Method 3 - cloud computing

Hmmm.... cloud computing sounds wonderful, but I do have privacy concerns.

I also have concerns with Library patrons and cloud computing; we work a lot with people who have very low computer/internet comprehension levels. They have desperate problems remembering from week to week how to sign on to their e-mail, how to navigate to their chat or discussion groups, etc...

I can just see me trying to explain that "you are saving this somewhere magical, that really doesn't exist, but it is private, and you'll be able to get to it anywhere, but nobody else will." And then explaining "you have to have yet another account for this".

I don't think I'm ready for Google Apps in the library! As an option for the web-savvy, sure, but NOT for the guy who just needs a half-decent simple resume in 15 minutes.

I DO think that cloud apps have REAL potential for the web-savvy person who travels a lot, uses computers in multiple locations, or for the group that co-authors documents. So far, I have used Google Docs in a way similar to a wiki and for editing articles.

I've used online whiteboards for simultaneous brainstorming/editing sessions with friends, and found that to be very fun and effective.(Scrble and Dabbleboard were the two we tried; I think Scrble was slightly our favorite but we found both to be useful). Again, the ability to save and retrieve materials from session to session was very useful.

computer classes

Ugh, I just started a long rant about Word 2007 (I teach computer classes at my library, and this was my first day of class having to use the new software). I guess I'm an old fogey - I found it very hard to teach! I kept trying to revert back to what I expected in 2000 and 2003. When I found myself arguing in circles, however, I thought I'd best just delete the whole post...

So, what did I learn? It can be harder UNlearning what you know, than learning new things. Overcoming expectations is hard. I'm not particularly a technophile, but I do like my computer a lot (and my mac at home even more). I just have to be careful not to think I have learned all I can.

Methods 1 & 2

Library 2.0 and Web 2.0

Hmmm.... I'm somewhere close to 2.o already, having tried (and decided I didn't care for) 2nd life, having 2 wikis of my own that I use daily, and maintaining both a blog and a facebook page for the Library.

I enjoy maintaining my wikis, and they've done well for me outside the library. We did have a staff wiki, but unfortunately a combination of lack of motivation to use it on the staff's side, and a change in policy by our city IT department, led to its abandonment.

I have hopes that in the future I'll be able to re-establish the wiki, as our staff grow more comfortable with the idea of such technology.

Right now, my next dream is to have a way for library patrons to interact with library materials online; posting reviews, tagging books and other library materials, etc... I know such tools are available, and we've looked into a few, but we're in the process of considering an upgrade from our current (outdated) library automation system. It wouldn't do to spend funds on a system or product that won't work in a year or three. So of course, we wait...

We do a few borderline 2.o things for our patrons now - we just started notifying patrons of holds and overdues by email this year. We do have the teen weblog, and the facebook page.