Finally- I've reached the last week

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.

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.

Another version

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.

Horses

Horses, originally uploaded by Cavalieria.

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.

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.

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??