# 16-WIKIS

EXPLORING WIKIS..

Wikis was something new for me until exploring and learning about wikis. I think there are positives and negatives regarding wikis. Adding wikis on a library online catalog would allow patrons to make book reviews which would be good on that standpoint. I understand OCLC is already working towards that on the catalog. The thing that anyone being able to change content/delete someone else's information may not be totally good. There could be content added that's incorrect and without accurate facts. Wikis would be good to use for sharing ideas for group projects and collaberating ideas. I think that a community forum could be an interesting feature with an RSS feed tool for wikis but you have to make sure the content is accurate. A suggestion box wiki where patrons could type in their suggestions on-line instead of the old way (where patrons fill out a suggestion card) which would be faster doing it on-line. Wikis could be used as a ready reference guide for frequently asked questions for patrons and online users. Libraries could also use a wiki to post an event calender of upcoming events or having a shared calender for everyone. One of the cool things about wikis is being about to add on-line slide shows or YouTube videos and the chatroom option on wikis. People could post blogs on wikis which might be interesting for libraries online. I think you have to evaluate the pro and cons with using wikis for libraries. Everyone might have a little different view on wikis but I've tried to look at it both ways.
Got to go and catch up on another blogging exercise. Catch me back later..

# 15-LIBRARY 2.0 PERSPECTIVES

I explored Library 2.0 perspectives and it allowed me to see endless possiblities for libraries in using this resource for patrons as well as library staff. Library 2.0 uses some of the Web. 2.0 tools that were in the discovery exercises except it goes into a broader range of services on-line. Library 2.0 is an extension of Web. 2.0. Library 2.0 would allow patrons to comment, write reviews, create their own tags and ratings of books, share their thoughts with others with an OPAC interface catalog. OPEC World Cat allows on-line users to view searches on topics and then locate that particular book with a geographic library area that would have the book you are looking for. You search the geographic area by the zip code finder on the site and the ISBN number for the book. Users could know what others are reading, listening to, etc. It mentioned a new on-line tool for word processing that runs on the computer brower instead of on the desktop applications. Library 2.0 is more interactive having a chat reference service on the on-line catalog. This would mean having a study group room online that would allow an online social network with library staff and patrons. In Library 2.0, the catalog woud be an open catalog where users could tag the library's collections. Library 2.0 has blogs, instant messaging, social networks, RSS feeds, tags.

In perspective of Library 2.0, I think there are a lot of good things for the interactive user catalog. It would be a more technology driven catalog service that creates an interactive online environment. I enjoyed learning about Library 2.o. Learning about tags, RSS feeds, mashups, etc. with the discovery exercises helped me to understand a little better about Library 2.0.

# 14 Technorati

Discovering Technorati... I took another adventure to check out Technorati and learned a few more things in my online discovery. I learned about what authority means in a blog, how to recognize tags in blogs. There are some things I'm still a little fuzzy about with Technorati but it was good to expand my knowledge with this site. When I did a few searches on some blog posts and in tags, I came up with about the same information when I did a search for "Learning 2.0" actually. I looked on Technorati and found my blog was posted on Technorati which I thought was neat. I claimed my blog on Technorati. It doesn't show my blog has any authority yet. I learned how to tag my blog on Technorati. I'm learning new on-line terms that I didn't know before. I can at least now be somewhat familiar with some of the terms that I didn't know before. This is definitely a learning in progress but fun also. Technorati is a little different from deli.cio.us bookmark site. I found LPLS posted on Technorati also. I also found a few of our LPLS library bloggers posted on Technorati also. I think that the Technorati is a more technical bookmark site which you can do more things with if you choose to do so. Let's go exploring and learn something else new. Catch you back later...

# 13- Del.icio.us Discovery

Del.icio.us Discoveries..

It was a pleasure to discover Del.icio.us bookmark site. I enjoyed that site and discovering how to set up an account bookmark on my computer browser. It was interesting to learn a different way of bookmarking my favorites. I enjoyed tagging some of my favorite sites with this bookmark site. I liked discovering this new way of bookmarking. I don't want to give up the standard way of bookmarking favorites but I like this new way also. I may use both and see which way I like the best. It's something new and exciting for me. Del.icio.us would be a good tool for keeping up with research information for everyday use or just having fun bookmarking favorite sites. This tagging tool is a good source to use for libraries and also for teachers, or anyone. It was easy to set up and was enjoyable all the same time. I will probably use this in the future as well. If anyone is interested in looking at my Del.icio.us network bookmarks then click on this link: http://del.icio.us/lavender007 Try it out yourself because you might actually enjoy it like me especially if you use a personal computer at home. I've got to travel and do a little more blogging to learn a little more on my self discovery. Hope you join me on that adventure of discovering something new. It's great to learn about some of this stuff. This adventure has been worth my time. Well, check back with my on my next posting.. Until then..

# 12-ROLLYO

In Rollyo World...

Another discovery was made in the on-line world. I discovered "Rollyo" where you can bookmark and save your website searches. This is my first time using Rollyo so that was an experience. I don't think this site is considered my favorite site by any means but it's good to know what's out there if I decide to use this one. I'm used to the old fashion way of bookmarking my favorites by just clicking on "Favorites" on the computer toolbar which I like the best. The old fashion way I think is simpler and not as complicated to set up. I thought it took a lot of time in setting up and figuring out what I was doing with Rollyo since I'm not familiar with this site at all. You just basically figure it out for yourself which I finally did. I did set up a Rollyo search roll. If interested in looking at my search roll, it is: http://rollyo.com/lavender007/
Whew, glad that's finished.. Well, on to the next blogging discovery...

# 11-LibraryThing

Library Thing...


I explored and discovered "LibraryThing" which is actually pretty neat. This was a new site for me so it was a little interesting to say the least. I don't know if I would use this site a lot but it's nice to know it's there. It's actually a pretty good site to use as long as you don't catalog over 200 books. After 200 books are cataloged, you have to pay to catalog your books on the site which is actually the catch if you do a lot of cataloging. Thinking about the fact that LibraryThing charges you after 200 books or they are deleted, one thing came to mind is that someone could just create a second account with a different username & password and that way you could just have different accounts and still catalog your books. I think over all though that's it's a pretty neat to do this sort of thing and get suggestions on the same types of books. It kinda neat to see what other people say about different things on LibraryThing. I'm sure there are other sites out there that be good also. I'm becoming aware of all these sites that I haven't heard of before. I did catalog some books so here's my link for the LibraryThing of books cataloged at: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/lavender007 Catch you later with my next blog to discover something else new...

#10- Online Image Generator

Welcome to the world of On-Line Image Generator..

My thoughts are brought to you today by a message in a bottle from an island called Blog Land. Well, being stranded on an island in Blog Land can't be too bad if there is popcorn & coke available! What more could you ask for.. right. It was fun doing the Online Generator. It took me a little bit of time of figuring it out to get it right but it was fun once I did. The website I used for the online image generator is http://www.txt2pic.com/ . My actual image pic is :http://message-in-bottle.txt2pic.com/
Check out the site. You might find something of interest yourself. I looked at different kinds of image generators that were all a little different from each other. I didn't realize there different types of generators. You can just Google search and find lots of unique image generators to play around with. I hope the next discovery is as interesting as this one. Check back with me and see what else I discover on my next blogging trip!! I might need some more popcorn and coke to finish my next blog. See you back around on Blog Land Island. Bring some snacks when you come back to visit me.

# 9 -FEEDS

Hello again in the world of feeds...

I will have to say this thing of exploring feeds is a bit confusing. Like I said on #8, this stuff is not familiar at all to me. This stuff is a little too techie for me. I went to Feedstar but the site never loaded where I could search anything, so that one is definitely a no. I went to Topix, Syndic8 and the other one- Technorati. I didn't really like any of those too well at all. I think they were more confusing that Bloglines. I did find a few library searches on some of them but not a whole lot. There were library blogs on some of the other sites. I actually enjoyed Bloglines a lot better because I was able to find more interesting stuff without having to dig so much. I think Bloglines is more user friendly than the other ones.

Come back again for my next blog adventure. Looks like the next discovery is going to be fun!! Looks like I get to play a little !! Stay tuned in for my next discovery in the world of blogging..

# 8-RSS

In the world of RSS Feed and Bloglines, this was a whole new territory for me. I learned a few things about RSS that I was totally not familiar with doing at all. It was certainly a learning experience for me. Once I got into it, I actually starting enjoying it a little. I found out by exploring different feed searches that it's possible to have posted photo feeds included in bloglines which I enjoyed the most. I found some scenic sunset pictures that I enjoyed viewing on the Blogline feed which was useful for me since I like looking at on-line pictures. I looked at different feeds but like Bloglines the best. I thought it neat that you can keep track of your favorite news links, etc. by having a RSS feeder. I think it can be useful if you do a lot of on-line posting such as websites or someone that enjoys blogging on a regular basis to keep up with what they are searched for. I think it's a helpful tool for library websites so that patrons can keep up with on-line searches and receive ongoing information with a RSS Feed capacity. I explored a library in Maine that is using a RSS feed already on their site which was interesting. If interested, you can log on to my blogline address at: http://www.bloglines.com/public/lavender007

Thanks for your time in reading my blog. Check out some of my bloglines, if you like..