Lesson 9 Wikis Two years ago a teacher in our school had a short in service on technology and signed all of the teachers up with wiki. I don't think any of us understood how to use it and we didn't. I was frustrated because this teacher doesn't answer his telephone or use email anymore but he encouraged using the wiki system which I didn't understand.

I envisioned wikis as a replacement of email instead of a web-site where you could edit things. I have an completely different idea of wikis after studying this lesson.

I did get a bit sidetracked on this lesson. I found information about visual thinking strategies and also leaned about one library which is starting a "text a librarian service." From looking at the wikis it appears some large libraries are very community minded and one library even offers Star Bucks coffee.

The video we watched did not give me the large scope of how a wiki system can be used. I think I will have to change my mind about wikis. I did not have a very positive impression of wikis.

The one thing that still challenges me is what system do we use? Our school has a web site that most parents use. Do we also start a blog, a wiki or join face book? Will the people in our school community want to check something besides the school web site? Does it make a difference if your library is a small school library? I appears to me that large metropolitan libraries are using the newer technology. Perhaps larger staffs make a difference.

Lesson 8 Tagging,.....social bookmarking
I have such mixed feelings with this lesson! For several years I have used the favorite button on my Internet Explorer setting and just lately I sorted all of my favorite web sites into different files. I have an author file, library file, quilt file and others that pertain to my personal and professional life.
I set up a delicious account but it does not look simple to me. I like the concept because with this I could work from different computers. I will have to do some more studying if I am going to get proficient in using delicious.

Lesson 7 Social networking
My college friends were the first ones to ask me to join them on Facebook. Gradually I added cousins, nephews and nieces. It is fun to look at pictures and videos. I often send pictures along with emails but will probably do more of that on Facebook.
I am thinking about a Facebook account with our school library. First of all, are schools agreeing to a library blog, Facebook account, my space account if they already have a web site? Facebook might be a great communication tool if students would like it. I guess if they made the choice to join the information would be in their face. Again I have to think beyond my usual way of communicating.
I would love to know what other librarians are doing with their libraries with this new technology.

Lesson Six This lesson is stretching me. I wanted to do something practical so I decided to set up a calendar where I could schedule some of my tasks that are in my job description. Last week I contacted the local newspapers to send the newspapers subscriptions on our first day of school. I wrote that on the calendar. I will be scheduling other tasks for the weeks to come.
I don't know if I like going to the Internet to do this but maybe I can use this to work with other staff members and my library committee. It would be easy to make changes that might occur and use the input from others as we could all be viewing the calendar at the same time.
I could probably spend quite a bit of time studying the different applications that are available.
Right now with school starting I am busy but will try to remember that some of these documents could be useful in different settings.