LIS 9763

Hi everyone,
Now media sharing, that is an interesting topic, I think that it is something that even the least informed Web 2.0 person knows about, which is good news for librarians because it is easy for patrons to potentially take advantage of.  Almost everyone I know loves to use YouTube and explore Flikr because let's just be honest, it is fun to see the interesting and quircky ideas that other people come up with, or to learn about topics that you would otherwise know nothing about.  After this week's readings, however, I began to see the multiple ways that these Web 2.0 technologies can be extremely helpful to libraries!  
In last week's dicussion about gaming and virtual worlds I had thought that a virtual tour or lesson on how to use library services could be implemented through the creation of a virtual library world.  However, I recognize that certain gaming skills might be required for users to fully embrace this idea.  These types of skills are really not required for the use of YouTube and Flikr, as well as other media sharing devices.  How much more useful would it be to provide a virtual tour to patrons on the library's mainpage through a YouTube video!!  I think that is a great idea!  Or, perhaps as we have seen through Western Libraries'  promotion activities, a YouTube video could be used to inform patrons of where to go in the library to get help, where certain collections are kept, how to use the catalogue, or new and upcoming ideas and directions that the library is wanting to take.  Flikr would also be an amazing avenue for sharing information and providing visual representation of either the library's geographic set-up, the library's historical past, events held at the library, or the unvailing of new displays!  
I picture truly does say a thousand words.  Why wouldn't libraries want to implement such easily accessible technology that is equally user-friendly as media sharing devices that enable library users to see and perhaps better appreciate what is going on at the library?
Another thought that comes to mind is the issue of "learning commons" which is being introduced to many libraries, for example the University of Guelph.   This aligns with Wester LIbraries' "Library as place and place as library" concept.  I'm sure that you have all heard of this before, but in case you have not, Western Libraries' is wanting to promote the idea that their library system, via the internet, is available to patrons no matter where they are, meanwhile trying to attract patrons to the physical location by providing comfortable and inviting facilities.  A really excellent way to promot library as place is to show patrons through photographs (i.e. Flikr) or perhaps a YouTube video-which could add the feature of music to make it more appealing-to show patrons how new purchases, such as couches, comfy chairs, good better lighting, and in some cases the addition of a coffee shop to attract patrons back to the library!
In short, I think that the use of media sharing devices, such as Flikr and YouTube provide excellent means for librarians to communicate many forms of new messages to the public.  Furthermore, it is the use video sharing technologies could also be a means of sharing audio messages to patrons who perhaps use library services for audio books, brail, or other types of resources which reach audiences such as the deaf or people with limited reading skills.