Method 11 Podcasts

It is truly amazing the amount of information that one can find.  I enjoyed looking at the first link for  Podcasts, the others I found too crumbersome. The shear number of Podcasts is overwhelming. I could have spendt hours going through the different Podcasts, but I didn't. I choose the Barnes and Noble podcast of author interviews.

Applications for podcasting in the library are numerous. One could make a podcast concerning library procedure and hours of operation, special events, authors that visit the library, and book talks to name just a few.  I am sure my fellow librarians could come up with even more Podcasts.

Method 10 Wikis

We have started to use Pbworks at my school.  The teachers set up a page when they are collaborating between other schools for a video conference session.  Using PBworks has helped organized the lessons and has kept the email accounts from getting overloaded. Wikis are a great collaboration tool.

I create Pathfinders for the subjects/classes when them come to the library for research. I create them electronically and then make copies for the students.  The only problem, the pathfinders are left all over the library.  When I return to school after the Thanksgiving Holidays I am going to meet with my ITS to help me create a Pathfinder Wiki for the various research topics.

Method 9 Chating

I completed my Masters through TWU totally online.  In one of the courses the Professor openned up the Chat room part of the Blackboard.  I found that I couldn't type fast enough to keep up with the conversation. It almost felt as though I was in a huge party room with 1,000 people talking at once and I was trying to follow each of the different conversations and respond to the questions. I guess I am old school and really did not enjoy the chat room.

The ITS at my school where I am the librarian uses Sykpe between the computer labs, but she is giving directions to the students and I don't think really carrying on a conversation. 

Again being a public school librarian limits me to what I am allowed to use.  Instantance messaging  is another Web 2.0 tool that has not yet broken into the public school venue.

Method 8 Social Networking

I remeber watching The Net with Sandra Bullock. Sandra played a computer "geek" (apologzie for the lack of a better term). Her whole life was online and in the process of her job (which was to find weaknesses in other computer programs) her idenity was stolen. Everything from where she shopped, to how often she purchased items online was known.  The Net was made in the late 80's early 90's. Are we there with the Social Networking sites and Twitter?  Or is our information out on the web even without a Facebook, MySpace or Twitter account?

 In order for our district to receive funds for technology, we have to teach our students an internet safety course.  We stress the importance of not placing any personal information on their facebook page. But even if you don't place anything personal on Facebook, there are websites that will bring up personal information by just searching a name. So is anything private anymore, we would like to believe so but in reality I don't think so. I even mention my concerns to my son about a webpage he had created for a fundraising event.  Every personal item was mentioned. His name, university, what he was studying and the name of his faternity. When I voice by concerns, his response was "if someone wants to find me they can with or without the personal information." 

I have my own Facebook page and I am probably not the greatest at keeping it up.  I really don't care if one is having pot roast for dinner or not.  I can see the potential in having a professional page to help promote the library and I have become a "fan" of the Library of  Congress page and the Library development page.  By becoming a fan of the two pages I am now connected with librarians across the country and through out the world.  I would like to create a Facebook page for my library, however; my library is a pubic school and all social networking sites are blocked by the filter.  Perhaps in time this will change but until then I will have to promote my the library the "old fashion way" by talking to parents and students face to face.

Method 7 Delicious

I have to admit that I am having, again way too much fun, with delicious.  I have started putting together websites that will benefit my Social Studies and Science teachers.  With Science fair coming up I have found sites that will give the students ideas and a jumping off point to their projects. We have a campus webpage and within that webpage I have my library page.  I have placed a link to my delicious site under Teacher resources.  I will then let the teachers know that this site is available for their use.