Friday, March 27, 2009
Thing 19. Other Social Networks
An inspection of Web Junction, Ning, and Gather, leads me to believe that these Social Networks offer the same things that MySpace and Facebook offer, only these three networks tend to be a little more focused primarily on professional work-related issues and less on socializing in their outlooks. The information presented in each of the three, Web Junction, Ning, and Gather, would take me at least a month each to inspect thoroughly--the information in Web Junction is library oriented but almost overwheleming in scope! Ning was the least attractive of the three. I was not impressed with their group organization. I did sign onto Gather and inspected it more thoroughly than Ning. The news and publishing aspect of Gather is definitely appealing to me and something that I might use in the future, both as a librarian and as a writer. They all offer the same things: an ability to interact with others, to post pictures, videos, and podcasts. Social networking is turning into a big business!!
Thing 18. Facebook and My Space
I love Facebook when I can actually get to it. Had a bit of a password problem this week which has finally been resolved. If you look for Cynthia Jordan in Facebook you should find me!! As you can see, I have a variety of (at least 3) friends!! I have joined the "Librarians and Facebook" Group and I have posted my first message on their wall!
The ease and flexibility of Facebook is what I like. One can post pictures, videos, and messages that can be seen by a variety of folks. Facebook may be the fastest growing social network because it attracts the younger generation--in my opinion it is much less conservative looking than MySpace.
MySpace is also nice because I like music and My Space seems to attract alot of musicians. Librarians can use this to talk with their patrons and students! The librarians are already using MySpace to link to their library catalogs through Google. So students can find the library books they are looking for without having to leave MySpace. I may create a "space" there eventually.
For now, I am content with Facebook. I hope you enjoy my site and please be my friend there!!
The ease and flexibility of Facebook is what I like. One can post pictures, videos, and messages that can be seen by a variety of folks. Facebook may be the fastest growing social network because it attracts the younger generation--in my opinion it is much less conservative looking than MySpace.
MySpace is also nice because I like music and My Space seems to attract alot of musicians. Librarians can use this to talk with their patrons and students! The librarians are already using MySpace to link to their library catalogs through Google. So students can find the library books they are looking for without having to leave MySpace. I may create a "space" there eventually.
For now, I am content with Facebook. I hope you enjoy my site and please be my friend there!!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Thing 17. Podcasting
Of all the "things" podcasting has proved to be the most challenging. GCast looked easy enough but I couldn't get my links from other podcasting directories to work.
So, I listened to Podcasting in Plain English. I looked at three Podcasting Directories: Podcast.com; Yahoo Podcasts; and Educational Podcast Directory. I set up an account in Podcast.com after finding a podcast there that I liked. I conducted a search in Podcast.com under "Florida Library" and found a podcast under Florida Stories Podcasts--local stories of interest around Florida published through WFSU. The podcast was titled "Tipper the Reading Dog", producer Larry Ellison, published 3/6/2009. This is a cute story about a certified therapy dog, Tipper, belonging to third grade teacher Cindy Goldsworthy, that motivates children to read at a school in Land 'O Lakes. Informative and innovative teaching strategy! I placed the link to this podcast on my iGoogle page as well as an rss feed to my reader. Here is the link to the podcast.
http://podcast.com/episode/35751041/7270/?cp=1125
Not only was this an interesting podcast but I learned how to find the link to the individual podcast by clicking on the "share" button and clicking on "email." One can also forward a link to their facebook, myspace, diggit, or delicious sites.
I will work on my podcasting skills when I have more time. At least I feel more comfortable with the basics of podcasting. I will be spending more time listening to podcasts in the future. I have actually completed a podcast on one of the lessons in our Library LIS 1001 course. However, that particular course material has been updated so I will have to edit the podcast. I can see a definite role for podcasting through library instruction. I hope to incorporate an introduction course to podcasting within our library instruction course in the future!
So, I listened to Podcasting in Plain English. I looked at three Podcasting Directories: Podcast.com; Yahoo Podcasts; and Educational Podcast Directory. I set up an account in Podcast.com after finding a podcast there that I liked. I conducted a search in Podcast.com under "Florida Library" and found a podcast under Florida Stories Podcasts--local stories of interest around Florida published through WFSU. The podcast was titled "Tipper the Reading Dog", producer Larry Ellison, published 3/6/2009. This is a cute story about a certified therapy dog, Tipper, belonging to third grade teacher Cindy Goldsworthy, that motivates children to read at a school in Land 'O Lakes. Informative and innovative teaching strategy! I placed the link to this podcast on my iGoogle page as well as an rss feed to my reader. Here is the link to the podcast.
http://podcast.com/episode/35751041/7270/?cp=1125
Not only was this an interesting podcast but I learned how to find the link to the individual podcast by clicking on the "share" button and clicking on "email." One can also forward a link to their facebook, myspace, diggit, or delicious sites.
I will work on my podcasting skills when I have more time. At least I feel more comfortable with the basics of podcasting. I will be spending more time listening to podcasts in the future. I have actually completed a podcast on one of the lessons in our Library LIS 1001 course. However, that particular course material has been updated so I will have to edit the podcast. I can see a definite role for podcasting through library instruction. I hope to incorporate an introduction course to podcasting within our library instruction course in the future!
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Thing 16. You Tube
You Tube can be used for a variety of videos or streaming media. It is great for classroom use because You-Tube can be viewed on portable devices. This is one of my favorite clips and it is about--Librarians of course! It is called "The Librarian Song." The song from the Joe Uveges-When Freedom Calls concert on November 2, 2007 in Colorado Springs.
Thing 15. Rollyo
Rollyo, as I understand it is a personal search engine one creates to provide relevant results from a selected list of reliable sites. I signed up for an account and looked at some of the sites using the search term "history." I looked at three personal sites: advertising history rolled by imareader; apollo space history rolled by lyndonsharp; and civil war history rolled by Cara Orban. They were all interesting but I was confused at times as to whether I was looking at advertising on the site or a link to a "reliable" site.
While the concept is interesting, we have access to so many search engines such as Yahoo, and Google that this is just one more to add to the list. These sites might or might not be relevant for in-depth research. I would compare a Rollyo to a subject guide that a librarian would create. This might be a useful tool to replace subject guides. It would be lot easier to edit than an HTML created guide.
While the concept is interesting, we have access to so many search engines such as Yahoo, and Google that this is just one more to add to the list. These sites might or might not be relevant for in-depth research. I would compare a Rollyo to a subject guide that a librarian would create. This might be a useful tool to replace subject guides. It would be lot easier to edit than an HTML created guide.
Thing 14. Online Productivity Tools
I actually had an "iGoogle" account partically set-up so I just completed the process today. I added the Calendar Widget and a widget for "quote of the day" for humorous quotes and the "video of the day" function. I also have links to all my favorite pages and google reader. This reminds me of Delicious. They are both excellent organizational tools to help make a librarian's job of viewing a variety of projects easier. I can definitely see the value of having everything on one page. I am working on synching the Google calendar with possibly my microsoft outlook calendar. If anyone has any suggestions of how to do this please let me know!! I have enjoyed developing my iGoogle page!
Opps! In investigating Google Calendar further and going through the tutorial I discovered how to integrate it with my Microsoft Calendar. I haven't done that yet--not sure I want to world to see everything listed on my work calendar, but at least I do know how to do this now!! Online calendars can help remind you of upcoming appointments and meetings; you can share your calendar with others as well as look at theirs; you can create multiple calendars for other areas of your life; one can customize so that their calendar is accessible from their mobile phone; as well as utilizing the color coding features to highlight different events!
Ta Da was the "to-do" list that I signed-up for. I look at this as just another tool to assist a librarian throughout a busy day. However I utilize my online calendars for most important events so "Ta-Da" is not a necessary tool for me, just creates more work.
Backpack is good for keeping a group calendar and project on-time and under budget. Small libraries with limited resources should find this tool useful.
I investigated the "Top 25 Web 2.0 Apps. to Improve a Student's or Professor's Productivity." I noted with interest that alot of the tools on this list we already use at UNF such as Google Calendar, and Meebo.
Opps! In investigating Google Calendar further and going through the tutorial I discovered how to integrate it with my Microsoft Calendar. I haven't done that yet--not sure I want to world to see everything listed on my work calendar, but at least I do know how to do this now!! Online calendars can help remind you of upcoming appointments and meetings; you can share your calendar with others as well as look at theirs; you can create multiple calendars for other areas of your life; one can customize so that their calendar is accessible from their mobile phone; as well as utilizing the color coding features to highlight different events!
Ta Da was the "to-do" list that I signed-up for. I look at this as just another tool to assist a librarian throughout a busy day. However I utilize my online calendars for most important events so "Ta-Da" is not a necessary tool for me, just creates more work.
Backpack is good for keeping a group calendar and project on-time and under budget. Small libraries with limited resources should find this tool useful.
I investigated the "Top 25 Web 2.0 Apps. to Improve a Student's or Professor's Productivity." I noted with interest that alot of the tools on this list we already use at UNF such as Google Calendar, and Meebo.
Thing 13. Library Thing
What a remarkable tool! So easy to use. I can place all my favorite books in my personal library and look at my collection at the touch of a button!! I can also look at what others are posting. I took at look at the "local library" for Jacksonville related events. Nothing showing right now. I am trying to link my page on Library Thing to my blog. I must be doing something wrong because it doesn't appear to be working. However. Here is the URL if you would like to look at my personal library collection: http://www.librarything.com/home/Cnth.jrdn
On to the next thing. . .
On to the next thing. . .
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Thing 12 Wikis
The Wiki concept is good for "public" collaboration issues and subject guides. I can see limited uses for instructional material. The weakness of the wiki is in the editorial control and the fact that I may not want the entire web world to view every word or dicussion I have with someone else. I enjoyed browsing through some entries on the LIS Wiki--especially the "Annoyed Librarian" Blog. I am considering developing a new Wiki for Librarians titled "Between a Rock and a Hard Place--Survival of Librarians During a National Economic Downturn."
Wikipedia, by its very nature of being a publically edited entity limits its credibility for scholarly research. It falls under the old saying, "Don't believe everything you read!" There are times when you want to limit information by format so that the credibility is intact.
I edited the NEFLIN 23 Things Wiki. You can find my post under my blog name: FYI 23Things!
Wikipedia, by its very nature of being a publically edited entity limits its credibility for scholarly research. It falls under the old saying, "Don't believe everything you read!" There are times when you want to limit information by format so that the credibility is intact.
I edited the NEFLIN 23 Things Wiki. You can find my post under my blog name: FYI 23Things!
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