Aquabrowser

After any interaction with a discovery tool that I particularly enjoyed using I cannot help but to ask myself whether I liked the experience's because I am a librarian who enjoys the search or if I liked it because it was a tool that helped me discover a resource I sought. This was the case with Aquabrowser.

After reading Aquabrowser: Search and information discovery for libraries found in Information Services and Use 27 (2007) 79-83, I was looking forward to playing with a tool the authors claimed would help me "find words for what [I] need, refine the available information, and offer connections to associated worlds of information."

One thing I really wanted to like (but couldn't) was the word web on the right side of the screen that was supposed to help me "discover" new veins of thought. As much as I like the Thinkmap Visual Thesaurus and encourage its use of the 5 searches I performed only one (starting with the broad term 'cooking') was positively information by the floating associations provided.

What I most appreciated about Aquabrowser was its ability to limit format and subject. I liked the fact that subject headings (something I wish all of our students cared more to consider) were brought to a place of higher prominence.

All said, I would be interested in hearing how searches react to the numerous visual cues on a site that struck me as very information "full" and visually busy. Perhaps it is familiarity, but I still lean towards Worldcat when considering presentation and positive experience.

WorldCat Local

As are so many other libraries in today's information laden environment the consortium the library I work in is exploring new means of discovering and delivering information. As part of the process we are all invited to read articles or view other media that elaborates on the qualities of some of the larger players in the discussion.

Today I looked over OCLC’s WorldCat Local: A Promising Development for Library Patrons by Barbara Quint. It is an older article and didn't necessarily break open any new concept or idea for me, but it did give me the opportunity to think about WorldCat, play around on the University of Washington's site, and revel in the enjoyment of searching and browsing and refining and reviewing...

I realize I am a librarian so I understand that searching excites me in a way most others do not experience. I understand that I think about and search for information differently than most other "professionals," but I am really interested in knowing, from a user's perspective, what is not to love about this interface! Grant it I can see technical problems including Inter library loan, etc.... but when I think about the patron I can't help but believe this is a better experience than what I currently ask them to use. But would a patron be as excited about the faceted searching and the ability to read reviews and preview as I am?! I would sure think so!

Unfortunately the use of WorldCat Local is still new to the academic setting and aside from Next Generation Library Catalogs: Jennifer Ward/ WorldCat Local there is little to be said. It is, however, an encouraging, user centered advancement in a more streamlined approach to information discovery.

Thing Twenty Two, Keeping in the Habit....

This has been a wonderful opportunity for me to get into the habit of spending time on professional reading and reflection. I will most definitely continue the use of Bloglines in order to remain "in touch" with the current library world and will make it a point to blog once a week to keep myself fresh and thinking. Any extra blogging I will consider a bonus!

In addition, I will make it a point to seek out a podcast or webinar for a once a month, more intensive look at areas of interest. Kudos to 23 Things for getting me in gear, now I need to maintain the habit. (WISH ME LUCK!)

Thing Twenty Three, Finish Line

Whoopie! Survey finished.

Thing Twenty One, Other Social Networks

I don't consider myself a particularly "social" individual but I am a member of GoodReads (as I have mentioned before) and very much appreciate the community in this network. It is appealing because I am very much a reader and am very much interested in what others are reading. It is the perfect sharing environment while also helping me keep track of what I have and want to read. But as with any social network it is only exciting if the community is spot on to what excites you... I have to admit that Fuzzster is one of the last places you would find me on-line.

Really, even though I am a member of both Facebook and Good Reads I must admit that I most appreciated My Guide to Social Networks by Louderback. While there are definitely sites that take a more serious spin on networking, the majority of socializing I am familiar with and which I witness runs a bit more on the fickle, frivolous side......

Thing Nineteen, Podcasts

I have, for quite some time, been a fan of Speaking of Faith with Krista Tippet and the respective podcast. It is wonderful to have the chance to listen to a program when and where you want to!

For this particular exercise I perused the National Public Radio podcast offerings and settled on a Pop Culture podcast. I did not subscribe to this particular program.

One program I have added to my Bloglines is Book Lust with Nancy Pearl. Reading is, in my opinion, a most perfect past time so I am looking forward to hearing what Ms. Pearl will throw my way.

I spent a bit of time in each of the directories and did not find one more stunningly helpful than another. Honestly, I tend to like a particular show and then seek out its podcast as opposed to liking a particular topic and browsing for a particular broadcast. It's all in the approach, isn't it?

Thing Twenty, Libraries and Social Networking

I have actually been a Facebook member for about eight months now. It is hard to miss this phenom of the web since I work on a college campus; I think students visit the library to check their Facebook accounts more that they come to research.



My network of friends consist mostly of student workers here at the college and colleagues or friends from church. I am of the opinion that others are just not that interested in me and what I happen to be doing at the moment, but....



We have had a lot of success advertising for library events via Facebook. The first time we invited our "I worked and the Berntsen Library" network I noticed a definite increase in attendance; students who do not even pay attention to the fliers on the wall and the announcements in their mailbox definitely check their Facebook account.



Facebook is entertaining and I find it an easy tool to use to help me keep up with acquaintances and schedule coffee dates. It in no way substitute for face to face time but it does facilitate interaction, is super easy to use, and compulsively browsable.

Thing Eighteen, Online Video

As a girl who cannot go a day without peanut butter I could not resist searching YouTube for a vintage peanut butter commercial. One quick search and I was in nut butter heaven.

As far as my overall experience goes one thing that struck me was how ready people were to comment and converse with one another on the site. Again and again in the 23 Things experience I am reminded how powerful an online community is in this day and age. If someone creates a place for dialogue and promotes that venue dialogue will very likely take place.

I also discovered how easy it is to become extremely distracted on YouTube! I work Tuesday evenings which means, sadly, that I miss American Idol. Well, thanks to 23 Things, I discovered video of past Idol performances. I get to satisfy my guilty little pleasure after all!

There are some great reasons to stop off on YouTube, and there are also some reasons to avoid the site. But as with many things in life you must take the good with the bad.

Thing Seventeen, ELM

I use an ELM provided product at least once a day, but looking at it from a 23 Things perspective revealed a few new applications that I had as of yet overlooked. One of the most interesting being the capability in ProQuest Newsstand Complete to "Create a Web Page." It was a nice way to create a persistent list and search history that I could access and share with others. In theory, I could not only create these web pages for myself, I could also (copyright considered) create help pages for common class searches or distance education student in need of research help.

That said, one of the important reminders of this particular "Thing" is that no matter how familiar a tool may be to me I need to pay attention to the changes and improvements so that I can continually adapt my searching and service to the benefit of the student patron.

Thing Sixteen, Student 2.0 Tools

I am very impressed with both the University of Minnesota Assignment Calculator and the Research Project Calculator. The one thing that I hope every student gets from using this tool is that research TAKES TIME!

In an age of instantaneous results and near instant gratification I am beginning to wonder if the students I come into contact with realize that there are necessary time constraints to the finding, physical retrieval, and understanding of information. I like the calculators most because of the space in time they outline takes; whether or not the student follows the suggestions he realizes that he must take a logical and progressive approach to the project.

I also liked the way the UofM Library inserted tutorials and search help within the outline. What a wonderful way to connect the class with the library. Depending upon how much use this tool gets from students it would also be a great place to experiment with live chat and communities built around particular assignments. I even wonder if students would be interested in creating tags for books they found helpful in order to aid other students in their class. As we have already seen in the practice and exploration of the 23 Things the possibilities are seemingly endless!