Data Visualization: Wordle

I find data visualization really interesting lately--tech tools can really take it much further than charts and graphs. One such tool is Wordle. It allows you to use a URL or copied text to create a poetic and beautiful word cloud. It is a simple idea in the world of data visualization, but it looks so sophisticated. If you try it, be sure to try the Randomize feature. I discovered it was listed as as special mention on the "5 Best Data Visualization Projects of the Year" post on the FlowingData site. I am looking for more tools out there that our patrons can try out and use for expressing their research data. Have you tried any tools that you would like to share?

Social Networks!

Erik Qualman of Search Engine Watch talks about Web business trends in Will Social Networks Become the New Inbox? part 1 and part 2.
Social networks like Facebook and quick informal communication like IM are becoming prime means of communication.

"Kids today prefer one to many communication; e-mail to them is antiquated," said Bill Tancer, Hitwise general manager, global research.

Because people are updating their status, "I'm depressed," "Got a new job," it's much easier to read this and stay connected than to send a series of e-mails asking, "How are you doing?" or "What are you up to?" In a sign of the times ahead, for the Class of 2013, and for the first time since e-mail was invented, Boston College will not be giving out johnsmith@bc.edu e-mail addresses to incoming freshmen.

Part two of the column confirms that developing relationships with customers (or patrons) is always going to be the best approach for success and sustainability.

Good businesses realize that it's not all about the instant win of getting someone into a database. Rather it is cultivated that relationship via social media, and if done correctly you will have a relationship that lasts a lifetime.

LITA Publications

After ignoring Information Technology and Libraries (ITAL), one of the LITA publications, for years as too boring, I looked at the most recent issue and found it really useful. And it turns out that issues (2 issue embargo for non-members) are full text online. Worth a look.

File Delivery

There are several sources that help anyone deliver large documents over the Web. I blogged about it for the ITP Library Blog.
After posting the post, I needed to send a file to a student who couldn't receive the file otherwise. So I tried Sendthisfile.com and found it very workable.
Anyone else have a favorite?