In love with shiny new toys

Let's keep an eye on the future by looking at what new gadgets are around. My current favourite is Gizmodo - use their search feature if you're after something specific.

Communication

Here's a picture of a communication device of another sort.

Social Networks

Social networks on the web - yet another chance for social people to be social. I don't see a need for libraries as institutions to join social networking sites and thought it unnecessary to use the British Library site to say "meet you at the library at 10.00". If individuals choose to use MySpace etc as social networking vehicles, this is individual choice. It may be used as a marketing tool with the individual giving a link to their library, blogging / chatting on issues etc. The individual has the time, opportunity and interest to do this. There are many ways to contact librarians, libraries and professional bodies online - doing this course has exposed us to endless library sites, discussions, people - ways for librarians to share ideas online and peruse what others in the profession are doing. Bit exhausting to think of setting up an Avatar and heading off to Second Life to talk libraries. I haven't got my head around everything in First Life yet. 

I was impressed though that MOCA had over 10,000 friends. If I had 10,000 new friends I'd be a little overwhelmed. When new sites go up, they are visited. That sensible article reminded us (Sydney Observatory Blogger etc,) "The days of upload and leave are over." Library Managers need to consider staff hours allocated if "ongoing participation" (staff time) is required. The staff is needed before the hits and queries and new friends start rolling in. 

BUT, far be it from me to be a wet blanket. If you want to get involved in social networking, why not. Now that I'm at Week 12 I'll spend more time reading and exploring alternate ideas as I know I've lots to learn. Great course, yeah Commoncraft for making new info easy and palatable, go libraries!! Time to escape into a book.

Online

I've investigated and used a variety of online tools I didn't know were available - another learning week! Created the required document at Google docs, and went on to try their photo upload facility. I like the idea of albums for personal pics, but for work still prefer the tag related Flickr. More librarianish . . . . Google docs was easy to use - clear tabs / menus. Great. Zoho writer has more features -  closer to Word, plus I like the tags again. So many options - you could spend an evening with Zoho and I might have to - saved into Writer and Notebook but notebook doc has disappeared into the stratosphere. User error? Good to know about online conversion of file formats - the mysterious is becoming accessible. Not feeling quite as social this week, so removing link to my webpage. Let me know if you have a reason for wanting it. Otherwise, incognito is my comfort zone. But I encourage you to read along in any language.

Mashups

I had no idea what Mashups were, so learnt lots again. I've seen and used simple scanner software and photo programs for calendars etc, so made the cube from my Flickr pics - a nice little decoration for a Toy Library collection with potential to have several and create a mobile that shows a selection of resources. These web toys are fun!! I'd like a Google Maps mashup showing location / photo of one of the local libraries which is poorly sign posted. Keep an eye on my website (link removed so not possible now) to see if it ever appears. I'll also be getting the Flickr link for special needs toys on the website.

So there's another result of doing more on the web - I've gone public, no longer the shy beginning blogger. Looked at a few applications of mashups but also interested in the implications. Wired is a reputable online magazine with current info for world citizens/web users. Do other librarians read or use it?

Pods for people

In searching for podcasts, I enjoyed the librarian's discussions in Thinking out Loud. In What's in a Name, George and Joan discussed the use of the word patron, more generally used in context of Patron of the Art and patronizing a bar, but let's not get too patronizing about use of language. With alternatives of civilian, guest and constituent, I think I'd still opt for member, which implies responsibility and sharing.

Spending home time completing these tasks, I have enjoyed podcasts and listening to library related discussions while renaming reorganizing photos etc. Rather like radio, it's possible to do other things at the same time.

I also listened to the British Library's explanation of contents of Evelyn Waugh CD and enjoyed the author's perspective on archiving their documents in Manuscripts Matter. The pod itself is valuable archival material. I have favourite ABC pods such as the Science Show and Life Matters. That's why I prefer the A-Z program search to subject.

Not an original idea, but I really like the idea of libraries having podcasts of fables and short stories for children. There is much emphasis on multi media and toys that flash and create sounds. Let's use podcasts to bring back to children the quiet of listening and the cadences of the human voice. A list of podcasts gives them choice, they develop the skills to access the medium, and then they can shut their eyes and just listen......... or will they feel a need to play a game of solitaire at the same time.

Answer boards

I like the idea of librarians promoting themselves and their services by Answer Boards. Two comments - one is time, if professionals feel this is another "have to do" in a busy role - but if librarians are willing they are definitely able. It's a sneaky and effective way to inform and remind what libraries can do and try to eliminate stereotypes. Second, dare I suggest that sometimes the librarian's answers gave more detail than was required by the questioner. Normally, this becomes apparent in Reference interviews, but online it's hard to distinguish between the person who needs the complete complexities of the answer and the person whose purposes require a superficial understanding. इ ऍम एन्जोयिंग थिस ट्रेनिंग वैरी मच.

LibraryThing

Let me see if this widget for LibraryThing works. I now have an account and have included a selection of books I enjoy, but will be revisiting LibraryThing and del.icio.us as there's much to absorb and explore in these 2 sites, one for reader advisory services and one for subject categorization of web sites.  

Del.icio.us

Del.icio.us is a very practical tool for my job. As a result, I'll be adding to and using this account regularly. My bookmarks will only be of interest to people responsible for a collection of toys, but if that's your field they're at http://del.icio.us/oneofthelibrarylot New suggestions welcomed.

Wiki and clouds

I've successfully added to the shared wiki under an existing category - tried to create a page, but couldn't work out how to link it successfully. I noticed both it and the entry came up when I searched my tag - perhaps the blank page will be automatically removed. With the pressure of being a week or so behind, I'm moving on but may attempt this again.

And so to tags and clouds. This is really interesting and all new knowledge - how practical it is to link to self created online lists and not need all these pages on the server. It's interesting to scan and explore the tags. I'm particularly impressed by the Cleveland Public Library's use of recommended bookmarks. I looked in many sections, including Math and Math - homework help (a thematic link). Highly recommended - look under Literature, Comics and Humour and follow the dictionary tag.

Week 6

Still waiting on my invite key so I can add a section to the Learning 2 wiki  and then plan to add information on Tom Sherrin and the Sherrin Football for Wikipedia. Any Magpies supporters in NSW? (Go the Lions for Meeka Misfit who is actually reading my blog.)

But, moving on. Week 6 and fun with YouTube. Plenty of scope for using videos in training, demonstrating, advertising library services and sharing with colleagues. This format communicates with visual and auditory cues and a touch of music or humour makes it even more memorable.

I am embedding my favourite video from YouTube for the librarians and friends of librarians who love and understand mathematics and its precise language.

Week 5

The wiki week has been very interesting and good to explore the variety of ways libraries use wikis. I was surprised to hear about the German survey on Wikipedia. As a user, I go to Wikipedia because it is easy to read, current (particularly on technology terms etc) and reliable, but in libraries Wikipedia is often not as highly regarded.

I think wikis could be a useful tool to receive public comment, views about the strengths and weaknesses of the library etc. The wiki using book reviews provided by the public gave me the idea of hosting a wiki for teenagers and working in conjunction with local schools - teenagers review books for their peers. As wikis are topic specific, they are useful for any shared interest where each member of the group can contribute to and benefit from knowledge and experience of like minded people.

And to read more . . .

Yeah, well, I did it but the site is better than the feed in this case. Crikey ! 

Week 4

RSS has been all new information. I haven't found using Bloglines very intuitive, but am getting used to it. At first, I wasn't sure if I'd successfully added the feed or not. I'm still not convinced I prefer it to Bookmarks which go straight to the site with instant viewing of a  variety of possibilities - pictures, videos, cartoons and text. The feeds I added are mainly from sites I'm familiar with -  Crikey, Wired, Australian/Arts. I added the Library one The Shifted Librarian which had an interesting article about the link between literacy and net games. I just went back to look at the article and it had "gone" - things are shifting at the speed of byte just as they said.  (Found it when I reset to all articles) The recommended Powerhouse site suits this format. RSS seems to be a good way to highlight 1 item daily from a collection.

I'll have a go at adding the Crikey feed. 

Flickr

The Flickr adventure had a few rethinks, but in the end my photos are there for you to see if you search nswpln2008 and toys. Why toys? Because I am the Toy Library Co-ordinator, that's why. 

If you search toys only, I am very difficult to find!

Week 3

It's been interesting to explor Flickr and see how it can work for me. Info on Creative Commons reminds me how many people are doing great work that is not reported / recognised. And they do it for free or to share . . . Lots of good people on the web! I'd been wondering who designed this training as it's excellent!
Continuing the theme of play, my picture of choice is Indian father playing with his son on a Carousel - great photo, plus shows how with words we conjure up our own images. Hope you enjoy it too.
Created a Flickr account but, as before, the upload is to come .....

To continue

And, with luck, the picture appears. 

Week 2

Hello World !
This is my first blog as I am a rather private person.
I have some experience in adding comments to other people's blogs. e.g Brendan's personal record of a year spent in Antarctica.
I'm experimenting with the possibilies, so am adding a pic of my first technology teachers. They were 15 when they taught me, and 13 years later they are still playing.
Well ...... that connection was refused at work, but there'll be a way around it in time. One picture - to come ......