Once you have a Twitter account you can begin tweeting. Tweeting is similar to blogging however, it is concise. Individuals tweet frequently answering the question “what are you doing?”  Tweets are displayed on a home page or in private.

Honestly, at first I did not understand why people enjoy Twitter. I feel like I don’t need to know what everyone is doing all the time. Who cares who is going to bed when, where people are going, or what they are eating. Why are people interested in knowing what everyone is doing all the time? Others would argue that it makes people feel connected to the everyday life of loved ones.

The more I thought about Twitter and the more I read about it I began to see a potential for use. Libraries may use Twitter with the intent to network with patrons and within the community. Libraries can also discover what other libraries and librarians are doing. Twitter may be used as a free marketing tool, advertising programs and services. It may also be used as a reference service. Our main goals are accessibility and providing the best customer service possible. Therefore, if the majority of library patrons are using Twitter I believe libraries should sign up.

A library would have to look at whether or not a Twitter account would be a waste of time. If the library already has a blog, website, and Facebook account, the librarian must update all of these along with his/her regular duties. Furthermore, they must consider the fact that the Tweets would only reach individuals who are tech-savvy. Therefore, libraries must rely on more than Twitter to reach out to all individuals.

There are several benefits of social bookmarking. First, it is easy to organize and view Web sites. Second, adding Web sites into your account is fast. When you find a Web site you wish to bookmark click on the del.icio.us logo and the site is saved automatically in your account. Third, you can view your bookmarks from any computer. Finally, bookmarks are made public so others can benefit from viewing them. For example, as library technician students we might need a Web site to access a database, conduct Web searching, or discover something new related to libraries. Students can all share the Web sites and learn together.

There are also disadvantages of social bookmarking. Mistagging can happen due to spelling errors resulting in difficulty locating the Web site. Furthermore, tags can have more than one meaning resulting in confusion.

I searched del.icio.us for information about Christmas traditions. Top tags that I found from the Web sites were: holidays, world, celebration, social studies, reference, culture, history, and scavenger hunt. Top Web sites found were: http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm , http://www.the-north-pole.com/around/ and http://www.simpletoremember.com/vitals/Christmas_TheRealStory.htm. Tags were useful in narrowing down the Web sites. The tags were relevant. The only tag I found confusing was reference.

When the same search is performed in Google the following top Web sites are revealed: http://www.santas.net/aroundtheworld.htm , http://www.allthingschristmas.com/traditions.html http://www.canadianliving.com/relationships/friends_and_family/christmas_wouldnt_be_christmas_without.php. Both searches resulted in the same top site.

Prior to Google docs groups used b-mail to communicate. The problem with e-mail is that several e-mails were needed to create the final version of a document. Therefore, time was not managed properly and confusion arose over which document was the most revised edition.

In Google docs a document can be shared with up to 200 people. 10 people can edit a document at the same time. Once this limit has been reached, others will still be able to view the document. Furthermore, there is a chat box available to aid in communication between editors.

I believe Google docs would be useful in a library setting. It compliments the mission of Library 2.0. Google docs may be used to reduce the number of meetings staff would attend. The result of fewer meetings is more time spent in the library assisting patrons. Staff and board members can work together on issues at their convenience. Some examples of use are: to create a mission statement, to create an important message/newsletter, and to change policies and procedures. Spreadsheets may be used for budgetary purposes. Privacy is maintained by allowing a limited number of people access to the document.

I chose to sign up for a free online application called Shelfari. Shelfari can be found at www.shelfari.com. I enjoy reading and have found my experience with SheIfari to be positive. Shelfari encourages individuals to share books that they have read, plan to read, or are currently reading. Friends can browse your book shelf and discuss topics about a book or suggest other reads. Each book contains a description, a glossary, a table of contents, awards, and memorable book quotes. I am really enjoying building my bookshelf and rating books. I am looking forward to friends joining.

I have recently subscribed to an RSS feed of audio content from CBC radio, called between the covers. Now, when new content is available I am notified. I download the show and I can listen or view the podcast directly from my Google reader. This is great for me because I do not own a portable device. You can also subscribe to your favorite shows by using iTunes, which is free.

Libraries may benefit from the use of podcasting. First, it would be easy for libraries to create their own show. The show could have information regarding library news, special events, hours of operation, and book reviews. Second, digitizing records is an effective means of making material more widely available. Patrons can access material any time of the day, any day of the week, from any internet location.

One well known example of podcasting is YouTube. Therefore, I have posted a YouTube video related to the importance of technology.

I have recently taken part in a wiki. I believe that wikis can be a valuable source of sharing information. I enjoy the ability to connect with others and share or debate opinions. Library patron’s may find wikis beneficial in a school setting. Group projects are very common, through a wiki group members can contribute to a topic and update information in one place. This method is more efficient then the alternative of sending e-mails. Wikipedia is an example of a wiki used frequently by library patrons as a source for research.

The downside of wikis is the credibility issue. Due to the open-source concept, anyone may add personal thoughts or opinions, which may be misinterpreted as facts. Furthermore, there is a potential for unethical behavior. For example, users may delete or change information. A further problem arises  when the size of the group is very great. Group members may “take over” the wiki from another, causing unsaved work and frustration.

I can imagine RSS feeds being very useful in a library. Patrons can sign up to a feed displaying new books. The RSS feed could also display  special events or newsletters. What I find difficult about using RSS is finding feeds that are interesting to me. The article “Feed Your Head: Keeping up by Using RSS” by Roy Tennant was very helpful in suggesting ways to search for feeds like Newsisfree.com and Feedster.com. From now on I will definitely be looking for that little orange RSS button  on my favorite web pages.