Wikis, Lesson 16A

As recommended I took a look at some of the WebTools4u2use. Saw some neat ideas, but my favorite is still one I want to try on my own library's website: Serve as an electronic handout for classes and workshops (no repeating those dreaded long RLs). That idea is just too rich; I know I can make it work. All I need is a little time to put it together--maybe during the Book Fair next week I can work on it. I'm not sure if our SchoolWires programming has a wiki tool; I may have to set up a PBWiki account to make it happen. But at least now I know where I can find free wiki tools.

I'm also thinking of a wiki for our Historical Society webpage--a wiki for writing our local history. Few of our senior Senior Citizens would be able to add to the wiki, but many of us younger Senior Citizens are gaining some fancy computer skills. It won't be long before "we" will be comfortable enough with Web 2.o tools to be able to maintain a wiki on the history of our area. I have to remember to divide it up into categories like Lumbering, Mining, Retail, Religions, Schools, etc. It's one way to give everyone in the community a chance to add to our combined history. What an exciting concept!

Wikis (Lesson #16)

This afternoon I investigated a few wiki sites.  I found Library Success to be a wonderful treasure trove of information for librarians.  I clicked around many of the topics, then found wikis embedded in wikis.  (I actually lost my way a few times and had to go back to the beginning to figure out where I was.)  If I was a new librarian I would probably be checking that particular wiki regularly, like some kind of librarian's bible!  Since I'm closer to retirement, I need encouragement to do some tasks I don't do as often as I should; one post recommended weeding 15 minutes each day just to keep the collection fresh and keep the librarian conscious of the collection's strengths and flaws.  Not a bad idea.....

I also looked at Sample School wiki.  There I found an idea for a class assignment wiki for an AP class that was so good that I immediately emailed the page to the teachers in my school's history and English departments.

I occasionally use Wikipedia when I need some basic background information on particularly unusual topics, but I caution students about using it.  This particular Web 2.0 assignment helped me see the value of wikis in a library setting.  Fortunately, I don't have to "invent" a wiki for favorite books in my library; we have Follett's Destiny which now gives patrons the opportunity to write reviews for books.  But I'm willing to bet that as I let this wiki concept roll around in the juices of my brain I'll decide to add a wiki to my teacher page or my school library webpage.  Anything that gives kids (and staff!) a sense of ownership in their school library is something to give a try.

Web 2.0: The future of libraries

   When I started reading the recommended articles from OCLC, I immediately thought that the future they were discussing is already here.  (The articles were originally written in 2006--practically a generation ago as we tell techno time now!)  The refinements mentioned for the future WorldCat are already available:  The links with Amazon, the proximity indicators for local holding libraries, etc.  My own library uses Follett's Destiny with its social functions like submitting book reviews.  My library's webpage has links to the ebooks I've purchased and the newspaper database to which we subscribe.  I have tutorials on how to use the Power Library databases on my library's webpage, and I've created my own tutorial on the slick features of Destiny.   

   But the articles gave me something to chew on.  One of the authors mentioned the concepts of super librarians, and of collecting librarians with specialized research skills for each type of research a patron would do.  I like that!  Librarians as a kind of research coaches.  Huh.

   The expert who discussed the "icebergs" gave me some concepts to consider.  I especially stopped at the "just in case" collection.  I'm old enough that I still do this, particularly when I'm weeding:  I shouldn't get rid of that history book from the 1950's.  Up to that point the info was valid.  I may need it just in case.....  And so the old book with the dull cover sits on the shelf and makes all the other books on the shelf look less appealing.  Not good for the 21st century student patron.

   I'm glad I'm doing this exercise.  With each topic I'm a little less Librarian 1.0 and a little more Librarian 2.0.   

   

Technorati

   I've looked at Technorati, but didn't immediately get the jist of it.  Then I went back and took the time to view the video done by Technorati on its own webpage improvements.  Ahh, that helped!  I now get the idea that sites like Technorati don't index every word of a blog; their webcrawlers search the blog tags.  So, if I want this blog I'm writing to be seen, I first need to use tags on each message.  Claiming the blog would give it more exposure (I don't think I'm ready for that yet).

   Again, by looking around at what others are blogging about I'm getting more familiar with the "why" of these tools.  I handle our local historical society's webpage; I just may have to begin a blog there to increase readership of the page.  I wonder if that would actually help? 

Delicious

This has been a frustrating day. Due to the bad weather, we had the day off school. Bummer. Since November we've had too many bad weather days. When we finally get a full week of school in it'll be exhausting!
Anyway, I thought I could spend a large chunk of the day working on my Web 2.0 steps. Not so. The internet actually went down because of all the downed power lines. And this evening my husband is downstairs doing the dishes to free me up to work on my Web 2.0. But, again, I'm having trouble staying connected.
I actually did get to take a quick look at Delicious. I've been meaning to set up an account for myself because I feel lost without my bookmarks/favorites when I move from computer to computer.
Now I see that Delicious isn't just for my bookmarks. It's another search engine that helps to locate sites that others find impressive/useful/fun/knowledgable. I can see me using this to locate websites for our students on their many assignment topics. I can see me using Delicious for myself.
Right now I'd just like to play with it some more, but it doesn't look like that's going to happen tonight.....

Rollyo

I've played a bit with some of the Rollyo search engines, particularly the Public Domain eBooks Search. Found some cool stuff. I have an interest in depression-era pulp fiction, like Charlie Chan books, which are very difficult to find these days. Using the Public Domain search, I even found dime novels to read. (I've often wondered what made them so hot, besides the fact that they were cheap reading for the masses.) Later, when I have more time, I'll have to go back and read some of the stories.
Then I tried making my own search engine. That was interesting. I'm not sure I did it right, because I don't think the searches I ran located what I expected, but it was interesting. And I did find some terrific websites that I hadn't seen before. Again, later, when I have more time, I'll have to go back and try creating a specialized search engine again. Surely I can create a search engine for an assignment required by our students. I'm just going to keep this Rollyo concept in the back of my mind until it fits with a group of our young researchers.

Ning

What kind of a word is "ning"?!? Enquiring minds want to know!
I joined a ning today, the Teacher-Librarian Ning. I also took a little time to browse around the site, and read a few articles posted there. I like the idea that experts are not the only ones who now contribute to my arsenal of tools to use in my job; other professionals much like me now have a way of sharing all that valuable information we've accumulated over our many years as professionals.
Now I have to remember to check in regularly to this ning. Oh, no, not another daily task!!

Web 2.0 Award Winners

For the last couple days I've been looking at some of the Web 2.0's best sites. Can't say I agree in all cases, but I have found some wonderful sites, and shared sites with my friends. Today I looked at BBC iPlayer, and was very disappointed that I could not play the videos. So, I tried the BBC web radio, but the shows I wanted to hear weren't broadcasting, and I couldn't open any of the archived broadcasts, either.
But then I went back to YouTube. I looked for videos on dulcimer players, and was rewarded with delightful videos of intermediate and expert level players showing how they create their musical magic. Such a treat! And a terrific learning experience.
I also explored some of the genealogy sites. I plan to share these sites with our genealogists at our city historical museum. I was pleased to see that My Heritage allows a free download of Family Tree Maker, the software used by our genealogists. Now our amateurs can begin to build their own family trees on some very sophistocated software.

Online Image Generator

So, today I played with online image generators. Most were easy to use, with lots of options. But I didn't feel terribly creative today, so I couldn't come up with anything witty for word balloons. This road sign maker did exactly what I wanted--a straightforward message, easily done, attractive presentation.
We all use road signs every day to point us in the direction we wish to go (or maybe the direction we should go.) I could see me using this road sign maker for other messages in the future.