PB WIKI

Yes, making a wiki is really as easy as making a peanut butter sandwich. Actually, it is probably easier since you don't have to wash dishes!

http://www.pbwiki.com

I have found this site to be pretty intuitive and easy to work with. I'm having a lot of fun figuring out how to create links and images on the wiki. The new editing interface and tools make it easy to add lively content to the wiki and the cut and paste code - like the one that put the image and url in the current post - makes it easy for those of us who don't know html.

There is always something new out there - how about this for 24/7 access? This kiosk in Portugal is applying video store technology to library holdings.

I am going to use the blog to share documents with other staff. These are items that cannot be sent via e-mail in a single message, but can be accessed on a web page. Google Pages is a very user-friendly way to create a web presence.

The 23rd Thing!

Twenty-three things seemed like a very long list when I began this journey, but here I am all done. Well, I'm done in the sense that I've completed the exercises and thought about how all this technology could be useful in the day-to-day interaction among library staff and patrons. I will have to review several things and get more practice with some but this has definitely been most interesting and eye-opening. I know now that 23 things is just scratching the surface of what currently exists and that more new options for communication will be forthcoming.

I am excited about the possibilities of using some of these technologies to promote, extend, or enhance library operations and services. The tools I've investigated should make it possible for us to connect with patrons in very different ways than we are used to. Different is not always welcomed with open arms, the immediacy and social nature of Library 2.0 will require not only the mastery of new skills but the willingness to relinquish some controls in order to permit the user feedback and participation inherent in the Library 2.0 model. Are we up to the challenge? I certainly hope so!

Thing 22

Downloading an audio book from NetLibrary is not an option for YPL as we have no audio content from that provider. An alternative is to go to the Librayr's e-book page http://ebooks.libraryvisit.org/ and download an audio book from the OverDrive collection. I have downloaded e-books to my computer since we began offering them and find it a different but satisfactory way to "read" books - I've used both the Adobe and MobiPocket formats. I have also downloaded a few audio books, but since my mp3 player is not compatible with the OverDrive downloads I haven't been able to really make the audio books very portable, unless I put them on my laptop which is more portable than a PC but no IPod.

Here is a video from a library that offers OverDrive audioBooks


I think it is helpful to do this exercise to be more aware of what the patrons who use these formats, and statistics indicate they are being used, encounter. I note that some libraries are now offering in-library kiosks for downloading e-books. Is this something we might want to consider?

Thing 21

Podcasts are much more prevalent than I'd ever imagined! There are literally thousands of them and on all topics you can think of and several you'd never imagine. I found the Pirate Comedy Show and many podcasts about Harry Potter and Lost. There are libraries doing podcasts to provide publicity for programs and services as well as interviews with literary visitors - take a look at this http://www.lions-online.org/Podcasts.html from the Kankakee Public Library. I can see possible uses for this form of communication in reaching not only patrons, but staff as well, in new ways.

Should we reconsider the old "a picture is worth a thousand words" saying? I'm looking for a microphone, might try my hand at creating a podcast...