1. I liked WikiFM, the Mashup of the Day for May 15, 2008. As you listen to a song from last.fm, you can read information about the song and the artist from Wikipedia. I have often wondered who it is who was singing, or what song was really about. Unfortunately, I am not a good multitasker, so I read first and listen second. I also have found that I do better when I don't know much about an artist, because I focus on the artist's history, rather than the song.
2. Rollyo exercise: I read a post by the Annoyed Librarian that said that the Supreme Court has said that anonymous speech is protected by the First Amendment, and therefore, she has the right to not reveal her identity. (She has been criticized for her opinions, especially about the American Library Association, and people think that she should reveal her identity.)
I think that a lot of people would not be blogging or whistleblowing if their identities were revealed, and I agree that their privacy should be protected. The Anonymous Librarian points to the Electronic Frontier Foundation's position paper on Anonymity, which talks about the history of protection of anonymous speech. They point out that the writers of the Federalist Papers used pseudonyms.
Friday, May 16, 2008
MLA Web 2.0 Week 7: Podcasting and Hosted Video
I think that libraries and hosted video to post tutorials about how to use their databases, services, etc. I want to see if we can use YouTube or Odeo to host some Flash versions of tutorials created in Camstasia. We use Plone shareware to run our Web site, and apparently it has trouble handling the Flash files. We have put up the files as Windows Media files and QuickTime files.
I think the videos can be used for PR purposes. I found a video posted on YouTube by a reporter for our campus newspaper, the Daily Egyptian, about the renovation project at Morris Library. It shows how good it is now, and how bad it was, and that more work is needed:
I think the videos can be used for PR purposes. I found a video posted on YouTube by a reporter for our campus newspaper, the Daily Egyptian, about the renovation project at Morris Library. It shows how good it is now, and how bad it was, and that more work is needed:
Thursday, May 15, 2008
MLA 2.0 Week 6: Online Photosharing and Uploading
I thought the process of uploading photos into flickr and Facebook was easy. Privacy issues crossed my mind again. I was as restrictive as I could be about who could see the photos in Facebook, and I only allowed myself to see the photos in flickr. (I wonder what my digital footprint is after taking this class? I don't think that I really want to know.)
However, I think that online photosharing can be very useful for libraries. The Library of Congress project has the potential for increasing the use of its collections and adding to information about the photos. Morris Library at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has used online photosharing as a public relations tool, featuring photos of its ongoing renovation on flickr (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/issmorris/)
However, I think that online photosharing can be very useful for libraries. The Library of Congress project has the potential for increasing the use of its collections and adding to information about the photos. Morris Library at Southern Illinois University Carbondale has used online photosharing as a public relations tool, featuring photos of its ongoing renovation on flickr (see http://www.flickr.com/photos/issmorris/)
MLA Web 2.0 Week 5: Second Generation Web Tools
"Is this the future of all software products? What do you think?"
It may be the future of all software products, but I don't like it. There are too many privacy issues. Yes, now my employer can see what I am doing, but if we switch to sites hosted by Microsoft or Google, anyone working at those companies can see it (and if the government so demands, the government can see it much more easily than it can now).
On the other hand, there is no problem with software installation, because we don't install the software. Access to documents anywhere is very nice.
Google Docs is very convenient and worked very well. Microsoft Office Live Workspace hung up my computer, and all I asked it to do was to create a new document.
It may be the future of all software products, but I don't like it. There are too many privacy issues. Yes, now my employer can see what I am doing, but if we switch to sites hosted by Microsoft or Google, anyone working at those companies can see it (and if the government so demands, the government can see it much more easily than it can now).
On the other hand, there is no problem with software installation, because we don't install the software. Access to documents anywhere is very nice.
Google Docs is very convenient and worked very well. Microsoft Office Live Workspace hung up my computer, and all I asked it to do was to create a new document.
MLA Web 2.0 Week 4: Social Bookmarking
I just set up the del.icio.us account. I think it will be useful, but I don't enjoy being told by my computer's antivirus softward that del.icio.us is sending me trojan viruses every time I add a site to my account.
I am a little nervous about having everyone else look at what I am bookmarking. I find myself censoring what I bookmark for personal use to the site.
I think that social bookmarking has great potential for use as resource lists for classes. A list of links about a topic could be used with course management software, or a link to a list of Web sites on del.icio.us could be added to the list of databases and resources on a topic on the library's Web site. It is easy to add and delete links, and easy to add comments about a site.
One librarian stated on a discussion list post that she keeps a list of bookmarks that she uses for various presentations on del.icio.us, and then uses the links during her presentations.
I am a little nervous about having everyone else look at what I am bookmarking. I find myself censoring what I bookmark for personal use to the site.
I think that social bookmarking has great potential for use as resource lists for classes. A list of links about a topic could be used with course management software, or a link to a list of Web sites on del.icio.us could be added to the list of databases and resources on a topic on the library's Web site. It is easy to add and delete links, and easy to add comments about a site.
One librarian stated on a discussion list post that she keeps a list of bookmarks that she uses for various presentations on del.icio.us, and then uses the links during her presentations.
MLA Web 2.0 Week Two: wikis
Blogs and wikis seem to have different purposes. Blogs let the blog owner discourse on a topic. They may allow comments, but the direction of the information is primarily one-way, out from the blogger to the audience. A wiki is a tool designed for collaboration on projects. While one person could use a wiki by themselves, the main use seems to be for a group to collaborate on a project, make changes to the documents supporting that project, and keep track of the changes. The wiki creator can decide who can make changes: anyone in the world, people who have logged in, or just invitees. A wiki is more likely to be used to complete a task.
In a library setting, a blog can be present updates about the library's collections, services, etc. to patrons and staff. A wiki may be used by committees that need to create the policies for the use of the collections and services. They can keep track of ideas, and revisions to the documentation.
I am working on an article with a co-worker and a former co-worker who now works about 2 hours away. We can use a wiki to keep track of our ideas for the article, the bibliography for the literature review, and the various revisions of the article.
In a library setting, a blog can be present updates about the library's collections, services, etc. to patrons and staff. A wiki may be used by committees that need to create the policies for the use of the collections and services. They can keep track of ideas, and revisions to the documentation.
I am working on an article with a co-worker and a former co-worker who now works about 2 hours away. We can use a wiki to keep track of our ideas for the article, the bibliography for the literature review, and the various revisions of the article.
Friday, March 28, 2008
Web 2.0 101 Week 3: Social Networking Tools
MLA has created a Facebook event to keep people updated about the Annual Meeting. Different MLA committees, sections, councils could use the Groups feature to keep members up to date, conduct discussions, send out notices, etc.
Privacy is a concern. I had already signed up as myself on Facebook because the student group that I advise asked me to do so. Every time I added an application, I wondered what the provider of that application was going to do with my information. Joining LinkedIn felt a little strange, like I had to provide too much information. In reality, I gave it less information than I gave Facebook.
Our library has a MySpace page, but after reading the OCLC report, I wonder how much it is getting used. We have a search box to our catalog, and a Meebo widget for instant messaging right from the profile page.
I really liked adding the PubMed and WorldCat apps to my profile page in Facebook. One-stop shopping, or the illusion thereof, is always nice. It is strange to write on someone's wall, knowing that all of their friends can see my posts.
The Denver Public and Brooklyn libraries have made interesting pages. I would be interested in knowing how many hits they get, especially in light of the OCLC report.
Privacy is a concern. I had already signed up as myself on Facebook because the student group that I advise asked me to do so. Every time I added an application, I wondered what the provider of that application was going to do with my information. Joining LinkedIn felt a little strange, like I had to provide too much information. In reality, I gave it less information than I gave Facebook.
Our library has a MySpace page, but after reading the OCLC report, I wonder how much it is getting used. We have a search box to our catalog, and a Meebo widget for instant messaging right from the profile page.
I really liked adding the PubMed and WorldCat apps to my profile page in Facebook. One-stop shopping, or the illusion thereof, is always nice. It is strange to write on someone's wall, knowing that all of their friends can see my posts.
The Denver Public and Brooklyn libraries have made interesting pages. I would be interested in knowing how many hits they get, especially in light of the OCLC report.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
MLA CE Web 2.0 Week 1: RSS
Our library is using RSS feeds to provide news about new products and news about our building renovation. We are planning to use it to give updates about new books added to the collection. I could use it to send news to the liaisons in my departments, as well as to faculty, staff, and students. For example, we could put a link to the feeds in online course pages.
Our patrons can use RSS feeds to send themselves search updates from databases and table of contents. Faculty could send information about their departments to prospective new students.
Our patrons can use RSS feeds to send themselves search updates from databases and table of contents. Faculty could send information about their departments to prospective new students.
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