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.