So this week we learned about Wikis. I've often used Wikipedia as a starting point in researching something I know absolutely nothing about, but I've never really thought of them as a resource for anything else. I see now that I was wrong!
The website that I found most interesting was the best practices Wiki. It's interesting to see what these people like and recommend versus what my experience has been in the three systems I've worked in, at least to my knowledge. Right now I'm looking at the article regarding OPACs, which seem to interest me.
I suppose the event wikis are also of value, if only because it's probably easier to set them up with the wiki template than coding a brand new website each time, plus we have the added benefit of a familiar user interface.
Adding something to the PBCLS wiki wasn't particularly exciting. I added a link to my blog here, no big deal there.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Library 2.0
This 23 things concept has not been received well by many staff members. Some have given up entirely, some are woefully behind, and some are just plain lost. When I first heard that administration was starting this, I was rather excited. The staff could use the skills which are being taught in an effort to become a more "2.0" place. I wish more of them could read, and also understand, the concepts discussed in the articles presented this week. I've been attempting to justify why we should be learning these things by simply saying that the skills are useful unto themselves, while knowing myself that these skills are essential to a more "2.0" library experience.
But, change is slow, and I hope our system catches up someday.
As you might have guessed, I read those articles, and it is stuff like this that makes me excited about librarianship. I'm not particularly thrilled about learning about legacy librarianship skills, like recalling which particular book will answer a type of question, but more how to handle future scenarios like those discussed in these articles. How to provide service better, how to shape our metadata, how to anticipate future needs, how to focus the collection. These are all interesting and though provoking questions that I look forward to answering, (given the opportunity,) in my soon to be illustrious career.
One could go on and on about the Library 2.0 concept and what it means to them, but the specific idea that I particularly like is the idea of a collection that thrusts itself into the daily habits of the populace. I'm thinking small collections in retail situations, much like a Starbucks has an outpost in a Super-Target, why not have a small in-demand collection next door? Bring the library to the populace, instead of making them come to us, as one article discussed. I hope to see this concept in place sooner or later, I know some systems already have experimented with it.
Other than Library 2.0, this week we discussed Del.icio.us, which is a useful site if one bookmarks scads of pages. I don't. What might be useful is if the library system created one for staff, or even patron, usage, instead of maintaining a static html sytle list, (not even Xhtml, please!)
Also discussed was Technorati. I'd heard of it before, but was never particularly interested since I had thought one had to somehow "prove" oneself to a particular audience to gain Technorati status. I thought it was some sort of pseudo-club. Seems I'm wrong! I suppose it's good for people really into blogging. Again, I'm not.
Good week, if only for those articles. I wish all the articles on Web/Library 2.0 were as succinct.
But, change is slow, and I hope our system catches up someday.
As you might have guessed, I read those articles, and it is stuff like this that makes me excited about librarianship. I'm not particularly thrilled about learning about legacy librarianship skills, like recalling which particular book will answer a type of question, but more how to handle future scenarios like those discussed in these articles. How to provide service better, how to shape our metadata, how to anticipate future needs, how to focus the collection. These are all interesting and though provoking questions that I look forward to answering, (given the opportunity,) in my soon to be illustrious career.
One could go on and on about the Library 2.0 concept and what it means to them, but the specific idea that I particularly like is the idea of a collection that thrusts itself into the daily habits of the populace. I'm thinking small collections in retail situations, much like a Starbucks has an outpost in a Super-Target, why not have a small in-demand collection next door? Bring the library to the populace, instead of making them come to us, as one article discussed. I hope to see this concept in place sooner or later, I know some systems already have experimented with it.
Other than Library 2.0, this week we discussed Del.icio.us, which is a useful site if one bookmarks scads of pages. I don't. What might be useful is if the library system created one for staff, or even patron, usage, instead of maintaining a static html sytle list, (not even Xhtml, please!)
Also discussed was Technorati. I'd heard of it before, but was never particularly interested since I had thought one had to somehow "prove" oneself to a particular audience to gain Technorati status. I thought it was some sort of pseudo-club. Seems I'm wrong! I suppose it's good for people really into blogging. Again, I'm not.
Good week, if only for those articles. I wish all the articles on Web/Library 2.0 were as succinct.
Wednesday, June 4, 2008
Play Week
So this week we're playing with a few things, an image generator, Librarything, and Webfeat.
I tried an image generator, but I wasn't impressed. I'm not particularly creative, but I thought I'd try to Wharhol-ize an image. It didn't come out to great. But I was exposed to some, and I suppose that was the idea.
I do already use Librarything on my own. I love it! I even got a tee-shirt from their booth when I went to PLA in March. I'd like it here, but I'm not quite that open yet. Great service though. I did also see that they have this service whereby libraries can link their catalog to Librarythings and get the tags that Librarything users have added to books in their catalog. How neat! I'd suggest it, but I doubt anyone would listen.
In my internship I've used webfeat a few times. It's similar to a service I use for FSU to find articles across their databases. Quite neat.
And that's my post for the week.
I tried an image generator, but I wasn't impressed. I'm not particularly creative, but I thought I'd try to Wharhol-ize an image. It didn't come out to great. But I was exposed to some, and I suppose that was the idea.
I do already use Librarything on my own. I love it! I even got a tee-shirt from their booth when I went to PLA in March. I'd like it here, but I'm not quite that open yet. Great service though. I did also see that they have this service whereby libraries can link their catalog to Librarythings and get the tags that Librarything users have added to books in their catalog. How neat! I'd suggest it, but I doubt anyone would listen.
In my internship I've used webfeat a few times. It's similar to a service I use for FSU to find articles across their databases. Quite neat.
And that's my post for the week.
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