So what’s the big deal with MySpace and Facebook?  Isn’t that just a site where teenagers and college students post a bunch of vulgar pictures of themselves?  Besides, if it is for students, why should I be concerned about it?  Whatever happened to face-to-face communication?

Social networking services are web-based communities that allow individuals to join, develop a profile, and participate by connecting with friends, colleagues, students, professionals, or any special interest group.  Social networking is not just for high school and college students.  These services provide numerous opportunities for personal networking and serve as a venue for developing professional relationships, discovering potential employees and job opportunities, and increasing and improving the image of yourself and the library.  Libraries should be concerned about social networks because that is where our users are hanging out.

Who uses social networking services?  You can find your favorite jazz singer, gospel recording artist, classmates, librarian groups, library associations, academic and public libraries, professionals and more.

Still confused?  Check out this video from the team at Common Craft.  They do an excellent job of making complicated topics easy to understand.  It takes a while for this file to download.  You might want to turn the volume down or off until the entire video is downloaded. Then crank the sound back up and watch the video.

Social Networking Sites

Introduced in 2004, Facebook was initially designed to be used exclusively by those associated with colleges and universities.  However, Facebook has expanded its registration requirements to allow anyone to join the community.  MySpace began in 2003 and is popular among teenagers and young adults.  However, forty percent of its users are thirty-five years of age or older.  Both services have experienced phenomenal growth and indicate over one hundred million users have registered with their service.

If you cannot find a community to join, you can always create your own.  Give Ning a try.  Ning, launched in 2004, allows users to design their own group by customizing a variety of tools (widgets, facebook integration, slideshow galleries, video sharing, event listings, upload logo, discussion forum, etc.).  So whether it’s, scrapbooking, sports, or whatever interests you, you can still get connected with others who share similar interests.  The free version of Ning will display ads on your social network.  LinkedIn started in 2003 and is strictly for business.  Designed for professionals working in a variety of industries, LinkedIn has over 30 million users.

There are numerous social networking services.  Though they may differ slightly, all are designed to be your one stop shop for communication, replacing the need to use individual services (i.e., chat, email, blog, instant messaging, video and picture sharing).  You can get started in only a few minutes.  Just sign up for a free account, create your profile, use available applications to customize your start page, browse profiles of other people, add friends to your profile, find others with similar interests and join a group.  Thus, the endless chain of communication and connection begins.

Readings

Social Networking Services. (2007, September). Library Technology Reports, Retrieved October 16, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

7 Things You Should Know About . . . Facebook II.  (2007, May).  Retrieved October 16, 2008, from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7025.pdf.

7 Things You Should Know About . . . Ning.  (2008, April).  Retrieved October 16, 2008, from http://www.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7036.pdf.

LibrarianInBlack:  Ten Social Networking Tips for Libraries.  Retrieved November 6, 2008 from http://librarianinblack.typepad.com/librarianinblack/2008/07/ten-social-netw.html.

Examples

Note:  An account is not required to search and view profiles on MySpace or Ning.

Southern Illinois University Carbondale:  Morris Library

University of Texas at Austin Libraries

University at Buffalo Libraries (requires login to facebook)

University of Michigan:  Harlen Hatcher Graduate Library (requires login to facebook)

Activity #1

Are you ready to get connected?

• Sign up for a free account with Facebook, MySpace, Ning, or LinkedIn.  Create a profile.  Share as much or as little information as you desire.  Remember, you can always suspend or delete your account after this activity.
• Search for and examine some of the libraries that have a presence in Facebook or MySpace.  Browse around and see what else you can find.  Create a blog post to share what you liked or disliked about the library pages you discovered.
• How can individuals and libraries benefit from using social networking services?  Create a blog post to share your thoughts and ideas about the social networking service you explored.  Remember to answer all the questions and include a link to your profile address.

WordPress will not allow you to upload audio files using the free account.  However, Blogger does allow you to upload audio files.  Once you create your own podcast, download the file to your usb flash drive.  Bring your file to me and I will upload it to the library server.  I will send your podcast URL to you via email.

Participant Podcasts:

Access Electronic Resources Off Campus

Kwanzaa

Access Your Student Pin Number, Student ID Number, and E-mail Address

What is a podcast?

A podcast is an audio or video file that is distributed via the Internet.  Podcasts usually focus on a particular topic, are published on a schedule, can range from two minutes until an hour, and include a summary and notes referencing any resources discussed.  You can find podcasts on practically any subject.  Try viewing or listening to your favorite NPR or CNN program, health tips from the American Heart Association, book reviews, or podcasts from the White House.

Podcasts can be syndicated via RSS (Really Simple Syndication), an XML based file format that delivers content to you, instead of you going to the content, allowing users to receive new or updated podcasts automatically. Subscribe to podcasts using your favorite aggregator (Bloglines, Google Reader) or a podcatcher (iTunes, Juice, Odeo).  Discover podcasts by using a directory (Podcast Alley, Education Podcast Network, Podcast.com, and iTunes Podcast Directory) designed specifically for locating podcasts.

An iPod is not required for listening or viewing podcasts.  Most computers are already equipped with media players (Windows Media Player, Real Player, Quick Time) which support a variety of audio and video file formats.  However, if you want to listen to a podcast in your car or while you are on the go, you will need a MP3 player or an iPod.  So whether you are walking around the Weevil Pond Trail, in your office, or relaxing outside on the deck, you have access to information when and where you need it.

Create a Podcast

To create a podcast, you will need a computer connected to the Internet, speakers, a microphone, recording and editing software (Audacity), server space, and a quiet place to create your masterpiece.  That’s it.

Still confused?  Check out this video from the team at Common Craft.  They do an excellent job of making complicated topics easy to understand.  It takes a while for this file to download.  You might want to turn the volume down or off until the entire video is downloaded. Then crank the sound back up and watch the video.

Readings

Fredrick, K. (2008, February). The Web Is Alive with the Sound of…Podcasts. School Library Media Activities Monthly, 24(6), 46-47.  Retrieved October 23, 2008, from Research Library database.

Gordon, A. (2007, September). SOUND OFF!: The Possibilities of Podcasting. Book Links, 17(1), 16-18. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Griffey, J. (2007, June 15). PODCAST 1 2 3. Library Journal, 132(11), 32-34. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Jowitt, A. (2008, April). Creating Communities With Podcasting. Computers in Libraries, 28(4), 14-56. Retrieved October 23, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Examples

Hunter College City University of New York (CUNY):  Podcasting @ Hunter – Library Resources

University of Oklahoma Libraries: University Libraries Presents . . .

Buffalo State University of New York Podcasts

Simmons Graduate School of Library and Information Science:  GSLIScast

Activity #1

What interests you?  Do you like to keep up with politics, personal finance, news, movies, books, or library stuff?  Use a podcast directory (Podcast Alley, Education Podcast Network, Podcast.com, iTunes Podcast Directory) to locate a podcast.  Subscribe to the podcast using your favorite aggregator (Bloglines, Google Reader) or iTunes.

How can libraries utilize podcasts to improve library services?  Create a post to share your thoughts and ideas on your blog.  Don’t forget to include the link to the podcast you located.

Activity #2

If you are feeling creative, go ahead and set up your own personal podcast recording studio.  When you are ready, share your podcast with us on your blog.

When I discovered Firefox, I thought it was a great internet browser but felt it lacked a few things.  Most importantly was a print preview button and the ability to communicate with its sister product, Thunderbird (an email application).  Well guess what?  I found out the print button and a bunch of other features were just waiting for me to incorporate them into my browsing experience.

Browser add-ons, sometimes referred to as plug-ins and extensions, allow you to take the average internet web browser and customize it to fit your own special needs.  Browser tools are available for Internet Explorer and Mozilla Firefox.  However, the number of extensions for Firefox greatly out numbers those for Internet Explorer.

Mozilla Firefox

Firefox provides a selection of add-ons for a variety of categories, including: privacy and security, themes, search tools, appearance, download management, and more.  You can browse the recommended and most popular add-ons as well.  If you want to know when new or updated add-ons are introduced, subscribe to the RSS feed.  View tips and tricks to learn about keyboard shortcuts and other hints designed specifically for novice to advanced users.  Some of my favorite Firefox add-ons:

Snap Shots – allows you to preview a web page, while hovering over an icon next to the page link

CSS Viewer – hover the mouse over any content on a web page and view the accompanying cascading style sheet properties



Print Preview – creates a print preview button for the toolbar and context menu item



Internet Explorer

The Internet Explorer Gallery includes search providers, web slices, accelerators, toolbars and extensions.   By highlighting a keyword you can complete a search using a variety of providers (New York Times, Amazon.com).  Indicate your favorite web sites and receive notification of page updates via the web slices.  Speed up your search by highlighting an address to receive directions or the current weather forecast for a particular venue.  Customize your browsing experience by adding extensions and icons to your toolbar (Delicious bookmarks, etc.).  View the Quick Reference Guide to discover keyboard shortcuts for Internet Explorer version 7.

Install and Uninstall

You can install add-ons directly in Firefox or from the add-on page.  In Firefox (version 3), click Tools. Select Add-ons.  Select Get Add-ons.  Select browse all add-ons or see recommended add-ons.  Or, find an extension you wish to add by browsing the Firefox Add-On page.  Select Add to Firefox.  A pop-up box displays, warning you of malicious software.  Select Install.  To uninstall the add-on, select Tools.  Select add-ons.  Select the extension and click Uninstall.

In Internet Explorer (version 7), select Tools.  Select Manage Add-ons.  Select Find More Add-ons.  Select Download Extension.  Or, find an extension you wish to add by browsing the Internet Explorer Gallery.  Select Download Extension or Install.  A pop-up box displays, warning you of malicious software.  Select Run or Save.  To uninstall the add-on, select Tools.  Select Manage Add-ons.  Select Enable or Disable Add-ons.  Select the extension you wish to uninstall and click Disable.

Online Applications

Online applications allow you to create, edit, share, and access documents or images online, from any computer connected to the Internet.  There is no software to download.  Whether you are on the beach in Aruba, at home or at a conference, you can still access your content.  Simply sign up for a free account and begin using the software.  Applications include office suites, image editors, and online management tools.  A potpourri of tools is provided below:

Google Docs – create and share documents, spreadsheets and presentations online, while controlling access to your files

Zoho – offers a suite of online applications (word processing, project management, email, organizer, etc.)

Snipshot – photo management software that allows you to edit pictures online

Jing Project – capture screenshots, create screencasts, and share the content with others

Picnik – image editing software that includes a variety of effects and editing tools

Remember The Milk – task management software for creating to do lists and reminders

Thinkfree – My Office suite includes an html editor and synchronization tool

Activity

Download and install Firefox.  Go ahead and give Firefox a try!  If you don’t like it, you can always uninstall it later.  If you prefer, play around with Firefox on the Reference Desk or Circulation Desk computer.

Download and install one browser add-on or check out one of the online productivity applications.  Tell us about your exploration on your blog.  Always make sure the add-on is compatible with your web browser, as some extensions are designed for specific versions.  Although the online applications are free, file size limitations apply.  Make sure you view the requirements.

Before you install anything, please see me if you are unsure of how to check for viruses.

What is twitter?

Have you ever wondered what your friend or colleague may be doing at a particular instant?  Well, the wait is over.  You can check their tweets to see what’s going on.  What am I talking about?  Twitter, of course!

Twitter is a messaging tool that allows you to communicate your activities with others by publishing brief messages of 140 characters or less.  Twitter is like a diary, journal, or mini blog that lets you share what you are doing, with the world.  People follow you, you follow people, and all of a sudden, you have developed a network of friends, and the whole twitter universe gets along.

Twitter Uses

Twitter is much more than just following someone’s daily activities.  Twitter uses include updating news or announcements on a website, alerting services, posting answers to frequently asked questions, announcing new books, and live conference blogging.  You can find news alerts, universities, women’s health medical news, talk show hosts, floor updates from the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate, presidential candidates (http://twitter.com/JohnMcCain and http://twitter.com/BarackObama), and more.

Still confused?  Check out this video from the team at Common Craft.  They do an excellent job of making complicated topics easy to understand.  It takes a while for this file to download.  You might want to turn the volume down or off until the entire video is downloaded. Then crank the sound back up and watch the video.

Using Twitter

It’s easy.  Sign up for a free account at http://twitter.com/.  Select Get Started-Join! and you are on your way to tweeting.  Your username will be visible to users.  So unless you want everyone to know who you really are, use an alias.  Once you have an account, share your information or send an invitation to your family, friends, and colleagues.  There is even a space that lets you see who is getting updates of a particular account, if they have provided a picture or avatar in their profile.  When using Twitter, you are not limited to using an internet-connected computer.  You can also access Twitter on your cell phone, via RSS feed, instant messaging, email, or by using a desktop client.

Expanding Twitter

A number of applications are available for expanding the capabilities of Twitter.  TwitterMail allows you to send and receive updates using your email account and TwitterVision displays a person’s geographical location via Google maps, as they post messages.

Readings

7 Things You Should Know About . . . Twitter.  (2008, July).  Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7027.pdf.

Newbie’s Guide to Twitter.  Retrieved September 4, 2008, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9697867-2.html.

Cohen, S. (2008, June). Top Tools for the Twittersphere. Information Today, 25(6), 16-17. Retrieved September 4, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Kroski, E. (2008, July). All a Twitter. School Library Journal, 54(7), 31-35. Retrieved July 1, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Examples

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign:  Undergraduate Library
The alerts are also posted on their website via RSS feed.  See http://www.library.uiuc.edu/ugl/.

Pennsylvania State University Live

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

Yale University Science Libraries

Activity #1

Go to Twitter.com and search for “Monticello, AR” or anything that interests you.  Create a blog post to share what you discovered.

Sign up for a free account.  Remember, your username will be visible to users.  So consider using your blog name or another alias as your username.  Throughout your day, create tweets to update your friends, colleagues, or family on your activities.  Post a link to your twitter account on your blog, so the participants can keep up with what you’re doing.

Activity #2

Do you think Twitter is fascinating or a complete waste of time?  How would implementing Twitter improve library services?  What are some additional ways in which Twitter might be useful?  Create a post to share your thoughts on your blog.

A wiki is a website, created using special software, which allows users to collaboratively edit, add, and delete content on a website.  Wikis allow not only members of a group, but anyone who finds the website, to make changes on demand.  Wikis are not just for libraries and can serve a variety of uses, including instruction and training, staff intranet, local or family history, book reviews, library best practices, and conference or meeting activities.  Some users have opted to use wiki software as a content management system for a website (USC  Aiken Gregg-Graniteville Library).

Wiki Software

Wikis come in two flavors, installed and hosted.  Installed software (MediaWiki, PmWiki, Socialtext, and Confluence) requires the user to download and install the software on their personal web server.  Hosted software (PBWiki, WetPaint, Wikispaces, and StikiPad) requires no installation, as it is stored on the software company’s web server.

Most wiki software use a WYSIWIG (WIZ-zee-wig) interface, similar to web development software, which allows you to enter content and view how it will display when saved or published.  No html coding knowledge is necessary.  Typical features include the ability to track page history, subscribe to page updates, edit pages, add comments, assign various levels of permission to different users, and an option to search the wiki.  Your choice of software depends on the features and category of software you wish to utilize.  Visit WikiMatrix to get a side by side comparison of wiki software.  If you are not sure where to start, use the WikiMatrix Wiki Choice Wizard to narrow your search.

Still confused?  Check out this video from the team at Common Craft.  They do an excellent job of making complicated topics easy to understand.  It takes a while for this file to download.  You might want to turn the volume down or off until the entire video is downloaded. Then crank the sound back up and watch the video.

Readings

Brisco, S. (2007, May). Which Wiki is Right for You? School Library Journal, 53(5), 78-79. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Darlene Fichter (2008, May). Wiki While You Work. Online, 32(3), 55-57.  Retrieved October 2, 2008, from ProQuest Research Library database.

Farkas, M. (2007, May). Subject Guide 2.0. American Libraries, 38(5), 33-33. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Gordon, R., & Stephen, M. (2007, February). Putting Wikis into Play. Computers in Libraries, 27(2), 42-43. Retrieved October 2, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Examples

Ohio University Libraries Biz Wiki

University of Minnesota Libraries Staff Web

Florida State University Libraries:  Research Guides – Early Childhood Education

American Library Association Annual Conference 2008 Wiki

Activity #1

I created a sandbox, A Thyme to Cook, for you to explore.  Use this resource to learn more about wikis and share your favorite recipes.  All participants will have editor permission, which means you can create, rename or delete pages, files, and folders.

• Go to A Thyme to Cook.
• Click Request Access.
• Enter your email address.  Do not use campus email.  Use any email account you created for the learning 2.0 activities.
• Click send to administrator.
• Check your email account for a message indicating approval to join fjtl20.  Click the “Please click here to join fjtl20″ link.
• Set up your account.  Enter a username.  Use your blog name or some variation of your blog name for the username.  Enter a password.  Use any password that you created for the learning 2.0 activities.  Confirm your password.  Click Save.
• Now you should see the wiki front page.  Your email address will appear in the top right corner.
• Spend some time browsing the help pages, reading the pbwiki manual, or jump right in and get started.
• Go for it!  Add at least two pages to the wiki.  For organization, add/save your page to the appropriate folder.
• Add your blog or a favorite website (cooking or recipes) to the sidebar.

Activity #2

So, what is your impression of wikis?  Why do you think librarians do not recommend using Wikipedia as a research resource?  Did you find a delicious recipe?  Create a blog post about your experience with week #6 activities.

Well, I guess I should have read the FAQs more closely.  The instructions for activity #2 only asked you to upload two pictures.  However, all new Flickr accounts must upload at least five pictures before they will display via the search feature.  In addition, new accounts are hidden from the public, until their content has been reviewed.  Kay’s Krafts/Hints and I tried it.  It works!  We found ten results when we searched for the “fjtl20″ tag today.  So get busy and upload some more pictures!

Per the suggestion of Justa Person Pondering, let’s play catch up this week.  We’ve all been very busy.  But this gives me time to catch up on other projects, view or comment on your completed activities, and work on our topics for later weeks.  Now is the perfect opportunity for you to complete activities for weeks one through four.  If you’re already finished, play around with your new tools and see what else you can discover.  We’ll get back on track Monday.

Flickr is an online photo sharing site that allows users to tag, upload, and share pictures.  As you will remember from our previous lesson, a tag is a keyword.  Tagging is the process of assigning tags to content, for retrieval at a later date.  You can also browse collections of photographs submitted by others.  The site includes pictures of weddings, birthday celebrations, fireworks, pets, and more.

The Flickr service offers both free and fee accounts.  The free version includes 100MB monthly upload limit (10MB per photo), three sets, photostream views limited to the two-hundred most recent images, and the ability to post any of your photos in up to 10 group pools.  However, you will only have access to the resized images. Options are available for keeping your images private or making them public.  In addition, you can assign all rights reserved or a creative commons license to your photographs.  A creative commons license permits others to use your images.

For $24.95, you can upgrade to the pro account.  The pro version includes archiving of high-resolution original images, the ability to replace a photo and post any of you photos or videos in up to 60 group pools, ad-free browsing and sharing, unlimited photo uploads (20MB per photo), unlimited video uploads (90 seconds max), unlimited storage, unlimited bandwidth, unlimited photosets, and statistics.

For those of you with a creative side, you may wish to try Flickr mashups, which allow you to create something new by combining multiple applications.  When you enter a word on Spell with Flickr, this service spells the word using letters displayed in Flickr pictures.   FD’s Flickr Toys provides a variety of tools that let you let you do all sorts of things with your photos.  Try making an identification card, creating your own personal magazine cover, or build a jigsaw puzzle from your photographs.

Readings

Farkas, M. (2007, September). Pixels Worth 1,000 Words. American Libraries, 38(8), 42-42. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Gordon, R., & Stephens, M. (2006, November). Priceless Images: Getting Started with Flickr. Computers in Libraries, 26(10), 44-45. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Newbie’s’ Guide to Flickr.  Retrieved September 18, 2008, from http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9703620-2.html.

7 Things You Should Know About . . . Flickr.  (2008, February).  Retrieved September 12, 2008 from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7034.pdf.

Examples

American Library Association:  Annual Conference 2008
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ala_members/sets/72157605895561521/

Binghamton University Libraries:  Tour Bartle Library
http://www.flickr.com/photos/binglib/sets/72157604242534400/

Wake Forrest University:  Z. Smith Reynolds Library
http://flickr.com/photos/zsrlibrary/sets/

University of Alabama at Huntsville Library
http://flickr.com/photos/uahlibrary/sets/

Activity #1

Sign up for a free account with Flickr.  Now that you have an account, explore Flickr.  Choose a month and start browsing the photographs.  Create a post that includes a link to your favorite Flickr photograph on your blog.  Tell us why you like it.  Can’t find anything you like?  Try browsing the Smithsonian Images on Flickr and the Library of Congress Images on Flicker Pilot Project for interesting photographs.  Or, search Flickr by entering keywords of your topic of interest.

Activity #2

Upload two pictures to your Flickr account.  Do not upload a picture with personally identifiable information (family, you, etc.).  The pictures can be anything.  You might want to upload a picture of your flower garden, pet, bird feeder, office, tree in your yard, coffee cup, etc.  Create a post that includes a link to your Flickr pictures and any legendary story about your pictures on your blog.  If necessary, you can borrow the library’s digital camera to take your photographs.  Make sure you also include the tag “fjtl20” in your description.  Later in the week, search Flickr for the tag “fjtl20″ to see pictures uploaded by other participants.

Tips

• Do not break the copyright law by uploading images that you do not own.  Only upload photographs which you took.  Do not upload someone else’s photographs.  Do not upload a picture you copied from the Internet.  All images and text are automatically copyrighted, even if you do not see a copyright notice or symbol.
• If you photographs contain images of other individuals, you must obtain written permission from that individual(s), before you upload the picture.
• Please read the Flickr Community Guidelines.

Activity #3

Blog about your exploration with Flickr.  Did you discover some innovative ways libraries can incorporate Flickr to improve library services?  Will you use Flickr to share your personal photographs?

When you organized your office files or DVD collection, you probably assigned one or more keywords to them, to allow you to easily locate items when you needed them in the future.  Guess what?  In the online world, that systematic process is called tagging.

A tag is a keyword.  Tagging is the process of assigning tags to content.  It is an informal classification scheme, called a folksonomy, which allows a user to associate online content (websites, podcasts, blogs, blog posts, digital photographs, etc.) with a tag, for retrieval at a later date.

The process of sharing your tags with others is considered social bookmarking.  Social bookmarking services allow you to create, share, and access your bookmarks online, from any computer connected to the Internet.  This differs from the traditional bookmarks you create using your web browser.  Unless you export those bookmarks to an external drive, you can only access them from the computer on which they were created.

The Library of Congress Classification system requires librarians to use a strict set of rules to categorize items by subject.  With social bookmarking, you are in charge of deciding what keyword best represents the content.  For instance, the LC subject heading for the APA style guide is Psychology — Authorship — Handbooks, manuals.  Wouldn’t it be much easier to remember and find if you simply labeled it “style guide” or “citation sources”?  Think about it.

Still confused?  Check out this video from the team at Common Craft.  They do an excellent job of making complicated topics easy to understand.  It takes a while for this file to download.  You might want to turn the volume down or off until the entire video is downloaded. Then crank the sound back up and watch the video.

Social Bookmarking Software

You will need special software, provided by a social bookmarking service, to create and share your tags.  Examples of social bookmarking tools include:  Delicious, Furl, and Diigo.  Some social bookmarking tools are designed for individuals with specific interests.  CiteULike is a scholarly bookmarking service, designed for researchers to share papers they are reading and see what papers others are referencing.  Connotea, designed for scientists and clinicians, allows users to organize and share references with their peers.  A list of the thirty largest social bookmarking sites is available at:  http://www.ebizmba.com/articles/social30.

Readings

Etches-Johnson, A. (2006, April). The Brave New World of Social Bookmarking: Everything You Always Wanted to Know but Were Too Afraid to Ask. Feliciter, 52(2), 56-58. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Lomas, C. (2005, May).  7 Things You Should Know About Social Bookmarking.  Retrieved September 12, 2008, from http://net.educause.edu/ir/library/pdf/ELI7001.pdf.

Pack, T. (2007, April). A ‘del.icio.us’ Way to Use Bookmarks. Information Today, 24(4), 36-37. Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Stevens, M. (2007, September). Tagging & Social Bookmarking. Library Technology Reports, 43 (5), 58-61.  Retrieved September 12, 2008, from Academic Search Premier database.

Examples

University of South Carolina Libraries:  LibGuides @ USC – Chemistry and Biochemistry

University of Michigan University Library:  MTagger

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Libraries:  Virtual Reference Collection Beta

Danbury Public Library – Search the library catalog by keyword.  Enter literacy.  Click Go.  Select one of the first three records.  Notice the tags.

Activity #1

Select two or three keywords that describe a topic that interests you.  Search for those tags on Delicious.  Did you discover a site that interests you?  Tell us about it on your blog.

Sign up for a free account with Delicious.  You can skip the section regarding adding a shortcut to your browser toolbar.  Is there a website that you think we should know about?  Bookmark and tag four of your favorite websites.  Make sure you also include the tag “fjtl20” in your description.  Later in the week, search for the tag “fjtl20″ to discover what other participants think are the absolutely best websites.  You may be surprised at what you find!

Creating tags can require some creativity.  If you use multiple words to describe content, each word is considered a separate tag (banned books week).  You can eliminate spaces between words, use hyphens, or underscores to make the tag more meaningful (bannedbooksweek or banned_books_week).  For example, if I wanted to tag the library’s website, I could use the following:  uam, taylorlibrary, fjtl20.

Activity #2

So, what is your impression about social bookmarking?  Do you think you will continue to use traditional browser bookmarks or make the switch?  Describe how you would incorporate this tool in your personal or professional life.  Create a post to share your thoughts and ideas on your blog.