Thank you for a great program, I very much enjoyed it and learnt a fair few things that I hadn't been exposed to previously. My only disappointment was that there were so many good resources to look at, I found it difficult having the time to go through them all!
Kind regards
Anthony
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Week 12: Ebooks and Audiobooks
Ebooks are great, especially the free ones! I'm always amazed at what you can find for free. My Father-in-law wanted to know if we had a fairly esoteric book on Scottish family history in the library, and when we didn't have it I did a couple of google searches for it. I actually found it as a free ebook available through a library in Canada, by Father in-law was very impressed.
I think that they are a real way forward, but until easily transportable Ebook readers are commonly available (yes they are available, but I wouldn't say that they are cheap, or present in any large numbers) they won't greatly transform our library system. Instead, they will be an added service, along with books already in print. I think this is particularly the case in public libraries.
I think that they are a real way forward, but until easily transportable Ebook readers are commonly available (yes they are available, but I wouldn't say that they are cheap, or present in any large numbers) they won't greatly transform our library system. Instead, they will be an added service, along with books already in print. I think this is particularly the case in public libraries.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Week 11: Second Life
I'd heard about Second Life, but I haven't really looked at it much. To be honest, I'm too busy in my first life to even contemplate having a second one!
I can see how it has real possibilities for education though. Distance education can be a bit tricky, especially for people who rely on a lot of visual and body language type cues when communicating. Would the Gardener term be Socially Intelligent? Anyway, although it is not the same thing as being there in lectures tutes etc, it is a as close as you are going to get while still retaining the benefits of distance education.
As for future trends, I can't see it ever fully replacing actual attendance at university, at least for some courses or modules. Science Fiction is full of virtual schools and things like that, but it will be a long time before they are realistic enough to teach practical subjects such as chemistry, without needing VR technology that's expense would not justify it's benefits.
I can see how it has real possibilities for education though. Distance education can be a bit tricky, especially for people who rely on a lot of visual and body language type cues when communicating. Would the Gardener term be Socially Intelligent? Anyway, although it is not the same thing as being there in lectures tutes etc, it is a as close as you are going to get while still retaining the benefits of distance education.
As for future trends, I can't see it ever fully replacing actual attendance at university, at least for some courses or modules. Science Fiction is full of virtual schools and things like that, but it will be a long time before they are realistic enough to teach practical subjects such as chemistry, without needing VR technology that's expense would not justify it's benefits.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Week 10: Podcasts and Youtube
Podcasts
I think podcasts have huge potential for Library 2.0 applications, as shown already by the diverse ways that libraries are using them. One that I really like, and which I hope to be able to develop in my library, is the podcasts of children's storytimes that the Denver Public Library are doing: Denver Public Library Storytime podcasts
There are lots of parents that can't always make it to storytime, and by letting them know about the podcasts and what stories will be read in advance, it's possible for them to be there virtually for the storytime.
Youtube
Love Youtube, always have since I first found it. Once again, another great tool for libraries, but with a few proviso's. We have to be very careful about permissions etc when filming anything due to privacy issues, and that can really restrict what we want to do. For example, I love this storytime with signing that's shown here:
By having the visual element, it means that children who are hearing impaired can also join in with the story. But if there are children in the recording, which I feel makes it look and feel much more interesting, we have to make sure that it is appropriate to have their images on the net, and have their parents consent, in the form of legally binding permission documents.
I think podcasts have huge potential for Library 2.0 applications, as shown already by the diverse ways that libraries are using them. One that I really like, and which I hope to be able to develop in my library, is the podcasts of children's storytimes that the Denver Public Library are doing: Denver Public Library Storytime podcasts
There are lots of parents that can't always make it to storytime, and by letting them know about the podcasts and what stories will be read in advance, it's possible for them to be there virtually for the storytime.
Youtube
Love Youtube, always have since I first found it. Once again, another great tool for libraries, but with a few proviso's. We have to be very careful about permissions etc when filming anything due to privacy issues, and that can really restrict what we want to do. For example, I love this storytime with signing that's shown here:
By having the visual element, it means that children who are hearing impaired can also join in with the story. But if there are children in the recording, which I feel makes it look and feel much more interesting, we have to make sure that it is appropriate to have their images on the net, and have their parents consent, in the form of legally binding permission documents.
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Week 9: Wikis and Rollyo
Wiki's
I really think wiki's have a lot of potential, but one of the most interesting things I find about them is that a lot of their major benefits are also their major downfalls. For example, their strength is that anyone who is registered (if the wiki requires them to be) can post and add information to the wiki. The down side of course though, is that anyone who is registered can post and add information to the wiki, regardless of what they know about the subject!
I think a lot of these types of problems are small though, and can be fixed by restricting who can register, and if some form of moderation is used. Overall, I think the benefits of Wiki's far out weigh their disadvantages, as long as appropriate steps are taken.
Rollyo's
I LOVE Rollyo! I'm really impressed at how easy it is to use, and how efficient it is. I often use the advanced search option in Google to only search specific sites, but this is much more user friendly and I don't need to set it up each time for searches I do a lot.
I'm going to have to spend a little bit of time setting up some search for my library related things such as children's activities, but for the exercise today I created a rollyo for one of my hobbies, powerkites. This lets you search the main forums for any info on traction kites :
I really think wiki's have a lot of potential, but one of the most interesting things I find about them is that a lot of their major benefits are also their major downfalls. For example, their strength is that anyone who is registered (if the wiki requires them to be) can post and add information to the wiki. The down side of course though, is that anyone who is registered can post and add information to the wiki, regardless of what they know about the subject!
I think a lot of these types of problems are small though, and can be fixed by restricting who can register, and if some form of moderation is used. Overall, I think the benefits of Wiki's far out weigh their disadvantages, as long as appropriate steps are taken.
Rollyo's
I LOVE Rollyo! I'm really impressed at how easy it is to use, and how efficient it is. I often use the advanced search option in Google to only search specific sites, but this is much more user friendly and I don't need to set it up each time for searches I do a lot.
I'm going to have to spend a little bit of time setting up some search for my library related things such as children's activities, but for the exercise today I created a rollyo for one of my hobbies, powerkites. This lets you search the main forums for any info on traction kites :
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Week 8: Social Bookmarking and Library 2.0
Social Bookmarking
I really liked delicious, I've used tagging before but I hadn't come across this version of social bookmarking. I thought it was great for a couple of reasons:
1. Being able to take bookmarks with you
2. Seeing what other people have bookmarked
3. Seeing the comments about what has been bookmarked and being able to add your own.
I can see how this tool could have the potential for research, as it would allow people looking at the same topic and easy way to compare resources. The challenge I think, as always with easy access to information we have these days, is still data overload. Although I'm really impressed with the way that Delicious helps to control this by tagging bookmarks, if a lot of people are creating these bookmarked pages, then it still adds up to a lot of information very quickly.
Library 2.0
One of the most interesting things that I learnt about Library 2.0 was the fact that it is in "perpetual beta", i.e. it's undergoing constant change. Anything that we create or utilise is very quickly going to become outdated. I knew that already of course, and having only worked in the library for the last three years, I'd taken it for granted without really thinking deeply about what it means. How can we take advantage of this technology in a meaningful and useful way, without overstretching our resources? An exciting challenge!
I really liked delicious, I've used tagging before but I hadn't come across this version of social bookmarking. I thought it was great for a couple of reasons:
1. Being able to take bookmarks with you
2. Seeing what other people have bookmarked
3. Seeing the comments about what has been bookmarked and being able to add your own.
I can see how this tool could have the potential for research, as it would allow people looking at the same topic and easy way to compare resources. The challenge I think, as always with easy access to information we have these days, is still data overload. Although I'm really impressed with the way that Delicious helps to control this by tagging bookmarks, if a lot of people are creating these bookmarked pages, then it still adds up to a lot of information very quickly.
Library 2.0
One of the most interesting things that I learnt about Library 2.0 was the fact that it is in "perpetual beta", i.e. it's undergoing constant change. Anything that we create or utilise is very quickly going to become outdated. I knew that already of course, and having only worked in the library for the last three years, I'd taken it for granted without really thinking deeply about what it means. How can we take advantage of this technology in a meaningful and useful way, without overstretching our resources? An exciting challenge!
Week 7: iGoogle
iGoogle
I really like iGoogle, it is very handy to have a lot of the generic tools such as wikipedia, gmail, youtube etc at your fingertips without having to go to the bother of creating your own web page to include them. The tools were quick and easy to use, and I could see myself doing a quick tutorial of how to use it for the public. Anything with the word Google in it is usually popular!
As for working at Google, the perks are pretty amazing!
I really like iGoogle, it is very handy to have a lot of the generic tools such as wikipedia, gmail, youtube etc at your fingertips without having to go to the bother of creating your own web page to include them. The tools were quick and easy to use, and I could see myself doing a quick tutorial of how to use it for the public. Anything with the word Google in it is usually popular!
As for working at Google, the perks are pretty amazing!
Monday, July 7, 2008
Week 6: Google tools
Google Docs
The features I like about this product are the ability to share editing of the document across the Internet, and not just within a restricted LAN environment
within one organisation. For material that isn't sensitive, it would be a good option for collaboration between different organisations, and has real potential for outreach.
Google Maps
Google Maps is brilliant, I've used it a lot for creating easy to access maps for friends when visiting my house for the first time. It would also be useful for giving directions to the library to people, such as presenters giving talks here or other outsourced activities.
Google Book Search
I've used Google Books before, and I'm always amazed at the diverse books that they have available. I use the net a lot to look for things that I can't get in Tasmania, or even Australia, and when looking for books I can invariably find them on Google books or Amazon to preview.
Being able to click on the Find this book in a library link is really useful as well, and I can see how this could be of benefit to libraries.
The features I like about this product are the ability to share editing of the document across the Internet, and not just within a restricted LAN environment
within one organisation. For material that isn't sensitive, it would be a good option for collaboration between different organisations, and has real potential for outreach.
Google Maps
Google Maps is brilliant, I've used it a lot for creating easy to access maps for friends when visiting my house for the first time. It would also be useful for giving directions to the library to people, such as presenters giving talks here or other outsourced activities.
Google Book Search
I've used Google Books before, and I'm always amazed at the diverse books that they have available. I use the net a lot to look for things that I can't get in Tasmania, or even Australia, and when looking for books I can invariably find them on Google books or Amazon to preview.
Being able to click on the Find this book in a library link is really useful as well, and I can see how this could be of benefit to libraries.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Week 5: Get Social
MySpace
I've looked at a few different libraries on MySpace, and there seem to be a few different categories of the way that they use it. At the simplest level, its just a page with the libraries contact details and website info on it, as well as their list of friends.
Others use the MySpace as an extension of what would be on their site, and include such things as a link to their catalogue/site with a canned search that shows the latest DVDs, links to their catalogues, teen activities and their what's on pages. I think the big advantage for using MySpace is that it has the potential to reach audiences who may not go looking for a library website through Google, but may come across it in MySpace.
Facebook
I've also been using Facebook for a while, and I've added some friends. I don't use it very often, as I find I also get bombarded with a lot of junky type stuff. Most of the work or hobby things I do, I find quicker and easier to do with Forums based around the topic. This might change as I play more with Facebook.
I've looked at a few different libraries on MySpace, and there seem to be a few different categories of the way that they use it. At the simplest level, its just a page with the libraries contact details and website info on it, as well as their list of friends.
Others use the MySpace as an extension of what would be on their site, and include such things as a link to their catalogue/site with a canned search that shows the latest DVDs, links to their catalogues, teen activities and their what's on pages. I think the big advantage for using MySpace is that it has the potential to reach audiences who may not go looking for a library website through Google, but may come across it in MySpace.
I've also been using Facebook for a while, and I've added some friends. I don't use it very often, as I find I also get bombarded with a lot of junky type stuff. Most of the work or hobby things I do, I find quicker and easier to do with Forums based around the topic. This might change as I play more with Facebook.
Week 4: RSS feeds and feedreaders
I've been using RSS feeds for a couple of years, mostly for my hobbies and interests. They are a really useful way of keeping up to date with news and information from a variety of sources within one integrated package, without having to navigate to different areas of the web. I think the hardest thing with them is to only subscribe to the ones that are really relevant to your needs, as otherwise you can be bombarded with too much information.
The Library one's that I have subscribed to at the moment are:
Read Alert
Unshelved (we all need a reminder about the funny things that happen in our jobs at times)\
Librarian.net
LibraryBytes and
LISnews
Love the liberry
The Library one's that I have subscribed to at the moment are:
Read Alert
Unshelved (we all need a reminder about the funny things that happen in our jobs at times)\
Librarian.net
LibraryBytes and
LISnews
Love the liberry
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