I think del.icio.us is a great tool for keeping your bookmarks online and portable, but also for seeing what other people have bookmarked. I can see what other people have bookmarked the same sites as I have, what they think of them, and what related sites they may also have saved. I can follow links and create this long thread of related bookmarks, and collect a lot of information from those links. I think it could be helpful in research in addition to social uses. I’ve even linked to my del.icio.us on the sidebar –>.
Archive for July, 2007
#11 LibraryThing
LibraryThing is another web2.0 tool I enjoyed. I can enter my library, see what other people own the same books, and what additional books they own that may interest me. I entered a small bit of my library here and looked around to find other ideas of books I may want. I like that I can see the covers at a glance, and if I ever get more books added I can use LibraryThing to make sure I don’t buy duplicates or multiple editions of titles we already own. Not that this is a common issue. =) I just need to get some more of our books entered. So far I have a few of my knitting books, true crime, and parenting. Now to find and add some of our novels, kids books, and other non-fiction. Right now, though, most of what I can think of to add are children’s books, and that’s going to take up a lot of my library!
There may be some library uses for this, but since most libraries have their own catalog, I can see some of the smaller libraries using it for the social networking, referrals, cover images, etc. Larger libraries may use it to see what their users own or are reading, possibly as a collection development tool.
#23 Library ELF
I set up a LibraryELF account, and can see it being very helpful, having five library cards between the three of us. I can keep track of whose library card was used for what materials, when they’re due, and where we got them. It’s nice having the reminders set up so we know what we’ve got when, and can keep better track of our library books. For individuals, especially those with only one library card, I can see LibraryELF being a little tedious. Why go to another site to do what you could do at the library’s site directly? Now for those who don’t have much access to the internet or don’t check books out very often, I can also see this as unnecessary. We like it though, and even my husband’s still actively using it!
#06 Technology sites
It’s been a long time since I’ve worked with HTML much, and a LOT has changed. I’m finding myself more and more interested in trying to learn more about what’s changed and maybe even try to do some web development. I don’t know if I ever will, with all the other things I want to do, but it’s getting closer to going on my list of things to try. In library school I took a class in Information Science (as opposed to Library Science, IS was more technology-related), and one assignment was to work in groups and develop programs that used what now is known as HTML. It’s fascinating to think I was doing something then that is much more commonplace now. Since this is one of my current interests, I’ve been browsing the web looking for how-tos and tutorials trying to learn what I can at my own pace. I love to learn about technology and related fields.
On another theme, we recently bought a new camera, a digital SLR. Now, I get to get back into my old SLR photography that I haven’t done in years, and practice on a camera that won’t be using up film as fast! Granted, we bought the camera for Pav..so I’ll have to borrow it occasionally. It just reminds me of things I used to enjoy doing and haven’t had a chance to do in a long time. This will allow us to combine technology and photography. On top of that, Pav can manipulate the photos we both take, maybe I can even learn to alter the images, too!
As with most of our other technology and electronics purchases, we usually will look on CNet for reviews and to research prices.
#08 MyUA Portal
I thought MyUA’s portal is a good idea. It’s nice to have everything I’m interested on one site/page, at least everything UAF-related. I could add my email box, a link to UAOnline, benefits information, and I even found a feed for governance groups, which I hope includes Staff Council.
It was a little clunky in terms of adding channels and basic page design. Then again, it might be because I’ve gotten used to my iGoogle page of feeds and other tools, where I can just click and drag each box around to where I want it. I think MyUA could also have used a little more information about the descriptions and options regarding the feeds and channels available.
I did like that I could change the size of the boxes, move channels and columns. It just took a little patience waiting for it to refresh after every addition and change.
#07 RSS Feeds
I love RSS feeds! I’m not sure how I feel about Bloglines yet, seems a little busy to me, at least in design. I’ve been using my iGoogle for a while now, and love it. I can have different tabs and put multiple feeds and tools in it. I can see at a glance which feeds I’ve read. I can add feeds easily either by browsing options, or entering the URL directly. Bloglines seems to have ways I may be able to organize my feeds a little more, but it’s taking a little more time to set up and catch up.
All in all, I have found RSS feeds fun and interesting, and can see uses for libraries. There are many features for which libraries can use RSS feeds: linking to the catalog, listing new books added, database changes, possibly even account changes, due/overdue, and hold information can be added.
#05 Flickr Mashups
Wow, I didn’t realize how many mashups there were! I like to think I at least try to be aware of what’s out there, but web 2.0 and mashups seem to have really exploded in a relatively short period of time. At least it seems to me like a short period of time; maybe they’ve been around and I’ve just been oblivious. Even Google has a mashup editor in the works. Guess I’ll have to get back to playing and learning. Some interesting mashups I’ve found are fastr, Colr Pickr, and flappr.
I got frustrated trying to get Mappr to do what I thought it should, so I went looking for others, and found the Ten Best Flickr Mashups by WebMonkey. I really liked Spell with Flickr:
#04 Flickr Photo Fun – Exploring Flickr
I’ve really enjoyed Flickr. I’ve been putting up my photos (though they’re mostly yarn or knitting-related), and browsing through all the others out there, viewing pics my friends, co-workers, and acquaintances have posted. Some of the images are amazing, some are cute, they’re all making me want to get back into photography, too. It’s been a long time since I used my Minolta SLR, but now that we have a Nikon DSLR, I’ve been able to practice more without wasting film. My other problem is having to share the camera (we got it more for my husband), since he’s been wanting to learn and practice more, too.
Here are some interesting photos I’ve found that combines both interests – photography and knitting:
 knitted flickr Originally uploaded by STEF MCK |
 Knitting in miniature Originally uploaded by knit_purr |
Since I also took pictures for this assignment, here’s one:
 The South Side of EERL Originally uploaded by gkomkai |
#03 Setting up a blog
Setting up a blog seemed to be pretty easy, except there weren’t enough choices for themes! I wish I knew how to go in and customize the one I chose even more, or even create my own. Now there’s working with technology!
I’ve also been getting back into knitting more, and am considering setting up my own knitting blog, but can’t seem to come up with a name. We’ve got a long list of ideas we’ve brainstormed, but nothing has really jumped out at me yet..then again, I haven’t really looked at that list in a couple weeks, maybe something has changed since last time. *shrug* I’ve been reading blogs, buying new yarns, and collecting books and patterns, so I hope to actually complete some projects this year!
