Google Docs

I've used Google Docs before, usually as a backup for my Word files, and an easy way to access assignments at school. It's great for immediate collaboration and easy access. Normally I use my USB thumb drive to transfer documents between computers, but some computers don't like the drive or try to install programs when I insert it. Some computers don't have the programs I need.

This application is especially useful for library patrons who don't have computers or internet connection at home. They can work on their documents at any of our libraries without carrying around a disk or thumb drive. They won't have to worry about our firewalls and we won't have to worry about the potential viruses coming from their home computers.

Cool Tools

I can see how some of these activities will encourage interaction and learning new skills, but I really don't know where the sketchcast site comes into the process, even if it is interesting to watch the videos. Badges are fun, but I think most people can judge the reading level simply by looking at the posts.

Probably the most relevant tool for library staff is Yahoo Answers where we can really help people and let them know librarians are there to help. Next month, I will try be there to slam the boards.

Movie Reviews

Wikis

I like the idea of Wikis but the quality of each project depends on the skills and dedication of the editors. The more editors you get, the greater the chance of errors, bias, and disorganization.

Wikipedia is a good example of a well-controlled, active community with a consensus in mind. Sure, the occasional prankster or agenda-prone editor comes along (just check the edit records for the page on evolution) but overall, the information provided is accurate and fairly unbiased.

I like the idea of building something through an open group of users sharing knowledge. But those users need to be savvy, organized, and dedicated to the project if you want substantial results.

So, I have a lot more exploring to do when it comes to using wikis, but I am excited about the opportunities.

Reading Networks

I had fun playing around with Library Thing and Goodreads. Although I already had a Library Thing account, I hadn't used it much. Like most of the 2.0 sites, I will have to spend much more time with them before I get a true idea of all the possibilities and limitations.

Library Thing has a more attractive format and allows tags to get organize books, however I get the feeling that it represents your personal library and not all the books you've read. I generally don't buy books unless I know I'll read them a million times and can get them at a low price. The public library serves most of my reading needs.

Goodreads makes it a little easier to find books, since they list many editions together, though not all. Sometimes I had to use the Amazon search to find what I needed. I felt like this site had more possibilities, although I haven't had a lot of time to explore either.

I set up a Goodreads account at http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/1056173
Hopefully I'll have time to play with this more and interact with other users.

Technorati

I think Technorati is a great tool for finding out what people are talking about and networking with different sources. It has a nice format for keeping track of your favorite blogs and is more visually appealing that Bloglines.

I noticed that the most popular topics and posts related directly to current events and the newest stories. No surprise there.

As far as the different searches, I couldn't find a way to search the blog directory under the advanced search options. The video showed it next to the main search bar, but maybe you have to log in to see that, because I didn't. I did try a "Learning 2.0" search in the main bar on the front page and that yielded different (and many more) results than the tag search. However, the results of the tag search were probably more precise and accurate to the subject I wanted.

del.icio.us tags

At first I felt a bit skeptical about the virtues of social bookmarking, but I'm definitely warming up to the idea as I hear more about it. It would be extremely convenient for me to access my links from other computers, especially when I'm writing papers at school and would like to find all the research sites I'd bookmarked at home.

I scanned through the isdesk account and found some interesting sites. One of the more popular ones was the complete works of Darwin online. When I scrolled down the list of comments, most people just described the site, but a few comments said, "W00t!" and "I'll never have to go to the library again!" Ah, no.

Although, I can see how del.icio.us tags can become sprawling monsters in the way of favorites folders, it at least offers a system of organization, if you can think of the right tags. Certainly a great resource and something I will use in the future for myself.

This Week...

Most of the generators just stuck words on an image, nothing I couldn't do myself with photoshop. I like the trading card program (which I already used in an earlier exercise) and a few of the ones I found through the generator blog. Some of the picture warping ones are entertaining for a little while.

I love this random fact generator: http://www.mentalfloss.com/amazingfactgenerator/

"President Lincoln’s oldest son was on the scene of three presidential assassinations. His father in 1865, Garfield in 1881, and McKinley in 1901."

Yikes.

As far as revisiting...I started my own personal flickr account and uploaded a lot of outdoor photos. I also went back to bloglines to read updates posted on some of my favorites. I've been fiddling around with ficlets.com since I already had a Myspace and Facebook account. I'm not to fond of the setup at ficlets and despair over most of the writing, but it is entertaining.