Overall, I really enjoyed this project!  I feel that I have a familiarity with a much wider range of resources now than when I started.  I am already thinking of ways I can implement some of these tools in my own library someday.  My favorite part was probably the last assignment in which we got to explore some Web 2.0 tools of our choosing.  I liked having the freedom to explore the various websites and choosing the ones that interest me.  I also thought the tagging assignment was interesting.  Browsing through a couple of the stacks left me wanting more, and I will most likely continue to use this site, even if only for entertainment.

I was surprised to find that a lot of the Web 2.0 tools were things I already use.  Websites like Youtube and Wikipedia that I use on a regular basis are now something I am thinking about from the perspective of a librarian. 

I do wish that we had had more opportunity to discuss this assignment in class but I understand that we have a lot of material to cover during class time.

Exploring Web 2.0 Further

Let me just say that Pandora is one of the greatest inventions ever!  As I type this, I am listening to a station of Billie Holiday, Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald.  My music tastes are wide ranging and eclectic so I love being able to make a different station for every mood.  It is a great way to find new artists and explore a genre without having to purchase a lot of music only to find I don't particularly care for it after all.

Google Earth is not only fun to play with, it can also be very useful.  This is not really library related, but I volunteer for an animal rescue and Google Earth comes in handy when screening applicants.  Unfortunately, people are not always honest so I can use Google Earth to make sure they actually do have the fenced in yard or acreage that they claim.  That is just one practical application of this service.

I was not familiar with Google Book Search until very recently, but I am quickly becoming a big fan.  I was shocked by how many books were available.  They are easy to browse by topic as well.  For example, I am interested in the Social Sciences so I can click that category to find a whole list of books that might interest me.  I can read an excerpt to decide if I might be interested in purchasing that particular book.  I can also create my own library of books I've read, my favorites, books I would like to read and books I am currently reading.  I could get carried away with this application, particularly when creating my "To Read" list!

Library 2.0 to Moi

The most important aspect of Library 2.0 is the user.  Everything needs to be designed and implemented with the user's wants and needs in mind.  In his article "Into a new world of librarianship", Michael Stephens said, "User-centered libraries break down barriers and allow users access wherever they are: home, work, commuting, school, or at the library.  This involves users from the get go in planning and launching services based on their needs."  This idea that libraries need to reach the user no matter where they happen to be is repeated over and over again in all the articles.  I believe that easy accessibility is essential in today's society where people are used to having information instantly at their fingertips.  One way that libraries can make sure this goal is achieved is to make users part of the planning process right from the beginning.

There are so many Web 2.0 tools that can be applied to a library setting.  It is important for librarians today to embrace the popular trends in technology rather than just sticking out heads in the sand and giving up.  Libraries have definitely changed in recent decades, and they are not going to stop anytime soon.  Library 2.0 is one awesome way that libraries can not only maintain relevance in today's society but maintain the goals of librarianship as well.  Library 2.0 is all about the sharing of resources and information; what's not to like about that?

Zotero!!!

I was really excited to get started with my Zotero library.  This was in part because I like the name so much but also because it seems like a cool idea.  Firefox is the internet browser I use, so I managed to avoid some of the issues that classmates had when they tried to set up their Zotero libraries with other browsers.  I looked at a couple tutorials and everything seemed very straightforward.  I even found an article in School Library Journal about technology used in preventing plagiarism and added it to my library. 

Things for a little more confusing when I tried to add an article from an online database.  I think I managed to do it correctly though!  I also changed my settings so that my profile is public, so hopefully this link will work!
https://www.zotero.org/johanna414/items

Tagging Experience

I had never even heard of Del.icio.us until this assignment.  After some exploration, I can see how it could be a very useful tool in libraries when used correctly.  It is a great way of finding information on a subject you are interested, just by seeing what other people have tagged.  Something that has been tagged by many readers is more than likely worth looking at yourself.  It has something called "Stacks," which is a collection of related links.  I can see myself spending hours browsing through stacks on assorted subjects which may or may not be a good thing (this seems like a great distraction from homework!). 

YouTube and the Library

While exploring YouTube, I found a really cute video that explains some of the different types of materials available in public libraries.

<iframe width="420" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/3PWq_6s-lJY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

The Wizard of Oz spoof makes fun out of what could be a very boring video.  I loved the part where the Wicked Witch is peering over the bookshelves!
YouTube is a very useful tool these days.  I don't know of any young people these days who are not familiar with YouTube.  Because I am a school library concentration, my instinct is to apply this to a school library setting.  A library media specialist could make fun videos like the one above to explain some of the services and materials available in the library.  Making a YouTube video could even be part of a school research project, something a media specialist could be involved with.  Students would enjoy the process of making a video and posting it to a public location, where they could show it off to their friends and family.

Exploring Podcasts

I have some familiarity with podcasts since I listen to a lot of music.  I like a few bands that regularly put out free podcasts of unreleased materials or concert recordings.  Using podcasts for anything other than as another source of music had never really occurred to me.

In my search for a podcast that would suit the purposes of this class, I came across one that I found really interesting.  It is basically a collection of interviews with comic book fans.  They interview people with really extensive collections and others involved in the world of comics.  What really caught my attention though, was a focus on comic book libraries.  There were several really cool interviews with librarians who worked collecting comic books.  After listening to a couple episodes, I sent the information to a few friends who are also interested in comics.

Exploring Flickr

As part of this week's assignment, I created a Flickr account.  The process of creating an account and uploading pictures was fairly easy but I ran into a few problems in finding photos to upload.  I did not have any library related pictures and didn't feel comfortable taking pictures of my public library.  I improvised instead and took some pictures in my own home.  I only posted three photographs so far: one of a bookshelf in my living room, one of a stack of my favorite books and one of my cat curled up with a book of Wonder Woman comics.  They don't exactly fit the assignment, but were the best I could do at the present.

And for those of you just dying to see my cat reading comics, here is a link to my Flickr page:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/67528727@N05/6148818102/in/photostream/

Learning 2.0 and 7 1/2 Habits

The 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners presentation gave me an interesting way to look at my goals in this class and in the LIS program as a whole.  One of the Habits mentioned was "Teach/Mentor Others."  This is probably the one which would come most easily to me.  I enjoy working with other people and teaching.  I do a lot of crafts, such as knitting and quilting, and whenever I learn something new I am eager to teach others.  This is a trait that may be useful as a Library and Information Specialist, especially since I have a concentration in school libraries. 
The habit which I may struggle with the most is "Use Technology to Your Advantage."  I have never had a particularly strong interest in computers.  I tend to see them as something I have to use to complete a task and rarely think about how they work or why.  I'll freely admit that using new technology can make things easier, but I have not often found myself wanting to learn how to use them.  Hopefully this class will help my change my ways and I will become more comfortable with the use of computers!