Method 3 Computing in the Cloud

I am writing this blog in Zoho Writer because I am unfamiliar with this suite of productivity tools. It is also very useful because I can transfer this information to my blog. I have been reading the articles associated with computing in the cloud, and I see both pros and cons to this concept, albeit mostly pros.

I have found Zoho to be user friendly, and I think that I could become adept at the programs if I devoted some time to them. The concept of clouding has some great advantages as far as storing information on the Web instead of the home and work computers in addition to the laptop. To be able to access information wherever the user is located has so many advantages. Countless times I have assisted my high school library users when they have prepared a paper at home in MS Works and then are attempting to open it at school in MS Word. Zoho Writer or Google Docs could eliminate these headaches.

Currently I store my photos on Flickr, and it is convenient if I am creating a book trailer in Animoto to have Animoto access my Flickr account and move my photos to the book trailer automatically. I do not know if all of these tools operate so seamlessly, but ilf they do, it really reduces the frustration level. Nevertheless, I sometimes have a twinge of concern over whether my creations will be safe if I do not have any kind of backup.

Jenny of The Shifted Librarian fame has some concerns that make sense. She states that we teach our users about these services, but we also have a responsibility to inform them about the consequences. She uses the example of a patron saving a resume to an online site and the data is lost. She listed other concerns that people are too enamored of Google Docs and don't consider other choices. Privacy is also an issue.

I find that there is also a problem when working in a high school environment that we are very limited in our access on the Web. The filter that the technology department uses does not allow student access to blogs. Of course Facebook and MySpace are off limits as are other social networking tools such as Wikis. Until that mindset changes, the cloud will not become a viable part of the high school curriculum.

Methods 1 and 2

23 Things -- Library 2.0

After viewing Stephen Abram's video about Murdoch University's 23 things, I totally agree that as librarians we must immerse ourselves in the new technologies to meet the needs of our users and community of learners. As he pointed out, we can only understand a blog by creating one and using it. We are experience-based learners who must set our priorities by taking the time to learn and use these tools.

Professor Michael Wesch's video is a thought-provoking production that addresses how the web has evolved. We have moved from html, describing the content of the text to xml, describing the meaning. Web 2.0/Library 2.0 has freed users of formatting constraints and is linking people who are sharing, trading, and collaborating. It also raises many questions about copyright, authorship, governance, and privacy. Librarians must be comfortable with all aspects of Web 2.0 in order to serve their users and facilitate learning.

The term Library 2.0 means that I must be willing to devote my time and energy to learing and to utilizing all of the technologies such as RSS, blogs, wikis, etc., in order to guide my patrons on their use and facilitate easy access. In setting such as a high school library, it is difficult to achieve these goals. Faced with filtering software, acceptable use policies, and other constraints, students are not always allowed to participate and to learn about these technologies.

Nevertheless, the technologies are being used at home, and I believe eventually will be part of the curriculum. My biggest concern is whether some school librarians will be up to the task. Many librarians, especially elementary-level ones, are faced with fixed schedules and barely have time to breath much less learn and master so many new and changing technologies at the end of an exhausting day. With that said, being part of one of the most unrecognized and under appreciated careers, if we don't accept the challenge, we may find ourselves out of a job. As Stephen Abrams states in his article, "Social Libraries: The Librarian 2.0 Phenomenon," -- "We had better be ready."

HS Librarian's Lament

The reason I named this blog HS Librian's Lament is that I want to serve my patrons to the best of my ability and still wear all the "hats" that my job requires. I think any librarian would agree with me, and we often lament the fact that we have so many different job descriptions that it is difficult to keep up -- especially with all the new library 2.0 technologies.

At the high school level, I am constantly reminding our students about accessing our online subscription databases to find authentic, reliable information. I am not anti-Google, but I want information that is curriculum-based and reliable.

I am also trying to stay one step ahead of the students as I work with Animoto or Moviemaker. The next minute I am on the phone with tech support about getting our library managment system to "talk" to our student management system. Then I find myself in the attached computer lab trying to figure out why a student can't access the Internet as I explain to another student how to move a picture to the background in MS Word. Then it is on to collection development, reader's advisory, and so on.

Although it may not sound like it, I really enjoy my work, especially assisting the students and staff. Fortunately our staff and students appreciate my help. All too often I hear about many hardworking, well-educated librarians who are under appreciated. The most dreaded comment we hear is "You have to have a master's degree to do this?"