LCPL Branches Maps

Loudoun County Public Library System

Branches maps from Google map

Directions from Cascades Library to:

• Ashburn Library
• Lovettsville Library
• Middleburg Library
• Purcellville Library
• Sterling Library
• Thomas Balch Library

Final words on Learning 2.0

I am glad that I am reaching the end of the program, not just for the MP3 player. Even though I learned and experienced most of the 23 things before this program, I still learned a lot from the program and have a better big picture of the landscape of the Web 2.0 than before. A couple things learned on the way of this program did make me thinking about how to implement similar applications for our library. Yelp is one of them. How about let our patrons write reviews on our programs or services? Or let them to tell us what kinds of program or services they are looking for and let others to vote on it? We definitely can use those tools to promote our services, like posting library news on YouTube, to extend our service, like Podcasting our story times or book clubs, or to add new service, like personalizing our library website to fit patrons' different needs. I know this is the end of the program, but not the end of the Learning 2.0. We will have a long way to go to keep us from falling behind the digital world.

By the way, I think our AskAway blog is a great application of the Library 2.0 and thank you for doing that for all of us in the system.

About NetLibrary

To be honest, I have never thought NetLibary as an application of the Library 2.0. Maybe because I happened to know it a long times ago and at that time I had never heard about Web 2.0 or Library 2.0. But thinking it over, it dose fit the main feature of the Library 2.0, user-centered online application. It not only provides an online collection of ebooks and eAudioBooks, but also provides functionalities for users of taking notes and marking down favorites. I tried to download eAudioBooks before and it worked fine for me. As a librarian, I recommend this service to our patrons almost everyday. Some patrons like it and make a good use of it. Some patrons just hate the format, especially for those without a high-speed Internet connection. I truly believe that the NetLibrary will play an important role in the future of our library.

Podcasts v.s. RSS

Podcasts is just an application of RSS. It deliveries video files broadcasting to its subscribers. It is really easy to find things of your interests from the Podcasts directory, like Podcast.net. One Podcasts I found from the Podcast.net is the Sunnyvale Public Library Podcasts. There are 10 videos published in last year and nothing has been uploaded in this year. I am just wondering about its current situation. So what we can learn from this case is that new tech won't save the world. Facing the storm of the Web 2.0, we have to find the real problem we are facing right now before we jump into any tech fantasy.

Sharing a Video of my puppy

Here is a video clip of my puppy Emma. Hope you will like it.

Thanks to YouTube, we, as a regular people, can became a movie maker to have a five minutes of fame on the web. But most of us might not have the time to make a lot of videos and upload them to YouTube and we will just enjoy in watching other person's great or not so great works. The website is aimed for fun and it is fun to explore it. For our library, it won't be a bad idea to use it as a marketing tool to promote our programs and services. But please keep it in a fun way, not too serious.

Yelp, the way Web 2.0 should be

I like the idea behind the Yelp to have real people to write real reviews about the real local things. What make Yelp different from other online directory is that Yelp transfers the power of online publishing to real people and make the information sharing a practice of real needs. I do wish it will continue its success and attract more participants for its growth.

Online Applications

I have been using Google Docs for over a year. It is easily enough to learn in a few minutes and powerful enough to fulfil regular office jobs. The main attraction of the Google Docs is its online availability, which free you off the physical limitation of the information storage. You don't have to carry your laptop, or even a jump drive around to have your electric files with you. All you need is a computer hooked up with the Internet. Starting the Internet, opening your Google account, you are ready to go to work on your file. You will find most of functions like in the MS Word while paying nothing for using the Google Docs. Of course, there will be some security issues with storing files in Google's server. But it won't stop me to use it for storing my non-sensitive information. I will strongly suggest you to give it a try.