Method 3 - Clouds

Everthing in the clouds. My cloud is bigger than your cloud. It is nice to have access to everything I am working on, virtually anywhere I go without worrying that I might leave a usb drive behind. Cloud computing makes life easier, more convenient. But just as doing business on the web is easier and more convenient, we have learned it is not as private or protected as we are lured into believing. If Google or Zoho ( just examples)  fold or become "too big to fail" what happens to my data? If I die unexpectedly, what happens to my data? When will Google and others begin to charge  hefty fees to retrieve the data I have been storing on their servers for years?  I want the same conveniences as everyone else. I want to teach my patrons to use these tools but in the last year I have begun to wonder, if I don't worry about the big unknown, who will protect me later? Still, I use these resources and want to learn more.

Already the open source library automation companies are mining the data we put on their servers while charging us large fees. Will we all be paying companies to work for them over the next century?

THESE are just random thoughts provoked by taking a class on new technology.   ;  )

Method 2 Blogs

Really, blogs? The library is already on Facebook. The library has a website. The library has many photos in Picasa. The librarian is on several listserves.  I think I like the listserve format better than the blog format . What am I missing there?  I feel there is real opportunity here, I am just not sure I have the time to take advantage of all of the resources. Blogs must be maintained or they are of no use. I must now check my email, my Facebook, and my blog to stay connected. I know I will soon learn ways to connect the dots to make this all more useful.

My assignment

Method 1 - My assignment is to answer the following:


1.What are your thoughts regarding Web 2.0 and Library 2.0?
2.What do the terms mean to you? To your library? Or libraries in general?



1.My honest thoughts are Web2.0 and Library 2.0 means we must all give up much privacy and time to be connected in a real sense to people we do not know and never will know. This is powerful, full of opportunities. It can be fun and can also be just more work.  I fear for those who do not purchase the necessary tools to stay connected and to share in this technology. I also fear for all of us who do.
2. For libraries, I believe this technology is imperative to level the playing field for all ( at least those who have access to a free library)  All library staff must stay updated on the ever expanding technology and tools our society is using to communicate... I still enjoy mailing lists groups as a way to communicate within a group.... I am an old fogey!

Thursday evening

It's getting cold and I need.. do I really need to know all this? Why so muchhhhhhhhh technology. Is it really so good to have the technology we use change and update monthly????? Who are these third party holders of MY data and YOURS? My pictures in Picasa, others on Facebook, my gmail account seems to automatically know everyone I ever emailed or who ever emailed me when I use one of their linked applications. .... But, I want to know, understand, and even use the resources out there.