Signing off--Week 12

It seems to me that libraries can be more proactive in engaging with their local communities and friends by using web based tools. There is a definitive need to change our way of thinking and move outside the building boundary. However, how does staff convince IT people, and engage those not using computers, or those reluctant to accept change and try new ways of doing things. A challenge for us all!
Thanks for all that I have learnt

Online applications. Library Trumps IT departments

Just for the record, have updated Google docs and received a response from Mylee. Have also loaded a spreadsheet if those invited want to edit or ad. Have not changed original viewpoint regarding the availability of this tool/(tools), still fantastic stuff.
Guess library trumps IT people in that MS Word does not have to be on every public pc!


What a fantastic tool! I wish I had this application available when I was a secretary for a kids sporting group--would nearly consider getting involved again! Sent a short note to the Nswpln team and also invited a work colleague. She was impressed!-- although she didn't edit it
I could see Google docs being used for local history groups, volunteers, seminars, staff agendas, community services, basically anywhere-- could also use them for reviews on library blogs!
Didn't try the spreadsheet bit, but would imagine it would appeal to number crunchers
Simple to use-- needs broadcasting and selling

Historical images

Voila! Local history images direct from the photographic collection

North Coast Mosiac Mashup

Yeah! Go DragonLadyLearning. Fantastic stuff. Having done this with Flickr photos, I can see how libraries could use images from their local history data to promote resources, or book covers, or create calendars. The list is limited only by imagination

. Nambucca Heads, NSW, 2. Nambucca Heads, NSW, 4. Sunset at Nambucca Heads

Podcasting

I enjoyed this unit. Again I found a vast variety of podcasts, by using podcasting directories. Some were easy to use, like the British Museum link, click and you're there. Others required downloading of software, which took longer, leastways I didn't need another log in and password.
From the Library Success wiki, I followed what public libraries in the US had on offer. I was impressed by Kankakee Public library who provided a list of Podcasts and Vodcasts. Yes, they are now being RSS feed to Bloglines. The last entry was added on 17/3/2008, one the staff recorded while actually doing another interview. This is where I could see a use for libraries in the recording of oral histories-- also it was great to see their lists of pods growing, compared to another public library, that only listed 1 from 2007. Which reinterates, what library bloggers have been saying that Web2 is only as good as what is being added to, kept up to date, and put out there for users. Check out Kankakee Library homepage.
I like the flexibility and portability of podcasts-- I could see their use for recording of guest speakers at library events, recording oral histories, recording traditional languages before they disappear, adding spoken book reviews to homepages. You never had to miss anything again! and you don't need a ipod.
Great session. Enjoyable, educational, and rewarding as I have more RSS feeds

Slam the boards

Have just done the short session on answer boards. I admire anyone who feels confident enough to add to these pages. I would want to be 100% sure that any information I put out there was correct, especially in relation to reference queries. There is always going to be someone who would argue with the information, question it and want the source of the original knowledge. What I have enjoyed is checking out resources that other people have cited and used, especially those web sites that I have not come across before. So in this way, it has been beneficial to me, and will enhance my reference skills. The contribution made by librarians to Answer Board Librarians is fantastic. I like the signature tag "we eat questions for breakfast'. Following this link, took me to American Public Libraries website, where I checked out a Californian library homepage, and found shortcuts to their Blog, E-books and Podcasts pages. It seems that they are definitely into Web2! (Didn't even bother checking the "traditional" catalogue-- does this indicate a attitude shift?)
Within public libraries, unless there is a dedicated Web2 team, when and where do staff find the time to create, edit, monitor, update, etc any web related work, such as message boards, blogs, etc. (even doing this course, involves doing it at home, and in my own time). It seems to me that Web2 is all about sharing, but I think that person to person live (web3?) is still the best

Here comes another bubble- Comes highly recommended

Enlightment

For some people, knowledge is sharing, quickly becomes learning and is highly treasured.
To a special lady who watches from afar, many thanks for educating me.

LibraryThing, del.icio.us

I enjoyed using these sites. I can see the advantage for library services such as Reader's Advisory, new book lists, who writes like, post a review etc. Link them with the library catalogue and engage borrowers well and truly. Would also assist ILLs. I like the way the information can be retrieved and individually organised. I plan on revisiting these sites. Just as a postcript, I had no trouble adding the tag buttons at home, but found it was harder to add them on my toolbar at work. Could be because Mozilla is default at home.
Glad to see that I knew what a "widgett" was on LibraryThing

Great reads- highly recommended

Serene Sea Dragons

Many thanks for the gift of education

Thank you to NSW Public Libraries Learning 2 for the opportunity to engage in all this fantastic learning. Yes I have my Wiki key, have added to the Library Wiki, (more than a few times) have also added more RSS feeds. Still experiencing a few problems with loading images. Could be the prehistoric computer I am using at home. If I was doing this at work, there would be no output.
Really excited as long last I have a comment from a fellow Blogger!

Wonderful Wikis

Really enjoyed the video clip and learning about all the possibilities when using Wikis.
Marvellous to think how interactive they are. Learnt a new term "Widgets".
I look at three wikis that were suggested and the difference was clear. Found 2 good ones and one not so user friendly. SCIPL was my first choice. the use of subject guides reminded me of directories, which I usually find cumbersome, however the guides worked. Was amazed to find that links included Credit card payments (just how BIG are their fines?), and Online Borrower Registration. Yes you did have to leave home to pick up your card! Glad to see the use of multilingual text on the site. Out of 5, I rated this wiki a 3. It was okay, and easy to use.
Wiki number 2-- Wisconsin Heritage Online-- boring!!! Hard to locate where to enter search term. Did manage a search using drop down box for Oshkosh and retrieve photos on the Main Street
The best was left to last. Yep, it got a 5/5! Book Lovers Wiki-- very easy to navigate, good links. I did a search for Lisa Scottoline, was taken to Mysteries writers, quickly figured that entries were alphabetically by title, found the review. A click on the title took me back to entries on the catalogue. Decided this might be useful for Reader Advisory stuff, so did a RSS feed!-- would not have been able to do that two weeks ago!!
Wonderful stuff-- just waiting for the secret key.

RSS feeds

I like the idea that using RSS the information comes to you, however I find it annoying that to receive this information you have to be signed into something like Bloglines. This means if I had really good feeds I would be all the time signed in at Bloglines. Because our IT department monitor internet usage and report back to Council who are the highest monthly users, I don't like the idea of doing this. Is there a better way to receive RSS feeds, i.e direct into Outlook Express?
I also found this session frustrating with the searching. I wanted to get away from State Library suggestions and be a little more adventurous. One search term that I used was for Australian convicts, this was disappointing with the results, as it returned American results. I also used the term family history with the surname, again no luck. I decided to broaden the term to Australian genealogy, which wasn't really what I was after. However anything is worth a go when learning. An Australian genealogy blog was returned however as it was last updated in Aug 07, I thought it wasn't really up to date so it was discarded. In the end my feeds ended up being ABC news, ABS blog for Librarians (yes I forwarded the training dates to the Manager), Power House Museum picture of the day, Quotes of the day (I enjoy this one), and The shifted Librarian.
I also learned that AskNow! was actually Web2 technology, and I had used it without knowing this.
I don't know if our library will embrace Web2 technology, as it is impossible to even get a link on our Webopacs to State Library databases (even though other Libraries have managed to achieve this) Again this comes back to having our Webopacs open to Internet connections.
Again no comments have been post on this blog, so how useful are blogs anyway.

European holiday

European holidays

I found it much easier to copy the URL in and go from there. this picture was obtained from Shutterfly photos, and I found it a lot easier to use than Flickr, where the earlier photo was downloaded.

Regarding my previous photo entry--Flickr required my Google log in details, and required multiple attempts, because there was trouble linking it to my blog address. Even after selecting the Blog tag. I had to go into Settings etc to ensure that the blog address was there.Finally it was accepted, but I agree with other comments listed-- it was almost like some steps were missing. Another thing I have noticed is, because this tutorial is adapted from an American Library site, the time is wrong, again there were no instructions on change to do this. However, again I figured the settings must be on the blog site somewhere, so after choosing Dashboard, it was simply a matter of changing settings. Sometimes it is really frustrating to assume that users know where to go to fix settings when a lot of us are on a steep learning curve. Perseverance pays off, as I have just learnt how to use the spell check that appears under the highlighted word! I think if photos were uploaded from a camera directly to the desktop it would also be a lot easier. At least this time I remembered to add the tags. I have also found out how to edit previously published posts

Shelley Beach North Coast

Originally uploaded by pennygraceand amanda

This is the first attempt at loading a picture from Flickr.
Have a guess where this fantastic place is. Are you planning a holiday? It's very layback, has great surf, good fishing, no aircraft noise, and very affordable! If you need to know more, send a comment!
This scene has been painted as postcards by local artist Margaret Klein. Her art works are also for sale at the local gallery.
Thanks to Penny Grace for the original upload!

Outside the Library

Okay, so this is good-- it works
I can see how the information contained within the library walls can be put out into cyberspace. The library can advertise, promote and sell itself in www. land. However my concern is how do people find your blog? Maybe this will become apparent in future sessions. I can see how links from webopacs, catalogues etc can be created. These would need to be managed, updated and revised constantly, in a small library, who has time to do this daily? Are people going to find your blog? Does it replace or supplement library "traditional" material? How do both co-exist? In educational institutions, where the learning process is more interactive it would obliviously be linked to student areas, such as tutorials and study notes.
In all honestly, is the public library user going to look at blogs, rather than browsing stock and shelves. I can see how book clubs and RA services could benefit from them. As blogging is about sharing information, it will be interesting to see if anyone finds my blog and posts a comment

Well, I managed to get the "blog" going, so will see how this "added entry" going. You guessed it, an old cataloguer!

DragonLady Reminisces

Years ago, in the 1970's, libraries used card catalogues( remember all that filing?), used date/stamp pencils, had paper files etc. Back then, I remembered thinking "thank heavens I am leaving before computers come in".
Well I was very young then and very naive. Many years later, I returned to work and worked in a small Branch library, where we were required to back up data every night, had basic computer operations, and no Web access. Even then, little did I imagine that one day I would be teaching clients how to use the Internet, or problem solve with our library management system.
Still further down the track, there have been more upgrades, new systems, and yet still we have ways to go. I'm glad to be part of this new learning experience and look forward to all the challenges. However, nothing beats the interaction with library clients. I think with Web2 is it easy to remain in touch, yet still isolated.
I look at my kids and their technology gadgets, their mobile phones and how they have upgraded to new mobiles with additional features, have changed their "walkmans" for ipods, and wonder just where things will be in a year or so. All very exciting, especially if Mum can keep up with them