Thing 14: Delicious

This Delicious site is really delicious! I like the idea of having all my bookmarks accessible from one site instead of trying to copy or add bookmarks to all the PCs I use at work. I just added 4 bookmarks but I will adding and organizing the tons of sites I have added as favorites in several years. I imagine that during the process I will be able to delete some and find better tags to locate others.

The video was very informative and after a little glitch on trying to remember my password (I have so many different log-ins and passwords that I will need to carry a bracelet with all of them or tattoo them on my arm!) I was able to start saving bookmarks.

You can see my four bookmarks here.

Thing 13: Tagging

Tagging... my stuff, what I love, 23 Library Things, North Texas 23, by date, by year, by name or nickname, you name it! You can tagg it anyway you want. Will I be able to remember how I tagged it? THAT is the question.

I think it would be great to look up for books by tagging! The way it is now is hard for our patrons to browse on our catalogue so if our system can support tagging, let's do it! But I have no idea how hard that would be to add this option.

In Flickr and Blogspot is very easy to add tags and since you can use more than one...chances are you might remember at least one of them and plus you give other people more chances to find your information (if that is what you want).

Thing 12: Twitter

It is sooooo good that by signing for the 23 Things I am being forced to try lots of new things, including Twitter because otherwise I would have never made up time to sign into it. Now that I am in... my user name is MiniMati... I don't think I will be using it a lot. The more I am into these Things the more I am convinced that in order to keep up with them is by not working and being devoted to the hand held device to answer or post comments.

Not for me! As for the Library... I am not so sure either. The idea would be to Twitter patrons about the library's activities? What books or movies are new? or perhaps to let them know their books, CDs or movies are waiting for them? I don't think the majority of our patrons taking out books has a twitter account yet and as for the new generation... they are not checking out books. Uhh ho, I forgot, they are checking movies and we can notify them by twitter!

Every time I watch the news on TV they mention twitter, and of course I can't forget that Ashton and Demi twitter a lot and everyone follows them (well not me!).

Thing 11: Instant Messaging

I choose AIM Express (AOL) for Instant Messaging (no need to download anything, hurrah!)
My screen name is Minimati1 so, please feel free to contact me whenever you have some spare time. I guess the idea is to say hi and try the site.

I think that Instant Messaging is one of the easiest things since, at least for me, I have used it before, not only when the Library offered the service of answering questions via Instant Messaging (forgot the name!) but also to request help from certain websites.

I don't know how useful would be at the Library unless we have the option to answer questions from patrons that way. The issue, again, would be if the Libraries will have the resources to offer this kind of service. When libraries are short on staff it is hard to add a service that requires "INSTANT" access/response because we are not only helping patrons at the library but also answering phones as well.

Thing 10: Ning

I watched the video tutorial and found it very easy to navigate trough the Ning without having to open an account, for which I was very pleased, since I prefer to remain private.

I browsed for libraries around the world, vegetarian groups and communities, animal welfare groups, etc. I went, as suggested, to the video section for the ALA site but was unable to watch the video because...well, my library computer doesn't allow me to.

It was an interesting experience but I will leave it as that. I don't know that at this moment my library has the resources to devote someone to keep up with the Library's Ning site since we haven't yet a Facebook page either. Perhaps, in the future, we will be able to 'connect' with patrons through these mediums and attract a younger generation to the library's activities. Of course I can see posting tutorials on how to navigate through these sites as opposed to offering special courses for each one of them (with the shortage of staff and resources libraries can't afford much these days and have to be resourceful).

Thing 9: More Facebook

I went and found friends. It seems many of them have a Facebook account. I made sure to let them know I won't be contacting them a lot through Facebook since, let's face it, I simply don't have the time to check regular e-mails plus Facebook.

I also became a fan of a group called "IDA - In defense of animals" and learnt more abhorrent (or should I just say unethical?) acts done to defenseless animals. I can't process the horrors committed to cats and dogs in the name of better taste and virility.

And finally, yes, I did join tree groups: "Stop the Seal Killers", "Animal Welfare" and "VEDA - Volunteers in defense of animals".

Joining Facebook has been a bit traumatic for me. I am a private person and although I tried to set up my privacy configuration to the minimum I found out that no matter how much you try -- by just sending an e-mail-- Facebook somehow is able to trace the names and offer them as your possible friends. Then some of your friends write incessantly and suddenly you have tons of comments to read.
It has been an experience... one I don't know I will be able to keep up with!

I guess now I will be able to answer some questions regarding Facebook and hopefully help some of our library's patrons.

Thing 8: Facebook

Up until now I had enjoyed all the things, a little reluctant at the beginning but as I got a bit of confidence then I had a very good time working with them.
I opened a Facebook account while on vacation on my aunt's PC. Although it is very easy to open an account I don't like the idea of everyone peering into my life, or portions of it. I am very private and can't understand people wanting to share personal information, and photographs!, through the web. Since I forgot my password and which e-mail account I used now I have to retrace my steps and see if I can do something to recover it in order to continue with the next Thing! or open a new account ...

I will try Thing 9 as long as I can be as anonymous as possible but if not... I am in a predicament.