LIS 9763

 Today, blogs are seen to have many different uses, from keeping in touch with friends and family across the world to providing information on a given topic to anyone who may be interested. For the final project, I have introduced a Blog to our Data Resource Centre (DRC) at the University of Guelph. The DRC is the one-stop shop for statistical/numerical and geospatial data where we also provide assistance with using the data in a GIS or in a statistical analysis.
 

 WOW - where has the semester gone...  It always amazes me how fast time really flies.  So for my last blog entry I'll address each of the questions in the Wrap-up - so here goes...
1)  Has your view of social software changed since starting this course?If so, how?

 Marketing and Evaluation - two topics that many of us struggle with in our positions.  We like to think that if we build these really cool 2.0 services that we "know" the younger generation of students are using - that they will indeed come.  Let's think about it - if the students are on facebook all day long - why wouldn't they use a library facebook presence to interact with us?

...when everyone has a voice, anyone can contribute, and the value lies in the content itself than in the networks of learners that form around content and support one another in learning goals."  Educause paper.
 

Second LIfe, virtual games, what's next?  Obviously when it comes to this whole concept I definitely show my age - ok I'm not that much older - but older enough to just NOT get it!  Where are the days when friends get together and play board games?  Or when we sit down with our children and students and play or encourage learning games?  I'm sorry I just don't get it!
 

 As I read this week's articles I started to reflect how my teenage daughter uses mySpace and Facebook.  I'm not convinced that MySpace is used more by teens and Facebook by Undergrads - this may have been the case a few years ago, but today I'm being told that everyone is using Facebook and that MySpace is more for music. 
 

As I contemplate folksonomies and view the "case studies" for this lesson - it really got me thinking that maybe there's a place for folksonomies in the context of a public library but not so much in the academic library.  If l think about the difference in how I use the 2 libraries - it makes sense...  When I go to the public library - I'm looking more information on a general topic - often something of personal interest.  At times I'm successful with my search - but often I find myself wondering what other search words could I use?  Having other contributor t

I remember when the whole concept of tagging came to being and the fear I felt - what in the world is this all about and how am I going to work with it?  Will there come a time where I NEED to use tags?  I know old folkie view points....  Over the years I've become accustomed to using webpages with tag clouds - but have to admit I'm still not comfortable with it.  I feel like I'm being lead to information rather than being allowed to search on my own.
 

Good day classmates – as we learn and read about the history and potential uses of wikis in a library environment this week, we would like you to consider the extension of a wiki as a teaching tool. Specifically, how it can be used as a presentation and collaborative learning medium for students.
 

RSS feeds - are they really efficient and time savers or do they encourage us to settle for information that we've already found?  Do they prevent us from seeking new sites?  Probing questions - I know...  but in today's reality - do we have or do we take the time to "surf" the web and seek out new information sources?  With RSS feeds the newest info from sites we've already found comes to us - so why should we go out if we're happy with the sources we've already found?