Wednesday

Thing 7: Online Image Generators

Most of us don’t have the time or the artistic talent to create specialized graphics or logos for projects. Enter the Online Image Generator! These fun tools let you create many types of images – framed pictures, slide shows, comic-style captions, trading cards, calendars, and much more.

This exercise is all about FUN!

Why use this tool? Create trading cards of authors, scientists, historical figures, or even concepts you’re trying to teach or promote. Media specialists can support teachers by helping students create images around astronomy, algebraic equations, historical figures (“I’ll trade you two Ben Franklins for an Eleanor Roosevelt!”). Students and staff can create trading cards of themselves to help them get to know each other. Other possibilities include creating a calendar with an image related to what you’re promoting that month, or a mosaic with multiple images related to your books, videos, or other resources.

Use the images generators in summer reading programs, book clubs, training, and more. Librarians at Carleton College are using trading cards as a way to reach their students.

Graphics are a great way to convey information and can add some fun and creativity to your Web sites. Create customized images for your PowerPoint presentations, Web pages, and other projects. This is also an opportunity to think about copyright and licensing issues–some image generators use characters from popular TV shows (The Simpsons, South Park–is this legal or part of the Internet free-for-all?

The possibilities are endless! As is the time you can spend playing around with these sites—beware!

1. Play around with some of the image or text generators and find one that you like.
2. Create an image that illustrates your 23 Things @ NEFLIN activities.
3. Upload the image to your blog to share with others (be sure to include a link to the image generator itself so other participants can discover it too.) Adding the image you mocked up to your blog may be as simple as copying and pasting code that the page provides. If not, you may just need to right click on the image and then save it to your hard drive before using Blogger’s image button to add it to your post. If you’re having difficulty getting your image added to a post in your blog, ask a co-worker for help.

Resources
Tag made by tiny tags found on the Generator Blog.

Blog Prompt

  • Consider how you can use these tools in your library or media center.

Tuesday

Thing 6: Flickr Mashups

Like many Web 2.0 sites, Flickr encourages other people to build their own online applications that use images found on the site. Through the use of APIs (application programming interfaces), many people have created third party tools and mashups that use Flickr images. The tools help you find, organize, and use photos in various ways. You can create mosaics of photos, use photos in games, and find apps that make using Flickr easier or more efficient. Look here for mashups, web apps, and Flickr tools

For this Thing, explore some of the fun Flickr mashups and 3rd party tools that are out there. Note that many of these require the Flash plug-in.

1. Check out one or more of these and create something from Flickr photos to add to your blog:
concrete n E F Pastry Cutter L letter i P1060841
NEFLIN image created by Spell with Flickr.
  • splashr lets you present your Flickr photos in different view.
  • Create puzzles from your Flickr photos.
2. Upload one or more of these mashups to your blog (most will give easy-to-follow instructions somewhere on the site about how to copy the code needed and where to place it on your blog.)

Blog Prompts
  • How can you use any of these tools in your library or media center?
  • What do you think of sharing photos online?

These tools are fun but a warning--it is very easy to spend a lot of time playing with these tools! It could become your latest hobby!

Monday

Thing 5: Flickr

Photo-sharing Web sites have been around for quite awhile, in Internet terms. Flickr took the idea of photo sharing and turned it into an online community. Flickr allows users to upload their photos and then share them with family, friends, or the world. Users can “tag” photos with descriptive words and phrases--what librarians would call keywords—to help users identify and search for photos.

In this Thing, you are asked to take a good look at Flickr and discover what this site has to offer. Find out how tags work, what groups are, and all the neat things that people and other libraries (a list here, too) are creating thanks to Flickr. Here is a link to the NEFLIN account. The Library of Congress has a Flickr account--with more than 3,000 photos that you are invited to tag.

Take a look at how the Clemens and Alcuin libraries of the College of St. Benedict and St. John's University are using a Flickr feature called "add a note" to highlight books in their collections. Mouse over any of the books in the bookcase to get the details and a link to the catalog record. Very cool use of Flickr in a library. (Here is more fun at the Clemens and Alcuin libraries!)

You have two options in this Thing…

First, watch the Common Craft video "Online Photosharing in Plain English."











Then choose either -

OPTION A
  1. Take a good look around Flickr and find an interesting image that you want to blog about. You can explore Flickr photos, search the tags, view various groups, and more without a Flickr account.
  2. Use any keyword(s) (baseball, cats, library cats, library signs, Florida, library, whatever…) to find photos with those tags. When you find an interesting image or group, comment on your experience using Flickr to find images and anything else related to the exercise. Upload the image to your blog (be sure to credit the photographer). Don't forget to include a link to the image in the post.

--OR--

OPTION B (the more fun option)
  1. Create a Free Account in Flickr (note that Flickr is part of Yahoo! If you have a Yahoo! account for email or MyYahoo!, log in with that.)
  2. Use a digital camera to capture a few pictures of something in your library.
  3. Upload these to your new Flickr account and tag at least one of the images with 23Things@NEFLIN. Be sure to mark the photo public.
  4. Add one or more of your images to your blog. You can add the image in one of two ways: Flickr's blogging tool (need a Flickr account to see the button) lets you click the Blog This button (right above the picture) and add any public photo on Flickr to your blog. Be sure to give credit to the photographer, if it is not your photo. Blogger's photo upload feature lets you add photos from your computer or from the Web and choose the placement in the blog post. Click the little photo icon in the toolbar on the New Post page—it is in the row of tools above the post box. Follow the instructions in the pop up box.
  5. Once you have the photo uploaded and tagged, create a post in your blog about your photo and Flickr experience. Will you use Flickr for the library or media center, for your personal photos, or in another way?
Spend some time exploring the site and have some Flickr photo fun. If you're interested in looking at some other photo hosting and sharing sites, check out Picasa Web Albums from Google or another service called Smugmug.

Keep in mind that when posting identifiable photos of other people (especially minors) get the person's permission before posting their photo in a publicly accessible place like Flickr. Never upload pictures to your Flickr account that weren't taken by you (unless you have the photographer's consent) and always give credit when you include photos taken by someone else in your blog.

Resources
More ways to explore: Blog Prompts - Share your Flickr-ing thoughts:
  • How might you use Flickr in your library or media center?
  • Do you use Flickr or another photo hosting service? Which one? How does it compare to Flickr?
  • How do you feel about having your photos public (note that you can mark your Flickr photos private, too)--any concerns?
Challenge (optional)
  • Explore the Picnik/Flickr partnership. Edit and post some of your edited photos on your blog. Note that you can use Picnik independently of Flickr--it also has a premium service that offers a lot of other editing options.
  • Be sure to blog about the pros and cons of this third party application.
  • Compare and contrast other photo sites like Picasa or Smugmug or one you use. Which has great features to recommend to the rest of us?
  • Try more of Flickr's or another site's tools to manipulate or organize photos and then tell us about it.
  • Post anything you've done/learned about photo-editing or photo sites on your blog.

Friday

23 Things Newsletter

I have just sent out the first 23 Things Newsletter. It has some tips and information that will make the 23 Things a little bit easier.

The newsletter has gone out to the NEFLIN members whose blogs are registered. We know that there are some people who are doing 23 Things on their own who may also want to take a look at the newsletter even though some of the information contained in it does not apply to them.

If you are not a NEFLIN member, but would like to receive a copy of the newsletter please email me at 23things@neflin.org and let me know.

Thanks!
Jennifer

Wednesday

Thing 4: RSS and Newsreaders

You’ve heard of RSS? You’ve seen those small funny tags on websites? You’ve heard co-workers and acquaintances swear by it, but still have no idea what RSS is? In the information world, RSS is not only revolutionizing the way news, media and content creators share information, but it also is swiftly changing the way everyday users are consuming information.


Just think about the websites and news information sources you visit every day. It takes time to visit those sites and scour the ad-filled and image-heavy pages for just the text you want to read, doesn’t it? Now imagine if you could visit all those information sources and web pages in just one place and all at the same time … without being bombarded with advertising… without having to search for new information on the page you’d already seen or read before… and without having to consume a lot of time visiting each site individually. Would that be valuable to you? Well, it’s available now through a newsreader and RSS.

So everyone participating in 23 Things @ NEFLIN now has a blog and we told you to read your fellow learners’ blogs. Are you thinking, “What, I have to click on 100+ bookmarks to see if anyone has updated?!? Forget it; waaaay too much time.”

But what if you could visit all those blogs and more information sources in just one place and all at the same time? Would that be valuable to you? A lot of smart people out there who like to keep up-to-date and save time have created services to make it easy to follow your favorite blogs and other information sources. It’s called RSS.

RSS stands for “Really Simple Syndication.” It is a file format for delivering regularly updated information over the web.

In the information world, RSS has changed the way news, media, and content creators share information, and it is changing the way everyday users are consuming information. Join the revolution by setting up a RSS account.


1. Read more about RSS.

2. Watch “RSS in Plain English” from the Common Craft Show for an explanation of RSS.



3. Set up an aggregator account using either Bloglines or Google Reader. It’s free. Follow the directions at these sites:
4. You will want to add some of your fellow participants’ blogs to your Bloglines or Google Reader account. This will help you keep up-to-date on they have to say about the Things, their discoveries, and comments. You can add additional feeds for Web sites, news sites, podcasts, and more, too.

It is easy to add the feeds. In either account, you copy and paste the URL into the Subscribe or Add box then click the button. You can add a Bloglines button to your toolbar, too, which makes it easy to subscribe. Follow the instructions at the site.

5. Add at least three other news feeds, blogs, or Web page updates to your account. There are several ways you can locate RSS feeds:

  • When visiting your favorite websites -- look for the icons that indicate the website provides it. Often a feed icon will be displayed somewhere in the navigation of the site. The orange square at the top of this post is probably the most common RSS feed icon, but there are other RSS feed icons

  • Use Blogline's Search tool - Bloglines recently expanded search tool lets you search for news feeds in addition to posts, citations, and the web. Use the Search for Feeds option to locate RSS feeds you might be interested in.

  • Do a blog search in Google. This search limits results only to blog postings. This can lead you to bloggers talking about what you are interested in.

  • Look at this site for library blogs worldwide.

Find some library or technology, blogs, school library blogs, headlines, or other resources. Share those you find useful via a blog post.

Some Interesting Reading:


Some Florida Blogs

Resources
These resources will give you more information on the how’s and whys of RSS.

Blog Prompts:
Think about these things as you blog:

  • What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?

  • How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your library or personal life?

  • How can librarian staff or media specialists use RSS or take advantage of this technology?

  • Which tool for finding feeds was easiest to use?

  • What other tools or ways did you find to locate newsfeeds?

  • Find any great sources we should all add to our feed reader?

Have fun finding and reading blogs. But beware; it can be addicting!


Tuesday

Thing 3: Blog Search Tools

So now that you’ve been blogging for a while, you may wonder how big the blogosphere is. According to Technorati’s State of the Blogosphere, there are almost 1 million blog posts a day.



http://www.technorati.com/blogging/state-of-the-blogosphere/

These numbers are astounding, but as you’ve already seen for yourselves, blogging is so easy that these publishing tools are being taken advantage of by almost every industry, including libraries.

How do you sort through the millions of available blogs to identify the ones worth reading? The blog search engines allow you to plug in your search terms and subscribe to the feed. Each blog search tool offers a variety of features. You can search for keywords in blog posts, search for entire blog posts that have been tagged with a certain keyword, or search for blogs that have been registered and tagged as whole blogs about a certain subject (like photography or libraries).

And how does a person get their blog listed as part of the blogosphere and how can you tag your posts with keywords to make them more findable through a blog search tool? The answer to the first question is that your blog is probably already being captured due to the fact that you're already using Blogger, the most popular blogging tool. But using Technorati, you can have your blog officially listed and take advantage of other features by claiming your blog. You can also add a little bit of HTML code to your posts to tag posts with Technorati tags.

1. Explore Technorati and one other search engine mentioned in one of the Search Engine lists located in the Resource section.

2. Try the same search in both search engines. Are the results different?

3. Compare the features of the two search engines.

Resources:
Blog Search Engines: The Complete Overview (Search Engine Journal)
Directory of Blog Search Engines to find Blogs (About.com)
Blog Search Engines (About.com)

Blog Prompts:
Create a blog post about your discoveries.
How do the features such as results relevance, search options, other features compare?

Tuesday

Thing 2: What is Web 2.0?

Library 2.0 is a term used to describe a new set of concepts for developing and delivering library services. The name, as you may guess, is an extension of Web 2.0 and shares many of its same philosophies and concepts including harnessing the user in both design and implementation of services, embracing constant change as a development cycle over the traditional notion of upgrades, and reworking library services to meet the users in their space, as opposed to ours (libraries.) Web 2.0 tools make it easy to create content and then share it via the Internet. Libraries can use the tools to promote programs and services, create useful content, and then communicate it to their users.

Many have argued that the notion of Library 2.0 is more than just a term used to describe concepts that revolve around the use of technology; it is also a term that can be used to describe both physical and mindset changes that are occurring within libraries to make our spaces and services more user-centric and inviting. Others within the profession have asserted that libraries have always been 2.0: collaborative, customer friendly, and welcoming. But no matter which side of the debate you fall on, just about everyone agrees that libraries of tomorrow, even five or ten years from now, will look substantially different from libraries today. 23 Things @ NEFLIN can help you get ready to participate in the changes!

1. Watch this short video of Stephen Abram kicks off 23 Things at Murdoch University Library in Australia.


2. Read this blog post by John Blyberg, a library blogger from Connecticut.

3. A good article on Library 2.0 is in Library Technology Reports, Volume 43 Issue 5. Read this article "The Ongoing Web Revolution". (The entire issue can be found via the Florida Electronic Library; click on Vol. 43, Issue 5 and go to the article.)

Resources
These articles offer more views on Web 2.0 and libraries:
Blog Prompts
Here are some ideas to blog about--but don't let these questions limit you. Share all your thoughts, ideas, and discoveries.
  • We know time is always an issue--Stephen Abram shares some ideas on where to find the time for 23 Things. Where will you find the time?
  • Why are you participating in 23 Things @ NEFLIN? What do you hope to learn?
  • How has the Internet and the vast resource it can be affected your use of time at work and/or at home?
  • Where are you in your knowledge and use of Web 2.0 tools? How about your library?
  • What are you looking forward to in 23 Things @ NEFLIN?

We hope you will enjoy this program. Have fun exploring and thinking about 2.0.

Sunday

Thing 1: Set Up a Blog and Register

Now that you have a better idea of what 23 Things @ NEFLIN is all about, it’s time to set up your very own blog to begin recording your progress and thoughts on 23 Things @ NEFLIN.

Watch “Blogs in Plain English” from the Common Craft Show for an explanation of blogs.




There are several free online blog hosting services including Wordpress and Typepad, but we recommend Blogger, a Google product.

This is a very important Thing. You will record your progress in your blog and others will be reading your blog. Please read through all of the instructions before beginning.

Set up your blog by following these steps:

1. Create an account in Blogger*

  • Go to Blogger.com
  • Click on the long orange arrow that says Create Your Blog Now. Follow the instructions to create your blog in 3 easy steps.
  • You will need a Google Account. Follow the directions to set up a Google Account if you do not have one. You can use any email address—it does not need to be a Gmail address. Your email becomes your Username. Your Display Name is how your posts are signed--you can use your real name, initials, or a nickname. (If you want to keep your 23 Things separate from your work email you might consider creating a generic email account to use for this program.)
  • Create a password for your account.
    • (BIG HINT: This is the first of many usernames/passwords you will create for 23 Things @ NEFLIN. Think now how you will remember them all, or use the same one or similar ones for every Web 2.0 tool. I received a recommendation from one of our library techies that folks do use the same password for all their 23 Things accounts but that it NOT be their library password.)
  • Remember to write down your Username and Password.
2. Name your blog. This is the hard part! You will create a blog title and a URL for your blog.

  • The blog title is the name that will appear on the banner at the top of your blog. The blog title does not need to be unique--nor will you be able to tell if it is unique. There are probably hundreds of blogs with relatively generic names--BobBlog or Musings, for example. That is OK. However, we do recommend that you not name your blog 23 Things @ NEFLIN, 23things, or similar names just to avoid some confusion. Add an identifier--Bob's 23 Things or 23things on the Beach. Be sure that the blog name appears in the masthead of your blog. If it does not, go to the Settings tab and enter your blog name in the Title box. Click Save.
  • The URL is the unique Web address of your blog. This URL is how you will find your blog or tell others how to find it. We recommend a short, easy to remember URL. You must be sure that no one else has registered the URL you want on Blogger! Blogger will tell you if the URL you want is available--click Check Availability.
  • Remember that the whole web world can see your blog title and blog address. Create a name that reflects the 23 Things @ NEFLIN program, but is uniquely yours. Here are some names of blogs from other 23 Things programs:
  • In Blogger, the URL format is blogname.blogspot.com. There is no www in the address when using Blogger.com software. The URL for your blog will look like these examples
    • http://neflinonastick.blogspot.com/
    • http://neflins23things.blogspot.com/
  • Please remember your URL and/or bookmark it.
  • Blogger Settings
    • Be sure that you have enabled comments. We want to comment on your posts, as do others.
      • Under the Settings Tab, click the Comments link. We recommend the second choice under Who Can Comment? Registered Users.
      • If you want to moderate comments (review all comments before they are published) scroll down and turn moderation on.
      • If you want others (up to 10 people) to know when you receive a comment, you can enter their email addresses in the box near the bottom of that page. Click Save Settings once you are done.
3. Select your template.

  • The fun part--Blogger has several templates so choose one that fits you. The first Choose Template screen has only a few; choose one. If you want to experiment with other Templates after your blog is set-up, go to Layout and choose Pick New Template. You will see many more choices. Try some; it is easy to see how your blog will look in the different choices.
Hints

  • If you run into problems, check out Blogger's Help file and Tutorial. Another tutorial is here. You can ask us, too.
  • Be sure to enable comments under Settings on Blogger.
  • Be sure your blog title appears on the masthead of your blog. Go to settings and enter it in the Title box if it does not appear.
  • Spend some time exploring the features of Blogger—spell check, how to upload photos or video, font choices, text size and color, and more.

4. Start posting!

  • Whenever you complete a Thing, write a post reflecting your experience with the Thing you accomplished. Please clearly label each entry in your blog in with Thing number and the subject. We just need to be able to see which Thing you are doing. Read and comment on other 23 Things bloggers’ posts, too. That’s part of being part of this library learning community. Everyone likes feedback.
  • Each of your posts should provide insights into what you have discovered and learned. Share what worked for you, what didn’t, what you have shared with your colleagues, any surprises, frustrations, and eureka moments. We will offer some blog prompts to get you thinking, but don’t feel limited by those—reach out and share!
  • You are joining many, many librarians who blog. The Bloggers Among Us is a recent survey of library bloggers. And if you need inspiration for your blogging, glance through the blogs of these Top 25 Library Bloggers
Remember, each participant must have her/his own blog to record their progress.


Challenge (optional for those already familiar with blogs)

  1. Add features from Blogger's selections on Layout and Settings pages. Add a blog roll of blogs of your fellow participants or of other interesting blogs you've found. Add photos or video. How about a poll?
  2. Already have a Blogger blog? Explore other blogging software and compare and contrast features. Which ones have great features? Which one would you recommend?
  3. Add third party features to your blog--visitor counts, email subscriptions and more. Feedburner and Sitemeter are two sources of additional features.
  4. Be sure to blog about your experience with the other blogging software and/or third party features. Any features you think all blogs should have?
* Use of Blogger is only a recommendation. If there is another blog hosting site that you are more comfortable with, please feel free to use it.

Monday

About the 23 Things @ NEFLIN Project

This blog has been set-up as part of the 23 Things @ NEFLIN Program. The 23 Things encourage all of us to experiment and learn about the new and emerging technologies that are changing how information is used and created on the Internet today.

The 23 Things @ NEFLIN Program is a modification of the Learning 2.0 Program designed by Helene Blowers, Technology Director, Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenburg County that was loosely based upon Stephen Abram's article 43 Things I (or You) Might Want To Do This Year (Information Outlook - February 2006) and the 43 Things website. We also used ideas from other libraries and library cooperatives who have implemented the Learning 2.0/23 Things concept.

23 Things @ NEFLIN will provide members an opportunity to jump into 2.0. We want you to share your ideas on how these tools can be used in your libraries. We will include many Web 2.0 tools in this program, including Blogger, Flickr, YouTube, and PBWiki - which we learned as we went. …and did we mention there will be prizes! We hope you'll come play with us.

It will be transformational!

FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions

This blog has been set-up as part of the 23 Things @ NEFLIN project. The 23 Things encourage all of us to experiment and learn about the new technologies that are changing how information is used and created on the Internet today.

23 Things @ NEFLIN offers ideas to "jump start" your learning. We hope you will share your ideas on how these Web 2.0 tools can be used in your libraries and media centers. We have used many Web 2.0 tools to design this program, including Blogger, Flickr, YouTube, PBWiki & Bloglines—which we learned as we went. You can learn them, too.


  1. How does this online learning program work? This is a self-discovery program that allows participants to take control of their own learning. Participants are encouraged to work together with others in their buildings and throughout the region and to share their insights and discoveries with others through their blogs and in person. 23 Things @ NEFLIN is web-based and not tied to any particular computer. You can work at home, at school, at your public or academic library. You may need to work at home if your place of work or local library blocks multimedia or other sites.
  2. Why Do This? This is a great chance to spend time on your personal and professional development. All library staff need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and technology tools that Web 2.0 is bringing us everyday. We need to take time to learn how the tools can be utilized in or with our libraries. And we will know what our library users, especially younger users, are talking about!
  3. Who can participate? This program is open to all.
  4. If I'm not a NEFLIN member, can I still participate? Yes, by all means. You can track your progress on your blog. We welcome participants from other libraries to join in the fun and follow along, but you do not need to register.
  5. What if I get behind? Everyone will work at their own pace.
  6. How long do I have to complete the program? You can take as long as you wish to complete the program.
  7. How do I track my progress for the 23 Things? You will create a blog of your own in Thing 1 to track your progress. Please use your blog to write your reactions to the lessons and add any ideas you may have on how to use Web 2.0 tools for yourself and your library. This is your time to experiment, have fun, and learn at you own pace. Links to the blogs of all participants are listed on the front page of this blog. Include the Thing # and title in the heading of each post. It will help you track your progress. It is helpful when you want to refer back or add something new on a specific topic or tool, too.
  8. How will you know I have done all the Things? You will write about each Thing you complete.
  9. Can I blog anonymously? Yes & no. Since you control all the information that you share on your blog, you can choose to use a screen name to keep yourself anonymous if that makes it easier/more comfortable for you. But, really, why be anonymous? Other 23ers want to know who you are so they can share and learn more. It is not necessary to put all your personal info in your profile, but complete anonymity works against the social community we want to create with 23 Things @ NEFLIN. Chip Halvorsen at ACLD wrote a nice bit about privacy issues if you have these concerns.
  10. How much do I have to write in my blog posts? Each blog post must describe which Thing you have completed (remember to put that in the post title, too), what your experience was learning about it--easy, hard, impossible--ideas how you can use this in your library or media center or in other areas, and other comments on the process. While we don't expect a dissertation on every Thing, we do expect thoughtful reflection and active participation that is clear in the post. Single line posts or those that show perfunctory participation will not be counted.
  11. Will there be any training classes offered on how to do this? This is an independent learning experience and can be completed on your own. We have linked to the weekly newsletter that includes hints about the Things.
  12. Is there any tech support? No.
  13. What if I need help - who can I call? Since this program is self-directed and is being completed by many staff members throughout the system simultaneously, you are encouraged to work with colleagues, friends and family along your discovery journey.
  14. Do any of the 23 Things @ NEFLIN require downloads? Flash is required to view many of the applications. Chances are this is already installed on your computer, but if it is not, click here for a free download. Adobe Reader is required to read a few of the links. If you do not have it, you can get it free here. Java needs to be enabled for many of the applications, too (instructions on how to enable Java). Always check with your tech people before downloading anything. A few of the Things have activities that may require a download. However, most of the Things have options that can be done without downloading anything extra. Most of the 23 Things are Web-based applications that do not require additional downloads or plug-ins to work. Many Web-based applications have third party features that require downloads. These are not required—although they are often fun and add functionality.
  15. I've seen the list of 23 Things on the website, but how do I know what to do with them? Blog posts have been posted that contain the details about the discovery exercises for that week. The reason for this staggered approach is to allow participants the ability to focus each week on a different area without feeling overwhelmed.
  16. I noticed some of the Things have a section headed Challenge? What is this and do I have to do it? The Challenges are there for those participants who are already familiar with that particular Thing and want to learn more and/or for those who are intrigued by what they have learned doing the first parts of the Thing. The Challenges are all optional; you do not have to do those parts to have completed the Thing. If you do one or more the Challenges, be sure to blog about it!

What Are the 23 Things?

We're glad you asked! The links will take you to the details and activities for that Thing.

Please read the entire Thing so you understand the activities. Then dive head first into the activities.

Getting Started
Thing 1 – Set up your own blog, add your first post and you’re off. Begin exploring the Web 2.0 world.

What is Web 2.0 and Why Should I Care
Thing 2 - Read and watch a variety of perspectives on Web 2.0 and Library 2.0. Share your thoughts.

Bring the News to You
Thing 3 – With so many online news sources, how do you find the ones that relate to you? Learn about blog search tools.

Thing 4 – Concerned about how you’ll keep up with everything? Learn about RSS and news feeds and set up your own RSS account. Locate several blogs and/or news feeds of interest and add them to your reader.

Photosharing and Editing
Thing 5 – Explore flickr and learn about this popular image hosting site.
Thing 6 – There’s more fun to be had with flickr. Discover other services and mash-ups that let you play with your images.
Thing 7 – Play around with online image generators.

Communication
Thing 8 – Web 2.0 tools make communicating easy. Consider how your library could integrate these tools into your services.
Thing 9 – Share slide decks, photos, or presentations on your blog (or website) with these tools.

Social Media
Thing 10 – Learn about tagging and social bookmarking using del.icio.us.
Thing 11 – Major publications allow readers to rate and recommend their content to others via social media sites.

Collaboration
Thing 12 – Learn about wikis and other document collaboration tools and how libraries are using them. See how easy it is to add something to a wiki.
Thing 13 – Check out Library Thing and see how your library might use it.


Online Applications & Tools
Thing 14 – Learn about a variety of online productivity tools and see what you think.
Thing 15 – Roll your own, search that is. Try Rollyo and see if it could be a time saver in your library.

Video and Podcasts
Thing 16 – Discover YouTube and other sites that let you view and upload video.
Thing 17 – Explore podcasts and learn how easy it could be to create one of your own.

Social Networking
Thing 18 – Facebook and MySpace are getting lots of attention. Learn what all the fuss is about and how libraries are using these tools to communicate with their communities.
Thing 19 – Facebook and MySpace may be popular but explore some of the other options for social networking, including WebJunction, Ning, Gather, etc.


Library Things
Thing 20 – Books 2.0 With all the emphasis on online tools for learning and socializing in the library, what has happened to the book?
Thing 21 – Student 2.0 Media specialists, academic librarians, and public librarians can help their students become more efficient in their research with the Assignment Calculator and the Research Project Calculator.


Staying Current
Thing 22 – You’ve learned a lot and now you have a better understanding of how Web 2.0 tools continue to change. How are you going to continue to keep up and learn?

One Last Thing
Thing 23 – Complete the 23 Things @ NEFLIN online evaluation and blog about your experience.