Out of order again...Collaboration Thing #9

I did not know before reading through Thing #9, that Google Docs could be used to collaborate on a documents. I have used it in the past so I could open and edit assignments from anywhere, especially on campus. As convenient as flash drives are, there is that chance that I will leave it in the computer lab and losing all my important documents could be a disaster.



I looked at both Google Docs and Zoho writer. I thought Google Docs was less intimidating. It is simple and straightforward. The Zoho writer had everything option on a tool bar which was a bit overwhelming, but I'm sure it would be easy to use if I practiced. I think I prefer Google Docs for now. I was able to edit the document easily. The only problem I can forsee is that it may be good to have a copy of the original document. If someone makes changes that weren't necessary or right it would be nice to be able to go back to the original. There may be a way of doing this through Google Docs that I am not familar with however.


In circulation, as well as the library, these tools would be great if we were working on drafts of procedures, policy or the informational brochures/bookmarks that get revised from time to time. Committees could also use these tools. Instead of sending files through e-mail and spending the time to download them, it would be easy to log in to these tools and edit.

#4 Fun w/ Flickr

As always Flickr is a lot of fun. I use it to view places I've been or want to travel too. It's also a good place to keep up with friends and family as they post new pictures. I think Flickr can be very useful for libraries to post pictures of past events and programs for the public to see. Changes such as renovations or inside library changes could be documented to keep the community updated or for historical purposes. Remember when there were holds at the Kirkwood Level for instance or how did the library look during this decade? We could use photos to advertise new materials or services too. It would be another simple way to promote the library without costing a lot of money. Digital photos are much easier to store than their print counterparts and take up less space, which is another benefit. I have print photos in a box that I never got around to getting in an album but all my new photos are conveniently organized online.

As always having pictures in the public eye can be a bit scary, but they can always be set to private. Sharing library photos shouldn't be a problem as long as when taking photos of people, they are aware.

Keeping with the Hawaiian theme, a picture of the sign of my favorite bakery in Honolulu. Look up malasada on flickr. The pictures will make you hungry.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hellochris/393793816/
photo from hellochris' photo stream.

#3 RSS

To be honest, I've been meaning to see what RSS was all about. I understood the basic idea, but never fully explored the capabilities. I decided to start by signing up for Bloglines. It was simple to sign up and even easier to add subscriptions and feeds. The idea of going to one place to get the information I want, is what I like about RSS. There are many websites and blogs that I find and try to remember to check for updates, but most of the time I forget or run out of time. RSS solves that problem. I will definitely be using this more to keep up with different library websites/blogs. Personally, I can add newspapers from different places I have lived and visited to keep track of what is happening in that locality...I already signed up for the Honolulu Advertiser news feed.

At our library, I think RSS feeds could be useful in keeping track of community information, events and news/weather. As a library we could have patrons subscribe to our feed to keep track of library events, changes, closings and new services or materials offered.

Adding feeds was easy by URL if I knew it or by finding the website and using the icon. It's very easy to get quite a collection of feeds and as the warning said very addictive!

Thing 6

I've jumped from thing 2 to 6! I'll go back to the others at a later time. Circulation has selected 9 "things" that are most important for the department. Communications tools are of great importance. E-mail is definitely the dominant communication tool used by the library. In circ. we use e-mail to get important information to the entire department. It has been very important recently keeping track of the changes with holds. E-mail is also the way committees communicate and they way we get library-wide messages.

I haven't actively used IM for a several years now. When IM first became popular, I used it a lot during college to communicate with my friends and family in different cities.
The previous library I worked at, used IM for reference and circulation services. In circulation, it was easy to leave unattended when we got busy. IM might be useful in certain libraries, but every library situation is different so it would depend on if there was a need or demand. Also in the case of virtual reference, I would think that off desk time might need to be given in order to dedicate time to questions and the service. I have used online reference on a few occasions through the IU libraries and found it easy to use and convenient to get information from home.
Within the library, I can see it being useful to get messages between departments or between the different areas of circulation. Sometimes it's difficult to answer the phone, while helping a patron. An IM wouldn't be so distracting and I wouldn't feel like I was interupting the patron to answer the phone.

Library 2.0...

After reading through the articles and watching the video, I started thinking about how technology has changed just in my lifetime. When I was in high school, I didn't even know what the Internet was. It wasn't until college that I was introduced to it and I watched things progress from there. I now use it at home, for school, work and I have to admit it's nice having information at hand whenever you need it. I am trying to imagine how it feels to be someone like my grandmother (who does e-mail and surf the web now!) and have to adapt to all these changes.

A big part of Web 2.0 is collaboration, open access and the sharing of information. I see this on places like youtube.com or ehow.com where you can find a plethora of DIY tutorials. I also enjoy being able to communicate more frequently with my friends who are scattered all over this world. I remember writing letters to my 1st grade friend from India and although we still do handwritten letters, we have had the chance to send more e-mails and even IM each other in real time.

The world is constantly changing and it is something libraries must embrace to keep up with the times. I liked the article by Michael Stephens in which he said "This librarian does not buy technology for the sake of technology. “Techno-worship” does not exist here. Without a firm foundation in the mission and goals of the institution, new technologies are not implemented for the sake of coolness and status." We can find out what works best for our community and library. We can still have patrons come browse for a book in print, while a person downloads an audio book from home.

Now and in the future, libraries will be not only a place for tech savvy people. For those people caught in the digital divide, we will be able to give them access to the technology and guidance to learn. One example of this is that more job applications are done online only. If you do not have a computer or Internet access where do you go? If you have limited computer skills who will help you figure it out? Libraries should be a place that people feel comfortable going for help in these instances.

I am looking forward to gaining insight and ideas from my co-workers or how finding out more information on how Web 2.0 will influence a library circulation department.

The first...

When you say "Pau hana" in Hawai'i that means work is finished. Setting up the blog was so simple it didn't even feel like work. Just follow the steps and you've got your own blog. The avatar was fun. I was not aware of the export option, so it was awesome to learn something new. 22 things to go..