Gail Borden Online

Finally the last assignment! I checked out all the things GBPL is doing online.

I visited the GoodReads blog and subscribed to it.

I asked a question at AskAway Illinois and was helped by a NJ librarian. I used to do Virtual Reference online when Youth Services was helping out Adult Services a year or so ago so I felt bad when I stumped the librarian. I asked how wide Lake Michigan was at Sheboygan, WI. She did find me information about the lake and how wide at its widest point, etc. but was not able to find the exact distance at that point. I told her it was only a curiosity question and I could check a map so she did send a map of the lake. It is nice to know we have this resource to offer our patrons on a 24 hour a day basis!

I checked out the many photos the library has posted at Flickr and I watched a couple of staff video reviews of books on YouTube. I also watched the video about our dinosaur exhibit which was very well done!

Gail Borden is doing a good job of using these new technologies to inform and reach people. We need to continue to explore and experiment with new Web 2.0 technologies. This has been a good experience for me. I was familiar with some aspects of Web 2.0 but I got to try several new things. I will continue to use some of them regularly!

Social Media Networking

Today I explored social media networking. I signed up at GoodReads so I can keep track of books I've read and books I would like to read. Right now I keep little slips of paper around with favorite authors or titles I want to read when I have time. This site will be a great way for me to keep that information online in one place so I can throw out all the little pieces of paper! I think it will also be fun to share favorite reads with friends and find out what they have been reading, too. Here is a link to my bookshelves: http://www.goodreads.com/review/list/1282821

I found adding books read to be kind of addictive! I look forward to using this site more. The library could have suggested titles, let patrons add reviews, and so on.

Wikis

I just completed the Wiki portion of our assignment. I added a book to the children's fiction area of the Black History portion of the Tapestry of Freedom. The title is Henry's Freedom Box - a wonderful book I just read for our new Battle of the Books season.

I also visited all three of the listed Wikis. I liked the idea of a library staff wiki where lots of information can be shared and accessed by the whole staff like the University of Minnesota Libraries Staff wiki. I also liked the sharing of ideas, programs, etc. that the other 2 wikis provided. I look forward to searching these 2 more fully in the future.

Podcasting and Vodcasting

Today I did the podcasting and vodcasting portion of our assignment. I listened to episode 47 of Uncontrolled Vocabulary where another GBPL blogger's assesment of an episode was commented upon! I wasn't terribly interested in the topics of the episode but as they change weekly I might have just chosen an off week. I would not sign up to hear this regularly. As far as podcasts in general go, it would be a great way to make sure you didn't miss any of your favorites. I listen to a radio station that provides vodcasts but I have not yet listened to any. Perhaps if I had more time (or a longer commute) I would consider this. I am not sure how GBPL could use this. Perhaps if we had a guest speaker whose presentation would come across well in audio, this method could be used.

For the vodcasting portion I watched a video made by the Burlington, Ontario, Canada Public Library that was well done. It showed many different staff members and made them seem very friendly and approachable. I also enjoyed the music. Here is a link to the video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-wuq6Y6N8SE

I was surprised at how many libraries are posting things on YouTube! It is fun to take a look at the many things out there.

Social Bookmarking

Today I learned about social bookmarking sites. I posted a URL on del.icio.us regarding the Charlotte-Mecklenberg Library and their Web 2.0 training program. I think social bookmarking has some merit. I use several different computers on a regular basis and it would be nice to have all my bookmarks available on any computer I choose to use. Del.icio.us was very easy to work with and I think I may try to use this in the future. I am not sure how libraries could use this but I will give it some thought. It may be a good way for staff to share great sites they have found in their area of expertise such as good fingerplay or storytime sources or great reference sources, etc.

Social Networking

Today I updated my Facebook page. I recently created a Facebook account but my page was very limited - no picture and only a couple of friends. It still is not terribly exciting but I uploaded a picture and invited a few more people to be my friends. One of them was Gail Borden who is now my friend!

I don't get very excited about social networking. I think it is much more popular amoung the younger crowd than amoung people my age. Perhaps the library could use it to advertise programs to teens and young adults. I will visit Facebook occasionally but not daily.

Photo Sharing

Here is a picture of my husband and I
at Disney World - Spring Break 2005

EPCOT
Originally uploaded by booklady60123

I got a bit frustrated trying to use Flickr to upload this photo to my blog. The problem occured because I was already signed in to Blogger when I tried to do this. After many attempts, I realized I had to sign out of Blogger and sign back in through the Flickr link in order to grant access to Flickr. Other than that the process was easy. (I realize this is not a photo I took using the library camera but I have done that and uploaded photos before. Our camera was otherwise occupied and I wanted to get this finished!)

This would be a great way for the library to use the many pictures we take at programs and special events. It would be fun for the people who attended to see the photos and might even build an audience for upcoming events.