LibraryThing is an interesting site that lets you add titles you have read or are interested in reading. The feature of recommending titles is useful. Each time you return to the home page new recommendations will appear on the page.
Adding the listing of books to a library site is a good use for the site. The visual approach would appeal to teens. Students could even create the lists from books they have enjoyed reading. The site could also be used for students to track the books they read over the course of the school year. Being a visual learner myself it seems that this would be an interesting way for students to watch their reading list grow.
While working on blogging I went back and added books to the library listing. The books that were added are automatically added to the posting below. I like the functionality of the site and the potential uses.
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Week 8 - Item 18 Productivity Tools
What a great idea to have access to various Productivity Tools on line. Right now our school is undergoing a huge hit from a virus. The computers are not reliable at the moment and flash drives should not be used so that you are not infecting your home computer. This makes the on line word processing, spread sheet, and slide show tools so valuable.
With computer problems at school, the end of the school year, and student projects needing to be finished I also see another use. Consistently I am hearing that students have computer problems with word processing, do not have Power Point or any other variety of reasons for not completing their project. The tools would be a way for a student to complete something if they had Internet access and even have access to the documents at school.
For some reason I think I like Google Docs a bit better than Zoho. I really can't give a good reason for that feeling but it is there. I am also amazed at how close the tools are to Microsoft buttons. Item 18 was an interesting exploration.
With computer problems at school, the end of the school year, and student projects needing to be finished I also see another use. Consistently I am hearing that students have computer problems with word processing, do not have Power Point or any other variety of reasons for not completing their project. The tools would be a way for a student to complete something if they had Internet access and even have access to the documents at school.
For some reason I think I like Google Docs a bit better than Zoho. I really can't give a good reason for that feeling but it is there. I am also amazed at how close the tools are to Microsoft buttons. Item 18 was an interesting exploration.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Week 7 - Item 17 More Wiki
I am not really following adding to the PA Wiki. I tried to play in the sandbox but could not get access. The only thing I could figure out to do was request access and see what happens.
Of more interest was registering for the PSLA Conference Wiki. What good timing for the wiki week! I was unable to go this year but am following some interesting things. One project for me is to work together with the CFF Coach in the building. With this being the first year in a 7-12 building it has been a learning experience but I have not worked much with the CFF Coach. That is something I want to change and something I am sure the CFF Coach is interested in doing. I know the experiences I am gaining in the 2.0 will be of help. There is so much to learn and do that often I feel that my head is spinning.
I requested and later was given access to post to the PA Wiki. It seemed a bit confusing and took a bit of playing but I was able to complete the post.
Of more interest was registering for the PSLA Conference Wiki. What good timing for the wiki week! I was unable to go this year but am following some interesting things. One project for me is to work together with the CFF Coach in the building. With this being the first year in a 7-12 building it has been a learning experience but I have not worked much with the CFF Coach. That is something I want to change and something I am sure the CFF Coach is interested in doing. I know the experiences I am gaining in the 2.0 will be of help. There is so much to learn and do that often I feel that my head is spinning.
I requested and later was given access to post to the PA Wiki. It seemed a bit confusing and took a bit of playing but I was able to complete the post.
Week 7- Item 16 Wikis
Looking through the suggested wikis was interesting. Some things I found of little use but particularly enjoyed the School Library section of the Library Bloggers Wiki. The wiki had posting to many school wikis and blogs. Seeing the postings gives a view into the school atmosphere in the library.
Some were very current and informative. Some maintained by the library media specialist and others had postings from others as well. Others had not been updated for at least a year and would be of little use. If as the librarian you invested the time into the project and were able to train the students to use the site it would be a great asset. I especially enjoyed the site where the librarian posted pathfinders to research projects. I have just started that in our library on paper. I can see the advantage of posting it on line.
For me this is a down the line project. As a librarian in a building of 800 with no aide and an outdated collection there are other pressing issues to deal with first. My concern would be the amount of time to develop and maintain such sites. I love the idea, see the applications, but am just not sure I can maintain it yet. But the exciting part is that I am going to keep the idea on the back burner and look for the proper time and outlet to start. I do think this exploration helped me see Blogging a bit more usefully in the library.
Some were very current and informative. Some maintained by the library media specialist and others had postings from others as well. Others had not been updated for at least a year and would be of little use. If as the librarian you invested the time into the project and were able to train the students to use the site it would be a great asset. I especially enjoyed the site where the librarian posted pathfinders to research projects. I have just started that in our library on paper. I can see the advantage of posting it on line.
For me this is a down the line project. As a librarian in a building of 800 with no aide and an outdated collection there are other pressing issues to deal with first. My concern would be the amount of time to develop and maintain such sites. I love the idea, see the applications, but am just not sure I can maintain it yet. But the exciting part is that I am going to keep the idea on the back burner and look for the proper time and outlet to start. I do think this exploration helped me see Blogging a bit more usefully in the library.
Friday, April 24, 2009
Week 6 - Item 15 Library 2.0 and Beyond
I often have debates with myself or others as to the look of the library and the services we need to be providing for students. Currently I am weeding a collection with an average age in the 70's. My expression is we will see if there is something that isn't as old as dirt when looking for information in print. I am also questioning the budgeting for magazines.
This does not mean I am ready to give up the library as it exists currently. No matter what happens in the Web 2.0 World we will still need fiction books for patrons. There is nothing better than curling up with a good book on a rainy day. I computer screen or an e-reader etc. . . can not take that place.
Other forms of information may take other turns. My concern more often is not that students find information but what type of information they find. The teaching of evaluation and searching skills are paramount. Today students just type a sentence into Google, take the first site they find and believe it as gospel. We have a role in the library, computer lab, and in classrooms with laptops.
The format of information may change but the need to help patrons locate and use accurate and valid information is still paramount.
This does not mean I am ready to give up the library as it exists currently. No matter what happens in the Web 2.0 World we will still need fiction books for patrons. There is nothing better than curling up with a good book on a rainy day. I computer screen or an e-reader etc. . . can not take that place.
Other forms of information may take other turns. My concern more often is not that students find information but what type of information they find. The teaching of evaluation and searching skills are paramount. Today students just type a sentence into Google, take the first site they find and believe it as gospel. We have a role in the library, computer lab, and in classrooms with laptops.
The format of information may change but the need to help patrons locate and use accurate and valid information is still paramount.
Week 6 - Item 14 Technorati
After looking at Technorati I am still not really convinced as to it's usefulness for my life. I am not overly interested in reading Blogs nor do I see much use for blogs in library settings. That kind of makes Technorati of little use in my life. It is interesting to know that it exists and that I can find things if needed but I don't see me using it often.
I really like tagging for it's organizational structure. I can see uses and how it helps locate needed sites and photos. The problem can come into play when you structure things and then eventually you need to go back and change the structure. That type of activity can become overwhelming.
I really like tagging for it's organizational structure. I can see uses and how it helps locate needed sites and photos. The problem can come into play when you structure things and then eventually you need to go back and change the structure. That type of activity can become overwhelming.
Week 6 - Item 13 Delicious
Earlier in the adventure of Web 2.0 exploration I decided to start a Delicious account. At that time I imported the bookmarks to Delicious but I really did not understand tags and how to use the site.
After going through the tutorials I have more of an understanding of what is going on. I went through the sites I added earlier and established tags. After a bit of tagging and re-tagging I got the hang of things. So currently my bookmarks in Delicious are tagged.
After going through the tutorials I have more of an understanding of what is going on. I went through the sites I added earlier and established tags. After a bit of tagging and re-tagging I got the hang of things. So currently my bookmarks in Delicious are tagged.
I can see lots of uses but a couple of problems for me to overcome. First I have to keep the sign in to Delicious and the password with me so that I can use it at school. Once I get it in my notebook I will be set. Second I have to develop the habit of using Delicious. Currently I bookmark at home and school. Things are fine at home but at school we often have the bookmarks disappear over the summer. That makes Delicious all the more appealing.
I also love looking at the tags when they are listed by font size that shows the tags with the most sites listed. As a visual person it stand out where I have the most sites tagged.
Like any good thing if you develop the habit and you will benefit. I will work on using Delicious in the next several weeks and see where it goes.
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