Social Networks

This week I’ve explored online social networks such as Facebook and MySpace.  Both are easy to join and very user friendly.  I’d heard positive comments about Facebook in particular, relating to how you can reconnect with long lost friends.  Everyone in this Learning 2.0 programme is there, but I couldn’t find any old friends.  I belong to the blank generation, not generation x or later.  Then I began ”searching” for my nephews, and children of friends or relatives (these would be teenagers and 20 somethings) and hit the jackpot –they’re all there and pictured.  I contacted my nephew and asked for his recommendation on which to explore next: MySpace, LinkedIn or Bebo.  Three minutes later, he recommended MySpace.

What can I say?  The kids are definitely connected and I must admit that Facebook has been fun.  I’ve fooled around with workmates, added an avatar to my low profile, admired and laughed at the avatars of some friends, and joined the Learning 2.0 group.  I was hoping to see some action in the group but it’s been quiet.

I was less impressed by MySpace and I think this is only because, after exploring all these online tools these last few weeks, I’ve become more critical of what they have to offer in relation to my needs and interests.  I don’t mean this in a negative way.  I must credit Learning 2.0 for fostering, within me, a comfort level with 2.0 technologies that I never had before.  Some online tools interest me and some don’t, but more recently I find myself engaging (or disengaging) from them as an informed participant.

Online tools

Besides LibraryThing, another online tool I tried was RedKid.net which allows you to create signs, avatars, etc.  I used this to add a banner to my “projects” page.  Check it out.  

It’s a user friendly tool, but I did have a bit of trouble when sizing the image to fit the page.  Although if I had to do it again, I think I’d do better.  I haven’t attempted to create an avatar….  Honestly, whenever I’ve seen anyone’s avatar, I feel like I should be saying “awesome.”

LibraryThing

I set up a free account in LibraryThing which allows me to create a library catalogue of up to 200 books.  I first learned about this service through one of my favourite blogs, Internet-Roots.  This was so easy to set up I can barely believe it.  One interesting feature, but relatively common in the virtual world now, is its ability to generate lists of related reading material based upon the contents of your personal library.   Although if you like to do this sort of investigative work yourself (as my husband does), then this will be of little interest to you.

Photo

 

I’m tired. I had trouble adding this photo.

Flickr

Have you ever been to Hamilton, Ontario?  It has a reputation as a steeltown but it is that and more.  I found some interesting photographs on Flickr.  Check it out:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dpurdy/421341236/in/pool-hamilton-ontario/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sherilynvan/429283342/in/pool-hamilton-ontario/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phirleh/415535925/in/pool-hamilton-ontario/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/steve-n-leona/429905599/in/pool-hamilton_flickr_group/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chrispics/435792875/in/pool-hamilton_flickr_group/

del.icio.us

Hello.  I feel like I should introduce myself all over again; it’s been so long since I last posted. 

I worked with del.icio.us today, a tool for social bookmarking.  I’ve imported my “favorites” from Internet Explorer to del.icio.us, which means that I should be able to access these bookmarks from any computer –which is great.  When looking these files over in del.icio.us, I see that  I need to rename my “tags”.  This may be a lengthy task because I may reorganize as well.  After overhauling, this could be a useful tool.

WetPaint

Today I added some links to the Digital Reference Shelf wiki to useful cataloguing sites.  This wiki is full of information which I find quite useful for some tricky reference questions.

After editing, some colleagues prompted me to “comment” on another page.  This was rather slowgoing to start because I kept looking at the “Recent site activity” menu for the page I wanted –thinking a history file resided there– rather than looking through the navigation menu.  I missed the obvious on that one! 

Later, for greater accessibility, I renamed my page.  This function seemed buried to me but the help page, clearly and promptly, got me on track.

PBWiki

I added content to the “My favourite books” wiki, adding my personal (recent) favourites to the sidebar.  After stumbling along, I actually got it done, although I did confer with a team leader since the copy/paste function failed to work and, yes, this was witnessed.  In the end, I enjoyed doing this because I liked the topic.  After looking over other book lists, I was inspired to add links from my titles to amazon.com.  Did I use some techie jargon here?

RSS

At work, as part of an in-house techie program offered by the Library, I’ve created some RSS feeds in Bloglines.  I must say that this stuff does not come to me intuitively, which is rather frustrating but, once I’ve figured it out, I’m okay.  However, I can’t take sole credit for figuring this out.  I worked through the assignment with a valued colleague, as well as a team leader in the program (actually my colleague’s team leader in this instance).

Will I use my bloglines account?  I don’t know.  This is the burning question for me.  I’ve already added more feeds since yesterday, so I guess that says something.  I’ll monitor this situation and report my findings.

Welcome

Welcome to home row ~ where I plan to document my home/work imbalance.