I heart wikis!!

Get a wiki.
They rock.
Rock over London, Rock on Chicago.
Wheaties...breakfast of champions.

Grow With Books Wiki

If you'd like the password to edit the wiki and play with it, I would be glad to give it to you. Please let me know.

Post 5: The Most Awesome Trading Card Ever, and that's a cigarette...and I quit...recently...

I need to get a Flickr account. I have a photobucket account, which I really enjoy...but I think I might open a Flickr account as well. It looks like it would be fun...and I could use it for future webpages for future libraries!

Post 4: Instant Messanging, Man...its the wave of the future...

Instant Messaging and libraries…what a fantastic idea. I think this is so neat. In college I was an instant message fanatic. I would have totally used instant messaging to contact a reference librarian. I’m in the middle of writing a paper and I need a quick answer to a question…it would be much easier to instant message a librarian than stop what I was doing, walk to the library, and find what I need (I could always google it too). On one of my library visits, the reference librarian told me a little about instant messaging and libraries. She showed me the window that she sees. It looked very easy to use. She also told me a bit about the policies regarding abuse of the instant messaging (for example, a patron swearing at her, she can warn them, and then kick them out). I think it is also good because it allows patrons to be anonymous. Sometimes, they are a bit embarrassed about the information that they need. Instant messaging would be a great way to get the information without embarrassment. Not to mention, many people love instant messaging (my sister, who is 19, is almost always on an instant messenger…not to mention the phone and email…while listening to music and doing her homework…it’s amazing). I think that it would help libraries remain relevant. It would show that we are not afraid of change or technology. Plus, I think it would help get more kids “into” the library.

Post 3: Librarian Blogs of Note

I have only read one or two blogs done by individual librarians. I have read The Shifted Librarian's blog and Tame the Web. Both of these blogs are extremely interesting to read. These blogs talk about everything from trends in libraries to new technologies that libraries can use (such as nintendo learning games). These blogs (and the many others out there) are important tools for librarians to use. They are great as a way for librarians to communicate with one another. Librarians can (and do) comment on the blogs, which can lead to great discussions...which can then lead to changes in individual libraries. It can keep librarians informed as to what libraries around the world are doing. Librarian blogs can also be read by patrons of the library (and anyone else that happens to come across it). This is great because it can keep patrons up to date on whats going on with their libraries. It can also give patrons a chance to give some input. For example, the laughing librarian on the october 24th post talks about the COPA act (and its pretty amusing as well). There are also tons of blogging communities on the web for librarians. Livejournal and Myspace have tons of communities dedicated to librarians, librarian wannabe's, and librarian-ophiles (Not a real word, I know...but its shorter than those that love librarians). One of the livejournal communities is Library Grrls. This community is great for networking. One of the entries I looked at was from a graduating MLIS student who wanted help getting into an academic library.
Anyway, what I guess I'm saying is that librarian blogs are great tools for getting librarians together and discussing library issues. Its also a great networking tool.
One of the major downsides of blogging is that it has to be updated on a regular basis...but its really easy to blog, and doesn't take a long time to do...so there's no excuse, says I....

Post 2: Podcasting.

Podcasting was created by an MTV VJ named Adam Curry. The name was meant to sound like the word broadcasting and iPod, even though you don't need an iPod to listen to it (you can use any audio device that supports mp3's,). Podcasting is great because its usually free and it lets you listen to what you want, when you want it. Its kind of like taping your favorite radioshow to listen to later, except without the hastle of trying to remember to tape it...in fact, you can subscribe to your favorite Podcasts and have them waiting for you til you're ready to listen to them. Also, the other great thing about Podcasts is that anyone can do it.
I have never listened to a Podcast before. So I went online to find some Podcasts to try out. The first place I tried was PodCastAlley. PodcastAlley was very helpful, it had a forum which had a section on how to get podcasts. The forum also had information about other websites that had Podcasts. It also had information on how to do a Podcast and how/where to put it on online. On the homepage, it has a section where you can pick a genre of podcasting or you can search for a specific podcast. I thought that was great, especially since I don't know any specific podcasts yet. I subscribed to about 10 podcasts, all music related. I love the little blurbs about each podcast, to give you an idea of what you're getting in to. I have only listened to one, Punky Radio, and it was alright.
Podcasting is a powerful tool. Anyone with access to internet can access a Podcast or even record one. There are tons of free Mp3 players online. Podcasts are powerful because anyone can make one and they aren't regulated by the FCC. This is great because people can feel free to say whatever they want. I think it would be smart for libraries to start podcasting. One of my good friends already enjoys books on mp3's which she gets from her library. I did find quite a number of podcasts related to the library, such as Open Stacks which is "one librarian's perspective on things of interest to the Library and Information Science profession", or IR Conversations which is "a PALINET institutional repository discussion for librarians, archivists and others in university/institutional settings". Lansing Public Library has multiple podcasts for each of the sections in their library. I hope more libraries will put podcasting on their websites. On the CPL website, they have audiobooks that can be downloaded, but not if you have an iPod or are using a Mac. I was hoping to find a podcast on the website, but I didn't find one...but maybe there is one there, really buried...anyway, what I guess I'm saying is that Podcasting would be a great tool for a library.

Post 1: Late night thoughts about copyright...very unconnected...

In 1998, a new law was made that extended copyright by twenty years in the United States. So, now, works created by an author are protected for the rest of the author’s life and another 70 years…works created/owned by corporations are protected for 95 years. This extention, while good for the author/owner, is extremely detrimental to the public. Its always nice to be able to profit off of your ideas, and maybe even provide for your children…but on the other hand, especially when it comes to education, not being able to use certain books or pamphlets or clips can hurt the public. Is it really fair that a teacher could get sued for trying to get his/her kids interested in a subject by using their favorite cartoon character? There is always the Fair Use Statute which gives some leeway for use of copyrighted material…but it can be hard to determine if a particular use is actually protected under the statute.
There was one website that I really enjoyed, (which I also learned about back in 701): Creative Commons This website showed that there were more than two options in copyright (not just public domain and full copyright). This website has a few different types of licenses, which all follow copyright law…but are not as restrictive as a full copyright. I wish more people would promote the use of these less restrictive copyrights…some allow the work to be altered, some don’t allow for alteration. I like this because it allows the public (and libraries and teachers) to use/distribute/alter (in some cases) a work for their own commercial (or noncommercial) use…mostly, I like it because then I could potentially use a photo from someone with this license on a website I created, or maybe use a bit of a song to help promote something I cared about.
I remember, back in 99-00, when I received a notice that I needed to refrain from using Napster, or get involved in a lawsuit…that whole ordeal was part of the reason I stopped listening to Metallica.

Post number two

We read this great article last night. I thought it was interesting to read about the NextGens, and how they did not like to be labeled. It was also interesting because I am not a NextGen (I missed the cut off of 1982), but my sister is. And it is interesting how different we are. She can multi-task like I can't. She is able to watch tv, listen to music, text message her friends (with a cellphone and AIM), and do her homework...all at the same time. Its nuts.

Its all out the window

This is my first post, here on blogger...I guess I should do a tiny intro...my name is Kristin, and this is for my LIS 753 class at Domincan University...Internet Fundamentals!
No #FFF394 to get colors here!