I had a group of three seniors to guide through on-line sharing and collaboration. They were a great bunch, keen to see what else was out there other than email and suitably impressed with my tutelage. I had spent three weeks preparing for this short two hour taste and will confess to being a trifle nervous at the start.
All went well, we had fun and I was very surprised to see a comment in my last blog from Ellen (PLS), I didn't realise you were still keeping up with any new blogs and it was a buzz to know that somebody had read my contribution.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Online collaboration
Next week is senior's week and I will be guiding some of our patrons through the new generation of the internet, online sharing and collaboration.
It's not so long ago that I was being guided through myself.
It's not so long ago that I was being guided through myself.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Finale
It's hard to believe that twelve weeks has passed since we first started blogging.
I must admit I was ready to give up around about week 3 - the usual excuses, "I don't have time", "it's too hard", I'm glad I persevered. The fact that I continued was mainly due to the the badgering and bullying, encouragement and mentoring that I was lucky enough to receive from my colleague Kiwi Owl. Thank you Kiwi Owl.
I would also like to thank NSW State Library, you gave us the opportunity to travel the road, a little bumpy for me at times but enriching and fulfilling in the end.
I'm looking forward to using my new knowledge in the workplace and would love to participate in any further courses that the NSW Public Libraries Learning 2.00 team create.
I must admit I was ready to give up around about week 3 - the usual excuses, "I don't have time", "it's too hard", I'm glad I persevered. The fact that I continued was mainly due to the the badgering and bullying, encouragement and mentoring that I was lucky enough to receive from my colleague Kiwi Owl. Thank you Kiwi Owl.
I would also like to thank NSW State Library, you gave us the opportunity to travel the road, a little bumpy for me at times but enriching and fulfilling in the end.
I'm looking forward to using my new knowledge in the workplace and would love to participate in any further courses that the NSW Public Libraries Learning 2.00 team create.
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Social Network
As always the Commoncraft video explained in good basic language how social networking happens. As an older person I find the whole idea of finding a job, friends and partners on a social networking site a tad desperate. Is there anything wrong with hidden connections, does this not leave some aspects of our life open to serendipity?
I have enjoyed blogging, I have enjoyed reading comments and the camaraderie I feel with fellow library bloggers has quite surprised me. I must say I have some concern regarding the number of young people that seem to be addicted MySpace and Facebook.
Are we going to lose the art of face to face communication?
I read an article in one of the major Brisbane papers that spoke of social networking sites being used by employers to check out prospective employees which also made mention that lawyers were now using these sites in courts of law to show the "true" person. This shows that care should be taken when presenting yourself to the World.
With the right people, libraries can use social networking to show the activities of their particular library. Second Life Library is a 3 D World that is able to offer a glimpse at events, lectures, exhibits and collections and is built by its residents.
The map showing a breakdown of popular sites around the World was surprising with a great variation between countries using MySpace, Facebook, Skyblog, Bebo and Netlog.
Josh Bernoff's chart showed how corporations might use social media showed an excellent breakdown of objectives that could support research, marketing, sales and development.
Today our small library had two flamenco dancers and two musicians accompany me at a special dance themed story time. How great it would have been to have been able to advertise online and follow through with a presentation on the activity. As always in our system there just isn't the staff available to devote to this pursuit.
I have enjoyed blogging, I have enjoyed reading comments and the camaraderie I feel with fellow library bloggers has quite surprised me. I must say I have some concern regarding the number of young people that seem to be addicted MySpace and Facebook.
Are we going to lose the art of face to face communication?
I read an article in one of the major Brisbane papers that spoke of social networking sites being used by employers to check out prospective employees which also made mention that lawyers were now using these sites in courts of law to show the "true" person. This shows that care should be taken when presenting yourself to the World.
With the right people, libraries can use social networking to show the activities of their particular library. Second Life Library is a 3 D World that is able to offer a glimpse at events, lectures, exhibits and collections and is built by its residents.
The map showing a breakdown of popular sites around the World was surprising with a great variation between countries using MySpace, Facebook, Skyblog, Bebo and Netlog.
Josh Bernoff's chart showed how corporations might use social media showed an excellent breakdown of objectives that could support research, marketing, sales and development.
Today our small library had two flamenco dancers and two musicians accompany me at a special dance themed story time. How great it would have been to have been able to advertise online and follow through with a presentation on the activity. As always in our system there just isn't the staff available to devote to this pursuit.
Thursday, May 1, 2008
Online software
I just can't believe how much free online software is available on the net. Why would I bother installing expensive, well known programs. I had no idea and as I am about to purchase my first new computer I am so glad I discovered Google.docs and Zoho before rushing off to have something installed.
Google.docs seems like a simple to use word processing program well suited to novice word processor users. Zoho word processor is more elaborate and has more features. You can share, collaborate, chat and email from this site and I think it has huge potential.
I haven't had the time yet to visit all the programs available on the sites you suggested but the fact that they are free is a great help to those of us on limited budgets.
On the library front, no more flash drives or floppies, all can be saved online.
Google.docs seems like a simple to use word processing program well suited to novice word processor users. Zoho word processor is more elaborate and has more features. You can share, collaborate, chat and email from this site and I think it has huge potential.
I haven't had the time yet to visit all the programs available on the sites you suggested but the fact that they are free is a great help to those of us on limited budgets.
On the library front, no more flash drives or floppies, all can be saved online.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Mashups
I love the idea of mashups, pinching a bit from here and there to customise to suit yourself. I couldn't resist going into Countries I've visited in big huge tabs. That got me thinking about my "big" trip over thirty years ago on the liner Australis. I was so surprised to find some pictures of this ship in Flickr and felt quite nostalgic. I was on one of the last voyages this liner made, I guess five weeks at sea these days would be price inhibitive for most people. The route was from Sydney-New Zealand-Tahiti-through the Panama-Peurto Rico-Spain and finally UK.
What a trip!
Keir Clark's Star Viewer was endlessly fascinating with Utube trips into the galaxy. From there I ended up in google maps checking out a crime map which gave breakdowns of murders, burglaries, drug offences and crimes of violence in each particular borough of London. Scary!
What a trip!
Keir Clark's Star Viewer was endlessly fascinating with Utube trips into the galaxy. From there I ended up in google maps checking out a crime map which gave breakdowns of murders, burglaries, drug offences and crimes of violence in each particular borough of London. Scary!
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Podcasts
I join the others that had trouble with listening to lots of recordings because of restrictions but I did manage to hear a few by trying out different computers.
Had a bit of a look around the British Library podcasts, was most frustrated at not being able to hear the voice of the real Evelyn Waugh reading extracts from New British library "spoken word", also will revisit the birds from Madagascar, a lovely relaxing podcast I'm sure.
Moving on to Library Success wiki, I would liked to have been able to listen to Denver Public Library's Small Bear Lost. I don't know whether story reading for small children via a podcast would work or not. I guess if you had a sick child that was used to going to story time each week it could be an alternative. I also thought that the Kankakee Public Library poetry slam was good use of a podcast. There was good, general advice on this site on how to podcast - simply phone in to record and publish. Also gave advice on how to podcast for libraries. It was this podcasters first attempt and she made mention that there were probably more experienced people out there that could advise her on more efficient methods she could try in future.
I can see the value of podcasts for students who have missed lessons or live remotely and also for people who are unable to listen to their favorite programs. I also think in larger libraries podcasts could be used for tours of the library, story time, an introduction for new employees and also oral history.
Once again, in our library system it all comes down to funding, the availability of staff to spend time on podcasting and on having staff with the flair, imagination and dedication to produce something worthy. I am afraid we are all struggling to get through our day to day duties and I can't see in our library system that podcasting will be happening any time soon.
Had a bit of a look around the British Library podcasts, was most frustrated at not being able to hear the voice of the real Evelyn Waugh reading extracts from New British library "spoken word", also will revisit the birds from Madagascar, a lovely relaxing podcast I'm sure.
Moving on to Library Success wiki, I would liked to have been able to listen to Denver Public Library's Small Bear Lost. I don't know whether story reading for small children via a podcast would work or not. I guess if you had a sick child that was used to going to story time each week it could be an alternative. I also thought that the Kankakee Public Library poetry slam was good use of a podcast. There was good, general advice on this site on how to podcast - simply phone in to record and publish. Also gave advice on how to podcast for libraries. It was this podcasters first attempt and she made mention that there were probably more experienced people out there that could advise her on more efficient methods she could try in future.
I can see the value of podcasts for students who have missed lessons or live remotely and also for people who are unable to listen to their favorite programs. I also think in larger libraries podcasts could be used for tours of the library, story time, an introduction for new employees and also oral history.
Once again, in our library system it all comes down to funding, the availability of staff to spend time on podcasting and on having staff with the flair, imagination and dedication to produce something worthy. I am afraid we are all struggling to get through our day to day duties and I can't see in our library system that podcasting will be happening any time soon.
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