Last, but not least!

I learned so much exploring the many different web technologies that are definitely changing the way we search, share and use information online. It was fun to set up this blog, something I have wanted to do, but was afraid to try. I also wanted to find a way to organize and share my photos, Flickr was my answer! I enjoyed (and worked through some frustration) setting up and adding relevant content to my wiki. I know I will use this knowledge when I am a librarian someday and in the meantime as a classroom teacher. I look forward to sharing my new knowledge with others. I gained a lot of confidence while exploring and “playing” with the technologies. I feel more ready to be a part of and even enjoy using modern technology! While this assignment took lots of time and effort, it was well worth it!

Tag Cloud

Podcasts

I chose to search on epnweb.com under the subject: Information Skills. That led me to OPAL- Online programming for All Libraries. Here you will find many interesting and informative podcasts.

http://www.opal-online.org/Filbert20100126/Filbert20100126.mp3

This was a very interesting podcast called, “Filbert, monthly informal round table discussion on the future of libraries, books and reading” (January 26, 2010).

There were several discussion points. First he talked about the Apple announcement of the i-pad (which was coming the very next day, Jan 27, 2010)and how that might change the newspaper industry. There was some speculation that Apple might try to re-shape the newspaper industry similar to how they re-shaped the music industry with digital downloads. How much emphasis will be put on book length reading using the i-pad?

Next he talked about the e-book sales during Christmas. Evidently, on Christmas day, kindle books out sold printed books on Amazon. (Of course they were offering free downloads that day.) Kindle was definitely a hot item this Christmas, but e-book sales have a long way to go to catch up to printed books. Audio book sales are going better than e-book sales.

The annual CES (Consumer Electronic Show) trade show was held in Las Vegas in January. The device market just keeps getting bigger. There were lots of reading devices shown and some patterns are emerging. Most devices have some kind of embedded web browser and many have two screen capability. E-reading devices have embedded dictionaries, highlighting text, improved screen design and longer battery life, to name a few of the improvements. Device development is growing and it’s exciting to see.

Filbert’s last discussion point was about the recently published Kaizer Family Report. In that report, it was noted that tweens and teens use media on average of 7.5 hours per day. (This report used about 3,000 young people in their sample.) The report also said the “better” students use media less often. Interestingly, it also stated that race and ethnicity made a difference. Black and Hispanic use media 3 more hours per day than the 7.5 hour average. Libraries need to get and use more portable devices especially as we try to serve “mobile” users. Being a friend means something different now than in past years. Tweens and teens consider 50% of their friends-people they have never met. The information need of so many is now “on-the-go-need to know”! Library services need to be “mobile optimized” As devices get more powerful, multi-functional and more users use them, we can see uses for more mobile based library services.

What commitment, to a better future in Columbia!

This is an awesome video about a man's lifelong commitment to be useful to the community he belongs to in Columbia. Most areas in Columbia do not have access to libraries. He travels to villages carrying 120 books on a donkey for the joy and benefit of the kids in those villages. He reads to them and helps them with their homework. He is helping to build Columbia's future. This video inspires me!

Chirp, Chirp Twitter

Twitter is another great way to stay in touch with people. I found joining and adding a gadget for twitter was pretty painless. I like the 140 character limit when sending a "tweet". That way the message can be a short and "sweet tweet". Twitter would definitely be useful as a school librarian. I could send out short messages about events and new resources. I could also twitter with other school librarians. We could ask each other questions, share links and successes. Twitter could also be used to post technology tips or share a new found website or blog. I found the twellow directory very helpful when looking for librarians who twitter. The 200 pages of results was a bit daunting, but I found several librarians to follow including Utah State Library (USL_Library) who use twitter for training Utah Librarians in social media. They claim to follow the most brilliant minds in the library world. Let's follow them too! (My husband wondered if one would be called a "twit" if they used twitter. I said a person should be called a "twit" if they didn't use twitter-maybe now he'll join too)

RSS, Newsreaders and finding GOOD BLOGS!

Another good day exploring! Today I learned about RSS (Really Simple Syndication). Now I know what that little orange icon stands for on many of the blogs I follow. With a simple click of that icon I can keep track of web pages and blogs by subscribing to them. Bloglines was easy to understand and set up. Now I subscribe to the blogs I am most interested in and they feed to Bloglines. I also added googlenews-library by clicking on the RSS icon which simply added the newsfeed to my Blogline account. Flickr was added as a photo feed to my Blogline account as well. Then it was time to find some really good blogs! I went to the blog search engine, "technorati" and searched under the key word library. This resulted in 2801 blogs. A few to many to browse through, so I looked for the higher authority numbers and found "i Librarian" (authority #656). This is a great blog about news and resources on Library 2.0 and the information revolution. I plan to follow "I Librarian" because it will help keep me up-to-date on the latest information and technology I want for my library. Next I went to "Bloglines" to find more good blogs and I liked the search options they offered. I could search anywhere, only my feeds, or excluding my feeds. When I typed in the keyword library, I received 3,800,000 posts, too many! I went to edit query and searched: school librarian with 35,600 posts. I went back to edit query and searched: school librarian elementary best, which narrowed results to 1,190. I did RSS feed for "Classroom 2.0 Live". This blog has a wonderful archive and resource area I plan to follow. It was fun to look at the "100 Best Blogs" list. I found "wired librarian" which listed the 2009 Edublog Awards and listed each blog that won and the features on their blog that won them an award. Each year 10 blogs are chosen based on certain criteria such as; best individual bog, best class blog, best resources sharing blog and best educational wiki to name a few. "WebTool4u2use" won the best educational wiki. This is an excellent blog you'll want to follow! It was fun to visit these blogs and mark "Wired Librarian" so I can follow and find out what blogs will win the 2010 Edublog Awards. This blog also listed the past winners, so you can visit those blogs too. By following good blogs, I can keep up better on the latest and greatest!

Library 2.0

Hip Hip Hooray! I couldn’t agree more with Christopher Harris, in his article, “Say Good-bye to Your Mother’s School Library” (School Library Journal, 5/1/2006) about Library 2.0. He refers to this as, “the digitally re-shifted school library”. School libraries need make changes as we join the digital revolution where “powerful new ideas are enhancing the way in which we function in an electronic information environment.”,says Mr. Harris. He further stated, “librarians, while still based in the media center, will interact more directly with students as well as their teacher peers in new spaces.” I also agree with his statement, “Digitally re-shifting your school library is about harnessing the power of new ideas like Web 2.0 to help fulfill the mission of school libraries.” We need to be blogging, postcasting, screen casting, social bookmarking and using other digital means to teach and communicate with students and teachers. We should take advantage of new ideas, like Library 2.0, as we try to keep up with the ever changing technology and engage in the digital revolution. Our students deserve every opportunity to find success using the power of information as we develop 21st century learners.