This is a video I created for my LIS 5313 (Design & Media Production) class. One of our major projects was to create a digital story based on a specific experience in our lives that has importance to who we are. I chose to create a video based on the evolution of discovering my “librarian identity.” I used my previous life graduate experience in Student Personnel in Higher Education (i.e., fancy word for Student Affairs) by incorporating student identity theory. Loosely based on Cass’s 1979 model of sexual identity development, I created four stages of figuring out that I was (well, I want to be) a librarian. I tried to incorporate a light-hearted, humorous tone.
Earlier in January, I sent Michael Stephens a copy of my LIS 5313 web 2.0 article regarding Twittering Libraries. Since he wrote a lot about the value Twitter has for libraries, I thought the information I collected from my survey might be of some interest. He probably gets a million emails from other random folks all the time, but what the heck, I thought – it’s worth a shot, so I emailed it to him — and he responded back!
I can see why he is well-revered in the librarian community – even though he is probably one of the busiest guys in the profession, he took time to read what I put together and replied back with an offer to do a guest posting on his blog, Tame the Web. I am still so happy and grateful of that opportunity!
You can read the original post here, but I thought I’d go ahead and post it below as well.
Lindy shared her project for LIS5313 with me via email and I asked her to share her study with TTW readers. Thanks Lindy! Michael
Recently, I read a post from Mashable.com about Twitter’s staggering growth in 2008: Twitter grew 752 percent in 2008 for a total of 4.43 million unique visitors in December! What does this mean for libraries? As Twittermania spreads, more and more of their patrons are will use it to communicate, socialize and make connections. As such, libraries should see the unlimited potential Twitter can have to connect them to their community and beyond.
Libraries must adjust to reflect the expanded use of social media by our youth (see the recent John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur report from the Digital Youth Project). Much has been debated and discussed about the library staying relevant; I believe we must meet our users “where they’re at.” One way to do this is through social media, and Twitter is part of that repertoire.
This past fall I wrote an article titled Twittering Libraries for my LIS 5313 (Design & Production of Media) graduate class at Florida State University. The article provides background information and a brief history of Twitter, notes the pros and cons reported by libraries using it, and shares findings on innovative ways libraries are using the service.
At the time, I found about 90 libraries on Twitter and I emailed the survey to all of them. Sixty-five libraries/librarians replied. From that information, I wrote my article. I found out that overall, most librarians said Twitter is easy, fun, free to use, is a great marketing and public relations tool, allows for collaboration amongst staff and community, provides opportunities for professional development and networking, has strength in its brevity, and allows libraries to, as one librarian put it, “build street cred.”
Some may argue that Twitter is yet another web 2.0 fad, but I believe we’re only seeing the beginning of its utility. Even with a limited reach, Twitter is a free and not-so-time-intensive tool that libraries/librarians can use to improve their services, create relationships with their patrons and community, and use for assessment and promotion. I believe that with 752 percent growth in just the past year, Twitter is more than just a fad, and its reach currently has limitless potential.
If you or your library is using Twitter in a way not discussed in the LIS 5313 article, please share!
David Berland, executive director of ZDNet, proclaims that mashups are “the fastest growing ecosystem in the internet.” What exactly is a “mashup” any way? Check out Mr. Berland’s video below to find out more about this growing Internet phenomenon.
Some examples of Mashups:
Flickrvision is a combination of pictures from the Flickr website and Google Maps. Flickrvision shows pictures as they are updated and entered into the Flickr website and where those pictures are being uploaded. Flickrvision offers a 3D version as well.
RSOE Emergency and Disaster Information Service: This mashup with Google Earth and local emergency and disaster information services shows major ongoing emergencies in the world. Check out the map and click on any of the icons to see what is going on in that area (i.e., earthquake, flooding, etc). More detailed information (a summary of the event, situation update, photos, etc) is incorporated if you click on the links.
TuneGlue is a mashup of Lastfm.com (a UK-based internet radio and community website) and Amazon.com. TuneGlue is an extensive online music mapping mechanism which utilizes relational data from Last.fm to make focused and accurate music recommendations to music fans. TuneGlue is a user-generated site that mashes with Amazon.com to link consumers to recommended artists, websites and retailers, and is based on the comparison of the listening preferences and profiles of other music fans.
To find out more information about Mashups:
I recommend starting with ProgrammableWeb.com. This website is GREAT! You can search for mashups or browse the various categories. ProgrammableWeb.com also has information on what APIs (application programming interface) to use (i.e., Google Maps, del.icio.us, Yahoo, eBay, Flickr, etc.) how to create mashups (code, tools and resources) — just in case you were wanting to create your own! ProgrammableWeb is where you can keep up with what’s new and interesting with mashups, Web 2.0 APIs, and the new Web as Platform. Bookmark this site!
Question to consider:
After watching Mr. Berland’s video and checking out the sites above, do you agree that mashups are the future of the “web 2.0? revolution?
