Ubuntu @ the Library

Resourceful!

Thing 15 - Library 2.0

This was a particularly difficult assignment in that there is so much info. The OCLC perspectives are simple enough to read and evaluate so that is what I will do. I do, however, plan on returning to Walt Crawford's extensive article on Library 2.0 as he seems to mirror my feelings about the whole Library 2.0 concept. However, 32 pages is a little too extensive at this point.
As for the OCLC newsletter, I definitely agree with Tom Storey that the principles that drove/are driving Web 2.0 will be reflected in Library 2.0. I think Rick Anderson's statement that no library should embrace new technology without considering how that technology gels with their own core principles and values is of great importance. This point is also made by Michael Stevens in disparaging "technolust" while emphasizing the importance of "trendspotting." So I guess what is really important is trendspotting coupled with trend analysis within the framework of the individual library system and its self-image.

Thing 14 - Technorati

Exploring Technorati left me feeling empty. I had a hard time discovering its usefulness. Then I searched Blogs for some health topics and realized that if you had a specific need to see how other people were coping with health problems that affected you and/or your family, you might find personal blogs, and maybe support, through this site. I do not see myself using this site.

Thing 13 - del.icio.us

I can see the usefulness of this bookmarking website. I have been completing my 23 Things from many different computers and my usual route is log in to passport, click on Harford County Participants, scroll down to "The 23 Things" and get moving from there. I had book-marked Maryland Learning 2.0 on my home computer. Now I can go to del.icio.us from any computer and click on the site. I have many bookmarks I would not put on this site, but I am bookmarking the sites I found interesting from the 23 Things.

Thing 19 - Web 2.0 Award Winners

Puzzle games are my thing so I chose to explore Arcaplay. I quickly found a few games that could easily be my new addiction. Great site! I'm not sure that it really has any application to my work as a librarian. I am thinking that maybe I could direct parents to the site if they have children to entertain while they are working on the library computers.

Thing 18 - gottastartsomewhere

My First Zoho Document

What better way to demonstrate my use of Zoho Writer, than to create my blog entry for Thing 18 using this web application and then exporting the document to my blog. Zoho and I had a ruff rough start. First, I entered half my home email address and half of my work address when registering. I had a little difficulty fixing this problem, but all is now well.

Next, I tried changing font size and color and removing the underlining after typing my heading. These font characteristics seemed to repeatedly change back to defaults on their own. After several false starts, I was able to create the document as I wished.

I am still having some difficulty setting the font type and size prior to actually typing although it is easy enough to type and then change the document to look the way I want to. Even as I just edited some of my text above, the preceding paragraph changed to 24 pt (for no reason?). So, while this particular online productivity is not perfect, I think it is a great tool especially for students who always forget their papers, disks, etc. If a student typed their research paper using a tool such as this, they could easily print it out during homeroom.  I even spell-checked this document.

P.S. The document did not post exactly as the print preview showed. Background color was unplanned and should have been white for all of the text not in italics. This text was added using the blog editor, not Zoho. Another drawback is that printing the document from Zoho leaves "page a of n" at the top, the url address of Zoho and the date at the bottom of each page. I assume that there is probably a setting which allows these to be hidden. All in all, I am glad to know this is out there and I will be happy to appear so brilliant the first time it comes in handy.

Thing 17 - Playing in the Sandbox

I enjoyed the simplicity of this "Thing." Everyone needs to play around now and then. My only complaint is that it is not as easy to point and click as was described. I tried entering my blog title and linking it to the url without success. I gave up and listed my url only which is really no big deal as my url pretty closely mimics my blog title. I even completed the optional exercise three. See my entry under Favorite Dogs about Jade and Copper.