Online Image Generators

The online image generators were amusing little programs that ranged from creating calendars to putting your name up in lights. I kind of saw this resource as something that might go inside a Web designer's toolbox. The Generator Blog had quite a substantial list of these intriguing tools. I see these online image generators as a kind of Web-based clearinghouse of fun and experimental tools to enhance Web site activities.

Twittering by the Second

I'm not quite sure how useful Twitter would be for libraries. My understanding is that Twitter is akin to excessive blogging or blogging on steroids. Perhaps this type of cutting-edge news would be appropriate for very time-sensitive information such as news updates in the event of a major crisis (e.g., earthquake) or election results. In other words, Twitter could be used to help people monitor extremely fluid information and especially those who spend a considerable amount of time on the Internet daily.

Applying Web 2.0 Technologies in Libraries

After viewing samples of how other libraries are employing Web 2.0 technologies, I realize that one can be quite creative in implementing these technological enhancements. Podcasts, for example, can be used as booktalks to market the library's collection. RSS feeds are especially useful for keeping patrons updated on workshops, programs, new additions to the collection, new databases, and so forth. Blogs can easily attract online communities and foster active discussions for a book club or even function as a virtual "suggestion box." I'm sure these technologies can also operate in conjunction with each other.

I would like to explore how Second Life fits into the picture. Could creating a virtual presence in Second Life function as yet another reference access point? This whole idea of creating a presence in a virtual world intrigues me, and I imagine it must be a step up from e-mail reference, instant messaging, and chatrooms.

Flickr

Flickr appears to be taking the old electronic discussion forums (some may remember Usenet), and upgrading it with all the interactive and visual features. I find this resource to be like YouTube, but with photos. It's too bad there doesn't seem to be a hierarchy of topics as there are with the Google Groups or Yahoo Groups discussion lists. Nonetheless, this can be a very addictive resource that can compete with the existing image databases out there on the Web, especially since many people have digital cameras these days.

Launching into the "23 Things" Initiative

Hi There!

I'm currently trying to saturate my mind with Web 2.0 technologies and have already completed Joe Barker's "Web 2.0 Searching Innovations" workshop as well as "Sarah Houghton's "Web 2.0: Developing a Successful eBranch" online class. Both of them offered me a variety of Web 2.0 tools to play around with. I also viewed Helene Blower's Webcast and found it to be quite informative and concise at the same time. Overall, there are certainly lots of new and interesting terrains to explore on the virtual landscape, and I hope to tinker with them a bit more since I currently teach an Internet Research Strategies at a community college.