CCLS 23 Things #23: Is this really the end?

I'm going to go ahead and write this post before completing the previous exercise, to make sure I finish by the January 16 deadline.

I am sure that this project is not the end for me, because I have been fascinated by online resources since my early journeys on the text-based "information highway," and I will continue to try to keep on top of new developments. I doubt I'll ever become a fan of, say, Twitter, or podcasts, because they just don't seem to fit in with the way I think or the way I learn. On the other hand, I can see great potential in some other online resources, e.g., wikis and virtual computers.

Some of the resources we explored were really fun but potentially toxic time-wasters. YouTube could occupy me for hours, and I could likewise waste all kinds of time with image generators. I'm not convinced it would be time well-spent. I think I should go read a book instead...

Some of the social networking activities seem to represent a generational divide. It would seem all wrong for someone my age to have a MySpace or Livejournal. I also feel that there's something inauthentic about a library trying to establish an institutional presence in one of these communities. A young librarian, acting as an individual (though in a professional capacity) would be another matter. I can see that kind of connection working to raise the library's profile among teens.

I'm still on the fence with regard to Facebook. I don't want to feel as though I'm spying on my kids by trying to hang out in their online circles.

With a new library director at Tredyffrin, all of us have been asked to think about how our job duties fit with our personal strengths, and how those duties might evolve to create a better fit. I would love to include more technology-related responsibilities in my work, and the "23 Things" project just might provide some of the knowledge and inspiration I need to set off on this path.

CCLS 23 Things #19: Social Networking Tools

Social networking sites can be amazing tools. I know my kids carry out a huge portion of their social lives on Facebook and Livejournal. I liked the little Common Craft videos explaining how social networking works.

I'm still not convinced that they're a good way for libraries to connect with patrons. I started by checking out a couple of the library MySpace pages linked from the best practices wiki. I clicked on one at random—Peabody Institute Library—and was told "Invalid Friend ID. This user has either cancelled their membership, or their account has been deleted." The second one I clicked on had such a weird color scheme and such tiny font that I literally couldn't read it. Not exactly an auspicious start.

The WCPL MySpace looks fantastic by comparison, attractive and well organized. The slide show of new books is a great feature. But I found it weird that almost all of the Friends comments are from authors plugging their own books. Do any actual library patrons visit the site??

As for Twitter, I personally can't imagine using it. I don't even like blogging, because I don't see why anyone should be interested in what I'm thinking. What I'm doing—hour to hour or minute to minute—is even more boring!