SPLS Learning 2.0

If I were offered another discovery program like SPLS Learning 2.0, I would leap at the chance. Now I appreciate the creativity of blogging, the media democracy of podcasting and YouTube, the usefulness of LibraryThing, the customization of RSS feeding, the superior mapping directory of GoogleMaps, and the 24/7 availability of an electronic items library. If staff time had been available, it would have been wonderful to get feedback on assignments as they were completed. I am grateful to Anna, Michael and Rick for encouragement and help without which I could not have completed the course.

MySpace & Facebook

Mixed reaction to MySpace. It definitely fosters creativity. I don't appreciate terminology like "pimp" your stuff--guess it means promote. Sometimes seems vulnerable, lonely and exposed. Sort of like a dear pen pal letter to the universe. Symptomatic of our time like cell phones. Reminds me of picking up someone at college and watching persons spill out of classrooms, most not talking to anyone around them, just clutching and talking on cell phones.

Amazed to find c. 49,300 results for "public library" search. MySpace Jobs has New York Public Libraries listings including systems administrator, library manager, chief financial officer.

Facebook is graphically pleasant, designed with more white space and less clutter. If one hopes to connect with persons one doesn't already know, either will do.

Downloadable Class Distinctions

Audio books and other downloadable electronic resources offer library card holders a wealth of borrowable materials. These items depend on the possession of an internet-accessible computer outside the library. There's the rub. Despite the widespread possession of computers, some persons still do not own them and cannot afford to. Of course, one could make the same remark about DVDs and CDs.

I hope to brush up on French vocabulary, especially if "Burn to CD" is allowed! All I need to do is borrow an internet-accessible computer...

...and thanks to a generous colleague I have. The Greater Phoenix consortium holdings are awesome for language learners but accessing them as a first-time novice is daunting. There are so many steps to go through and then when the item seems within reach there is an "Unexpected Error" message with no hint as to cause. Trying again, one is greeted with items that are checked out. No instant gratification here. I would rate this as a beta experience--good idea with plenty of bugs to iron out.

Podcasting: Power to the People

As long as podcasting remains unrestricted by the Federal Communications Commission, it will continue to overcome media control in the hands of a few. This is even more remarkable than its technological accessibility and affordable cost.

*Podcast.net*Podcastalley.com*NPR's Podcasts*Learn Out Loud: I tried these directories and preferred Podcastalley and NPR. I also appreciated Podcastalley's prominent RSS feed address display. Some of the feeds I added to my Bloglines:

From NPR, I found:

Classical to Go! Podcast [WGBH] http://streams.wgbh.org/online/clas/clas_performance.xml

KUOW's Elections Coverage Podcast [KUOW] (Puget Sound, WA) http://www.kuow.org/rss_specials.php?program=elections

From Podcast.net (incorrect RSS) and Podcast Alley (correct RSS), I found Sunnyvale Public Library Podcasts http://www.librarypodcasts.org/?feed=rss2 with impressive local history and contents including:

Sunnyvale's Library of the Future Interviewed by City Communications Officer John Pilger, Sunnyvale Public Library Director Deborah Barrow talks about Sunnyvale's Library of the Future. Where are we now and where do we go from here?...Podcast Date: Aug 31, 2006 17:00:20

Sunnyvale Voices - How Apricots Were Grown and Dried A resident for more than 80 years, Ann Zarko shares a slice of apricot history with listeners. This story was made possible through a Library Services & Technology... Podcast Date: Jul 11, 2006 00:00:09

Sunnyvale Voices - Butcher's Corner Audrey Butcher shares the history of this well-known Sunnyvale landmark as well as stories of her life at Butcher's Corner. This story was made possible through... Podcast Date: Jun 25, 2006 00:00:27

Sunnyvale Voices - Work Hard, Play Hard Vince Cala talks about life in Sunnyvale in the 1930s and 1940s. He describes the hard work in the fruit orchards and dancing the night away in Santa Cruz. ...Podcast Date: Aug 14, 2006 21:00:39

Sunnyvale Voices - A Prune is a Prune! Dave Johnson tells the story of how his great, great grandfather won title to El Quito Rancho, a land grant along Lawrence Road, in a card game with Manuel Arguello, an Emissary of King....

There are surprisingly few public library podcasts and most seem short-lived with few recent entries.