This is the end, Sort of

I thought we should have covered Second Life. The other day I read an article that mentioned a travel agency in a virtual world from Reader's Digest. After registered, people can choose a destination and download the needed software from its website, and then making a reservation so that they can meet a tour guide there. It sounds fun. The library could adopt Second Life for computer class, library catalog, and Find Your Library, I guess? I haven't explored it yet. What comes next? Well, this morning a patron came in the library. First, he complained to me about the headphone without volume. (It does work though.) I gave him another one. Then, he complained the computer. I suggested him move to another one. But, he still dissatisfied the quality of the volume of the film on YouTube. Luckily, I had been there, and I confidently tried to give him an explanation for YouTube. But sadly, he wouldn't listen and got upset for the computer service we offered. I have been thinking does the computer technology help people or make them confused further?

What I think

Participating Learning 2.0 makes my lifelong learning goals more clear on what I expect to do and how I devote my time. Also, it let me realize that learning something new really makes my live more interesting. My favorite Learning 2.0 exercises are Del.icio.us, Wikis, and LibraryThing, and my favorite discoveries are the labs of Google, YouTube, and Flickr. Also, Bloglines really surprised me in its feature of RSS feeds. Good thing is that there was enough help from David and my fellow LA/LTAs when I needed it. As to improve this program, I would hope one unit per week instead of three units per week. I felt I was chasing others with somewhat pressure. Luckily, the extra days were given after all. I would definitely like to see similar training opportunities as new library-relevant technologies emerge, and I would glad I participated this program, because I learned a lot and I have already adopted them to wherever fit my work place or personal life.

Podcasts

Yahoo Podcasts is easy and ready to use compare with Podcast.net and Podcastalley.com. Podcast.net catalogs its podcasts like a search engine while Podcastalley.com looks like an ordinary website. I like Yahoo Podcasts put its Top 100 Podcast Series on the home page. It gave me an idea what could interest me on podcasts. However, I don't find something I really like there. As for creating podcasts at KCLS, New Reads, Story Time, public information of Library Bond, and the meetings of Board of Trustee would be worth to try.

Video In The Post-Betaman World

In the beginning, I don't think I would like YouTube, because I don't even know where should I start to look and I don't want to waste my time there. But, for my discovery exercise,... Well, I feel nothing on YouTube can interest me except for Salman Khan. However, the quality of the images of the videos about that actor is not as clear as I expect. My conclusion at this point is that I would rather not to spend my time to watch videos there. Then, my friend Jessica asked me to begin my search with my favorite songs. Things are getting fun in that sense of the search. Not only I found my favorite song with a karaoke version, I also had a chance to show Jessica which Chinese musical instruments I used to play. This let me realized that I actually could find a good quality video on YouTube. Other than promoting the summer reading program for YouTube at KCLS, we also could use for author events, story time, and computer class.

Chrysanthemum Platform

Curse of the Golden Flower

My Own Adventure

Webware is good for an Internet beginner with its well description on each category. It helps us to know why is useful and what we can expect to find on the websites they recommend. However, I'm impatience on those details, so I pick Web 2.0 Awards instead. I like it gives a brief summary on the websites they nominee rather than long reviews I saw on Webware. So, I'm interested in the category of Real Estate. The first prize on the Web 2.0 Awards goes to Zillow.com. But, I found their estimated market value is actually $5.000 lower than the real market price. The second prize goes to HousingMaps. However, I found this is useless for me. I like IIProperty, because I can manage my properties or be the agent for my rental properties. Even thought I need to pay for their premium services, it's still cheaper than working with an management firm or a realtor. As for the library, I like the KCLS Web Links. They are very useful. However, for patrons, they cannot bookmark their favorite websites in public computers. With del.icio.us added in, that would be a big help for them. Also, the KCLS could use PBWiki as a bridge to promote library programs, and the patron could leave their comments for current programs. For patrons who would like to keep a list of their favorite books, LibraryThing could be added in with My Account. We could add Google Maps in Find Your Library, so people not only get a direction from their houses to the library, they also can read the reviews about the library.

the labs of Google

The first service in Google Labs interested me is Google Reader since I have been using Bloglines for weeks. Compared with Bloglines, Google Reader can reflect actual color and link from the text. However, it's not easy as Bloglines in searching a site to subscribe. Bloglines is much more user friendly. The second one I was looking is Google Maps. This is fun to search an address especially for an organization. Other than giving a direction, it also provides an overviews on the details, reviews, photos and web pages of the destination. Guess it's time to say good-bye to Yahoo Maps and MapQuest. As for Google Trends, this might use for a research reference. It's good for analyzing the trend when comparing regions, cities, years, and countries with a chart. However, the information is not current enough.

Online Software

Google is marvelous! I love Google Docs. This is "WebMail 2.0!" Not only I can create a new document online, but I also can post it to my blog and in RSS. This is very cool. You know what!? For preventing the potential virus, my brother deleted all Microsoft applications from my computer. No matter what I say, he refuses to put Microsoft's back. From now on, I do not need to create a document in my email first. Google Docs is my saver. But wait! Not until I moved on Zoho, I felt I fall in love with its "WebMicrosoft applications 2.0" right away. See, I have to change what I have said earlier about Google Docs. Zoho is Chicka's real saver after all.

Library 2.0

"Never stops dreaming about the best library services." I like this slogan - very positive for our community. By adopting library or librarian 2.0, a library can expect itself as a leader within community. However, Web 2.0 is considered a new concept online. Not many people are aware of this although some people believe that lots of people are using it. Fifteen years ago, people started to enjoy browsing WWW, but not until five years later, people were truly crazy about the Internet. The fact should be this. They may know one or two, or some even know more about it, but it still has not come to the whole picture of it. Take MySpace as an example. Some libraries have created a profile to seek more patrons online or to connect more young patrons there. Honestly, I doubt the library really could build connections online where their users' live. They might add the library as their friends, but do they really want to spend time on library's MySpace? Speaking of "the library is human, because it makes the library a social and emotionally engaging center for learning and experience." Well, very true. Yesterday -- a Mother's Day in the library, a Russian-speaker patron got very angry and yelled at staff, only because she could not get a book right away. Then, she kept yelling at staff for not understanding English. No respect for a human and herself as well. One of the articles mentioned "We've seen a 55 percent drop in circulation rates over the past twelve years, making it harder and harder to justify the continued buildup of a large 'just in case' print collection." Luckily, this is not the case for the KCLS.

The Originator

Compare with Rollyo Search Roll, I like Goggle Custom Search Engine better. When I typed in "gaming programs" for the key words search, the former returned more irrelevant information such as College Degree in 1 Year, 2006 Preliminary Budget, and Gambling while the latter returned more results from the library program on gaming. My experience with Goggle Custom Search Engine was an OK. In Preferences of My search engines, I chose "Search the entire web but emphasize included sites" and hoped my favorite websites on my homepage would come up on the top or at least on the first page. But, only one website worked out the way I want. So, I guess the description of a website does play an essential role on this. As for a potential use for tools like this, I think it would work well only when we are pursuing a hobby.

Generator-themed sites

Me, Chicka as a South Park Character.

Wikis

A Wiki is an online encyclopedia and an advance web blog with more useful and updated information, such as Wikipedia. I really like ALA MidWinter 2007 Wiki. It's like a little travel book online. I find Slang in the topics of "Seattle in Popular Culture" very interesting especially the usage of coffee talk, because I used to have an uncomfortable time when ordering a coffee. One reason is that I don't regularly drink coffee. Another reason is that I'm not familiar with coffee terms. As for libraries, I think SJCPL Subject Guides wiki might work well for patron's needs in its completed and clarify categories.

LibraryThing

The LibraryThing reminds me of the KCLS gold card program ten years ago. By signing up the program, we get a book lover's diary to keep track of our favorite books. When we reach down 100 books, we will get a gold card from the library. Ten years later, the library thing came up on the Internet for its cool abilities on adding tags, reviews, comments, and book information. As for its social networking component, I don't really care about it. Compare with GuruLib and Shelfari, Chicka prefers the LibraryThing for its convenience and easiness but not too simplify. Shelfari seems like another MySpace to me in connecting with our friends while GuruLib is way too much for a non-professional cataloger like me I think. It is a monster of MySpace+Amazon+Blogger+Flickr+KCLS!

Del.icio.us

During three weeks away from the learning 2.0, Chicka not only filed the income tax return, but I also learned a new song "Chrysanthemum Platform" from the film "The Curse of the Golden Flower." Both the melody and lyrics are very attractive. I was hoping I could find some information about the theme song on websites and tag it to my Del.icio.us. However, no other translation could be found on the Internet. Speaking of Del.icio.us, Chicka think it is a neat website for research assistance. It's easy to create our bookmarks not only in our own computer, but every computer everywhere in the world. That's just so very cool. It's delicious! The bonus point is that we can see how others tag their favorite websites and what others have saved within Del.icio.us. It acts like we are walking in someone's closet and seeing the world. Think about the magical closet in the story of "Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe." Very fun, very interesting, and very useful. We might save some time through the similar tags for our research.

MySpace and social networks

When I first heard about some libraries taking part in social networking sites, I thought it is just another way to promote their libraries. But, after went through the articles or information, which the Learning 2.0 team provided, I think this is one of the best positive things for libraries to connect their patrons in MySpace and other social networking communities. First, libraries can target their patron's age or interest group to promote the current services and plan the future services as well. Next, librarians can help patrons to get more information or get a useful discussion started for their needs.

Find some feeds

I prefer going to my favorite sites to find feeds, simply because it saves my time in this method. Although I might lose a chance to explore the new interesting feeds, the purpose of searching feeds just seems to kill time to me, not efficient. I like Topix.net for the topics are more clear to me, and they would attract me to do a further search. Syndic8.com put too many details there, and this is more confusing. I feel I need to evaluate the sources. Also, the format of the results isn't pleasant. I don't think I can find unusual feeds right now, either because I'm not in patience, or the word "unusual" I define is different from others. Anyway, no luck on that for three days. Really!!!

RSS

I can't say I like RSS and newsreaders. It's very convenient to use, but do I care? To define my word, for instance, how many people would pay attention to the captain's messages when they fly with him? To me, online is for the sake of killing time... I hope I do not sound too negative on this technology. All right then, let me think really hard about how I might be able to use this technology in my work or personal life. ;-)

So, I subscribed some RSS feeds to my Bloglines to explore the fun. With the updates feature, it saves me some time by keeping me visit from the non-updated web pages, but bringing in the most updated news from my favorite websites instead. This is cool I think, like a Bloglines messenger. The library should be able to adopt this technology to apply on the services of the Book Alert and the Event Calendar. Currently, I receive the Book Alert bi-weekly, but new items have been added to the catalog every few days. If the library could take advantageof it, the Book Alert could be sent out as soon as the changes have been made in the library catalog. As for the Event Calendar, it would let more people are aware of the library programs and workshops.

Flickr mashups

Guess what! I spent another three days (with three people Maria, David, and Shara's help in three days ^_^) to upload the image I want from Flickr. This is getting fun...

My favorite Flickr mashups are Spell with Flickr and Retriver. I like the former, because I can get a variety of images on each letter of my name. Although the image is every simple, it can reflect our mood; like we can be a Red E when we are on February 14, a stubborn E on the brick wall when we don't agree with others. See, that's fun, isn't it?? Now I'm thinking that later in the future, whoever can forecast my mood on my blog by using Spell with Flickr, he or she can get a complimentary burning herb from the village.

Speaking of Retrievr, it works like our own online art gallery. Based on my sketching abilities? That is, simply pick one or more colors, I can find some real cool photos there. In few seconds, I'm turning our world into black and white. Adding blue, surprisingly, blue is not blue, I see a hope. With that hope, I added green, and then I see a life. What about red? I wonder. First caught my eyes is an unknown red leaf looking at its shadow. Is red lonely? Somehow, I feel every one could get some kind of inspiration from it.

Discover Flickr

Flickr might be an interesting website to browse, but if you don't know what you are looking for, it turns out, well, like browsing a photo dictionary. Like this time, I spent three days (but not whole three days ^_~) to find an interesting image for the discovery exercise. The image I would like to find is an ancient map of Formosa. I couldn't find a very clear image on Flickr, since it was shot from a glass cabinet in a museum.

The most interesting about this image is that the island, Formosa is horizontal in this ancient map, not vertical in a modern map we see today. It was drawn with the landscape painting to show a deployment of troops in entire Formosa between seventeen and eighteen centuries. The map also represents some traces of Ming-Qing Dynasty and Dutch civilization during that time. It was posted by Flickr user Adonis Chen.

KCLS Learning 2.0

I like the concept of lifelong learning. Knowledge is power, and learning 2.0 is power. It is always fun to learn a new thing every day. But, honestly, if it's not for the KCLS learning program, I would not go blogging. I mean, I used to think going blog? That's blue. Now, by participating learning 2.0, not only I finally set up my own blog, I also have a chance to make it more meaningful to myself.