Thing 23 - Survey

Survey complete! Thanks again NEFLIN for a fantastic program.

Thing 22 – Staying Current

23 Thing was interesting. I did use some tools I was not aware of and I revisited a few tools a bit more in depth than I had in the past. I would definitely say I came out of this experience a bit more “wise” in the ways of 2.0.

I still claim “fill in the blank” 2.0 is a marketing tool.

But I won’t deny that there is an audience out there and that we need to make our presence known. I still stand by my claim that in doing this we need to be careful that we do not neglect our existing service levels. Twopointotopians are merely one aspect of our market and Libraries need to ensure they promote and provide outreach to all of their clients. We should not do 2.0 because it’s a bandwagon everyone is jumping on, but rather because we have identified a clear group of individuals that require service.

Will I continue to blog after this? Doubtful, but if I do, it will be under a new super secret blog that will not identify me to friends, co-workers and family. This way I can be blunt and give my honest opinion J

I don’t know that I’ve ever really been “behind” with regards to 2.0 tools. I read a lot of different news services and stay in touch with friends in the industry, so I have ways of getting information. I RSS info that is appealing to me, so I don’t worry about falling behind.

It’s been fun! Thanks for the great learning experience NEFLIN!

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.