Week 3 MLA Web 2.0

Social Networking
Well this one is an area that I am almost clueless--my 18 year old daughter has been using it for years but I really didn't have an interest in learning to use it. Even after this week I am not sure it is a tool, either professionally or personally, that I would use. Maybe it is not growing up in the computer age--but it actually feels pretty impersonal to me. Asking to be "friends" with people I have never met face to face seems odd!!! Now to answer a few questions:

• How can social networking be used by MLA to connect members--I think this might be a option--though the listserv I think already meets many of our needs--getting to know members more informally might benefit the organization.
• Are there privacy concerns for individuals when using social networking sites. Absolutely!
  o have used this tool think little about how their posted information may come back to haunt them some day--say when they are applying for that ideal job. It would be a shame to not get a job based on something stupid you posted on Facebook 10 years earlier.
  

Well on to another week.

Week 2 MLA Web 2.0

What is the difference between a blog and a wiki? What sort of things might be better suited for a blog and better suited for a wiki?

I see the wiki as a way to develop collaboration between a larger number of people. The blog seems to be more one person's opinion and others commenting on that opinion.

I think in the environment that I am in neither of these tools would be options. Blogs are blocked in our environment. Wikis may be an option but we have a small staff that already has a shared network space that allows us to work on documents, programs etc. together.

RSS feeds

I can think of a number of ways that RSS feeds could be used--
Personally there are a number of issues that I would like to keep up to date on, politics, fiber arts, movies etc. In addition I have a number of researchers that I work with that I try to scan literature and web sites for items that may be useful to their research--this would be a useful way to complete that activity. I could also see library users utilizing the same technology to keep uptodate on clinical issues that they have an ongoing interest in.

I think the biggest question I have is how this can be integrated into an organization that has ongoing concerns about security and safety with IT systems. Our organization currently blocks all blogs and most of the RSS feed sites. I think it will take some convincing and "homework" to change our current environment.

My first post

“Be who you are and say what you feel because those who mind don't matter and those who matter don't mind." Dr. Suess

This how I try to live my life and my relationship with others--it has served me well.