Thing #11: Tagging and del.icio.us

Our library has already made forays into the world of del.icio.us. A few months ago we created an account and pulled together some bookmarks. Some are for staff use re: Library 2.0, etc., and others are on subject areas of interest to students. We have the most recent bookmarks displayed on the Library's home page.

http://dctclibrary.dctc.edu/

I'm thinking it would be good to tag and pull together "bundles" on subjects where we get questions, like test prep and citation style. It would be more dynamic and flexible than our current links, and easier to add great new sites. (As it is now, we have to contact the college's webmaster to make changes.)

I can also see working with instructors to put up del.icio.us links that pertain to their particular courses. This could be particularly effective in the D2L (online) courses.

Oh -- in checking out the other libraries' accounts that you posted, I see they've been good about bundling the tags -- something I haven't done much of yet -- and one library even listed them by Dewey number! (good idea)

Oh, one other good use of del.icio.us: I'm going to be doing on a project in which some of the work can be done from home. It'll help a lot being able to access my bookmarks from either work or home.

Thing #10: Wikis

I edited the practice Wiki, just adding a simple statement: "DCTC Library was here." It was fun -- always kind of a "power moment" to see one's words appear on one of these things for all to see!

I could see the wikis being useful in creating, maintaining and adding to our online subject guides. As it is now, it's sort of a ponderous process. If I see something I want to add to a subject guide, I have to go into the files and change the code, then it goes to the head librarian, who sends a batch of these up the college webmaster once we get enough sites we want to update.

We've also briefly discussed using a wiki for staff announcements and to keep track of everyone's schedules, which vary widely. The trick would be to get everyone accustomed to using it and checking it regularly.

As for the interesting question of instructors banning wikipedia as a source for papers... As a librarian, I cringe at the idea of "banning" any information form. But what I tell my students in library instruction sessions is, basically: There are SO many forms of truly reliable information out there on the 'net. And Google and Wikipedia have their place, and I personally use them a lot. But when I want something that I truly know will be reliable, something that's been vetted for accuracy, something an instructor would give you a decent grade for using, I go to lii.org or to one of the sources you find via CQ Researcher or SIRS. In a pinch, for some tough-to-find or very current issues, Wikipedia can give you good links and so can Google, but you have to be a bit skeptical and use your judgement. So that's my basic shpiel...

Thing #9: Online Collaboration Tools

OK, I've just finished adding a few silly (and fun) edits to these documents of our Founding Fathers.

I found the sign-up process a bit confusing and nearly gave up on this step a few times. For the Google Docs, I thought I was doing everything right, putting in my Google username and password, etc., and still couldn't get in. Then finally realized I had to ask permission to edit. Makes sense, of course, but I wasn't clear on the process at first.

Both seem equally easy to use, although I only did minor edits, so it's hard to say. When I made my edits, it changed the text, and I didn't understand how the highlighted comments of others and the time stamp showed up in the Google Docs, when it didn't on mine. Or maybe it will show up now that I've logged out? Or maybe there's another feature I need to explore? I did this pretty quickly.

Anyway, very useful and interesting! If the Founding Fathers lived today, this is probably how they would have done it, and who knows what they would have come up with... a Declaration of Independence with emoticons? :)

Thing #8: Share Your Creations

OK, now we're getting to the frontiers... all new territory for me. I'm about to paste in some Picture Trail code, and we are going to see what happens! Here goes...... YAY, it worked!

Now to answer some of the blog prompts. I found Picture Trail fairly easy to use, but that's partly because of experience with other applications, like Flickr. I have used Photobucket before, for personal use, to post images and avatars to bulletin boards. I've been thinking about creating a personal web page or blog and can image some very cool displays I could create with what I'm learning here.

As for the our library, we could do various sorts of nice displays: photos of staff members in action, or bookcovers of new acquisitions, for example. We're trying to come up with ideas that will be user-friendly for our distance learning students, and this presents some possibilities.

Thing #7: Web 2.0 Communication Tools

In our college and library, e-mail is primarily used by staff contacting each other. We rarely get e-mail from students.

As for IMing, we put up a meebo widget a few months ago, and it appears on the Library home page in a box labeled "Ask a Librarian." At first, we weren't getting any hits. But I've been publicizing it in my bibliographic instruction sessions, and now we're starting to get modest use. No one's used it for in-depth reference yet. Usually it's a student wanting to activate his/her card in order to use the subscription databases from off-campus.

However, just yesterday, for the very first time, we got added to a student's buddy list -- a milestone!

We've been participating in webinars for some time here. As part of MnSCU, we have had much of our ALEPH training via webinar. And I've done MINITEX webinars, as well. It's a great tool, though sometimes challenging to find a space where it'll be quiet and you won't be disturbed.

I can't see us using texting because our building is basically a "bunker" (that's its affectionate nickname) and I've never heard of anyone getting cell phone reception in this building. I'm no stranger to texting, however, thanks to my son, who sends me messages. At first I was all thumbs and sent some really crazy messages, largely because the "predictive text" feature was turned on. But then I read the manual and saw that I could turn that off, and my messages got more readable!

Thing #6: Online Image Generators

These online image generators are fun, and make me feel very powerful and creative. I have a friend who does these, and I always wondered how she did it! These could be excellent for putting on the Library web site or for a presentation. Lots to work with here...


My creation #2
Originally uploaded by barbarat2

A trading card!

Thing #6a: Online Image Generator, using Image Chef

Thing #5: More Flikr Fun

After a few false starts, here is my use of Spell with Flickr. Don't know how you would change sizing so it all fits on one line, but voila!

Thing #4: Flikr

Libraryfor23Things 002
Originally uploaded by barbarat2

Here is my work companion, my plant. Does this look like Little Library of Horrors? :P

More Flikr

Libraryfor23Things 001
Originally uploaded by barbarat2

The world as I see it....

At least my WORK world, from the DCTC reference desk.

Comments re: Flickr

Thing #4: Flickr

Now, for some reason, this took me an inordinate amount of time to figure out. I almost gave up, but I FINALLY DID IT! (pats self on back)

I was not seeing the "Blog This" choice on my Flikr screen. Turns out I just wasn't at the right screen. I hadn't selected one photo at a time; I was looking at the page with all my Flikr photos, looking for the "Blog This" button above the individual photos. Turns out you have to select one of them first. DUH. But now I'll remember! -- and it's satisfying to see the photos up.

Thing #3: RSS feeds

OK, I can definitely see the addictive nature of these (thankfully, low-calorie) feeds! Perfect for a news junkie like me. I've set up my Bloglines, and it's amazing to see how many new posts appeared overnight -- a bit overwhelming. But I do like how the news is brought to you rather than having to make the rounds of surfing a bunch of favorite sites.

I can see how these feeds would work really well with the curriculum of certain classes -- where students could have a section of their home page -- or instructors their D2L page -- have feeds coming in. What a way to make learning current and dynamic!

Not sure yet how we can incorporate this into our library learning, but I'll keep thinking about it. It's a good tool to have in the "toolbox," and I'll be interested in seeing how other libraries are making use of feeds.

Thing #2: Library 2.0

Here we are asked to share our thoughts on Library 2.0 after having read the various articles. I'm finding this enlightening and thought-provoking. I get a little confused, since I don't really know yet what some of the programs are -- like Flikr. But I am looking forward to learning about them. Some other applications I have already used, such as chat. I've long been using IMing to talk with my kids, and here at our library we use Meebo (though it hasn't been getting too much use.) Personally speaking, I have a Facebook page, and I post on Internet discussion boards.

As we work our way through the new technologies that comprise Library 2.0 (and sometimes feel overwhelmed), I try to remember that what's paramount is the fulfillment of our main, and timeless, purpose. Whatever technologies and methods best fulfill that purpose in today's world -- and in our particular institutions -- are the ones we should use. (This will all become clearer to me as we go along!)