Reflection- Thing #23

WOW! I am finalllllyyyyyy finished. No more "things" to do for me, hehe.  Although this experience was interesting, I had already used most of the tools.  And for the ones that I hadn't, I probably will not use them again.  Social media in the libraries is necessary, we have to keep up with the new generation.  I think the FPL should stick to the most current and popular social tools, such as Facebook and Twitter to communicate information to patrons. Some of the other sites... not so much.  Overall, I still learned a lot, and if I wasn't up-to-date with all the social media tools out there before....for sure I am now, haha!

User Choice- Thing #22

I chose http://www.imcooked.com/.  I love cooking, (even though I'm not the greatest) and the idea of being able to watch,share, and make videos of recipes is pretty neat!  I didn't know about this site until I did my 23 things, but I will definitely use this for breakfast/lunch/dinner ideas at home! =)

Wikis- Thing #21

This was my wiki...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giordano%27s

I wish there was a Giordano's in Frisco =\ ... Anyway, I like the way the information is organized on wikipedia.  As far as it being reliable.... not too sure about that.  Anyone can edit the information, and occasionally you might run into unreliable information.  I think patrons could definitely use wikis to find general information. I personally would use wikipedia as a reference to find more reliable information on other websites.

Podcasting- Thing #20

Although I didn't get to listen to any podcasts, the idea seems good.  I was able to see DeKalb County Public Library's posted podcasts, and I like how you can listen to the different talks they have with authors they invite to visit and discuss their books.  I think the FPL should have a podcast if they don't already.  I think the patrons would enjoy listening to booktalks with authors, and storytimes as well.

Hulu- Thing #19

This website is awesome! I never knew about it, and now I can catch up on all the shows I miss.  Unfortunately, depending on how far behind you are, sometimes you can only watch  5-6 of the most recent episodes, and it takes a few days for the newest ones to post.  I think digital delivery in libraries is a great way to provide patrons with what they want.  I think DVDs will continue to be checked out for a good while, but internet tv is up and coming very fast.

YouTube- Thing #18

YouTube is pretty cool, and the Allen County Public Library Channel was pretty neat.  I think the FPL should do the same, and inform patrons about events and resources that can be found at the library.  A lot of people read, but I think more people would prefer to obtain information visually.

Music Streaming & Sharing- Thing #17

I LOVE Pandora radio!! I have it downloaded onto my phone, and I am even able to connect my phone to the car and listen to Pandora instead of the actual radio.  I like being able to listen to what I want, and the fewer commercials is definitely a plus!  The only downside is not being able to skip songs more than 6 times in 1 hour... but other than that it's great.  I think patrons would enjoy Pandora, however I don't think it will replace CD checkouts... at least not yet.  There still are many people who do not have computers, phones, or ipods, so they wouldn't be able to use Pandora if that is the case.

Google Docs- Thing #16

Google Docs is a great tool, especially for those who do not have programs such as Microsoft office on their computer.  This feature easily allows you to create, share, and edit documents for yourself or with others.  I have a Google account but never actually used this feature.  Now that I know more about it, I will definitely use it more often.

Google Maps- Thing #15

http://tinyurl.com/39mryqf
I've always wanted to go to Times Square in New York, and it looks like this is one of the routes you could take to get there!! I am horrible with directions, so personally, I would rather just use my gps... But Google Maps is pretty neat, I like the satellite and bird's eye views.  If you're in a rush, being able to check the fastest traffic moving routes is very useful.

Tiny URL & You Send It- Things 13 &14

Tiny url is a great tool. I wish all url's were tiny!

For Circ peeps, hehe =)

Before:
http://www.amazon.com/LIBRARY-TECHNICIAN-PARKING-ONLY-OCCUPA
TIONS/dp/B000J3JMUC/ref=sr_1_11?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=12
93038825&sr=1-11

After:
http://tinyurl.com/2wxka8v

You Send It was also easy to use.  Saves time, and better than having to upload files!

Facebook- Thing #12

Although there are those who do not like fb, I think it is a great way to communicate with patrons about events at the library.  I already had a fb prior to doing my 23 things, and I use it mostly to keep in touch with family and friends.  Now, I have started to use fb also to follow a few organizations, such as the Frisco Public Library, and really like getting new updates and information.

Linked In- Thing #11

I joined Linked In, and was able to find several of my family member's profiles.  This website is used to connect professionals with others in the same field.  While it seems like a very useful tool for professional social networking, I don't see how it would be useful to patrons in the library.

Library Thing- Thing #10

I LOVE Library thing! This is definitely something the library could use. Patrons can read reviews or recommendations, join groups, or talk in forums about books they have read.  Overall, just a really neat website =)

Delicious- Thing #9

I really like Delicious!  This is a useful tool to have while you are at work, or using a computer other than your own.  Bookmarking all your favorite and most needed websites is so much easier than having to type in the url's individually! The only downside was having to create a Yahoo account, just another username and password to have to remember =P  I will keep using Delicious as long as I can remember my Login/Password!

Tagging- Thing #8

Tagging could be useful to the library.  It is a little unstructured and freeform, but it can be a quick way for patrons to quickly find websites, pictures, etc. using keywords. Easy to use.