del.icio.us

Where the heck did they come up with a name like del.icio.us? I was trying to figure out how to post my new del.icio.us site to my blog here and they showed how for a web site but I don't think it was working, so I added it to my Librarians Like Lists sidebar so that it was easy to access months from now. I think I was trying too hard. If you would like to see the couple of links added so far, check the sidebar or the link below.

http://del.icio.us/ssklibrarian

I can definitely see the use of del.icio.us for libraries in Reference Services. I like the example from class: http://del.icio.us/SanMateoLibrary with the dewey numbers and good description of online resources. Also, any useful links a librarian finds, can be easily added to the del.icio.us account so that whoever sits at the Reference desk has access to the same resources. Further, if they find good resources, they can add them to the del.icio.us account for the other Librarians to use. Where is the flu shot clinic site or the tax site? Find it on our "bookmarks" on del.icio.us!

Also, if I am surfing the web at home and find a cool link, I can add it to the del.icio.us account and access it at the library later. Shared without having to be on the same network. I like it. :-)

I do not think that the plain language tagging is unsettling. People have a hard time with official or proper subject headings, and so we have had to add key word searching to our catalogs as it is. I think it is cool to see libraries use tags on their library catalogs. I am sure there could be some problems with social tagging. However it will be interesting to see over the course of time what tags people use for different books or subjects. Vocabulary changes over time. Just try reading Beowolf in the original format!