Mashups

I have been working with the idea of mashups for a project at work, so I am thoroughly acquainted/overloaded with ideas about mashups and libraries. In my project, I will be geographically displaying personal stories shared by librarians across the country. With projects such as the one I am undertaking, mashups make a lot of sense. Any country-wide (or even city-wide, state-wide, etc) projects that are undertaken can be viewed geographically using a map. It won't be long before we can see which books are popular in which city.

One mashup that I found using the Google Maps Mania Blog which is a warehouse for sites that use Google for their mashups. The mashup that I found is called "Who is sick?" It seems HIGHLY unscientific, but amusing, nonetheless. The site asks that you mark where you are and what symptoms you are experiencing and then lets you geographically visualize what other symptoms have been reported in that area. As I said, not something you necessarily want to recommend to a patron, but it is an interesting idea and could be a way to trace infections in hospitals and that kind thing.

I also searched searchrolls using Rollyo. Searchrolls seem very similar to RSS Feed Readers, in that is allows you to collect a series of websites. Rollyo then allows you to search within the collected sites for particular topics. In searching a roll of librarian blogs for "privacy," I discovered a lot of disgruntled librarians! Not surprising considering the Patriot Act climate! It was refreshing to see librarians expressing their opinions as always!

Podcasting and Online Hosted Video

Do you see any potential uses for Podcasting in the library? If so what and why?

I think podcasts are a great way for patrons to learn more about library services. I viewed one from the UT library and was excited to see that they also had accompanying visual material, almost like a video or a vlog. I'm not sure if this can properly be called a podcast, but I think this is a great way for libraries to reach out to their patrons.

My YouTube Experience

I'm definitely a fan of YouTube and think it has great possibilities for incorporation in the library world. Even with this MLA class and the videos that enhance the content, we can see that videos can supplement instructional content. Especially with programs that are heavily distance-learning-based, I think videos will become more and more frequently used.
I would love to make a video myself some day. It seems like there would be a lot of work involved, but I think it would be fun to make a labor of love and/or something to enhance the patron's library experience.

I found this one made to advertise a library. I love the pacing music. It certainly holds your attention and shows you the beauty of reading. I wonder how they shot the war scenes!

Online Photo Sharing


I already have a lot of experience uploading photos to my Facebook account. I have several albums associated with that account which I created while living abroad in an effort to share my experiences with others.

I had not previously experimented with Flickr, however, but I had heard a lot about it. I found it pretty easy to use. I'm not sure how the pictures are grouped, though. Perhaps they are merely organized by the tags. I was excited to see that photos that are uploaded in Flickr can automatically be sent to Facebook. That is a great service, as it saves you uploading time.

I definitely feel like this is something a library could incorporate into their services. Any special events should be photographed for posterity and the photos should be shared in as many places as possible. Uploading them into Flickr and Facebook will ensure that that many more people are able to view the photos and learn about the kind of projects the library is involved with. It might also be a good way to display pictures of the library staff members so that patrons will know the staff that much better and be able to visually identify their library staff.

Google Docs and the like

Is this the future of all software products? What do you think?

I think this kind of tool will become more and more frequently used in all fields. It is clear with the increasing popularity of Web 2.0 technologies, that people are excited about collaboration and are keen to incorporate that into learning, teaching, and working environments. I do not believe that this will replace software found in an individual's computer. Many people are concerned with privacy and copyright and would not want their materials so easily accessible. Although it is possible place strict securities on a document, it still feels more vulnerable than it might in the comfort of your own computer. I do think that these kind of products will be used in the library world to collaborate in institution committees and with librarians throughout the nation and world. It will make group work all the more easy to accomplish. I look forward to finding innovative ways to incorporate it into my own working environment.

Del.icio.us

Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere?

I opened up a del.icio.us account this past summer but didn't really see the use in it. I revisited my account after the MLA webcast on Web 2.0 tools and have been using it daily since then. For me, it is a great way to have sites bookmarked that are accessible at work, at home, and from any other computer I am visiting. If someone recommends a site to me and I don't have the time to pour over it, I tag it using del.icio.us and review it later. I have definitely become a fan!
I think it can be useful to librarians as a way to tag helpful resources for answering reference questions or addressing any other work-related issues. It could also be something that a librarian could recommend to a patron that is always on the go.

• How can social networking be used by MLA to connect members?
• I have been a member of Facebook since May 2004. I find it a great way to stay in contact with people that I do not come face-to-face with on a regular basis. I use it mainly to stay in touch with people that I first meet face-to-face, then continue the relationship online. I am very hesitant to make new friendships online. With that in mind, I feel like social networks would be best for people to remain connected after meeting face-to-face (say at the MLA convention). That being said, it would be a useful way for people who cannot attend the convention to connect with people of similar interests. Groups could be created for particular groups/chapters within MLA and then individuals would join those groups and make "friends" and "discuss" within the platform.
  
• Should your library have a Facebook or MySpace page?
• Since the NLM is kind of like the mother ship of all medical libraries, I'm not sure how much sense it makes. I do feel like the average academic library should have a Facebook page. That's where the students do so much of their networking and libraries should definitely be there to stay current and up-to-date. NLM might be the kind of place that could have its own social network for medical librarians, or simply have some kind of presence in some of the more professional networks like LinkedIn or Library Ning 2.0.
  
• Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites.
• Perhaps as a member of the Facebook generation, I am more open to the idea of social networking sites. Since you're in control of the information that is out there, I do not think the privacy concerns are out of your grasp. If you don't want it out there, don't put it out there!
  
• What did you like or not like about your experience with Facebook or MySpace.
• I'm a big fan of Facebook (less so of MySpace). I feel like Facebook has a more user-friendly interface and is more pleasing to the eye. I hope that this exercise encourages many librarians to become immersed in the social networking world!
  

What is the difference between a blog and a wiki?

A blog is more like a journal or diary. A single author or small group of authors post small news items. Viewers are often welcome to comment on the various posts, but cannot edit the content. A wiki is more of a communal experience. Anyone who is a member of a wiki is allowed to edit the content found within - both in the actual pages and in the comments/discussion field.

What sort of things might be better suited for a blog and better suited for a wiki?
A blog could be used to keep people updated about what is new in the library.
A wiki could be used to facilitate communication with a staff or for inviting patron participation in the creation of a resource.