My Top Three 2.0 Winners

I've sifted through all the 2.0 Award Winners at http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0 and I've selected my top three choices. The following sites have some features that I think could be improved but I'd rather let you figure out what you like and don't like about each. Check them out if you haven't already.

1) Facebook
http://www.facebook.com/

I'm sure many of you already know about this social network. Some people consider Facebook a time drain, but I love it and I think that a balanced use of this site has enhanced my personal connections with friends and family. Many of my old friends have scattered across the United States and the globe so I really enjoy keeping up to date on their lives. Through FB I've reconnected with dear friends from the past that I love and miss. I couldn't keep up with people as easily before FB came along. Don't get me wrong, I still use the the phone, email and snail mail, but Facebook is easy and enhances my communication options. Just today I helped a patron get started with her Facebook account. She was so excited about seeing photos from her daughter's page.

2) Care2.com
http://www.care2.com/

I have been using this site for around four years now and it's one of the best online sources for green living. I don't do a lot of posting on the forums but I do enjoy reading the articles and I subscribe to the newsletters that they offer. Annie B. Bond writes some of my favorite articles with tips about safe and non-toxic cleaning with every day household items like baking soda, vinegar and more.  (On a side note, we have many of her books in our collection at Columbia Public Library.) I'd recommend Care2 to any patron who would like an online source for sustainable living.

3) Pandora
http://www.pandora.com/#/stations/create/

Music is what moves me. I don't listen to the radio much (except for KOPN and KBIA) but sometimes all I want to hear are some fresh tunes.  I know that I can put iTunes on shuffle but I think it's fun to listen to music outside of my own collection.  I really enjoy using Pandora when I'm cooking in the kitchen and I need some inspiration. I just enter some of my favorite artists and Pandora matches my search with similar artists that fit my mood.  If a patron wants to hear more music by their favorite artist, or an artist that compares, then Pandora is a great place to start.