#22 Audiobooks (or "The end is in sight ")

A division of OCLC, NetLibrary is the portal through which patrons can access their library's digital resources, including eBooks, eAudiobooks, and eJournals. With so many of us holding, our lives in our hands through palm-sized technology, NetLibrary offers another way to access information remotely and digitally. Patrons check out an eBook or another digital resource much like they would a print resource. A library's digital catalog offers much of the same searching capabilities as a WebPac. Once a title is selected, the patron keys in a library card number, and continues on to download the material to a computer or other device. Very simple. For those with long commutes to and from work, a lot of travel time, or no time to sit and read, digital resources can fulfill a need for information (and reading) that wouldn't be possible with traditional library materials. My library currently uses OverDrive (and cancelled NetLibrary). This interface also offers downloadable videos and music for library cardmembers. One thing about using digital resources at your library-it won't work with Kindle, which requires that you purchase all content at Amazon.com.

#21 Podcasts, Smodcasts!

Podcasts are online-generated mp3 files that users subscribe to through an RSS feed. By subscribing, users will know when a new episode of a podcast is available for download. Some liken podcasts to on-demand radio, where online users can dictate the type of content they receive, and when and where they listen to it. Podcasts cover every topic from news and sports to education and music. Many popular newspaper columnists and television hosts use podcasts as another way to communicate. National Public Radio (NPR), the Wall Street Journal and the hosts and programs on MSNBC deliver podcasts. But like many things web-related, anyone with the equipment and something to say can create their own podcast.

The state of podcast search sites today appears to be wobbly at best. The Yahoo! Podcasts site shut down two years ago, and podcastalley.com is supported by mevio.com, which also acquired another podcast search site. After doing a little research, it seems that podcast search sites are being outdone by video search sites (think YouTube). With that said, sites such as podcastalley.com still are a great way to search podcasts, without having to wade through the unneeded results that may come up in a Google, or related-type search.

Even so, podcasts are still a popular way to receive information via your computer or downloaded to a handheld device (iPhone, iPod, etc.). I love the brevity of most podcasts, too. In ten minutes, I can hear about the latest books, find out the news or practice some deep calming yoga breathing via a guided meditation.

#20 You too can YouTube

YouTube is nothing less than a phenomenon. No other downloadable video site compares to it. If you are looking for a video on well, anything, YouTube is likely to have it. If you’re looking for home improvement videos, YouTube has them. From installing doors and windows to painting and electric, the do-it-yourself home remodeler needn’t look any further. Libraries, too, are represented in a variety of videos, including “Building Academic Library 2.0” and entire “Gaming in Libraries” course consisting of 33 videos. Of course, funny and entertainment-related videos are here, too. Most of the funny “you gotta see this” videos I get in my e-mail come from YouTube. Sports, and live broadcasts can be seen on YouTube within minutes of when the event occurred, and all over the world. You can find new and old TV shows to watch…the list is pretty much endless. Even what might be considered rare is easy to find on YouTube. “The Sound of Jazz,” broadcast on CBS in 1958, shows performances from the greatest jazz artists ever.

Check out one of my favorite YouTube videos ever: Cookie Monster tries to get cookies at the library (Sesame Street). Awesome!!!

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 tools

.docstoc.com received first place in the educational website category. This site provides more than eight million searchable public, professional documents. The site is easy to use, and some of the major categories include business, legal, personal finance, education, and jobs and careers. Since it is primarily a free site, this is another suggestion that libraries can suggest to patrons wanting to do more research on a particular topic. Each result is tagged with keywords and the ability to provide reviews. Users also can search within search results.

The only thing that annoyed me was the number of advertisements appearing on top and the side of the Web page, as well as those ads between search results. However, I believe that the power of this site outweighs the advertisements.

My library is currently looking at online foreign language programs to offer patrons, including Mango, which received second place in the education category. I will definitely be passing on this information.

#18 Web-based Apps: They’re not just for desktops

I am in love with Zoho. This online tool is absolutely fabulous for many reasons. First of all, I would have loved to use it during my practicum. I misplaced my jump drive and could definitely have used this as a backup! The convenience and ease of accessing documents is great, as is the number of applications available.

In fact, I am using Zoho right now during the Thanksgiving celebrations at my parents. A nice excuse to be productive and get away from the family craziness for a little while!

Also, the ability to share documents is a nice feature to collaborate with others. As I, along with my Summer Reading Program co-coordinator plan for the 2010 program, we will definitely use this tool to update our schedule of activities and tasks. For people who work from home (and who doesn't these days?), it can eliminate the extra copies of revisions that get made between home and work.

#17 Playing around with BPWiki

I was able to sign up with BPWiki very easily. After that, things didn't go as smoothly. The site would not allow me to create a page, and there were no edit icons (and I looked really hard.) So here is what I would have posted:

In the favorites section, I would have said that my favorite vacation spots are Maui, Hawai’i, and Italy. The natural beauty of the people and landscape is very different, but both are unbelievable places.

To post my blog in the Favorite Blogs section I would have typed:

[http://westminsterblogshow.blogspot.com]

Pretty simple (in theory).

#16 So what’s in a wiki?

Wikis are another popular online tool that allow users to freely write, edit and post information easily on the Web. Users don’t need to know HTML or other markup codes and can post information as simply as posting to a blog.

The most well known wiki, of course, is wikipedia.org, the online free access encyclopedia that has become a mainstay for many information seekers. But I have learned that wikis can be, and are, so much more.

Wikis allows for collaboration and exchange of knowledge and ideas at any level. Internally, a library could create a wiki for input on the budget. On a grander scale a wiki could be used a central place for libraries across the world to discuss best library practices. Reading through the links provided for sample wikis on the 23 Things site proves that this online tool is an efficient and convenient way to communicate, regardless of the topic or physical location. For example, a wiki was set up for the 2006 ALA Conference in New Orleans. Information was available on transportation, hotel accommodations, conference activities and speakers, and tourist attractions. All the information that attendees needs was located on one site.

I think that a wiki would be a great way to keep up with the many changes that occur during the planning of our Summer Reading Program at Naperville Public Library. Staff and librarians are involved from all three locations and everyone cannot always make the meetings. Instead of e-mailing the meeting minutes, they could be posted to a wiki. Plus, changes are always being addressed whether it be the number of volunteers needed for the Kick Off to what businesses are donating coupons, to the grand prizes for the raffle drawing.

Not all is perfect in wiki world, though. Its accessible nature can also create room for problematic activity. Anyone can edit content based on his or her personal beliefs and opinions. Even if it isn’t a controversial subject, someone who doesn’t agree with the author can change, or even delete, any of the text. Wikis also provide access for spammers and other undesirable online activity. Plus, it is important to remember that anyone can say that she or he is an expert on or at something. Utilizing wikis as resources requires users to seek out the qualifications and expertise of the author.