App Review

One of my favorite and most-used apps is Audible, which is the app I use for audiobooks. I work full-time, take two classes, and have two children, so I do not have a lot of time to read books like I used to. I like Audible because it is user-friendly and I can keep many audiobooks in my queue at a time. This gives me the freedom to move between audiobooks depending on mood. Within each audiobook, I can easily pause, move backward or forward, and view chapters. Also, the homepage gives me suggestions for audiobooks I may like.

MUVE experience

Honestly, I do not have a lot of MUVE experience. About a decade ago, I played The Sims quite often, but I have not done much since. I am out-of-touch with Minecraft, despite working in a school library where I hear the students talk about it daily.

Because I do not have MUVE/Minecraft experience, I went to Facebook to ask my friends who are familiar with this to share their experiences with me. They stated that they play with their children, and can play the game with them even if they are in different places. This helps them stay connected to them while doing something they enjoy. Also, some of them shared that they were amazed by the creativity their children showed building items in Minecraft. It seems as though the game is enjoyable, played by many people, and fosters imagination.

In the Information Resources & Services class in which I am currently enrolled, I just read that there is a push in public libraries for family engagement. I can see where a MUVE, such as Minecraft, would be a great family activity to take place in a library setting. Community involvement is crucial for libraries, and if families come for an activity like Minecraft, they might see other activities offered, and attend those, as well. The more people utilizing library resources, the better!

Social Network Experience

I have used Facebook and LinkedIn, but I definitely use the former more than the latter. I use Facebook recreationally, and as a way to keep in touch with family members who live across the country. In the past, I have used LinkedIn for business purposes; connecting with previous employers, and keeping a record of skills I possess for current or future employers.

As a future library and information science professional, I see value in using both of these services. I know as a library patron, I have attended events at my local branch that I have seen advertised on Facebook. Had the library not used Facebook to advertise the events online, I do not believe I would have know about it. Because of instances like this, I believe Facebook is beneficial to the success of libraries. Also, I follow IUPUI on Facebook as I have "liked" the page. I live in St. Louis, and I have never seen the campus in-person, nor have I spent much time in Indianapolis. This weekend, I saw a post about the city being decorated for the holidays, and how they are celebrating in the campus bookstore. Following the page on Facebook is a way for me to stay connected to the campus while living far away.

Using LinkedIn would be valuable for a library professional to stay connected with other libraries, or for use if one is seeking employment.