Week 7 Reflections

This week's readings discussed privacy issues in social media. This has continually been a big issue for social media sites, and it doesn't look like it will be getting better any time soon. Every time an issue is resolved, a new one seems to crop up. I do think that people are becoming more aware of privacy issues and that they are starting to take some control over their own information, as evidenced by our reading. I hope that this trend will continue.

I had forgotten about the MySpace "Samy" issue, but I guess this type of forgetting is what keeps people using social networking sites. I found it particularly interesting to read about how difficult it is for a user to monitor their own online activities without technological skills. I would venture a guess that the majority of the people using social media sites are not technology experts, and would be unable to accomplish this type of monitoring.

I think that California's decision to prohibit employers from demanding access to job-seekers' social media sites is a good thing. Although I choose not post private information to these types of sites, I still believe that those who do "over share" on their private pages should not be forced to provide this information to potential employers. If the job-seeker has left their page open to the public, well, that's another story. I also wouldn't have considered the fact that these types of laws also protect businesses, but discrimination suits would certainly be an issue otherwise.

I also experimented with Google+ this week for our assignment, and I must say the interface is not intuitive for me. I don't dislike it, but it will take some more playing around before I can say that I know what I'm doing on there.

Week 6 Reflections

In this week's readings, one of the recurring themes is whether the Internet serves as a way for people to feel closer to others, by being a part of an online community, or whether it isolates them from traditional face-to-face interactions. I'm interested in this topic because I have seen examples of both of these effects, and I wanted to learn more.

I thought that the articles about the impact that social media has had on health communication were particularly interesting. In regards to health, the online community can help patients by allowing them to connect with others who have a similar condition in a non-threatening environment. Information can be shared online, which can be beneficial for patients who may be isolated from others for one reason or another. Obviously the biggest concern when it comes to health and online information is the huge potential for the spread of erroneous information. While many people do seem to be aware of this issue, there are still more people who are quick to believe the information that they find online, without any verification of the facts.

In social interactions, the findings showed that people who use social media sites generally have stronger relationships and support systems. Their Internet usage does not isolate them from traditional face-to-face interactions, and can in fact strengthen existing friendships. Most people choose to only be "friends" with those that they have met in person. I was not surprised by this fact, because most people that I speak to choose to interact online only with actual friends and family members.

It's amazing to read how just how much the social networking environment has changed over the last few years, and how many more people are actively engaged with these tools on a daily basis. They have become, and will continue to be, such an integral part of our daily lives.

Web 2.0 and RSS Feeds

I did not discuss the readings from last week in my reflection, so I thought I would post a little update now. Last week's readings focused on Web 2.0 and RSS feeds. It still seems as if Web 2.0 is a little bit hard to pin down definition-wise, but the overall theme is sharing and collaboration. I thought it was interesting that it was mentioned that conversation about the subject peaked in 2007 and 2008 and has been on the decline since then. I did not hear the term until well after the peak, so perhaps it only seems prevalent in today's discussions to me.

Some of the tools that fit into this Web 2.0 category can be very beneficial to libraries, when used correctly. I'm glad that I've been re-introduced to Delicious and introduced to Diigo, because the more I play around with them, the more useful I find them. I've used Google Reader for years to follow a variety of blogs, but some of the articles that I read made me want to try some of the other readers for some of their different features. Especially the one that would allow me to mark articles as un-read, but not leave the blog title bold as if there are waiting articles. That is one of the things that I am not fond of in Google Reader.  I haven't had a chance to try any other readers yet, but I have tried some of the features in Google Reader that I had been ignoring with varying levels of success.

The best part about using a reader, in my opinion, is the ability to categorize information sources, and then catch up on the most important topics first. This is the easiest way to stay on top of a monumental amount of information, in the least amount of time possible. I also like to save my favorites for last, that way I can end my reading on a positive note. :)

Social Bookmarking

This is a little reflection on my experience so far with Delicious and Diigo. I've used Delicious before, but not recently, so this was a bit of a refresher for me on how it works. The site is more streamlined than I remember, and it's very easy to save bookmarks. It's also easy to find relevant bookmarks by using the search box, and then selecting appropriate tags from the related tags list on the right. In my last experience with Delicious I did not create any tag bundles, but this time I created one for social media, which will be useful for keeping similar items together. I could see myself using Delicious quite a bit.

Diigo was all new to me. The first thing that I noticed was that I did not like the layout. It's a bit more cluttered, which I found distracting. However, I liked that the site also offers annotating options, like the highlighting and sticky notes. I also liked the list-creating feature, which I found useful for separating bookmarks and tags for different interests. Diigo has been much more problematic for me than Delicious though; it seems to freeze a lot, and frequently kicks me out so that I have to log back in.

Overall, I preferred using Delicious over Diigo. Delicious was easier to navigate, and the process of bookmarking pages seemed much more efficient. I will continue to experiment with Diigo though, especially with some of the different groups, and the annotating features.

Week 4 Reflections

I must admit that before our readings this week I was one of those individuals who did not see the usefulness of Twitter. I’m sure that on multiple occasions I made the “why do I want to know what someone ate for breakfast?” comment. I think that part of what made me hesitant is the celebrity culture associated with the site. That’s not really my cup of tea. From recent current events I could see how others were using Twitter to spread ideas and information, and I knew that my library system had a Twitter account, but I just didn’t see how it applied to me. However, after the readings, I can clearly see the benefits of using Twitter (or other microblogging services), especially in the professional setting.

I thought that it was very interesting to read about the different ways that Twitter is used, and the ways that Twitter users have initiated changes in the system over time. It’s amazing that such a simple concept could have created such a large cultural impact. The platform is perfect for presenting brief, yet (if done correctly) powerful bits of information. It’s easy to see how this could be used in a library to attract patrons to use library services and programs, as well as share other important community information.  

I gathered that one of the most important factors in making Twitter work is finding the right users to follow. This is key, because you want to follow the authoritative and informative users in your field, but if you are following too many users it can lead to information overload. It is also important to present useful and relevant information to your followers, so that they find your feed indispensible as well. I thought that the tip that Kelly (2009) gave to present information in fun, different ways was particularly helpful. It can be very easy to simply link to the information without thinking about how people will view that link or post. Most of the time people will pass by the bland, boring links without giving them a second thought, but if something sounds exciting they’ll want to find out more. This seems like common sense, but I think it can be easy to overlook. I’m interested to see how my experience with Twitter will be this semester, and what I can learn from using this new-to-me form of social media.

Kelly, D. A. (July 29, 2009). How your library may not be using twitter but should. Retrieved from http://kellyd.com/2009/07/29/how-your-library-may-not-be-using-twitter-but-should/

A Library Blog

One library blog that I regularly read is Disruptive Library Technology Jester. This is an active blog that discusses the use of technology in libraries, and how it is changing the field of librarianship. He presents the idea that libraries are changing, whether we like it or not, and that we should stay informed in order to keep up. The blog provides information and opinions on current events in the world of library technology. I find this blog invaluable because it gathers current technological information stories from all over the Internet, and provides explanations on why the information is relevant (or not) to librarians. He often includes helpful background information on each topic, which I greatly appreciate. I also enjoy the humor. 

To me, a successful library blog depends on the writer's knowledge of the field (especially current events), writing ability, sense of humor and/or irony, and a commitment to regular posting. It is often difficult to find all of these together, and not all successful blogs have all four, but the ones that I enjoy the most generally do.  

And for a little fun, I also enjoy reading Awful Library Books, because it's hilarious, and a reminder that weeding the collection is very important!

Week 2 - Use of Social Networking

Social networking sites allow users to share information. This information can be in the form of news, photos, videos, random thoughts, research, contacts, etc. The information can be shared for either professional or personal reasons. The sites' users have control over the content that they enter and share, and there are many social networking sites for all kinds of informational purposes. The primary function of these networks is sharing; all kinds of information can be shared among users on these sites.

The main social networking sites that come to mind that I currently use Facebook, Pinterest, Goodreads and Instagram. I also follow a variety of blogs.

My use of social networks supports the research that we read this week, in that my purpose is primarily social. I use Facebook to stay in contact with friends and family members who do not live nearby. We can share pictures, videos, and stories easily.  I would consider myself a passive user of Facebook, because I do not post often and mostly use the site to view photos posted by family members. Despite this, I still enjoy using the site and appreciate the fact that it allows me to stay in touch with friends who I may not be able to easily contact otherwise.

I use Pinterest to save pictures and links that I want to remember, or that I think my friends and family would like. I also like to view pictures that others have “pinned.” I have several friends that are currently in the process of planning weddings, and Pinterest seems to be the place where brides-to-be create online scrapbooks of their dream weddings. It's an interesting phenomenon.

Goodreads is wonderful, because it helps me keep track of the books that I have read, and also to see what books my friends have read and are currently reading. It also provides recommendations, and I have found several wonderful books through this service.

Instagram is fun, because I can take pictures of things that I see or do on a daily basis, and share these with my friends. It’s entertaining to see the little things that my friends are enjoying at any particular moment.

I read blogs for many reasons. Professional blogs help me to stay in touch with important news and changes in the field of librarianship. They can represent a variety of viewpoints on important issues, allowing me to examine an issue from all sides. The comments on the posts are often enlightening as well. Personal blogs provide me with new recipes, interior design ideas, fun DIY projects, and many different product recommendations, from books and movies to shampoo and laundry detergent.

I would estimate that I use Facebook, Instagram, and Goodreads a couple of times a week, and Pinterest and blogs daily. Just like many others, I enjoy communicating with friends and family, and using these sites to maintain contact with those who are far away.

And here is a tag cloud from tagxedo.com for this post!

Week 1 - Blogging Experience

As far as my former blogging experience goes, this is not my first blog, but I have only created and maintained blogs for educational purposes. I have always entertained the idea of starting a personal blog, but I never manage to start. I read a variety of blogs daily, with topics ranging from librarianship and education to food and DIY. I enjoy seeing the variety of opinions that are expressed and the topics that are covered on blogs. I can't even tell you how many wonderful ideas I have found on blogs, for both personal and professional purposes! I use Google Reader to keep up with the blogs that I read, and because I don't always have time to catch up on my favorites I like how it tells me exactly the number of posts that I have missed. I like that blogs can provide up to the minute information, personal opinions, and provide a forum for discussion on a variety of topics. I dislike blogs that are overly commercialized and don't seem to express the writer's genuine opinions on topics.