I think that wikis are a good information tool. You can use a wiki to find updated information, get links to other related information, and even add information. I use Wikipedia a lot when I am doing research papers.
I really liked the Library Success wiki that was in the Discovery resources for Thing 13. I think that a wiki would be good for our All Staff Training Day. Since we all will nto be able to hear all of the seminars, a wiki could give us one place to share and find links to the information we may have missed.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Thursday, December 27, 2007
IM Reference
I think that IM reference is really neat. It’s great for people who may already be online who have reference questions. I think that IM and reference is a good mix because the Internet is a place where you have access to information, and a reference librarian provides information. So it’s only right to combine the two and have the library provide IM reference.
This is good for someone who may be looking for something and may not be able to find any information, or for someone who is not sure if the information they have is accurate. With just one IM, a reference librarian can help customers find information, and even give them additional resources that they otherwise would not have found.
This is good for someone who may be looking for something and may not be able to find any information, or for someone who is not sure if the information they have is accurate. With just one IM, a reference librarian can help customers find information, and even give them additional resources that they otherwise would not have found.
IM and LIbraries
Instant Messaging (IM) is a way to communicate online in real-time. IM is different than e-mail because you are conversing by sending messages back and forth to each other instantly. It’s also a great way to communicate with people who may be long distances away. I used AIM a lot when I was away at school to keep in touch with friends and family. The discovery resources say that about 53 million American adults use IM programs. So clearly, this is not just something for teens.
I think that libraries should consider using IM because it is an additional way to help customers with reference questions. I am glad that VBPL now provides IM services. I don’t know how many of our customers have email addresses on their accounts, but at least that many are potential IM customers. So having IM capabilities is good because we are opening up a new way for our customers to communicate with us and get the information that they need, and it may also attract new customers.
I think that libraries should consider using IM because it is an additional way to help customers with reference questions. I am glad that VBPL now provides IM services. I don’t know how many of our customers have email addresses on their accounts, but at least that many are potential IM customers. So having IM capabilities is good because we are opening up a new way for our customers to communicate with us and get the information that they need, and it may also attract new customers.
Monday, December 17, 2007
Exploring newsfeed search tools
I browsed the search tools Technorati, Topix.net, and Syndic8.com.
I liked Technorati. I think that the website is designed nicely. It is easy to read and understand, and it was easy for me to search and find different blogs. It gave me a lot of information on whatever I searched for. This is a nice search tool.
I also liked Topix.net. I think that this site is also displayed nicely. I like how you can put in your city, and then it displays the current news right in the center. I also like how the different topics are laid out. It looks like a good one-stop for all the current news.
I did not like Syndic8.com. I felt confused as soon as I opened it up. I just don’t like the way the site is set up. With all of the information that is up there, I think they could have it organized a little better. I had a hard time searching for feeds, I guess it’s because I didn’t follow the site too well.
I liked Technorati. I think that the website is designed nicely. It is easy to read and understand, and it was easy for me to search and find different blogs. It gave me a lot of information on whatever I searched for. This is a nice search tool.
I also liked Topix.net. I think that this site is also displayed nicely. I like how you can put in your city, and then it displays the current news right in the center. I also like how the different topics are laid out. It looks like a good one-stop for all the current news.
I did not like Syndic8.com. I felt confused as soon as I opened it up. I just don’t like the way the site is set up. With all of the information that is up there, I think they could have it organized a little better. I had a hard time searching for feeds, I guess it’s because I didn’t follow the site too well.
Sunday, December 9, 2007
RSS feeds the news
Before now, I didn’t know what RSS was. So basically I've gathered that RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a format that delivers updated news information to a newsreader website that you set up.
There are a few websites that I like to go to for news updates, and I like the concept of RSS because instead of me going to the news; the news is coming to me. This is neat because you don't have to waste time checking different websites. However, if you set up a newsreader site and don't check it much, then it kind of defeats the purpose.
I haven’t set up any RSS feeds yet, but I might in the future. I think it would be good for people who travel a lot. It would also be good for people at work who want to stay updated with the news without wasting work time.
There are a few websites that I like to go to for news updates, and I like the concept of RSS because instead of me going to the news; the news is coming to me. This is neat because you don't have to waste time checking different websites. However, if you set up a newsreader site and don't check it much, then it kind of defeats the purpose.
I haven’t set up any RSS feeds yet, but I might in the future. I think it would be good for people who travel a lot. It would also be good for people at work who want to stay updated with the news without wasting work time.
Tuesday, November 20, 2007
The 7 1/2 habits of highly effective me
Lifelong learning says that it's never too soon nor too late for learning. We are all lifelong learners because we learn different things all throughout our lives.
The hardest habit for me is Habit 4 - Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed by big challenges and second guess myself in what I can do. However, I have learned to just take things one step at a time and I realize that I am just as capable as anyone else.
The easiest habit for me is Habit 7 1/2 - Play!
I get so busy sometimes that I like to take a break and have fun! Even when I am just enjoying myself, I am still learning without being aware of it.
The hardest habit for me is Habit 4 - Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner.
Sometimes I get overwhelmed by big challenges and second guess myself in what I can do. However, I have learned to just take things one step at a time and I realize that I am just as capable as anyone else.
The easiest habit for me is Habit 7 1/2 - Play!
I get so busy sometimes that I like to take a break and have fun! Even when I am just enjoying myself, I am still learning without being aware of it.
The Web way to learn
The one thing that stands out about what I have seen and heard about Web 2.0 is that it is about linking people. Through the Web we are able to communicate with anyone, anywhere, anytime. There is so much stuff out here that I don't even know about.
I think that Web 2.0 is a good tool to get introduced to some of the different types of web resources. Yes, some of these things appear to be really technical and intimidating, but it's really not as hard as you think.
I think that Web 2.0 is a good tool to get introduced to some of the different types of web resources. Yes, some of these things appear to be really technical and intimidating, but it's really not as hard as you think.
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