The End

What have I learnt from the 23 things programme...
It's introduced me to a lot of Web 2.0 resources that I either knew about but didn't know how to use, or didn't know existed. It's a shame I didn't have time to do the extra tasks.
I really didn't like twitter, but I liked google reader and have used that since.

Week 11: Widgets

I found the widgets fairly simple to add to my blog and to my igoogle page (once I had remembered the right ID - there are so many of them now!)

I think it is useful to be able to link different Web 2.0 resources in this way.

Week 10: Office 2.0

I found Google docs easy to use. It was sort of a cross between notepad and an email. I didn't think there were enough options available to make it as versatile or as useful as Word. However useful it would be to access your documents from any internet connection without conflicting software issues, I would not be comfortable storing my documents on the internet when I can place them on my own computer.

I found think free quite slow to use, not only to load but also to create a document. I do far prefer it as an interface and it is much more similar to Word, so if it became faster I might be persuaded...

Week 9: Wikipedia

I am quite familiar with wikipedia but I had never visited wikipedia's page about itself or looked at the discussions. The wikipedia page led me to the portmanteau page. I think the definition is accurate, although I would take issue with the reference to "mimsy" meaning "flimsy and miserable". Then I looked at the discussion tab to the portmanteau page, where the first point of discussion was why most wikipedia pages lead to portmanteau! I am inclined to agree with this because it has definitely happened to me before. However, I do agree with the general concern about wikipedia's accuracy. As it can be edited by anyone, it's not that useful for academic research.

Week 9: Wikis

I am completely new to all wikis other than wikipedia. I browsed the oxford web 2.0 wiki. I found the case studies quite interesting and thought the page that detailed the various issues associated with web 2.0 valuable. I did find the adverts very off putting and thought it made the wiki seem unprofessional. I haven't added corpus as a case study because there wouldn't be much to say: we don't really use web 2.0 here. I also didn't spot any OULS references in the pages I visited, so I haven't changed them.

Week 8: Twitter

I signed up for twitter a few weeks ago in preparation for the trainee Web 2.0 presentations. I managed to find Sarah Hogg (another trainee). I did look at the lists, but I couldn't see why I would want to follow a stranger, even if they were a librarian. Eventually I worked out how to comment on Sarah's latest post and how to retweet it. I still don't think it's the easiest thing to use (excuse the pun!). I think I'll stick to Facebook...

Week 7: Linked In

I think LinkedIn is a good idea. It helps you get connected professionally, to market yourself and to look for jobs.
I have registered for it. I'm just not sure where my confirmation email as gone...!

Week 7: Facebook

I've had Facebook for a while but I haven't really thought about it from a professional angle before.

The Bodleian Law Library uses Facebook to display its opening hours, address, contact details, a short history, details of the collections and the library's location. It uses the wall to detail changes to resources and opening hours and details of lectures in which its readers might be interested. By becoming a fan of the page, readers can be kept updated of new posts to the wall.

The Queen's College Library uses Facebook to display the same sort of information, but does some things slightly differently. The Information page is almost the same, except The Queen's College has detailed its collections alongside details about its history. It uses a RSS feed for details of new acquisitions and uses the wall to allow fans to leave comments about the library. There are details about accessing the library under 'boxes'. Strangely, events can be found under 'notes' and details of library closure during vacation is under 'events'.

I thought these articles explained the difference between pages and groups quite clearly: http://www.addicottweb.com/2009/01/marketing-your-business-on-facebook-group-or-page/ and http://www.myfastype.com/Blog/2009/04/21/facebook-groups-vs-facebook-pages-which-is-best/ and I agreed generally with the argument.

Week 6: You Tube

I was already quite familiar with searching and watching videos on youtube so I had no problems finding the required videos. I was pleased to see that youtube videos can be used for library tutorials (such as for web of science) and that they are used by institutions to promote the university and to highlight recent news and developments.

Week 6: Podcasting

I found it very easy to subscribe to the front row highlights podcast from the bbc because there was a big google reader logo on the page! I had more difficulty with the university of oxford site (partly because it was quite slow), but after reminding myself of thing 6, I successfully subscribed to tolkien at oxford. I haven't really used podcast before, but I think now I have subscribed to some I may listen to them a bit more.

Week 5: Social Bookmarking and Tagging (Delicious)

I found it very straightforward to sign up for Delicious and save my bookmarks. I bookmarked all the Web 2.0 resources we have used so far, the trainee blog, the 23 things programme, this blog and the sites I find useful at work. I also bookmarked the OED when I found it on another person's bookmarks.

I think it will be useful to access my bookmarks from any computer, although I don't think it will be faster than using your browser bookmarks because you have to sign into Delicious first. I'm also not keen on the fact that it doesn't open your bookmark as a new tab: it would be helpful if the delicious account stayed open.

Week 4: Flickr and Picnik

I found it quite simple to upload my photos on to flickr and to put them in a set.
I then went on to picnik and found the editing tools I had uploaded photos that I quite liked so I didn't see much need for editing! I resized my bluebells photo though (see below). I think some of the tools would be really useful though, particularly the red eye tool.

Week 3: Google Reader

I managed to set up my google reader account quite quickly, although it took me a while to work out how to subscribe to the 23 things blog (until I realised I was looking on the google reader page instead of the blog's page!).
Then I subscribed to the cilip rare books, information and advice team, british library ted hughes archive, library and information archive, information literacy and the oxford graduate trainee blog. I also subscribed to the librarian of fortune blog after reading something interesting in the cilip gazette a couple of weeks ago that came from that blog. In searching for the name of it, I discovered that the gazette has an online version.
23 things oxford continues to prove useful!

My iGoogle page

Here is a screen shot of my iGoogle page, made in about a second on my own laptop after trying in vain to do it at work (and I have no idea why it wouldn't paste into paint - any ideas??).

I was impressed how quickly I managed to catch up on what I missed last week. I quite like the idea of a customisable homepage. I have chosen the map, date and time, weather (useful gadgets), hangman and quote of the day (not so useful but fun). Originally I had a winter theme but I quickly realised that would become outdated fairly soon! Then I discovered the 'theme of the day'. I wonder what it will change to next?

I've had a look at other people's blogs and they all look very different!
I'm still not sure about blogging. I have found facebook useful to keep in touch with other people, but this blog is just written by me, and I have my diary for that.
Still, I am keeping an open mind and hopefully I will be more keen on blogs as I learn more of these 23 things!

Laurel's first post

I am participating in the 23 things programme to extend my very limited knowledge of Web 2.0. At the moment the only thing I use on the internet which could be classed as Web 2.0 is Facebook. I have only just started the course but it has already proved useful - I have just looked up what Web 2.0 means (and for anyone still in the dark, it means (as I understand it) those applications that allow users to share information, such as social networking sites and blogs) and I have just created my first blog!