amazon seems cool, but I don't know if people will start collecting them. It's also strange to think of librarians competing over user reviews....maybe I'm just thinking of my crazy aunt in Texas who obsesses over her ebay stars. I'm not sure I understood all of 4.0 either....
My thoughts on Library 2.0...
I like this vision of a new and technologically integrated library. I kinda wish that these 23 things were mandatory for libstaff; I think we all need to be aware of the new tools technology brings us and how we can use them to provide better service to our patrons.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Thing #15: CSE's...Google!
I tried first messing with my iGoogle page. (Which sounds reminds me of iMacs and iPods.) Many of the features I can add remind me of what is on my Google Desktop-which by the way, everyone should get. It'll change your life.
I'm trying to create a CSE through Google.... I want to have a search that will only go through the ucsc.edu pages....but I know there are the www2 and the www ones... do I use it as a whole site or is it a domain? I don't know the difference....and what about sites like http://kresge.ucsc.edu would that be included if under the plain old www one? Well I did www.ucsc.edu/*, www2.ucsc.edu/*, and ucsc.edu/*
I do like that they have a preview feature before you finish making your CSE......success! I've added it to my iGoogle homepage but I'm not sure it worked; I did a search for library and the first few sites were ucsc related but a bunch came up that were not.....did these come up because on some page that ends in ucsc.edu there is a link to these other pages? The same thing happened when I typed in "Interlibrary Loan" When I typed in "College Ten" all the results were UCSC related.
Personally, I can't think of any other custom sites I would like to search. While I agree that results on the second or third pages may be more relevant to whatever my current search may be, I look for so many random things everyday I can't think of a group of sites I would want to specifically search on a regular basis and I'm too lazy to look on the second and third pages.
However I can see the potential to search library pages; I know I've seen such Google CSE choices on other organization's homepages. You can choose "search the web" or "search ucsc" I think it's awesome...now I only have to figure out what to use it for.
I'm trying to create a CSE through Google.... I want to have a search that will only go through the ucsc.edu pages....but I know there are the www2 and the www ones... do I use it as a whole site or is it a domain? I don't know the difference....and what about sites like http://kresge.ucsc.edu would that be included if under the plain old www one? Well I did www.ucsc.edu/*, www2.ucsc.edu/*, and ucsc.edu/*
I do like that they have a preview feature before you finish making your CSE......success! I've added it to my iGoogle homepage but I'm not sure it worked; I did a search for library and the first few sites were ucsc related but a bunch came up that were not.....did these come up because on some page that ends in ucsc.edu there is a link to these other pages? The same thing happened when I typed in "Interlibrary Loan" When I typed in "College Ten" all the results were UCSC related.
Personally, I can't think of any other custom sites I would like to search. While I agree that results on the second or third pages may be more relevant to whatever my current search may be, I look for so many random things everyday I can't think of a group of sites I would want to specifically search on a regular basis and I'm too lazy to look on the second and third pages.
However I can see the potential to search library pages; I know I've seen such Google CSE choices on other organization's homepages. You can choose "search the web" or "search ucsc" I think it's awesome...now I only have to figure out what to use it for.
Thing #14: Instant Messaging and VoIP
RU READY FOR IM?
Props to author Jesse Wilkins for using "boon" in an article. I liked the four phases of organizational use of IM; I know ILL has used in in the past to communicate internally while on conference calls but I didn't think organizations would be willing to mandate it as a form of communication.
Libraries using MeeboMe for Embedded Chat
I had no idea that UCB and Stanford used IM as one of their "Ask a Librarian" tools. I've IM'ed with PG&E about my electric bill before and that was pretty cool. I think patrons (and people in general--including myself) love instant results and IMing with a research librarian would be quite helpful. Although, I'm sure there are a large number of undergrads who are working on papers late at night and of course we wouldn't be able to IM then.
YackPack Tour
I think that it is pretty cool you can install it on your own webpage. For the group chats I agree with the YackPack claim "it is important to capture your tone of voice".....but what keeps everyone from talking all at once? I recently 'iChatted' with my brother while I was visiting with my sister (we were on her computer) and I could tell there was a few seconds delay. We mostly interrupted each other and talked over each other....but of course we are siblings and we weren't in a professional setting. I also heard that IBM now conducts all conference calls via Second Life....did I mention that before?
YackPack Live Voice
Ummm....I'm on the desk so I can't really run this video right now....maybe later.
I left the 23 Things 2.0 Team an offline message. Jeez, where are you guys it's Sunday afternoon, shouldn't you be waiting by the computer to see if anyone is doing their 23 things?
I think that if used properly, IMing has a lot of potential in the library. I know I use it sometimes to communicate with Polly Mae....since it's SOOOOOOOO far to walk downstairs to ask her a question. It also helps when I have a quick question and I don't want to tie up either the ILL or alternate Circ phone line. Also, when I was an undergraduate one of my TA's gave us his 3 IM handles (AIM, Yahoo!, and ICQ). At first I thought it was a little weird, but it worked out: I had a question about the reading one night, he was online and we chatted and I got my question answered. I don't IM too often but when I do I feel self-conscious about my writing. I usually only type to friends and I don't care about punctuation or grammar. However, if I was in a large chat room instead of a conference call, I would feel the need to be more proper. I also feel a little uncomfortable using all those abbreviations. I'm down with the occasional "lol", but only if I really am "lol". Those "rotflmao" and such are a little too much for me. Ever since I first IM'ed in high school I wanted to write a book on IM etiquette. Your style of typing and response time are crucial. If you wait too long to write back to someone you really should apologize....of course now I would include SL etiquette as well. I once sent a message to a friend over IM and I accidentally had the capslock on. Without even thinking about it I sent her a secondary message that read "sorry for yelling".
I think if we had this service available to patrons it would be very helpful. I think that many patrons would be willing to use it--especially when the reference desk is busy during midterms/finals.
Props to author Jesse Wilkins for using "boon" in an article. I liked the four phases of organizational use of IM; I know ILL has used in in the past to communicate internally while on conference calls but I didn't think organizations would be willing to mandate it as a form of communication.
Libraries using MeeboMe for Embedded Chat
I had no idea that UCB and Stanford used IM as one of their "Ask a Librarian" tools. I've IM'ed with PG&E about my electric bill before and that was pretty cool. I think patrons (and people in general--including myself) love instant results and IMing with a research librarian would be quite helpful. Although, I'm sure there are a large number of undergrads who are working on papers late at night and of course we wouldn't be able to IM then.
YackPack Tour
I think that it is pretty cool you can install it on your own webpage. For the group chats I agree with the YackPack claim "it is important to capture your tone of voice".....but what keeps everyone from talking all at once? I recently 'iChatted' with my brother while I was visiting with my sister (we were on her computer) and I could tell there was a few seconds delay. We mostly interrupted each other and talked over each other....but of course we are siblings and we weren't in a professional setting. I also heard that IBM now conducts all conference calls via Second Life....did I mention that before?
YackPack Live Voice
Ummm....I'm on the desk so I can't really run this video right now....maybe later.
I left the 23 Things 2.0 Team an offline message. Jeez, where are you guys it's Sunday afternoon, shouldn't you be waiting by the computer to see if anyone is doing their 23 things?
I think that if used properly, IMing has a lot of potential in the library. I know I use it sometimes to communicate with Polly Mae....since it's SOOOOOOOO far to walk downstairs to ask her a question. It also helps when I have a quick question and I don't want to tie up either the ILL or alternate Circ phone line. Also, when I was an undergraduate one of my TA's gave us his 3 IM handles (AIM, Yahoo!, and ICQ). At first I thought it was a little weird, but it worked out: I had a question about the reading one night, he was online and we chatted and I got my question answered. I don't IM too often but when I do I feel self-conscious about my writing. I usually only type to friends and I don't care about punctuation or grammar. However, if I was in a large chat room instead of a conference call, I would feel the need to be more proper. I also feel a little uncomfortable using all those abbreviations. I'm down with the occasional "lol", but only if I really am "lol". Those "rotflmao" and such are a little too much for me. Ever since I first IM'ed in high school I wanted to write a book on IM etiquette. Your style of typing and response time are crucial. If you wait too long to write back to someone you really should apologize....of course now I would include SL etiquette as well. I once sent a message to a friend over IM and I accidentally had the capslock on. Without even thinking about it I sent her a secondary message that read "sorry for yelling".
I think if we had this service available to patrons it would be very helpful. I think that many patrons would be willing to use it--especially when the reference desk is busy during midterms/finals.
Thing #13: Wikis 2
Wow. I contributed to a wiki. That was completely painless. I've never actually tried that before. I'm a little confused, in the pb&j intro it stated if you were the wiki creator/manager you could simply share your password with people you wanted to allow to modify your wiki. (Which is probably the case with the wikis I tried to edit in the previous step that wouldn't let me.); but this wiki and the ALA 06 one allowed me to edit without entering anything. I know it sounds strange but I like the idea of anyone being able to add content....but the fact that anyone can delete is a little scary.
Well, I added the second paragraph under "Interlibrary Loan" . It's a brief overview of our best practices. Many thanks to Kerry Scott, Jennifer Walker (Laredo), Gina Tiramisou (not her real last name), Sarah Troy, Lisa Landsberg, and Kim Levy for establishing these best practices and making us a team based unit.
Well, I added the second paragraph under "Interlibrary Loan" . It's a brief overview of our best practices. Many thanks to Kerry Scott, Jennifer Walker (Laredo), Gina Tiramisou (not her real last name), Sarah Troy, Lisa Landsberg, and Kim Levy for establishing these best practices and making us a team based unit.
Thing #12: Wikis 1
So yeah. I've been getting Wikis confused with widgets....those handy little things that sometimes pop up when I'm working on a Mac. Oh by the way, did you know that some college on the east coast had to write in their regulations that quoting Wikipedia in research papers was not allowed. I love looking things up in wikipedia, but honestly, as a source for collegiate papers?? Come on now people! I can't believe they actually had to make it part of their rules.....don't people know better than to use Wikipedia like that? I mean if you want to find out what year the Avett Brothers released their first underground track, then fine....but using it for real research??? Anywho, let's see what librarians are using wikis for....
The Mansfield Library Social Sciences Wiki Page
This wiki looks like it took a lot of hard work for the librarian who created it. I noticed that in order to add content to the wiki page you have to have a password. I thought one of the benefits of wikis was that anyone could add info without having to subscribe to something. I can see how this page connects one to Social Science related links & journals, but how is this better than our own "Research" tab? I couldn't imagine anyone but the research librarians adding content to this wiki so why not just have an internal page like ours? I do like the link on the bottom to create your own wiki though.
Book Lovers Wiki
I like the idea of a wiki solely dedicated to book reviews. Also, when you click on any of the book titles it links you to the Princeton Public Library catalog results. I feel a little uneasy about only having one genre for 'non-fiction' and no subset subject categories. Although I suppose a public library can do that without worrying too much. Again, I tried to add content and a sandwich popped up asking me to subscribe $ ... I thought wikis were free. I'm confused.
Library Success: A best practices wiki
I LOVE this idea. Sharing best practices internationally is awesome! Not just reading about guiding principles but learning about staff training, grant writing, services for specific groups...etc is extremely beneficial. I want to know why I have not heard about this service before. I think that changing and improving processes is an important part of providing quality patron service and sharing great ideas and best practices in an easily accessible media is awesome!
ALA 2006 New Orleans wiki
Let me just state that attending an ALA conference is a dream of mine. So if anyone wants to contribute to Sheri's ALA '08 Fund, I accept M.O., cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and PayPal. However, now with this New Orleans 06 Wiki, I can pretend like I was there! Oh and did anyone notice the link to the pictures on Flickr?? Also with this wiki and the one listed above, ANYONE can add information!
I've been having problems with thinking up of library uses for a couple of the 23 things....but wikis, no way! Now here's a way we can share information and improve our practices easily and instantly!
The Mansfield Library Social Sciences Wiki Page
This wiki looks like it took a lot of hard work for the librarian who created it. I noticed that in order to add content to the wiki page you have to have a password. I thought one of the benefits of wikis was that anyone could add info without having to subscribe to something. I can see how this page connects one to Social Science related links & journals, but how is this better than our own "Research" tab? I couldn't imagine anyone but the research librarians adding content to this wiki so why not just have an internal page like ours? I do like the link on the bottom to create your own wiki though.
Book Lovers Wiki
I like the idea of a wiki solely dedicated to book reviews. Also, when you click on any of the book titles it links you to the Princeton Public Library catalog results. I feel a little uneasy about only having one genre for 'non-fiction' and no subset subject categories. Although I suppose a public library can do that without worrying too much. Again, I tried to add content and a sandwich popped up asking me to subscribe $ ... I thought wikis were free. I'm confused.
Library Success: A best practices wiki
I LOVE this idea. Sharing best practices internationally is awesome! Not just reading about guiding principles but learning about staff training, grant writing, services for specific groups...etc is extremely beneficial. I want to know why I have not heard about this service before. I think that changing and improving processes is an important part of providing quality patron service and sharing great ideas and best practices in an easily accessible media is awesome!
ALA 2006 New Orleans wiki
Let me just state that attending an ALA conference is a dream of mine. So if anyone wants to contribute to Sheri's ALA '08 Fund, I accept M.O., cash, check, Visa, MasterCard, Discover and PayPal. However, now with this New Orleans 06 Wiki, I can pretend like I was there! Oh and did anyone notice the link to the pictures on Flickr?? Also with this wiki and the one listed above, ANYONE can add information!
I've been having problems with thinking up of library uses for a couple of the 23 things....but wikis, no way! Now here's a way we can share information and improve our practices easily and instantly!
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Thing #11: Folksonomies, LibraryThing
First, let me begin by saying "The love child of Melvyl, Dewey, and Web 2.0" is my favorite quote of the month. I love it.
LibraryThing is amazing! Polly Mae and I are truly having fun searching it. I love everything about it that I have explored so far. I looked up one of my favorite books, The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, and I was greeted with a cloud (?) of tags used to describe it, a list of recommended books, reviews, links to chats about the book, ratings, links to bookstores I could purchase it at, pictures of different covers, probably all of the different ISBNs for it, and (my favorite) WIKIPEDIA LINKS relating to the book. WOW.
I've read many of the books on the recommended reading list, but some I haven't heard of. After learning more about them, there is no question as to why they are associated with The Interpretation of Dreams. I really like that the recommended books aren't just a list of other works by Freud, nor are they reviews of the original book. I think the tags for this are awesome! Are they created by the members who own this book, or does LibraryThing have a set of basic ones that are tagged on purpose?
I really liked looking at the Danbury Public catalog. I would love it if Cruzcat would link to LibraryThing. It seems like our patrons would get so much more out of just one simple search! The only LC subject headings for my book were "psychoanalysis", "dreams", and sometimes the author's name. It would be much more helpful if the dozen tags related to the subject popped up along with the recommended reading list. I vote for it. Do we have to have a bake sale to get it?
ps Mon rocks.
LibraryThing is amazing! Polly Mae and I are truly having fun searching it. I love everything about it that I have explored so far. I looked up one of my favorite books, The Interpretation of Dreams by Sigmund Freud, and I was greeted with a cloud (?) of tags used to describe it, a list of recommended books, reviews, links to chats about the book, ratings, links to bookstores I could purchase it at, pictures of different covers, probably all of the different ISBNs for it, and (my favorite) WIKIPEDIA LINKS relating to the book. WOW.
I've read many of the books on the recommended reading list, but some I haven't heard of. After learning more about them, there is no question as to why they are associated with The Interpretation of Dreams. I really like that the recommended books aren't just a list of other works by Freud, nor are they reviews of the original book. I think the tags for this are awesome! Are they created by the members who own this book, or does LibraryThing have a set of basic ones that are tagged on purpose?
I really liked looking at the Danbury Public catalog. I would love it if Cruzcat would link to LibraryThing. It seems like our patrons would get so much more out of just one simple search! The only LC subject headings for my book were "psychoanalysis", "dreams", and sometimes the author's name. It would be much more helpful if the dozen tags related to the subject popped up along with the recommended reading list. I vote for it. Do we have to have a bake sale to get it?
ps Mon rocks.
Thing #10: Technocrati, Tagging and Pinging
I must admit, I like saying the word "ping". That's about it. I felt a little weird pinging the world and letting them know I updated my blog. I don't think anybody would really care too much. I went back to see if any of the blog search engines could find my blog.....I used very specific keywords from previous entries that only my blog, or someone else doing UCSC Lib 2.0 would have. Of the 9 search engines I tried, only two (Technocrati and Ice Rocket) "found" me. (Weblogs, Feedburner, Feedster, Blogdigger, Yahoo!, WeBlogALot, PubSub could not).
I'm not sure if the search engines 'look' only at my most recent blog or if they search keywords throughout any blog that has pinged them. I tried keywords from both my most recent and the earlier blogs and again only the two search engines worked.
I'm trying to move away from the idea that blogs are just social networking tools used by high schoolers to update the world on what they wore to class. I can see that we are all obviously using these blogs to learn more about how new technology can help us better serve our patrons but I'm not sure how pinging would come in to play when it comes to helping with academic research. If I was a student looking up research tools I wouldn't think to search a blog engine for information. Even if I knew a "research blog" existed, I'd probably just go to it instead of searching. Of course, that is just my humble opinion and maybe people who are more blog savvy and look at them in a different light would disagree. Also, I can see the benefits in using it to communicate internally about events and changes in the library.
I'm not sure if the search engines 'look' only at my most recent blog or if they search keywords throughout any blog that has pinged them. I tried keywords from both my most recent and the earlier blogs and again only the two search engines worked.
I'm trying to move away from the idea that blogs are just social networking tools used by high schoolers to update the world on what they wore to class. I can see that we are all obviously using these blogs to learn more about how new technology can help us better serve our patrons but I'm not sure how pinging would come in to play when it comes to helping with academic research. If I was a student looking up research tools I wouldn't think to search a blog engine for information. Even if I knew a "research blog" existed, I'd probably just go to it instead of searching. Of course, that is just my humble opinion and maybe people who are more blog savvy and look at them in a different light would disagree. Also, I can see the benefits in using it to communicate internally about events and changes in the library.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Thing #9: Del.icio.us
Dude. Del.icio.us---awesome! Between this and bloglines I'm never going to have to remember anything again. I've already added a bunch of sites and I'm excited to use them. This is going to be so helpful when working out at the Access Desk. Sure, we have a few sites bookmarked but now I will have EVERYTHING. As sad as it is, I've actually memorized the VDX site, http://ucill.cdlib.org:8082/vdx/index.html and that was my mental bookmark. AND I don't have to guess at the 23 things site anymore.... was it ucsc23learning...ucsclearning23....23learningucsc.....The only depressing part about this wonderful program is that the only sites I can think of to mark are work related..... This service has obvious potential as an academic research tool. Students and Faculty can bookmark helpful research pages and tools and access them from anywhere! I wish I knew about this a long time ago.
Back From Vacation
I hope nobody gave up on me: I have not lost interest in the 23 things, I've just been on vacation. Where did I go, you ask? I spent a few days in Washington (state, not DC) with my sister for our birthday--we were born on the same day, but 6 years apart... I had to bake a little longer. I then traveled to the beautiful, exotic land of Hesperia. Although it is only 30 miles away, Hesperia is considered the classier, nicer version of Barstow. They have THREE Del Tacos. Barstow only has a mere two. Although, Barstow can claim the very first DelTaco was built there & they have larger tacos. I recommend the #6: Quesadilla, two tacos and a soda. I LOVE Del Taco. I once drove to Watsonville quell my craving. No joke. Hesperia is also home to three other things I love: my best friend, her children, and of course Ma Dukes. The picture above, courtesy of Andy12-74 on Flickr, is a nice representation of the High Desert. You know you want to visit. Hit me up and we'll carpool.
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