Method 12

This was a wonderful learning opportunity! I am so grateful for having the chance to take part, and the C.E. certificate makes it even better!
The Web 2.0 world is so huge, and the possibilities are almost limitless. I had felt the need to go through a program like this one in order to have a better understanding of which tools would be most useful in library instruction and reference, in particular, but for libraries, generally, as well. This short class gave me the chance to study these tools more fully. I am especially interested in using Google Docs, RSS, Flickr, and perhaps podcasting. I am already using delicious and find it to be most useful. A little while back, our library was considering implementing a chat reference service. The background information I have as a result of this class will help considerably as we weigh the possibility of using chat in the future. It is a tool we will continue to consider adding to our services. I would like to set up a Skype account!
I would definitely participate in another discovery program! The exercises were very useful--the "hands-on" element is invaluable. The length of text in the lessons was just right--not too long or short.
Once again, thanks for the learning opportunity!! Our mantra is "never stop learning."

Method 11

The uses of podcasting are limitless! I think I need to subscribe to some. I did not get video on the two podcasts I tried. It surely does help to have video as well as audio.
Bell Library has no podcasts currently, but it's something I'd like to look into doing. We will need webcams.
For some reason, the link to "List of podcasting libraries" did not work. I can go back to the Library Success site and look through the Table of Contents. That site is great!
So many possibilities; so little time!!

Method 10

Wikis have been very useful in the education world. Our First Year Program, in particular, has made heavy use of them. Here's an example,

http://web20kmg.pbwiki.com/

I can see where libraries could use wikis for courses in which we teach library instruction. Links to many different resources, tutorials, and so on could be included.

I've just learned about weebly, though. This is free Web page creation software that does not require knowledge of HTML. Sounds good to me! Weebly and Google Docs are two tools I'd like to study more and use in library instruction and reference.

Method 9

I had difficulty finding someone I could do live chat with, but a few years ago, Bell Library participated in a pilot collaborative virtual reference project through the Texas A&M System.  I was the point person in our library for that project.  So I know what live chat is like.  College Station decided not to continue with the collaborative VR, though I believe they are offering that service locally.  Much to my surprise, during the pilot, participants frequently did not show up for their alloted time slots.  I was so careful about always being there when it was my turn to cover.  When you are trying to initiate a service, I think it's particularly important to make that service run as smoothly as possible.  We did not have lots of traffic through our VR offering!  From my conversations with other academic libraries (public libraries are a different story), they typically did not have a large amount of traffic, either.  Offering a chat service was seen as more of a PR move than anything else.  Libraries want to show they can be reached in different ways, particularly through communication channels that this generation uses constantly.  We studied the possibility of adding chat to our services.  But we decided that, until we get closer to full staffing, the degree to which the service would be used did not, as of now, justify the effort that would go into offering the service.  One of our main concerns is that we think the person staffing the chat reference should be located in an office away from the Reference Desk.  For the service to be "instant," we would want for someone to be readily available.  We have only one person at the Ref Desk on evenings, weekends, and select hours during the week.  Our first obligation is to the users who are physically present in the library.  In taking care of these folks first, the staff member at the Ref Desk would not always be able to monitor the chat reference.  We don't want people to have to wait, though.  Until we have more staff available to handle reference questions away from the desk as well as at the service point, we don't think we should try to sustain the service.  We don't think we would be able to deliver optimal service.  Some staff members may be a little reluctant to work a live reference service.  Personally, I don't think staffers should be forced to participate in VR or chat reference.  Training, also, and practice are important factors to consider.  Additionally, we also question whether we want a third party, such as Meebo, to have control of the information in these messages.  Privacy and protecting information that could be linked to specific persons are key concerns.  We also keep pretty detailed records (aggregated, not personal information) about our e-mail reference service.  Similar records would have to be kept on any chat service we offer.  The distance learning librarian already has a pretty full platter. 
Having real-time reference assistance through chat, though, is yet another way libraries can demonstrate their support of patrons!      

Method 8

This section on social networking was full of useful information!  Social networks have definitely changed the way we communicate.  The capabilities and potential of these networks is huge.  I do have privacy concerns, though.  I think it's important to be very careful with how one sets up and uses these tools.  Personally, I don't want to share my information with the Internet world, at large.
Our library is not currently using either Facebook or MySpace, but the potential is there.  I like what Texas Tech and UT have done with these Web 2.0 tools. 
My blog is BlogforDeniseLandry-Hyde.blogspot.com.  Very original :)
Denise's Blog

"Method 7"

I love delicious!!  It is so great to be able to get to favorite Web sites from anywhere and at any time.  My bookmarks used to be limited to my work computer.  Now, wherever I am, as long as I can get to an Internet-accessible computer, I can get to my favorties.  The list has grown longer and longer, too!

Delicious is quite useful to libraries.  Bell Library started a tagged group of Reference-related Web sites, delicious.com/mjbell. 

I searched under the tag, "elearning" and came up with some neat sites.  Included were ones on Moodle, Academic Earth, MERLOT, and OpenCourseWare Consortium.  Most of the tags attached to these sites were keywords I would have thought of, as well.  So I retrieved some very relevant sites.

I use only delicious now; I no longer use "Favorites."

Method 6

These are some very funny "kittehs"--
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIzj21ByXZ4&feature=quicklist ! 

Humor always helps!  I can see where having announcements from the library cats (kittehs) would be reason to lol, and more folks would probably read the announcements, to boot. 

"Lady Liberty"

Method 5

It's really great to be able to share photos online.  It's particularly of interest for families wanting to stay in touch by sending pictures of loved ones.

One really neat way I've seen librarians use Flickr is to post conference photos there.  The photos went up right away.  The folks who couldn't actually be at the live conference were nonetheless able to see pictures from the event almost in real time!

I'm trying to upload one of the most poignant photos I've seen.

Method 4

My RSS feeds:

BBC:  http://newsrss.bbc.co.uk/rss/newsonline_world_edition/front_page/rss.xml

OCLC:  http://www.oclc.org/news/feed.rdf 

SPARC-ACRL Forum on Emerging Issues in Scholarly Communication:
http://arl.org/sparc/bm~feed.xml 

I am going to start using more RSS feeds.  I've been wanting to set this up but just haven't gotten around to doing so.  This will make it much easier to stay up-to-date with sites I want to refer to frequently. 

Method 3

Method 3


I love the fact that cloud computing makes it possible to access documents, data, services, etc. from any Internet-accessible computer. Those resources are no longer available only on a PC desktop. For projects and collaborative efforts, in particular, being able to work in the cloud really has fundamentally changed the way we handle information. The privacy issue, however, is a very important one. Cloud computing means putting your data in third-party hands. I do think local backups are still critical. And a very good question concerns the fate of your information if the company goes bust.

For libraries, I do believe it is important not to “lock down PCs.” Access to Facebook and MySpace, for example, should not be blocked. The library can serve as a gateway to users’ data, and this can put library resources within the view of our patrons. Librarians do need to teach about the consequences of using cloud tools, though, and let it be known that there are multiple options.