Thang #5 - Flickr

Check out pictures of my happy places on , a fancy photo sharing thing.

This was a new activity for me. I had not previously uploaded pics to Flickr or any other hosting service. As I navigate through the 2.0 tutorials, I am reminded by the depth of material available on the Internet to anyone who wants to invest the time in looking ... and some people make it a full-time job! I have looked at photo sets created by libraries/agencies. Nice stuff, but not very interesting to me unless there is some descriptive information attached. I think this key step is often overlooked when photos are uploaded.

I'm not sure about the applications of Flickr right now in my library setting due to the reason mentioned above. Also, I do have concerns about patron privacy issues.

Looking forward to learning more!

Thang #4 - Now We're Talkin'

Well, silly me!
The concerns I expressed in Thang #3 are taken care of in Thang #4. RSS, where have you been all my life? Although I was familiar with the RSS icon (and even knew the meaning of the acronym), I hadn't done anything to organize blogs and news. Ain't technology amazing? I've now selected a number of pertinent blogs and news sites through Google Reader. I can see how this could become "addictive" and life could be consumed by catching up with blog updates. Thank you to the great minds who've used technology to save our time!

Thang #3 - Blog Searching

Perhaps my advanced age is showing here although I hadn't previously considered myself a technology "curmudgeon!"

I've not been a blog searcher to date, and I'm not sure if I'll be doing a lot more of it other than to locate information for specific tasks. It was sort of fun to explore Technorati and Google Blog Search. I've decided that my personal preferences for blog searching include a no-nonsense, familiar interface that allows me to find information quickly. Therefore, my vote is for Google over Technorati. In addition to the comfortable familiarity of Google, I liked its lack of advertising.

Thang #2 - Kathy 2.0

First of all, I'm glad that the 2.0 gurus and gurettes believe that 2.0 needs to be embedded in the library's individual "culture" and be in synch with the library's resources (fiscal, staff, physical, etc.). That makes sense to me because not all libraries are created equal!

1) Finding time for 23 Things and my reasons for participating? Because it's a component of a class I'm taking, I have an external motivator to participate and complete =) Despite the fact that Things 1 & 2 are not new info for me, I am discovering additional layers of depth. I look forward to continuing this journey.

2) Internet's effect on my own time utilization? I use the Internet's resources continually at work for reference, reader's advisory, and other tasks. What's not to like about speed and almost instant gratification? I'm always aware of (and troubled by) the lack of evaluation that many Internet users give to the answers they find. Teaching users the skills they need to evaluate information is one of our primary duties in the library environment.

3) My knowledge level and my library's place? On a continuum, I think I fall somewhere between a rookie and moderately skilled user. On a personal level, I'm not all that interested in tech toys. I'd rather save my $$ for other guilty pleasures. Although I'd love for my library to be on-the-cutting-edge, I think we're doing almost as well as possible when dealing with a limited budget and a 1975 building that doesn't have enough outlets. I have a young, energetic staff, who listen to patrons, are tech-literate themselves, and are not shy about proposing ideas to try.

Thang #1: Set Up a Blog

... and I'm off!
Hey, library bloggers! Though this is not my first attempt at blogging (check out my KRAB), I always learn something new! I've added a counter to this blog, and I'll look forward to seeing who visits. Come back and visit often ... I tend to get bored quickly and will probably change it up quite a bit.