RSS

Life in the 21st century is a complex mirass of over-information. Anything that simplifies our lives is worth taking note of. RSS falls in this category but with a dash of information management. As long as you use restraint and focus on only topics that you need for current awareness or a favorite interest or two, RSS can be a timesaver. If you become entrapped in all the wonderous possibilities of the Internet, you will find your reader stuffed full of information that you will never read. But for those web sites that you do read religiously, rss is the way to go.

Technology

Technology is a tool just like any other tool. There are tools that languish from lack of use and tools that people use everyday. Wander through any retail store and you will find many examples of useless technology. You get what you pay for.

Not all technology is like Doctor Who's sonic screwdriver that seems to get the doctor out of all kinds of outrageous situations. Often times the cheaper the tech, the less likely it is going to work but this is not always the case. Many libraries have paid large amounts of money for technology improvements that just don't do what they promised to do. Like the library motto "knowledge is power", knowledge is a prerequisite to the use of technology. As librarians we need to use our research skills to determine if technology has a functional use in the library. Often people rush to embrace the newest technology without considering the ramifications. What other services will the new technology impact? Does it simply duplicate another way of doing something? Is it going to be easy enough to use for our patrons? Does it provide enough access for our patrons to actually get to use that technology? Downloadable audiobooks that are not readily available is not a good use of technology. Library catalogs that don't allow you to find books with simple titles is an obstacle to information not a technology tool.

Technology needs to be evaluated, compared and simply tested out before libraries tout the latest technology as a service in the library. I think this is why many older adults are frustrated with technology. It just does not have relevancy for them. I often tell patrons to learn technology in a task by task method. Decide what task you wish to learn like attaching a document to an email, creating a resume, searching for jobs online, or even buying something on ebay. This is why learning 23 things about web 2.o is a better way to introduce technology to library staff. Many of us have experienced frustration with google's technology and customer service in the last two weeks. Having personal experience with technology is the best way to know how to apply technology effectively in the library.

That said, using the last habit of highly effective learners is a must when learning (playing) with new technology.

You'll know you are a techie if......

How do we ordinary folks recognize those technologically savvy people in our library universe?

Answer uh-huh to some of the following statements and you will know who you are:

You'll know you are a techie if...

You already have more than five flash drives.

You already have more than two blogs.

You were one of the first people at your branch to modify your blog template.

You already have photos on more than one photo sharing site.

You noticed that most of the photographs on Flickr were taken with a Canon Rebel and then you priced Canon cameras on Ebay.

Everyone else keeps asking you for help with their blog and nobody believes you when you say it was hard for you, too.

Blogging in Libraries?

There are primarily two functions of blogging that I like for libraries: first library staff posting information about new books,reviews of books, events or activities in the library or local community that might be of interest to patrons; second I like patrons to have the opportunity to blog on the library web site about books they have read. For years, patrons have dog-eared, marked, scratched, and in many other inventive ways identified the library books they have read. Some even write commentary on the value of said book in case they come upon the same book and can't remember whether it was any good. The library web site is a less destructive way to remind patrons of books they have read and they can even share in the valuable opinions of their neighbors reading knowledge as well. Many of our patrons gather in the fiction section and gab about books that they like and our web page would give them another avenue for sharing their reading preferences.

Lifelong learning

What I enjoy most about being a librarian, is having access to any lifelong learning topic that I decide to pursue. I always choose some common theme for each year. This last year has been filled with Reader's Advisory activities as well as learning to write fiction. I have participated in other web 2.o activities in the past and the hardest part is simply beginning something new.So what is to be gained by participating in a learning exercise with your co-workers? First, creativity is rampant in our library! Second, creativity is catching. Third, sharing ideas is a great way to learn new things and motivate each other. Have you seen some of the blogs created by your co-workers? Some brave souls have shared their blog addresses with others as well as where they got that great page element that they added to their blog. After we ooh and ahh over the really great ideas that another co-worker came up with, hopefully, we are inspired to give our efforts a little more artistic flair and stretch our technical skills in the effort.