Simpson Maker

Okay, I couldn't help it. I had to go back and try "me" as a Simpson...

Reflections

I think Learning 2.0 was a wonderful series of exercise that demonstrated the depth and breadth of online technologies available. I can easily see applications for the Library system, particularly in marketing, promotion, outreach and especially communication (internally and externally).

One of my favorite exercise was actually creating this blog. I had always been interested in doing so, but never had made an effort to do so. Now that I know how easy it is, I won't hesitate in the future. I also enjoyed have time to explore Flickr. Of course, playing with the online image generators was a blast.

The areas of tagging and custom search engines were also interesting to me. I hadn't paid much attention to these things and am glad I'm more aware of them now while I use web 2.0 technologies.

Overall, I think the program was worthwhile. As a designated Learning Advocate, I felt I was able to provide sufficient help to others as they worked through these exercises and hope they felt supported as they worked. In my experience, there were some lessons that required you to know how to do things already. For example, some staff didn't know how to upload a photo from the web to their blog. Perhaps a tutorial for some of those activities should be considered.

The format of the training, with an emphasis on exploratory learning was very effective. If new library-relevant technologies emerge, I do think KCLS should offer similar training opportunities.

Finally, if I could go back in time and skip a lesson it would have been one of the tagging exercises (Tagging is Del.icio.us, for example). Those lessons seemed very repetitive and were already dealt with to some degree during the Flikr exercise. One web 2.0 techology that would be interesting to add would be Widgets and AJAX Applications. It might also be interesting to at least let staff know about the other web 2.0 resources available, such as:

Mathematics:

Calcoolate: Calcoolate provides users with a simple calculator with advanced expression support, mathematic functions, and history for viewing past calculations.

Calcr: Similar to Calcoolate, Calcr is a web-based calculator with mathematic expression and function support as well as history logging in a very minimalist design.

Create a Graph: Create a Graph is a free tool by Students’ Classroom that aims to make it easy for students to create bar graphs, line graphs, area graphs, pie charts, and point graphs. Navigate through its easy to understand visual interface to add data and customize graphs.

Resume Building

Emurse: Great service built for job hunters that want to create, send, and share a professional resume. Users can view their resume’s statistics, send out their resume via fax and ground mail, and receive a public or private web address.

To Do’s and Note Taking

Fifty Ways to Take Notes: Another Solution Watch roundup including over 50 ways to take notes using various web-based tools in seven categories.

Learning and Research

EasyBib: An “automatic bibliography composer” that lets users enter sources and fill out a simple forms to be given MLA style bibliographies. I’ve used this multiple times in the past for research papers.

Ottobib: Similar to EasyBib, Ottobib is a simple bibliography tool that allows users to enter multiple ISBN numbers for books at a time and retrieve the bibliographies in MLA, APA, AMA, or Chicago/Turabian format.

Wizlite: “Wizlite allows you to highlight text (like on real paper) on any page on the Internet and share it with everybody (or just your friends).”

Answers.com: Excellent site for researching anything at all. Make a search and receive results from dictionaries, encyclopedias, and other information sources.

YouTube

This site is absolutely addicting, but its also very useful in this day and age when I don't always get to see the news, etc. For example, when I hear about George Bush's dancing escapades, but didn't see it on TV, I can see it here. The mix of content is nice too. This music video is one of my favs:


It's also cool because you can leave comments; people even post video comments and other people film mimic videos. Its a crazy world we live in now, but also fun!

Google Labs and Trends

I love Google Trends...it's really interesting to see what people search for. I entered "King County Library System" and found that people have search for that numerous times from all over the USA and in a few different languages.

I also enjoy Google Mars; it brings out the geek in me.

Google Page Creator looks like the one I'll probably try next. I'm ready to jump in!

Web 2.0 Awards

I looked in the "Communication: Email & Chat" category of the Web 2.0 Awards. The tool that interested me was Campfire. This would be a great way to deal with the challenge of meetings at KCLS between staff at the branches and Service Center. Because we're so geographically dispersed, this would make it less troublesome to meet and discuss about certain things. It could also be good for teams within branches or departments. Its much like Google Docs and Zoho, but with a more interactive environment, including chat. Very cool!

I was also interested in Slawsome, which lets you send voice messages over email easily, but their website was down.

Online Collaboration

Zoho and Google Docs are both very cool for simple document creation and anywhere in the world access to those files. I was actually introduced to Google Docs earlier this year. Its a technology we use often for group projects in our classes. Google Docs doesn't have much flexibility when it comes to more complex formatting, but it is convenient enough. It looks like Zoho has more available in that regard. I think I'll recommend trying Zoho instead of Google Docs next time I'm working on a class project.

Me As a South Park Character

Here I am...okay maybe not, but this was a blast!

Try it yourself!

You as a South Park Character

Library 2.0

I love the notion that “users add value.” This concept has many implications for what constitutes information, how you get information, from where and how.

As Dr. Wendy Schultz said: "Libraries are not just collections of documents and books, they are conversations, they are convocations of people, ideas, and artifacts in dynamic exchange." Because the Web has become, according to Tom Storey, "the center of a new digital lifestyle that changes our culture and touches every aspect of our lives," libraries to will need to change.

Search What You Like

First, I decided to go with creating a Google Custom Search Engine. The reason for this is:

1. I'm familiar with the Google search results formats
2. I already have a Google account and password

So, I created a Google Search Engine called "Shape Public Policy."

Try it out: Google Co-op - Shape Public Policy

The concept is interesting, but I'm not sure how I'd use it at this point...maybe I'll give it some time.

Wikis

I've always loved the concept of wikis. I spent much time thinking about the use of alternative media such as wikis and blogs as part of a course I took related to the news media last quarter. These tools, in that context, have helped facilitate citizen journalists.

For libraries, as for literally any field, I love the idea of using wikis as vehicles for information and idea sharing. Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki was a terrific example of what can evolve.

The bottomline: the Internet becomes a more dynamic collection resources all the time. Because news, or other types of information is constantly changing, wikis are just one way we can keep up.

LibraryThing

Wow! This is a cool site.

I'm going to have to get to work on My Library; it's pretty sparse. There's a few books in there right now; one's I'm listening to on CD during my commute to work and school.

My main problem now is that I don't have much time to read what interest me. Take this gem for example. I'm sure my nose will be buried in this one all quarter.

I think LibraryThing will work well as my own, personal reader's advisory tool this summer.

del.icio.us and Technorati

Seeing as I don't work in the library, I'm not going to comment on the potential of this tool for research assistance. I'm still undecided abotu it being an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere. I'm leaning toward it being information overload.

Technorati definetly seems more user-friendly than del.icio.us!

I guess I'm just not into tagging - too much work.

What about MySpace

There are so many things to like about MySpace. Like eBay, MySpace accounts obviously expand the size of your potential audience. In addition, the potential for institutions to connect with a new generation of users is appealing. Really, the possibilities are endless. At the same time, I wonder how easily a library MySpace page would get lost among the others online.

While I can understand some of the worries about the extra curricular or inappropriate activities that can occur online at this, or other social networking sites, I feel strongly that Web presences are vital to libraries staying relevant with new generations of library patrons.

RSS Feeds

I guess I never paid attention to how many websites had RSS Feeds. I suppose Bloglines is a centralized way to gather all the links to those sites in a centralized place. At the same time, I don't see what's different between that and bookmarking them in your Favorites. I'll have to give it some time to see how or if I'll use it.

Photos and Images

Retrievr was my first attempt to use Flickr mashups. My sketching skills must be really poor. I wasn't able to get pictures that resembled my drawing thematically, but there were some beautiful and interesting photos that came up each time.


As a result, I decided to Spell with Flickr:

I discovered this beautiful picture of Lake Keechelus on Snoqualmie Pass on Flikr (thanks Holiday By Rail). What's not to love - this is practically in my backyard.

I love to jog to Lake Keechelus when the weather permits and my dog Willie loves to come too because when we get there, he get's to go swimming.

Fishing is great too!

This is the first post in my new blog. That being said, I thought it would be appropriate for me to introduce myself. My name is Jennifer Wiseman and I live with my husband Jon on Snoqualmie Pass. Some people think we're crazy, but it really is beautiful every season of the year and continues to be an adventure.

After graduating from the University of Washington (go HUSKIES!) with my degree in editorial journalism, I decided not to pursue a career in print media. Instead, I went to work at the King County Library System (I'm not a librarian). I work at the in the Community Relations Department and also assist the Director and the Library Board. I love working in the public sector and feel like I do something good everyday. So much in fact that I am now working on my Master's degree in Public Administration from the Evan's School of Public Affairs. Graduate school is intense, but I'm sure it will be worth it.