Thing 7: Web 2.0 Tools

Thing 7 was a lot of information but luckily most of it I already new. The first web 2.0 tool that we went over is email which is something that I am very familiar with and use on a daily basis. I have learned a lot while working in the library with both staff and patrons being my teachers. Also, I have taught email classes to our patrons both beginning email which basically goes over setting up an email account with yahoo and more advanced email which deals with attachment and managing emails. The hardest class I ever taught is basic email because if patrons have had no experience with email it is almost like I am talking another language when I try to explain it to them. However, once they have gotten the hang of it is a lot of fun teaching them the more advanced techniques.

I have also used IM, especially since it seems to be the only way in which to get a hold with my brother. However, in regards to use within the library it is not feasible at this time just because staff doesn't have the ability to download information onto our desktop, only our IT people can do it, but first it would probably have to be approved and a policy written up. However, if the library ever got IM I think it would be a great addition. As Aaron Schmidt and Michael Stephens talk about in the article "IM Me" IM could be used to bring library staff together from across a distance. In the library I work for we are apart of a regional system with Moorhead acting as the hub so a lot of our small libraries call us or email us with questions which they then could IM instead. The only problem would be that staff may no be readily available to answers their questions.

Text Messaging is something that I can truthfully say I have never done and really I don't feel any need to use text messaging. However, I do feel like I am out of touch with people who do use text chat lingo. In fact, if anyone has seen the AT&T commercial where the son, daughter, and grandmother are specking in text slang; I feel that if there weren’t subtitles I would only understand half of what they are saying or texting. Also, the fact that the grandmother can use text lingo makes me feel really inadequate. However, then I just think of my real grandmother and the fact that she cannot text makes me feel better. The one advantage I find to texting is stated in the article "SMS offers libraries new talk tool" by Marshal Breeding; libraries have started using texting to send notices that requested items are in which could be very useful in the future, unfortunately until all our patrons catch up to this texting craze it isn't even a possibility.

Finally the last item to go over is Web Conferencing which was interesting to explore but in a way hard to do. First, I tried viewing a web conference through OPAL, however the site wanted me to download something in order for me to be apart of the Conference and as I was working on a staff computer I didn't have the authority to do that. I then tried Minitex where I didn't find any open sessions however they did have many archived ones and I glimpsed at one about podcasting. The archived web conference was basically made up of slides with audio and though a little dry; it was interesting never the less.

So, finally in conclusion I find web 2.0 tools to be very useful and the way of the future but we still have a long way to go before we implement all the tools listed in this Thing. Also, sorry for writing so most I didn't know I had so much to say about Web 2.0 Tools.