Thing 19 And the winner is . . .

I thought this was a very useful site. It's always fun to see what sites have won awards. I went to http://www.confabb.com/ where I was able to see all kinds of conference and speaker information. What a great resource!

My other favorite was http://colorblender.com/. This site lets you blend colors - just like in the paint store. After you find a color you like you can use it in graphic designs, etc. The possibilities are endless.

Thing 18 Technorati

Technorati Profile

I joined technorati and claimed my blog and also set up a watchlist. I was impressed because the watchlist I set up gave me some new information about a software product I have been waiting for!

I need to spend some more time with technorati. Everytime I tried to go to a particular blog I got the message that indicated that the technorati monster had escaped?! Obviously I need to have a better understanding of what's going on with this site.

Thing 17 It's de.lici.ous!

I think that using de.lici.ous will be a great way to organize the links that I already have. I didn't realize the potential that exists with de.lici.ous. I am looking forward to making better use of my online time by being more organized. I like the idea that I can tailor bookmarks and links to meet my needs. I do a lot of research on computer software and writing. I can see already that incorporating de.lici.ous into my work will be very beneficial.

Thing 16 We all need our Space!

I didn't join myspace right now but I may in the future.
My nieces all have myspace pages. It's great for them because they live miles from each other and myspace lets them keep in touch and in the know about each of their lives. It's been a fun way to watch their kids grow and change. I was intrigued by the music selections they each chose for their sites. I would not have imagined some of the oldies they would have selected.

Before this lesson I thought myspace is geared more for the younger generation. I see now that that is not the case.

Thing 15 My Space - the new front porch?

I first encountered MySpace when my nieces directed me to their spaces. I thought it was okay, but not necessarily something I would choose to do. As months passed and one of my nieces relocated from Texas to Iowa to help take care of my mother, I saw just how vital her MySpace society is for her. MySpace provides her with a way to update all of her friends and family with what is going on with her world - primarily her six, four and one year-olds. She is able to keep tabs on her friends and family in a way that email doesn't really allow.

At first I would have said that social networking sites are really all about the much younger generation and an infatuation they have with themselves. Then I realized that these sites can play a vital role in the ever changing lives of people everywhere. Social networking sites provide, in a sense, what the front porch gave our parents and grandparents so many years ago - a place to catch up, see, bond and live.

Thing 14 RA Wiki

I have had some initial problems with the RA wiki. I did eventually post to the site. I enjoyed seeing the blurbs that others have added. I'm still not sure what I think about wikis. Time will tell.

Thing 13 Wiki Wolrd

The Book Lovers and Bull Run Library wikis impressed me the most. They were both well organized and very clean. I did notice that some wikis I visited on my own were not very well developed for whatever reason. I have always been a fan of wikipedia. I'm not bothered by the structure of wikis - that is the ability for people to be constantly making changes. It does bother me that some of the wikis were so unorganized, but I am working on seeing the overall value before I am too critical.

I think wikis have the potential to offer library customers a lot of good information. I'm not sure yet how they may impact my world.