# 23 Summary

I can't believe I'm finally here! I have amazed myself. I definitely have a different, more confident outlook about my web skills. If not for this class, I would never have done a blog, mashup, used an image generator, etc, etc. I am proud, too, that I may be able to help my library improve its services and to help our patrons improve their own skills.
The most fun was using the image generator, putting pictures on flickr, and cataloging my books on LibraryThing. I feel good about telling patrons or other staff members about these things too.
Just getting my Blog up and running was great too. We are trying to convince admin to add a blog to our website, and I know how to do one, so I will be able to speak with experience.
I am even thinking about creating a new computer class that deals with Library 2.0. Some of this stuff would really go over well I believe.
I now feel qualified to discuss all of these 23 Things now that I have done them. I guess it's not so hard to understand Library 2.0. Thank you.

# 22 NetLibrary

NetLibrary would not allow me to access it, so I visited MyMediaMall on the Rockford Public Library site. It is very easy to use. You need an RPL Library card, a PC, and the free software from Overdrive Media. You may even use a Mac. Also, PDA's, Smart Phones, and MP3 players are compatible. You must download the Overdrive Media Console first.

You can browse by looking at All Titles, Subject Areas, Fiction or Nonfiction, and by Genre. Simply click on a book cover, and it goes to your shopping cart. You can even place holds. Ebooks check out for 21 days, Audio books for 14, and movies for 7. They can be renewed by going to My Account. No late fees are ever charged because the items simply go back to the collection at the end of the check-out period.

I think it's a great system. I picked up some information I didn't know but will now be able to help patrons with.

# 21 Podcasts

Establishing the feed on my blog was a little confusing. I'm still not sure how I did it. However, it was fun and informative listening to and watching the differents podcasts. Some of them seemed to be a simple waste of time. Others, such as NPR, are quite helpful, and I will take advantage of them. Libraries could and should use podcasts on their websites as a means of communicating with patrons.
LibWorm: Podcasts : Academic Libraries (0) (0)

# 20 YouTube

I took a tour of YouTube. I've been there many times and really enjoy much of it. It's a great website because it gives anyone and everyone a chance to vent their emotions, frustration, anger, ideas, make a political or social statement in a creative way that is shared with others.

A link to YouTube on the Library website is a great opportunity to showcase programs, talk about issues, or just generally market the Library and its services.

I especially enjoyed this view of Second Life Libraries called "Tour of Information Island" because it's futuristic, and so are libraries.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jTQkzfz5osQ

# 19 Web 2.0 Tools

I checked out a website called Etsy : www.etsy.com, an e-commerce site for buying and selling handmade goods, crafts, vintage items, and craft supplies. As a seller, you get a virtual shop with your own URL. As a shopper, you can browse through many, many categories: clothes, jewelery, pet supplies, art, pottery, and too much more to mention. There is a picture of each item, and everything looked well made as far as I could tell.
It seemed very easy to navigate. You must register, the are help guides available for buyer or seller that take you through the process step by step. Like other sites, you have a cart and a checkout.

Etsy also has forums for questions and to report problems. There are also Virtual Labs that have live workshops and online classes. There is Live Chat for members to discuss their successes and products and exchange ideas and a Resources section to help with promotion. It’s kind of like having the support of a large conglomerate but retaining your independence.

A possibility for library use might be through the Live Labs where online classes might be held in the library for interested crafters.

# 18 Online Productivity--Zoho Writer

I just finished publishing a write-up that I completed on Zoho Writer. It's about a non-fiction book I just finished. I am thoroughly impressed with this online word processor. It's so easy to use, and you can share with others as well as work on it with others. I think this is fantastic. This is free and takes up no space on my computer. Why purchase the Office Suite? Zoho seems to work just as well. I'm still struggling with Vista and Word 2007.

Additionally, publishing it to my blog was a breeze. Just click on "publish," type in your username and password, the URL for your blog creator and it's done. It takes you right through the steps. I'm definitely keeping my eye on this.

Published by Zoho Writer

Barbaro by Tom Philbin and Pamela K. Brodowsky

New York: Collins. 2007

I just finished reading a book entitled Barbaro: A Nation's Love Story. It is a biography of the 2006 Kentucky Derby winner, although it was shelved in the animal section. I am a racing fan only because I feel that horses are some of the most beautiful and majestic animals on the face of the earth. How I came to love them so much might have something to do with the fact that I grew up in the shade of Arlington International Racecourse. I watched a lot of races as I was growing up. I guess I couldn't help but to take notice of the media surrounding this new three-year-old who had won all of his five starts right up to the Derby.

However, Barbaro seemed to command everyone's attention. He was lightning fast, extremely good natured, and very intelligent. Just the kind of horse you fall in love with, and that's just what America did. Although not the favorite, he won the Derby by 6 1/2 lengths and further endeared himself to a nation of fans. Many people began to feel that Barbaro could become the first Triple Crown winner in 28 years.

But disaster struck at the Preakness three weeks later when Barbaro badly fractured his right hind leg. It took more than 20 screws and a metal plate to repair the damage. Most horses with such an injury are euthanized right on the track. Owners Roy and Gretchen Jackson could have put him down immediately and collected $25 million in insurance money. Instead they decided to give Barbaro a fighting chance and set themselves up for a rollercoaster ride filled with hope, joy, disappointment, and finally grief. But through it all Barbaro was an excellent patient, keeping America waiting for news of his status each day. His website gathered over 2 million hits, all wishing for his recovery.

The book shows just how people can come together and care for a fellow creature, how veterinary personnel can work with singlemindedness for the good of a great athlete, and how that athlete can become a symbol of courage and determination.

# 10 Image Generator

The Image Generators are definitely fun. I spent hours on them, but I especially liked this one: http://www.txt2pic.com/. It was fairly easy to navigate, and you could do lots of things like enlarge, rotate. add text. However, I was unable to make my text stick.

I uploaded the picture of the Lippizaner Stallion taken at the Metro Centre in Rockford. I chose to display it as a Scrapbook page entitle "Learning to Drive." The textbox is supposed to say "Get a Horse!"

# 17 Learning 2.0 Sandbox Wiki

See my blog at: https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=27441167&postID=115850809539775306&page=1

# 16 About Wikis

I am amazed at the number of ways in which libraries and other organizations are using wikis. For example LitWiki at Ohio University has links to sites that help researchers. A wiki for high school students in a certain class, perhaps geometry, could find help and understanding through collaboration with fellow students. Libraries are using wikis for community information guides as well as sites for Reader’s Advisory. Patrons can add items about their club’s upcoming events, a review of a book they enjoyed, or information about a fundraiser for a local church.
A wiki for staff members working on a group project can use a wiki for discussion instead of adding to the mass of emails that might be overlooked. Staff manuals can be quickly and easily revised when new situations arise.
Patrons could utilize a wiki to express what they like or dislike about the library. This could help management and staff to become more sensitive to patrons’ wishes and even bring about changes in policy.
As they say, the uses are limited only by the imagination.

# 15 Perspectives on 2.0

Library 2.0 and Web 2.0 will go hand and hand into the future or the library as a place will have no future. Web 1.0 was just an information source. Web 2.0 is the participatory web. The folksonomy of flickr and del.icio.us are pulling users into the web to become manipulators and creators of data and information. The web is now a place for social networking through facebook and myspace. Users collaborate with other users via the web to share and build knowledge.
Where does Library 2.0 come in? Many libraries are still in the 1.0 stage—information sources. In order to compete with Web 2.0, the library of the future must utilize Web 2.0. Only in this way can it retain relevance in our information-glutted society. Librarians must take the role of information/technology leaders in order to guide patrons to the information they seek. They need to be teachers of the new technology, not of the Dewey Decimal System.
Libraries must become user friendly by following the examples of such Web 2.0 sources as Amazon.com and Google. Library webpages need to allow patrons to interact with its elements. Access to flickr, del.icio.us, and LibraryThing will help patrons share and learn from each other.
Another way for libraries to stay relevant is to offer reference service 24/7 just like the Web. This can be done through live chat. In addition, the use of YouTube is another way for libraries to make themselves visible in their communities by advertising their offerings: classes, programs, seminars, movies, etc.
Libraries will always exist, but not to store knowledge. Rather they will be information centers where patrons and librarians can interact, share, and create knowledge.

# 12 Rollyo

Here is a link to my Easy Reference Roll: http://www.rollyo.com/lumbrjck/easy_reference_roll/

#6 My Trading Card

I finally figured out some things about mashups. This was the most fun yet. Tell me what you think about my trading card.

For larger image:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/shookspear/3014573902/

#14 Technorati

I did not know what exactly Technorati was until listening to the podcast on “23 Things.” I find it very interesting that there is a search engine just for blogs. I guess that’s why Google has its own search engine for blogs also.
I spent quite a few hours on Technorati, but still feel that I only scratched the surface. I registered as a member and tried to “claim” my blog, but it would not accept my password. I guess I’ll have to come back to it. Right now I haven’t any more time to play, but it was fun.

#13

Del.iciou.us seems to really have possibilities for fun and study. After following the tutorials, etc. in the lessons, I was kind of lukewarm about it, but still feeling favorable. However, afterward I went directly to the del.icio.us site and explored for real. It was then that I really got a feel for how useful this tool can be. I started to do searches such as games and learn Spanish. I found some really interesting sites such as Livemocha where you can learn to speak Spanish. It even enables you to connect with Spanish speakers all over the world for practice.

This could also be a great reference tool. When a patron has a question you can't answer, ask him to give the subject a tag and try to look it up on del.icio.us.

# 11

It was really fun working with LibraryThing. I'm surprised at how many books I've read in the last three months. Of course my Library isn't finished. Now that I have an account, I have to go back and keeping adding more books as I remember them or as I read new ones.

Here are my URL's:

http://www.librarything.com/profile/LUMBRJCK

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/LUMBRJCK

#8

Doing the bloglines newsreader account just about drove me crazy. I had trouble distinguishing between this account and my blog account. It was just very confusing trying figure out the difference between the bloglines account and the rss feeds. Anyway, here is the URL to my bloglines account:

http://www.bloglines.com/public/LUMBRJCK@YAHOO.COM

When I tried clicking on hb's account in the exercise, I got an error: This is not a valid username. Here goes.

#9

I have added three blogs to my own:
Library Link of the Dayhttp://www.tk421.net/librarylink/
PublicAnonymous

Recent mashups Bookmarks on Delicioushttp://delicious.com/tag/mashups
PublicAnonymous

ResourceShelfhttp://www.resourceshelf.com

I found the exploration process quite confusing and hard to follow. I found some directions online and was able to put these on my blog. Quite exhausting.