Library 2.0

So what have we learned so far on our 23 Things journey...? Certainly a bit less reticence about having a presence in cyberspace! As to Library 2.0 - I think the concepts of user participation and interactivity and the remixing of content are ones that traditionally librarians would have shied away from. What would happen to our precious catalogues when users starting tagging the content? - well the world hasn't ended and the increased flow of information from users back to libraries is proving usful. We need to be conscious that the web is the natural environment for many of our users and place our services there where people will find and use them.

Week 6 - RSS feeds, readers and finding feeds.
Setting up the Google feed reader was very easy. I added feeds from some news and library sites & blogs. Feeds are a good way to save time by not having to revisit sites to see if there are any updates of interest. Having said that it still takes time just to keep up with the RSS feeds themselves, although the manage features in Google Reader do help.
I tried some of the feed search tools - one of them, Feedster, seems to be out of action at the moment. I did find some interesting library blogs using Technorati.
Library users would benefit from setting up feeds from library web sites and relevant databases and ejournals to keep up with new resources. Libraries could use RSS news feeds to help promote their resources and events. RSS feeds from subject specific library blogs would be very useful for students.

Week 5

Week 5 of 23 Things proved a bit challenging - in exploring image generators I reconfirmed my suspicion that I have zero graphic art capabilities but I can see how useful some of these tools would be for generating publicity fliers or posters for library use - just don't let me loose on them!
I am quite impressed by Rollyo and have added some good search rolls to my own Rollyo site.
As to the Web 2.0 award winners - I investigated Biblio.com and was impressed that you can restrict your search to signed copies of out-of-print books.
I joined a Libraries 2.0 Ning group on Open Source for libraries - it will hopefully prove a convenient way to keep up to date on developments. I gave up when I got to the play section and got frustrated with Travel IQ - I can think of more constructive and enjoyable ways to spend online time! Phew - exhausted!

Some thoughts on technologies

Week 4 of 23 Things was interesting - Flickr is a good way to share photos with friends and family or the rest fo the world if you want. I haven't investigated all its bells and whistles fully. As I haven't yet ventured into the world of digital photography I won't be using it for personal photos - but once my 20 year old auto focus camera finally gives up the ghost who knows where the technolgy will lead me?
I have been contemplating downloading Skype at home - free computer to computer calls are an attractive proposition in this recessionary era.

Twitter

Have now used Twitter, or should I say have "tweeted". Thinking of ways we could use it to promote our library services .... do may Irish student use twitter as yet? Is it reaching "tipping point" here? - could it be the next big thing for libraries? All this new technology is making my head buzz!

Wikis

I am impressed by the many uses that wikis are being put to in the library world - having visited some library wikis before very much as a "lurker" - not planning to contribute to them, this 23 Things exercise has got me thinking about possibilities. The idea of having library moderated subject guide wikis is appealing. Also using an internal library wiki as a knowledge base would cut out the frustration of trying to locate that email with the hot tip on how to do x, y or z which never seems to be there when you need it.

And another thing!

I also just realised that I had meant to put that last post in the 23 Things wiki and not on my blog but now it's there I might as well leave it!