Week 7 -- Technology -- How library professionals are using the technology

In the editorial of Library Journal October issue, it says that in 1994 keeping up with technological change was the biggest job concern for library professionals and nearly seven out of ten found technology daunting. Now, only three out ten do. It is a positive sign that the library professions are actively embracing the technology.

Here is another interesting article about the age and the use of technological tools by library staff.

Techie generation
Predictably, nearly all (99.9 percent) of those responding to the survey use email. While 65.2 percent read blogs, academic library workers are more likely to be blog regulars (70.8 percent) than those in public libraries (64.6 percent).
Of course, the biggest differences in the use of digital technology and especially social software correlate with the library worker’s generation. A hefty 86.9 percent of those under 30 read blogs; 69.1 percent IM each other, 56.4 percent post pictures online, and 58.2 percent have a MySpace or similar page. These percentages drop dramatically among older library workers. As the march of digital technology continues, older librarians will have to find new, more effective ways to keep up.

Read the complete article. http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6483878.html

Week 7 -- Wiki

The wiki exercise is easy. I think we should learn how to create one.
The following links take you to free wiki hosts if you are interested.
http://wikihost.org/
http://www.wikidot.com/
http://atwiki.com/

Week 6: Library 2.0 & Web 2.0

I think that Library 2.0 is a concept or a philosophy of how the library should provide the services. Web 2.0 reality will continue to emerge and develop, and the services that our library provides will have to follow up otherwise we will be out of the touch with our users.

Rick Anderson, the Director of Resource Acquisition at the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries, believes that we need to focus our efforts not on teaching research skills but on eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need. If our services can’t be used without training, then it’s the services that need to be fixed—not our patrons. I do not agree with this. It sounds idea and it might be true in the academic environment where students and faculties have the basic computer literacy skills and are exposed to the latest technology. This is not the case for pubic library patrons. The foundation and basic have to be built first. That is what we are doing at our branches -- teaching the basic computer classes, providing trainings, creating instructional guides and demos, etc. Once they have the foundation or the basic skill, they will know what to do when they use the easy to use programs such as Flickr's "Blog This". Otherwise, they will be looking at "Blog This" and say "Ah?"

Site: http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/2.htm

Week 6 -- Technorati

The advanced searching gives you many options. You may search by post or blog. The searching results are conveniently grouped by quick view, posts, blogs, vidoes and photos.

The popular search helps you keep up with the current hot topics. Can be fun to browse when you have the time.

Week 6 -- Del.icio.us

Del.icio.us can be a very good reference tool. Your bookmarks are stored on a webserver and are accessible through the Internet anytime and anywhere. The mobility if offered is less important to me since I have Netvibes to serve as a personal portal that allows me to have direct access to the bookmarks on my del.icio.us account. I can also make any changes directly onto my del.icio.us from there. However, there is one big advantage of having a del.icio.us account. As a web 2.0 social network tool, it allows you to search other people's bookmarks. You still have to evaluate the site before using it but at least it has been used and evaluated by someone else. The number of people who have saved that site also gives you some hint.

Week 5 -- Library Elf

This is the service I have recommended to my friends and users. It is free and takes only a few minutes to set up. You can set up one Elf account to manage the whole family's library accounts, even from different library systems. If your regular email server blocks the incoming emails sent from the library, this is the best alternative.

Week 5 -- Library Things

Library thing is making a sweep among library community. I am using it to keep track of the popular items I have read.

Here is my profile and find out what I am reading.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/pliu

Week 5 -- Image generator-- create a calendar for iHCPL

October Calendar for iHCPL
Originally uploaded by busy_bee

I used fd's Flickr's Toys to create calendar. First, you upload the picture you want and specify where you want it to display --center, left or right. Next, you select the month and year. I am wondering how it will look like when I print this out

Week 5 -- Image generator-- Add a grame for iHCPL

Frame a picture
Originally uploaded by busy_bee

Use the same picture, I have added a frame. It looks not bad.

Week4 -- Finding Feeds

I use a free Web 2.o tool called Netvibes. You can create your own portal. It took me couple hours to set up. I have added my bookmarks that I use daily. It provides many widgets and feeds. I can access my own Blogline feeds. I have also added the HCPL de.li.cious there. It allows me to add and edit the de.li.cious directly without going to HCPL account. It is a great convenient tool offering one stop accessing to your bookmarks, feeds, and numerous widgets. Give it a try.

Week4 -- Add RSS feed on my blog

I used Feedburner to create a RSS feed widget. Users now can clearly see RSS feed icon when reading my blog.

Feedburner is fairly easy to use, you just need to follow the instructions. Once you picked the icon and it will add it to your blog. You can rearrange the icon and display it where you want.

Week 3 -- Editing pictures using online tools

Practice picture
Originally uploaded by busy_bee

I found that the features offered by free online tools are just basic stuff and the results are not impressive at all. The picture here was edited using Snipshot. Pixer is similar and not much better. I haven't tried Picnik.

Week 3--Fun with Flickr tools -- Creating a Flickrs Slide

I downloaded the code and created a flicker slide show. I don't have many pictures in my acount.