LibraryThing...you make my heart sing! www. LibraryThing.com. I do love this tool. You do not have to be a librarian to be in on this. You can record books you have read, books you want to read, you can talk to other readers, give book reviews, read others reviews, chat with authors (too cool) and many other things all book lovers will agree are very useful and fun. For the aspiring librarian-ME!- you get to create, edit, and maintain your own virtual library. You can catalog and customize your list. You can talk to other librarians and bibliophiles about their library experiences, books, and events either locally or anywhere. It basically keeps you connected in all aspects of the library world.
I really love this because it allows you to freely explore, learn, and delve into books and authors at your own pace by just getting online. Is there any better way to stay connected? You get to exchange ideas, and research other libraries successful programs and events. You get a good, in-depth look into how other communities are perceiving books, authors, and different libraries.
This can work so well within a library. The librarians from different branches can share thoughts and exchange program ideas and events. They can also collaborate their forces to create one large event. It can be the tool they use to set up and explore potential book options, or large international projects.
This also is a fun and informative tool for students and bibliophiles. It is a library's version of a facebook network. It's constantly updated, people exchange and share thoughts at all times. Because people continually use LibraryThing it is automatically kept up to speed with what is going on in society.
LibraryThing should be, hands down, every librarian and bibliophile's favorite tool as of yet.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Some more on YouTube
Well...the perks about YouTube will certainly outweigh the cons. After quite a while of using this site- I am sure you have, too- there is a downside to such an available tool for the public to use. Anyone can post anything. People from around the globe can post their personal videos. Some make their own music videos: .
Others make their own warped but funny version of movie trailers: .
This is very much fun to serf. Again, have I mentioned that you can find anything on here? Typing in the title of one of my favorite movies "Dirty Dancing," the surfer can find movie clips, songs, and many different scenes from the movie. However, for the user that does not have experience with YouTube the options could be somewhat overwhelming. While typing in the movie title provides mostly links relating to the movie in some way, other videos do pop up that are related but just do not fit the bill: .
Now, while that was a very entertaining clip, I can imagine a user being slightly perplexed and potentially perceive YouTube as a unreliable, just for fun site. They may not use it as a tool to figure out how to find or site sources. Libraries would definitely benefit from using YouTube for tutorials on the how to's and faqs sections. As most advocates of YouTube view it as a form of entertainment before they go to it as helpful informative site, the library may need to think of successful ways to promote their tutorials on YouTube as reliable and educational.
Others make their own warped but funny version of movie trailers: .
This is very much fun to serf. Again, have I mentioned that you can find anything on here? Typing in the title of one of my favorite movies "Dirty Dancing," the surfer can find movie clips, songs, and many different scenes from the movie. However, for the user that does not have experience with YouTube the options could be somewhat overwhelming. While typing in the movie title provides mostly links relating to the movie in some way, other videos do pop up that are related but just do not fit the bill: .
Now, while that was a very entertaining clip, I can imagine a user being slightly perplexed and potentially perceive YouTube as a unreliable, just for fun site. They may not use it as a tool to figure out how to find or site sources. Libraries would definitely benefit from using YouTube for tutorials on the how to's and faqs sections. As most advocates of YouTube view it as a form of entertainment before they go to it as helpful informative site, the library may need to think of successful ways to promote their tutorials on YouTube as reliable and educational.
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Thank you YouTube!
Hilarious! Please watch this first at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_uzUh1VT98 . I found this by just typing in libraries in the search.
Are we not trying to attract people into the library? Well, what better way than staying hip and current in all aspects of the media. As you already saw, the students and faculty of the University of Washington's Information School used Lady Gaga's song "Poker Face" as inspiration to promote their library. In the video, they change Gaga's lyrics into lyrics that invite and describe what happens at the library. It is clearly lighthearted and not meant to be taken seriously-it's not meant to make fun of libraries and librarians either. It is meant to invite and encourage patrons to utilize both the library and librarians. After all, isn't the library supposed to be up to date on what is going on in society and culture? Lady Gaga is a popular new artist-what a great way to reach out to the community through popular idols! The video also sends the message that-Hey! Librarians are cool! They are with it! They know what's going on! What a fantastic way to shoot down the pesky stereotypes about librarians being bookworms that spend their time shushing loud kids all day.
Youtube is truly a remarkable networking tool. It has everything...no really it has everything. It has episode clips, music videos, movie trailers, book trailers, some full episodes, funny spoofs, tutorials on different programs and much more. Did you miss an American Idol audition that you heard was hilarious? Look it up on YouTube! I mean really if you have something in mind, chances are if you can find it on Google, you can find it on YouTube. People use it as a communication tool. They share videos on all different things. It is available to the public. People can access it everywhere and can comment on all videos. This tool connects society and allows people internationally to share information about anything and everything. Best of all no membership is required (if you want to be a subscriber you can). Anyone and everyone can use it very easily. Type in what you are looking for in the search and you will find a list of links taking you to where you want to go.
Through this program you can do more than just make fun videos. Librarians can use it to show patrons how to use a certain database. They can upload a video on how to properly find reference sources. I found this very detailed video on finding article references on the University of Glasgow library page, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRnJuBjz5Rg&feature=related . This tool can be used to reach that group (probably the group we ourselves are in) ...you know the Googlers of the world. In the library, YouTube would be a great program to use for not only the Googlers, but the shy students and patrons who are using the library as well--they exist. I have been that shy person before, intimidated by the very intelligent people behind the reference desk. I mean sometimes I feel self-conscious about my questions. I think to myself...should I know the answer? And ultimately I will end up not asking the librarian for guidance. What if the faq's of a library website posted such tutorials on YouTube for the shy patron? Or the non-English speaking patron? What about those avid Internet users that are online after hours? This would be a great way for the library to be available to all anytime anywhere-this is after all our mission.
Are we not trying to attract people into the library? Well, what better way than staying hip and current in all aspects of the media. As you already saw, the students and faculty of the University of Washington's Information School used Lady Gaga's song "Poker Face" as inspiration to promote their library. In the video, they change Gaga's lyrics into lyrics that invite and describe what happens at the library. It is clearly lighthearted and not meant to be taken seriously-it's not meant to make fun of libraries and librarians either. It is meant to invite and encourage patrons to utilize both the library and librarians. After all, isn't the library supposed to be up to date on what is going on in society and culture? Lady Gaga is a popular new artist-what a great way to reach out to the community through popular idols! The video also sends the message that-Hey! Librarians are cool! They are with it! They know what's going on! What a fantastic way to shoot down the pesky stereotypes about librarians being bookworms that spend their time shushing loud kids all day.
Youtube is truly a remarkable networking tool. It has everything...no really it has everything. It has episode clips, music videos, movie trailers, book trailers, some full episodes, funny spoofs, tutorials on different programs and much more. Did you miss an American Idol audition that you heard was hilarious? Look it up on YouTube! I mean really if you have something in mind, chances are if you can find it on Google, you can find it on YouTube. People use it as a communication tool. They share videos on all different things. It is available to the public. People can access it everywhere and can comment on all videos. This tool connects society and allows people internationally to share information about anything and everything. Best of all no membership is required (if you want to be a subscriber you can). Anyone and everyone can use it very easily. Type in what you are looking for in the search and you will find a list of links taking you to where you want to go.
Through this program you can do more than just make fun videos. Librarians can use it to show patrons how to use a certain database. They can upload a video on how to properly find reference sources. I found this very detailed video on finding article references on the University of Glasgow library page, http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xRnJuBjz5Rg&feature=related . This tool can be used to reach that group (probably the group we ourselves are in) ...you know the Googlers of the world. In the library, YouTube would be a great program to use for not only the Googlers, but the shy students and patrons who are using the library as well--they exist. I have been that shy person before, intimidated by the very intelligent people behind the reference desk. I mean sometimes I feel self-conscious about my questions. I think to myself...should I know the answer? And ultimately I will end up not asking the librarian for guidance. What if the faq's of a library website posted such tutorials on YouTube for the shy patron? Or the non-English speaking patron? What about those avid Internet users that are online after hours? This would be a great way for the library to be available to all anytime anywhere-this is after all our mission.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Hello!
I would like to say hi and thanks for joining me on my journey through the 23 things activity.
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