Musings

• I finally re-joined the American Library Association. The re-design of their new site will definitely improve things.
• Whenever someone mentions Cocoa Beach, I think of a giant expanse by the water filled with Cocoa Puffs. No Lie.
  
• Happy 42nd Anniversary, Mum and Dad (not actually sure my parents know what a blog is)!!!
  

It's Good to be a St. Paulite?

photo by Moncrief Speaks




Have you heard? The RNC starts tomorrow in my front-backyard (that's what my child calls the backyard; also, the backseat is the "front-backseat." wha?). I'm totally dreading it, but at least Bush won't be here and thank God McCain chose the worst running-mate ever.

My friend and her child are going to the rally/protest at the capital, but I just don't have it in me.

photo by the_bill
I'm going to bury my head at the last day of the Great Minnesota Get-Together. And mourn the passing of another glorious summer.

Thing 23. Final Thoughts

I kind of jumped the gun. I over and out-ed before I was actually done. I completed the evaluation, and the one thing that I really DISliked about these exercises is the trail one has to leave when exploring the 'net. I mean, I fear THE MAN, among others, and I don't want to be tracked. So social networking, as it's name implies, isn't really for people who don't want to be social. To millions of people that is. I mean, I don't mind meeting some of you for a drink or something...

Thing 22. What Did I Learn Today?

Doing 23Things was such a great way to systematically work through some of the most important technological advances taking place on the internet. It is so important to know about these things mainly because, no matter what, someone will walk up to that desk and ask us.
But the other thing for libraries is that so many of these things are FREE. Free word of mouth, free advertising, free organization, free graphic design. For so long libraries have offered such a wealth of resources for (virtually) free. These Things are part and parcel of the philosophy of a public library (which is my domain, anyway).
One thing that makes me happy is how much I knew already. One of the challenges of being in the position of being very "green" in the library industry is being sure of paying attention to the proper advances. I work very limited hours at the library and my other job has absolutely no computer time involved, so the tools that I was already using and the blogs that I had been watching were actually right on target. Having this, as I've said, systematic approach to exploration just helped me to organize my research.
I will try to continue blogging.
I will absolutely continue monitoring my RSS feeds.
I will use these applications as needed.

Thanks for bearing with me.

Thing 21. Beyond MySpace: Other Social Networks

Yawn. I do belong to social networks, as you well know: flickr (though only for friends and family to view), LibraryThing, Goodreads, and MySpace (as a kind of shadow participant). I think that while it's a great idea for libraries to keep abreast of the multitude of social networks, I also believe that time needs to be invested to monitor the importance of the networks that pop up all over the place. There are soooo many. Gather, for instance: I just have no desire to join a social network that is basically indistinguishable from another except that the participants are older. Even after reading the article about Gather wanting to become like a MySpace for Books, I didn't feel compelled. At all.
WebJunction however... I think I'll probably bookmark this site and search for more links as far as online learning and career networking. It seems useful, especially in that there is a Minnesota contingent. God knows, LinkedIn feels somehow soul-less. I hate corporate and LinkedIn feels corporate.
I think the beauty of social networking is that it is there when you need it. For instance, how wonderful to find a ready made group when you are adopting a child or when you are looking for a job in a particular field. I do use social networking. When I need it.

Thing 20. Libraries and Social Networks

Ugh. I've really gotten so much out of this 23 Things exercise, but now it's starting to grate a bit. Maybe because I have already made the decision to not participate in social networking sites. This does not mean that I don't think that they are a good idea or that other people shouldn't, it's just that for all the reasons I've talked about in former posts I don't want that much of an online presence. Or any more reasons to log in.
I already have an account with MySpace, though only to use for searching bands or other people's prospective dates, otherwise I really can't say I often look on MySpace. Plus, the layout of the pages is generally appalling. I can't stand looking at them.
I've always stayed away from Facebook after reading how hard it was to cancel an account with them. It's my worst nightmare to not be able to opt out of something online and then have it haunt me in some (unknown, possibly imaginary) way.
Then again, I think so many people (kids? most people younger than me?) check their Facebook or MySpace just to keep up with their friends. Blogs are just absolutely not the same as these social networks and I can see why libraries want to be a part of this movement. I mean, why not? They're free. Mainly, if a library chooses to be a part of a social network then some ONE person must be in charge of making sure that it is updated often. There is nothing more lame than an outdated social networking page. It would be better not to participate at all, or make the decision to have a more static webpage that would not require frequent updates. Know what I mean?

Thing Nineteen. Podcasts

I think podcasts are a great idea. I really, really do. I just can't seem to get myself to actually sit down and listen to anything (that needs my undivided attention) for any appreciable amount of time. I don't like listening to people read stories, I don't like audio books (sorry Kristen). There is a special place in my heart for all the public radio greats: Sarah Vowell, David Sedaris, This American Life, and A Prairie Home Companion, but I can't be bothered to seek them out. There are very few occasions that I feel comfortable sitting and listening, and even then I must be very entertained to be able to focus. Even lectures at school allowed me to look at the speaker. I must be one of those lame people who just can't learn through listening. I listen to the radio almost exclusively in the car, I've tried audio books and the format grates on my nerves. Why? I cannot tell.
The upshot is is that I've read about all kinds of good podcasts but put off listening to any until later. And it never happens. I like the MPR directory, I didn't listen to a podcast, I'm sure this format would be great for a library. Enough said.

Thing Eighteen. YouTube

Wow, what happened? I guess I got a little off track as life took over (ahm gittin' hitched in July), and since I missed the (first) deadline anyway... Hey I've got all the time in the world to finish these "things."

Now, don't get me wrong: YouTube is super fun, but I have NO patience for browsing through the enormous amount of CRAP. I rely on other blogs and word of mouth to direct me to Quality Video Entertainment. And for me, entertainment's mostly what it is. I guess the Common Craft videos really come in handy though, as well as this shirt-folding video:





thank God someone posted that.

Oh, and this is my betrothed:

Hot stuff? Rock star? In our house he is!

I just kind of hate embedded videos though. I hate having to click on a video and have it be a surprise. It could be anything. I don't know why it bothers me, but sometimes I am pleasantly surprised and others I just get pissed. I know that's vague, but I'm trying to explain the annoyance I feel when someone has posted a video. I think part of the reason is that when I'm using the computer, even at home, there are few occasions that are "safe" to play a loud, unreviewed video. I'm not saying that most videos are inappropriate, but you never know. And I almost always forget to adjust the sound.Also, I hate bloggers who rely heavily on videos for posts. I like to read what someone thinks. At least comment on the videos you post.You know who you are.

After a couple of drinks, though... Well, who hasn't wasted an entire evening looking at The Kings or Iggy being awoken onstage to put on a performance, or the new Weezer? Huh? Come on admit it!

Sure I like the options for libraries especially the options for getting people involved. Look at this kid's contest (from the Swiss Army Librarian) called Story Tubes. Fun! Though this contest is sponsored by publishers, Brian Herzog points out that an individual library system could just as easily set up a contest. What a great way to get the community involved and invested! At the very least it would get people to look at the library home page, and just to have people become familiar with that is invaluable.

Thing Seventeen. ELM

Ye gads. I am ashamed to admit that I have a hard time remembering what ELM is versus MELSA versus MINITEX. I had to do a quick self-tutorial. Doh.
ELM is an amazing example of local government working for the people of MN. It's just that most people have not a clue that it exists. And a lot of people don't have a library card, which is the way that ELM resources are accessed. I suppose having a library card helps to determine that the user is a MN resident. I'm just sad that people don't realize how valuable their tax-paid library cards are. USE THEM, PEOPLE. Sorry for shouting.
With that said, I am annoyed by this exercise mostly because, again, we have to sign up for an account. Now I've used all of these resources in the past without setting up an account and it's worked just fine for me. I think I'm glad to know that these tools exist, but I couldn't cancel my account after I was done. At least, I couldn't figure out how to do it. I hate that. Also, after all the rigamarole of setting up an RSS feed, my reader was inundated with results. I would use this function sparingly. I suspect for the average user a more measured approach would be more productive. I did, however, like the ProQuest Newsstand email as a web page option. And I did end up signing up for a NetLibrary account, but that was so I could practice downloading our library's new option for audiobooks.
I suppose maybe my annoyance is unfounded. It is great to have options; even multiple ways to do the same thing. I just can't stand the multiple account sign ups and I know I'm not the only one.

Thing Sixteen. Student 2.0 Tools

Boy, why didn't I have these tools when I was in school? I could've used them in grad school, too. The U of Minnesota Assignment Calculator is such a clean, simple way of kicking off an assignment in a thoughtful and organized manner. I love it that there are as many or few recommendations for helpful links as you wish to use. Somehow the "official" timeline would enable me to work more efficiently, I think, as though I had some responsibility to someone. This, as well as the Research Project Calculator, would help in so many situations-especially with written assignments. I've always had a nasty habit of doing everything at once; not entirely at the last minute, but not with enough time either. I believe that a lot of my thesis papers would have been so much better if I had given myself time to really ruminate on the research that I had done instead of instantly synthesizing it (the research) into a paper. I suppose many people do it, and the Assignment Calculator enables you to be more methodical in your process. Slick.
I've already recommended it to a friend. Hopefully she'll tell me what she thinks. I think the library should absolutely link this to an education link or a student link on the resources page.

Thing Fifteen. Online Gaming

After some reading of random 23Thing participants' blogs to see if I'm a total wet blanket about all of this online gaming stuff, I realize that I'm not the only one who has qualms about it. Second Life in particular totally creeps me out, especially after watching the Ohio University video about all the opportunities for learning and networking at their Second Life campus. Just absurd. Why would I want to go to a less aesthetically pleasing universe? So I could fly? Well, maybe; but seriously, it's not as though most people are going to Second Life to learn. People are creating virtual lives. People are creating virtual lives. Can anyone really think of anyone who could not benefit from spending more time working on REAL relationships, real jobs, real wardrobes, real bodies? Second Life is not a game. I love the computer, and this is what I fear about the computer, and the future and young people. Humans strive to avoid reality in all sorts of different ways, and this is just another way to do it.
I think Puzzle Pirates seems like a way cooler alternative, but I really didn't want to sign up for it with my new computer. I've, many times now, managed to introduce viruses to computers even though they've been armed with the latest anti-virus shields. I'm just not willing to try it.
The upshot is that I think gaming is fine. Of course people should be able to play games, and even do Second Life if they want. If there is someone at the library willing to take the reins and trot out the program, so be it. It's just not gonna be me.

Thing Fourteen. LibraryThing

In case y'all didn't notice: I added my LibraryThing widget a long time ago. There are few things more pleasurable than finding out what others have read. LibraryThing is a delightful site. I love the options of knowing what other people have read based on the similarities of their libraries to yours. I love the "more recommendations" and the(brilliant) "anti-recommendations." Seriously, choosing the hot links to either of these categories after you have found a particular book leads you to all sorts of intriguing titles. So many people are a part of LibraryThing that I think it works really well. Millions of books are represented.
And the tagging! I cannot tell you how many times I have used LibraryThing to find a book that I was unable to remember the title to. More often than not I have located seemingly un-locatable books. I think that alone is a good reason to be familiar with LibraryThing. I think it would be great to have LibraryThing integrated into our catalog. From what I gather it is a simple thing to do.
I also belong to Goodreads. Not so many people contribute, so I don't think it's as great as LibraryThing. But check it out, it has a nice feel to it also.

Thing Thirteen. Online Productivity Tools

I've had a customized iGoogle homepage for a while now. It's got some kind of groovy artwork by John Maeda (?) that changes throughout the day. I rather like it, but maybe it's time for a change. Aside from the art, I've got my RSS feeds, BBC headlines, "Top News" headlines, weather, email notification, quote of the day and time and date. It appeals because it's not too fussy, yet there's a bit of an aesthetic. I like having the email and rss feeds right in front of me so that I can immediately access anything new.

I think if I did more group projects these varied tools would come in handy. It would be great for anyone to be able to access group lists, notes and agendas. I think the whole Backpack tool would be really cool, if everyone in the group felt comfortable using it. I think I would like to talk to someone who actually uses it frequently to see if it really does encourage productivity, or if it becomes another time waster. I foresee my once/month plan for a night out with my best friends becoming a whole heckuva lot more slick looking. We'll see.

I scoffed at the idea of using any more tools than I already do, the reason being that I spend more time on the computer than I should anyway. But then I was reading someone elses blog, and he/she said that they used Ta-da Lists to help remember books to request. YES. I have a long hand-written list of books that I want to read and I sometimes have it with me, but having it online would enable me to access the list at the library. So, I guess what I said before: you don't have to invent uses. Use tools when you need them. Just know that they are there.

I do think that it's valid to think of participation: many of these tools are most useful if multiple people participate. If they do not, the pages founder and become irrelevent. Like our reference wiki; it seems that people have found other ways to get their questions answered, convey information and form a community. There are just so many outlets...

Thing nothing

Just an interruption to moving forward to further "Things": my Thing Eight sucks. I just went to my site posing as an innocent visitor and my Zoho presentation bites. Whatever happened in the import process is NOT good enough to post on a blog, dammit. So, I know everyone is waiting with baited breath, I will be working on an amazing replacement. Soon. Whatever that could possibly be, it will. Be.

Thing Twelve. Do You Digg?

I just don't have time to be messing around with seeing what everyone finds important. Even for the library, most of the articles that get nominated seem to be silly, like "Best Mugshot Ever." Sure, these are fun to browse and laugh at, but there seems to be a lack of real content; stimulating, yes; analytical, no. I've used links that have taken me to articles on these sites, but it seems that it would be just as easy to have been linked to the original article. I guess what I'm saying is that for things like news I don't have great faith in the hoi polloi to pick out what I think is important or significant. So there.

Thing Eleven. Social Bookmarking

The fun thing about doing 23Things is that I realize I'm not as behind the curve as I thought I was. I use a lot more of the web 2.0 things than I think. What I'm realizing is that these technologies should be integrated to do more easily what you were already going to do. I don't think it's necessary to try to invent uses for things that seem, well, time consuming or frivolous. I mean, it's cool to know that there are all those photo manipulator APIs out there, and I know that so many people use them a lot, but I will rarely, if ever, have much use for them. Some of the people I've talked to at the library about the 23Things project seem to feel put upon or resentful of having to do this, and I think that's fine. If their job is going the way they want and they are able to do what they need to do without web 2.0, cool. For myself this opens doors to the possibilities and gives me a library context; for that I am grateful. I do, however, think that all this signing up for accounts is intrusive. Who knows who is aggregating information about me? Following a digital/online trail is easy. I've been able to find out first and last names of people using nom de webs (not on purpose) just by following links to their various accounts. Not that they are necessarily trying to hide their identities, it's just that sometimes you don't realize how social social networking is. For some things I've set up accounts that I had originally believed would be used solely for myself. Now when I've come to want to link to them, I've been having some hard times trying to change screen names etc. Not to mention that many sites recognize my computer. I don't think it's going too far to be wary of these things, especially when we find that our government authorized illegal telephone taps. God knows who cares or why, I just want the freedom of anonymity...

Anyway, I have been using del.icio.us for a couple of years now, and I love it. I'm not really interested in the "social" part of it, but I really like being able to save online articles and blog entries etc. without having to cram the bookmark feature on my computer. Plus, the tagging makes them far more easily retrievable. I don't know how much I'd use del.icio.us for research, I guess it would depend on the topic. Like Wikipedia, del.icio.us might be a good way to start research and find primary sources.

I think tags are so unbelievably useful. Sure, there are always the too general tags, but in so many ways tags enable searches using regular language. I like that. And I like looking at tag clouds.

One thing that I've had a problem with is posting favorite articles to del.icio.us from a computer that is not mine. It seems that no matter what you must download the bookmarklet to be able to add favorites to your account. Regardless of if they (the bookmarklets) are removable, I think I should merely have to capture a URL to add it. I don't want to always have to add things to computers that are not mine. I just thought that was weird, I couldn't believe that it wasn't as easy as I thought it should be. Otherwise, I really like del.icio.us. I do not, however, enjoy having to type it.

Thing Ten

I edited the 23 Things on a Stick wiki. Well, all I really did was change all of the words "wiki" into bright red, but still. I've edited some Wikipedia entries before, like spelling and punctuation, but no real content I guess. I feel like I'd have to do some hard core research with a list of sources before I could do that, and that's what stops me. But, I think the beauty of Wikipedia is that there is a lot of stuff out there that people know, but don't necessarily know how or why they know it. And that's what makes Wikipedia a great starting point for research; it gives you enough information about something to help formulate meaningful questions. I think it is absurd to ban Wikipedia, but I don't think it's a good idea to use it as a primary source.
Wikis in general are cool for all the reasons that the last two exercises were cool: they allow collaboration through the internet. Strangely, despite all the enthusiasm for wikis, the one that is set up for the reference librarians at my library languishes. Is suspect no one feels they have time for it, as there is no specific focus to it. Maybe I'll have a crack at it...

Thing Nine

Funny, I was just cleaning out and organizing my email when I can across a "Welcome and Activate Your Account" email from 2006 from something called Writely. When I clicked on it now, it re-directed me to Google Docs. I vaguely remember at some point reading about having an online word processor and thinking what a great idea that was. Obviously, I even went so far as to sign up for it, only to never ever use it. Fact is, I generally have no need for that sort of thing, but now that my (other) professional life is taking off , I'm sure I'll be needing it all over the place. Well, not really, but I absolutely think it is great to be able to store documents online and have them be available for editing for selected people. I think Google Docs and Zoho are similar and that the more I used either one the better. I mean, it's just a matter of becoming accustomed, right?
I think the founding fathers would have been so excited not to have to write everything longhand. I, however, am sad to see the demise of cursive.
On another, not really related subject, I'm having something really weird going on with my last post. Every time I try to go into the edit posts page so that I can add a link into "Thing Eight," it flashes quickly on the edit screen and then disappears. I can right click and reload it, but the same thing happens. It's published with all the stuff, it's just that I am unable to further edit it. I think it must somehow be related to the Zoho presentation, so I'll have to remember that and find out what's going on.

Thing Eight

I figured, since it seemed I would have to sign up to Zoho for Thing Nine, when we edit a public document, that I might as well go ahead and do it now and use their online presentation/slideshow maker. It's kind of cool, but boy, I spent SO much time on it and it doesn't really have the sweet options that I would like. Granted, if I used it a couple of times it would definitely get speedier, and I'm sure I could figure out how to customize it so that the page appearance is better, but still it seems a bit clunky to me. With that said, I could see how it could come in handy. Not having to sweat importing a presentation to a new computer would really save a lot of anxiety, I think. It just wasn't as easy to manipulate as I would've liked.
Please forgive the cheesiness and roughness of the presentation, I HAD to force myself to quit or I would have spent forty hours on four slides:


For those of you who cannot appreciate the Unofficial Ontario Theme Song: Take off, eh?

Thing Seven

I can't imagine not using email. It's just so great to have text-based way of sending information that's faster than writing letters, but not instant. Which brings me to IM; I don't want to say I'll never use IM for personal use, it's just that I can't even stand talking on the phone. I hate having to make small-talk, or trying to come up with a conversation for the sake of conversing unless I can see someone's face (in person). With that said, IM at work rocks because we don't have to pick up a phone. It is so much faster and easier to be able to identify who is where and contact them directly without the added interface of a phone, since all of us are pretty much staring at the computer screen constantly anyway.
I'm ashamed to admit, being the mover and shaker that I am, that I am slow on the uptake as far as texting is concerned. Part of my issue is, again, the frivolous nature of seemingly 95% of texts(basically to hook up, right?) . Then there is the problem of cost: until it's free, I'm not adding another charge onto any of my bills. Speaking of, check this out all you readers of my blog (har har): Japanese Bestsellers. It's astounding and unsettling to read about these books because the sentences are shorter and the plot lines are virtually non-existent, but what strikes me is that the writers are really, really young. This is what young people do, and whether I like it or not, that is how people will want to communicate. More evidence: "Digerati." Yuck. Maybe if I just start doing it and stop bitching about it I won't hate it so much. I think, for the library, if messages could be sent and received using a computer then it wouldn't be so sucky. And I love the idea of request and overdue notifications being sent through text if a patron desires.
BTW why are the article links from 23 Things On a Stick from 2005? Are they the original articles from the original program? I think they should be updated.
I attended a Minitex webinar about Google custom searches. I started watching a webinar on OPAL, but my browser didn't work correctly. I could have switched, but I just thought I would try them both anyway. I think webinars are a great idea, I just have a hard time staying focused when I'm watching in my livingroom. It's great though-I don't have to take time off work or at least drive anywhere to go to a class. Smart. I'm gonna spend a bit more time to find something really interesting.

Thing Six

This is pretty fun. I wish there was some cost-effective way to figure out how to use book trading cards for a summer reading programs. Wouldn't it be cool for kids to have their own, personalized decks of cards showing what they had read instead of the traditional written down lists? They could write reviews on the bottom part. That would be so much more slick. But again, I can't think of any way to do it that would make financial sense. Maybe choosing selected books and reviews ...I dunno. I think there are some really fun things to do with these.
And yes, I am very concerned with legalities and making sure that artists get their due. I just think it is very important to educate (especially kids) that just because it is available, doesn't mean it is yours. The lego man image is from this article.
The photo itself is by Paul Vreeker for Reuters

What do you think of this bling? I am so funny I can hardly stand it.

Thing Five

I really like lip balm. I mean, I have big lips,so maybe it's justifiable that I'm using lip balm as a search term. Or maybe it's pathological:

LOOK AT LIPBALM

I love seeing the contents of people's purses and backpacks. I like it when it's all out in an orderly fashion. It makes me think that order is achievable. Anyway...

These APIs are fun and I think the main use for them is to make things look more slick. That may or may not be the top priority, but I really think that appearance gives credence and draws people in. The whole concept gets kind of dangerous to think about, especially with web design becoming more and more easy. One of the qualities that we were taught to look for when evaluating a website for library school was design:; how sophisticated the site was. I don't think it's as simple to tell as it used to be, because now there are so many ways to get code. Don't get me wrong, I love the look of well-designed things (duh),but so many things in the library are more important, yet I loathe the dated look of our libary's homepage, so I guess maybe I feel it's more important than I want it to be.

It's just nice to know that these mashups are available to use in whatever way you can think of. Integrating them into blogs and sites richens and enlivens the visitors experiences.

Thing Four

photo by massdistraction

I can't say that this is going as smoothly as I would like. I've been really distracted here at work (the only place where I have computer access currently)and it's all because I'm obsessively trying to upload photos to my blog. First of, let me say that I think visuals are intrinsic to the Web 2.0 experience. I don't think that they (the visuals) necessarily have to be photos, but I can tell you that when photos are involved I am fifty percent more likely to be interested. Even for simple things like finding books: despite what's been said, you can tell a lot about a book by it's cover. I love the concept of scrolling over a picture of something, like a bookshelf, and having it give me information about that thing. I've seen it done with aerial view maps, too, and that's totally rad.

I already had a Flickr account but, as I've mentioned, I'm not really interested in posting my own image or those of my friends and family online. I know, I know-I reap the rewards without having to take the leap myself. I struggle with how much people are willing to put out there about themselves ; but I LOVE IT!!!! I, however, cannot do it myself.

So, let me say that one of my favorite bloggers is Sharyn Morrow from right here in St. Paul MN, and it just so happens that she is a voracious Flickr-er also.

She's awesome, isn't she? With all of that said I don't know how much I will use Flickr. I would definitely recommend it to people, I will certainly peruse it when my favorite blogs link to it, if I continue blogging I'll most surely use it to add pizzazz to my pages, but I don't even own a camera. I have a three-year-old and I've probably taken no more than twenty photos total of him his whole life. Yes, that's how lame I am about photography. Personally. Come to think of it, I think this is fundamentally about me: I want everyone else to do the stuff so that I can enjoy it.

Thing Three

Hey, only twenty more Things to go! Yeah team!!!
I think RSS feed is intrinsic to a convenient, usable, useful Web. I've been using Google Reader as my aggregator for over a year now, and have the updates directly on my homepage. Before that, I bookmarked all my favorite blogs (sometimes as many as fifty!) and would have to check them whenever I logged on to see if they had been updated. How lame. And time consuming and disappointing if there were no updates. For me, RSS feed has revolutionized my Web use and allowed me to check out the usefulness of many more sites than I would have been able to monitor without it.
I have to say, I use it much more with blogs than any newsfeeds. I just don't need to know if the local paper has updated its feed because I already know that it has. For more general sites such as those, I think it is just easier to have them bookmarked so that your reader doesn't get bogged down by too many updates. Or, make sure that the update from a newsfeed that you want is specific, like choose the food section or the sports section. Otherwise you'll be getting hundreds of updates throughout the day.
Also, I feel that while tools for finding feeds are interesting, I think they'll be going by the wayside any day now; there's barely a legitimate site out there that doesn't have a feed. I have found most of the sites on my reader through links from other sites and have maybe come across one or two that doesn't have a feed. I just think it's almost a thing of the past, like trying to find a listserv. But what do I know?
Really, one of my favorite library blogs is Brian Herzberger's Swiss Army Librarian. He's just got a great voice, and features a reference question of the week which I find helpful considering my lack of experience. Jessamyn and Michael Stephens were two blogs that I had on my reader but got rid of because mostly they just updated me on where they were going next to give lectures. I became totally bored. Obviously they are two great people in the library field, especially as far as advancing Web 2.0, I just wanted more description of service in the trenches. Plus, Jessamyn is the one that linked me to Brian's site, so that was good.
Another site that I think is absolutely a must for Web 2.0 is iLibrarian. It keeps me informed of the latest technologies and how they relate to libraries. I think 99% of my knowledge of new technology comes from this site.
Do not hesitate to use RSS feed. It is not an option not to.

Thing Two

See, I'm already way behind: It's taken me weeks to get to number two.
I think the"Library 2.0" label is just a faddish way of saying that it is of utmost importance that librarians and libraries keep up with the needs and, yes, wants of the public. I feel that libraries in the past have always done an excellent job of fulfilling the expectations of those patrons who came in and asked, but more and more people don't think that they need to ask,or even come in. And libraries have to stay open. Libraries are vital, it's just that a lot of people don't understand how vital. So libraries have to show they are current, and currency means ACCESS.
Capitalist don't have time to wait for anything. It all comes back to money and time. And why should people wait if they don't have to. If libraries aren't going to help, then people will find a way without them.
We need to be "Library 2.0" because that is what we are expected to be. It's not about books, it's not about customer service, it's not about computers. It is about democratic access. To as many things as your brother, your sister, your government or, heck, your president, have access to so that you have a fighting chance to live as quality a life as you choose to live. Access should not be self-conscious: libraries should be matter-of-fact about their capabilities, that we are indeed ahead of the curve as far as providing access in all manner of ways. I think this is a duty of the librarian, just as it has always been. Now there are just new ways of doing it.

Thing One

I am such a great fan of blogs. I thirst for postings and follow some voraciously, yet I've always been so timid about trying new things on the internet for a number of reasons:

1. I've found that the more you know about using computers, the more you don't know.
2. I could spend the better part of a day figuring all this stuff out and getting it exactly the way I want it. And that's too much time. Especially when my three-year-old is wondering why he has to wait for my attentions.
3. Security. I don't trust the government. I don't necessarily trust my fellow man. I wonder just how much of an online presence I am comfortable with. On the one hand I love the online community and the personalities that I have seen there, but on the other I don't like the thought of being watched or tracked or any of that. I mean, it's easy enough to monitor people without being given a carte blanche into their lives as it sometimes seems personal blogs provide.

But, I really want to learn to use these things for myself, my friends, my kid, my patrons, and the only real way to do that is to do it online.

So here goes.