LIBRARIES MEET THE GRID: Librarians in Cyberspace
Virginia Allen
Beth Avery
Information Spaces
RSS Feeds
BlogsWikis
SocialNetworks
Virtual Reality
Online Community
What is Online Community
• People who connect– Through time– Through space– Using the Internet
• Also called Social Networking/media/computing
• All are invited• New paradigm
What is a BLOG?
• Blogs are free, Personal web pages
• Displayed in reverse date order (like an online journal).
• Updated at various intervals
• Other people can post comments to them but can’t change the content.
• All have text, some also can have photos, audio, video. Some accept posts from mobile phones and other mobile devices.
• Each post has unique URL
Library Blogs
• Why start one? What do you want to accomplish?
• Talk to other librarians who have implemented successful blogs.
• Remember the software is constantly changing. Do you have the staff to handle it?
The Good
• WYSIWYG editor – Easy to do
• Can be multi-author
• Can have multiple blogs
• Comments by others
• Free software available
• Gives your web site a human touch
• Easily share information
The Bad
• No categories
• Must use external search engine
• Can be slow
The Very Bad
What is a WIKI?
• A Web site that allows users to add and update content on the site using their own Web browser
• Comes from the Hawaiian phrase, "wiki wiki," which means "super fast."
The Good
• Collaborative editing – everyone contributes
• Share expertise
• Continuously growing
• Searchable
• Can create without knowing HTML
• Easy way to create documentation
• Create new “articles”
The Bad
• Loss of content or mis-information added• Community needs to constantly monitor
RSS Feeds
• Really Simple Syndication, Rich Site Summary
• XML format designed for easy distribution and updating of headlines to personal Web pages, news readers and aggregators
• Widely available:
Why Do I Want One?
• Solves the problem of going to many sites individually each day.
• Saves time.
• Don't have to visit each web site – do through RSS viewer
Social Networks
• Users create their own profile
• Can include pictures
• New way dimension of interaction
• Can create your own friends list
Social Networks
• My Space
• Frienster
• Xanga
• Bebo
Good Things
• Creates an increased sense of community
• Expands social connections
• Inexpensive way to communicate
Bad things
• Privacy issues – how much do you reveal?
• Is the Cyber image true?
• Who is looking at your profile?
• Who belongs? Perception it's an individual thing, not institution
Virtual Reality
• Second Life – A project of The Alliance Library System and librarians around the world.
What is Second Life
• 3-D Virtual Environment• Place to learn, teach, create community• Growing community • Owned by residents
New Media Consortium CampusNew Media Consortium Campus
AVATARS»
» » Philosophy Rebel
Hawt Librarian
Library of Congress in Secondlife Library
You're Invited
• Second Life Library/Info Island• Grand Opening• October 12-14, 2006• http://67.19.231.213/v4/login.asp?
r=67955673&p=0 for audio
THANK YOU!
• Virginia Allen – [email protected]• Beth Avery – [email protected]