You are currently browsing the monthly Archive for September, 2007.
I decided to use Google Reader for my aggregator. (I like to say “aggregator” because it sounds like agitator and alligator.) Bloglines looks cool, but it wasn’t as intuitive for me as GR; plus, I use Google, GDocs, Gmail, etc. and I want to use Picasa and more.
I’ve added a bunch of feeds . . . I think I’ll have to remove some after I see which I really like. I put a link to GR on my blog so that I can get to it that way, too.
While doing this, I discovered a cool tool called Pagekeeper.org. It is a bookmarking site for teachers and students. It is not RSS, just a “favorites” site that you can organize in a way you can’t organize your desktop or browser favorites. It is easy to use, you can access it from any computer (instead of saying “Erg, I can’t remember the site, but it is saved on my Favorite’s), and others can view your page if they know your username (no password required for anyone who is not going to edit the page). So, take a look at it — my username is simply “Karen” . . . you can look at other people’s pages by searching for a particular subject or grade level. I really love it!
Well, here is Thing 2! Just in case you don’t click into my “About,” I’ll reprint the purpose of my site here:
******I like to hike. When hiking, I enjoy coming upon cairns — piles of rock which help me find my way. They are interesting creations, the products of several people who are helping to lead the way.
I am becoming a librarian. While becoming a librarian, I enjoy coming upon “library cairns” — words of wisdom which help me find my way in the library world. They are interesting creations, the products of several people who are helping to lead the way.
This blog is a collection of the “cairns” I am discovering as I am FINDING MY WAY in the library world — ideas, articles, blogs, discussions, tools, and more — as well as a few of my own comments ( or “confessions”). Mainly, I want to create a repository of all the great information out there about the future of libraries so that I will have markers to follow as I am finding my way as a librarian.
Of course, I hope that others who are interested in going in the same direction might find the information in this blog helpful. And just as real cairns are created by more than one person, I hope that others will add their “rocks” in the form of comments, suggestions, links, and more. My thanks to you in advance.
And, just in case you didn’t notice, “cairn” sounds like “Karen” :) *******
The Metronet Information Literacy Project is continuing and expanding . . . and becoming the Metronet Information Literacy Initiative. A great addition to this year’s program is the requirement of “23 Things” — exercises participants will complete in order to become more information/technology literate.
In the first reading I really liked the description of the other literacies: tool, resource, social-structural, research, publishing, media, computer, visual . . .
Fortunately, the second reading led me to more resources that I can use for the MILI lesson plan website.
The third reading included a great chart:
- Rename on Metronet homepage — Remove “Dribbling”
- Add button on Additional Resources pages to “Suggest a Resource”
- Organize by Research Process, Reliable Resources, Responsible Use (?)
- Add “Rate This Lesson” (?)
- World Languages . . . Special Ed, Theater, Geography?
- Less print (R learning style) oriented? Podcasts? Pics? Video? etc. . .
Michael Stephens (http://www.tametheweb.com/) presented at the MN Library 2.0Summit hosted by the Health Science Libraries of Minnesota and the Minnesota Chapter of SLA. Here is a bibliography similar to the one he gave us; I’ve asked for an electronic version of the longer one and will post it if possible. Here are some of my notes:
- The heart of Library 2.0 is user-centered change. L.2.0 uses some social tools, has open & transparent conversations, involves the users in service & planning, recognizes & responds to trends, has presence with users online, learns & innovates, adopts a 2.0 philosophy, and creates a culture of trust.
- Library rules can be as simple as “Respect Yourself, Respect Others, Respect the Space”
- DON’T BAN THE TECHNOLOGY, BAN THE BEHAVIOR.
- Send lap-top librarians out to the cafeteria (or wherever users are at)
- With so many trends, here is how you recognize a “good trend” — solves a known problem, users are asking for it, others know how to use it, it looks like fun. Don’t die or not move forward because of “risk aversion.” Libraries need to throw out the “culture of perfect” or “culture of deferral” and just try it. Like gamers, we need to try it, make a mistake, learn from it, and go back to do it again.
- Trends driving the global economy: “wisdom of crowds”, unlimited video, personalization, being “green”, instant buying, all-access economy. Promote these ideas in your library.
Blogs: talk about what is new, programs and materials, new resources, conference reports. Blogs are a way to easily deliver content to users, promote e-journal access and resources, and create conversations.
Podcasting: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ and http://www.garageband.com/podcast. Great example of use at http://www.kankakee.lib.il.us/.
RSS: Really Simple Syndication, aggregators. Google Reader, Net Vibes, Bloglines, Blogbridge
Wikis: PBWiki offers a “Presenter Pack” with T-shirts and gold memberships for free!
IM: http://wwwl.meebo.com/ lets you access IM anywhere for free.
Flickr: Capture events, buildings, speakers, etc. Make the library “human.” Create a useful profile page for your library. Tell stories. Show new books with a note tag linked to the catalog. Show the “Day in the Life” of a book.
Social Networking: When/if you use it: meet the mission and convey the mission.
Second Life: Teen Second Life featured in School Library Journal “Meet the New You”
A great article from Library Media Connection: Your Library Goes Virtual - Promoting Reading and Supporting Research by Audrey Church In case the link goes away, here’s what a school library website should include:
- Online catalog
- Links to author websites
- E-books
- Online games based on books
- Reading lists
- Computerized reading programs test lists
- Book recommendations
- Book blogs
- PR concerning reading events
- NoveList or What Should I Read Next
- Subscription databases
- Curriculum-related websites
- Pathfinders
- Information literacy skills tools
- Search tools
- Critical evaluation of websites
- Research process guidelines
- Citation guidelines
- Connections to other libraries
- Virtual reference service
