Extra Reading

A new article has just come out describing the "Web 2.0" concept and libraries. It's a nice introduction to everything we are discussing here, so I thought I'd make it available here and I'll probably make it required reading later on in the lessons! If you want to get a head start, though - head over to RedOrbit to read the article now!

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Robin Hastings
robin.hastings@gmail.com

11. Technorati

I have used Technorati in the past, mostly to claim my blog and check on specifically tagged blogs (such as the ones for the conference I attended last week - most tagged with xml2006), but I've never played with the "popular" books, movies and news features. I can see those being *really* helpful when trying to find a new book to read or movie to watch. Sort of a meta-review collection from real people, rather than professional reviewers. I think that is a pretty cool application of Technorati's technology! "The Prestige" was one of the popular movies listed when I visited, and I thought that the ability to scan through the blog posts and get people's opinions was helpful - I'd seen the movie already, but if I hadn't, I definitely would have found the almost universal approval of the movie very helpful in making my decision!
I also added a couple of blogs to my favorites list (something I'd never done before) and was having fun looking at all of the cool things I can do with my favorite blogs! I'm definitely coming back to this when I have more time!

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Robin Hastings
robin.hastings@gmail.com

10 - Del.icio.us

While we were setting up this program, I didn't have a chance to really absorb all of the information in the links we were finding for you all. This means, of course, that I had the chance to be wowed by the 12 minute del.icio.us movie that we linked to because I was able to sit and listen to/watch it and really concentrate on what she was saying this time. She had some great ideas for using del.icio.us as a reading list. I tend to stick stuff that I don't have time to read right now in there quite often! I used to blog about them, but that takes almost as much time as reading the article/web site/news story does. Now, with the addition of the del.icio.us bookmark (or - for those of you using Firefox, the del.icio.us plugin), I can quickly add stuff to my reading list! Another use I came up with this year was as a Christmas list holder. I have tagged stuff I want for Christmas with a "christmasgiftwish" tag and anyone who is interested in knowing what I want for Christmas can take a look at it.
I created an account with del.icio.us (name of rhastings - feel free to add me to your network if you have an account yourself) and find it to be INCREDIBLY useful - especially with the browser buttons and links that they provide. This doesn't even take into account the benefits that putting our (MRRL's) reference links in del.icio.us (user name mrrl) has created!

Update: I'm a dork, I just realized I posted twice for this lesson, but I wanted to keep both posts, up, so I'm just going to advertise my dorkiness to everyone... Enjoy both posts!!
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Robin Hastings
robin.hastings@gmail.com

In Boston

I probably won't be posting anything really "project" related this week, since I'm in Boston and keeping pretty busy with the conference I'm attending. I did want to make a note about what we are doing here, though! When I sent in my "blurb" for the conference track moderator to use when introducing me (before my presentation), I said something about "playing" on the web for the last 12 years. He commented on that during my introduction, saying that he believed that the only way to get a really deep understanding of web "stuff", you have to play with it and approach it like you are ready to have fun. Karen's latest post on her project blog mentions the fact wikis are - like the rest of this web 2.0 stuff - limited to people who have access to the web and who are comfortable with it. As a library, we are providing services that offer access to the web to people who might not be able to afford it themselves. As participants in this project, you all are becoming people who are comfortable with these technologies and concepts because you are playing with them. I'm so proud of all of you who are taking the time to do this! Playing is important when it comes to really getting computers and I truly hope you all have fun and approach these lessons as "play time" as much as "learning time"!

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Robin Hastings
robin.hastings@gmail.com