Wikis. I think they are not easy to navigate, and much prefer a blog format. More control with a blog. So far I am not too convinced that wikis are going to be useful for me, but I could see a possible function at some time for a class project. Will keep an eye on this method of delivery.
Library Thing. I love it. I realize this post is out of order, but I got into Library Thing early on and frittered away a lot of time this weekend putting in some of my books (a lot of manual cataloging, as I have some weird stuff). It just appeals to the librarian in me, and also someday when I have time it would be fun to participate in some of the groups. Although I am contemplating wiping all traces of myself off of the web when I retire. Will they live on in some shadow form, or some web archive?? I hope not. On the other hand, you can’t play if you don’t stay in the game, and I’ll finally have some time to play then.
Technorati. A useful tool for finding things in blogs. I tested it out by trying a search on something I blogged about. I used advanced search and four terms from my last post. Nada. This is an indexing question: How often does Technorati troll for new posts? Keyword should have worked, but didn’t. Do I need to claim my blog in order for Technorati to search for it? I didn’t think so. Try again next week and see…
Why won’t Google do the same thing? It will but it will also bring up any random websites. So I searched using the Google Blog searcher and bingo! So far Technorati is losing to Google.
I’ve often joked about being a Luddite, but now have to stop, being at risk for losing all professional credibility. And yet… and yet…
The assignment is to read up on Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. Social computing. There it is in a nutshell. I often used to wonder how Big Brother will accomplish his mission, and now see how easy we have made it. We’ve handed it over, lock, stock, and barrel. Our thoughts, our loved ones, our human loved ones, our libraries, our perversions (did I say that?), our recipes family trees our friends families connections buying habits reading habits possessions tag clouds etc etc
As librarians, we fight to the end to preserve the individual’s right to privacy. Of course, as you will be quick to point out, the decision is ours, what we choose to share or not share publicly, and my right to privacy is not annulled by my participation in this massive outbreak of what I can only describe as unbridled exhibitionism. And am I participating? Oh yeah. But it begs the question, do we value our right to privacy more than privacy itself?
As for the rest of it, yes I will bring the stuff to the users and speak in their languages and in their arenas. Yes to all the new web tools. Yes to social networking. Yes yes yes to all of it. And if I continue to call myself a Luddite I will have to shut my mouth and retire to my goat farm.
Think I’ll go play some Bach now.
Delicious could be useful. Set up an account and transferred all my bookmarks worth having to it. But not really interested in sharing. I think I love my privacy more than I love all these new toys. And I loved Library Thing. Can hardly wait to go home and catalog my home library (in my spare time) – I am not being sarcastic here!
Rollyo.
Hate it.
Don’t ever want to use it and certainly not add it to my blog.
Please.
Explored Ning and other Web 2.0 Awards. Many were blocked from school, so looked at them from home.
Ning seemed like an interesting resource, but with a lot of trash also. The teacher-librarian parts discussion groups seem redundant or repetitive when we consider how many discussions, blogs, email groups, lists, bulletins, etc. are already out there. I don’t even think RSS feed is going to manage this very well for me, as it also takes up a huge chunk of time as my list of RSS feeds grow longer.
So far I see a lot of the emperor’s new clothes. Being selective is going to be critical here if the tools are going to really work for us instead of drain away time.
Assignment: to play around with an image generators. Home Alone is the result. I played with Image Chef – found it dull and limited.
Played with Flickr BigHugeLabs http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/
Thought it had potential. Skipped the comics site, as I’m not a comics fan. I had the good excuse for not making an avatar for this blog because that site was blocked the day I tried to do it. I didn’t cry very hard.
These are passworded because I am doing a 23 step tutorial of Web 2.0 which requires me to blog about each step. The boredom involved in writing these will surely transmit itself to the reader and I see no reason to publically post anything where the main pronouns are “I” “me” and “my.” “Not of general interest!” (two points if you can name the source of the quote without using the internet). If you admit to wanting to read my drivel, you will have to apply directly to me for the password.
