Pin for the Win!

I am a very big fan of Delicious and found Diigo to be less than appealing visually. Diigo was difficult to read but offered some features that I found very useful.  I like the ability to highlight text and make sticky notes.  Delicious was very easy to set up and the display was much easier to read. I think that librarians can use Delicious to stay current on many related internet sites and can group topics together. Diigo and Delicious seem to be cut from the same cloth and they are some similar there is little reason to use both.  The ability to bundle tags is really useful in a research context because you can keep items to tags such as “LIS???” or by paper topic. The internet is full of information and in the sea of knowledge that is out there, it is vital to have anchors that can lock the information into one place.

It is hard to compare Pinterest to Diigo and Delicious because it is such a different type of tool.  I really like Pinterest because I am a visual learner and seeing is believing for me. Pinterest also has a fun factor which I feel the other two sites lack.  I liked the ability to open a webpage and pin any of the images on it, this made the use of Pinterest pretty easy and the learning curve was almost nonexistent. I would say Pinterest has the greatest utility in a library because you can put up pictures of library events, locations, maps, and everything a patron would need all in one board. 

Delicious 

Diigo

Pinterest

QR Code

This will link you to my Google Site. There is nothing there now but that will soon change.

This library really speaks to me!

           

     I think the podcasts and MP3 files are great tools for libraries to use.  FREE! You can’t beat that price! This economy is not going anywhere fast (just watch the debates) and that means libraries have to get even more adept at finding free ways to reach and teach the public. Also podcasts are something that appeal to younger users and are simple enough for any iPhone user to use. One of the biggest problems facing libraries is that of awareness.  A weekly podcast of upcoming events or new materials is a great way for the library to speak to its public.  The MP3 format will not be around forever, but it is here to stay for the indefinite future.  Podcasts can give audio tours, provide samples of new audio resources, deliver news, and provide the listener with information about the library that they can take with them. Unlike a website or blog that require active reading or browsing by the user, the podcast can be played while driving or at the gym. Now I feel bad for the person that is working out to “What is new in your library” but who am I to judge?

                One of the big disadvantages of podcasts is that they are solely an audio source of information and some information does not translate well into the audio format.  Podcasts are not a panacea for all of the problems of a budget-impaired library, but they can go a long way to making the library more popular, better understood, and hopefully more usual to its patrons. Another key factor of podcasts being a viable tool in public library is their simplicity. They are easy to create and share.  Also even the most technology inhibited librarian can create a podcast since you simply need to talk in front of a microphone and we all know talking is something every librarian is good at.  Podcasts can also be used to provide story time to children. Even an illiterate parent can read a book with their child using a podcast just by simply turning the page and clicking play. 

Law Library Audio Tour

This podcast was created to help users learn more about the Miami-Dade County Law Library for the Office of the State Attorney.  The audio tour covers all of the resources available for use in the law library. The target audience for this podcast is anyone that would want to access the law library, but was not sure how to access it or did not know what resources were available. I wanted the listeners to learn that they can access Westlaw, have full printing, full internet and that they are able to receive Westlaw training upon request. 

Audio Tour