Week 9, Thing 20

The only music video I know of that's filmed in library (I think).
YouTube is all the rage right now and I don't see why libraries shouldn't jump in too. Post a video tour of the library, post 30 seconds of a library story-time, it seems like a great way to advertise the library and it's much more exciting than a brochure or powerpoint presentation.

Week 8, Thing 19

Web 2.0 Awards - www.pandora.com

Pandora is automated music recommendation service created by the Music Genome Project.

This is the coolest thing!! I typed in Prefab Sprout and the next thing they played was Elvis Costello's Little Fool and then Morrissey's Kill Uncle -- and then the Beautiful South. I am so hooked on this. (Haven't heard some of these songs in years!) Try it, you'll like it!

Thing 18, con't.

Here are 10 Ways NonProfits Can Use Blogs:

(List taken from http://www.netsquared.org/blog/britt-bravo/10-ways-nonprofits-can-use-blogs)

1. To report back from an event or conference.

2. To involve staff and take advantage of their knowledge.

3. To involve volunteers and document their work.

4. To provide resources and information to constituents.

5. To provide resources and information from constituents.

6. To give constituents a place to voice their opinion.

7. To give constituents support.

8. To create the media coverage constituents want.

9. To give constituents the power and tools to create change.

10. To reach potential donors.

***I think this list can be applied to libraries as well.

Libraries can use blogs:

1. To report back from a training or conference.

2. To involve staff and take advantage of their knowledge (Wicomico's programming blog is a great example - staff can bounce ideas of each other!)

3. To involve volunteers - by providing a blog just for volunteers, library staff can keep them informed of changes in the library (if the CDs have been moved), holiday closings, special events etc.

4. To provide resources and information to staff - library personnel can blog about their favorite reference websites or great reads to tweens

5. To provide resources and information to patrons - a special blog just for teens would be a good way to get them involved at their library

6. To give patrons a place to voice their opinion - allow teens to blog about their favorite books!

7. To give staff support - a private blog for staff can help share good news stories!

8. To create media coverage - a public blog can help advertise special events and share photos of past events

9. To give patrons the power and tools to create change - patrons can list comments about special events

10. To reach potential donors - share with donors the "library's story" and show them that libraries are on the cutting edge of technology

Week 18, Thing 18

Hmmm...I really like GoogleDocs! The uses seem similar to a wiki being able to work collaboratively. I was able to publish a document to my blog - took me a little while to figure out how to do that. I can see this kind of thing being used to for committees to create meeting agendas and for staff to work together on a brochure of flier.

Week 7, Thing 17

Ok, it looks like my blog has been posted to the MarylandLibrariesSandbox. Wasn't too hard to add it. I know I need some more practice, but I think wikis have some useful applications. I think the more specific you make the wiki - the better outcome you'll have.

I remember reading that Penguin books starting a wiki - A Million Penguins - in an attempt for a community to write a novel. Neat idea, but that's a pretty broad concept. Wikis definitely need to stay focused - so appointing a wiki moderator (similar to a meeting moderator) might be a solution.

Week 7, Thing 16

Check out this video, "Wikis in Plain English" for more info on what wikis are and how they are used. I think wikis are neat way to gather input from people - esp. in terms of major projects that require lots of planning. Setting up a wiki for strategic planning or summer reading planning might be a good way to generate lots of ideas and discussion - without having to hold a meeting!

Library Success: a best practices wiki is a neat resource - some of the categories are more detailed than others, but it's definitely worth a look. I came across an interesting document "The Angry Customer" from the Memphis Public Library.

Week 6, Thing 15

I am excited about the ways Library 2.0 expands services to patrons. I think many patrons would be interested in setting up their own Library Thing account and wanting to learn how to post their photos to Flickr. These tools can also be used to attract new patrons too - think about students who prefer chat reference to visiting the reference desk.

I especially appreciate what Michael Stephens writes in his piece Into a New World of Librarianship:

"Technology is put to the test: Does it meet the users need in a new or improved way? Does it create a useful service for putting users together with the information and experience they seek? These are some of the questions this librarian asks when planning for technology. This librarian creates and nurtures a living, breathing technology plan."

But librarians have always asked those questions - whether it be about technology or collection development or programming or library outreach. So, I think we're in good shape to face Library 2.0 and Library 3.0, 4.0... :-)