Online Tools and Applications

I looked at Rollyo, LibraryThing, and Lifehacker. 

In Rollyo, I used libraries as a search term within the reference search.  The second listing was Public Libraries.  Public Libraries took me to yellow pages.com which was good for maps and directions of public libraries in the Chicago area but not good for a description of the library.   The first listing in custom web results took me to Library Information Services – refdesk.com which allows you to browse libraries collections worldwide.  Links in refdesk.com included:  American Library Association, Internet Public Library, Library of Congress, and other excellent sites.   

I joined LibraryThing.  LibraryThing allows you to create a catalog of your books and also connects people based on books they share.  The Book Page includes who has books, tags, reviews, and conversations.  Your Profile allows you to tell all about yourself and your library or keep the profile completely private.  You can Create and Join Groups.  You can talk in the group forum.  With Talk, the forum system, you can see conversations in groups.  Local is a gateway to local bookstores, libraries, book festivals, and to author readings, signings, discussions, and other events they host.  You can keep track of events in your area.  I used Local and did find bookstores, libraries, and friends of libraries (which contained link to library’s website).  I liked my own Local search which found an upcoming event at Borders.

In Lifehacker, I liked the “Choose the right image format for screenshots” article which shows a comparison of JPG, PNG, or GIF formats.

Instant Messaging

I used Yahoo! Messenger for the Web to IM Gretchen.  I did not have to create an account I simply used my Yahoo ID already created for a previous activity.  One library use for IM is that I can instantly communicate with Gretchen across the room with no need to shout or leave my desk.  Meebo will allow users to log into multiple IM networks, but it is still useful to ask friends which IM service they use or to have you and your friends agree which service to use.  Using IM reminds me of using Skype.  Skype allows you to use a webcam to send real time image and voice communication through the Internet.  It helps with both IM and Skype to have an arranged time to communicate.

Online Social Networks

I created an account in Facebook.  I have edited my profile with my activities, interests, education, and work.  I preferred to add a picture of Glacier National Park rather than a personal photo.  You must sign up to view profiles.  Friend finder did not recognize Oakton webmail.  I used my yahoo.com account created for week 4 Flickr activity to search for friends.  I searched and found two people I know are in Facebook.  I have requested these two people be Added as a Friend.  I like the fact that you must be accepted as a Friend in order to view a Full Profile.  The article 7 Things You Should Know About Facebook indicated that creating a self-identity is an important part of college; Facebook allows students to define a profile; find others with similar interests; and reassess how well they fit.  This article points out some downsides of Facebook; e.g.,  little assurance that the person behind the profile is who they represent themself to be.  I also explored MySpace and liked viewing the music charts for celtic music.

Social Bookmarking

I searched Del.icio.us and Google for the terms reference and libraries.  Within Del.icio.us the first return for the term reference was Wikipedia; the second return was a Google cheat sheet.  Normally we do not recommend Wikipedia.  Within Google the first return for the term reference was Reference.com; the second return was Dictionary.com; and the third return was Wikipedia.  We warn students about the necessity to evaluate Google but for the term reference; I believe Google did the better search.  Within Del.icio.us the first return for the term libraries was Top 10 web developer libraries (opinion on libraries use of javascript); second return was Edevil’s weblog (opinion on javascript used by libraries); and the fifth return was WorldCat.  Within Google the first return for the term libraries was Public libraries; the second return was Libraries in Yahoo! Directory; and the third return was Wikipedia.  I believe Del.icio.us was directing the user far too much to personal opinion; however Del.icio.us did have a link to WorldCat in the first five links.  Google did include Libraries in Yahoo! Directory which I liked for the inclusion of web directories and weblogs.

The Melanage article provided a good recommendation for The ALA Government Documents Roundtable (GODORT) wiki list of useful links.  I also liked the recommendation of MIT Libraries use of Del.icio.us for their Virtual Reference page.  The article Tags Help Make Libraries Del.icio.us made the interesting point that social bookmarking and tagging tools can help librarians bridge the gap between the library’s need to offer authoritative, well-organized information and their patrons’ web exerperience with Google.  I think this article’s warning on the lack of authority control and the possible use of inappropriate language should also be considered.

Within Oakton’s Del.icio.us account I created the tag libraries and posted three websites:  American Library Association, Libraries in the Yahoo! Directory, and WorldCat.

Libraries could use Del.icio.us to create lists of new books and recommended books. 

 

Flickr and YouTube

Glacier National Park is the picture I added to my Flickr account.  I stayed in this park and highly recommend a visit.  I created a Flickr account: reference789.  I conducted a search in Flickr for libraries and discovered 914,924 results.

I created a YouTube account.  I conducted a search in YouTube and found 60,500 results including a video entitled Libraries in 2010.

Oakton library is certainly using social media.  Wikis are used by librarians to create research guides.  Classes in Second Life were given at DesPlaines library classroom.  Flickr and YouTube could involve photo and video sharing of library events.

You will find my Flickr account at Reference789 

 

Wikis

My 24/7 wiki research guides include:  1) definitions of words, 2) health – consumer information, and 3) statistics.  I have recently checked all three wikis to be sure all links work.  I have recently edited all three wikis by deleting older books and adding newer books.  I have recently added links to all three wikis from books to the Oakton Community College online catalog using persistant link to this page. 

My Wikipedia contribution is to add a quote by President Lee from the  April 22, 2007  New York Times article “For Achievers, a New Destination.”

I find the text editor in the library wikispace an easy tool to provide editing.  It is useful to see in the history tab who has updated the wikispace and what has been changed. 

In conducting library research workshops, I always include a section on evaluation of materials.  I ask the teacher if he or she allows the use of Wikipedia.  The teacher answers that he or she does not allow the use of Wikipedia.

RSS

My RSS feeds are in Google Reader.  I used Google Blog Search and created two feeds:  1) books american library association and 2) reference american library association.  I went into NoveList and created a feed for historical fiction recommendations.  Within the link 10 ways Libraries Can Use RSS are several possibilities to consider:  1) new additions to online catalog; 2) library card hold and/or overdue materials; 3) new programs and events; 4) electronic newsletter; 5) press releases; 6) library closings; 7) library job openings; 8) subscribe to local news RSS feeds; 9) subscribe to interests of library customers RSS feeds; and 10) subscribe to professional interest RSS feeds.

Blogs

I liked the article link “Blogs for Libraries” by Greg Schwartz in Richard’s Week 1.  In this article we learn why librarians should care about blogging:  1) writing a blog keeps you current; 2) blogs are an advocacy tool; 3) blogs build community; 4) you are unique; 5) do it for you; and 6) it’s easy.  We were given the choice of using either Blogger or WordPress to set up the blog.  I chose WordPress because some of the examples Richard used in his Week 1 article are from WordPress.  This seemed a good recommendation.

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