Monday, April 27, 2009

Dig Deeper with Social Media: Blogs

Hello,
I have been learning about new features that I can add to my blog. At this time I added a Meebo widget and a RSS feed for you to follow my blog when ever it is updated. I am excited about all these features that I am adding to the blog. They will be very useful to communicate with my blog followers and anyone that wants to chat with me. These two features will help me be connected with everyone who is interested in the topics I will write on this blog.

Stay tune, I will be updating this blog once I decide what to post about.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

MLA Web 2.0 Assignment 8

In the future do you see mashups influencing (directly or indirectly) the library’s online resources such as database, integrated library systems, or other online tools? If so how, and what types of enhancements might be added?

Based on how technology is changing rapidly and the great impact it has in library services, mashups will definitely be use in library’s online resources such as integrated library services, especially but introducing more technologies similar to HubMed, which facilitates literature searches incorporating exportation of citations and other ways of improving literature search so that patrons get exactly what they want. Is all about integrating different components and technologies into one making it easier for users to find what they are looking for based on location of item, subject and relevance to their research. This, this types of enhancement are probably in the works of improving a users quest for finding the right information they need in the less amount of time needed. There are endless possibilities for the integration of different technologies through mashups that can be incorporated into library services.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

MLA Web 2.0 Assignment 7

Write a blog entry discussing how you felt about the experience of using YouTube and what you think about this service. Do you see any potential uses for Podcasting in the library? If so what and why?

YouTube has many videos just for fun and enjoyment but there are also some educational one. I browsed through a great selection of videos dealing with library services. I was really surprised to see that there are a lot of libraries that are taking advantage of this tool since many of their patrons are very loyal YouTube users.

Therefore, there is a lot of potential for podcasting in the library because even if it’s just an infomercial about the library and its resources it helps get the library name out there in different mediums. Also it can help to create short videos on how to find resources in the library. It makes the library more welcoming and a little more hip to the new generation of users.

This is a great and funny library YouTube, created by the Rod libraries services:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diT4e7EUoNM

MLA Web 2.0 Assignment Week 6

Blog about the process on your personal blog for this course and share how this concept might be used in your library.

It was fun to share my photos online with my friends and family. It is a very simple way of sharing the photos without having to print them out. Is fast and easy. This could be a great tool to use in a library as a way of promoting library events online to users and even sharing photos about the items that the library has. At the same time it can be useful to put a face to a librarian's name, since in many occasions in the library's website you see a name but you don't know what he or she looks like.

The library of Congress Flickr experiment definitely seems like a good idea because it gets the public involve in the collection and they start to find out the kind of resources and items the library has. This tool is a great way to promote libraries collections and staff. I really like the interaction that this tool gives to the user because it also helps him or her give it a personal touch when it comes to tagging it.

When I become part of a library staff this tools will be useful buy sharing photos with other staff about our events and also sharing it with our patrons so they know that libraries are fun and have great items in their collections not just books. It is also a great marketing tool to promote library outreach events.

Web 2.0 Assignment for Week 5

Is this the future of all software products? What do you think?

This is definitely a great tool to use, specially when people are collaborating on a document and are not in the same location. So there is a lot of potential and usefulness. At the same time, I think that people need time in getting used to this type of tool. Even though this is a faster way of working in collaboration, users still need time to be comfortable using them and incorporating these advanced tools into their every day work.

Therefore, there is a possibility of this being a great future tool but it still needs time for people to get use to it and be comfortable with it.

Monday, April 7, 2008

MLA Web 2.0 Assignment 4

At first I was a little scared of creating a del.icio.us account because it seemed confusing and hard to follow. But then when I created the account and started tagging my favorite websites it made me realized that this is a very useful tool for organizing my most commonly used sites and the fact that I can access them from anywhere.

Can you see the potential of this tool for research assistance? Yes, because it is a great way to keep track of the different useful sites used for research. Also this tools helps maintain order for the different sites used. At the same time it makes it easier to access to collaborate and know who else is using that speficic site for research. It helps keeps all your sites in one place for easy and fast access.

Or just as an easy way to create bookmarks that can be accessed from anywhere? I really like this tool because you can access your bookmarks from anywhere and from any computer. I am really glad I got a chance to learn about it because I am going to use it from now on everytime I see a website that I like.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

MLA Web 2.0 Assignment # 3

How can social networking be used by MLA to connect members?
Social networks are a great tool to connect with other MLA members because it helps share information and ideas together. It also helps create friendships even if you have not seen each other face-to-face. It would be a great useful tool to reconnect with people who I get a chance to meet at the MLA conference since we are going to be from around the whole country, so it would be a great tool to be connected.

Should your library have a Facebook or MySpace page?
I currently work for NLM as an associate fellow, but once I get a job in an academic library I believe it would be a great idea to create a Facebook page, since many students nowadays have a Facebook account. It is a great way to connect with them and show them that libraries are becoming hip and modern and they can feel comfortable asking questions and know that the library is a good source of information. Facebook has a more professional look and feeling to it, while MySpace seems more casual.

Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites.
Yes, because there have been many instances in which hackers are able to break into different accounts. So users need to be careful of what information they include in many of the networking sites.

What did you like or not like about your experience with Facebook or MySpace.
I have been using MySpace longer than Facebook. I like MySpace because it is easy to use and understand and it has a more casual look to it, while Facebook has a more professional look and a more complicated interface. But both of them are definitely good tools to use and I hope more librarians are open to new ways of marketing their libraries and their services and to keep connected with other librarians.