The End or Beginning

My favorite exercises on this journery were #15 and #22. 15 had great articles and 22 forced me to finally use Overdrive.

I can't say this program has changed anything about my lifelong learning goals and nothing surprised me. I will, however, take away a couple links for Web 2.0 and web-based applications.

If another discovery program like this was offered in the future, I would probably take it because I am a lifelong learner. However, I was not impressed with Learning 2.0. There were typos, it was redundant, I didn't like having to set up numerous accounts, and some of the suggestions/examples weren't the best available. Two things I would change for future training are access and ability. It was too time consuming for the learning experience, we were short on computer access options, and people who needed it the most stayed away because it was too challenging. I would like to see a 2 level experience with an introduction and optional practicum.

Audiobooks

I downloaded Overdrive's media console and upgraded my Windows Media Player. I successfully downloaded an audiobook to my computer. I'm ready for the MP3.

Podcasts

I liked the organization of podcast.net better than podcastalley.com.

I will probably use NPR's Podcasts - I'm a big NPR fan.

I added the NY Times Book Review to my Bloglines. I will use Learn Out Loud again.

YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wtjs0L5Gxlc

This is the link to the Paul Potts audition on Britains Got Talent. I added it to my blog because when I heard about this amazing audition, months ago, I was able to see it via YouTube. (That was the first time I used YouTube.) I also included it because I didn't find anything better after searching through all the junk on YouTube for half an hour.

YouTube is very popular with teens. I wonder if libraries could use it to advertise teen programming?

Web 2.0

I decided to scan the entire list and link to several rather than focus on one. To me, the value of this lesson is that a list like this exists. I'm sure I will refer to it when library customers have application needs that go beyond what the library computers provide.

Web-based Applications

The next time I'm on a computer that doesn't have the application I need I'm going to try a web-based application.

This might be useful in the library. Occasionally customers need an application that we don't provide.

I might use Google Docs instead of carrying my USB drive around.

PBWiki

It's very easy to contribute to this wiki. I like the "favorites" theme.

Wiki

"Using Wikis to Create Online Communities" includes info about wiki uses for libraries. Suggestions include subject guides, annotating the catalog, community wikis, internal wiki for librarians, and an international wiki for librarians to exchange ideas. These basic ideas can be modified in numerous ways. For example, a subset of a community wiki could be a book discussion group wiki.

Library 2.0

This was a great lesson. I read all the articles. Below are bits and pieces from the articles and a few of my comments.

1. Libraries should continue to be customer driven. (I guess that means it's safe to get rid of our videos only when the customers quit checking them out.)
2. Eliminate barriers - if our services can't be used without training, then it's the services that need to be fixed - not our patrons. (Boy, do we have a lot of barriers to eliminate! Plus, if you think about our non techie customers we really have a lot of work to do.)
3. Libraries aren't in communities, they are communities. (All of the strategic plan research has shown that people want gathering places.)
4. We shouldn't throw our core principles & values overboard in response to every shift. (Don't force ideas and/or technology where they don't fit.)
5. We need to integrate our services into the customer's daily patterns of work, study and play.
6. Librarian 2.0 listens to staff & users when planning, tells stories of success & failures, learns from both, . . . allows staff time to learn & play, . . .
7. What was the library of the past? A symbol of a society that cared about its attainments, that treasured ideas, that looked ahead multiple generations. Librarians were stewards, trainers, intimate with the knowledge base and the minds who produced it. Librarians today are not just inventory management biobots: they are people with a unique understanding of the documents they compile and catalog, and the relationships among those documents.
8. Library 4.0, the neo-library: Experience This will be the library for the aesthetic economy, the dream society, which will need libraries as mind gyms; libraries as idea labs; libraries as art salons. But let’s be clear: Library 4.0 will not replace Libraries 1.0 through 3.0; it will absorb them. The library as aesthetic experience will have space for all the library’s incarnations: storage (archives, treasures); data retrieval (networks—reference rooms); and commentary and annotation (salon). Available as physical places in the library “storefront,” they will also be mobile, as AR overlays we can view (via glasses, contacts, projections) anywhere. Both virtual and augmented 3D reality will enable us to manipulate data via immersive, visual, metaphorical, sculptural, holographic information theatres: the research and analytic experience will merge with drawing, dance and drama.5
   But Library 4.0 will add a new mode, knowledge spa: meditation, relaxation, immersion in a luxury of ideas and thought. In companies, this may take the form of retreat space for thought leaders, considered an investment in innovation; in public libraries, the luxurious details will require private partners as sponsors providing the sensory treats. Library 4.0 revives the old image of a country house library, and renovates it: from a retreat, a sanctuary, a pampered experience with information—subtle thoughts, fine words, exquisite brandy, smooth coffee, aromatic cigar, smell of leather, rustle of pages—to the dream economy’s library, the LIBRARY: a WiFREE space, a retreat from technohustle, with comfortable chairs, quiet, good light, coffee and single malt. You know, the library.
   I’ll meet you there.

Technorati

Lots to explore here. One observation is that searching by posts, tags, and directory is like searching by keyword, subject and topic. As you would expect, results vary.

I like the popular lists feature. Several blogs were on both the popular blog and popular tags lists. I am especially curious about those blogs. I think the popular searches list indicates what bloggers are researching - the pulse of bloggers.

Del.icio.us

This I can use. It is like a webliography on steroids. Useful websites can be organized with tags. You can access your del.icio.us bookmarks on computers other than your own. AND, you can share all of this with others.

MySpace

I have a MySpace page. I'm not really into social networking. I prefere socializing with people, not people via a computer screen. I also didn't like having to check the box to accept MySpace rules which automatically includes me in all their newsletters etc.

Personally I can see one use for a MySpace page - I could update it once a year and use it as my Christmas card.

ALA has a MySpace page. Because the younger crowd prefers MySpace to living life, I can see libraries having pages to reach certain demographics.

LibraryThing

Click on http://www.librarything.com/catalog/connies to see my LibraryThing. This is a great site to use privately as a reading journal. It can also be used to exchange comments about books - an online reading group. Having trouble deciding what to read next, LibraryThing can help with that as well.