Thing 18 (Week 8)

This is a blog I composed using my new Zoho Writer account.  This is one of the 23 things that I think is most useful for library staff, or anyone, for that matter, because it does allow you to access data files from any PC.  I assume that it will all be accessable from any Mac, as well, otherwise it's not as great as it thinks it is.  I would be leery of using a web based database for sensitive information, but otherwise I would definitely use this service.

I have discovered one problem, so far - I changed the font style once, and didn't like the font I chose, and now it won't let me change the font again.

Post Script: Now that I have posted the blog from Zoho Writer, I see that the emoticons don't post succesfully. Interesting.

#17 (Week 7)

Now I have visited SJLibraryLearning 2.0 Favorites wiki, I have added my blog to Favorite Blogs, and I have also added to Favorite Vacation Spots and Favorite TV Shows (I'm the geeky TV viewer, and the camp, camp, camp person). I was tempted to relate bear stories about trips to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, but I figure that page is to encourage people to visit these spots, not be afraid of them. Of course I did mention the couger incident at Prarie Creek Campground, which is part of the Coast Redwoods State and National Parks. I've never seen a cougar or a bear there, and one year we went there purposefully to see bears (my husband, that is - I went to see rhododendrons in bloom. Turned out spring was late that year), only birds, elk, a fox, etc..

I can see that wikis can be useful in sharing information with coworkers in a more permanent way than sending emails. Emails get deleted or lost in the mass of emails we all receive each day, whereas wikis stay right where they can be found easily, and are easily updated to add more data as needed.

As seen at the SFPL

I took Tuesday off from work to take advantage of Target Tuesday (free entry the 1st Tuesday of every month) at the Asian Art Museum in San Francisco, and after my husband and I had reached sensory overload at the museum (must...go...back), we stopped next door at the main SF Library to say hi to a friend who is a librarian there. While we were visiting with him, he handed me a few copies of a handout that staff there give to patrons using the library. It's just a small, bright yellow piece of paper that says the same thing on both sides: "Cell Phone Users, As a courtesy to others move to the elevator lobby when using your phone, maintain a low voice and turn off audible ringers while in the library. Thanks for your cooperation". I showed it around to staff here at Alviso, and it was pretty much agreed that we would love to be able to hand out something like that here, but we suspect it would not be considered a part of the "San Jose Way".

#16 (Week 7)

Out of the 23 things we have been learning about, I think that wikis are one of the most useful for librarians and libraries. They do have the disadvantage of being subjective, but with an active online community, any inaccuracies should be caught and corrected fairly quickly, except for entries that have been protected from change in one way or another, at least when it's a community of well educated, knowledgeable individuals.

I especially liked the SJCPL Subject Guides wiki. I thought it was well thought out and logically arranged. San Jose could stand to do something like that, maybe have a section explaining the Dewey and Library of Congress filing systems for the layman, as well as the same sort of entries that the SJCPL Subject Guide includes. I may also visit Book Lovers Wiki again. Heck, I might even add an entry to it at some point. It's a nice way for book lovers to share their opinions with each other without all the extraneous stuff one has to put up with in order to see others' opinions when using Amazon.com, though the Book Lovers Wiki could use a section on graphic novels (yeah, I know - I could add one).

Keeping up with the future

We just got the March 2007 issue of WIRED magazine here at Alviso, and there are (at least) two articles in it that should be of interest to those involved with Learning 2.0. The first one, on pg. 110, is by my favorite geek writer, Annalee Newitz, and is about the hacking of feedback scores on various sites such as eBay, Digg and del.icio.us. The second one, much more extensive, is on pg. 124, and is about snack culture, including Blackberries, iPods, cell phones, Treos, etc. Check it out!

#15 (Week 6). A few Perspectives on Web 2.0. Future of Libraries

Okay, so now I've read several perspectives on how Web 2.0 applies to the future of libraries, and I have to admit that they have helped to put all these exercises into perspective for me. I'm still not entirely sure exactly how some of these technologies can be used, but I'm sure that when I see them being used effectively to promote the dissemination of information, I will recognize them, and understand.

I found Rick Anderson's perspective, Away from the “icebergs”, particularly thought provoking with his insistence on questioning the traditions of libraries. My first job working at a library was at the main library on campus as I worked my way through college, so my first experience was working in an academic/archival library. When I started working for the public library I found the whole idea of weeding really difficult at first. How could one possibly consider discarding a book, simply because it wasn't circulating? Over the years I have worked for San Jose I have become much more comfortable with the whole idea of weeding, recently taking the lead on some of the weeding done here at Alviso. As a result of this Learning 2.0 that we've been doing, I can see how, as we address the icebergs that Mr. Anderson discusses, such as the reliance on user education, and the“come to us” model of library service, and we make the content of the billions of books that exist more readily available to everyone, there really won't be a need for the“just in case” collection. I don't think that day is here, yet, but it's coming.

Remember the milk

I just tried to open an account with Remember the Milk (www.rememberthemilk.com), which touts itself as a task management program which sends you reminders via e-mail, IM or text message. However, since the computers at work don't allow programs to load cookies, it doesn't seem to work. Maybe I'll try it from home.