You're right, there are so many Web 2.0 tools that it is difficult to choose!
I explored My Heritage in the geneology category because I would like to know more information about my great-great grandfather. My Heritage has a powerful search engine for doing ancestor research that they say is constantly updated, a Family Tree Builder that makes it easy to add photos and anecdotes, plus family web sites where you can share information with your relatives.
The foundation of all this is the Family Tree Builder, which is downloadable. With this I ran into a brick wall because it is for Windows computers and I have a Mac. Bummer! Perhaps I can still use their search engine to research my great-great grandfather. But I’ll have to figure out something else if I decide to make a family tree.
I also looked into the start page igoogle and I plan to put that on my computer at home (the school homepage is automatically the start page on school computers here). I can tailor my home start page to show my interests each time I open my browser.
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
#19 Web Apps
As I first read up on Google Docs I questioned the difference between its function and that of wikis, since they both seem to be about collaboration. But the features of Google Docs make it best for collaborating on specific documents (especially the inclusion of a record of past revisions) while wikis are more about a freer collaborating of ideas and events.
This also has great potential for working at home on documents for the library without carrying a flash drive or worrying about multiple platforms.
I explored the templates that are available in Google Docs and the number and variety are truly amazing.
I made two documents in Google Docs, this one and a four sided folding card from a template. (I still haven't figured out how to print my card without all the directions too, but I will work on it.)
(I'm sure there's a way to upload this document into my blog but I'm running out of time to figure it out so I will just copy and paste instead.)
This also has great potential for working at home on documents for the library without carrying a flash drive or worrying about multiple platforms.
I explored the templates that are available in Google Docs and the number and variety are truly amazing.
I made two documents in Google Docs, this one and a four sided folding card from a template. (I still haven't figured out how to print my card without all the directions too, but I will work on it.)
(I'm sure there's a way to upload this document into my blog but I'm running out of time to figure it out so I will just copy and paste instead.)
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
#18 Playing with Wikis
It’s been fun reading about the favorites of Nebraska librarians. And the wiki format made it easy to navigate among the pages and add my own favorites.
I was able to follow the directions for placing my blog on the favorite blogs page. I also added my favorite book to the books page and my favorite Christmas book to the seasonal books page.
Another thing I appreciated about the wiki format is that, after thinking about what I had posted, I could return and add a word or two without going through a time-consuming procedure.
I like the spontaneity and informality of wikis and was disappointed that there weren’t more favorite wikis posted.
Thanks for introducing us to wikis!
I was able to follow the directions for placing my blog on the favorite blogs page. I also added my favorite book to the books page and my favorite Christmas book to the seasonal books page.
Another thing I appreciated about the wiki format is that, after thinking about what I had posted, I could return and add a word or two without going through a time-consuming procedure.
I like the spontaneity and informality of wikis and was disappointed that there weren’t more favorite wikis posted.
Thanks for introducing us to wikis!
Monday, January 19, 2009
#17 Wikis
A wiki seems to be a good means of communicating constantly updated information to a group of people. It invites the expertise of all its readers to contribute to its content.
However, it is a double-edged sword. The very openness of a wiki can allow misuse through members who choose, for their own reasons, not to be honest, objective or kind.
The library wikis that I've been reading about either have a limited group of contributors or else some form of special editing to remove inaccurate or malicious entries. Human nature seems to require one or the other.
I think a wiki would be a good way to plan an event without requiring the planners to schedule and attend meetings. It would also be a good way to invite reactions to proposals within a school system or library system.
An entirely different use would be having readers write reviews of the books they read for inclusion on the library website, catalog or other place (after some screening of the reviews).
The possible uses of a wiki are wide and varied.
However, it is a double-edged sword. The very openness of a wiki can allow misuse through members who choose, for their own reasons, not to be honest, objective or kind.
The library wikis that I've been reading about either have a limited group of contributors or else some form of special editing to remove inaccurate or malicious entries. Human nature seems to require one or the other.
I think a wiki would be a good way to plan an event without requiring the planners to schedule and attend meetings. It would also be a good way to invite reactions to proposals within a school system or library system.
An entirely different use would be having readers write reviews of the books they read for inclusion on the library website, catalog or other place (after some screening of the reviews).
The possible uses of a wiki are wide and varied.
#16 Library 2.0
My job in this elementary school library has been more involved with day-to-day operations of the library than with philosophical discussions about the future of libraries.
But after reading these perspectives, I agree with Michael Stephens that we must be sure to plan for our users and base our services, materials and outreach on their needs and wants. This includes being a trendspotter and controlling technolust (neither of which are easy!). But perhaps the most important role is getting access to good reliable content. Chip Nilges says something similar when he talks about building better data.
I find myself somewhat in disagreement with Rick Anderson when he says we must "focus our attention, not on teaching research skills but on eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need so they spend as little time as possible wrestling with lousy search interfaces and as much time as possible actually reading and learning." I agree that we should eliminate as many barriers and lousy search interfaces as possible, but, as an elementary school library, we must teach good research skills. The biggest task facing all people today isn't finding information, it's sorting through the deluge of information to find reliable and relevant information. Not everything on the internet is true or objective.
I commend Nebraskaccess as a good example of Library 2.0 in getting good, reliable content, and for going the second mile, so to speak, in putting such good slideshows on Slideshare to teach people how to access the information they personally need. This, I think, is taking the library to the people, which I see as part of Library 2.0.
But after reading these perspectives, I agree with Michael Stephens that we must be sure to plan for our users and base our services, materials and outreach on their needs and wants. This includes being a trendspotter and controlling technolust (neither of which are easy!). But perhaps the most important role is getting access to good reliable content. Chip Nilges says something similar when he talks about building better data.
I find myself somewhat in disagreement with Rick Anderson when he says we must "focus our attention, not on teaching research skills but on eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need so they spend as little time as possible wrestling with lousy search interfaces and as much time as possible actually reading and learning." I agree that we should eliminate as many barriers and lousy search interfaces as possible, but, as an elementary school library, we must teach good research skills. The biggest task facing all people today isn't finding information, it's sorting through the deluge of information to find reliable and relevant information. Not everything on the internet is true or objective.
I commend Nebraskaccess as a good example of Library 2.0 in getting good, reliable content, and for going the second mile, so to speak, in putting such good slideshows on Slideshare to teach people how to access the information they personally need. This, I think, is taking the library to the people, which I see as part of Library 2.0.
Friday, January 16, 2009
#15 SlideShare
SlideShare has the potential for being enormously helpful, especially to busy educators who don't have the time to put together a presentation for every topic they teach. However, I found some slideshows more informative than others.
I am interested in origami and found one slideshow that consisted simply of the scanned-in pages of an origami instruction book. This is very helpful in learning to do origami, but I wonder if it isn't a copyright infringement.
The slideshows that are my favorites relate to organizing paper and clutter and I can always use help in that department. I left a comment on one of them.
My SlideShare account is at http://www.slideshare.net/RaeS
I am interested in origami and found one slideshow that consisted simply of the scanned-in pages of an origami instruction book. This is very helpful in learning to do origami, but I wonder if it isn't a copyright infringement.
The slideshows that are my favorites relate to organizing paper and clutter and I can always use help in that department. I left a comment on one of them.
My SlideShare account is at http://www.slideshare.net/RaeS
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
#14 Delicious
The video on Delicious was very informative and helpful. I think Delicious is a wonderful thing. I will refer to it often in the future, I’m sure.
I love the Delicious tagroll on the Holdrege Public Library website. What an attractive and concise way to direct people to a variety of good websites!
If I were to assign tags to the NebraskAccess website I would use the following: reference databases Nebraska. I also think that the tag, NebraskAccess, would be appropriate since it encompasses so very much material.
Delicious is a good way to access your bookmarks from anywhere, but the open, social aspect of Delicious also makes it a good tool for research, as well as sharing bookmarks with friends, family, groups, etc.
I love the Delicious tagroll on the Holdrege Public Library website. What an attractive and concise way to direct people to a variety of good websites!
If I were to assign tags to the NebraskAccess website I would use the following: reference databases Nebraska. I also think that the tag, NebraskAccess, would be appropriate since it encompasses so very much material.
Delicious is a good way to access your bookmarks from anywhere, but the open, social aspect of Delicious also makes it a good tool for research, as well as sharing bookmarks with friends, family, groups, etc.
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