group project reflection…

I had a great time creating my song for GarageBand.  It was great to explore this program and discover its different facets.  I literally spent hours and hours syncing up the sound clips, and monkeying around with the volume, etc.  There is enormous creative potential with GrarageBand.  Moreover, GarageBand clips could be used in many different ways- from sound effects, to original music, to creating spoken audio.

I was surprised to find little academic studies on GarageBand.  There were little to no articles available via Library Literature.  I would hope that the future will bring more scholarly research around this type of tool. 

In a discussion about GarageBand with a friend, I was told about an interesting way to use it.  My friend explained how him and his bandmate ended up living in different cities.  To continue to make music, they would send one another their own parts of a song- then one of them would put the parts together to compile the music.  I thought that was a pretty cool use of the Library 2.0 tool.

It was an overall good experience for me.  It felt good to get my hands on this tool, as I hadn’t worked with it before. 

my movie blog

http://thereflectingskin.wordpress.com/

That is the website to the blog I created for my class paper.  Its a dark drama, so things can get a little strange on the site!

paper abstract: virtual communities

I chose to look at virtual communities in libraries for my paper topic. In doing so, I established a mock “virtual community” of my own. Utilizing the principles of “The Long Tail,” I set up a wordpress blog for a very, shall we say, “niche-market” movie. Its a strange film from the 90s, that has a small following. I figured that this niche film would prompt people to participate in the community more than if it were a wider-known movie.

For the paper I discuss the results of my mock virtual community. For 14 days I posted a new point of discussion on my blog, with several links and tags. I also advertised my blog through a new website each day. For example, I set up a facebook page for the film one day, and another I twittered that I was reading my blog (and gave the blog address). Since I am not done writing the paper, I’m not going to disclose the movie I used… I am trying to keep the data as raw as possible, where all hits were random from searches and/or people seeking out info on this movie. I’ll post it when I am done!

In my paper I discuss how libraries can set up their own virtual communities. There were several successes and roadblocks that I found in my experiment, which I share in the paper. Basically, the paper is a blend of The Long Tail, virtual communities, and how libraries can best gain interaction and participation through online users. This project has personally helped me to grasp the steps involved in creating virtual communities. It was also fun to watch my “movie community” grow through the blog stats.

-LTL

library 2.0 and marketing ourselves

I had a job interview last week.  One of the four questions I received was to explain my experience with Library 2.0.  The second of the four questions was to discuss three ways in which blogs can be used in libraries.  Of course, this class helped me to clearly articulate these two answers.  It felt great to be confident in these two areas.

Browsing a lot of the library literature that is “out there” today, I also see a lot of buzz around Library 2.0, and the branches of 2.0.  Whether or not these tools are physically implemented in libraries, they are definitely marketable to know about- and have personally tried out and experimented with.  I would certainly expect that any other interviews I experience will touch on Library 2.0.

I was happy to see that the Library 2.0 class will be offered this summer, and also in the fall.  It is an area of librarianship that has penetrated almost every aspect of the career.  Moreover, I would say that it is expected that graduates know about these tools.  If their interviews go anything like mine did, they will be glad to have registered for this class!

As a final note, I think it is so cool that libraries are really stepping up to the plate with social networking and connectivity with virtual communities.  Talk about staying ahead of the curve!

-LTL

 

on Wikipedia

I had a conversation last night about Wikipedia.  I was explaining that one needed to know some basics of HTML in order to edit a Wikipedia page.  This led into a fruitful conversation about the digital divide.  If one needed to know HTML to edit a page, then that weeds out only a select group of people.

After second-guessing myself, I went on Wikipedia this morning to edit a page.  Sure enough, there were those trusty HTML codes (they never escape me).  However, I didn’t actually have to code in order to edit a sentence within the text.  So, that part was pretty easy.  Still, the page code was peppered with HTML tags- one simply had to figure out where they are able to type as to not alter the code.  As long as a novice is not intimidated by the code, then editing a page should be accessible.

However, if one wanted to create a completely new page, life gets a little more difficult.  I entered a term into Wikipedia that I didn’t think it would have.  Sure enough, there was not a page on this topic.  I searched the page for a while to figure out how to add a page.  I couldn’t find anything on adding pages, so I resorted to the help page.  Once that was navigated, I was finally able to create my entry. Actually writing a new page was surprisingly easy.  I didn’t need to know the code like I thought I would.  Creating a page- once I found out how to do it- was more or less badda-bing-badda-boom.

My final thoughts on editing and creating entries in Wikipedia is this- the HTML codes definitely look intimidating to someone who is not familiar with them, even if you don’t actually need to use them.  I remember going to a page to edit (before I took the HTML class at St. Kates) and giving up because I was confused.  My suggestion would be that the “people” at Wikipedia make the editing pages more user-friendly.  WordPress does a good job of hiding HTML code, and still allowing you to use it with the separate tab (bravo).

That’s all for now! -Lindsey

  

free for ALL?

I recently picked up the latest WIRED mag to find that Chris Anderson is at it again.  His article was published as the cover story.  This time, he wasn’t dishing on the Long Tail… Chris stepped into to new (yet familiar) territory. 

The article discusses the power of “free”.  We experience free services every day when we search the internet.  Sure, Google is free to use… but how many ads do you see when you use it?  Anderson’s article makes the case that people want FREE.  We like FREE.  So, if companies make their products and services free, then how do they get paid?  Anderson’s answer is that they get paid by third party.  Meaning, while I might surf Google for free, someone else might be purchasing an item from a company that is advertising on Google.  Therefore, Google eventually gets their money.  Here is a chart from the article that describes this relationship:

I liked how Anderson explored the interconnectedness of the internet.  It got me thinking about the chain of events that happens in our money market.  What I decide to purchase could in effect pay for some advertising on Google, who pays Google to support the ad. 

Here is an excerpt from the article:

As much as we complain about how expensive things are getting, we’re surrounded by forces that are making them cheaper. Forty years ago, the principal nutritional problem in America was hunger; now it’s obesity, for which we have the Green Revolution to thank. Forty years ago, charity was dominated by clothing drives for the poor. Now you can get a T-shirt for less than the price of a cup of coffee, thanks to China and global sourcing. So too for toys, gadgets, and commodities of every sort. Even cocaine has pretty much never been cheaper (globalization works in mysterious ways).

Ever since I first read The Long Tail, I have been impressed by Anderson’s “freakonomics” way of looking at industry.  This article did not disappoint.  Keep it up!

-Lindsey

my world of social networking

I like having virtual friends.  I like social networking.  I’m not afraid to admit that, after watching an episode of the Bachelor, I log into YouTube and check out how others are reacting to the show.  (wow did i just admit to that?)  I’ve followed nonsense YouTube posts from CommunityChannel and BarelyPolitical… I’ve made facebook friends that I have never met in person.  I’ve seen movies based off of recommendations from virtual friends, and visited restaurants where on-line friends frequent. 

My point is that social networking often spills into my “real time” personal life- it is not confined within the walls of the computer screen.  Additionally, many YouTube personalities carry over into news programs and talk shows.  Seeing familiar faces on TV or in the newspaper makes me feel more connected with the (pop?) culture of our society.  Its fun to watch a “nobody” make it big through social networking, and infiltrate into the broader entertainment scene.

On another note, I have found LinkedIn to be a useful forum for job hunting.  My husband even got a phone call from an employer who saw him on LinkedIn.  I thought that was pretty cool. 

So to wrap up, am I a fan of social networking?  YES!  Its a great way to learn, network and keep a thumb on hot topics in our ever changing and morphing American society.

-Lindsey

The Grandma Test

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I would like to pick up with a comment that was made during our last class meeting…  We discussed how photos and personal details on social networking sites like Facebook or MySpace shape how we want to be perceived.  It was then questioned as to whether people actually change who they are to appear a certain way in Facebook photos.  I thought about this quite a bit outside of class.

As a Facebook profile holder, I choose what photos I want to be viewed by friends and acquaintances in my network.  I took a quick inventory of my photos…  there are the ones on the beach, pics of me in a canoe, out at the bar, and a few others of family and friends.  To me, they seem innocent enough.  In other words, I would not feel self-conscious of my grandma seeing them- which is the true test for what you should or should not post on-line.

Taking a gander at some other Facebook accounts, I do find more “outlandish” activity.  I will pick on the obvious drunk photos (we’re talking beer bongs, puking, and plain old passed out people with sharpie mustaches).  Now, we all know that employers often look on Facebook, or Google Images to scan job applicants.  However, even if you are not applying for a job, there are several other elders in ones community that could pass by these photos- teachers, neighbors, adult family members (your grandma), parents of friends… the list goes on.

So, going back to my original message here- perception of a person based off of Facebook or MySpace photos.  I think that Facebook is growing more than people recognize.  It is not a cozy niche for friends to share photos and personal conversation- it is a largely public forum where everyone from  your boss to your grandma can surf.  Therefore, give your photos a grandma check- would she approve?

Adios, Lindsey

My first experiences with virtual communities…

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My earliest recollection of virtual communities was in the chat room.  I remember sitting on the computer for hours in middle/early high school typing things like “age/sex check”… or “a/s/l check” (age/sex/location).  It seems strange now, but I mainly talked to strangers.  The chat rooms didn’t seem to be categorized into much of a theme, and the conversation was totally unorganized (am I sounding like a librarian or what?!).  There would usually be a moderator who would throw out a question for the group.  Everyone would then throw out their responses, and comment on one another’s brilliance or stupidity.  Waist of time?  Sure it was.

Upon entering college, Instant Messenger (IM) really took off.  It would not be unusual for me to have 5+ chat windows open, where I talked to friends in different states or down the hall.  I can tell you that chat rooms helped my typing skills immensely.  Up until college I had a strange chicken-pecking typing technique.  After IM, I was a regular home-row pro.

Now that I am a working “professional,” I have not found the need to chat.  However, I have participated in Facebook, and now blogging.  I am still on the fence as to whether I like my information exposed as it is on these two forums.  However, I have found my friend relationships to improve since I joined Facebook (for the second time, in December 07).  It is a non-threatening way to check in with friends, comment on photos, and make connections with new groups of people.

Those are my thoughts, ma’m!

Til next time, Lindsey

the 2.0 elections

Reflection on Library 2.0 & Participatory Service: A little politics, a little 2.0

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I am going to deviate a bit from “Library 2.0,” and discuss “web 2.0″.  I got to thinking about web 2.0 this evening as I made my way home from the Obama rally in Minneapolis.  I found it amazing that the event sold 20,000 tickets on-line within 24 hours.  To get a ticket, you had visit to Obama’s website, which is essentially a “lite” social networking site.  During his speech, Obama discussed the success of his on-line fund-raising efforts.  This made me think about how campaigning is different in a 2.0 world. While campaigning on the television and radio are not lost, it is shown that being connected to on-line participatory services really helps.

During the presidential debates a few months ago, I attended an event on Facebook.  The event followed the topics covered during the debate in real time.  I was able to vote on different issues, which were then discussed by the television newscaster moments later.  There were comments made by other Facebookers during the debate, which were also read by the newscaster.  I felt like I was watching the debate with thousands of other people.

During the Facebook event, Ron Paul was voted as the #1 republican candidate via an on-line survey.  This statistic in no way matches the national polls- but this is not surprising in the least.  The reason why Facebook voted him #1 is because Ron Paul has been dubbed the “2.0″ candidate- his campaign has been almost entirely on-line.  His “2.0″ supporters were there on Facebook.

I find it interesting to see if and how candidates work with 2.0 tools.  It shows me how connected people are with their Internet lives.  And, watching the debates with the Facebook event was totally characteristic of the impact that participatory services has made on our American society.

Til next time! -Lindsey