#23 - Is this the end? Or just the beginning?

Now that I've finished doing Web 2.0, I have discovered a lot of online tools and applications that I never knew existed. A lot of these tools can be put to use in a library setting and would not diminish or detract from anything we currently do, but simply add to it. I am sure I will use several of these applications for my own personal use, and wouldn't hesitate recommending them to family, friends, or even customers if I felt that they would be advantaged by using them.

#22 - Audiobooks

This is cool too. The titles available may be rather old (I was disappointed there was no titles from Stephen King or John Grisham on the site), but it could be very handy if a customer was after a copy of Mein Kampf or something of a similar vintage.

#21 - Podcasts, Smodcasts

Podcasts are cool! There are podcasts on just about every subject you can think of, from sports news and results to the latest healthy recipes.

Podcasts would be a great addition to the library's website. You could inform people of upcoming events, new titles that have come into the collection, and even have a book review or two.

#19 - Discover Web 2.0 Tools

For this exercise, I decided to look at facebook. I really like using this tool. It enables people to get back in touch with long lost friends, or find new friends who share common interests.

There are a wide range of applications you can add to your profile, whether they be games, or quizzes, and there are numerous groups you can join, whether they be related to musical or movie tastes, or simply according to geographic location. The opportunities are endless!

#18 - Web Based Apps

These are pretty cool. Why spend hundreds of dollars purchasing the latest Office package which you can only use on a few computers anyway, when you can sign up for a free Web based application and use it anywhere? :)

#16: Wikis

I never realised how popular and wide spread wikis actually are. When I saw the word 'wiki' I immediately thought of wikipedia, but the fact is everyone can have a wiki.

Wikis could greatly benefit a library. I particularly liked the idea of the Booklover Wiki. We could take a similar step by encouraging both staff and customers to submit reviews of books they've read, DVDs they've watched or CDs they've listened to which can then be added to the website. Might even be possible for such wikis to be linked to the catalogue too. In addition to that, we could add some instructions on how to use new technology as the self checkout machines, SARA or anything else we decide to add in the future. Could even have a basic Q&A wiki where we list common questions that staff are asked, and putting them all into a Wiki on the website.

#15: Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does it mean to you?

Library 2.0, and more particularly Web 2.0, is making a librarian's life a lot easier. We can put instructional videos on how to use self check out machines or other library orientated hardware onto YouTube, and place a link to it on our website. We frequently get asked if there is a record of what the patron has borrowed in the past on their record, as they tend to forget what they've borrowed. Wouldn't it be good if we suggest that they keep a record on LibraryThing? We can have all staff put links to websites they frequent pertaining to a certain topic of interest onto rollyo, so if someone is interested in a subject that a staff member has a strong interest in, we can guide them to a wide range of resources on that subject. The list of possibilities of the uses of web 2.0 in a library setting is endless.

We have such a varied collection of material across the system on a vast range of subjects, but there is plenty of information available online on the same subjects. Web 2.0 won't necessarily eliminate the need to use our collection, but will merely enhance and improve on how we can further help meet our customers' needs.