As many of you know, Pinterest has exploded in the last few years. While this is a very popular website featuring DIY projects and funny (often true?) pictures, the original website or source of the shared content is not always linked to the pin you are looking at. However, a similar discovery engine, StumbleUpon, allows users to select areas of interest and then recommends web content based on selected subjects. With StumbleUpon, it’s rare to find content without a source.
So how can StumbleUpon be used in and for libraries? If you’re looking for some neat programming ideas, or you just want to know what’s going on in libraries around the world, all you have to do is select “library” as one of your interests and voila! Instant website recommendations!
And for all of the aspiring librarians out there, StumbleUpon offers a Library Science interest that allows you to browse through hundreds of websites and potential schools to pursue your degree.
The really cool thing about StumbleUpon is that you can create an account on www.stumbleupon.com, or you can download the StumbleUpon app to your tablet or smart phone and browse at your leisure (or in your haste…). Not only that, but you can “thumbs up” or “thumbs down” each site that you look at. A positive vote moves the site to your favorites list so you can easily access it again; it also helps filter the results you get on your interest pages.
Although StumbleUpon is not a new company, it has undergone significant changes in the last ten years, and I believe it will continue to grow. With our ever increasing demand for relevant and engaging programs in the library, this site is sure to be a hit!