Method 7

Delicious is a tool I have been using for a little over a year now and I like a lot about it. The articles I read in this method, pointed out some very useful features I have been overlooking, mainly the social aspects of this tool. I have primarily been using it as a way to access my favorite websites from any internet connected computer. With the Social aspects, I can not only broaden web resources that speak to my interests, but also possible make connections with people who have the same interests as me.

I think this can be a very powerful tool for libraries, and an excellent gateway to the web for library users. The most important thing to do when utilizing it for the web, is be very diligent in how items are tagged and keep on top of the taxonomy being used. The social aspect can also be capitalized to find other interested resources that may benefit library patrons.

Method 6

As with photo sharing, I think video sharing can be a useful tool for libraries if used effectively. One of the more unique strengths of video sharing - is the way it lends itself to being shared among people outside of the video sharing site itself. While other formats can easily be shared, videos on sites such as YouTube, have been reposted on personal webpages like MySpace and Facebook to such an extant that "Viral Video" has become part of our vernacular. While this can greatly increase exposure for a library, I think it also means that librarians should apply some creativity and entertainment appeal when creating a promotional video, to entice others to watch it. The video I posted above does a great job of entertaining while promoting in my opinion

Method 5 Extra Credit

While I enjoy the social capabilities of Picasa, and am especially impressed by the editing functions in this client, as I stated before I am going to choose Flickr because it allows for my photos to be hosted entirely on the web which is much more preferable for me.

Method 5

Originally uploaded by ojaipatrick

I have been looking for a good cloud computing option for my pictures. This exercise gave me the opportunity to look at several options in detail. I think Flickr will be the best option for my personal needs. It allows me to store images entirely online eliminating the need to keep them on my computer (which will free up some memory on my computer). I am personally not concerned about losing these images because I have hard copies of all my photos, but if I didn't I might for something like Picasa instead.

In addition, I am happy with all the different community options, such as tagging, leaving notes on the photo, commenting, groups, etc. It seems like a great opportunity to get feedback, keep up with friends' photos, and/or meet people with similar interests as mine.

I think social photo sites such as Flickr would be an excellent option for libraries given the reasons I mentioned above. However, I think libraries should apply a specific strategy when using Flickr as a marketing tool. If a library just throws up a bunch of random pictures and tags them all as "such and such library" only people really interested in that library will come across them. But if the library takes a more directed approach (i.e. a creative photography approach in the library, or an event centered approach) and tags it appropriately, it could direct new users to the library.

In addition, Flickr could serve as a great communal tool for fellow librarians to keep track of what other libraries are doing and maybe even get to know some new colleagues.

Method 4

I am a big fan of RSS feeds. The three feeds I have posted are an example of the three areas I had and continue to use RSS feeds for.

My 3 feeds:

New York Times Theatre - http://feeds.nytimes.com/nyt/rss/Theater
I am a big fan of theatre. Before becoming a librarian I was active as an actor and director and even received a master's degree in theatre history and theory. I use a variety of RSS feeds to keep me posted on what is happening in the industry.


iLibrarian - http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/feed/
This has been my most active collection lately. I have a variety of feeds, like this one that I keep for my own professional development as a librarian. This feed is one of my favorites, because it keeps me apprised of the newest developments in social computing and how librarians may take advantage of them.

ALA Job Listings - http://joblist.ala.org/news/index.cfm?rsstitle=Latest%20ALA%20Job%20Listings
As a recent MLIS graduate my collection of job feeds were invaluable in my job search, especially in the tough economic climate we are currently facing. I strongly believe that these feeds were essential in helping me obtain my current position.

The job feeds are an excellent example of why RSS can be such a useful tool. During my job search I had subscribed to seven different feeds, all posting job openings related to library science. While there were some double postings, every feed also had items that I could not find in any other feed (whether because they were region specific, industry specific, or some other reason). If I were to search these individual websites everyday, it would easily take an hour or more. With RSS feeds, I can go to one site everyday and within minutes, go through any new postings. RSS feeds also allowed me to further specify my search. For example, in addition to the general ALA job feed, I also subscribed to feeds specific to four states that I was most interested in working in.

While I primarily use RSS for the above purposes, there are countless ways users can utilize RSS feeds, and I could not recommend it strongly enough for anyone who uses specific sites on a regular basis for information.

Method 3

The collaborative potential online productivity tools provide should prove heavily influential in the future of work and research projects. Where historically group research/work activities had to occur with all or most members present and usually the work was all done at the same time, the ability to have documents, spreadsheets and other office tools available in the cloud, eliminates the need for proximity between collaborators and even the need to schedule work activities at the same time. Users from across the globe can now collaborate with one another and work on their own schedule. The items they work on then go into the cloud and can be picked up by another collaborator at a later time. While this is a relatively new technology, I think as educational institutions adapt to it, these tools will have a profound influence on how we think of research. The ease with which different parties can work on a document and trace the various changes and edits occurring throughout its development, could pose a challenge to the traditionally hierarchical view of scholarship. Rather than a solitary professor or researcher working on a project, these tools facilitate the ability of multiple scholars from all levels of academia (professor, adjunct, student, independent researcher, etc.) to play a role. As these technologies progress with new tools like Google Wave, the ease of collaboration will increase, and the traditionalist approach will become less and less necessary.

While the potential of cloud computing is very exciting, librarians should exercise caution when using it and instructing others in their use. There does remain some valid concerns about the privacy and longevity of items put into the cloud. Some questions that have not been adequately addressed include: Who can see or distribute the information put in the cloud? Who or what is responsible for protecting the privacy of the user publishing to the cloud? How long can one reasonably expect an item to exist in virtual space? In addition to learning how to operate these tools, librarians should examine these questions in order to help patrons make informed decisions on how they utilize cloud computing.

Methods 1 and 2

Web 2.0 is largely a paradigm shift in how information is controlled and distributed. It indicates a shift from a delivery oriented method to a more process and collaborative orientation in the construction of information. Rather than moving (albeit quickly) to a variety of static web pages, users in a web 2.0 world now have greater autonomy in constructing a unique and personalize digital experience. This necessitates a breakdown in the dominant way of viewing media transactions. The producers of new media relinquish some control to the users, by allowing users to comment, review, personalize, and/or contribute content. In exchange for this, media producers benefit with items that gain greater personal resonance for its users and can potentially be improved upon through user contributions. While it may be an uncomfortable transition for many who have grown accustomed to the old method of operating the adoption of web 2.0 methodologies is not only worth the apparent risk, but a necessary move in order to remain relevant in the new media world.

For libraries, the movement to a library 2.0 model is equally both necessary and beneficial. These new social technologies enable libraries to perform much more effectively at what should be one of their core values, providing superior service to their community. By offering features such as reviews, comments or even digital discussions on the library (that members can contribute in through blogs), libraries provide many more venues to learn the needs of their users and to better meet those needs. By opening up the process of information description and dissemination, through tagging or other methods, libraries can not only provide a mode of resource description that is of the greatest value to its users but also learn much about how patrons use and view information resources.

In addition to these opportunities, it is essential for libraries to move into this new paradigm of Library 2.0 because it is where the majority of the users will be in a few short years (if they aren’t there already). The 2.0 movement has become so ubiquitous that is rapidly approaching the level of expectation. Institutions that do not offer these features will be overlooked for other more technologically relevant organizations. In order to continue serving their communities and remain a viable center of information preservation and discovery, libraries and librarians need to not only offer 2.0 technologies but also be comfortable and knowledgeable of the existing technologies so that they may both make informed decisions for adapting within their institution and take a leadership role within their community on these newest information discovery tools.