Well I definitely feel better informed and actually quite enjoy blogging! However, I still believe that social networking can be a trap if you don't know when to log off! (Please refer to my first ever post).
One of the caricatures I used in an earlier post (RSS feeds) makes one thing very clear - technology will continue to advance and at a rapid pace. In this particular cartoon some iPhones are celebrating a great, great grandfather's Birthday - he is a whole 5 years old - and the great grand children are wondering if they will ever make it to such a ripe old age! Therefore a training course such as this is invaluable, as it is very difficult, if not impossible, for individuals to keep up-to-date with the ever-changing changes.
I couldn't sum up Web 2.0 technologies better than Danny Katz in his recent column titled "Here's the thing". And the thing is I'm "not saying it's a bad thing, and not saying it's a good thing, but it's a thing and it's here to stay: no matter where you are, where you go, who you're with, a portable internet device is just a keyboard-tapping fingertip away and now laughs can be accessed instantly, conversations can be crosschecked on the spot, dilemmas can be solved definitively." And like Katz, I am of the same generation that kind of misses the days of the "delightfully drab non-computery way that humans have traditionally socialised."
Based on Susan Maushart's research for her book, The Winter of Our Disconnect, it is important not to spend too much time online. Maushart discovered that having less to communicate with led to her family actually communicating more.
And now there's a recently released movie, "Catfish", which is already known as "the other Facebook movie". I haven't seen it but the review I read in The West Australian newspaper was very interesting. Apparently Catfish can be "praised as a zeitgeist-defining examination of modern communication." The movie "speaks volumes about how the way we communicate has changed so rapidly recently and the benefits and the costs of those changes." Perhaps Libraries could take on the role of improving upon and enhancing the benefits and making people more mindful of the so-called "costs" or negative aspects?
Sunday, January 30, 2011
Where be the treaure?
Have made it, and within
I like the idea of having a cache inside the library and using geocaching as part of a school holiday programme or CBW activity. To overcome the problem of children not owning a GPS-enabled devise you could make it a "fun for the whole family" concept. Some sort of geocaching activity could also be used to promote the new location of the Success Library when it relocates.
I like the idea of having a cache inside the library and using geocaching as part of a school holiday programme or CBW activity. To overcome the problem of children not owning a GPS-enabled devise you could make it a "fun for the whole family" concept. Some sort of geocaching activity could also be used to promote the new location of the Success Library when it relocates.
Podcasting
Our Library service has already made a start on podcasting with a recording of a "how to" session on getting started with genealogy. This podcast would have been even better as a Vodcast so that we could see the presenter, Mike Murray. Many people prefer to have access to the visual dimension.
Other "how to" sessions that could be Vodcast include school holiday activities on making kites, tie dyeing, making jewellery, mosaics, making soaps and lipgloss, cooking demonstrations and so on. This would give parents who can't make it to the actual sessions or who miss out because they are already fully booked an opportunity to do the activities at home with their children.
Libraries should definitely attempt to podcast all events held as it is not always possible for people, who may be very interested in a particular event or program or workshop or guest speaker, to attend at the nominated date or time. They may be working or have family commitments or be unwell but would not miss out completely if there is a podcast or vodcast they can access at a time that suits them.
Podcast training sessions on how to use the online catalogue, the Internet, basic Word skills and email would also be useful. Some high schools are already involved in producing book podcasts, poetry podcasts and song podcasts. Libraries could do the same with the podcasts being made by staff and/or library members.
I had no knowledge of podcasts prior to this training but could see myself subscribing to the highly recommended ABC podcasts as well as one for Good News Week which I enjoy but rarely ever get to watch on TV. And I will also make an effort to set aside time to watch and listen to Librarian Militant, Librarian Triumphant.
Other "how to" sessions that could be Vodcast include school holiday activities on making kites, tie dyeing, making jewellery, mosaics, making soaps and lipgloss, cooking demonstrations and so on. This would give parents who can't make it to the actual sessions or who miss out because they are already fully booked an opportunity to do the activities at home with their children.
Libraries should definitely attempt to podcast all events held as it is not always possible for people, who may be very interested in a particular event or program or workshop or guest speaker, to attend at the nominated date or time. They may be working or have family commitments or be unwell but would not miss out completely if there is a podcast or vodcast they can access at a time that suits them.
Podcast training sessions on how to use the online catalogue, the Internet, basic Word skills and email would also be useful. Some high schools are already involved in producing book podcasts, poetry podcasts and song podcasts. Libraries could do the same with the podcasts being made by staff and/or library members.
I had no knowledge of podcasts prior to this training but could see myself subscribing to the highly recommended ABC podcasts as well as one for Good News Week which I enjoy but rarely ever get to watch on TV. And I will also make an effort to set aside time to watch and listen to Librarian Militant, Librarian Triumphant.
Friday, January 28, 2011
In loving memory of Shari
It is with great sadness that I write of my beloved chihuahua's passing on the 11th day of this month. Shari was a loving and loyal companion for 14 years. We are still feeling her loss and will for a long while yet. I hope she is at peace in doggie heaven and has reunited with her sister, Misha. I have chosen a video of a song dedicated to chihuahuas as a tribute to Shari.
Online video has many potential uses for Libraries and Librarians. These could include filming story time sessions, school holiday programs, CBW guest authors and storytellers, bookclub sessions, Senior's Week events, interviewing regular/frequent clients about the merits of their local library and so on. Non library users may be surprised at just how much Libraries have to offer!
Online video has many potential uses for Libraries and Librarians. These could include filming story time sessions, school holiday programs, CBW guest authors and storytellers, bookclub sessions, Senior's Week events, interviewing regular/frequent clients about the merits of their local library and so on. Non library users may be surprised at just how much Libraries have to offer!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Face to face with Tweety Bird!
... And so to Facebook. If it wasn't for the Web 2.0 training I would never have set up a Facebook account. I am far too busy living life "offline" to be bothered going "online"! I'm not even motivated to log on. I'd rather be getting my washing done than engaging socially via Facebook. (the washing won't do itself!) In the good old days "online" was where we hung our clothes to dry!
So on a personal level I bid farewell to Facebook. However, given that Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world today, it is a different story on a professional level. Public Libraries are by their very nature social and inclusive places and thus need to be socially interactive and responsive. If 500 million people are "connecting" through Facebook then Libraries need to be involved. I think Lawley's logic as to why Libraries need to be using Facebook is excellent. (See: lawleyonline ).
Tweet: "I did see a puddy tat!"
And now to Twitter - defined as a source of instantly updated information on an incredibly wide range of topics. My first ever Twitter search ("Public Libraries") led me directly to these two gems:
Tweet 1: "Long live Public Libraries" and Tweet 2: "Thank God for Public Libraries". Thus making my first experience of Twitter very positive indeed.
The links I came across were also very useful. The second one I followed was for Education Services Australia (http://www.schools.edna.edu.au/) where I discovered that 2011 is the Year of the Bat, the 15th Jan was Wikipedia Day and it's the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit (commencing 3rd Feb). I also found that May is Jelly Baby Month, 1st May is Mother Goose Day, 21st May is Loud Shirt Day and that National Simultaneous Story Time is on the 25th May this year and the nominated book is Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement. There is even a Wee Week (18 - 24 July). The theme for CBW in 2011 is 'One World, Many Stories'. September has a Roald Dahl Day (the 13th) and a Talk Like a Pirate Day (the 19th). In November, the 19th is World Toilet Day, the 25th is Buy Nothing Day and the 30th is Computer Security Day. All good stuff to know for forward planning.
So on a personal level I bid farewell to Facebook. However, given that Facebook is the largest social networking site in the world today, it is a different story on a professional level. Public Libraries are by their very nature social and inclusive places and thus need to be socially interactive and responsive. If 500 million people are "connecting" through Facebook then Libraries need to be involved. I think Lawley's logic as to why Libraries need to be using Facebook is excellent. (See: lawleyonline ).
Tweet: "I did see a puddy tat!"
And now to Twitter - defined as a source of instantly updated information on an incredibly wide range of topics. My first ever Twitter search ("Public Libraries") led me directly to these two gems:
Tweet 1: "Long live Public Libraries" and Tweet 2: "Thank God for Public Libraries". Thus making my first experience of Twitter very positive indeed.
The links I came across were also very useful. The second one I followed was for Education Services Australia (http://www.schools.edna.edu.au/) where I discovered that 2011 is the Year of the Bat, the 15th Jan was Wikipedia Day and it's the Chinese New Year of the Rabbit (commencing 3rd Feb). I also found that May is Jelly Baby Month, 1st May is Mother Goose Day, 21st May is Loud Shirt Day and that National Simultaneous Story Time is on the 25th May this year and the nominated book is Feathers for Phoebe by Rod Clement. There is even a Wee Week (18 - 24 July). The theme for CBW in 2011 is 'One World, Many Stories'. September has a Roald Dahl Day (the 13th) and a Talk Like a Pirate Day (the 19th). In November, the 19th is World Toilet Day, the 25th is Buy Nothing Day and the 30th is Computer Security Day. All good stuff to know for forward planning.
Thursday, January 6, 2011
The learning of another language
Oh and another thing ... you will need to learn a new language! From now on "delicious" does not mean tasty it is a social bookmarking site that lets you save bookmarks to a central location and the "bookmarks" aren't made from cardboard or paper or fabric or leather, etc, they are electronic and can be classified with tags. You can find these tags in "clouds" - not the clouds in the sky but the clouds on your computer screen! You will need to add a LibraryThing widget to your blog and it is not the same as the widget attached to the bottom of a can of beer that gives beer a head when it is poured! And I thought "Widget" was a southern California beach bunny who pined for the Big Kahuna and had a boyfriend called "Moondoggie"! - Oh, that's right she was "Gidget"! And it's not a "LibraryThing" because you cannot recall it's name. You can use it to create an online catalogue of your personal book collection.
Actress Sally Field starring as Gidget (not "Widget") - an American sitcom about a surfing, boy-crazy teenager.
My Delicious account has bookmarked and tagged cute photos and pictures of the best and smallest breed of dog in the world - the mighty chihuahua. I have owned chihuahuas for many years (Brenna and Misha are sadly deceased and I still have Shari. Unfortunately Shari is old now and crippled by arthritis). These bookmarks are useful (perhaps) to anyone else who really likes chihuahuas!
Delicious = social bookmarking = good for libraries. Good because it's social, inclusive and accessible.
... And now to LibraryThing! Really, really liking it! Most definitely a good option for Libraries. It's great that our Libraries are already using it and ALL libraries should have it! It is without a doubt a very useful and appropriate tool for libraries everywhere. Think book reviews, book clubs, "who else writes like?", recommended reading, popular titles, author profiles and so on. My LibraryThing widget includes a few books I have read and a few books that are great read alouds for story time sessions.
Friday, December 10, 2010
Wiki - Hawaiin for "Quick"!
Wiki is an online collaboration tool that is interactive, dynamic and updated quickly. People can contribute ideas as part of a group, generating ideas together and consolidating them. It becomes a shared production or group project.
The benefit for Public Libraries is that by their very nature Wiki's are a community resource offering an inclusive environment, as does the Library itself. They could be useful for debates, team projects, sharing resources, research collections, book reviews, Bookclubs, community projects and so on.
When discussing Wiki it is almost necessary to mention Wikipedia - the largest and greatest encyclopedia ever compiled. Mind you, the Wikipedia is not error free - but then nor is the Encylopedia Britannica. In fact, in 1964, a physicist called Dr Harvey Einbinder read the Britannica from cover to cover and found enough mistakes to fill a 390-page book, The Myth of the Britannica. Nonetheless, thanks in part to Wikipedia, the satisfaction of curiosity has never been so easy to fulfil.
In this Information Age (or should that be the Age of Information Overload?) it would be reasonable to quote Thomas Edison - "We don't know a millionth of one per cent about anything". And it is no wonder when you consider that back in 1987 it was calculated that a year's worth of daily editions of The New York Times contained more information than a man or woman in the 17th century was likely to encounter in an entire lifetime. And this was long before Google, Wikipedia, Facebook and YouTube.
How to Tell if You're Spending
Add a Refrigerator, and You'll
Advances in computer technology
The benefit for Public Libraries is that by their very nature Wiki's are a community resource offering an inclusive environment, as does the Library itself. They could be useful for debates, team projects, sharing resources, research collections, book reviews, Bookclubs, community projects and so on.
When discussing Wiki it is almost necessary to mention Wikipedia - the largest and greatest encyclopedia ever compiled. Mind you, the Wikipedia is not error free - but then nor is the Encylopedia Britannica. In fact, in 1964, a physicist called Dr Harvey Einbinder read the Britannica from cover to cover and found enough mistakes to fill a 390-page book, The Myth of the Britannica. Nonetheless, thanks in part to Wikipedia, the satisfaction of curiosity has never been so easy to fulfil.
In this Information Age (or should that be the Age of Information Overload?) it would be reasonable to quote Thomas Edison - "We don't know a millionth of one per cent about anything". And it is no wonder when you consider that back in 1987 it was calculated that a year's worth of daily editions of The New York Times contained more information than a man or woman in the 17th century was likely to encounter in an entire lifetime. And this was long before Google, Wikipedia, Facebook and YouTube.
How to Tell if You're Spending
Too Much Time on the Computer...
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Add a Refrigerator, and You'll
Never Have to Leave Your Desk!
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