FlickrFun

Flickr!!!!


http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/

So, I've been checking out the 3rd party flickr tools and I stumbled across the aforementioned link. There are so many neat "toys" for your photographs. I especially like the idea of making a calendar with your flickr photos.

All in all, I'm really enjoying some of the flickr apps. *smiles*

TaggingFlickr

So, I've been searching flickr and I pulled up a neat, funny photo (that I've already blogged about). I can see that the use of tags is really important for flickr because it's easier to search for photos of interest. You can find other people who have a similar interest to you when you can do specific searches on particular subjects.

If you want to associate with others who have a similar interest, you can join/start a group. It is really easy to find people who have similar interests because you can SEARCH by INTERESTS. *smiles* ---tres cool--- The social networking quality of the site sets it apart from other photosharing sites. There are also some pretty nifty apps!


FLICKR---Great Site!

Flickr!!

So, I've checked out the Flickr site and it's pretty interesting. I took a tour of the site and I found out about some cool features. I think I'd like to join in the future.

I did a search for "chocolate" and I pulled up a really funny pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pinksushi/41625961/

It's a really funny, cool picture of a Belgian chocolate bar; it's cutely named "Boyfriend Replacement." *smiles*

All in all, the site seems like a useful and fun way to organize your pics, have fun with them and others.

Technorati!!

I've checked out the Technorati site and I've searched for "learning 2.0;" I have to say that the search tools are really comprehensive. There are so many ways to find a topic of interest. I'm glad to see videos in the tag search results. All in all, I appreciate the thorough search engines on Technorati.

Technorati---Great Site! *smiles*

Great Mash-ups!

Thing 19

....What did you like or dislike about the tool? What were the site’s useful features? Could you see any applications for its use in a library setting?

So, I explored librarything.com and I think that it's great. I've ALWAYS wanted to catalogue my books, and this site makes it seem really easy. I not only can catalogue my books, but I can see if there are other like-minded individuals that have a similar collection to mine. AWESOME. I'm such a book-worm and it's just hard to find people who share such similarities with you (at least for me, anyway----I've tried on myspace, but it's still hard to find like-minded souls). So, I'm very thankful for a site like librarything. *smiles* I'm also glad that I've found out about these 2 sites: http://web2.0awards.org/ and http://www.programmableweb.com/ .

I think that libraries can incorporate some of the reviews from the thing site into their own catalogues. Also, some libraries may be able to use the thing itself as a catalogue. *smiles*


AWESOME exercise. AWESOME sites. *smiles*

Tagging

I'm so glad that I've learned about this relatively new "delicious" site. In the past, it irritated me to bookmark a site and have to dig through all of my other bookmarks to find it, later on. Now, I can easily find all of my "favorite" sites and also share my findings with others. I can, also, see what other people have found about a particular subject. This site saves a bunch of time and frustration. definitely.

I can see that this new tool can be useful for research purposes. If you're writing a paper or doing research, then it makes it easier to see other articles that many other people have found useful (it's especially useful to see the comments that various users have added, pertaining to the site in question).

*smiles*

Myspace 2

I joined myspace a few yrs ago, and sign-up was pretty easy. There are many pluses and negatives to myspace. The Pluses: One can "meet" many interesting, diverse people. It's easy to add friends to your profile. The site is relatively easy to navigate. Also, one can easily associate with others (via profiles, groups, forums, or through offline meetings that can be set up on the site). The negatives: HACKERS, spam, potential harrassment, unwanted solicitations.

All in all, it's a great way to meet people; you just have to use precautionary measures (and hope that your account isn't hacked into). I think that more libraries should reach out to patrons via myspace and other social networks. It's a great way to reach patrons/potential patrons who many not have otherwise visited the library. : )

Myspace!

I think that VBPL should reach out to teens via a myspace profile. Just as VBPL reaches out through IMing patrons/potential patrons, having a VBPL myspace profile would enable to the library to reach out to patrons that may not have otherwise come to the library. It's just a great way to connect with many young patrons!

Patrons will also see that libraries want to reach out to them; maybe, they will see that libraries can be fun, safe places to visit. The tone of a library profile may also attract or repel potential patrons; so, if VBPL has a page/is going to make a page, then it should be attractive.

IMing!

IMing the Library

I think that it was a brilliant idea for libraries to extend their reference transactions to IMing customers/potential customers online. It targets an audience that may not have otherwise visited the library and it reaches those patrons who'd rather conveniently IM a question to a libararian, at home. Also, it may reach customers who may be a little intimidated from approaching the almighty REFERENCE DESK. *smiles*

When another co-worker and I interviewed two staff members about Iming, they said that they receive a mix of difficult and "easy" questions. However, since IMing is new, they don't receive that many online questions. Perhaps, the VBPLs can connect with the schools about this exciting, new way to interact with the library (if the library system hasn't already).

Overall, I think that this new mode of communication for the library system serves as a great way to connect with many patrons and I look forward to more patrons utilizing this service.

My Book Review

My Book Review

So, I'm excited that I've been able to post a book review on the VBPL Readers Advisory Wiki. I wrote about "Big Cotton: How A Humble Fiber Created Fortunes, Wrecked Civilizations, and Put America on the Map." (http://vbplreadersadvisory.wikispaces.com/Staff+Picks!) It was pretty easy to post this content. I located the green-line bordered "edit this page" icon and edited my entry into the page; the tools were very easy to use on this page, as well. Before this 2.0 program, I wish I had known about this page because I probably would have added some reviews.

As I said in the other blog about wikis, I think that wikis are a great way to connect with patrons. I think that they foster a sense of community and they are very easy to edit.

Wikis!!

Thing 13

Wikis!!!!

I like the interactivity of the few wikis that I've looked at. For libraries, I think that wikis are great/would be great for patrons to interact with staff and to add content to library pages; a very good example of patron participation can be found here: http://booklovers.pbwiki.com/Princeton%20Public%20Library . I think that wikis, also, provide a sense of community in relation to its ability to connect the library and its patrons.

The ease of use of wikis is also a great feature. Also, it's probably easier to add content (ex: links to community event webpages or popular and informative sites) to webpages without knowing html or waiting for clearance (if you've been approved or it's open to the public or certain groups of people). *smiles*

Instant Messaging at the Library

According to Pew Internet.org, the number of teens that utilize the internet has dramatically increased in only a few years. In addition, a lot of teens and adults utilize IM messenging services and libraries have jumped on board to connect with these users.

I think that it's a great idea that libraries are reaching out to internet users. It seems like many people avoid (hearsay) the library to do research online, and (if that's true) it's unfortunate because there are so many other resources at various libraries. Perhaps, librarians who instant message can reach that audience to bring them into libraries or at least help them to more efficiently search the internet for research purposes.

Instant messaging librarians may also be a more convenient way to get one's questions answered than having to come all the way to the library (if one doesn't need a more in depth search strategy).

The Ease of Searching for RSS Feeds

In one of my 'thing' assignments, I created a bloglines account and had to add at least 10 feeds to my account. In utilizing the bloglines search feature, I retrieved most of my feeds; for me (especially as a newbie to RSS), it was the easiest way to search for new feeds (a one stop shop!).

I've looked at a few search sites (Feedster, Topix.net, Syndic8, andTechnorati). At present, I'm having some difficulties getting on the feedster site. The other sites look promising, though. Syndic8 and Technorati look especially user-friendly. I am happy that I've found a blog on vegetarian cooking (my passion)(http://www.technorati.com/blogs/veganfeastkitchen.blogspot.com) at Technorati. : )
Sadly, my search for Project Runway, on Syndic8, didn't turn up anything; maybe, I'll try again, later. : (

All in all, I've learned a lot of great things about RSS and I look forward to adding many more feeds to my bloglines account. *smiles*

RSS feeds

Discovery Exercise (option 1)

Here is a link to my bloglines account:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/Trankuility


I am so glad to have learned more about RSS as a part of the Lib 2.0 program. Before RSS, I had to wade through my inbox for site/group updates or I had to visit individual sites for updates (which could/can take forever). Now, I have a way to receive updates from more of my favorite sites in a much faster way.

For work and personal use, I can skim through lots of info at a clip and click on anything interesting or pertinent for work.

RSS will make it easier (or is making it easier), I think, for librarians/info staff to stay current in issues/info relevant to library work. If librarians publish some of their work-related newsreader accounts for public use, then patrons and other library professionals may benefit from reading about libary issues or innovations in an easily accessible format.

Lib/Web 2.0-What does it mean to you?

...your thoughts on Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does it mean to you?


I really love the user-friendly components of Web 2.0 . For example, I love how easy it is to set up a blog or an account on myspace. To be able to talk to people from around the world almost instantaneously is amazing; growing up, I always wanted a penpal and now I can have as many virtual pals as I want.

It's great that libraries are reaching out to patrons/potential patrons through wikis, blogs, myspace and other means. It's neat that patrons can send instant messages to librarians (how convenient is that!). It's vital that librarians keep up with technology so that libraries can stay current and connected to its computer-literate patrons/potential patrons. It's also vital that libraries offer courses to their communities in using the computer and the internet because there's so much useful info online and businesses are putting many of their services online, as well.

7 1/2 Habits of Successful Lifelong Learners

7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners

Assignment:Which habit is easiest and which is hardest for you?

Easiest: Play!

I am a huge bookworm, and I just love to read in depth about various topics of interest. It's fun to browse library/bookstore shelves (even the virtual "shelves" online) for new materials to read.

Hardest: Teach/mentor others

For me, it's rewarding and challenging to teach another person something that I've learned. It's rewarding because I like to help others discover something that has been of use to/entertained me. The challenge of helping others is discovering that you may not know all of the particulars of a subject and knowing when and/or where to obtain help from experts in the topic of interest.

I'm all for self-improvement; so, I look at this challenge as a plus.