YouTube/other video sharing sites #20

I chose this video because of the cool, d-grade horror bit edited (badly) with the very hokey 60's song. I was already somewhat familiar with youtube before, to catch clips of band performances on late-night talk shows that I missed, and funnies. I can see how the library could use this to showcase past in or out-of-library programs/performances for patrons to experience examples of what each branch has to offer. Maybe even goofy staff videos for fun!

Intro to Zoho

It's great to know that there are other programs to use (for free, too!) for creating documents that are translatable anywhere.  This is yet another reason to get a MAC computer and get off of the Microsoft-monopoly train!!

social networking #18

I'm going to sound like a party-pooper here, but I can safely say that I won't ever be using any social networking sites. I looked at the ones listed, and none of them stood-out to me. I thought maybe the Threadless site would be fun because of the t-shirt designs, but no, nothing. Besides, everything I write sounds stupid and I don't trust the security of the internet. I really don't want to be on the "blacklist" at any point for any reason, either.

I don't have the desire to "social network". I feel the fun thing about interacting socially with others is actually doing physical things with them, like going to the movies, dancing, bike riding (the bicycle-type), social drinking, going to dinner parties, or parties in general, catching live bands at small venues, etc. I feel like I would only get a flat sense of what the people out there are like, whereas in person I'd have a better sense right away about the whole person, and that can save a lot of time, energy, and regret. I'm not afraid of taking risks in this way. I'm much stronger and wiser because of it, and for that I have no regrets.

technology #17

Technology...it's helpful for many tasks, not so for others. I've only used computer-related technology since my 1st semester in college, and I can't say that I'm a natural. I remember back when pc's were first introduced, and how everyone said that they would cut-back on paper usage. So far I haven't seen much evidence of that.

I LOVE music, and I thought the most brilliant invention for recording/listening to music ever was the minidisc player. I think it's now extinct, but it plugged into ANY source to record and was tiny enough to carry anywhere. The minidiscs were also very tiny and cute. Plus, the discs were re-recordable for up to a million times before they would break down. MP3 players just aren't the same, and nowadays one has to pay for most of the music that's downloaded onto them. On the minidisc, the music's recorded for free because it's from whatever one has laying around. But hey, what do I know.

I've also heard just recently that the MAC computer is the best system to use for the creative types. Sorry Microsoft, I'll be using the MAC in the future.

wikis #16

Wikis look like another way to find/display information, but with text only instead of an html website. It seems easy enough for anyone with little tech knowledge to use. It's a 2-way street with the flexibility of editing: great to have the freedom to do it, but not sure if what's added is true/correct. I would hope that there are back-up editors that do fact-checking, and I'm not crazy about the idea of attracting spam.

I find it interesting that libraries use wikis. I was under the impression that librarians didn't approve of wikis, especially Wikipedia, because of the questionable content added by anyone. Since it seems to be ok with libraries, I can see where a wiki site that lists a library's branch information and community events would be useful. I think it would be helpful to have links to instructions on how to use the print card machine, the computer printer, the photocopy machine, and other areas where most of the repetitive questions are asked on a daily basis. Maybe even links to maps/addresses of places nearby to send faxes, make photocopies, find notaries, get tax help, etc.

library 2.0 & web 2.0 #15

Library 2.0 to me seems to mean that libraries around the world are updating their technology. Until all of this new technology is in place and being used on a regular basis, I won't be able to relate to much of it.

I like the sound of Library 4.0 the best, because I can relate best to physical reality and an actual space to find and process information. I think the description of chairs to lounge in and the brandy especially intrigued me. I also see the point that even when libraries achieve these new changes, their work will never be done because of the speed of updated technology.

I personally don't have a problem with the way libraries have existed for the past couple of centuries, in this country at least. I will have to see these changes take place in order to believe that they will be improvements. It's just my own opinion, but I feel like identity theft needs to be addressed and prevented before moving forward with technology. Maybe I'm an idiot, but I also feel that we, as a civilization, may have more basic needs in the near future other than the use of technology in libraries. I'm pretty sure that these changes won't come without resistance.

technorati #14

Advanced search of "Learning 2.0" brought up:
-Blog posts: 6,908 posts
-Tags: 668 posts
-Blog directory: 699 posts

There wasn't much difference that I could see, except in the amount of posts found. Searching the popular blogs was more interesting because I could go directly to blogs with subjects I was interested in. I located some art and music review blogs that could be useful. Basically, it just looks like another avenue to find blogs, unless I missed the point altogether.