CNET Web Ware Weekly Newsletter (Cnet.online.com)
I read this Online Newsletter from the CNET News service regularly. While not our libraries IT person I find Software advances as important as hardware. Almost everything in this publication can be counted as Web 2.0. For example the two top stories in the October 2nd issue deal with the ways the online services Google and Facebook are improving their photo-sharing techniques.
Internet Scout Project (scout.wise.edu)
I have subscribed to the weekly Internet Scout Report for over a decade now. Each week they list new online sites using digital technology to spread important information in new and interesting ways. When ever a new service seems to have a direct connection to one of my college’s classes I copy the Scouts report and e-mail it to the appropriate instructor. For example recent gems include an international on-line magazine of poetry in English translations, a website with java based user operated exercises in basic physics, and a photo montage of a French Cathedral with commentary in English and French text. Each week also lists at least two free programs being offered on the web. I have found their archives very useful in making subject and keyword searches of well run websites.
I subscribe to three of the RSS Feeds from this magazine. Each has at least one story a week about new means of using technology to either spread or display information. They also have descriptions of other new websites that can prove useful.
Fumsi Focus is an online newsletter that lists the more interesting articles and discussion from the Fumsi Forum an online group in England dealing with ways in their on words to “ Use, Manage and Share Information” . The September article on Treasuring Twitter: the How and Why of Preserving Tweets is one I am going to have to spend a lot of time on.
Resource Shelf (web.resourceshelf.com)
Resource Shelf is a blog that reports on free quality resources on the web. Probably the best way to use it is subscribe to the free ResourceShelf Newsletter. In the most recent issues was a reports about the National Archives issuing Guidelines on Cloud Computing, a cheat sheet for librarians on eBook Devices and my personal favorite and article on the DocsTeach site at the National archives. This web site not only offers PDF images of several hundred important historical documents it incorporates seven new tools, customizable by instructors , that attempt to teach specific historical thinking skills such a weighting evidence, interpreting data and focusing on details. That’s a web 2.0 feature
Association for Education Communications and Technology (http://www.aect.org/)
AECT was the only major group for those “whose activities are directed toward improving instruction through technology” when I got my degree in Audiovisual Education in the seventies. I still like to review its publications on a regular basis since it is one of the few groups to deal with classroom presentation technology (data projectors, smart boards, etc.)
American Library Association: Office for Information Technology Policy (wwww.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oitp/index.cfm)
The ALA is of course an obvious choice but in terms of technology I believe the OITP is their most interesting unit. It doesn’t actually deal directly with technology but with the theory of information exchange and the polices of the Department of Education and other government agencies that affect information technology.
This blog from The Chronicle of Higher Education has a set of amusing writers working on different aspects of Library Technology. On the week of Sept 23- Sept 29 it had articles running from how to use university only Networking sites to encourage academic discussions across different campuses to the spread of open source course management programs. The rest of the technology section is also excellent
The IMLS has just completed one exciting project a wiki called UpNext! designed to share ideas, resources and projects that could help libraries and museums plan for the future. They are now starting a series of free webinars called Connecting to Collections dealing with ways to both publicize collections to possible users. These are in addition to their normal online publications on finding the best material for preserving archives.
Google Shopping: www.google.com
This is normally my starting point when I need to buy either equipment or furniture. Never my last stop, but I can use this and its customer reviews to narrow my choices, and to find the vendor websites where I can get more specifications and exact costs. For example recently my boss need a suggestion in one working day for a podium with a built in speaker and a shelf for a data projector. I had never even seen one but the Google Shopping service showed be about 15. Once I narrowed it down I sent a quick e-mail to the local vendor who can usually do things in a hurry.
