Week 8, Thing 19 - sites from Web 2.0 awards

I was plesently surprise to find many of the sites that I use on this list of award winners. I liked using this site as well because it gave me more choices of web sites to try on topics that intrest me. By having a list of good web sites you can easily try a few sites which will help you determine which site works best for you. I could see the library having a link to this site on its web page or using this site when recommeding resouces to customers. For example if someone is looking for an event that is happening in Baltimore County, staff could refer the customer to this web site to look for information on the event.

Week 8, Thing 18 - online profuctivity

I tried Zoho Writer. This site offered many programs that people would use. I was excited to see that the word document had many of the functions and buttons I use in Microsoft Word. I found the site easy to use. My concerns about using sites like these are how slow the Internet may be running and who can see the documents. The upside to these sites are that others can see the documents and that I can access the document anywhere that has Internet access. This way I don't have to worry about forgetting my jump drive.

Week 7 thing 17 Sandbox wiki

It was easy to add my blog to the list of other blogs in the favorite blogs page of the Maryland Libraries Sandbox.

Week 7 thing 16 Wiki

I was kind of sceptical about actual uses of Wiki sites because many people could add to and change the contents of the information. As I explored some of the wiki sites I began to understand the usefulness these sites provide. I looked at Wiki travel and got some great information and opinion on how to get around and links to things to do while I am there. I also looked at a wiki how to site that I found very interesting. So I looked up how to pack a suitcase. What I found was a step by step process of how to pack a suitcase, but what I got out of the information was some useful tips for better packing. I think it is very useful to know that anyone can edit the information on a Wiki site because your use of the information is different. I can see wiki sites as a collaborative effort to put together idea sharing and the reader picking and choosing the information he or she finds useful to them.

Week 6 Thing 15 - Web 2.0/Library 2.0

Library 2.0 Preparation for the future. In our daily lives we our selves are using non print sources as the way we retrieve needed information. For example, about 10 years ago I would get a map in order to get directions. About 2 years ago, I would go on line to get directions from a website. Now I get my directions directly from my car. What I am getting at is that I am getting my information when I need it, where I need it and as quickly as I need it. The Library 2.0 philosophy, recognizes that many customers are using Libraries in different ways than in the past and it makes suggestions as to ways that libraries can stay integral in the sharing of information. Rick Anderson suggests that their are three areas of thought that may cause libraries to become obsolete. He suggests that keeping material just in case someone might need it at some time is a waste of resources which would be better used elsewhere. Another suggestion is that Librarians spend to much time trying to teach people how to conduct research instead of providing the user with the information. Lastly he suggests that libraries mostly require customers to come in to a building or call to get the information they need. I feel that libraries need to keep in mind the technological changes which are rapidly occurring and position themselves appropriately so that they maintain an important position in providing the information that customers need.

Week 6 Thing 14 Technorati

The Technorati web site alows you to search and veiw sites or blogs. I enjoyed viewing the popular or new sites offered. I found some interesting topics like tips for power point presentations and the latest stars gossip. I did find it difficult to find specific topics of information using the search function. I tried searching for infomation on team faciliation and I received large amounts of results. Even when using some of the advanced features I still got about 6,000 results. After veiwing 4 pages of the results I still did not find any information I was looking for. However, Technorati is anouther source of searching for information on the web.

Week 6, Thing 13 Del.icio.us

Right away I saw the potential for libraries to use the Del.icio.us web site. I think that having an area where people can add sites to one book marked page will be helpful in an environment where you use multiple computers. I know my department uses the bookmark feature on individual computers for work related sites and the Del.icio.us site will allow us to put the information in one location instead of finding the computer that has that site bookmarked.

One thing I did not like about the site was its appearance. To me it just looks to technical and as a result might hinder some users who are not as comfortable with technology.