Fun w/ Flickr

Alright, I must admit that this exercise was a bit confusing. I went to Mappr and saw how they could map out where Flickr photos come from in the U.S. I visited the Flickr Color Pickr and experimented with their color wheel of photos. I also went to Montagr and saw how to create a mosaic with Flickr photos. Interesting applications, I don't quite see how this could be used in libraries.

The Essentiality of Tags

Tagging is important on sites such as Flickr because the information (photos in this case) is massive! The tags helps the searcher get to the right photos that they want to see. A community develops through the comments that people make, which connects folks of similar interests. The comments section allows others to click on links to pictures of those who've made comments about other photos posted on Flickr.

Flickr Exploration

I liked this wintery picture a lot: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pavelc23/2122898581/

It's a winter wonderland.

Site Exploration Web 2.0 Awards List

I selected from the short list the Photos and Digital Images category. I viewed Flickr which was quite interesting. Flickr has a general and advanced search which I saw to be most useful. I guess pictures of the library's program setups and book displays could benefit from this application.

Tecnorati Exploration

This is a good site to locate various blogs. The only thing I am a bit wary about is that when you begin tagging stuff other folks could see what you've tagged. Please, don't get me wrong, I realize that this is all about social networking. It's just that certain levels of privacy has been taken away with this technology.

Tagging and Folksonomy, Del.icio.us. also

Okay, very nice technology for information gathering and research as well. However, in the area of research, hopefully students and institutions won't become too dependent on this. There are skills that are acquired when research and information gathering are conducted "the old fashioned way". The issue I have with this technology is that basic critically analysis and critically thinking skills can easily be lost by using this technology to assist students/researchers/librarians/etc. in gathering and analyzing information on various subject matter.

Creating Myspace Account

Myspace is an easy account to create. I don't like Myspace. My opinion did not alter even after reading about Myspace in the discovery resources.

Get the 411 on Social Networking

VBPL should use a social networking site to connect with teens. It is apparent that teens spend much of their time online. It is only good business practice that the library goes where they are interacting. A social networking site is a good way to reach this portion of the population while achieving the library's mission of creating "A literate populace and the freedom to read are essential to democracy. The Virginia Beach Public Library provides free access to accurate and current information and materials to all individuals and promotes reading as a critical life skill. " (taken from www.vbgov.com/libraries Library)

Learn about wikis and discover

One of the things I'm always amazed about is how some wikis can be very organized in spite of all the folks that can have access to it. When you allow the masses to grab a laddle and start stirrin' the stew you could really run into problems with things like organization, vandalism, and spam. The Library Success: A best practices wiki has made an attempt to combat such problems by asking users for email confirmation and some sort of an account. The SJCPL Subject Guides is one of the best Library wikis I've seen thus far. Excellent information and organization on the part of this library!

Discover how VBPL is using IM.....

The thing about Instant Messaging is that it is so instant! I don't know if it's actually a good combination with reference because the nature of reference is that it takes time. Even having to access what the request is and then telling someone that we'd have to take it as a question also takes time. With the IM interface, people seem to want an answer as quick as they formulate the question!

Read and find out about how libraries are using IM to serve customers

Okay, I agree with much of the reading this time. If IMing could help libraries reach the "unreachable" in a matter of speaking the so be it. The fact is there's a sector of society that will not dawn the doors of a library, yet the still need library services. So IM is a great way to get them the library services they need. IM is different from traditional communication channels (other the the telephone of course) because it's real time.

Locate a few useful library related blogs and/or news feeds

Technorati was the easiest method of finding feeds. I seemed to like Topix.net better because the local news informations could be found at the top of the page. It gave this site more of a hometown feel in cyberworld. Technorati was more confusing due to the "busyness" of the site. the iLibrarian feed was pretty useful. It discussed instant messages, which gave me the impression that their posts deal with up-to-date technology.

Register your blog with Learning 2.0@the Beach

I have registered my blog by making posts on the Learning 2.0 tracking log as directed.

Share your thoughts with a friend

Even after sharing my thoughts and opinions with others about Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and Learning 2.0, I still feel the same as I did in Thing 4. Yes, the technology is very very impressive. Nevertheless, there is a fine line between technological advancement and abandonment to every "techno-wind of change" that arises. Libraries, communities and all parts of society should be cautious in using such technology. Institutions such as libraries should proceed with caution. It's understandable that libraries should meet their customers where they are, especially if are large portion have stopped coming into the libraries. However, libraries should proceed with caution when opening up its digital interfaces to the "public".

Learn about RSS feeds and setup your own Bloglines

Although, it is a great idea to have info. in one place. This is what I like about RSS and newsreaders. This technology is very useful for Reader's Advisory purposes. Libraries could use RSS for sharing new programs being offered at their locations.

A Visit to the RA Gourmet

Nice blog! There are great suggestions about Reader's Advisory Techniques and it's good to view other staff members comments about reader's advisory issues.

Web 2.0 and/or Library 2.0 Post

Web 2.0 offers very progressive technology. There is a danger in my opinion of this technology redefining libraries. Core values for libraries should stay consistent even in the face of progressive technology.

7 1/2 Habits Online Tutorial

Easiest-Goals/Begin with the End in Mind (Habit 1). This one is the easiest because I'm a Type A Personality.

Hardest-Play (Habit 7 1/2). This one is the hardest because I've never been crazy about playing games.