Who said you can't teach an old librarian new tricks????
Much to the amusement of my teenage children - I have navigated my way through this adventure and found it to be a real revelation.
I have gone from having little knowledge of terms and concepts associated with Web 2.0 - to a greater exposure and introduction of what's out there and how it works!
On a personal level I have enjoyed the discoveries of blogs, RSS feeds, image generators, Web based applications and Library Thing, to name just a few. I have found it challenging and satisfying then applying them to my needs, interests and taioring them to my PC set up at home so that I may take full advantage of them.
On a work level - I have a far better picture in my head of not only what is available to our patrons but how we can serve their needs more efficiently. Web based applications on our public terminals is just one example of many ideas I have. I also have many more resources and time saving devices that not only I can use, but that I can recommend to patrons. answers.yahoo.com - is just one example that springs to mind.
I have really, really enjoyed the blogging experience too - which was a real revelation to me.
Never one to keep a diary - I have amazed myself at how much I have enjoyed putting my thoughts and feelings into print. (Probably helps that I secretly think no-one in their right mind will read this)
I will never be able to take over any of the IT roles within our organisation - but I feel I have developed some confidence and a better grasp of the ever changing and quickly developing online digital media.
... and probably on a less "technical" level - I have just loved and valued the fact that certain aspects of this program has made me stop and think about my life. What are my favourite books, Why? Memories of libraries long ago, how we tackled tasks prior to technological advancements, taping radio shows before Podcasts ...
Thanks to all involved - although more time consuming than I anticipated - it has been a totally worthwhile experience .... and where else would I have discovered that my Porn Star name is
"Reedy Velvet"
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
#22 World eBook Fair site
O.K - Of the many, many new digital areas we have navigated during this journey - there have only really been about one or two that have failed to really impress me. (Rollyo, for example)
But I have to confess, here now, the whole online, downloadable e book - still leaves me cold.
I get the concept, totally! I visited all the sites and I am aware of the many, many advantages.
- the archives and free access to researchers and scholars
- the online obscure texts
- the wide variety of books and titles available - from Buddhism to Census publications.
- hard to get fiction, hard to fathom non-fiction.
O.K - so yes, I get it.
... but I am yet to embrace the concept - and I still feel it immediately alienates a certain amount of people by its sheer nature. You must have access to a (very up to date) computer, be computer savvy - and in some cases be cashed up.
Finally - fiction e books? How do I take it to bed and read it for comfort - or curl up on my outdoor couch in the sun with my book?
... yeah, I know, get with the times.
But I have to confess, here now, the whole online, downloadable e book - still leaves me cold.
I get the concept, totally! I visited all the sites and I am aware of the many, many advantages.
- the archives and free access to researchers and scholars
- the online obscure texts
- the wide variety of books and titles available - from Buddhism to Census publications.
- hard to get fiction, hard to fathom non-fiction.
O.K - so yes, I get it.
... but I am yet to embrace the concept - and I still feel it immediately alienates a certain amount of people by its sheer nature. You must have access to a (very up to date) computer, be computer savvy - and in some cases be cashed up.
Finally - fiction e books? How do I take it to bed and read it for comfort - or curl up on my outdoor couch in the sun with my book?
... yeah, I know, get with the times.
#21 Podcasts
100 years ago I was a great fan of Tony Martin and Mick Molloy - who together teamed up to produce the phenominally successful afternoon radio show "Martin Molloy". I was very cross if I ever missed a show - because unlike the TV - radio was instant. Miss it and it was gone. None of this setting the VCR business. Of course, you could tape it using the old cassette method, but this was archaic - and hello? If you were there to tape it, couldn't you just listen to it???????? Many the time I lamented this situation.
Twenty years on, as irony would have it, I have a son who is an avid fan of Tony Martin, who heads up the radio show "Get This" on Triple M. He hates missing a show. But when he does?
He simply goes on line and downloads the show he missed.
Welcome to podcasts!
Like many of our other online digital delights, there are directories to enable you to locate a particular podcast of interest - podcast.net, podcastalley.com. yahoo Podcasts - all very extensive and wide ranging.
There are 10's of 1000's on Podcast.net - ranging from soliloquies to crime reports - even a direct message from Jesus. I take it that's from one of his disciples - either that or he's really stepped up to the mark in reaching far and wide.
As I mentioned, it can be used by individuals to listen to radio broadcasts - or indeed broadcast themselves - indeed there are even a few sites to guide you through this process
http://podcasts.yahoo.com/publish
Podcasts can be used for remote school lessons, conference talks, complete news services, itune services - and in a move relevant to our libraries, complete downloads of local publications, free of charge.
I also discovered many sites with podcast reviews of books, in particular the Book Show on ABC Radio National - one of my favourite book review shows - with easy access to podcasts.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/
I do think that podcasting is still really in its infancy in terms of use and appreciation - something that will undoubtedly change rapidly in the future. I also see far greater uses and scope for it in our day to day life.
Twenty years on, as irony would have it, I have a son who is an avid fan of Tony Martin, who heads up the radio show "Get This" on Triple M. He hates missing a show. But when he does?
He simply goes on line and downloads the show he missed.
Welcome to podcasts!
Like many of our other online digital delights, there are directories to enable you to locate a particular podcast of interest - podcast.net, podcastalley.com. yahoo Podcasts - all very extensive and wide ranging.
There are 10's of 1000's on Podcast.net - ranging from soliloquies to crime reports - even a direct message from Jesus. I take it that's from one of his disciples - either that or he's really stepped up to the mark in reaching far and wide.
As I mentioned, it can be used by individuals to listen to radio broadcasts - or indeed broadcast themselves - indeed there are even a few sites to guide you through this process
http://podcasts.yahoo.com/publish
Podcasts can be used for remote school lessons, conference talks, complete news services, itune services - and in a move relevant to our libraries, complete downloads of local publications, free of charge.
I also discovered many sites with podcast reviews of books, in particular the Book Show on ABC Radio National - one of my favourite book review shows - with easy access to podcasts.
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/bookshow/
I do think that podcasting is still really in its infancy in terms of use and appreciation - something that will undoubtedly change rapidly in the future. I also see far greater uses and scope for it in our day to day life.
#20 YouTube
Unlike many of the funky, nifty lil sites and discoveries we've visited on this journey, I
guess you'd have to be living under a rock these days not to have heard of YouTube. If not for its amazing features, for its notoriety in the media - when it has been used in a negative manner.
YouTube -viddyou.com, google.com/videouploadform, vimeo.com - they have all basically created a whole new dimension to our digital world. From old 60's commercials, bloopers, celebrity weddings, politicians pitches - type it in and it will be there for you (and the rest of the world) to see.
On a negative side, only now, YouTube is uncovering huge copyright and other legal issues - and with all new technology, legislating on the run.
On the positive side - well, where to start? Fun, frivolity and time wasters a plenty.
But there are many, many "how to's", informative pieces, documentaries, explainamentaries and many, many valuable videos that could be viewed, appreciated and used by our patrons.
... and for us long suffering "librarians"? Well, we all need to check this out:
guess you'd have to be living under a rock these days not to have heard of YouTube. If not for its amazing features, for its notoriety in the media - when it has been used in a negative manner.
YouTube -viddyou.com, google.com/videouploadform, vimeo.com - they have all basically created a whole new dimension to our digital world. From old 60's commercials, bloopers, celebrity weddings, politicians pitches - type it in and it will be there for you (and the rest of the world) to see.
On a negative side, only now, YouTube is uncovering huge copyright and other legal issues - and with all new technology, legislating on the run.
On the positive side - well, where to start? Fun, frivolity and time wasters a plenty.
But there are many, many "how to's", informative pieces, documentaries, explainamentaries and many, many valuable videos that could be viewed, appreciated and used by our patrons.
... and for us long suffering "librarians"? Well, we all need to check this out:
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
#19 Discovering Web 2.0 Tools
Just when we thought we'd seen it all! We are sent to seomoz.org to view 41 categories and over 200 websites - the annual Web 2.0 Awards. Astounding! Every conceivable category is covered from Health and Hosted Wikis to Philanthropy and Professional Networking.
I trawled my way through the finalists and the actual winners before deciding on one site to check out in detail - that may be a help or relevant to our library.
Obviously, the collaborative writing and word processing sites such as Docs.google are incredibly useful, such as our last task, Zoho. So many useful and innovative features to share, store and access documents. I was impressed with the city guide sites such as upcoming.yahoo.com and eventful.com - particularly as when you clicked in you were logged straight into your current location. Very handy - especially for the many tourists we cater for.
I settled on answers.yahoo.com (the winner of it's category) and had a good ol' looksee and play.
This site would be a great little asset for us - particularly in busy times. Often at the circulation desk we are thrown hairy little questions - or have searched for a research query that we simply cannot find the answer to. With this site I was very quickly able to type in the question and receive a quick, relevant answer. I was impressed with the speed, relevance and reliability.
Also, the fact that you are provided with the source of the answer and a side panel of related questions. I will use this site at work and recommend it - particularly to students.
On a lighter note - special mention must be give to the finalists in the "fun" area of the awards.
Games, lists, silly forward-it-ons, fart buttons, google games - have a quick peek - they provide some light relief.
But best quote I came across during the whole exercise was on cocktailbuilder.com ...
"bar full of booze and don't know what to do with it" ??????????????
No since I started this!!!
I trawled my way through the finalists and the actual winners before deciding on one site to check out in detail - that may be a help or relevant to our library.
Obviously, the collaborative writing and word processing sites such as Docs.google are incredibly useful, such as our last task, Zoho. So many useful and innovative features to share, store and access documents. I was impressed with the city guide sites such as upcoming.yahoo.com and eventful.com - particularly as when you clicked in you were logged straight into your current location. Very handy - especially for the many tourists we cater for.
I settled on answers.yahoo.com (the winner of it's category) and had a good ol' looksee and play.
This site would be a great little asset for us - particularly in busy times. Often at the circulation desk we are thrown hairy little questions - or have searched for a research query that we simply cannot find the answer to. With this site I was very quickly able to type in the question and receive a quick, relevant answer. I was impressed with the speed, relevance and reliability.
Also, the fact that you are provided with the source of the answer and a side panel of related questions. I will use this site at work and recommend it - particularly to students.
On a lighter note - special mention must be give to the finalists in the "fun" area of the awards.
Games, lists, silly forward-it-ons, fart buttons, google games - have a quick peek - they provide some light relief.
But best quote I came across during the whole exercise was on cocktailbuilder.com ...
"bar full of booze and don't know what to do with it" ??????????????
No since I started this!!!
Monday, October 15, 2007
#18 Web Based Applications
Ho Ho Ho!! Zoho ! Zoho writer is amazing!
All those poor patrons who arrive at our libraries hoping to work on Word documents or other applications - to discover that we don't have software loaded onto our public terminals - all this time they could have been using Zoho Writer! I can't wait to be able to flog it out there!
Zoho looks so professional, yet incredibly user friendly.
I think the fact that as soon as you join up and log in it takes you straight to a blank document with all the usual icons that we are all comfortable with is a great bonus.
The basic services are impressive, word docs, spreadsheets, Access etc... there are many templates and useful applications. A closer look shows other desirable services, such as mail, chat, wikis etc...
It's also very easy to swing between one application to another, just by clicking a button - i.e from your word doc to your wiki .
Then for the more adventurous - you can publish your docs or if you need, send them to your phone or your facebook! It's also handy that multiple users can edit documents.
On reading through their news/comments section - it's obvious Zoho is a very slick, professional and it would appear respected online service. I would imagine this is due to the incredibly varied array of services they offer, the user-friendly set out and the fact you can access your documents from many locations, using many formats.
I can see this being of great use in our library and will recommend it.
All those poor patrons who arrive at our libraries hoping to work on Word documents or other applications - to discover that we don't have software loaded onto our public terminals - all this time they could have been using Zoho Writer! I can't wait to be able to flog it out there!
Zoho looks so professional, yet incredibly user friendly.
I think the fact that as soon as you join up and log in it takes you straight to a blank document with all the usual icons that we are all comfortable with is a great bonus.
The basic services are impressive, word docs, spreadsheets, Access etc... there are many templates and useful applications. A closer look shows other desirable services, such as mail, chat, wikis etc...
It's also very easy to swing between one application to another, just by clicking a button - i.e from your word doc to your wiki .
Then for the more adventurous - you can publish your docs or if you need, send them to your phone or your facebook! It's also handy that multiple users can edit documents.
On reading through their news/comments section - it's obvious Zoho is a very slick, professional and it would appear respected online service. I would imagine this is due to the incredibly varied array of services they offer, the user-friendly set out and the fact you can access your documents from many locations, using many formats.
I can see this being of great use in our library and will recommend it.
Saturday, October 13, 2007
#16 What's a Wiki?
I have to confess. I love Wikis - always have.
Why? Mainly, I think, because everything is there. Everything! Think of the most obscure subject and you'll discover that 55 other people have. And not only that - they've all added their two bob's worth!
But that's the silly side of it all. Let's get serious. Apart from being an obvious information tool, how can they apply to our libraries?
I must admit I had to think hard about this. But on reading the prescribed links - I discovered Chad from the Ohio Uni Library and his fab library research wiki - Go Chad! Very worthwhile for his students and anyone seriously needing research assistance.
On applying Wikis to my own, personal library I suddenly realised it could work. We could create Wikis on our Homepage that staff and patrons could update - e.g "Who Writes like... ", Reviews of new releases, Genre lists, Author lists - I really like the idea that patrons could have an input into this - and the homepage seems the obvious link.
It could also work on the Staff Intranet system too. Wikis set up on current projects, current studies or areas of interest that may be timely and pertinent to staff.
And finally, I discovered there's even a Wiki for our little area http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geelong_West,_Victoria - wouldn't it be great to have that accessible to our local patrons at Geelong West Library, to add their knowledge, history and stories. Will keep that in mind!
Why? Mainly, I think, because everything is there. Everything! Think of the most obscure subject and you'll discover that 55 other people have. And not only that - they've all added their two bob's worth!
But that's the silly side of it all. Let's get serious. Apart from being an obvious information tool, how can they apply to our libraries?
I must admit I had to think hard about this. But on reading the prescribed links - I discovered Chad from the Ohio Uni Library and his fab library research wiki - Go Chad! Very worthwhile for his students and anyone seriously needing research assistance.
On applying Wikis to my own, personal library I suddenly realised it could work. We could create Wikis on our Homepage that staff and patrons could update - e.g "Who Writes like... ", Reviews of new releases, Genre lists, Author lists - I really like the idea that patrons could have an input into this - and the homepage seems the obvious link.
It could also work on the Staff Intranet system too. Wikis set up on current projects, current studies or areas of interest that may be timely and pertinent to staff.
And finally, I discovered there's even a Wiki for our little area http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geelong_West,_Victoria - wouldn't it be great to have that accessible to our local patrons at Geelong West Library, to add their knowledge, history and stories. Will keep that in mind!
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