Thing 23: The End

23 Things has been so much fun! I have enjoyed having a learning program that I can pick up during slow times, learn new things and review some old ones.

 

Highlights:

• How many things I have done or played with in the past...that now connect to work
• How creativity and do-it-yourself is so crucial. Things that were hard to do 5 years ago (create your own online survey and combile the results) are now straighforward. (I was very impressed by Google's survey maker! 
• Mobile devices/multiple portals are crucial, and going to to get even more important. Get ready.
• Social web/reposting/electronic gossip is everywhere! Twitter and Facebook are full of reposted content....discovery comes to me on my desktop, not over the water cooler.
• The cloud is taking over from proprietary/desktop software. Will that change the focus on the web too? (IBM to Microsoft to Google to...Facebook???)
• How much is the library already doing...and what coming next?

I will be looking for my next set of 23 Things to learn!

Thing 22: Podcasts

Admittedly, I am not a huge listener. I listen in the car or when exercising, and that is it. I use Pandora or (GASP) terrestrial radio for most of my listening needs. BUT...

I do get my workout music through podcasts. I subscribe to Podrunner and Podrunner Intervals, which are free AND have a Couch to 5k running/training plan. Podrunner updates with new music weekly, so I do not have to listen to the same tunes while training (so boring!) I also have used Deekron the Fitness DJ, but he is starting to charge for his mixes (good for him!) so I have not been subscribing. Some podcasts include video; imagine working out with your yoga instructor wherever you are!

I love the way I can subscribe with iTunes and get music automatically, like RSS feeds. If I were a news junkie I would subscribe to my favorite programs and play then whenever, wherever.

I have created podcasts for the library (we did booktalks for our literature circles) but found them not to be popular. Either that was an issue with promotion or student interest. I used Audacity and it was straightforward.

As the world becomes more mobile (and our mobile devices become our default computers) podcasts and other multi-device information will become essential. People want their information when and how they want it; podcasts can accommodate that. Libraries need to accomodate that too.

Thing 20: Tagging and Social Bookmarking.

Delicious!

JTCC's new library site is going to use delicious.com for its links and bookmarking. Rather than having a HUGE list of (partially outdated) links that need to be checked often, we moved all of our recommended sites to Delicious. This keeps them dynamic and simple to update; it can all be done remotely and is viewable on a mobile device.

Delicious could be used to create bookmarks for a class, or a section. A librarian could tag those with the class number, making them easy to find for students. I am wondering if students can run with this, tagging and commenting on ones they like best...or recommending them through other social media.

Possibilities!

Thing 19: Multimedia

What to get the literary girl on your xmas list...Bronte Sisters Action Figures!

JTCC has been promoting the college with video...and encouraging staff and students to contribute their own contnet. I use video on the library blog, and these are the posts which get the most readers and comments. Great way to reach students!

The plan for the future is to create some how-to videos, like those at other academic libraries. (The Study Like a Scholar, Scholar is a real favorite. Inspiration!)

YouTube's related videos section is very helpful; I have discovered multiple helpful videos through it. I also use the Related Items method to add book suggestions to the videos used on the library blog...as in, :Liked the video? Check out these related book and online sources."

Video is here to stay.

Thing 11: URL Shorteners

Short URLs make links accessible on Twitter and through mobile devices. As the web becomes more mobile, simple short links are going to be more crucial--small screens, character limits, and tiny keyboards demand it.

I have used Bit.ly and TinyURL.com with success.

Thing 6: Chat

JTCC has been using LRC Live, and we are accusomed to talking to students in chat. I earned my MLIS through distance education, and weekly 2 hour chats were built into every class. Like all communication, chat has good and bad elements:

• Confusion. Like many online interactions, the visual social cues are missing.Without seeing someone, what are they really saying? Easy to misconstrue meanings.
• Typing. With chat you need to type fast (or know good abbreviations.)
• Interruptions. Sometimes I am working and do not want to chat--it breaks my concentration. Or I need to get something done and do not want to socialize.
• Frustration. Computer not fast enough for chat sometimes

What's next...with the mobile web? Are we going to make a switch to texting? I find texting very handy, often more convenient than a phone call. It is less of an interruption, and can be faster (heres the address) or slower (too many details.) Right tool for the right job!

Thing 2: Getting Started / Web 2.0 Concepts

Web 2.0 is here and going to stay. Bloggers are interviewed with print journalists; television is watched less and less (and the average watcher's age is going UP.) College students have to answer the question "Do I friend my mom on Facebook?" Movie stars use Twitter to keep in touch with their fans. People use their smartphones not just for texting but for research, for GPS, for....everything.

When does Web 2.0 become Web 3.0?