Thing 16

Library 2.0

Though I am reluctant to embrace a life in front of a computer, I do understand the importance of changing libraries so that they meet the demands of the times. It's not up to me. Not everyone has a good library a block away, but they do have internet access for the most part. Library 2.0 opens up the good libraries online. That's great. I really felt a sense of relief though when I read Wendy Shultz's piece on what Library 4.0 might be. Maybe there will be a period after all of this hustle and bustle (not that it will end) when libraries focus on some of the other aspects (seemingly less important) such as the 'feeling' of a library. You know, all that human stuff. There's a balance with everything I guess, the goods and the bads that technology brings.

Thing 15

Custom Search Engines:

These would be great for research projects if you can set them up to get the results that you need. I don't think my plan of action went over so well for setting up a search on the musical phases of Bob Dylan. I really like the stuff that he did on Self Portrait and want more of that. So I tried a search in reference which might not have been the best choice (wikipedia...etc) just overviews really. But I did come across the documentary Don't Look Back that I'm pretty excited about. I just checked it out from the library and will watch it tonight. So yes, for research projects and a targeted custom search engine, this is pretty helpful. The Reference Desk could really utilize this for student projects.

Thing 14

This was a good exercise for me, I haven't edited HTML really, so even copying and pasting and noticing that there even was a HTML tab was new for me. I can imagine that IMing would be good for patron off-campus questions, but then again they can always call just the same. I share a phone number with 2 other people, so perhaps instant messaging would be a good alternative for contacting someone immediately when the phone line is tied up.

Thing 13

This was a good exercise, wikis could definitely be used in our own library for posting schedules or process maps/procedures available at any computer. It seems as though it would keep library procedures up to date and not gathering dust on some shelf in a binder. Perhaps in the future we will take advantage of this possibility.

Thing 12

Wikis could be used to update our changing procedures. For instance, we are currently switching our copy/print procedures to one holy Slug Card. We have two process map binders, one at the Circulation Desk and another on the first floor, that need to be checked monthly for changes in our procedures. This is a rotating task between three people. If we had a wiki, not only would it be easier to repeatedly edit and update our procedures, it would also be as though we had a procedural binder at every computer (very helpful for the front desk). Who knows.

Thing 11

Whoosh....That was the sound of me whizzing through the Library Things to catch up. I love this thing, it's great for book recommendations and reviews. I like seeing what other people have to say about some of the books that I have also read, to an extent, so that is helpful. I was a little shocked when I read some of the reviews for Anne Tyler's "Accidental Tourist". I really like this book, I can relate with Macon quite a bit, but I'm definitely not "laughing out loud" when I read this. Hmmm, now I wish I hadn't read the reviews. Something must be wrong with me. Maybe my sister was right when she said that I was in a 'special' 2nd grade class. Nooo!

Thing 10

Wow, this really did work. My blog popped up #1 when I searched for "topic/project" and "pretty neat" from my last blog post using Technorati. I'm going to test it again for my next blog:

Test 1:
peanuts and yummy creaminess
Test 2:
Deirdre and lame

But this is really helpful, good search engine.

Thing #9

del.icio.us is pretty neat. This really does make it easier to have your usual links right at hand. As for libraries and research in general, I could see where one could create multiple accounts and have each one assigned to a specific project/topic, or maybe not. It definitely organizes accessing online materials and the fact that you can access your bookmarks from any computer is pretty helpful.

Mysterious #6

Number 6 is done. I looked through the 'social networking' sites a bit. I had and have a myspace, it's fine. You can keep in touch with old friends, new friends or even stalk someone. Fantastic. It's a little silly to have a myspace, but it seems like everybody does. I am a lemming. It's A-OK I guess.

Things 7 & 8

I'm catching up...I already have a myspace account, so I just added the UCSC learning blog to my friends list. I checked out Second Life too and read an article on the diversity that Second Life offers as well as the way it is being implemented in the educational sphere. I guess it makes sense to have office hours for a class in Second Life, but then there's a huge part of me that thinks that 'real life' is kind of neat. I need to leave my house once in a while, I guess. But Second Life does offer a new way of information sharing and all that jazz. I know I will be ecstatic when technology manages to find out a way to tele-port food, kind of like on Star Trek or The Jetsons. For now I guess I will have to cook my own food and open my eyes myself. Oh the burdens this beast of a world throws at us!

Thing 5a&b = totally tubular

RSS Feeds + Deirdre = True Love

I'm a huge fan of this. From the New York Times site I snagged a few of the feeds, big fan of the science and mental health ones. This is a really convenient and interesting way to keep up on news without having to go out hunting for it. I didn't know these things existed. A. W. to the some. The variety of the feeds is also pretty neato. Here is a poem for my beloved:

Oh RSS, how I do love thee
Your words are like eating up a chocolate bar that you get for free.
While chocolate has been found to be a helpful antioxidant,
Baby, your words are super fresh and the source is confident.
Is it magic, mystery or perhaps a tiny gnome in my computer?
Or perhaps as you told me, could it be the Earth protecting position of Jupiter,
that has made me fall for you, my fact-filled love,
If I was a caveman with a stick I would say that you're sent from above.
So stay with me forever and always be true
'Cause baby cakes, I am totally diggin' on you.

Thing 4

I set up a flickr account, but didn't use it to get this picture. This is a pistol shrimp. This one has a parasite on it's 'back', the middle part, but the claw is actually supposed to be that way. These things capture prey by snapping their big freakish claw and stunning their prey without really touching it. How cool is that? Oh, I'd give it about a 5. To see this little puppy live and snappy go here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eKPrGxB1Kzc

Thing 3

Whew, it's a blog eat blog world out there. I used blogscope and sphere to search for topics such as academic libraries and deep sea animals and came up with some interesting yet not so official results. I preferred blogscope over some of the others, but this is my first time up to bat at this stuff. I came up with more relevant results from blogscope, yep. Bark out- deirdre