Final Thoughts

There are so many excellent web 2.0 tools out there I don't think there is any way they could all be covered. I think it did a good job of covering the basics, and a little beyond.

One of the things I may go play around with is backpack.
A place for keeping lists of lists, kind of.
As a list maker, I think this is FABULOUS.

I also think that it's important for staff to learn about these tools, so we can keep our patrons informed. Did I mention I thought it would be interesting and helpful to have a version of the 27 things for patrons?

I still think that a staff book review blog that patrons could access would be excellent. By genre.

All I can say is I found it rewarding, and I learned a lot even when I was helping someone else.

I have to say, I'm a little sad it's the end of the Things.

I hope there are plans for a refresher in a year or so, to see what's new, and what's changed.
Or maybe just a place for us to go as staff, and tell other staff, "look at this new cool thing".

And in review.....

So, I already wrote about a few pre-post 27 things here.

I honestly think this has been one the most fun and useful programs KCLS has done. I'm already a fan of technology, but it was also a good way to inform less technical people about Web 2.0. My personal goal, always, is to keep learning as long as I am here on earth. I think everyone can always learn something new, even about subjects they know a great deal about to start with.

The Internet has already provided me with vast amounts of information of all kinds, from the highly valuable, to the useless but entertaining. Learning 2.0 has highlighted a few tools I hadn't paid much attention to in the past - RSS feeds, specifically.

I think my favorite exercises were learning about RSS feeds, and the fabulous generator exercise (I have gotten MILES of fun out of this). But I got something out of all of them.
Flickr was the most difficult for me, and highlighted the fact I need to read directions.

I found when I needed help my fellow staff members were happy to assist. As an advocate, I was happy to help them, too. I would have helped them anyway. Having so many of us as advocates made certain there was always someone available. That was excellent. The program flexibility made it convenient to use. There were a few weeks I was swamped, it was nice to know I could catch up at my own pace. I also liked the fact it was all online - there was no mandatory attendance at any in-person class.


As for the question if I could go back in time and do it all over again - yes. No doubt.

It was an excellent experience, and I am looking forward to we as a system incorporating some of the 27 things into library tools, for staff and patrons.

My only regret is the 27 THINGS inspired me to create even MORE blogs - I think I'm up to seven or eight now.

E-Audio Books

I actually have played around with the OverDrive software, just because it is available to burn to CD.

Being one of the wretched, the musically enhanced, yes, that's right iPod owners, I hoped to be able to finagle my way into transferring it onto my POD. (I call it the POD, as sort of a nickname. Because when I use it, I am a POD person.)

I was able to burn the book to disc, and then transfer it onto my POD, however, there were no bookmarks. This meant that as long as I didn't have to charge my iPOD, everything was fine, but once I had to charge - back to the beginning. It wasn't un-do-able, it was just a pain.

It would have been great to take even HALF of the books on tape we lugged up to Alaska and back on an MP3 player instead of plastic boxes. It didn't happen this time.

I have to help patrons with the e-audio all the time, which helps me to be familiar with what we have. I am looking forward to having and MP3 player I can put books on tape on - that will be awesome!

Podcasts

Being a mainly visual/written word person I can see how podcasting might be very useful for libraries as an alternative for people who prefer audio instruction.

Instead of writing a book review, why not podcast one? Or what about recording story times for kids? You know kids, they can listen to a story a MILLION times in a row. Plus, it could be structured to be interactive with a book. While nothing beats personal interaction, most parents I know do NOT have time to read "Go Dog Go" as many times as a kid would like to hear it.

I added the RSS feed for the KCLS Law Library to my bloglines account. Just because I like Law, and information on the law, and being able to tell people there is an actual Law Library.

For hours of fun, check out the Washington State Court Records website. Just my own personal addition to "Links you may want to know about someday." Hours of fun, I tell you.

You Tube

I love You Tube.

There is a video for any mood there. I think it would be a great place to share library events.

Also I was thinking short little tutorials on using the catalog.

Like -how to use bookbag, or how to request a book online. Or - how to request an interlibrary loan book online. How to reserve a meeting room online. (This might require part 1 and part 2).

Another co-worker suggested the links to video tutorials be right there on the website - so if someone wanted to watch a video about how to search by author, they can just click a button and watch the video (computer permitting).

They could watch it as many times as they wanted.

I thought it was a great idea.

The video I chose to try to embed is this one.
Bunnies on the Bounce!

Post 25 Things

I have really enjoyed the 27 things exercise.

I wasn't going to do it, initially. I thought I knew a lot about the Internet. Okay, I do know a lot about the Internet - I BETTER know a lot about it.

To quote an anonymous source, "You live there." Okay, maybe a couple of anonymous sources. Several, even. Okay MANY sources. Fine.

I learned a lot. I had fun.

I am writing an afterward now, because I may forget a few ideas I had that might, just might, be cool for the library to do.

I am thinking of a Library Book Staff Picks Blog. One where we as library staff could suggest books and write book reviews. One that would be divided by the kind of divisions that bookstores use. Both negative and positive reviews. I think the paper newsletter we had was fun, and people liked it, but it was difficult to get staff to contribute. As a staff person often assigned the video review section, I will say it was a pain. I actually don't remember what was so painful about it, (probably the lack of spellchecker) but it wasn't fun. And sharing books we love with the public should be fun.

I also very much like the idea of podcasts or videos hosted on youtube that would help people using our catalog and reservation systems. It would be handy to have both, since some people are visual learners, and some are audio learners.

I can see that Myspace, Facebook, and other social sites could be helpful to the library, if they were publicised to the groups they were intended to attract.

My personal favorites were the RSS feeds, which i use all the time now, and the Internet 2.0 Award site, which has led me to many fine things. I also have to admit, my most often sent link has been the generator site.

2006 Web 2.0 Awards

I chose the 2006 Web Award winners, because after a glance at the Webware site I knew I would be playing with that stuff for far longer than the 30 minutes I had planned to use for this lesson. I am actually planning on adding them to my favorites both at home and at work

Both sites have a lot to offer. I found so many interesting sites I am just going to pick out the highlights. I really enjoyed the 43 things immensely. Is there anything cooler than lists of people's opinions? I think not! Personally I adore lists, and polls, and taking tests. But this site definitely tops the list for fun and interesting things.

Another site I enjoyed was Music Strands, I always have an ear out for new and interesting music of all genres. I thought all the music sites were interesting - more than I am going to have to look at. I find it very, very helpful to at least KNOW what bands are popular, even if they are not my type of music. Music tends to be one of the things our patrons find most difficult to search for - and knowing that Snow Patrol is a band and not the title of a book on mountain rescue crews can be very helpful.

And I can't go by without an honorable mention for Zwillow. For all the faults it has, it is simply fascinating. I would recommend it to patrons, even though it is NOT the be-all and end-all of home valuations - it gives a good ballpark idea of what homes are worth in a given area.