#15 Read a few perspectives on Web 2.0, Library 2.0 & the future of libraries

After viewing the video "The Machine is Us/ing us" I realized how the internet is changing our lives amazingly fast. A few years ago I took HTML classes to learn how to make a website. I learned to code sites by hand. Later I learned how to use Dreamweaver to create a site. Wow, how much easier it was to use a computer program to create a website. Viewing the video just makes my mind spin. How far everything as progressed and how quickly. This is a technology that changes daily, people have amazingly innovative ideas on how to make the use of the internet easier for everyone. There is so much to learn and keeping up seems almost impossible. The newletter describing how the library will need to change in order to adequately provide the public access to the overwhelming quantity of information available in today's world was something that I had never really thought about. Our launching of the new Aquabrowser is a step in providing access to a variety of information sources that is easier for our patrons to maneuver through. This is a step moving toward providing better service to our customers and to keep up with changes in available technology. I can't even imagine the changes that will be coming down the pike to keep us on the cutting edge. When you look at the library system when we were children in the 60's and what it has evolved into today, what will it be like in 50 more years, can we even begine to understand? This is not just the future of the library system, but the world in general. The internet has changed our lives greatly, information is at our fingertips. How we choose to use it will make the difference.

#14 Discover Technorati and learn how tags work with blogs

Let's give this a test. I have signed up at Technorati.com. This post will be tagged and let's see if it works. Well, it did not work. I tried to claim my blog a number of times and got the following page: "Doh! The Technorati Monster escaped again. We're scouring the blogosphere attempting to find it. Back in a flash!" but
it never comes back. I'll try again tomorrow.

#13 Tagging and Discover Del.icio.us

Today I learned about Del.icio.us. I viewed the Otter Group video about the site. I can see that there can be many uses for this service. For research, it would be an awesome tool. The use of tags certainly makes information more accessible to those searching for specific topics. I did not create my own account, but viewed the information collected by PLCMCL2 on many topics.

#12 Roll your own search tool with Rollyo

Today I created my own search tool. There are many times that I need to search Harford County websites for information on employment, housing, community services, etc. I tried to incorporated many sites with government, community service, and business information that could help when finding information for patrons. I'm sure I will need to tweek it as I use it, but it may become a useful resource for searching our local county for information. I added my search tool to my blog.

Select...Harford CountySearch The Web

#11 Take a look at Library Thing and catalog some of your favorite books

I opened an account at Library Things and have started using it. I really think I could use this. It gives a great way to keep track of the books that I have read. I'll try to be diligent in keeping the list up to date.