7 "Things" Later

I’ve really learned a lot! Basically, what it comes down to is the web is a priceless tool for libraries and librarians. It’s a place where we can communicate with others, be it colleagues or patrons. And we can do it creatively and with ease.

Initially, I was nervous about having to create a blog. But it has turned out to be a fun and rewarding experience. Now, I look forward to seeing what others have learned. And, of course, I will continue to learn more and more “things” to make myself the best future librarian possible.

Fun with Flickr

Flickr is a site where you can upload your photos to share with others. You can title, tag, edit, organize, add notes and favorite your photos. Others can view them and leave comments. Like other social networking sites, you can control exactly who has access to your photos. You can invite friends and family to see them, and keep others out. You can also transfer your photos to other sites such as Facebook, Twitter, or your blog. Even cooler, you can view world events and “visit” distant lands through the photos featured on Flickr. Best of all, you can do all of this for free.

Much like Youtube, Flickr can be used to upload images of events that are going on in libraries. I found a beautiful photo of the New York Public library:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/nino_ary/2751579484/

I imagine library events can also use Flickr to view photos of say, a lunar eclipse, or other interesting topics of note. It could even be used by a library group to create a project to be displayed on the web. Or photos could be printed out or downloaded to be used in a slideshow or poster that creates a story. It could be used as a prompt for story telling. The potential is infinite. After all, they say a picture is worth a thousand words…

Want to know what a wiki is? There’s a wiki for that!

…though, to the technologically challenged like myself, the long definition kind of made my head feel like it was exploding! However, what I basically got out of it is that a wiki is a unique way for anyone in a community to post or edit a piece of work. The best example of a wiki? Why, Wikipedia, of course!

“Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki” is a place where librarians can come together and share ideas about libraries. In their own words, “basically, if you know of anything that might be useful to other librarians (including useful websites), this is the place to put it.” They emphasize the point that anyone (note the bold print) is welcome to contribute to this online librarian community. Naturally, there is a long list of topics ranging from “Management and Leadership” to “UnConferences”. It is a place where librarians from all over can come together to collaborate and learn from each other.

What a wiki-ly, er, wickedly awesome idea!

Podcast Over Here, Podcast Over There! Podcast Party!

A podcast is essentially an Internet radio show, usually pre-recorded, that can be listened to anytime on a computer or other technical device. Harry Potter geek that I am, I’ve been listening to Mugglecast (incidentally, one of the most popular and award-winning podcasts out there) since 2007. I’ve also tuned in to a few episodes of Imprint, a Twilight-inspired podcast. These two podcasts are great ways to listen to fellow fans analyze the books, the movies, and more in both an entertaining and educational way. Furthermore, I can see either or these podcasts being listened to by a group of Harry Potter or Twilight lovers at a library youth meet-up.

According to Podcast Alley, a web site that is a guide to the world of podcasts, there are 163 results for "library" podcasts. The number one result is called The Library Survival Guide, which is described as "tips, shortcuts and techniques for library research from Woodruff Library at Emory University." Thus far, there are ten episodes that can be downloaded directly from Podcast Alley by merely clicking a link. Podcasts are easy for both the podcasters and the podcastees, because they can be recorded and listened to at one’s convenience. They're a great way to record/listen to book discussions, author interviews, library tutorials, news of upcoming events, or anything else that one’s heart desires.


http://www.podcastalley.com/podcast_details.php?pod_id=52949

YouTube, Cookie Monster, and the Wizard of Oz

Ah, the infamous Youtube. That place that has hilarious, crazy, and often asinine videos posted by everybody and their grandmother! So, what does YouTube have to do with libraries? I initially thought "not much". I began by doing a search for the word "library" itself and that yielded 1,030,000 results. Yikes! Given the nature of the beast though, not everything in those search results is going to be worthwhile or even mildly informative! Yet, browsing just that initial page of results led me to some videos that seemed promising.

There is a silly but quite funny video called "Sesame Street: Cookie Monster in the Library" in which a curious Cookie Monster visits a library for the first time. The librarian has a rather difficult time explaining to Cookie Monster that the library has "just books, no cookies!" Finally, Cookie Monster seems to get the message: he asks for a book about cookies…and a glass of milk (the poor, overexcited librarian passes out!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3PWq_6s-lJY

On the same results page, a few entries down, I found an excellent video called "The Wizard of Oz- A Tale of Library Circulation", uploaded by slcountylibrary and presented at the 2007 ALA Conference. At 2:10, it was an entertaining and informative little video about all the things one can find at the library- "movies, music, and books—oh my!" The librarian in the video then shows the patron where all these things and more can be located, thus thwarting the wicked witch. This video is just short and clever enough to grab the attention of any young person who’d like to learn more about what the library can offer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W3ZHPJT2Kp4

So in essence, Youtube is the perfect web site for sharing vital information in a quick and entertaining manner. Want to share that interesting author visit? Want to create a quick tutorial of research techniques? All you need is a little creativity, a camera, and a Youtube account to share information, news, and more with the World Wide Web of potential library patrons.

Bibliophiles Unite!, or I Love LibraryThing

Wow, I had to pull myself away from LibraryThing. This is the site I never knew I was looking for! A social network for book lovers? Seriously, what could be better?

I was pleasantly overwhelmed by all the things you can do! I've already added twenty-six books to my list, and will definitely be adding more. I'm also interested in reading others' reviews, and perusing some groups. I am following the Harry Potter group (HP geek that I am) and the Floridians group (sad to say there is no USF group).

There is such potential for using this site in libraries. Reading clubs that meet at a library can list their books on their own profile. Libraries can create a profile, using it to recommend books that their patrons may enjoy. LibraryThing is also a good place to find out what's going on locally; bookstores, bookfairs, and libraries in one's local area are listed. If I were a YA librarian, I would encourage teens to join the site as a way to make friends with other people with similar book interests. That way, it can encourage literacy, which is ultimately one of the greatest goals of the public library.

A Little Elf Told Me..., or LibraryElf! to the Rescue!

Imagine a helpful little elf who keeps track of your library accounts for you. That's essentially what LibraryElf does. I clicked on the link to the site, intrigued by the name. What I found was a great way to stay organized if you have multiple library accounts or frequently take out many books. It's great for families in which many members frequently check out books (such as mine). I love how the helpful lists remind you when each material is due, overdue, and the status of your holds. The little calendars at the top of the page are a useful visual as well. According to the demo, LibraryElf also emails you reminders (I tried to register, but it wouldn't recognize my Pinellas Park library card number). Since most people are in the habit of checking their email daily, this will be a great way for them to avoid overdue fines and missing out on getting their holds.

The application for libraries is obvious. Not only does it help patrons, but it helps us get our materials turned in in a timely fashion. A benefit of this is that more patrons will get access to popular books that are often on hold. A person may be more likely to put a book on hold rather than spend money at a bookstore. Basically, it is a tool that helps us better serve the community.