Google Docs & Apps

I've been using google docs for quite some time. I love it because with this tool, you only need an internet connection to have all your work at hand. It's just like using a social bookmark but with documents.

In my opinion, using google docs is just as easy as using the word processing software we're all familiar with using. The features that I like the most are the portability of the docs and applications like the calendar.

The aspects I disliked the most are that some of the formating you get in a word doc, just doesn't translate the same when you try to print a google doc. [Another thing I disliked was that when I published this google doc as my blog entry, it removed all the formating so I had to go in a put back in the paragraphs.]

I read a cool article in Wired about one person's experience with relying on Google docs & apps exclusively for a month. The author summarizes the good and bad aspects of using the google docs much better than I can!

My Wiki as ePortfolio

I was so impressed by the wiki's as content manager, that I decided to let my web page ePortfolio go, and switch to an ePortfolio using PBWiki. It's not completely finished, I still need to update my resume, which I'll then add for a completed portfolio.

I really like the PBWiki because it let's you use HTML/CSS code, but you don't have to know any to use it. PBWiki also lets you block edits, so it was an obvious choice for me to use this as a personal portfolio.

Wikis

I love wiki's. The thing I like the most is that it can be anything you want it to be used for. It's so much better than a spreadsheet, since multiple users can get in there and update it at the same time. I would use a wiki for information, similar to a webpage, where you can manage content.

Some of the benefits to finding information on a wiki is that it's easy to include relevant bits according to those who use it most (for example, an HR wiki could have policies added by the records department and benefits added by the benefits department.) Some drawbacks to finding information this way would be that you may not be able to trust the source, as with the infamous wikipedia hoax.

Some types of applications within libraries that would work well with a wiki are: policies & contact information including instant messaging apps, online collections, finding and subject aids. I am really impressed with wiki's as content management system.

Library 2.0- What It Means To Me

In "Library 2.0- It’s many things to many people", I really enjoyed reading what others' concept of Library 2.0 is.

And what does Library 2.0 mean to me? Well, I'm really glad you asked. I get so tired of the negativity that some librarians express when asked to learn or use 2.0 technologies. It's depressing in general and discouraging to those of us that are starting out in this profession. In what other career area is it acceptable for members of the profession to eschew change and growth in their work environment, or to explicitly state that they refuse to learn the technological aspects of their jobs? Hello, unemployment line.

But then I have hope, because of efforts like the Vermont's 23 Things and the nationwide participation of libraries/librarians in the 23 Things project. I think the best thing about this endeavor is that even if you don't (or won't) use these 2.0 skills on the job at library, you will understand the concepts and see how 2.0 tools support learning and/or information seeking.

My hope is that those librarians who deep down are still clinging to the icebergs, will lend their support to those of us who want to be Librarian 2.0. Because both sides of the 2.0 debate love libraries and are hopeful for it's viable future.

And I believe both sides can be hopeful if we contemplate Dr. Wendy Schultz's vision of the Library 4.0, as our evolution continues.

Technorati

I explored Technorati, including running searches for topics of interest, following tags, and I even claimed this blog. But frankly, I just don't see how I would really use it.

I can see how it could be a useful tool, but mostly for those that are either into blogging as a hobby or use it as an aspect of their job (for example, those in the media or larger institution libraries that might write and monitor others' blog entries, or for monitoring our blog participation in Vermont's 23 Things!).

For my own personal and job related purposes, I think I'll stick to my RSS feeds.

Social Bookmarking

In my experience social bookmarking tools like de.licio.us, are very helpful since they allow you to access (and share with others) the sites you'd mark as "favorites" but is accessible from any computer.

Although I played around with de.licio.us for this exercise, my favorite bookmarking site is furl. I like furl because I think the format looks cleaner than delicious, and because it offers really handy tools such as: allowing you to designate your links private, a feature to import sites from your computer's bookmarks, and allows you to export your archive (you can select which ones by choosing designated tags) into XML, a zipped file, or a a hyper-linked list. It will also create citations of your archive according to whichever format you want (MLA, APA etc.)

Libraries can take advantage of social bookmarking sites by sharing with their patrons useful quality sites.

This type of sharing resources also has great potential for research assistance since you can aggregate quality websites as subject guides, writing guides, or any other information rich resources.

The del.icio.us blog has written up ways in which teachers and librarians are using social bookmarks.

Simpsons avatar

From http://simpsonizeme.com/