Reflecting on Week # 7 "Social Media and Privacy"

As I reflect on one of week # 7 this article “California Passes Tough Social Media Privacy Laws” by Michael Endler, it is amazing to believe that employers and schools would interfere in a individuals private matters to determine the character of a person by the way they behave on Facebook. I am not saying that I agree with everything that is posted on Facebook, I have seen some really serious disturbing posts but I also see that some individuals do it just for the shock and reaction of others (they want to see how many likes and comments are made to their post) and I see of these post coming from ignorant individuals that are not aware that these things are monitored and in most cases stay on the web forever. I understand that we live in a society that does not seem to value any longer “privacy” or may not even know the meaning of it. Everybody seems to want to be known and know everyone and we have been exposed to so many ways to connect with others that we forget that we are also being watched by people that we do not necessarily have any type of relationships with.

The connection is an open connection, in a two way street and can be a dangerous one. And I am believer that even as we engage in this type of social media activities we must be at our best behavior because we do not know who may be watching us. But at the same time I do not believe that others have a right to our privacy or so call privacy and to invade in our space and defy who we are and make determinations of whether we have the integrity for a job or for being accepted at a school.  I am happy to hear that California has taken the lead to ensure that people’s privacy is protected. That employers or any other entity does not have the right to ask a person for their user name and password on Facebook for them to check out your site and determine your fate based on their believes. Like the article alludes if you have different religious and sexual preferences from that of the employer or school they may use that against you and fail the possibilities for you to land a job or an opportunity at an Ivy League University. This is a free nation and up to a certain point we are at fault for what is happening we have let much of our personal life to be part of everyone’s life without realizing that we have given up an important value “ freedom” and “ privacy” 

Google + Library Donations

Today, I learned to use Google +. I added friends, family and acquaintances to my circle. Expanding my social network and providing information some useful information and maybe in the future use it communicate with others. In my first Google + as part of my Social Media course I posted some suggestions as the person in charge of donation on how Social Media/Web 2.0 applications can be used to promote the libraries annual book sale that includes donated books and also how Social Media can serve as a way to announce that the library is accepting donation of books and other materials.  I then shared my post with all of the people within my circle. I hope you have a chance to read what I posted on Google +

From my Traveling Desk: Discovering more on social network sites

The traveling librarian had a very important date this past week. It had to do with Comprehensive Exams. Yes, my days/nights were filled with researching, reading, writing, re-writing, and even crying!!! But  throughout the week I still checked on my other classes. Although I could not do much. I am happy  that it is over..at least I hope! and I finally was able to watch my classmates tutorial both quite interesting Friendster and Hi5. Both social network from what I gathered are similar they seem to target the Asia Continent and one of their big attractions is gaming and entertainment. I was kinda disturbed to learn that in Friendster the age to join is 13 and up and their game webpage shows two young ladies demonstrating game cards in their hands. Also the webpage seems to have a dating page for ages 18-27 so I wonder how does a child age 13 not get around going into the dating portion of the site? I am happy to have learned about this site, it keeps me informed of what is out there. Both of my classmates did a great job with their presentation.

The Death of Library 2.0

“Library 2.0 Five Years Later” Journal Article by Walter Crawford was quite a surprising article to read.  I was shock to learn through the article that Library 2.0 was just a concept that never took off and it is now dead. I have understood that the basic idea of Library 2.0 was to transform library services by making them more interactive and more web-based along with Web 2.0 lines. I know that there is a great difference between both principles.

Web 2.o services is modeled to share information in a particular way different from the definition of sharing information for libraries. Librarians have been in conflict with this notion of sharing information because of privacy laws. Privacy is central, core value of libraries.  So, I think that in part Library 2.0 has not taken off not only because is more of a technology based principle but also because of the fear that the use of technology as a form of contact, communicating or disseminating information to the public electronically or virtually may violate privacy laws that protect the information that patrons obtain from the library.

However, as a new generation of librarians’ rise, the views will change. Librarians of the future may define space as a virtual space not a physical space but the use of physical space will continue to exist, communication will continue to evolve into more virtual setting. In part this is due to the budget challenges that libraries have been facing for the past few years and an existing limited technology skills among older librarian colleagues. The growth of mobile devices and applications are driving forces for which change is necessary.

As more patrons demand that libraries understand and know how to deal with the demands and expectations of Web 2.0 (Facebook, blogs etc,) more libraries will have to understand that these days everything is about the use of online or virtual communication. As we move more into an open content process, the traditional approach of librarians to serve their patrons will gravitate towards more of Web 2.o platform.   Library 2.o maybe a term that is now considered obsolete but we must admit that Library 2.o has much to do with the changes as it is part of a movement of change; change in library services and change in librarians view but also requiring that librarians obtain the skills necessary to be able to move forward with technology.  So, whether it is Library 2.o or Web 2.o or any other new technology we must be ready and prepared to use it.

Announcing Twitter in Schools!

Never thought I would be twitting.  For me the whole concept of Twitter seemed like a waste of time, I never understood why anyone would want to be following what other people are doing. When I would hear that people were just twitting and following Larry King, I would answer “you have got to be kidding, there is more to life to following celebrities!” to want to know what he is doing, what he is eating, where he is going and then on top of all, hear that Twitter was also been used as a way to attract people to listen to his show! We’ll I was just completely disgusted until this course and….I read this article “The Twitter Toolbox for Educators” It seems to me that the author Steven Anderson has a grip on this whole Twitter concept, he not only understands it but makes good use of it. It definitely changed my view about is possible usage. He explains how Twitter can be used as a tool by educators for learning. The author discusses that he uses it as part of his Personal Learning Network (PLN) or as part of his Personal Learning Community (PLC) and I really enjoyed the quote statement on the article “Alone I am smart but together we are brilliant” (although I would have liked to know who’s quote was he quoting) I thought it was a good one. I had no idea that the School community or Education community have been embracing Twitter as a way to share learning resources or even to teach.

However, I have yet to meet a teacher that is using this method of communication in Miami, but I still find it quite interesting. The fact that there are schools out there and teachers out there that are taking the classroom to the next level is ingenious! To hear that there are teachers that are even using Twitter to remind their students of assignments sounds incredible. These teachers seemed to me like Super Educators and very much dedicated to their students than the average teacher.  I also liked the fact that the  community and school district in which the author is working at Winston-Salem/Forsyth County seem to be quite in tune with social media as way of teaching history, as way of marketing their school and also as a way of maintaining open communication channels with students, parents and colleague. I find this to be the top notch school project ever, If I may say so. Kudos to Mr. Anderson!

From my Traveling Desk: Wikivoyage Tutorial Presentation

This week I learned about Wikivoyage.org a web-based travel guide. It was a good experience and enjoyed very much learning about the history, background and future of Wikivoyage. I honestly hope that they prosper. I love traveling, so this was an area of research that I enjoyed working on. I created a PowerPoint presentation and then used Windows Movie Maker to turn my PowerPoint presentation into a film that I could upload in You Tube. Another source of social media completely new to me. So, in a short time I have learned to use two new media formats Windows Movie Maker and You Tube. I will not deny that the experience at first was very challenging and nerve wrecking. I can easily declare that the narration part of the PowerPoint easily took me several hours to complete. First I had to edit my script several times, then there were background sounds that interrupted the recording, a few errors made while reading the script and the most important factor, my awful strong accent!  Yes, it was definitely challenging. Then came the bone breaker...trying to figure out how to use Windows Movie Maker and You Tube, that also took another few hours of struggling until successfully complete. I am amaze at myself, I finally got it done! My advise to anyone doing this project for the first time to put aside time in your schedule to complete because you will need the time.