Comparing Facebook and Myspace

I decided that since we finally had a lesson requiring us to make a Facebook page, then I should also try out the massively popular Myspace. So I now have both a Myspace page and Facebook page. In comparing the two sites, here is what I've found:

Facebook:
Limits layouts--you cannot have massively creative backgrounds (or annoying backgrounds as I've seen posted by some bloggers on their blogs) Facebooks alternative is that you can add applications to your page which will add pictures. Uses applications to add anything extra to your profile page, such as: video, music, pictures, etc. You cannot add HTML or Javascript to your descriptions of yourself or interests. Allows you to join Networks--very tricky to join college networks as they require college email (really cute thing--their discontinuing the college networks [maybe all networkds] soon. I got an email address from my college alumni to be able to join the alumni college network, and as soon as I completed the network sign-up, it came up with a note that networks would soon be discontinued!) Still, it's nice that everything in your profile is clickable--you click on it & Facebook checks for other Facebook people that have that item in their profile.

Myspace:
Allows you to add fun, creative backgrounds. Lets you add music to your profile & vdieos. Let's you add HTML/Javascript to your entries about yourself, your interests, etc.

Both:
Allow you to find and add friends and will show your friends on your profile. Allow you to join groups (found many Library-related groups to join on both sites), but only Facebooks shows your groups on your profile page.

That's pretty much all I've found so far in my comparison.

Thing 62

Good lesson to know; although, I'd rather find another PDF form filler that doesn't want to keep adding logos to the PDFs. If you mention this to a library patron, you kind of have to point out that they will only be able to fill out 2 non-editable PDF forms for free at PDFescape. After that they will have to buy some credits with real money.

I'm looking forward to the next lesson. Maybe Topia will be completely free and not add logsos.

Thing 61

It was interesting to do this lesson, researching libraries on Facebook. I found that both my undergrad & grad college libraries are available as apps on Facebook:

Alvernia Library Search

BISON Catalog-UB Libraries

I added some library apps to my profile: Library Gifts, Librarian, My Library Thing, National Archives Libraries & Museum. And I "became a fan" of: Library Journal and Internet Public Library. Finally, I joined some library groups: Libraries and Librarians, Librarians and Facebook, FacebookAppsForLibraries, Library 2.0 Interest Group, and Don't Mess With Me, I Worked in a Public Library.

I noticed that some libraries have created and made available a Ask A Librarian facebook app for their library systems.

I think it would be great if we could get the Public Library of Youngstown & Mahoning County added as a profile page on Facebook. Plus, maybe Ohio's Know It Now could be added as an app on Facebook.

Thing 60

I completed the lesson. Facebook is another way to connect with people on the web. It is fairly easy to use, check out my profile. I had problems trying to add some networks--the colleges I attended required a college email address, as an alumnus I don't have a current college email. The good thing about this lesson is just getting some practice in for using Facebook so I can help any patrons if they have problems using it.

Thing 59

Great lesson for all of us librarians--and any bibliophiles out there! The Book Report Network is a great resource. I've used the Kidsreads.com site before, but never saw a link from it to the other sites connected by The Book Report Network:

TheBookReportNetwork.com
BookReporter.com
ReadingGroupGuides.com
AuthorYellowPages.com
AuthorsOnTheWeb.com
FaithfulReader.com
Teenreads.com
Kidsreads.com

Great for reader's advisory! I will definitely be using these resources again and again.

I would add that while these are great, they aren't the only reader's advisory sites. I was sadly disappointed that some of my favorite fantasy/sci-fi authors are not listed--however I know other really terrific specialized web sites for fantasy/sci-fi:
Fantastic Fiction
Scifan
Sf Site
and for mystery:
Stop, You're Killing Me!
romance:
Sequels and Prequels for Romance Novels
The Romance Reader
Still looking for a really great Christian Fiction resource with many more authors than FaithfulReader.com.
Another great all-inclusive reader's advisory site:
Reader's Robot

Thing 58

This is a good lesson to return to each year at this time for ideas for Earth Day. Of course, it can be used year round, too, to help us all live a 'greener' life.

Great sites listed in this lesson:
Going Green Matters
Daily Green
Yahoo! Green
Earthday Network
National Geographic's Green Guide
Time's Top 15 Environmental Websites

I think since Yahoo was listed, to be fair I wanted to include Google
Google Goes GreenGoogle 2008 Earth Day

Something I found using a library magazine & the web: Book Links just did an issue in March devoted to science and the environment--web connections for Green Earth Book Award, Appreciating the Wonders of Nature, and Wet and Wonderful Books About Aquatic Life can be found at: http://www.ala.org/ala/productsandpublications/periodicals/booklinks/webconnections/webconnectionsmar2008.cfm

My 'green' project at home this year is to replace all my light bulbs with the more enegy efficient bulbs. I do drive a fuel efficient car--not a hybrid (costs too much, maybe in the future if they ever lower the prices on those vehicles). Hey--why is it that healthier options for the environment and for ourselves always cost more???!!!

Thing 57

This lesson didn't really teach anything other than showing all of us a great web site with photos of food linked directly to their recipes--Tastespotting.com a photo-foodies dream cookbook. I liked how easy it was to add photo and recipe link, and I found some interesting recipes to try sometime. It was fun to read some of them as they came from other blogs (not just recipe sites like Allrecipes.com), so you got a real story behind the recipe. That Famous Chocolate Icebox Cake was lots of fun to read, with a sad ending.

Thing 56

Smilebox assignment. Easy to do. Similar to Scrapblog--but without viewing problems (Scrapblog never liked fitting itself into display so you could read & click buttons). You can make scrapbooks, postcards, email cards, slideshows, etc.

Here's the URL to my Smilebox creation:

http://smilebox.com/playEmail/4d7a41344d5455304d5877324d6a59324e5467780d0a&sb=1

I think it was easier to just post it directly to my blog than to email it to myself and then copy/paste the URL into a blog entry. Not sure what the point of that part of the assignment was.

Library uses--obvious, you can use it make computerized scrapbooks. Also, online invitation postcards to announce programs.

Austintown Library Smilebox creation

Make a slideshow - it's easy!

Computer Generated Flannel Boards updated

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Thing 55

This was both a learning experience and fun assignment.

I had never actually made a PowerPoint Presentation before. Now I had a reason to make one, and I even had an idea on what to put in it, since I had just recently come up with a tutorial for my fellow librarians. It was easy to do--may not be the most polished presentation, but for a first time attempt, I'm happy. Now I had something to upload into SlideShare. Uploading was interesting--I know we have a fast connection, but the presentation did not upload fast. I actually ended up uploading it 3 times because it didn't seem like the uploader was working--took over 24 hours for the presentation(s) to actually upload and convert to SlideShare's coding for the web. I did find searching, embedding presentations in blog, and embedding SlideShare widgets in blog very easy to do.

I can see this as being a very useful web application to promote to people needing to do PowerPoint presentations. Great that you just put your presentation on the web and then it's available anywhere you go that has internet access.

My Own Slideshare

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Slideshow found using SlideShare

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Thing 54

Great assignment! I really like Bookjetty. It's very easy to use. I like the ease in adding books to my library, easily marking them as wanted, reading, or read. The tie in with Amazon.com works great--I discovered upcoming books by my favorite authors that I very much want!

What more can I say...I just really like it alot. One of the best book-related sites that Library 2.0 and Library 2.1 have pointed out to us.

Thing 53

This was another interesting assignment. Good to know that there is a web site for book clubs like Litlover; however, I did find it very limited. Litlovers is devoted only to lovers of 'serious' literature. They actually call it "imaginative fiction" as opposed to escapist "formulaic fiction". And, according to the first lit course, they seem to say that all fiction is either one or the other. Looking at the Reading Guides for books, they are further limiting "imaginative fiction" to mainly those books suggested by Oprah's Book Club--must be realistic fiction of any time period, dealing with serious issues.

My main problem with all of this is that there is great literature done in other genres than just best-selling realistic &/or historical fiction. It seems like they are saying any other books are just pure "formulaic fiction". This is a severe limit to the audience for this web site--so many people read mysteries, romance, suspence, thrillers, sci-fi, westerns, biographies, other non-fiction, etc. Many books in these genres are challenging, not written to just one basic repetitive, simplistic formula. I, myself, read a great variety of books. I 'escape' into anything I read. Many times I learn new things from what I'm reading, whether it's non-fiction, biography, fantasy, sci-fi, or mystery. None of the authors I've read for myself are listed on their site. I guess my mistake is that I've never been fond of the books that make the bestseller lists or the 'classic books' assigned by teachers.

In all--I found it a 'stuffy' web site that looks down on other types of fiction. I've come across that attitude before. I once had a class where we were actually assigned to read a science fiction book--one student who did not like sci-fi wanted me to tell her all about the book so she wouldn't have to 'demean' herself by reading it.

For the library, I guess we can recommend the site to any book clubs and patrons working on books promoted by Oprah.