About this trail:
A presentation to the Detroit Suburban Libraries Roundtable, March 13, 2008, Madison Heights Public Library.
There are many new web-based tools available that can assist libraries in providing service to their patrons. Here are 10 (and Trailfire makes 11) that may be useful and are free or inexpensive.
This presentation is available as a slide show on scribd.com here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/2273836/10-Terrific-Tech-Tools-in-20-Minutes
DISCLAIMER: The services described in this trail are representative of the trail discussed, but other services may be as good or better. If you find a better service, let me know!
Michael C. Sensiba
Next Generation Librarian
Wayne State University
http://www.lib.wayne.edu
ao9754@wayne.edu
There are many new web-based tools available that can assist libraries in providing service to their patrons. Here are 10 (and Trailfire makes 11) that may be useful and are free or inexpensive.
This presentation is available as a slide show on scribd.com here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/2273836/10-Terrific-Tech-Tools-in-20-Minutes
DISCLAIMER: The services described in this trail are representative of the trail discussed, but other services may be as good or better. If you find a better service, let me know!
Michael C. Sensiba
Next Generation Librarian
Wayne State University
http://www.lib.wayne.edu
ao9754@wayne.edu
Trail link: http://trailfire.com/msensiba/trails/58086
Summary: http://trailfire.com/msensiba/trailview/58086
Summary: http://trailfire.com/msensiba/trailview/58086
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1
SERVICE: Blogger.com
ALTERNATIVE: Wordpress.com
WHAT DOES IT DO? Displays text and/or multimedia content (blog) in reverse chronological order. May allow viewer comments.
WHY CREATE ONE? To display information on the web
WHY READ ONE? To gather information or opinion provided by the author
EXAMPLE: Use a blog to create interest in your teen reading program.
URL: http://www.blogger.com
2
SERVICE: pbwiki.com
ALTERNATIVE: wikispaces.com
WHAT DOES IT DO? Allows collaboration in the creation of one or more web pages. Changes may be trackable and the wiki can be private or public, either in authoring or in viewing. Wiki pages can allow discussion.
WHY CREATE ONE? To work collaboratively with people on content, which may ultimately be shared
with others via the web.
WHY READ ONE? To access information in the wiki and in some cases, to contribute information to it.
EXAMPLE: Use a wiki to plan a library event.
URL: http://www.pbwiki.com
3
SERVICE: Bloglines.com
ALTERNATIVE: Google Reader
WHAT IS IT? Allows users to subscribe to content on a webpage, viewing it in an RSS reader (sometimes called an aggregator or feed reader).
WHY CREATE AN RSS FEED? To allow interested parties to receive content from your webpage as it changes.
WHY SUBSCRIBE TO AN RSS FEED? To efficiently read content that you are likely to be interested in (current awareness) without having to check each individual website to see what is new.
EXAMPLE: RSS feeds from a book review website could be embedded into your library webpage. See your IT person for assistance.
URL: http://www.bloglines.com
4
SERVICE: del.icio.us
ALTERNATIVE: furl.com
WHAT DOES IT DO? Assigns keywords (tags) to websites.
WHY CREATE TAGS? To keep found things found! Tags can be individual, shared by a group, or public
WHY USE TAGS? To find your tagged items, or to find the items others have tagged with that term
EXAMPLE: Create a reading list of items for a gardening club by tagging appropriate websites and OPAC catalog records
URL: http://del.icio.us
5
SERVICE: flickr.com
ALTERNATIVE: photobucket.com
WHAT DOES IT DO? Stores and displays photo images that users have uploaded.
WHY UPLOAD PHOTOS? To store your own digital photos and to share them with others.
WHY VIEW PHOTOS? To find photos you know about (yours or others) or to discover photos by searching the tags applied to them.
EXAMPLE: Post photos from the library's National Children's Book Week event.
URL: http://www.flickr.com
6
SERVICE: YouTube
ALTERNATIVE: Veoh
WHAT DOES IT DO? Stores and displays video content that users have uploaded.
WHY UPLOAD VIDEOS? To inform, persuade, entertain or market to others in video form.
WHY VIEW VIDEOS? To learn, explore and/or be entertained by video content.
EXAMPLE: Create a video record of a gaming tournament in the library.
URL: http://www.youtube.com
7
SERVICE: Facebook.com
ALTERNATIVE: MySpace.com
WHAT DOES IT DO? Provides a space for individuals to provide personal information and to connect with others using the service.
WHY USE THIS? To display information you want others to find, to connect with other members of the social network, and to use services delivered through the social networking software.
EXAMPLE: Create a group within the social networking software for community Earth Week activities.
URL: http://www.facebook.com
8
SERVICE: scribd.com
ALTERNATIVE: slideshare.com
WHAT DOES IT DO? Stores, displays and allows downloading of documents.
WHY UPLOAD DOCUMENTS TO THIS? To store them in another way, to make them available via the web, to share them with others.
WHY VIEW DOCUMENTS USING THIS? To discover new information on a topic, to view digital copies of presentations or handouts.
EXAMPLE: Post handouts from a library research instruction section.
URL: http://www.scribd.com
9
SERVICE: Google Docs
ALTERNATIVE: Zoho
WHAT DOES IT DO? An online office suite (word processor, spreadsheet, presentation package).
WHY USE THIS? Access office suite tools online, from any web-enabled computer. Useful if you don't have an expensive desktop package installed on your computer. Allows collaboration on documents.
EXAMPLE: Work with dispersed team members to create a group slide presentation.
URL: http://docs.google.com
10
SERVICE: Squidoo
WHAT DOES IT DO? Allows creation and display of subject-related web pages, using various modules including text boxes, rss feeds, polls, links, photo and video displays and bookmarks.
WHY USE THIS? To create topic-related web sites such as subject guides or pathfinders which use some new media content types.
EXAMPLE: Create a guide to researching your ancestry.
URL: http://www.squidoo.com
11
SERVICE: Trailfire
WHAT DOES IT DO? Provides a tour ("Trail") of web sites with commentary.
WHY USE THIS? Lead users on a annotated tour through related web sites.
EXAMPLE: This presentation!
URL: http://trailfire.com
