Thing 22 - e-Media Audiobooks & eBooks

I have in the past, successfully downloaded several Audiobooks from my Itunes account on my home computer. However, when I tried downloading a couple of Audiobooks from the library eMedia I kept running into the message of a Security block for a security upgrade which is mentioned in the instructions on the library website. I was however unable to get around the message. I gave up and tried downloading an eBook for which I was successful. I used the Adobe program to read the item and particularly liked the fact that I could add comments and Markups to the eBook. I think this will be useful for someone like me who likes to write notes in the margins of pages.

Thing 21 --Podcasts

In the past I have downloaded and listened to many Podcasts but for this exercise I downloaded the RSS feed for a Podcast from the BBC radio. I totally love the podcast ideas. There are a tremendous amount of resources available as Podcasts.
I also downloaded a Podcast from ACRL of ALA regarding their special committe report “Establishing a Research Agenda for Scholarly Communication: A Call for Community Engagement”

Thing 20 - I Tube, You Tube

I chose the YouTube video titled Concept Mapping: How to Start Your Term Paper Research” as an example of how libraries can use videos in helping their customers.

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In general I found that the MetaCafe.com site to be much more conservative than You Tube which seems to be more socially oriented. As soon as I went to MetaCafe I found a few videos that I found interesting for various thngs I would be able to use in libraries. There were: Science experiments such as how to make a sundial, Origami How to make a Kawasaki Rose, and one on the Titanic sinking. The Titanic video caused me to realize that these types of sights might bring out some never before seen footage and photos to public viewing. I think the Libraries and Schools ought to embrace these new technologies as a way to further engage their customers.

Thing 19 - Web 2.0 Application Review

For my review of web 2.0 applications I chose the area of Lists & Polls because I am very much a personal list maker. I have lists of things to do today, Lists of things to buy when I go shopping, Chores that I have to do but not right now, Lists of people to call and touch base with, and even a list of the dates of important occurrences in my life. Similar to a timeline which I hope to use someday when I write a book about my experiences growing up on a lighthouse.
I looked at both 43 things and Listdump. I liked 43 Things better because it was more personal. You make up your own lists and other people can see your list and copy items from your list to theirs or they can comment on things in your lists but they don’t contribute to your list directly. Listdump is more like a group list. Anyone can edit the lists.

Thing 18 - Collaboration

For this Thing, I looked at all three applications (Google Docs Writeboard and ThinkFree) although I only signed up for Google Docs which I found to be a very useful tool for those times when multiple people must collaborate and share a document. I wish this were available for those times in Library school when I had to work on Group Projects. It would have made things a lot easier. I also like the idea that you can access the documents from any PC which has Internet Access. My concern in these and any other application where you are relying on the Internet for saving material is how to insure the permanent retention of your information. Suppose for example the company whose web site you are using decides to go out of business or not support the particular application. What do you do?

Thing 17 1/2 - Facebook

I like Facebook better than MySpace for networking because of the ability to search for people in various groups and linkup to them. However, It seems that this is also a negative because of the fact that everyone can see exactly what you’re doing on Facebook. Security seems to be a very real concern.

Things 16 & 17 -- Wiki's

Thing 16 – Wikis
Wikis are great. In addition to Wikipedia which I use on a regular basis, I looked at the Library Success Best Practices Wiki and The St Josephs County Public Library use of a Wiki to present Subject guides. Both are very interesting. I think the subject guides are an area where all libraries can probably use Wiki’s.


Thing 17 – Wiki Update
For thing 17 I chose to update an entry on Wikipedia. If you look up Coney Island Light in Wikipedia you’ll see an article about a lighthouse in Brooklyn, NY. I grew up at this lighthouse I was able to edit this article adding information about my dad Frank Schubert who was the last resident keeper of the light. “The most recent resident keeper was Frank Schubert (1915 - 2003). Frank was the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States. He worked for the United States Coast Guard since 1939, serving at Coney Island since 1960.” It is interesting and easy to be able to add information to an online encyclopedia.