In the college town where I lived for four years while slaving away at that undergraduate degree o' mine, there was this tutoring place (well, business, really) called 4.0 & Go. The idea behind it was, of course, that if you shelled out the cash, the tutors at this place could whip you into mental shape right before that big midterm and you'd pass with flying colors.
Every time I think of Library 2.0, I think of that place. It's sort of like a slogan forms in my head.
Library 2.0 & GO!
or
Library 2.0: To Infinity & Beyond!
(Okay, so that second was courtesy of Buzz Lightyear, but you know what I mean.
After all that rambling, I don't actually have a lot to say about Library 2.0 and Web 2.0. I am an Internet addict, so I've embraced a number of the new interactive tools that I can bend to my will. I also love how librarians and libraries are trying to educate themselves on these new practices and bring them into the library. It's the best way to connect with the users, to reach them no matter where they are. We have to be flexible and Library 2.0 is the way to accomplish that.
Saturday, October 20, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
Technorati
Technically speaking, Technorati is technologically simple. (It's also an awesome word to say out loud. Very Italian, which translates to very cool.)
However, it's not really my cup of tea. (Which is a silly expression for me to use, seeing as I don't drink tea at all. Nothing is my cup of tea.) I believe I mentioned this in my post about safety on the Interweb, but I like my anonymity. I have a personal blog and even though nothing overly personal is discussed there, I don't much care for the idea that some random stranger can access it through Technorati. I know it can be accessed via a search engine, but people are far more likely to find it using Technorati than they are using google, yahoo and the like.
Out of curiosity, I did a search for my personal blog on Technorati and discovered that an entry I had written discussing a show had been quoted, verbatim, by that show's blog. I had no idea! The entry I had written wasn't very complimentary and I was thoroughly annoyed to find it copied and pasted like that. It felt a bit like an invasion of privacy.
Okay, okay. I know what you're all thinking. I should know that anything I write can make its way onto another site. It's fair game once it's posted on the 'net. But still.
Technorati makes it too easy to find entries like that, to scope out the blogs of people you've never met, will never meet and have no connection to. It's a cool toy, but not for me.
(Incidentally, each time I write the word Technorati, I misspell it Technorait. Every single time! Oy vey!)
However, it's not really my cup of tea. (Which is a silly expression for me to use, seeing as I don't drink tea at all. Nothing is my cup of tea.) I believe I mentioned this in my post about safety on the Interweb, but I like my anonymity. I have a personal blog and even though nothing overly personal is discussed there, I don't much care for the idea that some random stranger can access it through Technorati. I know it can be accessed via a search engine, but people are far more likely to find it using Technorati than they are using google, yahoo and the like.
Out of curiosity, I did a search for my personal blog on Technorati and discovered that an entry I had written discussing a show had been quoted, verbatim, by that show's blog. I had no idea! The entry I had written wasn't very complimentary and I was thoroughly annoyed to find it copied and pasted like that. It felt a bit like an invasion of privacy.
Okay, okay. I know what you're all thinking. I should know that anything I write can make its way onto another site. It's fair game once it's posted on the 'net. But still.
Technorati makes it too easy to find entries like that, to scope out the blogs of people you've never met, will never meet and have no connection to. It's a cool toy, but not for me.
(Incidentally, each time I write the word Technorati, I misspell it Technorait. Every single time! Oy vey!)
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
del.icio.us
The bookmark networking tool del.icio.us is, quite simply put, delicious.
A few weeks ago I finally did some investigating, discovered the awesome that is del.icio.us, and created my own bookmarking account. I even have the nifty "bookmark this" button in my Firefox browser. That, let me tell you, makes a world of difference. I can find a site, click the button and immediately create titles, notes and tags for the bookmark. It's amazing!
There are several reasons why I love the whole idea of del.icio.us. I'll share those reasons in numbered list format (because I have a deep love of listing).
1. With del.icio.us, bookmarks can be accessed from any computer in any location with internet access. This is brilliant! Now, if, while surfing the web at home, I stumble across a site that would be perfect for work related ideas, I can bookmark it immediately, confident that it will be accessible from work. It's wonderful! No sticky notes (which I confess I still adore) to keep track of, no long urls to write down, no emails to send myself. It's all in one place.
2. Sometimes bookmarks disappear. My mom has this problem a lot. She'll log off one day and the next day all of her carefully hoarded bookmarks are gone. Poof! Vanished! Lost in cyperspace! With something like del.icio.us, the chances of this happening are very slim. And, if they do, she could at least take comfort in knowing that thousands of people are in the same boat.
3. Tagging, bundling, and notes make me a happy, happy camper. I had a few folders set up in my original bookmarks file, but they were a hassle. Tagging is so much easier. I can give one link several tags and create chains that are fun to follow and ridiculously handy.
So, del.icio.us. It is an amazing tool. It is made of everything that is awesome and good and brilliant and wonderful.
I think it is safe to say that del.icio.us is yummy!
A few weeks ago I finally did some investigating, discovered the awesome that is del.icio.us, and created my own bookmarking account. I even have the nifty "bookmark this" button in my Firefox browser. That, let me tell you, makes a world of difference. I can find a site, click the button and immediately create titles, notes and tags for the bookmark. It's amazing!
There are several reasons why I love the whole idea of del.icio.us. I'll share those reasons in numbered list format (because I have a deep love of listing).
1. With del.icio.us, bookmarks can be accessed from any computer in any location with internet access. This is brilliant! Now, if, while surfing the web at home, I stumble across a site that would be perfect for work related ideas, I can bookmark it immediately, confident that it will be accessible from work. It's wonderful! No sticky notes (which I confess I still adore) to keep track of, no long urls to write down, no emails to send myself. It's all in one place.
2. Sometimes bookmarks disappear. My mom has this problem a lot. She'll log off one day and the next day all of her carefully hoarded bookmarks are gone. Poof! Vanished! Lost in cyperspace! With something like del.icio.us, the chances of this happening are very slim. And, if they do, she could at least take comfort in knowing that thousands of people are in the same boat.
3. Tagging, bundling, and notes make me a happy, happy camper. I had a few folders set up in my original bookmarks file, but they were a hassle. Tagging is so much easier. I can give one link several tags and create chains that are fun to follow and ridiculously handy.
So, del.icio.us. It is an amazing tool. It is made of everything that is awesome and good and brilliant and wonderful.
I think it is safe to say that del.icio.us is yummy!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Library Elf
My honest opinion about Library Elf? You asked for it.
I'm not that impressed. In fact, I think I might have to go back in and stop the emails because I really don't want to be receiving emails from two different places about the same exact thing. What a waste of my time that is, checking messages only to see the same information.
Now, Elf would have been great a few months ago, when I lived in the vicinty of libraries from two different systems and regularly had books checked out on two cards. But now I only live near one system and I am deluged with emails as it is. Library Elf can tell me nothing I wouldn't already know from emails from the system or checking my account online.
For some people, Elf could be an invaluable resource. For me, it's not all that useful.
But I am still completely enthralled by Library Thing and have begun work on my personal library collection. It's addictive! I want to sit in front of my bookcase and go shelf to shelf, book to book, adding each title. You, yes you, iHCPL, have created a monster!
I'm not that impressed. In fact, I think I might have to go back in and stop the emails because I really don't want to be receiving emails from two different places about the same exact thing. What a waste of my time that is, checking messages only to see the same information.
Now, Elf would have been great a few months ago, when I lived in the vicinty of libraries from two different systems and regularly had books checked out on two cards. But now I only live near one system and I am deluged with emails as it is. Library Elf can tell me nothing I wouldn't already know from emails from the system or checking my account online.
For some people, Elf could be an invaluable resource. For me, it's not all that useful.
But I am still completely enthralled by Library Thing and have begun work on my personal library collection. It's addictive! I want to sit in front of my bookcase and go shelf to shelf, book to book, adding each title. You, yes you, iHCPL, have created a monster!
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
It's a Library Thing
I'd heard of Library Thing before this exercise came up, even been slightly curious about it. But I'd never actually sat in front of the computer and created my own Library Thing account. There was always something more exciting to do.
Now I'm caught. Hook, line and sinker. I've created an account to match this blog, but I foresee the creation of a personal account sometime in the near future. (I'm trying to sever any connections between my personal and professional online persona, remember?)
What an awesome site. My personal library can be reached via the handy dandy, super cool widget on the sidebar.
Now I'm caught. Hook, line and sinker. I've created an account to match this blog, but I foresee the creation of a personal account sometime in the near future. (I'm trying to sever any connections between my personal and professional online persona, remember?)
What an awesome site. My personal library can be reached via the handy dandy, super cool widget on the sidebar.
Avatar Fun with the SGA crew.
Wow! Who knew FD Toys could be so addictively fun? I've found several different tools on that site that I'd really love to experiment with, including the Warholizer, the Palette Generator and the Bead Art.
This avatar was created using the Mosiac Maker. It was easy to use (partly because I had all of these pictures already located in a personal photo storage account) and ridiculously fun. My only frustration with it is that you have to upload the pictures in the order you want them to appear in the mosiac because once the mosiac is made, it's a done deal. Needless to say, I was not aware of that fact.
So, enjoy my lovely mosiac of gorgeous Sheppard and adorably squishy Rodney from the television show Stargate Atlantis. Aren't they pretty?
Friday, October 5, 2007
RSS Feeds: part II
In my opinion, whatever that's worth (probably not even two cents), I think the easiest way to find feeds to subscribe to is simply by looking for them at the sites I visit on a regular basis. Let's face it, there is only so much time in the day that can be spent surfing the net. We all have responsibilities, commitments, jobs, chores, errands, beds, kitchens, tv shows to watch. So we have to limit the amount of time we spend reading blogs and newsfeeds. Even using something like bloglines is only going to do so much in helping ease the amount of time spent online.
So why should I go searching specifically for more feeds to subscribe to? I've already got a bit too much to keep track of. I think I'll just stick with what I've got, keep an eye out for RSS feeds on my favorite sites and leave Technorati and other such resources well enough alone for now.
And now I'm all caught up with iHCPL! Amazing!
So why should I go searching specifically for more feeds to subscribe to? I've already got a bit too much to keep track of. I think I'll just stick with what I've got, keep an eye out for RSS feeds on my favorite sites and leave Technorati and other such resources well enough alone for now.
And now I'm all caught up with iHCPL! Amazing!
Thursday, October 4, 2007
RSS Feeds: part I
So I've been looking forward to RSS feeds all week long, right?
Now I've set up a bloglines account and got down to the tedious business of subscribing to feeds.
I have come to the realization that I don't much care for bloglines. I dislike the format of the site, the way you add feeds, how only the newest posts in a feed show up unless you go through an extra step to make them all appear, and how the posts look on the site.
Frankly, I'd rather be one of the folks who goes to each blog they avidly follow to see if they've updated. I like reading entries as they're meant to be formatted, with specific backgrounds, pictures, etc. I like moving from blog to blog to website to news site to blog to twitter to...you get the picture.
And, when all's said and done, bloglines does not feed my procrastination monster. I am definitely one of those people who would rather see if perhaps that person who hasn't updated in days has finally got with the program and posted than do dishes. Or clean the bathroom. Or go to the post office. Or balance the checkbook.
See? Bloglines, it just ruins my whole routine.
The only useful thing that came out of setting up this bloglines account was discovering that Meg Cabot has a blog. I adore her books, for teens and adults. And now I'll read her blog! Hurrah!
I'm just not impressed at the moment. But I'll keep adding feeds and checking out the other gadgets and see where it all leads. Maybe I'll fall in love.
Or maybe not.
Now I've set up a bloglines account and got down to the tedious business of subscribing to feeds.
I have come to the realization that I don't much care for bloglines. I dislike the format of the site, the way you add feeds, how only the newest posts in a feed show up unless you go through an extra step to make them all appear, and how the posts look on the site.
Frankly, I'd rather be one of the folks who goes to each blog they avidly follow to see if they've updated. I like reading entries as they're meant to be formatted, with specific backgrounds, pictures, etc. I like moving from blog to blog to website to news site to blog to twitter to...you get the picture.
And, when all's said and done, bloglines does not feed my procrastination monster. I am definitely one of those people who would rather see if perhaps that person who hasn't updated in days has finally got with the program and posted than do dishes. Or clean the bathroom. Or go to the post office. Or balance the checkbook.
See? Bloglines, it just ruins my whole routine.
The only useful thing that came out of setting up this bloglines account was discovering that Meg Cabot has a blog. I adore her books, for teens and adults. And now I'll read her blog! Hurrah!
I'm just not impressed at the moment. But I'll keep adding feeds and checking out the other gadgets and see where it all leads. Maybe I'll fall in love.
Or maybe not.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
More Beautiful Beaches
And the last of the Flickr fun! Now I'm sort of caught up in the sense that I only have to do this week's RSS feed fun. (I've been looking forward to this week because RSS feeds go right over my head.)
Anyway, here is the picture I edited using Snipshot. It's a pretty handy little tool, particularly for resizing. I like to post screencaps and such to my personal blog and always get irritated with my Mac's lack of resizing program. Now I know where to go and how to solve that problem. Hurrah!
flickr mashups
So now I'm experimenting with flickr mashups. I guess I didn't get far since this is the first mashup discussed, but hey. It's a pretty awesome one.
Spell with flickr. I've taken the liberty of spelling out my blog name. It might turn out funky, but I'm posting it anyway!
*Okay, so apparently blogger hates the html script provided for posting my spelled out words. That's frustrating. So you can all just imagine this blog name spelled out with pictures of funky letters found on flickr. BAH!*
In other mashup news, I adore the Colr Pickr. I tried using several of the different set parameters and then went to town picking colors all over the color wheel. My favorite was one of the shades of blue under Doors and Windows. Pretty awesome. It makes me want to go out and take pictures of completely random things. Doors, signage, etc.
Spell with flickr. I've taken the liberty of spelling out my blog name. It might turn out funky, but I'm posting it anyway!
*Okay, so apparently blogger hates the html script provided for posting my spelled out words. That's frustrating. So you can all just imagine this blog name spelled out with pictures of funky letters found on flickr. BAH!*
In other mashup news, I adore the Colr Pickr. I tried using several of the different set parameters and then went to town picking colors all over the color wheel. My favorite was one of the shades of blue under Doors and Windows. Pretty awesome. It makes me want to go out and take pictures of completely random things. Doors, signage, etc.
Trees, Leaves & Flowery Things
A random picture I took while standing below this tree. The tree itself wasn't impressive, but its foliage certainly was.
Even though I had a flickr account prior to setting up this one specifically for iHCPL, I've never actually posted a picture to a blog. Hopefully this turns out right. Otherwise, back to the drawing board!
Tuesday, October 2, 2007
newsy notes
Today I received my first "library bling" and it is awesome! My squishy yellow star and its matching dangly thing for blog week. Hurrah!
I have also set up my flickr account. However, I have yet to upload a picture (no pictures here for me to upload!) so I suppose I haven't really finished that step.
Soon, guys!
I have also set up my flickr account. However, I have yet to upload a picture (no pictures here for me to upload!) so I suppose I haven't really finished that step.
Soon, guys!
Monday, October 1, 2007
Internet Safety and Other Such Things
This is my attempt to finish week two now that we've begun week four. Sigh...
When it comes to Internet safety, I think I probably fall somewhere in the middle. I'm obsessive about not sharing too much personal information online, but I am more than willing to post anecdotes and my opinions (which are many). I never directly discuss work, my feelings about my job, where I work, people I work with, etc. but people reading my blog on a regular basis would certainly be able to figure out what I do for a living. I don't come right out and say where I live but from event reviews I write, someone who really wanted to know could easily find out.
The thing is that someone who really wanted to hunt me down could do it. The tech savvy individual could find me. A regular reader, or even someone scanning through the back entries, could glean quite a bit about me from context clues. There's no real way to get around it. If it's on the Internet, chances are it gives more information than we think it does. I simply do my best to leave personal information, job information, and identity information out of my blog.
And then I cross my fingers. (And toes.)
When it comes to Internet safety, I think I probably fall somewhere in the middle. I'm obsessive about not sharing too much personal information online, but I am more than willing to post anecdotes and my opinions (which are many). I never directly discuss work, my feelings about my job, where I work, people I work with, etc. but people reading my blog on a regular basis would certainly be able to figure out what I do for a living. I don't come right out and say where I live but from event reviews I write, someone who really wanted to know could easily find out.
The thing is that someone who really wanted to hunt me down could do it. The tech savvy individual could find me. A regular reader, or even someone scanning through the back entries, could glean quite a bit about me from context clues. There's no real way to get around it. If it's on the Internet, chances are it gives more information than we think it does. I simply do my best to leave personal information, job information, and identity information out of my blog.
And then I cross my fingers. (And toes.)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)