Podcasts

This is an amazing concept with unlimited possibilities. I prefer to add the RSS feed to my personalized Google homepage and then select those I want to view. I don't need/want everything automatically downloaded. Libraries can use their own podcasts for programs, storytimes, book discussions and reviews, tutorials, tours, just about anything. I believe this is a concept that will be heavily used and incorporated by most larger libraries as time goes by.

Social networking sites

My twenty-something offspring uses the sites as an absolutely vital and integral part of his social life. However, I guess I am just not excited about social networking sites. I do not understand who has time to post and who has time to read about the minutiae in other people's lives. I worry about privacy issues. As one who has shared personal genealogy information with trusted contacts, only to find out that a third or fourth party has posted the information on my living individuals elsewhere on the Internet is frustrating and disconcerting. I am sure social networking will evolve and become the new social order even before my generation is gone. As far as MySpace goes, the sites I visited were in a cookie cutter format and not entirely readable due to font color choices. Facebook has a cleaner interface and display. My library has a very complete and informative website, but I do see the need for integrating it with patrons and social networks. Seeing the practical application and efficacy will take some time for me.

Remember the Milk and Jott

Both of these sites offer tremendous potential for the unorganized person or for group communication. They seem a little awkward for an individual to use if they already have some organization method that works for them. Like all new applications, the benefit must surpass the time requirement in learning how to use them. The Remember the Milk interface is not always intuitive. I can always leave myself a voice mail on or to my cell , work, or home phone and do not need to send myself an email through Jott. If I did not already have a strategy or did have a specific need, I would probably work more on these applications.