Week 13 - #20 Here's Looking at You(Tube) Kid

A scene from "Casablanca" is my chosen YouTube download. This is a wonderful film and I never tire of watching it. Another reason why it was chosen was because back in 1992, a friend of mine who worked at Apple showed me a short film clip on his computer from "Casablanca". This was the first time ever I had seen anything like this at all displayed on a computer. This was still the era of "dummy" computers mind you. Though the clip was small in size on the screen the preview was embedded in my memory. I was fortunate as a sample of what the future in computer technology would bring.

Of all the gin joints in all the world...I so love You Tube. Browse and look for clips pertaining to events in recent filmed history, old commercials, film clips, videos you saw on MTV, etc. I am one who enjoys looking for various topics to see if it has been posted to YouTube. It is surprising how many clips are transferred from home video tapes and are archived. Reminisce watching Jim McKay at the Olympics or Miss Monroe singing happy birthday to President Kennedy. Recently, I watched home movies of a group of Santa Cruzans who did knee-boarding during the 1960's. It was great watching. Many people download from their cell phone cameras so we get personal views of incidents like for instance the fires in southern from October (see my blog on Malibu fires).

Week 11 - #19

Pandora - found at http://www.pandora.com/- is a personal disc jockey tool. By selecting a type of music or artist, Pandora will then select artists that match or are similar to your original choice. This is a fun way to learn about musicians and music you are not familiar with. Also, you can select from the choices and save for future listening. As a listener of music, I am always open to discover new artists and music I have never heard of and appreciate the ability to broaden my music-listening horizons.

For a library environment, this would serve a helpful learning tool for a selection librarian who orders music. The librarian can use Pandora to learn about music the community requests/borrows at the library that they themselves may be unfamiliar with. It can be a learning tool for students to discover all types of music and may encourage them to learn more about the subject.

Week 11 - #18 web-based applications & Zoho

I like the idea that people can do so much more with the Internet. Zoho and Google Doc are just two examples of online applications compatibile with any PC. People can become like "Computer gypsies". Accessing their documents saved on Zoho or any online documant application from an Internet Cafe in Paris, France to their local library Internet computer. This may be the answer to people who do not want to invest in a computer but still want the ability to use one. All you need is your username, password, jump drive (optional) and there you are. It enables the user's ability to create, collect, and share information online.

Weeks 9& 10 Wiki: a community meeting place

Three of the sites I would like to talk about for exercise #16: Booklover's wiki, the Bull Run Library wiki and SJCPL Subject Guide. One major observation each site had in common was incorporating their library services and resources and had recommended outside links. Each wiki highlighted their collection and provided a link to the online catalog, provided a discussion tab for wiki users, displayed link to reference assistance,displayed recommended titles in the collection and listed new items. I did find some areas that did not appear to be updated for a year which I found to be a concern.

Bull Run was informative but I found their layout with bullets a bit too much when browsing. Simplify is the key word for browsing in my opinion. Booklovers Wiki contained titles by subject complete with a critque. They offered outside links on books and reading.

The wiki is a great way to connect the library with its users. I like the idea of critiquing book titles that are in the collection. This is a way for the community to share their ideas and offering a chat site can bring people together. An online chat group is another way for the community to work with its local library. I think book reviews by the younger crowd entices the young reader to express themselves through what they have read. They could even do a personal favorites list for public viewing.

The downside of wiki is that in order for it to be successful for the library community, the librarian(s) must understand that monitoring is a key rule. I noticed some of the wiki sites had not been update for quite some time and that I consider a turn-off for a browser. To me it shows the wiki page has either been abandoned and is not in use or that it is a page that is not popular thus not worth using. Updating and monitoring is what makes the library wiki useful and popular. It must be monitored by the library so to keep the friendly atmosphere and eliminate any inappropriate contributions(if any. This must be considered when building a library wiki to ensure a safe, online community meeting place for all. If you do not have the time to commit to creating and being a co-collaborator, then it is not the right tool for you.