After watching the video clip on social networking I could see it would have a similar effect to using delicious, in that looking at other people's websites, with interests similar to your own, can lead to finding other information related but not exactly the same as your own. This can then lead to widening your scope of interest. I imagine that the social networking services have the same effect except the scope widens to include people themselves, rather than information. Being basically not a social animal, I can't see myself spending a lot of time on this, but know that a lot of people find it very satisfying and useful.
In the library context, given sufficient available time, there would be a variety of advantages to connecting to others with similar aims who may have already invented your particular wheel.
In one of the articles about museums it was mentioned that time needed to be allocated to the task of keeping up their sites on, for example, Facebook, but that it was worth it for the great results in terms of reaching their potential public. At our library, thing are really in the germination phase in this area. Now that a few of us have completed this training the possibilities are so much greater for us to engage in this kind of promotion. It is difficult when few people know or understand the concepts, as enthusiasm is hard to generate.
I thought the Rotorua Library on Bebo was a good one as it seemed more like an ordinary library compared to the flash ones from the U.S. I must say, I did wonder why all these people would want to be on a library site - but each to his or her own.
The Animanga Club looked like a good way to promote your library's particular strength - maybe kids' activities or Local Studies?
Second Life looked a bit complicated, but given more time...
I feel like I'd like to go back now and do it all again to embed the concepts in my mind for future use. Maybe I'll print it all off and save a hard copy. Is this neanderthal????
Anyway, I think I can now say I have FINISHED. Thankyou to all who created this training.
Monday, May 19, 2008
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Google Docs
Have just sent a document to share from Google Docs - a very brief one. It had the same feel as using Wetpaint in that you can't do certain things - have been told by our IT person it is because the software is basic. Pretty good for free though. For example, I couldn't put a photo from Flickr onto it - kept getting indecipherable messages about it, so just inserted one from my computer. If nothing else, I have learned to try different ways to make things work, whereas before doing this training I would probably have just given up.
I can see an immediate use for us at the library, as we have been working on making a tip sheet (for about a year) for patrons for using the NSWnet database. Even though several people have sent their suggestions and additions, it still remains for one person to coordinate these changes. Google Docs would be a good way for all of us to edit the document and hopefully move forward to a final result.
I haven't had time yet to explore all the other possible free applications, but they look good and I will be passing n the knowledge to my family, friends and work colleagues.
I can see an immediate use for us at the library, as we have been working on making a tip sheet (for about a year) for patrons for using the NSWnet database. Even though several people have sent their suggestions and additions, it still remains for one person to coordinate these changes. Google Docs would be a good way for all of us to edit the document and hopefully move forward to a final result.
I haven't had time yet to explore all the other possible free applications, but they look good and I will be passing n the knowledge to my family, friends and work colleagues.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Mashups
After much messing around I have managed to make a mosaic using Big Huge Labs.It has been a bit hit and miss and it looks a lot better bigger, but I saved it as medium and couldn't be bothered to go back and change it.
The instructions were a bit too minimal for me.
I can see these tools could be really useful for displays in the library. it would be great to have a lot more time to spend on all the things on offer.
I am looking forward to making a calendar as well.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Horses
Have been saving photos to Flickr so my daughter can view them to choose some before downloading the ones she needs - to save having to download ones she doesn;t need. It was good to revisit Flickr as it has been ages since i used it.
Monday, April 28, 2008
Online Education Database
This looks very handy. I have saved it to my "delicious" for future reference.
I notice you can access link of the podcast I copied to my last blog by simply clicking on the link. Is this because I have already subscribed? Can anyone reading this blog please click on it and tell me if they could access it straight away, or did you have to subscribe once you clicked on it. I think I am missing something here.
I notice you can access link of the podcast I copied to my last blog by simply clicking on the link. Is this because I have already subscribed? Can anyone reading this blog please click on it and tell me if they could access it straight away, or did you have to subscribe once you clicked on it. I think I am missing something here.
Booktalks Quick and Simple
The title definitely says it all! I looked at the following example from the Library Success wiki. It is indeed extremely quick and simple, but I guess gives an indication of whether you would want to read the book. I was thinking this was going to be a longer discussion perhaps suitable for HSC students.
Shea, George. A READER'S GUIDE TO CHINUA ACHEBE'S THINGS FALL APART
I then went to the Grand Rapids Public Library podcasts - I just loved the name.
I'm getting the idea that yes, I do, have to subscribe to the podcasts, rather than just be able to listen to a one-off podcast. Is this correct??
Shea, George. A READER'S GUIDE TO CHINUA ACHEBE'S THINGS FALL APART
I then went to the Grand Rapids Public Library podcasts - I just loved the name.
I'm getting the idea that yes, I do, have to subscribe to the podcasts, rather than just be able to listen to a one-off podcast. Is this correct??
Podcasts
I have been aware of podcasts for some time and remember watching James Valentine on Mosman Library's podcast. The ability to offer patrons the opportunity to see talks such as that at a later date, either to review or see what they have missed, seems like a great use for podcasts in libraries.
The story-reading in the American library podcasts would be particularly handy for kids on long car-trips, or good for those who wish to read along with their favourite books.
I don't think my brain is quite with it this morning, as I keep getting excited about links that turn out not to be podcasts. For example, on the ABC there was a link about Edna Walling which was great, but not a podcast. The same thing happened with a lifestyle & money link, where I somehow ended up clicking on an RSS feed link. Maybe I need coffee.
Finally, I have subscribed to a podcast from the ABC - The Great Train Show. The subject option seems a bit broad in category. I don't yet understand whether it is actually necessary to subscribe to the podcast to get to listen to just one, but this is the best I could do for now. This is only an audio podcast. These could be good for long trips where you cannot get the radio stations you like when on holiday - and have the time to catch up on what you have missed.
The story-reading in the American library podcasts would be particularly handy for kids on long car-trips, or good for those who wish to read along with their favourite books.
I don't think my brain is quite with it this morning, as I keep getting excited about links that turn out not to be podcasts. For example, on the ABC there was a link about Edna Walling which was great, but not a podcast. The same thing happened with a lifestyle & money link, where I somehow ended up clicking on an RSS feed link. Maybe I need coffee.
Finally, I have subscribed to a podcast from the ABC - The Great Train Show. The subject option seems a bit broad in category. I don't yet understand whether it is actually necessary to subscribe to the podcast to get to listen to just one, but this is the best I could do for now. This is only an audio podcast. These could be good for long trips where you cannot get the radio stations you like when on holiday - and have the time to catch up on what you have missed.
Week 8: Answer boards etc
Little did I know how long it would be until I go back to this training when I last wrote, due to family circumstances beyond my control. Hopefully now I am back on deck and can complete the last weeks. What I did learn was the advantage of writing in my blog immediately after completing tasks, as I had already done Week 8's tasks, but had yet to write about them. From memory, my feelings about answer boards is that they can obviously be useful, especially for answers to "hard to find" questions, but for me personally I could not contemplate spending the time on them that others seem to.
"Slamming the boards" seems like a great way to advertise the skills library people have to offer. I am happy to leave it to those who are already doing it to be my representatives - they look to be doing a great job, with the examples from the exemplary answers.
"Slamming the boards" seems like a great way to advertise the skills library people have to offer. I am happy to leave it to those who are already doing it to be my representatives - they look to be doing a great job, with the examples from the exemplary answers.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
LibraryThing
At first I could not really see the point of this for me personally, but I added some of my favourite books for the sake of the exercise. This led to a great find of a book i didn't know about by an author I have really enjoyed in the past. I can see it being useful for customer for "who writes like?" queries, and to peruse the reading styles of those who appear to be interested in similar subjects. I have not had a great urge to use it since doing this exercise. On the other hand, I can't STOP saving things to del.icio.us and have urged my husband to use it also. The only drawback is he keeps saving his favourites to my del.icio.us by mistake. I'll be well equipped if anyone wants to know about Suzuki VStrom motorbikes.
I have slowed down in the training over Easter, so now need to get on to the next week.
I have slowed down in the training over Easter, so now need to get on to the next week.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Even more del.icio.us
Of all the Learning 2.0 topics so far, I have found del.icio.us the most enticing. I can't stop looking at the listings for other people who have tagged the same sites as I have. It's my day off today, and I'm (?wasting) my day in the sun sitting at the computer!
I'm looking forward to creating a delicious (tired of punctuation!) account for our library. I found the National Library's delicious/usefulresources site fantastic, and will be urging people to use it at our library.
I have finally forced myself to move on to the Technorati part, but must say that most blogs leave me cold. I simply have no inclination to delve into the ramblings of other people. I can't image how boring it would be for others to have to read what I have written.
I found the results for "bookmobile" different on the regular and advanced searches. I don't know why I would ever search using such a word under normal circumstances.
On Technorati, I did not get any results searching the blogs using "nswpln2008", only in photos, and in posts when I chose the option "with any authority". These were not posts from any of the Learning 2.0 blogs, so am assuming this is because they are not public? There were 5 posts by in librarian2librarian . Perhaps I am doing it incorrectly. I don't understand the concept of "authority" yet, so will have to find out more about this later.
I have had a brief look at Library Thing recently, but am looking forward to spending more time on this - after I hang out the washing and check out the garden. OH&S rules after all - need to move these muscles.
I'm looking forward to creating a delicious (tired of punctuation!) account for our library. I found the National Library's delicious/usefulresources site fantastic, and will be urging people to use it at our library.
I have finally forced myself to move on to the Technorati part, but must say that most blogs leave me cold. I simply have no inclination to delve into the ramblings of other people. I can't image how boring it would be for others to have to read what I have written.
I found the results for "bookmobile" different on the regular and advanced searches. I don't know why I would ever search using such a word under normal circumstances.
On Technorati, I did not get any results searching the blogs using "nswpln2008", only in photos, and in posts when I chose the option "with any authority". These were not posts from any of the Learning 2.0 blogs, so am assuming this is because they are not public? There were 5 posts by in librarian2librarian . Perhaps I am doing it incorrectly. I don't understand the concept of "authority" yet, so will have to find out more about this later.
I have had a brief look at Library Thing recently, but am looking forward to spending more time on this - after I hang out the washing and check out the garden. OH&S rules after all - need to move these muscles.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
del.icio.us
I have created a delicious account at the following link:
http://del.icio.us/cavalieria
It's very easy to get stuck looking at sites not directly relevant to the task at hand - you may have noticed my leanings towards Cavaliers. When I have more time I will add the websites for my favourite authors. This is something I find frustrating - when I run out of books to read (?sounds impossible - not for me), and I think of checking if any of my favourite authors are due to pop out a new book, I keep forgetting who is on my list. De.icio.us will be great for this purpose.
I have also been saving websites for future travel to places in the novels I like, so I can include these on del.icio.us.
Fortunately I use Firefox at home which is where I set up the account, so it was pretty easy. I will have to read the alternate instructions to set one up at work.
I think it will be very useful at work, where I currently have to use different computers throughout the day, which means access to my favourites is never the same.
I can see if being of immense usefulness for staff accessing and saving websites of interest for helping customers. In the longer term, having one set up like Sutherland's would be great for our library patrons to access. Again, this could take some time for setting up and maintaining.
http://del.icio.us/cavalieria
It's very easy to get stuck looking at sites not directly relevant to the task at hand - you may have noticed my leanings towards Cavaliers. When I have more time I will add the websites for my favourite authors. This is something I find frustrating - when I run out of books to read (?sounds impossible - not for me), and I think of checking if any of my favourite authors are due to pop out a new book, I keep forgetting who is on my list. De.icio.us will be great for this purpose.
I have also been saving websites for future travel to places in the novels I like, so I can include these on del.icio.us.
Fortunately I use Firefox at home which is where I set up the account, so it was pretty easy. I will have to read the alternate instructions to set one up at work.
I think it will be very useful at work, where I currently have to use different computers throughout the day, which means access to my favourites is never the same.
I can see if being of immense usefulness for staff accessing and saving websites of interest for helping customers. In the longer term, having one set up like Sutherland's would be great for our library patrons to access. Again, this could take some time for setting up and maintaining.
Thursday, March 13, 2008
Embedding a video
This was much easier than I expected. I can see this being very useful for staff training - once we get our technology issues sorted. It was also easy to embed the video into our Info Services wiki. All I need now is more time to do these sorts of things.
YouTube and Google video
I have been working my way through the suggested items on YouTube and Goodle video and so far I would have to say they leave me uninspired. I can see that there is an opportunity for libraries to advertise their wares in this way, but realistically the videos for the New Jersey library are pretty corny, and preaching to the converted. I can't really imagine, for example a teenager, being inspired by one of these videos to use the library if they had never done so before.
When I did a search using "library Australia" as keywords, I came up with a bizarre video for the Brisbane library, obviously made for the amusement of it's creators, to make fun of the library.
I guess this is all good fun for someone, so each to his own.
The videos used in the training we've done are interesting and easy to understand, so I can see the usefulness of this type.
Sorry to sound like a party-pooper.
I just looked at the Mosman library videos of their author nights. These were much more interesting to me. I can see this is a great way to share the events with public, and publicise the library's activities to encourage future attendance.
When I did a search using "library Australia" as keywords, I came up with a bizarre video for the Brisbane library, obviously made for the amusement of it's creators, to make fun of the library.
I guess this is all good fun for someone, so each to his own.
The videos used in the training we've done are interesting and easy to understand, so I can see the usefulness of this type.
Sorry to sound like a party-pooper.
I just looked at the Mosman library videos of their author nights. These were much more interesting to me. I can see this is a great way to share the events with public, and publicise the library's activities to encourage future attendance.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Monday, March 10, 2008
Wikis and Wikipedia
At last I have reached a lesson about which I actually already know something.
After attending the reference seminar last year, a colleague and I decided to make a wiki for information services staff to use. It took us a while to teach ourselves, and even longer to put on lots of information that is now accessible to info services staff.
We used wetpaint, and did not realise we could have had a choice.
If anyone reads this, do you know of a way to NOT have advertising on Wetpaint?
I would now like to make one using a different wiki-maker (or whatever they are called).
I can see that there are features we have not tapped such as adding videos,
It seemed very weird to edit Wikipedia - I added our council website to the external links for the town where I live.
After attending the reference seminar last year, a colleague and I decided to make a wiki for information services staff to use. It took us a while to teach ourselves, and even longer to put on lots of information that is now accessible to info services staff.
We used wetpaint, and did not realise we could have had a choice.
If anyone reads this, do you know of a way to NOT have advertising on Wetpaint?
I would now like to make one using a different wiki-maker (or whatever they are called).
I can see that there are features we have not tapped such as adding videos,
It seemed very weird to edit Wikipedia - I added our council website to the external links for the town where I live.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Week 4: RSS feeds
These are the sites I have added to bloglines:
I have saved eBay searches so I receive emails letting me know about new items appearing, but the format on bloglines seems better. The drawback would be I may not bother to check it and email comes to me automatically.
I was interested in the dog blog sites, using the search link suggested, but found that a lot of them were actually advertising sites, rather than blogs.
- french doors (eBay)
- Happy Pet Blog (6)
- Life with Cavalier King Charles Spaniels
- Paul Welch's Photos (10)
- Powerhouse Museum - Photo of the Day
- Tag: Health - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation) (10)
I have saved eBay searches so I receive emails letting me know about new items appearing, but the format on bloglines seems better. The drawback would be I may not bother to check it and email comes to me automatically.
I was interested in the dog blog sites, using the search link suggested, but found that a lot of them were actually advertising sites, rather than blogs.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Help me!
I was fiddling around trying different fonts and colours, only to find the default one was actually the best. Now I can't figure out how to make it go back to the first one. Whatever I change it to, it still stays the way I don't want it. I'm hoping that doing this post will make it revert to the original.
Flickr
I uploaded 5 photos of our library to Flickr with tags last night but so far have still not been able to find them. I understand it can take till the next day, so hopefully soon.
It's interesting looking at the photos of other libraries as they are all so different to each other. The one of Wallsend library is amazing.
I can see there is an advantage to loading one's own photos onto Flickr for security reasons, but it does seem like a time consuming task. It tool me a long time to load the photos from my computer to Flickr and ended up resizing them to make them load more quickly. I am certainly not an expert and I guess there is probably a better way to go about it.
I don't really have the urge to put personal photos on Flickr for the purpose of sharing them with others, with the possible exception of photos of my dog, as I really enjoy looking at all the other gorgeous individuals who are the same breed.
With regards to Learning 2.0 in general, we have had a lot of trouble accessing all the activities due to firewall restrictions, but I am hoping this will improve. Time is also a huge constraint, as members of our team are generally on information desk duties when they are at work. Because I have encouraged the staff in my team to undertake this program, I have had to help some staff to at least begin a blog so they can register. I don't think 15 minutes per day would be anything like sufficient for those who know very little about all this to begin with.
At this point I am thinking anything new I learn is one more thing I didn't know before, which has to be a good thing.
It's interesting looking at the photos of other libraries as they are all so different to each other. The one of Wallsend library is amazing.
I can see there is an advantage to loading one's own photos onto Flickr for security reasons, but it does seem like a time consuming task. It tool me a long time to load the photos from my computer to Flickr and ended up resizing them to make them load more quickly. I am certainly not an expert and I guess there is probably a better way to go about it.
I don't really have the urge to put personal photos on Flickr for the purpose of sharing them with others, with the possible exception of photos of my dog, as I really enjoy looking at all the other gorgeous individuals who are the same breed.
With regards to Learning 2.0 in general, we have had a lot of trouble accessing all the activities due to firewall restrictions, but I am hoping this will improve. Time is also a huge constraint, as members of our team are generally on information desk duties when they are at work. Because I have encouraged the staff in my team to undertake this program, I have had to help some staff to at least begin a blog so they can register. I don't think 15 minutes per day would be anything like sufficient for those who know very little about all this to begin with.
At this point I am thinking anything new I learn is one more thing I didn't know before, which has to be a good thing.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
Woot, woot!
...as my daughter used to say. This actually worked!
I think I've had enough for one night, so will get back to uploading library pictures to Flickr later.
I think I've had enough for one night, so will get back to uploading library pictures to Flickr later.
Beach Mornington Peninsula
While I have been so busy at work, I have been mentally planning my next holiday and every time I see VPEN (the NUC symbol for Mornington Peninsula) I feel the universe is sending me a message about where to go. Needless to say, I work in Interlibrary Loans.
Week 3 - Flickr
I didn't think it was that interesting looking at other people's photos at first - until I started searching for something of my own - at which point I was totally absorbed in looking at photos of my favourite dog breed. I can imagine wasting a lot of time on this.
I can see the usefulness of uploading our photos for safety reasons, and the organisational aspects of being able to sort and search has definite potential benefits as we are highly disorganised in this area at present.
I didn't really follow the "Our Town" project -will need more time to understand this.
Overall, I haven't had much time at work or at home for the last 2 weeks, so have been cramming the tasks into short bursts of activity.
I have just tried to send a photo from Flickr to this blog. I guess i will find out if it worked once I post this and have a look. I haven't found it very easy. The instructions are a bit brief and unclear.
I can see the usefulness of uploading our photos for safety reasons, and the organisational aspects of being able to sort and search has definite potential benefits as we are highly disorganised in this area at present.
I didn't really follow the "Our Town" project -will need more time to understand this.
Overall, I haven't had much time at work or at home for the last 2 weeks, so have been cramming the tasks into short bursts of activity.
I have just tried to send a photo from Flickr to this blog. I guess i will find out if it worked once I post this and have a look. I haven't found it very easy. The instructions are a bit brief and unclear.
Wednesday, February 20, 2008
Monday, February 18, 2008
Public library blogs
Technorati -
I expected it would be initially easier to find blogs about libraries, but found lots of rubbish. Using the search field with "public library blogs" as a term, I found some public library blog videos:
http://www.technorati.com/videos/tag/public+library+blogs
This led me to the "Plain Talk" blog of Des Plaines Public Library which started with an artcile about librarian myths. While this is interesting and amusing, and sorry to harp on this topic, but these people must have plenty of time on their hands to keep the blog up to date and keep it interesting.
I looked at several other blogs, see below:
http://inn0vate.blogspot.com/2008/02/open-access-collections.html
Despite all this, I have been actually enjoying doing the training and I think it's important to know about it all, even if I choose not to spend my time this way.
I expected it would be initially easier to find blogs about libraries, but found lots of rubbish. Using the search field with "public library blogs" as a term, I found some public library blog videos:
http://www.technorati.com/videos/tag/public+library+blogs
This led me to the "Plain Talk" blog of Des Plaines Public Library which started with an artcile about librarian myths. While this is interesting and amusing, and sorry to harp on this topic, but these people must have plenty of time on their hands to keep the blog up to date and keep it interesting.
I looked at several other blogs, see below:
http://inn0vate.blogspot.com/2008/02/open-access-collections.html
Rambling with a Librarian
http://marketing.originalsignal.com/ article/ 23354/ rambling-with-a-librarian.h…Ivan Chew's inspiring classroom lecture Ivan noticed the symetry to the thing before I did ... . It was during a tour of the Jurang Public Library where he worked at the time. I told ... , the Rambling Librarian.
First blog
I am looking forward to understanding more about all of this. I have taught myself to create a wiki, painstakingly, and we now use this in the library for access to material used by staff. It has been very time-consuming creating the wiki and keeping it up to date. So...although I can see the usefulness of blogs for creating a relationship with our customers, I can see the time required being prohibitive, given our current level of staffing. Within the library, now that staff are familiar with the wiki, I think blogging would be a useful way to have a continuing dialogue about topics that arise on a daily basis. So far, this training seems like a pretty painless way to learn new things and move ourselves forward, and I will be encouraging everyone to have a go.
The concept of "lifelong learning" seems so widespread now that it's hard to imagine that not everyone would want to engage in it. Just on the weekend I was helping my mother (in her seventies) to open an eBay account, and it seemed like a totally normal thing to be doing - but maybe just a few years ago it would have seemed quite unusual. She's always sending me emails with jokes from her friends - mostly corny ones, but it is certainly a sign of the times!
The concept of "lifelong learning" seems so widespread now that it's hard to imagine that not everyone would want to engage in it. Just on the weekend I was helping my mother (in her seventies) to open an eBay account, and it seemed like a totally normal thing to be doing - but maybe just a few years ago it would have seemed quite unusual. She's always sending me emails with jokes from her friends - mostly corny ones, but it is certainly a sign of the times!
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