Web 2.0 tools SLA 23 things

Summary

2008-12-08T22:43:00.000-08:00

Dear SLA

Thank you very much for the 23 Things. What an experience!!! I have learned so much. At the beginning I thought I knew alot about Web 2.0 tools, but after completing the programme I must say that Whow, have I learned alot more than I thought was possible in such a short time. I will defintely use these tools and definitely share my knowledge gained with my co-workers. I feel that 23 Things have provided a platform and one must keep on building on this platform. I have this vision already of where and how we can use most of these tools in our library. What was the most useful of this programme for me is that I could compare tools from the same category and discovered tools that I did now existed. I could see that although we are continents apart we are dealing with the same challenges and we are learnign together.
My favourite tools were Flickr, Playweek, Blogging & Diagramming and mind mapping & with Mindomo and discovering SEOmoz .

Thank you once again for allowing me to be part of this programme.

Thing 22 Netlibrary

2008-12-08T22:22:00.000-08:00

Netlibrary I found very useful and an essential tool in our organization. I think this is a very useful tool as our collection is a closed collection and can only be accessed from our organizational premises. What I think might be somewhat negative from our organizational perspective is that our books are very subject specific and very very seldomly used by more that about 2 researchers at a time. Very importantly also is cost associated with Netlibrary. If we have to pay an additional subscription we will first have to evaluate how many people will make use of Netlibrary and accordingly compare price per head to see if this would be a viable acquisition. I will definitely introduce other Info specialists to this tool at our next meeting so that we can put our heads together and evaluate this tool, as researchers and info needs differ across subject fields.

Thing 21 Podcasts

2008-12-08T22:21:00.000-08:00

I couldn’t fully evaluate the differences in the 3 services, I couldn’t connect to Odeo, (kept getting a forbidden access message), Podshow was very slow but I could access and create an account on PodOmatic. I find Podshow very overloaded and a bit unorganised with so much information and I didn’t quite like the navigation, spend to much time trying to find my way around the site. PodOmatic on the otherhand is more user friendly and has simple navigation. I created an account and strated searching for podcasts but once again had trouble playing these. I could see that PodOmatic does rank podcasts in a category that was rather useful. I don’t think podcasts will be that useful as this point in our organization but know that I have an idea of what they are and how to access and use them further investigation is a must.

Thing 20 - Upload and Share Videos

2008-12-08T02:48:00.000-08:00

This challenge did not go well. I think our network is not very supportive of these sites. It takes about 4 hours for 1 video to download and when I want to view the video nothing happens. I have been struggling from week 1 to view videos and convinced now that it can only be the network. I am wondering if other people from South Africa might have the same frustration? I cannot complete this challenge because of the problems that I am experiencing but already have a YouTube account (created at my previous employer and I am familiar with YouTube.) I do not think that this Thing is useful in our organization and I do not think that we will use this. I believe that I might upload and share videos in my personal life as our organization has a very strict web and security policy.

Thing 19

2008-12-08T02:11:00.001-08:00

I discovered Twitter a tool that tells everyone what you are doing, you can add friends and chat, and this also available on your mobile. I also inserted it into my Blog so everyone can see what I am up to. I also discovered the top ranked Widget sites called Yourminis which all the latest available widgets to add to websites & blogs. I also discovered Wufoo, to create online surveys invitations & forms, which is a very very helpful tool to have.

Thing 18 & 19

2008-12-08T00:59:00.000-08:00

I used Gliffy to create a mindmap of how to find an electronic journal article through our library website (see previous post, just an example). Gliffy is easy but not free (only trial version free for 5 maps). I think I’ll use Mindomo which has a basic free account. I already have PDF creator on my computer and did not bother with them. I already have a Google account and created a few documents (imported and created) documents that I have shared with others. I find this very convenient especially when one is working from home you no not have to carry your flashdisk around. If email goes down I can share document with other and allow them to edit the douments without emailing back and forth. I discovered that I can load PDF documents into Google Docs as well, and link these to my Google sites websites.I do not make use of a lot of these tools on a daily basis, but from January we will be hosting our Web 2.0 workshops again on a monthly basis and will definitely use Web 2.0 tools to get us started.

Thing 18 - Gliffy

2008-12-08T00:42:00.001-08:00

Looking for an electronic article via the Library, I have created a diagram using Gliffy to indicate the path to follow on the Library website, click on the link below to view:

http://www.gliffy.com/pubdoc/1558266/S.jpg

Thing 16 & 17 WIKIS

2008-12-08T00:24:00.000-08:00

Wikis are more complicated for my organization at this stage. It can be a useful tool but I am a new employee (4 months at this company) and I am not to sure what can be added to the public domain. I like Confluence, a pity that it is not free, this would have worked well for us. I will take Thing 16 & 17 as a challenge for myself to investigate the possible use in our organization.

Thing 15 - ROLLYO

2008-12-07T23:03:00.000-08:00

WOW, what an excellent tool. I find ROLLYO easy and simple to use to create a federated search of free (open source) tools that we use to search for information but have to search each individual website. I am just concerned about the search functionality (limit functions) that is lost. I did not have enough time but would like to see whether one can also create a Rollyo for subscription databases, will test this at a later stage.

Thing 14 - Library Thing

2008-12-07T22:31:00.000-08:00

Library Thing is a nice tool and can be used in our library, especially as to display new acquired books and book of interest. What is also pretty neat is that you can simply add a link to a website or blog and any user can be directed to the list you created.

Thing 13 online image generator

2008-12-04T05:47:00.001-08:00

ImageChef.com Poetry Blender
What a blast, I enjoyed this challenge, it was so much fun. It is a very very easy and simple tool and can be used without difficulty.

Thing 11 & 12 RSS & Newsreaders

2008-12-04T04:45:00.000-08:00

RSS technology we will use to replace most (not all) alerts. We have so many accounts already with usernames and passwords. RSS technology replaces this frustration as all feeds are available from a central place and we can keep clients updated with the relevant information that they need. Less cluttered mailboxes and more time. I will use Bloglines to keep track of both my subject field & professional interest (Web 2.0 technology). We can share feeds among staff about interesting news or articles & even industry news. I did find this section a bit more difficult and my time is running out. I have set up feeds from Blogs & websites that are of interest and will use these to test and explore the RSS technology further after the 15 Dec deadline.
I also created a Google Reader account and find Google a bit easier (I make use of other google Tools, Google Sites, Blogger, Docs & spreadsheets) and find it more "together" in one place. I use RSS feed technology for Literature searchers as well and this works quite well. Posting every experience of 23 things on a Blog has certainly given me a mindset change on Blogging and I think I have discovered something that I really enjoy!!

Thing 10: Reflections

2008-12-04T02:15:00.001-08:00

In our organization we have only recently started to explore the different Web2.0 tools. I find these easy to use and understand and can see the benefits that it can add to existing products & services. What I am concerned about is, will all the effort be worth the trouble? I feel that Web 2.0 tools needs to be seamlessly incorporated into our services & products and not with a bang. . I think the only way that Web 2.0 tools will be successfully incorporated and used is to fully study the pro’s and con’s. We are in the process of demonstrating Web 2.0 tools to staff, as we learn it through the 23 Things programme.

Thing 9 - Flickr Fun

2008-12-04T01:33:00.000-08:00

I really had fun using Flickr, I learned how to create a Flickr badge, make captions on images, as well as creating a map from photos. Sadly my computer and our Internet connection is extremely slow and I couldn’t open all the videos & sites to test and play with the tools. I have a different positive idea of Flickr now and can see how it can be used as a professional tool.

Thing 8: Flickr

2008-12-04T00:15:00.000-08:00

I created an account for personal use to test the privacy that one can use in Flickr. Our organizations’ information is mostly closed off to the public. I think we could use Flickr to store & share photos that are taken at functions to eliminate the old poster with photos in the tearoom that are only accessible if you are located in the main building. We have many sites across different provinces. I found the exploring & tagging intriguing as I could search for South African based Flickr accounts and found a few University’s on Flickr. I joined the Libraries & Librarians group.

Thing 7 - Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries

2008-12-01T01:28:00.000-08:00

Our library is already a “Virtual” library and Web 2.0 tools can be used to enhance existing services by implementing these technologies with our existing products and services. Users minimally use the physical building. Web 2.0 tools can help us to interact share and communicate with users that may be in other sites and also assist with delivery of library services & products to PC’s or laptops. We are embracing these tools and making them our own, by deciding which of these tools will be suitable (depending on our users).
Everything I learn will be shared with other staff by presenting "a thing" in 60 minute workshops (the Blog’s main purpose) on all the tools that I have learned, and making all staff aware of the Web 2.0 applications but staff will have to decide which is suitable for their client groups. Therefore Web 2.0 is part of our future!

Thing 6 - Technorati

2008-12-01T00:43:00.000-08:00

1 Dec 2008 - I have explored Technorati, claimed by blog, added a Technorati widget to my blog so that others can add my blog to their Technorati favorites. I find Technorati quite overwhelming because it has so many features but I did find some features that can be useful in my organization's library. We used some of Mary Ellen's search tips and found organizational information that I did not know about. I think our librarians can use technorati to provide news services to clients on specific topics or fields of interest and even key research areas, and stay up to date on specific fields.

Week 3 - Tagging using Del.icio.us

2008-11-30T22:58:00.000-08:00

Del.icio.us is quite easy and the instructions are clear. I found that I spent very little time on this, and it was well spent. I think the idea that you can add tags to bookmarks is a great way to organize bookmarks and especially being able to see what other people use for tags. I experienced problems after downloading del.icio.us, and had to call in our IT team, as del.icio.us interferes with a programme using JAVA script, so until then I will have to use Firefox instead. At first is was a little difficult to put my head around tagging, del.icio.us, what to add and so forth, but I think I have figured this one out. Our next 60 min workshop will be on del.icio.us to show the rest of our staff in our library how we can use this tool to share and collaborated between the different units in the library. I found lots of interesting sites when I used the search facility on del.icio.us and compared the results to a usual search and did find more relevant information rather than the other search engine. The biggest advantage of del.icio.us for our organizations is the fact that del.icio.us is not computer based and accessible through the web.

Week 2 Blogging

2008-11-26T00:41:00.000-08:00

I have chosen Blogger because it is simple and easy to use. Everything you need to know is available through the online Help function and is useful. I have to confess that all the librarians I know who have already started Blogging all make use of Blogger, so that might have also influenced my decision. I am still every optimistic and ready to take on the rest of the things in week 3.

I did Blog searchers to see what is available on Web 2.0 in libraries in South Africa, with the thought in mind of becoming familiar with what is happening here on home soil and was amazed at the overwhelming amounts of Blogs that already exist.

SLA 23 Things

2008-11-25T23:30:00.000-08:00

I have recently signed up for the SLA's 23 things. I am very excited to join this programme and would like to complete the 23 things by December 15. It is quite a creative process from where I'm sitting because we have a walk-in service, and as soon as I start with "a thing" I must stop and assist a client. But I am strong willed and determined to complete the 23 things by Decemeber 15, 2008. If you would like to know more about 23 Things visit 23 things.

1st 60 min workshop: SKYPE

2008-11-19T04:07:00.000-08:00

Dear All

Thank you for all that attended the 1st in a series of 60 minute workshops that will be presented on a monthly basis. Our first workshop was very successful and we are already making use of the tool. Skype can be used as a communication tool as demonstrated and importantly it can be used to send very large files in our organization not forgetting the group chat feature.

Link to Skype