think free

t o o s l o w

google docs

briliant! my wife is a freelancer and uses google docs to distribute information - so much better than email attachments for keeping track of collaborative work. Quite happily sell my soul to google.

wikipedia

I constantly use Wikipedia for quick reference. I was a shakespeare-librarian for 13 years and a topic sure to cause argument and disagreement is the authorship to Shakespeare's plays. Sure enough, the wikipedia article is disputed with a complicated string of accusations and counter accusations. But, the article made these disputes explicit and info. was fairly accurate.

wiki

I've been a member of SocialOULS for some time although not an active contributor.

I do manage a page on http://realspaceatox.wikispaces.com, a less-open wiki that requires membership. The info. is great but it needs more people to be involved.

Twitter

I'm twittering as jamesalanshaw - forced to expose my middle name. Love the intimacy of twitter and have read some interesting tweets from people I follow. Not really interested/motivated in tweeting personal info. but I love the intimacy/brevity of the tweets from people I've chosen to follow.

Linked In

Linked in profile created. My wife is freelance publisher and has made many good connections and got work through Linked In.

Facebook Lurker

One way of connecting indirectly to customers on Facebook is to lurk passively and track comments relating to the library.

A few years ago, before the RSL refurbishment and re-purposing, I searched Facebook for RSL/Radcliffe Science Library and was horrified to discover 'RSL = Really Shitty Library' site. It was an attack on the architecture, stern front line image, and unfriendly notices. Very extreme, unfair, a minority opinion, etc. but with considerable public damage.

Not related to the facebook site, we've addressed all the areas that the site attacked us for. Trouble is, that facebook site remains in place and can't be taken down.

Perhaps we should consider launching our own official facebook page which presents a positive image - and perhaps 23 things will give us the impetus to action this.