Content Management Systems

So,  apparently I know more about CMS than I  realized, especially since I've been moderating my library's program registration site for a few months now.  I've enjoyed having access to this, but also recognize the downfalls, such as the more people with permission means a higher potential for error.  One example I gave on the discussion board this week is another staff member deleting all the patrons who had signed up for an event simply by clicking on a red "X" because she thought it would only erase one participant who had cancelled.  IT was able to recover the information, but it definitely caused a headache.  Alright, on to relax and listen to this thunderstorm, Joomla will be on the tackling block tomorrow.  I have no idea what a tackling block is, but it seemed to make more sense than saying chopping block since I don't plan on berating Joomla and sending it home until the reunion show.

Wikity Wikity Wikity Whack

This endeavor was actually not whack at all, but it's hard to pass up on a Kriss Kross "Jump" reference, and in all fairness, this class has made me feel a little backwards and confused, much like the clothing of this dynamic rap duo.  That being said, here's the rundown:

Forsyth County Library
Type: Public
Branches: 3, with another planned to open in the next 2 years
Population: 175,000+, consisting of people of all ages
Services: print and eBooks, materials available for every age group (bilingual, graphic novels, periodicals, music, DVD collection, audio books, etc.) streaming video collection, story time or book club for all cohorts, Facebook, website, and blog pages

Wiki goal:  To encourage patrons to feel as if they are "part of the library's progress" by providing them with a virtual platform for interacting with other consumers as well as staff through discussions and link-sharing, as well as provide consistent feedback to help keep the facility current and meeting the needs of the community.  

Wiki Requirements: Easy for new users including staff and patrons, so must be in WYSIWYG format.  Free and open source sharing (that can be manually moderated by staff), and page history available.

I compared 4 wikis, Bananadance, Mindtouch, MojoMojo, and WetPaint.  Mindtouch seemed to be the best choice, because it had the most specific information of the four, and appeared to be the most versatile.  For example, Bananadance was quickly ruled out because it was only in the beta phase, and much of the cells describing WetPaint were blank or vague.  Mindtouch clearly stated that it was useful for technical or non-technical users, and was the only one that was succint when listing the operating systems it could be utilized on (Windows, Mac, Linux, etc.). It met all the requirements including WYSIWYG editing, open source sharing, and page history available, as well as contained some extra bonuses such as keeping track of most popular pages, providing a calendar so patrons could keep up with events, and including a plugin for a mobile application.  Overall, the versatility of Mindtouch seems like it will be the most useful in allowing patrons to contribute to the growth of the Forsyth County Public Library, and would hopefully help them feel as if they had access to this vital community center, even remotely.

Eat My Brain and Gain My Knowledge

Actually, I wouldn't recommend it at this moment, because my mind feels like it is mellllting.  Tired and loopy, though I have enjoyed reading everyone's discussion board posts tonight.  Tomorrow I will finish up the last bit and see what I can learn about wikis.  As Dominique Tremblay mentioned, "With all these tweets, discussions, and blogs, this course feels like an information explosion!"  I would certainly have to agree, and this is certainly the most interactive class I have taken thus far.  Even though I was kind of dreading all this new info at first, I am actually really liking this weird sensation of being tech-savvy.  Now we'll see if I like it enough to keep it up after the class...I might have to take a "summer break" from all the information overload, the pool is already calling my name...or once again, that might just be an auditory hallucination caused by fatigue...     

Hey RSS Feed...is this working? So confused.

Twitter and RSS Feeds

I'm finding Twitter's format a lot easier to use than Blogger.  It seems like there's so many editing sections when you log onto this page, but most of them don't resemble my actual blog.  I much prefer Twitter, even though I am still new to it, because it seems easier to browse and make changes.  Now, onto RSS feeds. Is anyone able to comment on this? Just curious because I am having trouble finding an outline of what my settings preferences actually are. Thanks!

The Beginning

Well, I am very excited to be in this class, and while I thought I knew very little about Web 2.0, this week's lecture made me realize I know a little more than I thought.  Ironically, while most people seem to be progressing in technology, I seem to be getting left behind.  As a middle/high school student, I was an avid Napster (and Bearshare..and Limewire...) user, as well as a constant AIM  chatter, and Geocities site creator. I used Myspace and Facebook fairly early, and find it ironic that none of my friends would sign up for social networking sites, but now all of them have joined one and I have pretty much lost interest.  I have never used Twitter or blogged, and am learning about wikis and RSS feeds.  I am a little bit left behind by technology, mainly by choice. For example, I don't have a smart phone because most of them have keyboards and touch pads, which makes it hard to text with one hand or without looking.  I haven't been impressed with any gaming systems since Super Nintendo because all of the new controllers have too many buttons for me.  Laptops without wireless keyboards drive me up the wall because I always accidentally move the page around or go back to a previous site when I'm trying to erase something.  I was also in denial that VHS tapes were becoming obsolete, at least until my Blockbuster switched to completely to DVD, but now all the Blockbuster stores near me have been replaced by grocery store Redbox machines...Obviously, technology is constantly changing, and I hope this class helps me keep up with the times!