Once again, Web2.0 has almost a sixth sense when it comes to our weekly topic and my life.
My final paper for my Information Organization class was all about "subjects." One of the requirements was to take our unique topic and search for it using one web search engine and one web resource. Naturally, with all of the buzz, I chose to use Delicious as my web resource.
Setting up my account was pretty easy and searching and tagging items was even better. Using it for my paper was even more beneficial to me when combined with the Web2.0 training since it was a timely, in depth project on social tagging. While I will spare everyone a repeat of the 15 pages of knowledge I have now gained, I believe Delicious will be a great Library resource for years to come.
One of the downsides of course is the lack of controlled vocabulary in the tagging. If someone was to search for my account and see my tag "Bibliography" it would probably not be very helpful to them. However, for my other class, I found it to be a lifesaver to group my resources for my bibliography project together. (My topic by the way, is Jewish Fiction for children between the ages of 9 and 12).
But this lack of controlled vocabulary is also one of the great things about it, since it gives us an unexpected look into how patrons think about the information they need.
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Friday, April 17, 2009
Week 9: Faceoff
Ahh, the joys of social networking. What used to be done in restaurants and bars can now be enjoyed in your pajamas from the privacy of your own computer. I did not graduate from JMU that long ago, but it seems like something happened to the world in May of 2004. I left college and ran away to Walt Disney World, and it would appear to me that in the Internet dark ages of my supposedly wireless apartment, MySpace and Facebook exploded. Back when I was in college we used things called telephones and AOL Instant Messenger to keep in touch.
Upon my exodus from Disney and the return to the real world my friends who were still in school begged me to get on MySpace or Facebook. I avoided them for almost two years and then when I decided to change my life's direction somehow Facebook became a part of it. Because of my heavy involvement with youth groups, I strive to keep my page as professional as possible. I ignore most applications and heavily monitor the content that I post. I also only 'Friend' people that I actually know. One of the things I love the most is the ability to stay connected with my friends, old coworkers, and my Fraternity brothers from college (yes, I said fraternity, check us out at www.apo.org or our chapter website www.apoiscool.com). I do utilize the picture sharing. I do love the groups on Facebook, ('When I was your age Pluto was a planet' and 'Grad students aren't bad people they just made poor life choices' are my two personal favorites) I belong to both the VLA and ALA groups.
I really enjoyed reading all of the Professional advice for Facebook that the Web 2.0 committee collected and the top Apps for Librarians. I started months ago using the iRead Application to keep track of my books, but switched over to Shelfari at the beginning of the Web 2.0 training. I find Shelfari to better suit my needs, and I am less distracted while using it since it is separate.
Upon my exodus from Disney and the return to the real world my friends who were still in school begged me to get on MySpace or Facebook. I avoided them for almost two years and then when I decided to change my life's direction somehow Facebook became a part of it. Because of my heavy involvement with youth groups, I strive to keep my page as professional as possible. I ignore most applications and heavily monitor the content that I post. I also only 'Friend' people that I actually know. One of the things I love the most is the ability to stay connected with my friends, old coworkers, and my Fraternity brothers from college (yes, I said fraternity, check us out at www.apo.org or our chapter website www.apoiscool.com). I do utilize the picture sharing. I do love the groups on Facebook, ('When I was your age Pluto was a planet' and 'Grad students aren't bad people they just made poor life choices' are my two personal favorites) I belong to both the VLA and ALA groups.
I really enjoyed reading all of the Professional advice for Facebook that the Web 2.0 committee collected and the top Apps for Librarians. I started months ago using the iRead Application to keep track of my books, but switched over to Shelfari at the beginning of the Web 2.0 training. I find Shelfari to better suit my needs, and I am less distracted while using it since it is separate.
Week 8: Second Life? I'm still working on my first
In all honosty, this week was spent on catch up learning. Boy will I be glad next Friday when the semester is over!
However, for my Information Organization class this semester, I participated in a research study for my Professor and actually attended class meetings in Second Life instead of the traditional Blackboard. Florida State has created their own island in Second Life, and for class we just sit on the green and look at a big screen the displays the Powerpoint slides. In what spare time I have had to explore, I have taken the walking tour of the FSU campus and visited the ALA island. It is much easier to attend class in Second Life and listen to the Professor talk, instead of just reading a scrolling chatbox. I do wish that my Professor had done more with some of the technology. I might have even got more out of attending class using Elluminate then I did in Second Life.
There are advantages to using Second Life; however, one of the big downsides is that it is very time intensive to learn. I just need to spend some more time exploring and learning. Though I thought it was easy to operate. However, like all timely things with this Web 2.0 training, Second Life was featured in the coming strip Funky Winkerbean on April 12. (http://www.seattlepi.com/fun/funky.asp?date=20090412
As far as online gaming is concerned, I am more of a Popcap girl myself. (www.popcap.com). But would rather spend my time doing the USAToday online crossword and other brain puzzles.
However, for my Information Organization class this semester, I participated in a research study for my Professor and actually attended class meetings in Second Life instead of the traditional Blackboard. Florida State has created their own island in Second Life, and for class we just sit on the green and look at a big screen the displays the Powerpoint slides. In what spare time I have had to explore, I have taken the walking tour of the FSU campus and visited the ALA island. It is much easier to attend class in Second Life and listen to the Professor talk, instead of just reading a scrolling chatbox. I do wish that my Professor had done more with some of the technology. I might have even got more out of attending class using Elluminate then I did in Second Life.
There are advantages to using Second Life; however, one of the big downsides is that it is very time intensive to learn. I just need to spend some more time exploring and learning. Though I thought it was easy to operate. However, like all timely things with this Web 2.0 training, Second Life was featured in the coming strip Funky Winkerbean on April 12. (http://www.seattlepi.com/fun/funky.asp?date=20090412
As far as online gaming is concerned, I am more of a Popcap girl myself. (www.popcap.com). But would rather spend my time doing the USAToday online crossword and other brain puzzles.
Week 6: If a Picture Paints a Thousand Words then Why Can't I Paint You?
Photo sharing. While my photography skills do not allow me to be labeled as anything higher then an 'Amature Shutterbug,' my background does provide me with journalistic and candid photo composition experience. While I do think that digital photography is one of the best things to happen since sliced cheese, it has become a lot more expensive to print out my photographs.
Which is one of the many reasons that I love being able to upload my photos online. For sharing with my friends I will admit that I do tend to utilize Facebook more for that purpose, I also do have (and need to start using) my Snapfish account. Its one of those online accounts that I have had for several years because someone wanted to share there album with me. In fact, I might be on Shutterfly too, but I'm not even sure.
I enjoyed learned more about Flickr this week, but other then for creating promotional pieces or slideshows, I am unsure as how I would use this for work. Professionally, I would be more inclined to use Snapfish or a site more like it, where we could give patrons a username and password to access library pictures. In addition to a photo release form, I would feel more comfortable if I new the entire world didn't have access.
I would also like to thank the band Bread for providing the title for this weeks blog from their song "If." I know that I have strayed from my movie theme, but just this once I thought it was important.
Which is one of the many reasons that I love being able to upload my photos online. For sharing with my friends I will admit that I do tend to utilize Facebook more for that purpose, I also do have (and need to start using) my Snapfish account. Its one of those online accounts that I have had for several years because someone wanted to share there album with me. In fact, I might be on Shutterfly too, but I'm not even sure.
I enjoyed learned more about Flickr this week, but other then for creating promotional pieces or slideshows, I am unsure as how I would use this for work. Professionally, I would be more inclined to use Snapfish or a site more like it, where we could give patrons a username and password to access library pictures. In addition to a photo release form, I would feel more comfortable if I new the entire world didn't have access.
I would also like to thank the band Bread for providing the title for this weeks blog from their song "If." I know that I have strayed from my movie theme, but just this once I thought it was important.
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