Tuesday, April 8, 2008
Week Eight (part two)
I researched “fruit fly migration” on Exalead, Clusty, Mooter, Kartoo, and Yahoo. I was surprised by the results.
Although the graphics were attractive, Kartoo’s web diagram pulled very few relevant results. However, it did include an intriguing site I will have to investigate further – brightsurf.com (a resource for science information). Overall, I found the presentation and results confusing and convoluted.
Mooter and Yahoo pulled almost identical results. I expected Yahoo to bring up more commercial links, but the first 11 results were mostly .org and .edu domains and included Britannica and Wikipedia. Mooter initiated the search with a web diagram separating the words in the search. I chose “all results”, which lead to a results list very similar to the Yahoo search with several commercial sites listed first.
I liked Clusty and Exalead the best of all search engines investigated. Both went directly from the search to a results list, which included a sidebar with related terms. Exalead included formats, languages and file types in the sidebar. I also liked that Exalead included a preview image of the file in the results list. Exalead included .org, .net, .gov and .com domains in the results.
From this one search there was overlap in the results on all four search engines investigated. Exalead was my personal favorite of the search engines, because of the variety of domains including the deep net, the relevance of the hits and the presentation.
Although the graphics were attractive, Kartoo’s web diagram pulled very few relevant results. However, it did include an intriguing site I will have to investigate further – brightsurf.com (a resource for science information). Overall, I found the presentation and results confusing and convoluted.
Mooter and Yahoo pulled almost identical results. I expected Yahoo to bring up more commercial links, but the first 11 results were mostly .org and .edu domains and included Britannica and Wikipedia. Mooter initiated the search with a web diagram separating the words in the search. I chose “all results”, which lead to a results list very similar to the Yahoo search with several commercial sites listed first.
I liked Clusty and Exalead the best of all search engines investigated. Both went directly from the search to a results list, which included a sidebar with related terms. Exalead included formats, languages and file types in the sidebar. I also liked that Exalead included a preview image of the file in the results list. Exalead included .org, .net, .gov and .com domains in the results.
From this one search there was overlap in the results on all four search engines investigated. Exalead was my personal favorite of the search engines, because of the variety of domains including the deep net, the relevance of the hits and the presentation.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Week Eight
I like this definition of Library 2.0 (L2) given by Sarah Houghton:
“Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.” (http://www.blyberg.net/2006/01/09/11-reasons-why-library-20-exists-and-matters/)
I especially like the idea of making the library relevant. It seems that if one of our goals is to increase our user base, we need to appeal to a wide variety of individuals. Some will continue to use our physical spaces, but some [gasp] may never step foot in a library. L2 seems like a good idea, not the ultimate solution, but a start. I have always liked the idea of libraries as community centers where information is a dynamic shared entity. L2 fits nicely into this definition. It facilitates the flow of information and ideas through social networking.
It seems there are some simple things we could be doing right now, such as include video clips on our website of library programs, especially children’s programming, develop subject guide wikis and incorporate tagging in the catalog may facilitate access to more materials.
“Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.” (http://www.blyberg.net/2006/01/09/11-reasons-why-library-20-exists-and-matters/)
I especially like the idea of making the library relevant. It seems that if one of our goals is to increase our user base, we need to appeal to a wide variety of individuals. Some will continue to use our physical spaces, but some [gasp] may never step foot in a library. L2 seems like a good idea, not the ultimate solution, but a start. I have always liked the idea of libraries as community centers where information is a dynamic shared entity. L2 fits nicely into this definition. It facilitates the flow of information and ideas through social networking.
It seems there are some simple things we could be doing right now, such as include video clips on our website of library programs, especially children’s programming, develop subject guide wikis and incorporate tagging in the catalog may facilitate access to more materials.
Thursday, March 20, 2008
Week Seven (part two)
Okay, I messed around with the image generators. I suppose it is fun, and you could definitely be sucked into the vortex with very little effort. However, I can't believe we are being encouraged to use work time to in essence waste time with these applications. I honestly see no relevance to libraries or library work.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Week Six
This week I explored RSS feeds. I think RSS feeds are both good and bad. First, I am not convinced it really saves time. Whether you go directly to the site or sift through it on a reader; you still end up spending more time than you really should on stuff that doesn't really matter in the long run, especially if you are not very discerning in what you subscribe to. (how's that for a run on sentence? and of course it ends with a preposition, Mrs. Hawks may junior high school grammar teacher would be appalled.)
On the other hand, it seems a useful tool to keep up on the latest debates, trends etc., in the library world and beyond. I think there are some applications for libraries to consider. RSS feeds for library programs that relate to a patron's particular interests or for new books or other materials that fit within a patron's profile would be great methods of promoting library services. Library websites could also provide links to other RSS feeds of interest such as PW reviews and other book review services, local newspaper headlines, local organizations…
As for search tools - I liked Topix more than Syndic8. A search for subject related information on Topix resulted in more useful links. Syndic8 in fact pulled very few and in some instances no useful links. I suppose Syndic8 would be more helpful if I were looking for a specific feed, rather than a subject area. In my everyday use of the internet I have occasionally come across a RSS feed "button". Now I know what it is- one more thing to check off my ‘to do’ list...
On the other hand, it seems a useful tool to keep up on the latest debates, trends etc., in the library world and beyond. I think there are some applications for libraries to consider. RSS feeds for library programs that relate to a patron's particular interests or for new books or other materials that fit within a patron's profile would be great methods of promoting library services. Library websites could also provide links to other RSS feeds of interest such as PW reviews and other book review services, local newspaper headlines, local organizations…
As for search tools - I liked Topix more than Syndic8. A search for subject related information on Topix resulted in more useful links. Syndic8 in fact pulled very few and in some instances no useful links. I suppose Syndic8 would be more helpful if I were looking for a specific feed, rather than a subject area. In my everyday use of the internet I have occasionally come across a RSS feed "button". Now I know what it is- one more thing to check off my ‘to do’ list...
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Week Five
Okay, I think I have once again missed the point. Flickr obviously has huge potential for family and friends to share photos and depending on your willingness to share your personal photos with the world, Flickr also has networking potential. But I do not see a direct connection to improving library service. I agree that photos and video of library programs posted to the library websites would enhance our connection to community and serve to promote programming. With that said, if Flickr can help to format photos used on public websites, blogs, myspace etc. than I suppose it could be useful for libraries.
Photos I found on Flickr *... http://www.flickr.com/photos/tropicaliving/2282891165 (there is an image in Precious Bane by Mary Webb of dragonflies emerging from the water, "most wonderful")
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicbartbeans/2282372369/ (too bad the weather did not cooperate on February 20th; no total lunar ecplise again until 2010)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pancier/2186928379/ ("there are more things in heaven and earth...than are dreamt of in your philosophy")
*note: In order to sign up for Flickr you have to have a Yahoo ID. Yet another account, no thank you!
Photos I found on Flickr *... http://www.flickr.com/photos/tropicaliving/2282891165 (there is an image in Precious Bane by Mary Webb of dragonflies emerging from the water, "most wonderful")
http://www.flickr.com/photos/atomicbartbeans/2282372369/ (too bad the weather did not cooperate on February 20th; no total lunar ecplise again until 2010)
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pancier/2186928379/ ("there are more things in heaven and earth...than are dreamt of in your philosophy")
*note: In order to sign up for Flickr you have to have a Yahoo ID. Yet another account, no thank you!
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