Tim's Summary

I've been silent for a while as I transitioned to a new branch. I have been playing with the tools -- I like Google Docs and got a lot of use out of Google Maps. I can see so much use and possibility, but also so much potential for loss. All of this playing and testing leads me to thinks that if Web 2.0 is the Web for the people by the people, what's the next step? Will there be a third transformation?

It's important that we as libraries step in and continue to post and stand behind our information, to be one of the rocks in the shifting seas of information availability. It's easy to get lost in the din, but also easy to be distracted by the new. I know I played with some of the Flickr tools and can easily spend hours on YouTube if I'm not careful. I think the best thing we can do is be aware of what's happening, make use of tools that further the library's mission, and understand the role we play on the Web.

I'm not sure I've figured that last bit out--the part about the role. Just when I think I have a handle on what it might be, some new idea strikes or priorities change with budgets. I do know one thing: I'm having a blast exploring and watching what people come up with. People/the community are the whole reason we're here, and they never cease to amaze me.

#23 - Tina's Summary

Well, I have reached the end of the 23 Things Challenge. There have been highs and lows; some things I loved and some things I hated (twitter!)

Some of the best things:
LibraryThing - Becoming more familiar with it and starting to realize the ways that it could be used as a reader's advisory tool.
Flickr & Flickr Mashups - How much fun are these? I absolutely loved posting our SRP and library program photos on here so that friends, family and other libraries could see what we were up to.
YouTube - Where else are you going to see a "training" video on dealing with difficult library patrons using a goose as a branch manager and a weasel as a demanding patron?

Some of the not so great:
Twitter - I still just don't get the point of this...
Google Docs - Will be a much more efficient tool when it is capable of supporting more types of documents.

I think that the 23 Things Challenge was a great learning experience. It introduced me to some new technologies and strengthened my skill with others. I think the best part though was working as a team with my colleagues to accomplish this challenge!

#23 Summary

In summary I enjoyed the 23 Things challenge. It was a challenge in a certain sense because I had to balance the posts with everyday work. I definitely am more knowledgeable of the Web 2.0 websites featured in the chellenge. Most of all I am better informed about what types of things are available to us and our patrons. Since there will be more discussion going on about this stuff, I think there will be numerous opportunities for the work from this challenge to be used, and, I hope, to the benefit of the Library. Throughout the posts I have vented a little about some over-enthusiams about Web 2.0 technologies, as though these technologies will finally solve our problems and the more we incorporate them into our mission the more the public will view libraries as relevant or cool. Mostly I wish librarians to use the technologies to come up with unique ideas. For instance, these websites are all fine and dandy, but they aren't library sites. Not even Library Thing is a library website, but it was developed by a web developer. That means they can go away or change their focus and be less valuable to our mission then they may be now. The challenge overall serves to inspire us to come up with some of our own ideas and also to foster collaborations with web developers.

#21: Yahoo Podcasts

One things I first noticed on this website was that they say they are closing down on October 31st? Do they mean just October 31st, or the site is packing up and leaving. I don't know. But this site is pretty basic and there isn't much to say about it. I can say that there is potential here, and it could be an audio counterpart to the YouTube venture. Time will tell.

#20 - YouTube

I could spend all day on YouTube! I think if we had a way of making videos this would be lot of fun for library tours, storytimes and library programs!

No Cookies in the Library!

Having fun figuring out YouTube! This could be great for library tours, programs, etc.

# 18 - Online Productivity Tools

I was really excited when I first started working with Google Docs. I envisioned the ease with which I would be able to access work documents from home, and I thought that would really come in handy. However, as soon as I started uploading documents, I hit a snag. Most of my work documents are either .pdf or .pub files, neither of which Google Docs supports. So for now, I am going to stick with using my flash drive to transport documents back and forth (thanks infopeople!)