by Virginia Mattingly, Cybrarian, University of Louisville, Division Web Site Manager (Published August 4, 2011)

On Monday, June 13, Gayle Lynn-Nelson and John DiGilio packed the house again with their perennial favorite, “60 Sites in 60 Minutes.” The “future ready” dynamic duo chose collaboration as the theme for this year’s presentation, which was sponsored by Fastcase, ProQuest, and Dialog.

So whet your appetite, bend your ear, and get ready for some arm chair collaboration as I share some of their highlights of the good, the bad, and the bugs!

Aardvark
John DiGilio wants to know, “Have you been Varked yet?” This short simple reference service enables you to set up topic-based alerts for your own conundrums and also to supply the answers to other seekers’ queries.

Dimdim
An affordable fee-based collaboration tool to facilitate online meetings, webinars, and other forms of distance education. It was recently acquired by Salesforce and is no longer accepting registrations. SLA has switched from Dimdim to GoToMeetings.

eBossWatch
A career resource for job seekers and the gainfully employed. Anonymously rate your boss, assess a potential employer’s ethical conduct, and avoid toxic work environments.

Foodspotting
A visual restaurant guide dedicated to helping you find and share your favorite vittles. I used the interactive map to locate a tasty vegan cheese steak near the conference center while I was in Philadelphia.

Livemocha
A mostly free community-based, largely conversational alternative to the pricier Rosetta Stone that boasts being comprised of more than 9 million members and 35 languages presenting you with an opportunity to learn, teach, and make new friends.

Sparked
Donate your time online during workday distractions in exchange for good karma and a sense of accomplishment. Micro-volunteers may brainstorm new product ideas, critique a startup’s logo, or raise funds for a beloved nonprofit.

Tablet Legal
An objective blog written by a business attorney that’s dedicated to all you ever wanted to know and more about the use of Apple’s iPad in the legal profession. He only reviews apps and products that he’s personally tried and vetted.

TED
An online platform that evolved from a community that’s been united and inspired to spreading good ideas since 1984. Ask questions, exchange ideas, and engage in debates face-to-face at a conference or online at TED Conversations.

WatchThatPage
A free email alert service that monitors a website’s updates and culls the changed content. Registration is required.

What’s That Bug?
Not to be outdone by last year’s review of BedBugger.com, DiGilio introduced a new indulgence for all you insect enthusiasts. Submit a photo and you may just get a positive ID on whatever bug it is that ails you.

Writeboard
A collaborative writing tool that Lynn-Nelson said is like “red lining on steroids!” The Backpack allows users to share and store files they review and edit in one easily accessible location.

Yammer
A constructive social networking tool for the workplace designed to increase productivity. It’s especially popular with nonprofits and small organizations for facilitating real-time communication.

Slides from this year’s presentation are available online.