story

I couldn't think of a story to tell, so I read the story of Little Red Riding Hood, with a slight change on the ending. I never imagined making a podcast could be so difficult! I had to keep re-recording to get the volume settings correct. Little Red Riding Hood

podcasts vs. text blogging

Podcasting has both advantages and disadvantages to text blogging.

Advantages:
-easier access for commuters; I know tons of people who download podcasts to listen to while driving or taking the train. It's a great way to reach people and share information while people are on the go and can't read text.
-podcasts can be wonderful for expressing emotion and feeling, hearing some one's voice, rather than reading connects you more
-they're great for adding sound effects and music to stories, news, etc.
-spontaneity, people just saying what they feel
-you can listen to podcast while completing other tasks

Disadvantages:
-can require special media players, like itunes
-fail to hold sometimes attention the same way reading text does

I love listening to podcasts at work or when I'm driving. Its a great way to discover new music, films, etc or just hearing some one's opinion.

Long Tail

Libraries/librarians have the ability to bring new materials, markets and tastes to their readers. Libraries bring new books and materials into their library as budget allows, usually these materials are highlighted in a "new releases" section. Additionally, libraries can highlight old materials and make them new again by creating displays, programs and book displays. While reading The Long Tail, I thought about how libraries can work in the same way as Amazon. Suggesting books to readers based on material they've already read. While doing readers advisory, librarians also have the opportunity to share something new readers, they have the ability to create whole new markets. Libraries have the ability to open readers to tons of new materials, markets and tastes simply with the services and collections they provide.

SCILS Experience

My education experience at SCILS has flown by, I can hardly believe in just 3 months I'll be graduating. Beginning at SCILS wasn't too much of a transition, since I had completed my undergrad degree at Rutgers, as well. Most of my classes at SCILS have been a great learning experience, I've learned new skills, theories and some of the inter-workings of libraries. What I've enjoyed most at SCILS have been class discussions, learning from both the professors and fellow classmates. I love being in a class and hearing someone ele's opinion and realizing, "wow, I never would've thought of that". My experience at SCILS, coupled with work experience, has helped prepare me to become a librarian and allowed me to meet lots of great people along the way. I remember during my first semester I was so happy that I had decided on library school and knew this was what I wanted for my future. I'm sad and a little scared that my time at SCILS is ending but I'm also excited to be finished with school and hopefully beginning a career as a librarian.





My SCILS Experience
Group SCILS Experience

Stats

According to Google Analytics, 4 browsers have been used by visitors to my blog: Firefox, Internet Explorer, Safari and Chrome. Firefox is by far the most popular at 65%.

4 connection speeds have also been used: Cable, DSL, T1 and Unknown. Cable had the most with 14 visits and all the rest were tied at 6 visits.

PBwiki vs. Wetpaint

PBwiki is a site used to design and create your own wiki and can be utilized for business, personal or academic use. Wetpaint is a site that lets you build an online community combining features from wikis, blogs, forums and social networking sites. Both PBwiki and Wetpaint can be used as collaboration tools, allowing several users access and edit an account. PBwiki and Wetpaint are quite similar in the features they offer: both sites allow you to invite others to participate, create privacy settings on each page, add tags, videos, photos, and other links/attachments, and send email and rss notifications.

When using the two sites I didn't find many differences between them. I thought the overall look of PBwiki was more of a traditional wiki, while Wetpaint looked more like a regular website or fansite. Both sites were quite easy to use and navigate and both sites offered some soft of "basic" package that was free to use. Wetpaint advertised one of their site as a community, whereas PBwiki seems to be more of an information provider. The main difference that struck me was the appearance and layout of the two sites. PBwiki was much more professional and Wetpaint had more of a fan community look. If I needed a site to use in a professional or academic setting I would rely on PBwiki, however if I were creating a personal site I might use Wetpaint. Because they layout and look of PBwiki appealed to me much more, possibly because I've used it for other classes, that's the site I would stick with if I were creating a collaborative document.

Delicious Introduction

Although I had never used Delicious before this class, I think it's a really neat site. While it was hard to find just 10 bookmarks that really said more about me, I think I found 10 that at least said something about me. I was definitely interested to see the sites bookmarked by classmates and to see if there was any overlap between them and myself. Although the 10 sites I chose may not say everything about me, I chose 10 sites that I visit almost daily. I think Delicious would be a wonderful way to introduce students to each other and to social software. I found Delicious super easy to use and navigate, with virtually no previous social bookmarking experience. Delicious is also an easy way to introduce students to the use of "tagging", which is found on so many sites today. Delicious is a great way to introduce students to some of the social software that's available today. Delicious is fun to use and an easy way to discover new sites. Using Delicious may spark students' interest in other social software. I would definitely recommend the use of Delicious in other classes, especially as an introduction.

Google Docs

Google docs is an excellent tool for sharing work with others. I think this type of program would work either in an online or in-person class setting. What makes Google docs great for group work is that each group member can have access to the editing process. Rather than having to email attachments between group members to make changes, each individual can easily access and edit the document. Using Google docs eliminates the extra steps needed for emailing attachments or using other various software for group projects.

I definitely think this type of document would be welcomed by faculty. From my experience most professors in the MLIS program encourage the use of collaborative software such as Google docs for group projects. I think one concern may be the amount of work put in by each student. Google docs allows you to see which student last edited the document, but not the number or amount of changes made. Additionally, Google docs does not allow you to see all the previous edits, so its possible that one student may contribute to the document and then another student contributes without the professor noticing the first edit. Despite this I still think man professors would be open to using this type of document. It allows the students to collaborate but also allows the professor to observe the progress over time and even make suggestions/edit the document (as long as permission has been given from the students). I think Google docs, like wikis, is a great tool for collaboration.

SCILS or SCI

When I first heard the proposed name change, from SCILS to SCI, I thought what a horrible idea. As I've thought more and more about it, I still can't get on board with the name change. Although I agree that information specialist can accurately reflect the job of a librarian, I would still prefer to be called librarian. I think libraries are more than just places of information, there a place for community gathering, for learning, and for sharing. Since I've started the MLIS program I can't tell you how many people have said, "why do you need a masters for that?" or "anyone can do that job". Several times I felt that people don't understand the value of libraries or librarians, they don't understand that being a librarian involves more than checking out books. In many ways I feel the name change further devalues the role of a librarian. The name SCILS has worked for quite a long time, and as the saying goes if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

When the name change first came about we discussed in my management class and I must say all of the students in class opposed the name change.