Thing 16: wiki wiki

Wikis are cool. You know how I know that? 'Cause Literacy already has one! Really! It's here: http://adult-literacy.wikispaces.com. We try to keep it updated, and ideally, it would be a wonderful resource for both tutors and students. However, I think we have trouble getting people to actually go there and contribute. I'm not sure what the solution to that issue is, because as it stands, right now there's very little collaboration going on, we just make sure to get events and announcements up there. Anyone have any ideas for this? I myself have used a lot of wikis, and have been forced to do some for library school. Different wiki editors/farms have good and bad qualities. Sometimes wikispaces really frustrates me, but you have to take that when you know it's designed for people like me who have no clue about HTML.

I like the idea in general, but having someone moderate is ideal. I'm amazed at Wikipedia, but also know how easy it is to get false (but sometimes really funny) information in there. So, to sum up: wiki = good, but only if you get people to participate!

Library 2.0-ness

Library 2.0 is an intriguing concept, one that I feel is hashed and re-hashed to death among library bloggers and the like, and bandied about in library school. It is the hip thing, the cool way to approach library services, and if you're not on the train, you'll be left in the dust. If I sound bitter, well, it's the way I sound most of the time. (Try reading Annoyed Librarian at Library Journal - she names these Library 2.0 folks 'two-point-opians'). While reading the assorted clips from OCLC on the topic, I can go along with a lot of the innovations. I have no problem with user-centered-ness, and agree that our catalogs could be a great deal more functional. I'm just futilely holding on to the library as I used to know it - I long for card catalogs and cavernous rooms full of actual books made of paper. The futurist they interviewed - when she delved into the idea of Library 3D and 4.0, my brain just shut off.

I'm also not into change for change's sake. Not all of these concepts translate perfectly to every patron or location and I think in the spirit of user-centered-ness, we should be aware of that. Not everyone will be onboard with these changes, and the library world should be patient and let change, useful change, come when it may. Maybe I just have an inferiority complex, and think I'm not cool enough for Library 2.0. I'll let that be up for debate. I'll get there, folks, it just may take some time. :)

Thing 14: Technorati

So I browsed through Technorati's most popular blogs and I have to say, only one blog that that I read on a daily basis made the cut (yay, locats!). I was, however, excited to see Mythbusters on there (show of awesomeness), but I really hadn't heard of most of the others. I think this is because they are primarily geared towards tech-type people, and I am certainly not one. This doesn't mean I didn't find anything worthwhile; Lifehacker looks extremely useful. There's a lot of great info there, not just on techie stuff but how to buy a mattress, or what to save your money on, etc., and it's compiled in a very user-friendly and easy to deal with manner. Technorati, thank you, for helping me find even more blogs to waste my time (ahem, I mean, read) on.

Lucky #13: delicious!

I first used del.icio.us a couple years ago for a library school assignment, and I recently revisited my meager list of library blogs today. Pathetic. It occurred to me that I could really make the site useful by actually adding sites I go to ALL the time instead of for one assignment. So, done! I have used the social aspect of it perhaps once, namely, searching other people's lists for library blogs, but I have yet to really make my list useful for anyone else. Apparently, I'm determined to tag my sites in a way only I can appreciate or understand. Selfish? Maybe. Yeah, yeah, I'll go back and fix that. But only because it's Lent and guilt floats around me like a gray cloud.

Rollyo is awesome

Creating your own customized search engine is pretty darn fun and useful. I always have to cycle through my long list of bookmarks to find what I want - but not any more! I'm inspired to do another, non-work-related one; maybe I'll post that too. This ESL Resources roll will definitely save me some time.

My Rollyo ESL Resources Search Engine

Thing 11: Library Thing

I've been on Shelfari for a while now, but never tried LibraryThing until today. I can't quite tell which one is easier to work with; but all I know is that cataloging all my books would be an impossible project. If you add to that ones I've read but don't own (a majority of them) it would take a while. So I'm not really sold on the idea of having your own personal catalog online somewhere, though I'm all for sharing. That being said, here it is:

My LibraryThing

Thing 10: John Stamos is a miracle

Okay, I had no idea how many cool generators (image and what have you) were out there on the Interwebs. This 23 Things project has now become even more worthwhile, now that this site has come to my attention:

The Generator Blog

Amazing. So this little nugget is from Make your own genuine miracle. I think if I saw John Stamos on my pancake, it would make my day. Hopefully, this will make yours!

Link to original picture: http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/view?q=john+stamos&psc=G&filter=1#5279538582603565122