Thing 21 – Student 2.0 Tools

Of the 2.0 tools demonstrated so far, I have to rank these along with online productivity tools (Thing 14) as being the least Web or Library 2.0. Why not examine embedded video conferencing, shared white boards (web-x), online classifieds (craigslist or even E-Bay)?

It’s not that I don’t think that the student and teacher tools are valuable, but along with the online productivity tools, I question their 2.0 relevance. I don’t see these tools as facilitating communication or collaboration between multiple individuals or groups. Nor is there any information sharing or development involved – at least not in a true Web 2.0 sense.

I would include these tools in our library’s website in the same manner I would include automotive data bases, journal data bases and other online reference tools. None of these tools are Web 2.0, but they are information and research tools. Now… if your website allows for customization, then allowing patrons to pick and choose which of these tools shows on their custom web page is Web 2.0. Being able to have a “My Library” page just like “IGoogle” or “My Yahoo” is fantastic.

Are these specific tools helpful? Sure… any time or project management tool is helpful if you will actually use it. I would like to think that most (serious) students in college are capable of managing their time appropriately. But, this is probably not true, so tools like the Assignment Calculator or Research Project Calculator are helpful for plotting a course of action from initial assignment to deadline.

Thing 20 - Book 2.0

The bound book history is one of transitions: from scrolls to codexes, to hand-bound to mass production. In all, this encompass nearly 2000 years of history (starting with codexes as the precursor to modern books). If technology hasn’t replaced art (drawing, painting, sculpting, etc) why are we so determined to think it will replace books. What technology has done is supplement and enhance the arts. This idea that technological sources and equipment (Kindles, e-books, etc) will replace 2000 years of tactile sensory relationships that human beings have with printed and bound materials is developing into a serious post modern debate. But I wonder how much of this debate is being driven by the manufactures of technology and media vs. actual readers of print matter.

Reading an e-book, a Kindle or other electronic delivery source does not transfer the same sense of warmth and satisfaction as reading from a print book. No Kindle will ever have the smell of a freshly cracked open book. A folder filled with e-books on your laptop will never be as inviting as a wall filled with shelves of books. Browsing Amazon and electronic libraries does not instill a sense of wonder and excitement in a new generation of readers like coming to your local library for the first time.

I don’t feel that electronic distribution of print matter is “THE” future of books. I feel it is “A” future for books. I feel that it can enhance accessibility in the same way that soft cover trade paperbacks allowed for a boom in the publishing market. It will reach a new generation of readers and allow for “more” choices. I don’t think it ever be the only choice available… at least not in my life time. There might be a day when print materials a relegated to “art house” standards, but that is a long ways away.

With regards to the Book 2.0 (is there any type of “fill in blank” 2.0 that does not exist any longer?) I feel that to each their own. Reading should be pleasurable. If you find a tool such as Metacritic or Booksfree or Sillybooks that enhances your use of a book, then go for it. I know that I frequently will read reviews of authors before buying a book unseen. It doesn’t always influence my choice of reading, but I like to know the style of an author or how far along a series is before I make the choice to read a book. Review sites and author wikis are invaluable resources for this information. I think Book 2.0 tools only hamper one’s reading experience if you solely base your decision for reading a book based on information from the tool. Sometimes you just have to pick a book up at random and enjoy the ride.

Thing 19 – Other Social Networks

Like I said in my last post about Thing 18 – Facebook and Myspace, I am not much of a social networker. The extent of my “social networking” basically extends to forums. Forums are an extension of old BBS boards which acted as communication hubs for its members. There were various topics that folks could make posts under, like say, movies, books, software, etc., and discussion would ensue.

These days, forums abound around the net and there are several boards I participate in. They run the gambit from MMOs, politics, to RC cars. One site in particular, Ultimate RC is very close to being a true social networking site. Members have profiles where they detail information about themselves and can post pictures. The site also supports IMing between members. The main portion of the site however is forums that cover all aspects of the RC car hobby. The site is a font of information and has been a source of great help with getting into the hobby.

I think that sites like Flixster, Project Playlist, and Whats on My Bookshelf are great ways of bringing people together that share a common interest. They are different from sites like Facebook and Myspace. Facebook and the like are great for networking and making connections and just staying in touch with friends and family. Sites like Flixster are fantastic for bringing people together and sharing a common interest, encouraging discussion, finding new movies (or music or books or whatever the site of your choice offers) in a semi closed environment. It’s like hanging out with friends and talking about really cool stuff that interests you. Myspace is just not that. Myspace is more of, “Hi! I signed your wall!!! Friend me! KTHXBAI!!!

So… even if Facebook and Myspace are your thing, there are countless other social networking sites that might have something that interests you. Google is you friend for searching out this info.

Thing 18 – Facebook and Myspace

Okay, so I started a Facebook profile. Will I do anything with it beyond 23 Things? I doubt it. I am not a “Social Networker” in the true sense of the word. I don’t live on my Facebook and I don’t even own a Myspace. I understand what a great networking tool this is for things beyond finding friends, but it’s not what I need or want. I simply have other more important things I’d rather do in my free time than update my profile, write on other’s walls, etc. I think that if I was younger… say in high school or college, this might appeal to me more as a way to staying in touch or some such. It was interesting to see how many people from my graduating class of 87 have a presence on Facebook. .

So, while I don’t personally want to keep a Facebook or Myspace, I can’t deny that there are millions of folks that eat, sleep and breathe on these social networks. As such, I feel that Libraries need to maintain a presence on these sites as a means of communicating with this generation of patrons. Libraries need to be where the patrons are and provide services that patrons need. Social Networking sites are an easy way to supplement your own website and communicate information about your organization, services. Social Networking sites do this in a manner that facilitates two way communications with your patrons.

Thing 17 - Podcasts

This is one of the 23 Things that I use on a regular basis. I’ve listened to podcasts (and their sibling, vodcasts) since I’ve owned an Ipod. It is not too dissimilar from stuff found on Youtube… in fact many podcasts (video at least) are duplicated across the two platforms.

I checked out Podcast and Podcastalley and found that they have pretty much have the same offerings. The two resources pretty much mimicked ITunes’ offerings as well. Since I have an IPod and ITunes installed, I get all of my podcasts from that platform. It is easy to subscribe/unsubscribe (click a button) and ITunes automatically puts the current podcast (or however many back episodes you designate) on to your player. Podcast and Podcastalley work similar, but require using a web browser and ITunes together to make the magic work. Using ITunes cuts out the middle man for me.

I listen to podcasts from NPR such as All Things Considered, various news and book discussions, and News from Lake Wobegon (Prairie Home Companion). I also do a few entertainment casts from the G4 network called Attack of the Show, as well as one of my all time favorites, Ask a Ninja.

I like having this type of information on my IPod as it enables me to bring a bit of the internet with me where I go. It means I don’t have to be strapped to my PC for stuff when I’d rather be sitting at a coffee house. I can listen to the podcasts driving to work, on break and at the gym. For me the mobility that podcasts offer in conjunction with a player is fantastic.

Do I want to do my own Podcast? Nah. I’ll pass on that. I have other hobbies and interests to keep me entertained.

Thing 16: Youtube

Youtube has to be one of the best sites on the net. It is an awesome resource for videos on any subject. I've found cooking videos, movie shorts, how-to videos... any number of things. I remember the first time I had to tear down the differential in my Bandit. I was terrified until I found a video showing how to do this. It was almost like having someone right there to steer you in the right direction.

The down side to Youtube is also it's best feature... tagging. Many folks will put common every day tags on "not so nice" videos in the effort to lure people into watching them. You see this with a lot of semi adult oriented materials. Youtube does a decent job at catching this stuff, but still a lot passes though, so every so often when looking for videos on painting lexxan shells or cooking thai crab cakes your search results may yield bikini girls gone wild. Just like any other Web 2.0 tool, it is open to abuse. Youtube does an above average job of moderating itself though.

Thing 15: Rollyo

Select...RC CarsSearch The Web

Pretty niffty tool for conglomerating search tools. I'm not sure how useful it would be in a library setting unless you at a set number of websites you search on a regular basis. It doesn't appear to be what I though it was at the start. I first though it compiled your search request in to whatever search engines you select, but rather is searches out websites instead.

It does a rather thorough job of searching the websites you select. My search of the term, "Bandit" yielded many, many pages from the preselect websites I entered. However, much to my dismay, Rollyo also included "partner" sites which supposedly matched my term. I guess this how they provide a free service by putting in advertisers as part of the yielded search terms.

All in all, I think I could live without Rollyo. It is niffty, but there are far better Web 2.0. tools out there.

Thing 14 – Online Productivity Tools

I don’t use a lot… well any online productivity tools really. At work I have MS Office. Even though this is a dreaded Microsoft product, it provides me with a calendar, task list, email client, scheduler, etc. The down side to this is that I can’t use it at home, but that is okay as I don’t take work home on principle. Well that and I am an hourly wage employee ;-) I don’t really use or need tools like this for my home life.

I do think the online tools are nifty for personal use if you don’t already have software installed on your laptop to do these tasks. Also I can see the use if you travel frequently, don’t have a lap top and rely on accessing the internet via public or friend’s computers. I do use My Yahoo. I like being able to customize Yahoo to my preferences and appearance to my specific interests.

Thing 13: Library Thing

So Library thing is pretty cool. It is another example of Web 2.0 done right I think. It is interesting to see the sheer number of people that have cataloged their personal, professional and/or Library collections. I think for small libraries it offers an easy, cost-free means to catalog their collection and subsequently offer the ability for patrons to search by key word.

The one thing that I dislike about this (and Web 2.0) is that quantity of work becomes more important than quality of work. The very first statistic under Zeitgeist is 50 largest Libraries. No offence, but anyone with a lot of free time on their hands can enter book after book into their collection. I can see why this is important, but honestly, I am more interested in the authors that use this service and from an exploration point of view, the most used tags. I thought the “completist” list was especially interesting in that it looks at missing items from collections based on a comparison of lists. It sort of brings a “Pokémon” completion into play in that you gotta get them all.

Thing 12 - Wikis

Hooray! I Love Wikis!!!



Seriously... I might be an Internet curmudgeon at times... but only because I've been on the Internet since it meant configuring a SLIP connection via Windows 3.1. I've seen lots of changes and sweet ideas. I guess that's why the whole web 2.0 just doesn't impress me. The Internet has always been about shared experiences and coming together to share and develop things. I guess web 2.0 is a more marketable term for impressing business and clients. "Are you web 2.0? No? Do you know you are missing millions of clients and business opportunities? You have to be web 2.0!"



But I digress...



Wikis... Like'em, love'em, want somemore of 'em! Wikis are the best web 2.0 tool (next to YouTube probably) for share helpful, group developed content. I used it for school, researching RC cars, playing MMOs, and work. I like that you have a resourse that can be updated and changed on demand based on new information or changes. From a gamers perspective, being stuck on Weathertop and not knowing where to find the Tankrips you are looking for can be really annoying. Sure I can spend a hour or two running around the Lone Lands looking for them and die a lot and rack up a huge repair bill in silvers, OR I can check out a LOTRO wiki for precise map coordinates and go directly to them. Easy Peasy.

Of course the best wiki is Wikipedia. A font of useful information, checked and annotated. If you doubt the veracity of an entry, check the footnotes to see where the info came from. It is often better annotated than real encyclopedias and more frequently updated to say the least. Sure it can be vandalized, but not easily any longer. Wikipedia has made significant changes to their processes since they first established themselves.

Are wikis useful for libraries? Come on, this is a gimmie. Its a means to gather and organize information. Of course they are useful. You are only limited by your ability to think of how you want to use them. At ACLD we are currently developing a wiki for tracking our floating collection to see where books are needed. If you need to share knowledge or have an open resource for collaboration, Wikis just might be the tool for you.

Thing 11 - Social Media

I guess sites like Digg and Reddit work for some people. I personally like to choose my news based on my preferences, not millions of anonymous people voting. I liked Newsvine the best... it seems more newsy and less bloggy (i.e., nonsensical posts from Internet nubs). Is this a good tool for the library? I guess if are looking to stay topical with what folks who are surgically attached to the Internet are reading then sure, it's a good tool. But, much like high school, popularity isn't all that it's cracked up to be, not to mention fleeting. Of course if you take the time to set up accounts, you can direct all of these sites to tailor the news to your desires; I just don't have the time or need for that kind of information. I'll stick with direct news sources for my info for now... I like to browse CNN and AP as well as checking out a few politico blogs such as Washington Monthly and Talkingpoint Memo.