Thing 17

I've been playing with Rollyo and can see where it can be used to organize sites I visit frequently or not so frequently. I can organize them by various topics, i.e. health, genology, reference and so on. This would give me easy access to get to them without having to read through a bunch of information through Goggle. I would be using those sites which I like best. There seem to be many of these organizaltional helpers now which is good, but it also means that I would be losing some good places to look at if I only use them. I believe we need to be able to have the organization, but we should also not forget to go out there and see if there is something better. It is always changing and I know that is hard to be to try and keep up everything as I don't want to sit at the computer very long to check out what is new.

Thing 16

I have had a good time looking at and getting familiar with Wikis. I have been learning alot with 23 Things. It has been good to have the summer and time to sit down and work through the 23 things and do more planning for the school year incorporating what I have been learning in my lessons. A coouple of Wikis that caught my attention are: http://teacherlibrarianwiki.pbwiki.com/ and http://instructionwiki.org/Main_Page They both have helpful information and ideas. Atomic also has some good slide shows which I can use to show staff and students what they can do with Inspiration and other programs. I was leary of Web 2.0 as it seemed so overwhelming, but thanks to you all, the things are letting me explore and opens my eyes to even more I can do in my library for my students and staff. Thanks.

Thing 15

It is hard to shift directions when libraries have been the source of information in the same way for decades. We need to change and must be flexible. We must ask for help from our students. They can show us and help us learn and become comfortable with Web 2.0 to better our libraries and ourselves.
We need to take classes and network with others and practice, practice, practice all the new ways to obtain information and organize it. I tend to get overwhelmed with all the changes, but I need to learn to embrace it and ask for help. I need to do that by challenging myself in using Web 2.0 in my library.
I have to think outside my box and ask for help, reading and practicing what I am learning over, and over again. I need to ask questions as that is what will help me learn and not to worry that I am not as current as others.
Leaning about 2.0 and using it will make a better library for my students and better communication between my users and myself and the world.

Thing 14

I spent much of my afternoon playing with Technorati. I looked at blogs, posts and tags and found with the various searches I did, I found more under posts, next came blogs and then tags. Tags were more specific concerning the various subjects I looked at which ranged from libraries, reluctant readers and my hometown! I like having the different options of searching so that if I want to go specific, I can. I like being able to tag as I can then group my interests and be able to go back after a month or two and review them. It helps me organize the web.

Thing 13

I have been looking at del.icio.us, furl and ma.gnolia social bookmarking sites. Anything that can help me orgainize and group like topics together to make my life easier, I am for. I set up a del.icio.us account and started grouping information I use at home and work. Now I won't have to look and look for some sites I do not use often. I can see using this with students by giving them specific sites from which they must do their research. They will have the opportunity to not be overwhelmed by information which will help them look for just what they need from the sites they are given. I also like being able to use any computer to get to my favorites. It saves time and I can I also see what others have found on related subjects and add their bookmarks to mine. I great way to share.

Thing 12

Two of my favorite blogs are: http://doug-johnson.squarespace.com/ and http://professornana.livejournal.com/. The first one is by Doug Johnson and the technology and library information is very, very helpful. The second is done by Teri Lesesne. I have attended many workshops which has done and I always come out enthused and knowing more about what books the kids may like. She is also good about sharing information from conventions. I appreciate going to their blogs and getting a heads up so that I can do further research on books and technology relating to the library.

Thing 11

Library Thing is an interesting site. Not only can I get cataloguing information for books I have, but I can also see comments from others and discuss the books. An online book club! There are many groups listed which gives me the opportunity to talk with others from all over about like interests in book genres. I can learn from other young adult readers/librarians books my kids at school might enjoy and then add them to our library. The information is so broad you can look and discuss what I might want to order for the library along with books I might personally want to add to my collection at home. Yea!! I'm enjoying this one!