Library 204: Blog as a Library Tool?

Greetings students!

I've been enjoying reading all the blogs this week. The majority of you seem to be new bloggers -- and while some of you may be scratching your head wondering why I would possibly want you to blog, I assure you that at the end of the class you will see some value in it. (If you don't feel free to express that to me as I'm a feedback nut).

The major idea of a blog is a personal publishing system with a very important component - the ability for the general public (or restricted users in some cases) to post comments. Feedback! Contribution!

Let's take a look at Amazon. When I am searching for a new book to purchase on a favorite topic, I generally browse a specific subject that I find in a keyword search. I narrow down my choices by type of materials (this case a book), and at the bottom of every product page is a list of CATEGORIES that the product belongs to. This is all very similar to a library catalog (OPAC). I can click through the different subject. I can see other titles that are similar to the one I'm searching for. And, for someone like me who is a feedback nut, I can read REVIEWS! I want to know what other people who have read the book I am considering spending $30 on thinks about it. Was it valuable to them? Wouldn't it also be nice to have a feature in the library OPAC that connected REVIEWS to the item you are searching for?

I do the same thing with hotels. Let's look at my choices. 10 years ago I could go to the Internet and search for hotels on expedia.com, find out information about the property, etc. It is a good possibility that I could even find a webpage for the specific hotel with photos, maybe reservation information, and description of amenities. Today however I can go to TripAdvisor.com or RealTravel.com and find out other people's opinions on hotels, restaurants, museums, places to visit, etc. One of my favorite places to visit is Seattle, Washington. Take a look at the TripAdvisor page for Seattle. Some of these hotels have hundreds of reviews. I can do my own research from opinions and advice from real people, instead of from a book which may or may not be outdated or accurate. Another good example that I use often to find local restaurants, parks, and other places is Yelp.com. People SHARE information with other people, with us.

Blogs are just another way to do that, to provide a platform for someone to share about a specific topic and for others to put in their $.02. In a library environment, it gives the library a human aspect, opens up ideas about new services and really tries to connect the library and the community. Kinda like what I'm trying to do in this class. Hmm...

Something to think about!

Some of my favorite library related blogs are:
LibrarianInBlack.net
TameTheWeb.com
TheShiftedLibrarian.com
LibrariansMatter.com
TheUbiquitousLibrarian

Here are some examples of how Universities use blogs in their libraries:
Ohio Universities Libraries News
Yale University Library News
Hunter Library News

Example of Teen Services Blogs in Public Libraries
WorthingTeens

Know of any you would like to share?

Lets talk about Library 2.0

This weeks discussion is centered around Reference Services -- what is our idea of providing valuable reference services to our patrons. When we think of library reference services are we assuming that the interaction always has to occur in a face-to-face setting? How can we provide reference services 24 hrs a day? How can we reach out to the Internet generation? People browsing our website? Where else can we reach the patrons?

I'm going to provide a few links to other blogs that provide discussion about Library 2.0. We will be reading much about Library 2.0, Web 2.0 and other services to provide over the Internet to inspire ideas that might help us discover new ways to reach patrons.

Library Crunch - Service for the Next Generation Library - A Library 2.0 Perspective by Michael Casey

Tame the Web - Libraries, Technology and People - by Michael Stephens

Library 204: Day One

I'm so excited to be starting another class - a brand new class! Library 204 - Intro to Reference Services. I have tons of ideas for work that we will be doing together. As usual, I will incorporate blog reflections into the course. It works well for me and I think the students enjoy the reflection and collaboration process as well. Other assignments and projects will be discussed/revealed soon. :)

New students welcome! Returning students -- glad to see you!

Excellent report in CQ Researcher this week

Internet Accuracy - How Reliable is Information Found on the Web (dated August 1st, 2008)

Wow - an excellent report. It discusses information that we have talked about in this course. Particularly about the concept of community contributions to wikis for reference material (namely Wikipedia) and how the accuracy of that information can affect other information resources.

The report also discusses how the younger generation is used to information overload, and how most people who know how to use a search engine can FIND information on the web, but is it the BEST source out there for them to utilize.

Check it out and let me know what you think of it. I will definitely be using this report as a reading assignment for future courses!

Oppose the suggestion to close the Main Branch of the Long Beach Public Library

Spreading the word about the disturbing suggestion to close the main branch of the Long Beach Public Library to save money.

Please read about the situation at the blog below:
http://savelbpl.blogspot.com/

Help spread the word!