As librarians, many of us have probably been tagging consciously or unconsciously most of our working lives (at home, too-just look at my kitchen drawers and cabinets!). Most of the time the tags (aka subject headings) I've seen and used made sense. But there are times when I just haven't appreciated the slightly arcane subjects I've run across. "Cities and towns, extinct and ruined" vs. "ghost towns" is one of my favorite examples. Now, before I'm forced to run and pull on my asbestos undies so I don't feel your flames, I have a huge respect for catalogers and cataloging. I really do! Many times, however, I've felt like a Mason revealing some long-kept secret when I've shown patrons how to find something by subject, then showed them how to use related subject headings to find other items of potential interest. I've watched a lot of "a-Ha!" moments like this when it sinks in that the patron now understands what all those extra words on that record are for, that she has all these other subjects she can look under, and that she doesn't have to ask for help again. What a surge of power, aye?! (And no, I don't feel obsolete yet.)
I like the idea of tagging and social tagging. Being able to access information using common language alongside specialized terminology makes sense to me. Anytime you can make it easier for someone to find something, that's a good thing, right? I took a look at some of the online library catalogs listed in this week's assignment. Inviting patron prticipation by allowing catalog users to input tags is an interesting idea . It allows patrons to make things more accessible and relevant to them. One question: do libraries that allow tagging moderate the patron suggestions? I'm assuming so or there might be questionable/inappropriate entries. Just wondering.
Next, I went into del.icio.us.com and explored, registered, tagged, and added lots of entries to my account, which I think can be accessed at:
http://del.icio.us/jillzinga
I really like the idea of being able to access my favorites at any computer rather than just one at home. And I like being to see other's favorites and finding new ones of interest. I think this will be one of my new favorite sites. (gee, especially since I've installed the buttons on my browser, aye?LOL!)
Finally, I went back into del.icio.us and searched for others who tagged "frugal". After scanning some the entries listed under a couple of people, I subscribed to an RSS feed from: del.icio.us/bookchiq/frugality, and I see this feed is now listed on my blogroll. Success! Plus, it looks like this person has some interesting sites for me to check out.
I enjoyed this assignment!
Friday, November 30, 2007
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Week 7 - LibraryThing Asignment
Well, it was an interesting assignment. I was FINALLY able to get my books linked to my blog with those cute covers. It was not an intuitive decision where to paste the html script (the what?huh?), so I just guessed and put it in one of the blog template elements. Guess it took, as I can see a couple of the cute covers on the side of my blog. I'm also including the link to my catalog list:
www.librarything.com/catalog/jillzinga
There's no way I would put all my personal books in this catalog - there would be way too many to add, I'm a cheap woman (but I'm not easy!), and I can't think that I'd consult it enough to make the effort worthwhile. I just keep a tiny notebook in my purse with the things I'm looking for when I check out used book stores, thrifts, etc. Just so you understand: I don't use an online calendar, either. I think it's a waste of time to input all that info, when I can just make the necessary notes on my master wall calendar at home. My husband and I go back and forth on this point, so you're not alone in your arguments with me! I've been dragged into the 20th-oops-21st Century kicking and screaming, I guess. LOL!
That said, the Library Thing is a very interesting tool for me to figure out what books I might want to add to my library. When I typed in "Atlas Shrugged" in the BookSuggestor, one interesting title popped up among all the similar editions of the book: "Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged:A Philosophical and Literary Companion." I may have to look that up ILL sometime.
When I used the LibrarySuggestor, some very random titles came up, probably because I added only 6 books to my list, and the tags ran the gamut from cats, fantasy, african violets, and humor to political satire, patchwork, and art quilts. I think I just had too many random tags for the suggestor to come up with a logical list, so I ended up with a variety of political biographies, heirloom gardening guides, and John MacDonald's Dreadful Lemon Sky, and that's not a title I'm at all interested in. Pehaps one needs to have more titles cataloged so the computer can ferret out some sort of pattern. But then, I don't just buy the same books all the time! I buy books on simplicity, frugality, parenting, bible devotions, making fudge, dowsing, humor, gardening, art quilting, cats, etc. So I don't know what pattern would be made of that.
Another quibble with the BookSuggestor:I tried at least six titles in the book suggestor before I finally came up with a good list of similar things to read. The first 5 titles I plugged in came back with several titles written just by that author. My sixth title "The Simple Living Guide" by Janet Luhrs came back with a generous list of books written by other authors I'll be looking closer at. Perhaps I'm just not getting the hang of this particular tool? Or is it just too narrow in some areas? Perhaps the tagging has something to do with it? I dunno.
As for the UnSuggestor, I couldn't get it to work. I typed in at least 4 of the titles I've mentioned above, and it came up with the lists of other books written by the authors. "Unplug the Christmas Machine", for instance, came up with some leader guides to use the same book with youth or church groups. Didn't look like an opposite suggestion to me. I didn't spend too much time there - the idea of putting in titles of things I liked just to come up with titles I won't like seems silly to me. Am I missing something?
I can see where LibraryThing might be an interesting addition to our reader's advisory arsenal. At this point, I'd probably find SCLS's Novelist more useful. Just my humble opinion.
www.librarything.com/catalog/jillzinga
There's no way I would put all my personal books in this catalog - there would be way too many to add, I'm a cheap woman (but I'm not easy!), and I can't think that I'd consult it enough to make the effort worthwhile. I just keep a tiny notebook in my purse with the things I'm looking for when I check out used book stores, thrifts, etc. Just so you understand: I don't use an online calendar, either. I think it's a waste of time to input all that info, when I can just make the necessary notes on my master wall calendar at home. My husband and I go back and forth on this point, so you're not alone in your arguments with me! I've been dragged into the 20th-oops-21st Century kicking and screaming, I guess. LOL!
That said, the Library Thing is a very interesting tool for me to figure out what books I might want to add to my library. When I typed in "Atlas Shrugged" in the BookSuggestor, one interesting title popped up among all the similar editions of the book: "Ayn Rand's Atlas Shrugged:A Philosophical and Literary Companion." I may have to look that up ILL sometime.
When I used the LibrarySuggestor, some very random titles came up, probably because I added only 6 books to my list, and the tags ran the gamut from cats, fantasy, african violets, and humor to political satire, patchwork, and art quilts. I think I just had too many random tags for the suggestor to come up with a logical list, so I ended up with a variety of political biographies, heirloom gardening guides, and John MacDonald's Dreadful Lemon Sky, and that's not a title I'm at all interested in. Pehaps one needs to have more titles cataloged so the computer can ferret out some sort of pattern. But then, I don't just buy the same books all the time! I buy books on simplicity, frugality, parenting, bible devotions, making fudge, dowsing, humor, gardening, art quilting, cats, etc. So I don't know what pattern would be made of that.
Another quibble with the BookSuggestor:I tried at least six titles in the book suggestor before I finally came up with a good list of similar things to read. The first 5 titles I plugged in came back with several titles written just by that author. My sixth title "The Simple Living Guide" by Janet Luhrs came back with a generous list of books written by other authors I'll be looking closer at. Perhaps I'm just not getting the hang of this particular tool? Or is it just too narrow in some areas? Perhaps the tagging has something to do with it? I dunno.
As for the UnSuggestor, I couldn't get it to work. I typed in at least 4 of the titles I've mentioned above, and it came up with the lists of other books written by the authors. "Unplug the Christmas Machine", for instance, came up with some leader guides to use the same book with youth or church groups. Didn't look like an opposite suggestion to me. I didn't spend too much time there - the idea of putting in titles of things I liked just to come up with titles I won't like seems silly to me. Am I missing something?
I can see where LibraryThing might be an interesting addition to our reader's advisory arsenal. At this point, I'd probably find SCLS's Novelist more useful. Just my humble opinion.
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Week 4 and Week 6 - Take my Poll!
I am so tickled to have gotten Weeks 4 and 6 done today - I just had to celebrate by adding another element to my blog. So, take my Christmas Shopping Poll and make me a happy camper. Or shopper. Sure doesn't take much to make me happy, huh?
Week 6 - SUCCESS!!!
I managed to get a Flickr image linked with my blog!!!(see prior entry)
And it looks amazingly like one of my cats, plus I thought it was quite appropriate since I'm a Trekker. And the final funny thing is that this pic reminded me of similar cat pics available in a neat website:
www.icanhascheezburger.com/
(Thanks for the reminder in your comment about this one, Stef! My MIL shared it with me several months ago - what a hoot, aye?)
And it looks amazingly like one of my cats, plus I thought it was quite appropriate since I'm a Trekker. And the final funny thing is that this pic reminded me of similar cat pics available in a neat website:
www.icanhascheezburger.com/
(Thanks for the reminder in your comment about this one, Stef! My MIL shared it with me several months ago - what a hoot, aye?)
Week 6-Attempt 2
Well, I found another picture that is awesome:
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=642915424&size=o
But I'm not figuring out how to get the pic to show up on my blog. I'll continue working on this...
As for how a library could use this tool - the uses are endless, I would think. Pictures promoting library services and events are a natural for both fundraising and for "warm and fuzzy" library appeal. I think the idea to post pics of unlabeled historical photos for the public to peruse and identify would be an excellent project to work in tandem with a local historical society. When I was an undergraduate during the Dark Ages, I worked with developing a college archives, and we had scads of unlabelled pics. The College Alumni Center hosted a special get-together event during Homecoming Weekends to try to get Alumni to come in and take a look at the pics to help us out. We never had that many people turn out - perhaps this would be an ideal tool to download pics for a larger group to access conveniently online as part of an alumni newsletter/ project. Just a thought...
At this early point, Flickr seems like a neat tool. I don't know what the downside or cons would be. It seems like the copyright issues have been addressed - I imagine there's always some way to misuse a tool like this, though.
http://www.flickr.com/photo_zoom.gne?id=642915424&size=o
But I'm not figuring out how to get the pic to show up on my blog. I'll continue working on this...
As for how a library could use this tool - the uses are endless, I would think. Pictures promoting library services and events are a natural for both fundraising and for "warm and fuzzy" library appeal. I think the idea to post pics of unlabeled historical photos for the public to peruse and identify would be an excellent project to work in tandem with a local historical society. When I was an undergraduate during the Dark Ages, I worked with developing a college archives, and we had scads of unlabelled pics. The College Alumni Center hosted a special get-together event during Homecoming Weekends to try to get Alumni to come in and take a look at the pics to help us out. We never had that many people turn out - perhaps this would be an ideal tool to download pics for a larger group to access conveniently online as part of an alumni newsletter/ project. Just a thought...
At this early point, Flickr seems like a neat tool. I don't know what the downside or cons would be. It seems like the copyright issues have been addressed - I imagine there's always some way to misuse a tool like this, though.
Week 6 - Flickr Attempt
Well, I can see that Flickr would be a very interesting tool to play with, especially if you have a digital camera and the smarts to download pics. I lack both, so I have to rely on my dear husband to handle the family digital camera. He's saved tons of digital pics but I don't have a clue how to access them at this moment. Luddite that I am, I rely on my little Canon 35 mm camera he bought me years ago, after my Kodak Instamatic bit the dust.
ANYWAYS, I played with Flickr and found the cutest picture of a yellow tabby polydactyl kitten who looks quite similar to my 11 month old Rusty, right down to the 6 toes on each paw (the thumbs look like he has a baseball mitt on.) Here's the link to the pic:
www.flickr.com/photos/jim68000/45935110/
I will attempt to paste the pic onto this blog - tune in to see if I've been successful! (Same bat time, same bat channel...)
ANYWAYS, I played with Flickr and found the cutest picture of a yellow tabby polydactyl kitten who looks quite similar to my 11 month old Rusty, right down to the 6 toes on each paw (the thumbs look like he has a baseball mitt on.) Here's the link to the pic:
www.flickr.com/photos/jim68000/45935110/
I will attempt to paste the pic onto this blog - tune in to see if I've been successful! (Same bat time, same bat channel...)
Week 4 - Ooh la la, cats!
After I finished the Week 4 assignment, I spent a few self-indulgent minutes with the Automatic Flatterer- almost as good as chocolate.
Then I visited the Sloganizer and decided to share the results. Here are a few of the funnier ones:
Cats nonstop. (yes, my kitten Rusty does seem to run on nuclear power)
Make the world a better place with cats. (goes without saying...)
Cats? Yes please. (I have 2 - Rusty and Polly)
Cats - spice up your life. (both of mine are polydactyl and have all their toes into everything!)
Cats. The smart choice. (again, goes without saying...)
Cats groove. (yep, they're both asleep right now - thank heavens for the peace and quiet!)
The Sloganizer is a riot!
Then I visited the Sloganizer and decided to share the results. Here are a few of the funnier ones:
Cats nonstop. (yes, my kitten Rusty does seem to run on nuclear power)
Make the world a better place with cats. (goes without saying...)
Cats? Yes please. (I have 2 - Rusty and Polly)
Cats - spice up your life. (both of mine are polydactyl and have all their toes into everything!)
Cats. The smart choice. (again, goes without saying...)
Cats groove. (yep, they're both asleep right now - thank heavens for the peace and quiet!)
The Sloganizer is a riot!
Week 4 - Wow! Playing catch-up...
Well, I've fallen(behind) but I can get up (to speed), I hope!
I read the information on feedback thingies, and I have to agree with my colleagues that it does provide lots of options for libraries. I really like the idea of using them to solicit ideas for new programs and services, and to provide a place for folks to comment on existing ones. Yes, you may have to take the bad opinions with the good, but let's hope there's a pony under that pile, right? (See there's the joke about the kid who asked for a pony for Christmas and all he got was a pile of manure and a shovel, and well, you can guess the rest!)
I will also agree with my colleagues that it's hard to design a really good survey that gives you data you can actually use. (By the way I took a couple of my colleagues' suveys and enjoyed enjoyed them. Quick and dirty and fun!)
Back in the Dark Ages, I helped to develop a community survey for a library to figure out what folks did/didn't like and what they felt was needed. This was done pre-computer age, and while we did get back some very useful responses, the return rate on mailed surveys was minimal, and the in-house participation was not much better. Having the capability to do a snappy little survey online might help, although that still might not address the computer-illiterate users and non-library users.
So how do we reach non-library users? Some ideas:
--Acting as a library representative and talking to a wide variety of community groups about what the library has and soliciting suggestions as to what would make them come through the front doors might help.
--Targeting school groups and finding out what the kids are interested in (besides internet acess!) might work, too.
-- Writing a brief survey aimed at the local school teachers and figuring out how we could work together to provide homework resources would be useful (can you tell we've been blindsided by whole-class asignments that snap up limited materials without warning??)
--Providing some community program jointly with a local educational institute might let attendees know we're out there and what we can offer them.
I'm sure these ideas have already been used (and by my own institution, I'm sure!) - I just don't have any fresh ideas to add right now. What can you think of to add to the list of engaging non-library users and giving them a reason to visit? Hint, hint : please comment so I can get credit for completing this assignment!!LOL
I read the information on feedback thingies, and I have to agree with my colleagues that it does provide lots of options for libraries. I really like the idea of using them to solicit ideas for new programs and services, and to provide a place for folks to comment on existing ones. Yes, you may have to take the bad opinions with the good, but let's hope there's a pony under that pile, right? (See there's the joke about the kid who asked for a pony for Christmas and all he got was a pile of manure and a shovel, and well, you can guess the rest!)
I will also agree with my colleagues that it's hard to design a really good survey that gives you data you can actually use. (By the way I took a couple of my colleagues' suveys and enjoyed enjoyed them. Quick and dirty and fun!)
Back in the Dark Ages, I helped to develop a community survey for a library to figure out what folks did/didn't like and what they felt was needed. This was done pre-computer age, and while we did get back some very useful responses, the return rate on mailed surveys was minimal, and the in-house participation was not much better. Having the capability to do a snappy little survey online might help, although that still might not address the computer-illiterate users and non-library users.
So how do we reach non-library users? Some ideas:
--Acting as a library representative and talking to a wide variety of community groups about what the library has and soliciting suggestions as to what would make them come through the front doors might help.
--Targeting school groups and finding out what the kids are interested in (besides internet acess!) might work, too.
-- Writing a brief survey aimed at the local school teachers and figuring out how we could work together to provide homework resources would be useful (can you tell we've been blindsided by whole-class asignments that snap up limited materials without warning??)
--Providing some community program jointly with a local educational institute might let attendees know we're out there and what we can offer them.
I'm sure these ideas have already been used (and by my own institution, I'm sure!) - I just don't have any fresh ideas to add right now. What can you think of to add to the list of engaging non-library users and giving them a reason to visit? Hint, hint : please comment so I can get credit for completing this assignment!!LOL
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