Second Life

I am not a fan of Second Life. In theory, it’s interesting, but I found it very frustrating. I started out as a cute little dragon, but accidentally transformed myself into a hideous woman. After not being able to fix her, I made a new avatar and started over again. I thought the tutorials were useful (I don’t know what I would have done without orientation island), but it was very time consuming. I also experienced some technical glitches while in Second Life. I got stuck in “appearance” mode and couldn’t get out without logging out of the program. Then when I logged back in, Second Life couldn’t locate my last location so it plopped me into a new location. I teleported my way to Info Island and after wandering a while, I took a picture of myself at Info Island’s Sirsi/Dynix Institute. I feel as though I really need to spend a lot more time exploring Second Life to become comfortable in it and find it fun. Right now it doesn’t seem fun or comfortable, and it feels like a waste of time. Perhaps without my final project on my mind, I would feel as though I have more time to spend in Second Life, but as it is, I really want to make a dent in my project as soon as possible.

Johnson and Libraries/Education

“If everything ‘bad’ is indeed good for you, what does this mean for the world of Libraries and/or Educational organizations?” We should burn all of the books and just play video games and watch movies and TV all day every day!!!

JUST KIDDING!

What I really think this all means is that we (librarians and teachers) need to stop thinking of video games, TV and movies as “bad” things. They have their benefits, just like reading books. And since younger generations LOVE video games, TV, and movies, we should try to use them to our advantage. The way Johnson described them, many video games, television shows, and movies require attention, focus, and some degree of learning. If we can capitalize on this love of learning in children, we have a new way to challenge kids in a way they’d like to be challenged. We should encourage children to play the thought-provoking, decision-making, long-term planning video games. We should encourage video game makers to continue to challenge children in more and more advanced ways. We should also support child-oriented television shows and movies that challenge children’s intellectual capacities. In the library we can show support through sales; primarily purchasing intellectually stimulating materials for the children’s department. We can also have library events that promote these intellectually stimulating games, movies, and shows. We can allow the children to watch/play as we explain to parents the different ways their children are learning. Of course nothing can replace the many benefits of being an avid reader, so we will continue to constantly promote reading, but I don’t think it hurts to stimulate and engage children in a variety of ways.

If I were Steve…

I really learned a lot of practical, useful skills in the class. I honestly wouldn’t subtract anything (although I didn’t love the Sirsi/Dynix Institute videos, but only because they felt soooooo looooong). I hate to say this, because I could barely keep up with this class as it was, but I wish we learned vodcasting and screencasting this summer. I understand why we couldn’t fit it into the curriculum, but perhaps if the class was offered in an 8 week summer session we might have had time for it. Maybe Steve could give us 6 week students a chance to learn it on our own by upload the videos for us on iTunes so we can explore how to do vodcasting and screencasting after the class is over (please). I really don’t know enough about all of this stuff to know what could be added to the class or changed within it. Based on what I knew and now know, I feel like we’ve been run through the social software gamut. Thanks Steve, I’m glad to have had these experiences, and I really will use my new knowledge as a techno-friendly librarian!

Johnson- "sophisticatedly deliver stupidity"

Based on the reading I must admit that pop culture doesn’t seem to be doing what George Will describes. Johnson makes a good argument in favor of pop culture’s increasing demands on people’s intellectual abilities.

He argues that video games are anything but mindless; they’re difficult, complex puzzles that rely heavily on a delayed gratification reward system, decision making, strategies, and collateral learning. They force players to explore their worlds and decipher the rules of the environments for themselves. Players must manage multiple layers of tasks, mastering smaller goals that need to be completed before tackling the one larger goal or objective. These types of activities require attentive focus as well as long term planning abilities. Johnson also notes that “the games that people reliably line up to buy are the ones that require the most thinking” (p. 136).

Johnson also argues that television has grown to be more demanding on people today. With subtlety and discretion, TV shows challenge their audience to follow more complex and numerous plot lines. There are often a number of layers to TV shows, where regular viewers can appreciate references that new viewers may not even notice. Many reality shows also request audience participation, which is a fairly new concept in television. Reality shows are also often about strategy. In addition they evoke real emotional intensity from their contestants as well as their viewers. Just like today’s television, movies portray many plot layers and layers within the dialogue. Movies and television seem to be training people to follow multiple threads at once.

The Internet, which pop culture relies upon heavily, is also extremely interactive. Many people spend their time blogging (writing), surfing the net (exploring), and learning how to use many new technological devices, software, and systems.

Before I read Johnson’s book, I may have agreed with George Will, but I must admit, Johnson makes a good argument. He’s caused me to have second thoughts about the benefits of pop culture. As he said in his introduction, “the sky is not falling” (p. xiv)

Purchasing a Console for the Library

To begin, I entered the search terms “video game console” in Wikipedia.com and learned about the various popular consoles available. Since I’m researching for the library, I want a popular system because I want our system purchase to draw children and teens into the library. I also want a popular system so there will be a large variety of games to choose from. The three major consoles on the market now are the PlayStation 3, Wii, and Xbox 360. To further research these three consoles, I went to the manufacturers webpsites where they display system capabilities and a variety of the games available. I noted that all three systems allow for parental control options which would also be handy in a library setting. On Amazon.com, the Xbox 360 cost $349, the Wii cost $319 (though bundles were much more costly), and the PlayStation 3 cost $399. I didn’t feel the price difference was significant enough to choose one console over any other. I then checked the price difference between replacement controllers. Most of the controllers with cords for all three consoles were $20-$30 each. The games for the Wii typically ranged between $20 and $50. The games for the Play Station 3 typically ranged between $20 and $60. The games for the Xbox 360 typically ranged between $30 and $70. Before purchasing a system I’d conduct a poll at the library to see which console the patrons would prefer (I'd collect as much data as possible from the children's and teen section of the library, though parental input would be welcome as well). If the poll did not lean heavily to a certain console, I’d choose the Wii, not specifically because of the price, though the games were slightly cheaper. The reason I’d choose the Wii is because we could purchase active games at the library (such as Wii fit) where children and teens can exercise while they play.

Playing a Game

I played Reversi (Othello) on Yahoo games. To begin, I imed a friend and asked if he would like to play an online game with me. He suggested Reversi on Yahoo. I logged into the lounge Zebra Cove and met him. He has been playing online games for years, so he suggested we meet in Zebra Cove. This was my first experience playing an interactive online game at Yahoo (or anywhere else). I suppose we could have just played the game but we did a lot of chatting while we played. At first we just did silly trash talking, but after a while someone else entered our game to watch. I thought this was odd because it was only a two player game so I asked my friend about our audience member, what he had the ability to do, and why he was there. After a bit of time, our viewer left. It turns out that I stink at Reversi so we ended up discussing strategy while we played. We played four times and stopped after I finally won a match (I think he let me win). It was a fun experience, but I don't think I'll be doing it too much. It's a good alternative if you're alone, but I'd rather play games in person (and I don't like being watched by strangers). Plus, I'm sure it can get very addicting.

Ning

Advantages
You can create your own social networking site.
You can choose your own web address (it won’t have a bunch on nonsense letters or numbers unless you want it to).
You can fully customize your network.
You can list upcoming events on your network.
You can make groups within your network. For instance, a library network can have groups for children, teens, and adults (or more specialized groups within those categories).
Ning networks provide opportunities for discussion forums, widgets, photo sharing/slideshows, activity streams, videos, and Facebook integration.

Limitations
Ning can run ads on your network pages unless you pay them not to.
Ning networks have 10GB of storage and 100GB of bandwidth unless you pay for a premium service upgrade.
If you create a highly specific open SNS on Ning, it may be less likely that people will find it.

I believe that Ning would be very useful in a work environment. Coworkers can have discussions and stay in contact with each other easily using a Ning network. People from different departments and even different office branches can stay connected. It’s also cost efficient because a Ning network is free (unless your company/organization chooses one of the several upgrades). Even though it’s an online community, you can choose who to let in. You can have an open network and block unwanted users. Or you can run a private group on a private network and have members join by invitation only.

Lessons from Boyd

According to Boyd “librarians are overwhelmingly aware of Facebook and are against proposed U.S. legislation that would ban minors from accessing SNSs at libraries” (Boyd & Ellison, 2007, para. 53). So it seems that librarians wouldn’t ban SNS use in libraries, but if it was banned, considering the class division between Facebook and MySpace, it would be unfair to ban one and not the other.

Should librarians decide to create and manage a SNS account for their library, they should find out which SNS is popular among the teens in the area. It would be wisest to make accounts on both MySpace and Facebook (or any other popular SNS) so as to avoid excluding hegemonic teens, subaltern teens, or any other kinds of teens.

Should a library maintain a MySpace and Facebook account, librarians should not judge MySpace teen users as bad or Facebook teen users as good. They are all teens and hopefully patrons, valued equally despite their SNS of preference.

Since teens mostly continue preexisting social relationships on SNS, librarians should heavily advertise their library’s SNS accounts in the library toward the teens who already use the library. The library’s best bet for contacts is through those teens. Then as other teens “surf” their friends’ friend lists, non-patron teens may (and hopefully will) explore the library’s page as well.

SNS are places for interactions, reflections and creativity. These are exactly the types of things librarians should want to see in libraries.

Sticky SNS

MySpace and Facebook are “sticky” because users typically enjoy their time on them. SNS are not necessarily informational or educational (they can be), but their essential purpose is recreational. Using SNS is a fun experience. Users can improve their pages/profiles to better reflect themselves. SNS give people a way to portray themselves, or an opportunity to develop an Internet persona. They provide users with a way to show their contacts and the world what they’re all about. Users can stay in contact with existing friends and make new online friends. Overall, SNS provide people with a pleasurable social outlet. SNS make it possible to socialize without having friends physically present or even on the phone. They don’t even require real-time interaction. SNS provide a meaningful and real way to connect with others. As social beings who are growing more and more accustomed to technological innovations, it’s only natural that we crave this type of attention and interaction.

Podcasting/Text-based Blogging Benefits and Detractions

Podcast Benefits

People with visual impairments can hear podcasts.

If you can’t read, you can still listen to podcasts.

Podcasts feel more personal since you can actually hear the voice of a human being.

You get a better feeling of the context of the message in podcasting (for instance, it’s easier to sense sarcasm).

If you spend a lot of time online, listening to podcasts will not damage your eyes, whereas reading a lot of text can.

Podcast Detractions

People with hearing problems may not be able to utilize podcasts (unless a transcript is available).

When time is limited, it may be easier to stop reading a text-based post and later return to where you left off, than to stop in the middle of a podcast and find your place again (if you didn’t take note when you stopped it).

Text-based Blogging Benefits

You don’t need to be able to hear.

It may be easier to stop and resume reading a text-based blog.

You don’t need a high bandwidth to access text-based blogs.

You don’t need speakers.

You don’t need certain media software.

Text-based Blogging Detractions

If you can’t read, you can’t utilize text-based blogs.

If you can’t see, you can’t utilize text-based blogs.

Reading writing feels less personal than listening to a speaker.

Writing gives less context than speaking.

Reading on computer screens for extended periods of time can hurt your eyes.

Story: My first backpacking trip

This is the story of my first backpacking trip to the Adirondacks Mountain region. I hope you enjoy it!

P.S. I noticed a mistake I made. A lean-to is not a 3 room shack, it's a 3 wall shack. I also forgot to mention that it rained the first day and I had poison ivy at the time. :)

http://www.switchpod.com/users/jwscils598x08/backpacking.mp3

Anderson- the "long tail" in our collections

I think libraries can utilize the long tail in order to enhance library services, but I believe we have to be careful how we go about it. For instance, I wouldn’t recommend raising taxes to get libraries access to niche/long-tail items. As Anderson explained, people aren’t necessarily interested in paying more for the privilege of the long tail. I also wouldn’t recommend printing books and/or DVDs on demand. It just wouldn’t be profitable. What works for Amazon won’t necessarily work for libraries. There’s a big difference between buying and renting, and as every renter knows, demand often changes over time.

So, we’ll need a cheap way to gain access to more obscure items. The easiest (and lowest tech) way to gain access to niche items is to work with other libraries, through consortiums or ILL, to develop highly specialized collections across libraries. In this case, we could make niche items available even if they’re not housed in each particular library.

A more high tech way of making niche items available is by creating access to digital books. As digital books only require bits of file space (as opposed to paper, binding, shelf space, etc.), they should be less expensive for libraries to own. In addition, one digital book can be placed in multiple book categories. This can make the book easier to find, AND (more importantly for budgets) the library won’t need to buy and shelve multiple copies of the same book within the library.

In order to have a successful digital collection, libraries must highly organize their digital books so they are easy to find and access. In addition, libraries should be willing to offer a lot of assistance when it comes to digital books since many people are new to them. Allowing online recommendations, suggestions, and peer reviews within the digital books collection may help patrons feel more comfortable using a digital collection.

A variety of distribution methods is also something to consider. Previously we’ve had hardcover and paperback books, books on tape, books on CD, etc. With a digital library perhaps we could offer books downloadable to computers (maybe even cell phones), book available on memory cards/memory sticks, streaming online books, etc. However we offer the books, there will be people who prefer them in the various ways. We should take note of the preferred methods, and work to give patrons what they like (“Don’t predict; measure and respond.” Anderson, p. 223).

Finding ways to offer patrons more variety for less money is always worth the work we might need to put into attaining the goal.

Anderson- Producers, Markets and Tastemakers

As libraries and librarians create websites, blogs, and wikis for their patrons, they are certainly proving themselves to be new online producers. What once only computer programmers could do, now anyone, including librarians, can do. The interesting thing about an online library presence is that the librarians producing the websites are library experts (even if they are amateur website producers). By creating websites, librarians can offer their specialized knowledge not only to their local patrons, but also to countless other patrons from afar. And even though they may offer to help people through IM, email, or chat, the most remarkable thing about librarians producing web pages is that they are actively putting forth information, rather than passively waiting for questions to arise. By volunteering information before it is requested, they are saving patrons the time they’d wait for a response and themselves the time it would take to answer the same question from multiple patrons. Librarians who maintain an online presence are bringing libraries to a whole new efficiency level.

Librarians are also making excellent use of Web 2.0 tools in order to find out what their patrons are interested in. By paying attention to new and recent demands, they can work to provide patrons with the most current hits and niches of interest. Librarians may even be able to provide these services at more cost economical prices if they can make items in demand available online; for instance digital books (lower costs for the library and no shelf space/storage cost within the library). In addition to economic factors, digital books are also wonderful to carry because they can be categorized in multiple ways in order to be easily found.

Even if they haven’t explicitly been referred to as tastemakers, librarians have always served as valuable tastemakers within their own communities. Now, they can expand their services by offering recommendations and opinions to the masses. They can also help others become tastemakers by asking for comments on blog posts or by running an open wiki; both of which have the ability to grow a large fan base. By asking for and showing respect for patrons’ opinions, patrons can become more comfortable interacting with librarians and each other. Libraries can provide open forums for book discussions, recommendations, and opinions. Library websites can help lots of people become “microcelebrities” of their favorite genres. Then, not only are librarians serving as tastemakers, they’re enabling others to become tastemakers as well.

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Educational Experience at SCILS

From: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jwscils598x08/sets/72157605739368565/

Please visit scils598x08-edexperience group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/scils598x08-edexperience/

My educational experience at SCILS has been… interesting. I have learned so much, and I am glad to have learned so much. But, in the two years I’ve been taking SCILS classes, I can’t say that I’ve always enjoyed them. Some classes I have loved. Other classes have made me lose tears, weight, hair, and huge chunks of my sanity. Nevertheless, I have learned a great deal in every class I’ve taken, so it’s been worth it all along.

I am a completely online student. I have only twice stepped foot on the New Brunswick campus and one of those times was WAY before I even considered becoming a librarian. I’m glad that I’m an online student because I’d never have been able to get to New Brunswick to take classes. I’m also very glad to be going to RU-SCILS, the #1 school for school library media specialists in the country!

Thanks to SCILS, I am much more technologically savvy than I used to be. I am also better read and more informed on library issues. I feel like I’m being well prepared for a future in librarianship. I may just turn out to be a very good librarian thanks to SCILS. As I will be graduating in December 2008, we’ll find out soon enough!

PBwiki versus Wikispaces

Wikispaces and pbwiki are very similar in many regards. They’re both wiki creating programs that enable users to create wikis, add pages, edit pages, invite others to edit pages, insert links and images, etc. It seems to me that once a wiki from either service is established, it’s very easy to maneuver within and edit content (I haven’t had any trouble with my russl student page and didn’t experience much trouble with the WeKid wiki that Jacki initially designed and set up for our wiki project) . Therefore to me, the glaring difference between pbwiki and wikispaces has to do with creating and establishing the wikis. In order to compare and contrast pbwiki and wikispaces, I created two new wikis from scratch.

Wikispaces provides a thorough overview on how to use your new wiki with “Getting Started With Your Wikispace.” Although it was a lot of information to absorb at once (too much for me really), I appreciated that all of the information that I would need to work with my wiki was provided in one, easily accessible place. I found myself returning to the page whenever necessary.

Before setting up my new pbwiki account, I was provided with a 2 minute introductory video. Although the 2 minute video was easy to follow, it didn’t provide as much information as “Getting Started With Your Wikispace.” Nevertheless, I was also able to utilize the FAQ to help set up my wiki.

I found it easier at first to insert images onto wikispaces than onto pbwiki. The first time I tried to insert an image onto pbwiki, it deleted all of the text that I had on the page. I’m sure it was a fluke (it didn’t happen again), but it was frustrating. Also, on the WeKid wiki, I had a hard time getting everyone’s avatars onto the contributor page. I didn’t experience any problems putting images onto wikispaces.

I also found it easier to log in to my wikispaces account. I actually got temporarily locked out of my pbwiki account because I didn’t set up a site key when I created the wiki. Fortunately, I found another way to get back in (through the Home page at My PBwiki). I experienced similar problems with the WeKid wiki and again, found a way in through the My PBwiki page.

I’m sure as I become a more experienced wiki creator, moderator, and users I will easily be able to insert images and avoid deleting all of my text and getting locked out of my wikis. However, as a new wiki creator, I feel that wikispaces is easier and less frustrating to work with.

Libraries and the Long Tail

I absolutely think that the library world can and will benefit from the Long Tail. I believe the only problems that will arise will be a resistance to the technological evolution of libraries (as we’ve discussed previously, many old-timer librarians fight change tooth and nail). However, I don’t think this resistance will be too difficult. I can’t imagine that too many librarians want to limit the amount of books available to the patrons… and I don’t think anything irks a librarian more than watching a best seller being checked out time and again while great works of literature are ignored.

As technology advances, it will continue to be easier for libraries to tap into the niche phenomena described by Anderson. Though ILL and consortium libraries aren’t new, they seem to be functioning better and better as librarians and patrons make use of available technology such as OPACs and library websites. Libraries nowadays can get us pretty much anything we need. We don’t need to buy books, we don’t need to drive to other libraries… the books we want will come right to our home libraries very quickly and efficiently. It’s true that libraries can’t house every book ever written, but if they can access them for their patrons, the patrons still get the specialized books they’re interested in.

I’m sure library circulations, in some ways, have suffered from the Long Tail. As Amazon sells so many specialized books at reasonable rates, people may be purchasing more and borrowing less. But you can’t beat free and library patrons should know that. This is the first beauty of libraries… they don’t charge a thing (unless you’re tardy). Patrons should also know that just like libraries, bookstores, or any other physical place, their homes can’t house every book they’ve ever read. Hence, the second beauty of libraries… when you’re done reading a book, you don’t need to find a place to keep it. If we had to pay for and keep every book we read, I honestly believe we’d read far less books.

Also, just as iTunes allows people to delve into unique musical genres, online library databases and even online bookstores, allow people to look into a unique variety of books. These books may or may not be available at the local library, but they’re almost definitely accessible from it somehow.

Anderson explained on page 33 that piracy greatly damaged record store profits… “any song, anytime, for free.” Libraries now can provide any book, anytime, for free. And the fantastic thing is, in the library instance, we don’t need to worry about lawsuits! Any book, anytime, for free is completely legal through libraries! Everyone should appreciate that!

Virtual Introductions

I like the idea of virtual introductions via delicious tags. It’s been interesting to see who’s into what and read why they’re interested in it. It seems you can learn a lot about people by seeing the websites they frequent. You might actually learn more about a person this way, as opposed to having them write a bio. Some people may feel uncomfortable writing bios because it’s difficult to sum up your life in a perky paragraph or two. In my opinion, by comparison, showing people 10 web sites you like is much easier. The websites don’t necessarily define who you are or sum up your life, but they do give people an idea of what you’re interested in.

In addition, sharing favorite websites is a great way to show people an interesting site that they may never have discovered (not that our bios aren’t interesting, some are downright amusing, but they’re not in depth websites). For instance, I got quite a kick out of the Annoyed Librarian blog tagged by kdscils598x08. Many of us probably would be amused by this blog. Afterall, despite our obviously varying tastes, we all do have at least one thing in common. We want to be librarians. It’s fascinating to see the similarities and differences among this crop of future librarians.

LibraryThing

To begin with, it is shockingly easy to set up an account on LibraryThing. The tour and introduction are very straight forward and easy to understand. The most confusing aspect of LibraryThing, which didn’t seem to be covered in depth during the tour and introduction, was whether or not LibraryThing was meant exclusively to be used by libraries and bookstores, or if it was for individual/personal use as well. At first it seemed like it was more for libraries than for individuals. However, after exploring the LibraryThing website, I learned that anybody (companies, corporations, public institutions, and individuals) could make use of LibraryThing and its capabilities.

In my opinion, the most appealing aspects of LibraryThing were the LibraryThing talks and groups. There is an enormous list of talks on all kinds of fascinating topics. In addition, there is a wide variety of groups on LibraryThing, from groups on particular reading genres to Harry Potter groups. There’s even a bug collector’s group! The talks/groups seemed very individualized and for personal enjoyment.

As I began to set up my catalog, I was able to see other members with the same books I have. You are also able to do some neat things on LibraryThing such as creating a blog widget, tagging books, receiving/making book recommendations, and finding local libraries and their upcoming events. I found all of the local libraries that I frequent on LibraryThing. Before today, I had no idea that I had so much access to them!

LibraryThing is definitely something I’d like to make further use of in the future… as a librarian and also as an avid reader! I already have a few groups picked out that I’d like to join!

Brown & Duguid - Learning

Brown and Duguid argue that despite the fact that growing technology enables us work apart, there is an enormous value in people working together. People learn from functioning within social groups. They are supported by each other, they learn from each other’s know-how, and social groups provide learning experiences. When people attempt to learn in isolation and without a particular purpose (knowledge for the sake of knowledge), learning is much more difficult. When there is a task in mind, a goal to meet, or simply an available opportunity, people tend to learn quickly and with much more ease.

These ideas can be applied in an educational system by providing learners not only with information (which was argued to be very different from knowledge), but also with skilled and experienced teachers who already possess knowledge on the subject(s) being taught. By interacting with a person who has a wealth of knowledge on a particular topic, even if intentional learning doesn’t take place, accidental learning will. However, learning should not only be an isolated interaction between the student and the teacher. By allowing students to interact with each other, they can help each other and share their own knowledge to benefit others. Brown and Duguid would also argue that educational institutions should allow students plenty of opportunities for practice. With practice, students will not only become better at using their knowledge, they will also learn through experience when to apply it.

As for library staff training, the same ideas on learning apply. Staff should work in close proximity to enable them to pick up accidental knowledge from each other. All staff members should be willing to share their expertise with others. The training doesn’t necessarily need to be through formal lessons. It can be done through informal, everyday work interactions. In addition, practice is critical. Staff members unfamiliar with particular tasks should be encouraged to try them, and ask for help from co-workers whenever it is needed.

RSS and Information Overload

I believe people who know themselves and their time constraints very well can benefit greatly from the use of RSS aggregators. Theoretically, they exist to save people time and battle information overload. The purpose of aggregators is to bring together only the information that people want/need and omit the rest. By collecting information for users, putting it in a similar format, and by making it easily and readily available, RSS aggregators provide a valuable service.

Problems arise when people underestimate the time the RSS aggregators save them and overestimate how much more they can handle reading due to this newfound free time. It is so simple to subscribe to an RSS feed, and there is so much interesting information available on the Internet. It’s easy to over-subscribe and overload yourself with information that you’ve had collected. If RSS is used wisely, it saves time. If RSS feeds are collected the way kids collect free candy, information overload is inevitable.

Brown and Duguid Reading

As the demand for technology increases in the library setting, Brown and Duguid would point out that it’s important to acquire technology not just for the sake of having it, but rather for a specific purpose. A need or at least a use for technology is vital to its successful implementation. Technology is not intended to lower productivity or waste time (though it sometimes does when problems arise). If there is no purpose to a technological overhaul, then it shouldn’t be done (the Chiat/Day example is illuminating).

A social structure prepared to troubleshoot technological problems is also important to have prepared in the library. This requires librarians and library workers to learn how to use the technology in the library. They should be prepared to help each other as well as patrons with it. Within the library, workers with expertise in different areas will need to collectively assist each other. Additionally, librarians should take the time to not only help patrons, but to teach patrons how to use new technology effectively.

So often in the library world you hear worries about the extinction of libraries. Brown and Duguid would argue that the demand for books, and hence the demand for libraries, will continue on. Libraries will not be replaced by technology; they will simply evolve with it. As long as there is technology, we will need people to put it in context, troubleshoot, and assist people. Technology can lead to independence, but it also draws people together, if only to figure it out.

Comments on “Feed”

In some ways I feel as though our society is very different from the society in Feed. We don’t take vacations to the moon, the government still runs public education (as opposed to corporations), and our meat still comes from animals. However, there were many eerie details in “Feed” that reminded me of our society today too. We may not have feeds hooked into our brains yet, but most people carry one or more mobile devices that allow us access to a network. When I read the book, I thought of those people who walk around with their Bluetooth headsets in their ears, even when they’re not using them. They’re ready to connect with someone at all times, just like the m-chats. We also are inundated with recommendations from the technology we use. You can’t place an order on Amazon.com without receiving several recommendations for other items you might be interested in. Since I had never used personal aggregators before this class, I hadn’t realized before how close we are to some of the aspects of the society in “Feed.” With our Google accounts which enable us to search, blog, email, im, track our favorite web sites and blogs, etc., it seems like we’re almost there. As brutal and heartbreaking as it was in the book, I can also certainly envision in our own future companies that will not help people who have proven to be unreliable customers. It wouldn’t surprise me if it happens today. Aspects of today’s society can also be related to the humiliation and mockery that Violet’s father had to put up with for not having a feed. I don’t know one adult who doesn’t have a cell phone. I can imagine an adult living right now who has no phone number would have an extremely hard time getting hired for a job. And just like the kids were longing for their feeds while they were in the hospital, today people would long for the Internet and their cell phones if they lost access to them.

I think that the most shocking part about “Feed” to me was the control that the companies had over people. In essence, they decided who got medical attention, and who died. They turned education into advertising (School TM). They actually had access to people’s thoughts. They were literally tapped into their brains. I found it very disturbing… and yet, I can also see us getting closer and closer to realizing a future like this.

The destruction of all things natural was also highly disturbing. It amazed me that the characters in the book not only accepted their lesions, they thought they were cool. They went as far as to get additional incisions to appear “brag.” Their bodies were falling apart. People weren’t conceived naturally anymore. The environment was falling apart. For goodness sakes, whales had to be laminated in non-organic covering to be able to live in the ocean! And intelligence sure seemed to be dwindling as well. It’s a depressing prediction, and one I hope we manage to avoid.

New to Me Social Software Site

Ahhh… so much is new to me!

Ning (http://www.ning.com/) is a site that allows you to either create your own social network or join an existing social network. There are over 30,000 networks already on Ning. The variety of networks available is mindboggling… from Navy Moms to Vegetarian to Brazilian to People into Tattoos to Firefighter to People who like Good Charlotte to Political Debators, etc… you name it, you can probably find a group to join that covers it. It’s a fascinating site to peruse because it gives you a chance to explore many different types of people as well as interests that you may not typically consider.

I could definitely see myself joining several groups for personal use that I discovered on Ning. I could even see myself creating my own social network (it seems so easy!) Of course, I won’t be doing any of these things until I finish grad school, because SCILS in and of itself provides us with life-encompassing endeavors.

I also think that Ning could be used in a public library setting to create book discussion groups or book recommendation groups. In a school library, Ning can be used to create the latter groups as well as project discussion groups, researching groups, class/grade groups, etc. Particularly in a school setting it would have to be closely monitored by the SLMS but I think that librarians, library patrons and students would really enjoy creating and using their own specific groups.

Bloglines vs. Google Reader

To begin with, I’ve never used anything like either of these web-based aggregators before so this is all new to me. Of course, Bloglines and Google Reader do basically the same thing and have many of the same features including the ability to share feeds, import and export subscription lists, organize subscriptions in folders, etc. Even though I spent more time working with Bloglines, I definitely feel much more comfortable using Google Reader. Bloglines caused me quite a bit of confusion that I didn’t experience while using Google Reader.

First of all, I didn’t and still don’t understand why there were so many options while subscribing to my classmates’ blogs. I added the “Sub with Bloglines” to my “Favorites” tab so beginning to subscribe was very easy. However, once I tried to complete the subscription, there were always several options for “Available Feeds.” I didn’t know which one or ones to choose, so I selected all of them. When I went to look at my subscriptions afterwards, I had several copies of the same blog posts. With Google Reader, all I needed to do to add a subscription was to click the “Add a Subscription” button and input the URL. I got one copy of the posts I subscribed to.

Another thing that bothered me about Bloglines was that after I clicked to look at a post once, it seemed to become unavailable afterwards. I liked that Google Reader kept the posts available so if I only had time to skim them to begin with, I could return later to read them more thoroughly.

I get the feeling that Bloglines’ setup caters more to experienced users of this type of technology. Google Reader seemed much more user friendly and easier for a novice like me to understand.

Blogger versus WordPress

*I had to activate my WordPress blog through my email account to begin blogging. On Blogger I could begin instantly.

*While creating the account in Blogger, part of the set-up process entailed designing the layout and features of the blog. In WordPress, creating the account was faster, because the design, layout and features were automatic (yet changeable).

*The layout in Blogger seems easier to change. In WordPress the only page element that I could figure out how to alter was the custom image header.

*WordPress automatically put my first blog entry, my first comment, my tagline, and my about me page up. In these areas WordPress left instructions for me regarding how to edit and delete different features on the blog.

*WordPress offers upgrades (custom css, unlimited private users, and 5 GB, 15 GB, and 25 GB space upgrades) for prices which can be paid through Paypal. Blogger is completely free.

*On Blogger, it was easy and clear how to add my avatar into the User Profile. On WordPress, I had a hard time finding a place where I could add my avatar to the blog. Eventually I added it within my “about me” post on my “about me” page.

*The dashboards on Blogger and WordPress, although they have many of the same functions, look completely different. Blogger’s dashboard looks like a blog. WordPress’s dashboard looks like a more formal website.

*Both Blogger and WordPress allow for the ability to moderate comments and add widgets. They also offer very similar post writing options.

*On the Blogger Help page, you can ask for help from the Help Group/fellow Bloggers. Both Blogger and WordPress have helpful lists of faq and answers.

My (less fancy) WordPress blog:
http://jwscils598x08.wordpress.com/