Harnoncourt interviewed

wonderful indeed!

#23 Get going!!

Two of my favourite things during 23 dingen were Twitter and Facebook. I think that these two things are of the essence in social media and social networks. When you use Flickr, Google Maps, Library thing and all the other apps it all seems to revolve around Twitter and Facebook. At least at the moment..
23 dingen has made me and many other participants aware of the potential value of social media in a library context. I hope that is not all. I want to be active professionally especially on twitter and facebook. But I'm one of a generation for which this does not come naturally. See this interesting article by Chris van der Heijden De Groene Amsterdammer - Gegoogle . I will have to work at being an active user even if it is only professionally.
The possibilities of Facebook and Twitter surprised me as well. I was quite a sceptic a couple of years ago when the first Twitteraars began and Facebook was not nearly so popular as it is now. And even now I'm not enthusiatic about all the "dingen" - I don't think you have to be. I'm aware of the possiblilities of chatting for example and that's it. I prefer to concentrate on twitter and facebook.
I suppose what I missed during 23 dingen was the contact with the other participants. I discussed things regularly with Razende Roeltje and 1000 dingen... once in a while but it would have been good to have had a midway session with the whole group I think for example after ding #11.
Well that's it for now. I've just finished writing this literally hours away from the end of the course. Unfortunately I can't be present at the last meeting. So well done everybody and let's hope that we can follow it up as active social networkers. I'm going to try at least professionally
Due to pressure of time no pictures or video clips

#22 Library 2.0 and the future of libraries

I have been looking at the David Lee King blog about social media in libraries suggested by Rob Coers on 23 dingen. There are a few home truths there I think for all librarians trying to use Library 2.0 efficiently.
What we have to do I think is attract "friends" to us librarians who are using social media. (In the first place I mean professionally). So the following points I find especially relevant:

• Avoid only connecting with colleagues in your own organisation or in other libraries. We should be targeting our own public.
• Find friends from the library and through people you meet through the library i.e. users or potential users.
• Use twitter and facebook to keep these people informed about what is happening in the library in particular. But don't forget that you - a person - are doing the informing not the library organisation
• Be personal. People interact with people not organisations.
• Inform regularly (and try) and be interesting!
• React to as many people who want to communicate with you - well that's fairly obvious.
• And finally remember to connect facebook to twitter to your blog to the library website etc. and publicise in person in the library itself. In a nutshell: connect as much as you can.

If we can manage this then perhaps the library has a better future. It's necessary to communicate with our (potential) public and the social media are at this moment probably the best ways of succeeding.
And now two great artists performing a terrific song by Hugo Wolf: Der Feuerreiter op tekst van Eduard Mörike

#21 Aquabrowser

TWIL #16: #followalibrary project - Wilma van den Brink and Ad Aerts from Jaap van de Geer on Vimeo.

In theory the social aspects of the aquabrowser in Worldcat or wherever is positive. It's more or less a copy of Amazon and bol.com and don't forget Library thing. I do wonder how many users of these websites actually take the trouble. I think it will only be the freaks (pace 1000 dingen) who will be motivated to write a review and only library freaks will want to add tags. It's worth offering the opportunity though. It's just not so new anymore - the library follows developments in retail.

Muziek en de nieuwe media from JeBibliotheek on Vimeo.

#20 Why Last fm when we have Spotify?

I don't really see the point of last fm now that there is Spotify. And as regards the social interactivity Spotify is fully equipped because of its links to Facebook and Itunes. So why bother embrace Spotify in the library - and use Facebook and Twitter for interaction purposes. It's as simple as that...
There is no point for libraries to use other social networks for music just as there is no reason not to use Facebook and twitter and.. Google.
And now a commercial break:
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# 19 Social networks

The most important social network for libraries has become Facebook just because it's the biggest. Probably everybody who uses a social network uses Facebook so it's stupid not to join in. And it's not restricted to people but also to organisations and groups.
One of the things I have discovered recently is Spotify and its social side. The library in Breda has already joined Spotify initially to promote their new cd's to be found in their playlist tips for juli 2010. This is a primeur I think, well done Breda! We will follow soon in Haarlem.
For the social aspects has Spotify linked with Facebook. If you are a registered with Facebook then you can automatically link with the playlists of your friends and "subscribe" if you like. The public can add their favourite muziek and comment on that of others and with the library.
This is a very easy and attractive way of connecting with the library public.
So as soon as the library in Haarlem has its Facebook page then we can use Spotify socially.

#18 Library thing

Library thing is such a nice cosy application for librarians. I like it. You could use it for your acquisitions or perhaps better for the tips of the week/month etc. You can use reviews from others or make them yourself.
Perhaps Library thing works better for personal use ironically than professionally for a library. from the website these are the most interesting aspects I think
# Discover new books

* Fantastic recommendations
* Common Knowledge (characters, places, awards)
* Reviews and ratings
* Early Reviewers program: free books in exchange for reviews

# Interact

* Talk: our forum for everything book-related (and much that's not)
* Friends: see what your friends are reading, and what books you have in common.

En nu muziek van Jan Mul:

# 17 Pearl trees

I found it difficult to find a 2.0 website that did not just duplicate the ones we already know. And try and find one that is interesting enough to use as an example in a library context.
I don't think Pearl trees is that well known. Their website puts it succinctly:

Pearltrees is the social way to organize, discover and share the stuff you like on the Web. Use Pearltrees to keep at hand the stuff you find everyday on the Web, to discover new stuff in your areas of interest and to drive people through your web.

I think that there is enough potential here for the librarian to promote a number of products and items of interest for the users of the library. The sharing idea is useful as well as conneting with others who might have the same interests.
And it looks good.

#16 You tube

I usually add a film clip or at least a picture of some kind to most of my blog messages here and on Biebsounds to liven things up a bit. For film clips You Tube has the most clips although for quality vimeo is also good. I've noticed that quite a number of contributors use You tube for audio clips with pictures instead of film clips. These audio clips can still be useful for vocal music because you can add the text and a translation for example here:


The big advantage of You tube is again the possibliities of sharing anc commenting on the video. Apparently it's quit easy to upload a clip - haven't done it yet.
For the library - a film about what's going on can "speak" more than 1000 words to papraphrase someone else I can't remember. In the age of the visual is this medium a must for libraries. DOK in Delft has certainly understood this. And it's relatively easy (and fun) for members of the public to add their own films. There is also a possiblity to subscribe to clips made by the same person, to comment and to recommend a clip. It is of course possible to share with Twitter Facebook etc. etc
And now for something completely different...

#15 Google Maps

Hugo Wolf birthplace weergeven op een grotere kaart

An interesting application and useful for libraries. Many libraries including Haarlem have incorporated Google Maps with a mashup on their websites showing where the libraries are etc.
Earlier (#6,7,8 Flickr) I tried to make a mashup from Flickr and now I see it's easier if you go straight to google Maps and import from Flickr.
A timeline with Google Maps could be interesting for historical content, for example the history of Haarlem, what happened when and where with links to the collection Haarlem.
The possibiblities of Google Maps Mania are also enormous. I enjoyed looking through some like track world terrorism caught my eye as did find a public toilet in the US.
And now "from the ridiculous to the sublime". Time for an emotional rollercoaster...

#14 IM

I have the same problems joining chat programmes as Roel. The server van Gemeente Haarlem just won't let you. Chatting not allowed they tell us.
I can't say that I'm too disappointed. If you've got Twitter etc. Why should we also need to chat. It's too much. Maybe there is a moment where it could be easier but for me Twitter is easy enough.
I did however try to chat on the 23dingen website - can't remember what happened sorry...
Now for some Nancarrow - check out the same in an arrangement via my twitter link to Spotify.

#13 Google docs

I have had some experience with Google Docs before and it is certainly a useful application. I've made a new document which I've published on the web and I've invited Razende Roeltje to participate in the document.
Well there is not much to say about this than it's useful.

So now back to Cathy Berberian which I forgot to use during the Haarlemse Stripdagen in June.

#12 Twitter

If you had asked me six months ago if I would twitter I would have looked at you incredulously and asked why, what for? How many people want to know what I'm doing?
But now I've started - three tweets to my name already.
It's important to differentiate between the personal tweets and the professional. I still have my doubt about tweeting "had a good lunch" (pace Jan Klerk) but thoughts about things you care about are worth tweeting about and sharing. And for libraries of course it's a great marketing tool.
So for me Twitter is not so much the answer to the question What are you doing? but rather What do you find interesting, funny or mind boggling? That's the basis on which I choose who to follow.
And the act of twittering? Well it takes getting used to. There are certain tricks to make your tweets more effective for example include a link and other stuff which I still have to get under the knee.
Having a smartphone (which I don't have) might help I think. Tweets and mobility go hand in hand...
So join me on twitter!!
In the meantime Cathy Berberian

#11 Wiki

It's almost impossible not to come across wiki's, especially wikipedia, while surfing on the internet. The information is sometimes good and sometimes not so. That's not surprising because it all depends on who has provided the content. This applies to all media of course but what makes wiki's special is that "anyone" can join in. There are advantages - sharing, interaction.
I think wikis work best when there are some restrictions but perhaps that is a contradictio in terminis. Nevertheless I'm going to stick with this because the wikis I like are either (strictly) regulated or work on a small scale with some restrictions - see for example Lydia's reaction to Razende Roel's #11 and the example given in the Wiki's in plain English video on 23dingen.
For music just as Razende Rold I like the ChoralWiki (CPDL) but the Petrucci Libary is just as good if not better. The principal is the same. Anyone can add new sheet music if the guidelines are followed. For example the music must be legal i.e. in the public domain. So you have to be registered and there is a monitoring committee behind the scenes to ensure everything works smoothly and everybody obeys the rules. Strictly speaking this may not be a Wiki in the spirit of the word but it works very well and is enormously beneficial to many music lovers worldwide in particular library professionals.

The sandbox I'm not really interested in as a library professional. It could entice somebody to share really interesting content but unless it's regulated in someway how are we to find it?

So let's use wikis on a small scale or with some sort of coördination (monitoring committee)

Enough words. Now for some exciting music by Pierre Boulez who is 85 this year. The first clip is Notation2 (complete) from a concert with the Berliner Philharmoniker conducted by the composer. The second is a rehearsal of the same piece with the Wiener Philharmoniker including some commentary by Pierre Boulez on danger in music!!

#10 Delicious

Why the name Delicious formerly known als del.icio.us? It all comes down to eating cherries - yes you've guessed it - they're del.... Well del.icio.us was also used for convenience as Joseph Schachter who invented Delicious has revealed in an interview.

Now that's out of the way let me say straightaway that there are certainly advantages in using Delicious - sharing tags is probably the most advantageous. I don't find adding tags or keywords particular exciting although it's very connected with library work - in the olden days at least. But of ocurse we must do it for the greater good and for the rewards from sharing in a library context. The key lies in the art of being precise and inventive in using your tags.

I've added Spotify to the 23 dingen Delicious account and there are more than 600 other people who have tagged Spotify. The tags are variable - music seems fairly common, yawn! And sometimes the tags are completely irrelevant radio maybe but Mp3?? iphone??.

The various commentaries often just read as advertisement material.
Sometimes the tags are just right like those by 李华顺 (20/6/2009) whose tags *
* community
* music
* sharing
* social

do sum up what Spotify is all about for the library world at least. Maybe was xkimox right with his comment 6/5/2007: Ett nytt, bättre eller överflödigt Last.fm?
i've made my own account on Delicious: Borthwick_i@yahoo.com. I've also made a tag bundle (is that the same as a cluster?).
And now it's time for some delicious music:

#9 Web 2.0

Why should librarians embrace Web 2.0 applications?
Well the title of this weblog gives the answer, I think. We have to contact our public in such a way that they feel invited to participate in their library. Provide a platform for them not only to comment on but to add to the library with their own content - in other words to share opinions and knowledge about the library with us who work in libraries.
And what's in it for us professionals? Well it's an effective way of marketing our products and services without losing sight of the needs and questions of those using the library.
By bridging the divide with web 2.0 applications we can come in contact with our users in a way to regain the social relevance that libraries are in danger of losing.
I've already mentioned some advantages of using Flickr for these ends in my previous post. RSS can be used as a digital reminder for our members and others who might be interested about what is happening in the library. And we as professionals can also keep track of developments of others. it works both ways

#6,#7,#8 Flickr

I felt that I've spent an inordinate amount of time trying to figure out what Flickr is about. I'm not a very visually oriented person. Nevertheless we live in a visually dominant culture and as a librarian it's something not to forget. Libraries tend to be focussed on texts - as is Google by the way - sometimes to the detriment of the visual. If we are looking for pictures or video we can only find them through words (tags or otherwise) used for description.
So tags are very important - more opportunities for librarians!? It is one of the special features of Flickr to stimulate the user to add tags.

If we accept the premise that the visual is very important in our contemporary culture then using Flickr to connect to our public seems to me essential.

A number (50!!) of ways we can make Flickr work in our library is linked to on the 23dingen website. Give a virtual tour, Share event photos, Share history, just to mention three are obvious really - but which libraries use Flickr in this way?
Slideshows made by public and/or personnel via Flickr can easily be shown in the library next to "normal" foto exhibitions and also on the library website of course. Slideshows of past activities and those coming up could be amazing promotion.

So what have I done with Flickr? Much more than I can show here that's for sure. First of all a mini slideshow and then a picture postcard transformation thanks to Picnik. Then a link to a mashup with the maps application. This is a very attractive way of linking pictures and places. It's a pity that you can't put your map from Flickr directly on to the blog in the same way as photos. Which is the easiest way of doing this?



Before and after Picnik



It's a shame that you can't transfer the map application directly from Flickr to a blog so I've linked it here or Hugo Wolf's Birthplace in Slovenia

And now it's only three days before the 200th birthday of Robert Schumann.

#4 & #5 RSS feeds

RSS feeds they are everywhere apparently - well almost. I was glad to be able to use Page 2RSS suggested Rob Coers for two of my feeds where there was no RSS available.
Until now I've only used RSS feeds sporadically for my iGoogle homepage. But now I think I shall be using them more systematically.
The feeds in Google Reader can be sorted and mapped for convenience fortunately. It's quite a handy way of keeping up to date with sites you already know and like. Even so, it's nice to find new sites by chance I think.
And now for some music:


And if you've listened tot this you have to go straight on to the next clip to hear the end of the first movement.

#Ding 2 Richt je eigen weblog in en plaats je eerste bericht

This is my first blog for the 23things Web 2.0 course. I've been using Blogger for a more than a year now for the library music weblog Biebsounds. So blogging is not that new for me. It is very easy to start a blog with Blogger and most of the time Blogger is also user friendly.
The biggest problem for me until now with posting blogs on the weblog was when I import texts from third parties. Often there are (hidden) HTML codes which affect the lay out of the text that you are not aware of until it's published. But you can always rework blogs which have been posted so actually there is no man overboard.
Finally a clip from You Tube.