Method 12

In your final blog entry for this program, please reflect on your learning journey and post a few thoughts. (Please don’t forget to include “Method 12″ in the title of your blog post.) Here are some questions to prompt you if you’re drawing a blank for your post

… What were your favorite discoveries or exercises on this learning journey? How has this program assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals? Were there any take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised you? What could we do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?And last but not least… If we offered another discovery program like this in the future, would you again chose to participate?

I enjoyed learning about the different technologies and applications available online. The program helped me get a good grip on what's out there and gave me a chance to get some hands on learning with each program. I was new to the Reader and RSS portions of the course. It was interesting to read about how it works and how it can be useful. I set up my own account to see how it works and I've been using it here and there. The social bookmarking post was also a new world for me. I now have a better understanding of podcasts and have more resources to find them.

I also enjoyed the "In Plain English" videos. I could definitely use those to explain different concepts to others who may not know anything about new technologies. The videos are simple and to the point with just enough information to introduce the concept but not overwhelm anyone with unnecessary information.

I think this program has helped me see the possibilities of using web 2.0 and has helped me think about how these tools can be utilized to help customers within the library.

The program was easy to start and easy to follow. The instructions were clear and the questions were open but not obscure. I would definitely take a similar course if it was offered. I enjoyed the format with each method having its own page and being able to read a little background on each program or concept. The links and resources listed for each concept were helpful.

If another program like this was created, I think it would be helpful to have an e-mail address or chat room that participants can use to send questions to in case they have problems with the posts or programs. I didn't have a problem with anything when it came to trying out the programs and new technologies, but I know other people probably had questions.

Method 11

1. Take a look at one or two of the podcast directories.

2. Listen to one (or more) podcast(s) that you find.

3. Blog about the podcast(s). (Please title your post “Method 11″.) Did you find anything useful and/or do you think your library might have a potential reason to begin creating podcasts?

I visited podcast.com to see what podcasts were available on the site. The top of the page has a scrolling list of the newest podcasts. One of the most recent broadcasts came from Swedish Radio. The creator of the Podcasting in plain English video said there is a podcast for everyone and it definitely seems that's the case. I am interested in Sweden, so it's fun to see that one of the first podcasts I saw on the site was a news podcast from Sweden. I didn't even have to search for it in the results. It was automatically listed on the front page as one of the latest files. The file I listened to was in Swedish and is called "Dagens Ekot", which is a roundup of the latest news events. It is a podcast from a national and professional broadcaster, so it is more polished than some of the other broadcasts on the site.

I think podcasting would be beneficial for larger libraries, such as college libraries. It could work well for classroom lectures. The professor could record a lecture and place it on a website. Or the library could archive the lectures for students to download. I don't see any great success with podcasts in a smaller public library.

It doesn't take too much effort to create and upload a podcast, so I can see a benefit in that respect. One just has to record an event or speech or topic and place it on the site, although I don't think most people will realize podcasts are availble from their local public library. If they do realize it, I don't think many people would download and listen to them. There are so many podcasts to choose from that I think a small library podcast would get lost in the flood. There may be one or two people who listen to the file in the end.

Podcasting is economical and fairly simple, so nearly any library can add it to the services they offer. It may not become popular, but it's worth a try. If it works well, the library can continue with their podcasts. If it doesn't work well, the library can drop it and focus on other areas.

Method 10

1.First, please take a look at some library wikis to see how they are being used in Library Land.

2.Next, play around and gain some experience adding to a wiki by adding a few of your favorite things to the Library Development A Dozen Ways to Two Step Favorites wiki. (Note: this is a wiki we created using PBworks, one of the many free wiki tools available today.)

I think wikis are an excellent resource for pooling information and coordinating information among people. I use Wikipedia as a pop culture reference and have learned a lot from reading it myself. I know many people think Wikipedia is not as accurate as more traditional sources, such as the Encyclopedia Britannica, since anyone can edit it, but a study concluded that is just as accurate as other sources. As long as a Wiki is moderated properly, it can be an incredible information source.

I have edited a few articles myself in Wikipedia, so I know how easy it is to use. The concept is simple and I think this is the main reason for its success (and the success of other wikis). Anyone can contribute with their knowledge and it's not overly complicated.

The library wikis that were posted were quite interesting and made me want to click on each succesive link for more information. I can imagine other people do this as well when they visit a wiki.

I liked the way the St. Joseph County Subject Guide was set up. It was clean and uncluttered with links to many good sites. I also enjoy the flexibility with a wiki. The St. Joseph site has a page for local authors and local history. The good thing about a wiki is that anyone can add to the database. If someone else knows a local author, they can add that information.

One application of a wiki would be as a place to store useful internet links and sites. I know we share a lot of internet links as resources but we usually share them through e-mail, print, or in person. If we collected them all together and put them in one central location, it would be easier to find the right link when we need it. We could also build upon the links to create a more comprehensive database. We could see the subjects where we don't have any resources and find some to fit the subjects.

Method 9

1.If you have a Gmail account (Google’s email account), a Yahoo email account, a Hotmail account or a similar account that has chat built into it, log into your account and explore the chat feature by identifying someone from your contact list that is online and initiating a chat with them. If you are having trouble finding someone from your contact list to chat with, find a friend or colleague that you know has a similar account and set up a time to chat with them.

2.In your “Method 9″ blog post, tell us about your chat experience. How did it go? Did you find it easy or difficult? Also, what do you think about chat/IM and libraries? Is your library currently offering chat/IM and if not, do you think it might in the future?

I've used Yahoo Messenger and MSN messenger before. I haven't tried Google Talk yet. I like the MSN messenger because I think it looks cleaner. I also am not fond of Yahoo's smilies. The layout on both programs is simple and intuitive. There is no difference between the reliability of each program. Both programs have always worked well and efficiently for me in the past. I think it's easy to use a chat program but I have been doing so for several years, so it's nothing new to me. Using chats may cause a little confusion for someone who has never done it before, but I would imagine almost anyone could pick up on it easily. Chat programs are usually self-explanatory.

Chat and IM programs are yet another resource libraries can use to reach out to the general public. It's a simple tool that can easily be added to a page, like Meebo, or it can be used in conjunction with a larger program like Google. It is a way to interact online with patrons. It can help them quickly find the information they need.

Our library system uses chat and IM programs to interact with the general public. Patrons can get immediate live help with their questions by clicking on a button on the front page.

Method 8

9.The final part of this exercise is to write about this experience in your blog. (Please include “Method 8″ in the title of your post.) Consider some of these questions as you reflect on this two-stepping method: How do you feel about social networking sites in general? Do you have privacy concerns and/or concerns about keeping your personal life separate from your professional life in the online environment? Is your library already using some of these social networking tools and if not, do you see potential uses for any of these tools in your library? Finally, if you created a MySpace or Facebook profile and you don’t mind sharing it with everyone, include a link to it from your blog post.

I started using Facebook in the years it was available to college students only. I didn't think it was particularly interesting at that point, so I quit using it after a few short weeks. It was only about a year ago that I was able to reset my password and regain entry into my original profile. I found out that Facebook had changed considerably since I first logged on in college. I recall very little activity on the site in the early years, but by the time I started up again, it seemed that everything was different. Now, there is always activity on the site and it seems like everyone I know has a page.

I honestly resisted the use of MySpace and Facebook at first. I wasn't compelled to share my every moment with people and thought it was a little intrusive regarding privacy issues. I was also a little frustrated with the site, because when I needed a computer to write a paper or to study at the college library, I could never find one. People were using the majority of their time online updating their status or checking what their friends were doing instead of working on their schoolwork.

In the past year, since I started using Facebook again, I'm still not exactly enamoured with it. It's an interesting way to keep up with friends and to share daily happenings, but I don't use it as frequently or with as much intensity as many other people my age.

However, I do see the value of something like Facebook. There are many people who do use it as a way to find out what's happening with their friends, in pop culture, in the world, in their own city. And they use it on a daily basis, sometimes even hourly. Since so many people do use Facebook and Myspace to keep up with their lives, it can become a good place for libraries to be. It is a good way to keep people updated on what's going on at the library. It can be used to promote the library and what it has to offer. It can be used to interact with patrons and to find out their thoughts on the library.

The library system I work for does use social networking tools like Facebook to reach out to the general public.

Method 7

7.Create a “Method 7″ blog post about your experience and thoughts about this tool. Can you see the potential of this tool for use by libraries/librarians? Or do you think it is just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?

I have heard about Delicious over the past few years and have seen the buttons around the web, although I never took time to investigate what Delicious was all about. I now have a better understanding of what it is and what it can do.

I think sites like Delicious could be helpful for organization and I like the sharing aspect of the site. It's also good that the links are not connected to just one computer, but can be accessed from anywhere. When I change computers, I usually just leave my bookmarks behind and start again.

I can see how a site like this could carve a niche of users and would keep the users' interest over the course of the first few months. The site would be a good way to collect information and share information, but it only works with consistent user participation. I have seen several pages where a user began posting links, only to stop a few months later or they have hundreds of links without tags. It becomes less useful when tags aren't added.

The libraries involved with Delicious have useful links and have kept up with the accounts. These accounts can be a good resource for patrons. Instead of hunting for the information, patrons at Thunder Bay can click on a tag and be taken to the relevant links immediately. Sites like Delicious make it possible to provide relevant links quickly. Delicious is a good resource to know about, but I don't believe it will be a permanent way to collect links. I think it has a shelf-life, but it is good to use while it is still popular.

Method 6

1.Explore YouTube or TeacherTube and find a video worth adding as an entry in your blog.

2.Create a blog post about your experience titled “Method 6″. What did you like or dislike about the site and why did you choose the video that you did? Can you see any features or components of the site that might be interesting if they were applied to library websites?

Air of Love - Jenny Berggren

I chose this video because it's one of my favorite songs and I use YouTube a lot to find songs, lyrics, and new artists. I don't spend too much time on the site watching TV shows or videos created by people. I do, however, use it to watch music videos, see concerts, and find new music.

I have been using YouTube for several years and have uploaded my own videos to the site, so I know it's a relatively easy process. I enjoy the amount of videos and depth of content available. I have been able to find many relatively obscure songs and artists on the site, which would not have been possible on any other site. There have been many times where YouTube has been the only source of a song or clip from an artist.

I use YouTube primarily for music, but I have used YouTube for more than just songs. I've also used it to find practical information like product reviews and travel information.

I think the search feature works very well. I usually find what I'm looking for on the first few hits. I don't like the time restrictions on uploads. Videos cannot be too long and this restriction has given me a little trouble in the past when uploading. I also have found that uploading doesn't work well much of the time. I've had many uploads fail or take a long time to get through the system.

I think YouTube can be used to create promotional clips of the library. Programs can be recorded and shared online. Clips can be created to provide information on public library procedures, such as a video for new patrons or a video to explain printing and computer use.

Clips can also be made just for fun. I've seen several clips on YouTube involving libraries that are both informative and fun. YouTube clips could be directed toward their target audience by being posted on the library's website, Facebook page and Twitter feed.

Most videos posted on YouTube don't receive many hits, but by using other social media tools, a library can direct the clip to users who would be interested in watching and learning more about the library they frequent.

Method 5

6.Play with Flickr images by completing one of the following options:
i.Take a good look around Flickr and discover an interesting image that you want to include in your blog post for this method (Method 5). In your blog, include either a link to the image or, if you create a Flickr account, use Flickr’s blogging tool to add the image to your post. (Another option for including images in your post is to follow your blog’s photo upload process. For example, if you are using Blogger, you would use Blogger’s photo upload tool.)

7.Finally (whew!), create a blog post (titled “Method 5″) discussing online photo sharing. On a personal level – is it something you plan to do or perhaps something you are already doing? And on a professional level — do you see some potential uses of online photo sharing sites for libraries?

A link to a photo from Flickr: http://www.flickr.com/photos/71432201@N00/516839794/

Online photo sharing is more convenient and organized than using film and a camera. It hasn't taken long for digital cameras to overtake film cameras. I can understand why when you consider photo sharing programs like Flickr. It is incredibly easy to upload and share. No need to take your film in for processing and creating doubles to share with others. All that is needed is a camera, a memory card, and a computer. The ability to tag pictures is also a major advantage over the old method of organizing photo albums. Storage is also much easier. It takes up space on the drive but not in the home. However, it is much easier to lose pictures in this way as well. Photos can be forever lost if they're not backed up properly. This is less likely to happen with print photos.

I don't take a lot of photos myself but I do have a Photobucket account and Flickr account because it makes it easier to share the photos I do take. I would like to put more pictures online and have contemplated scanning in old paper photos. I haven't gotten as far as making a plan, although it would be nice to have direct access to the old photos instead of letting them sit in boxes for years.

I can definitely see the advantage of using photo sharing sites for libraries. It is an efficient and simple way to show others what is happening at the library. It can be used to advertise programs. It can be used as a way to commemorate a program or happening. It can be used to spice up library blogs or websites. Visual elements draw people into a site or page. Using photo sharing sites are a low-cost and easy way to help libraries meet their goals.

Method 4

8.On your blog, add links to your 3 feeds and post to your blog about this exercise. (Please include “Method 4″ in the title of your blog post.) What appealed to you about these feeds? Do you see yourself using Google Reader or some other RSS Reader to keep up with certain sites now?

The video was helpful in learning what an RSS feed is and how it works to bring information directly to you. The people who created the video did a good job of explaining how RSS feeds and other subscription services work. It's a simple yet effective explanation.

I signed up for Google Reader, which was a quick and easy process. I added three feeds to follow. The three feeds I chose are news sites from Sweden:

http://www.gp.se/1.16560
http://www.dagen.se/rss/storanyheter
http://www.svd.se/?service=rss&type=senastenytt

I have avoided subscribing to RSS feeds for awhile now because I enjoy hunting on the web for news stories and bits of information. There's just something about stumbling onto an interesting news article. And maybe I've also avoided them because the feeds seem to be one more thing to keep up with. If I subscribe to too many feeds, I'll have hundreds upon hundred of links and info to sift through.

I already have have more than 1,000 posts listed in the three feeds I just subscribed to. Imagine if I had 20 feeds or 50 or 100. It would quickly become overwhelming. All the information is fed directly to my site, but it also takes time to sift through everything and figure out what to read using this method too. I'd rather stick to my normal sites and hunt for what I'm interested in directly from each site.

I can see the advantage of RSS feeds for someone who has a cell phone or a mobile device. This would be a good way to keep up with things without having to deal with the heavy graphics and large loading webpages of a normal site. That would be a good advantage. However, I don't feel the need to be connected to online sources at all times, so this wouldn't work well for me personally.

I think the Good Reader service that bundles popular feeds by subject (Art, History, Language, etc) is also a nice touch. It helps people find new links, new information and new subjects online. That's one advantage of an RSS feeder. It helps bring news to people who are otherwise not likely to find it without a lot of searching. Some of the library feeds would work well for many people, such as the new books feed from Maricopa County.

Method 3

6.Share your impressions and thoughts regarding online productivity tools and cloud computing by posting to your blog. (Please include “Method 3″ in the title of your blog post.) Some jumping off points for your blog post might be: How do you feel about these tools and concepts? Do you see great benefits for use in libraries? Overall, would you say that you are more excited or more cautious/skeptical about cloud computing?

I use Google Docs and Gmail on a frequent basis. I also use a few photo storage sites like Photobucket and Flickr. I enjoy the easy access to my files and information, although I don't think I would move all of my information to cloud based applications like Doug Johnson was attempting to do.

Many of the commenters spoke about privacy issues and that would also be a concern of mine if I were to put everything online. Plus, the technology isn't always reliable. There have been times where I needed to access my documents only to find out the system wasn't operating at that particular moment.

Cloud computing programs could work well in libraries because they can be used to share info and collaborate with others. The information would be availabe on different computers, which would make it easy to share and work together on different projects.

I like the idea of being able to use different programs with any computer and access it in any place. However, I think the drawbacks make me a little cautious. Who has access to the files and information and how is it shared with others? I think it's important to know exactly how the information will be stored and who will be able to access it. I would not put any sensitive or important information onto a Google Document at this time. I may consider it in the future, but I would need to know there are sufficient security measures in place to protect the data.

Methods 1 and 2

2.Next, think about what you have read and seen. What are your thoughts regarding Web 2.0 and Library 2.0? What do the terms mean to you? To your library? Or libraries in general?

I think the 2.0 changes will be classified as a highlight of the technology revolution. Before, we were mostly consumers of information online. The 2.0 revolution makes it much easier to create content and that fact makes all the difference. The changes also make it much easier and simpler to collaborate and communicate across the world.

Web 2.0 means anything digital that is created and changed by people. New ideas for the new technology are cropping up everywhere. One person creates a product or idea in 2.0 and collaboration between online users makes it possible to tease out all the potential uses of that new product.

Library 2.0 is a way to harness the potential of web 2.0 and apply it to a library setting. The new technologies lend themselves well to library work. Much of what happens in the library is about communication and collaboration between people. Also, much of the work in a library consists of collecting and organizing and many 2.0 tools are made to do just that. The internet has grown so quickly and so massively in such a short span of time, that it is becoming difficult to find the proper information, but by using 2.0 tools, that information can be harnessed in a more useful way. The 2.0 revolution created more information but it also created more ways to organize the flood.

Libraries can be one of the places web 2.0 technology can grow and expand. It can be a place where the new tools are used to collect and organize information. It can also be a place where people come to understand the new tools and find out how to use them in their own lives. Library systems can also use the tools to communicate the library purpose and to advocate for library use. The ways 2.0 can be used within a library are boundless.