Summary: Thing 23

I would like to start out by saying that I am a huge fan of Stephen Abram, who wrote "43 Things I might want to do this year" (on which this program is based). I have had the good fortune of hearing him speak at several conferences, including Computers in Libraries the late 1990's. His topic then was Knowledge Management, and it strikes me that all of these tools are a form of attempting to, if not manage Web 2.0 resources, ( since they are way too fluid and out of our control!) at least know enough about them to manage our way to utilizing them when necessary. This certainly applies to sending patrons to these resources as needed as well as using them for our own recreational or lifelong learning applications.
I think it has been a useful exercise to investigate these web tools, but I also think that a significant percentage of our user population does not use them. However, this is changing, partly due to our success at providing free Internet access to patrons. Now, people who could not afford home pc's are able to access them at the library and are more likely to visit some of the sites that we have during the course of this exercise.
I do agree with Abram who said: " ... I asked every teen and college-age friend and relative I met about the way the used the Web, and many of the links above were tools and services that they considered essential to their lives. It's your entry into the new world of next-generation coworkers." It is certainly our introduction to the next (and much of the present) generation of library users. We must keep in mind that we are not to discount what we have learned about print, electronic and web-application library resources by any means, but understanding even a little bit more about all the other tools people are using 'out there' on the Web gives us a broader
perspective on our world. It's all part of the learning process that won't stop until we do!

Web 2.0 awards: Thing 19

I looked at several award winning sites and explored "Cocktail builder" for the heck of it. Not that I can afford to buy many of the ingredients! In scrolling through the categories, I see that I have visited many of the sites previously as well as for this exercise in 23 Things. I am glad that someone out there is evaluating and rewarding 2.0 sites that actually work given the nature of this beast. I will bookmark this site so I can look at it occasionally.

Technorati: Thing14

I looked at Technorati and certainly understand tags, but I wouldn't bother to use this site. I am sure it might be useful in specific cases, but, for example, I did a search on "local history" and got
227, 000 + hits. Of course many commercial sites were offered as well.

Library 2.0: thing 15

I love the video, "The Machine is Using Us." It's very creative. I read Michael Stephens blog @ 2.0 and the OCLC summary by Tom Storey. I do think that applications for YouTube, Flckr, LibraryThing and del.iciou.us are already quite heavily used by librarians of any ilk. I am on the public library listserv (Publib), and read many references to how and why libraries use these tools. We have seen several examples throughout the 23 Things links. I think that it is essential to teach use of these tools in library schools these days, and know that a colleague in a graduate program is taking such a course this very semester.

lifelong learning: Thing 2

I viewed this podcast in June, and took some notes. My favorite points were : Accept responsibility for your own learning, view problems as challenges and to have competence in yourself.
One of the applications of this philosophy I have manifested is that I continue to work reference in busy libraries to keep my skills sharp. My job in materials management is extremely satisfying, but I like the challenge and edginess of work at the reference desk. I am always learning new things and have the opportunity to use some of the new resources and technological applications
we have been working on in 23 Things.

Online productivity tools: Thing 18

Well, I was glad to see GoogleDocs incorporated into these resources. I am on an ALA Committee and we are using this to collectively write an article on collection development and liaison work in libraries based on a survey we sent out last year. It's a great way to pool ideas for such a project.

Rollyo: Thing 12

Well, I didn't like Rollyo much when I first looked at it last month, and I still don't! I did "Try out"
the String Theory 'string', since I was just talking about it with a friend last week, believe it or not.
I think there is too much advertising and a lot of distraction on the page. I did not login since I am tired of registering on all these sites, but I don't think I would use this site.