Thing #24: Finale!

With the conclusion of this post, I will have completed the 25 Things. Yay!  I wasn’t sure that I was going to make it, seeing as I got off to a fairly slow start, but here I am.  I must say, I definitely learned a lot about web 2.0 in the past few weeks. I’m also happy to say that I had fun in the process.  As someone who usually avoids technology, particularly computers, like the plague, I was surprised to find myself spending additional time on some of the Things because I was having fun.  Sure there are some that I will likely never use again, but at least now when they come up in conversation, I’ll know what people are talking about.

 

I think my favourite Thing, and the one I will likely use the most, was RSS Readers.  I’m still trying to remember to check my reader regularly, but using it sure is easier than trying to remember to check numerous sites on a regular basis.  I will also have to spend more time on YouTube.  There are still many episodes of Tumbletown Tales that I have not seen, so I am going to have to fix that!  I also intend to do more with my LibraryThing account, and hopefully I’ll remember to tell more people about it.   Who knows, now that I’ve gotten the hang of writing this blog, I may even keep it going as well!

 

Just this week, I had the opportunity to put my newfound technology skills to use when I was asked to scan some illustrations in order to make a slide show for a presentation that I was doing.  In the past, I would have avoided such a task at all costs, but this time, after getting some instructions from some friends, I decided to see if I could figure out how to do the task on my own.  I’m happy to report that I was successful, and the presentation went quite well.  I definitely felt a real sense of accomplishment, and I’ve realized that using technology doesn’t have to be difficult.  (I even found myself wondering what I could scan next!).

 

Although some of the Things were more challenging than others, I enjoyed the program overall.  I would definitely recommend it to anyone who works in a library, as well as anyone who just wants to know more about web 2.0.  Thank you to everyone who had a part in putting this program together.

Thing #17: Library 2.0

I heard a lot about web 2.0 when I was in library school, and to be honest, I didn’t find it all that interesting.  At times, I even found myself thinking wistfully of the way things were before technology exploded and changed the way we did things.  However, the more I participate in web 2.0 activities, the more I like it. Not all of it, mind you, but I definitely see it playing a part in the way things are done.  I think that libraries can definitely do a lot with Library 2.0, and can certainly do more for their patrons by enabling them to participate in their own library experience. 

Libraries should be accessible to everyone, and library 2.0 makes that possible.  People can now have a say in how things are done at their library by posting comments or tagging books.  They can learn about programs and new books from their Blackberries or home computers, and they can do their research from the comfort of their own home.  This doesn’t mean that traditional libraries will become obsolete, but it does mean that libraries now have ways to reach and interact with many of those people who,  for whatever reason, tend to avoid using traditional library buildings and services.  It will definitely be interesting to see how libraries evolve in the coming years, as they continue to look for ways to incorporate web 2.0 into their services.