Case studies for week 12

The use of podcats by the Thomas Ford Memorial Library which provide teen reviews of books makes sense to me. Do teens really want to hear what they should read from a librarian who is at least ten years older than them? and can a librarian talk teen language enough to make a book sound interesting? I know I can't.

The libraries that use podcasting Dowling Public Library, ASU Libraries , and Lansing Public Library and the Thomas Ford Memorial Library all give some description of the podcast so that you don't download it without knowing what it's about and then have to delete it. I think this is important as it takes some effort and bandwidth to download.

I checked out some of the libraries on the list of Libraries using IM reference. I noticed that most of them were offline at 9:30pm on Monday night. As I indicated in my post reading from week 12 - instant messaging, for IM to be effective it really has to be available whenever users are likely to be online and that might not be 9-5.

I also checked out some of the libraries using flikr and found that a lot of them use flikr to post pictures of library events like book signings. This seems like a good way to build a community. I think libraries would have to careful to take pictures of lots of different people and not make the photos too cliquey.

Can podcasting be interactive?

The article 7 Things you should know about podcasting suggests that one of the downsides to podcasting is that it's not interactive. Ithink that podcasting has the ability to be interactive especially with new technologies such as Wildvoice and Yamji which allow users to leave audio comments in response to each other. I see this as a kind of audio blog and I think it could be very effective. I think that people tune into radio shows hosted by personalities because it makes one feel like you have a friend when you're sitting in a traffic jam and that you're part of a listening audience that is sharing an experience. I think the podcasts could provide the same kind of connection for listeners.

readings week 12 (IM)

The article U R the best: Community building through chat noted an interesting issue about instant messaging crank calls. One of the main problems that I see with instant messaging is being able to restrict access to people in the library community. If anyone anywhere can access the virtual librarian then how do you ensure that the community that funds you is being served.

The article IM me raised some interesting points about using IM for reference. One thing that bugs me about IM reference interviews is that you have to remember to create a record or transcript of the dialogue. When you're on the phone you write down notes and email creates the record, but IM is easy to close (doh!). I also find it really slow, way slower than just talking. At my office all business researchers have to have sametime (our im application) open when you're available. You have to change your status if your in a meeting on a conference call or too busy to be disturbed. IM is used to say "hi do you have a sec" or "can I call you." If anything with detail needs to be discussed we do it via e-mail or phone. One thing it is great for is sending links as mentione in the blog, Give Them What They Already Use - AOL Instant Messanger: A Case Study. I agree with Schmidt and Stevens, the authors of IM me that the library community is increasingly connecting to the library on the internet and offering virtual reference through im is one way to reach out to this community.

The SUNY Morrisville College Library mentioned in the blog Give Them What They Already Use - AOL Instant Messanger: A Case Study devote a lot of staff to manning their virtual reference. The blogger maintains that they are open 82 hours a week during fall and winter. While an academic library might be able to train and dedicate staff to virtual reference, I don't think that public libraries have those kind of resources.

week 10 readings

The wikipedia definition of Social Network reveals that social networking on the internet is still about people connecting to each other. However, traditional social network theory involves the connections of people from different social groups whereas social networking on the internet seems to be more about people within a social community connecting without geographic limitations. Facebook allows one to register not just as a University student or alumni with a University e-mail account, but also as an employee of a major company, or as a highschool student. These types of social networks are more about connecting to the people within your social community and can be somewhat exclusive.

The article "Identity Production in a networked culture: why youth heart myspace" is interesting. Personally I had enough of the drama and angst of highschool when I was at highschool and after reading this article plan to stay away from myspace. I'm sure that developing an online identity is part of developing personal identity and might assist teens to experiment somewhat, but what's so great about an online identity that seeks popularity and of what value is a social network where one has to constantly flatter those you want to keep as "friends." I'm sorry, but teenagers are not "running ragged without any time to simply chill amongst friends." If they were they certainly wouldn't be able to spend so much time instant messaging and keeping up their social network on myspace.

In the article Myspace and Facebook: What higher-ed can learn from social computing, the author suggests that students enthusiasm for Facebook and Myspace is a reflection of their need to connect and interact and that this should be brought into a University classroom which is too controlled and where content is dictated by the professors. Again, I find myself apologizing for being so conservative, but I didn't pay tuition to listen to what my classmates think I should be taught. I want a professor to provide me with his or her knowledge in a discipline or subject in which he or she is expert. I agree that class discussion assists in learning and a lot can be learned from other students and their opinions and thoughts are of great value in the learning process, but the teaching of a professor with years of experience is also valuable and shouldn't be dismissed because its not as exciting as what your buddy did last night.

The Deleting Online Predators Act reffered to in The Moral Panic Over Social Networking Sites is a bit extreme. It's too bad that children and teens whose only access to the internet is through federally funded schools and libraries may be denied access to a technology which wealthier peers are not. I don't fully appreciate the value of social networks like Facebook and Myspace, but they are an evolving form of communication and allow children and teens to develop communication skills in the electronic world. As the article Social Networking: A new tech tool and a new security concern for schools and teens and the blog post What DOPA means for education suggest, maybe schools, parents and legislators should be focussing on teaching children and teens about how to communicate in the electronic world safely instead of trying to protect them from the evils that are lurking in their social spaces.