#15 On Library 2.0 and Web 2.0

Web 2.0 seems to be another step in the ever changing landscape of library land. Any industry that utilises technology will find that they will also evolve with the technology they use.

I believe my library is a little bit behind those described in the perspectives I read. Most of my customers sole purpose for visiting the library is to select a book (or twenty) to take home and read. Traditional users using the library for traditional purposes. They are still afraid of the computer catalogues we have let alone adventurous enough to be writing a blog. I look forward to the day that they come in and use our Internet computers to download the latest e-book by their favourite author.

While I can see the potential for many of the tools we have experimented with while learning Web 2.0 I have some concerns. The importance of using reliable sources when using the Internet as an information tool has always been recognised. I feel that this generation of Web 2.0 takes that reliability away - anyone can write a blog or add a tag. Are there any checks in place to make sure we are still providing our customers with accurate information. Are our customers going to take this type of information as gospel because they obtained it from the library.

Libraries do need to change to maintain our usefulness but there are huge obstacles in our path. Budget restrictions, staff time, staffing levels - just to name a few. I'm sure we will get there and can't wait to see what the next wave of Internet Web 3.0? will bring.

#14 Technorati

This is a site I will be visiting again. People will talk/blog about anything!

This is a really easy tool to use. I found that a lot of the same blogs came up when I searched specifically under "tags" and "blog directory" but using these search tools did narrow the general search from over seven thousand hits to just over seven hundred.

I don't really think that I have anything of any real value to add to the blogging world so I didn't claim my blog or tag my posts. I did however like "watchlist" and will spend some more time exploring this.

#13 del.icio.us

This is a really great tool for the dedicated web user. A great way to have immediate access to all or your favorite web sites from any internet enabled PC.

I really like that the tag cloud has identified the most popular tags by font size.

G. K. Chesterton
"A good novel tells us the truth about its hero; but a bad novel tells us the truth about its author."

#12 Rollyo

I have created an account with Rollyo, it was easy to set up but I don't think I am using it to its full potential.

I created a searchroll about Childrens craft activities, here is the link - http://rollyo.com/search.html?q=childrens+craft&sid=320870

I feel like I missed the point of this one - I might need to spend some more time playing around!

#11 LibraryThing

This tool is really easy to sign up and use. My Catalogue can be found at http://www.librarything.com/catalog/GoMatildas, I added some of the books I have read recently to my catalogue.

#10 Image generators

This image was created using http://www.doppelme.com/create/index.asp You can create your whole character from scratch.

A good friend will bail you out of jail, a great friend will help you bury the body. :)

#9 Finding Feeds

I found http://www.feedster.com/ and http://www.technorati.com/ both easy to use. I spent the most time on technorati - I like the way you can view recent blogs, use the "popular" tab to see what is a hot topic at the moment or search by area of interest like - entertainment, politics, sport or technology etc.

I also found feeds to some of my favourite sites by locating the RSS button on the page.

#8 Create a blogline account

This is a really cool way of keeping up to date. There are so many news feed and blog's to choose from. I could really get carried away with this and end up spending my whole day reading blogs.... I like the way it is presented and it was really easy to sign up and use.

My blogline account can be found at - http://rpc.bloglines.com/blogroll?html=1&id=Karma04

I currently have 10 feeds I subscribe to.

#7 Technology

Where would we be without technology. I remember using my school library, everything was located using the card catalogue. It took up more space than a small vehicle but was easy to use and obviously very effective. Libraries have come such a long way since then. Our customers can now log onto the internet anywhere in the world and look to see what items the library holds. Not only that but they can request the item, see when it is due back and also see how many people are already in the queue waiting for that item. I can only imagine what the future will bring.

#6 Flickr mashups

The mashup that I found intriguing is called Virtual Video Map. It presents as a map of the world and wherever there is a link on the map you can click to that location and view videos from that area.