Sunday, 26 June 2011
Wrap-up waffle
Well, what a marathon. This has been quite an adventure, a huge learning curve and one that I have enjoyed. However, it has taken hours of work mostly from home. At the risk of repeating myself the more I learn the more I learn I don't know. What I have learnt is that the Mandurah Libraries need to embrace Web 2.0 whole-heartily and without hesitation. 'Make hay while the sun is shining', that is, while the knowledge gained by staff is fresh and many are enthused. We need to set-up on the Mandurah Libraries website a Blog with Facebook and Twitter accounts linked. A natural progression from this will be podcasting and youtube of library and community events. I would like to see an online Mandurah Libraries Bookclub and the perfect site would be via a Mandurah Libraries blog.
I see Web 2.0 as the new forum for linking the community, engaging and conversing with the community and being in the fore-front of disseminating local and library information. When you consider how many hits the library website already has, I believe that library users will embrace this method of communication and the word will spread. I cannot stress enough the importance of library staff actively participating in online conversation as part of their daily work based tasks.
This is my final waffle related to the Web 2.0 training, but I intend to waffle on a great deal via my Blog, Twitter and Facebook. Hopefully I will be waffling with you all again soon!
I see Web 2.0 as the new forum for linking the community, engaging and conversing with the community and being in the fore-front of disseminating local and library information. When you consider how many hits the library website already has, I believe that library users will embrace this method of communication and the word will spread. I cannot stress enough the importance of library staff actively participating in online conversation as part of their daily work based tasks.
This is my final waffle related to the Web 2.0 training, but I intend to waffle on a great deal via my Blog, Twitter and Facebook. Hopefully I will be waffling with you all again soon!
Saturday, 25 June 2011
Geocaching
On a personal level I do not think I will embrace geocaching. I have a few outdoor activities now that it would be difficult to fit in another. I am an avid walker and paddle weather permitting and I would like to squeeze in more golf. However, I do think it would be a fabulous young family activity and I can image it could add some great fun to a family outing.
In the library environment I thought the first year student geocaching activity hosted by the University of Notre Dame a great idea and an excellent format to involve new students. I could envisage a group of libraries, for example libraries in the Peel region, setting up a geocache network. The ultimate goal would be public awareness of libraries in a particular region and a great marketing strategy to promote libraries by being involved in gaming activities, a new gaming activity to interest young family groups.
In the library environment I thought the first year student geocaching activity hosted by the University of Notre Dame a great idea and an excellent format to involve new students. I could envisage a group of libraries, for example libraries in the Peel region, setting up a geocache network. The ultimate goal would be public awareness of libraries in a particular region and a great marketing strategy to promote libraries by being involved in gaming activities, a new gaming activity to interest young family groups.
Podcasting
Wow! Isn't Cockburn Library's blog and podcast fabulous? I am very excited about the prospect of Mandurah Libraries placing their first podcast. It could be an author talk or a rhyme time session. Perhaps one of the book club groups would enjoy recording one of their meetings to share with the wider library community. There are endless applications in the library environment for using podcasts.
On a personal and professional level I see podcasts as another tool to keep abreast of news and future trends in libraries, author and book publications and particular sites of interest now linked to my Google reader. I found Virtual Dave's podcast interesting and certainly a great site to motivate and enthuse library professionals.
On a personal and professional level I see podcasts as another tool to keep abreast of news and future trends in libraries, author and book publications and particular sites of interest now linked to my Google reader. I found Virtual Dave's podcast interesting and certainly a great site to motivate and enthuse library professionals.
Online video and Youtube
As you can see from my postings below I have enjoyed the Youtube learning adventure. One of the Youtube videos I viewed discussed the 'The digital native', comprising of recent generations who have only known the digital world. It was proposed, as a result, the digital native learns and relates to the world in a very different way than previous generations. The digital native processes information quickly by scanning and engages more readily to education and learning via visual technology. As a consequence it is very important for libraries to embrace the visual technologies, such as Youtube, to engage the digital generations.
I found the Topeka Youtube site interesting and I could see the endless possibilities of Youtube for the Mandurah Libraries. Youtube could be used to post Rhymetime sessions, Bookclub discussions, book and poetry readings and author talks. The visual promotion of library and local events I am sure would attract a wide following in the community and as a result promote Mandurah to the broader community.
I found the Topeka Youtube site interesting and I could see the endless possibilities of Youtube for the Mandurah Libraries. Youtube could be used to post Rhymetime sessions, Bookclub discussions, book and poetry readings and author talks. The visual promotion of library and local events I am sure would attract a wide following in the community and as a result promote Mandurah to the broader community.
Sunday, 19 June 2011
I love Twitter! I am a person of few words, usually very direct and to the point. Twitter is for me as I can converse and it has to be less than 140 characters, bonus. Although, that is much harder than I thought, as I am much more verbose than I originally thought. I would love to twitter my children. For example, my son has just spend some time in North Carolina and would love to twiiter where he had breakfast and when he had coffee and what sights were to behold in North Carolina. It would be a simulation of sitting at the evening dinner table conversing.
I am can see how Twitter would function in the library environment - quick and direct promotion of events and news. I think this format appeals to many who use social media as it is very direct and concise sharing of information, which is a bonus when we are overwhelmed with such huge volumes of daily information.
I am new twitter and am now a twitter convert. This form information sharing appeals to me immensely.
Widgetwaves is my twitter name and I would enjoy a twitter from you.
I am can see how Twitter would function in the library environment - quick and direct promotion of events and news. I think this format appeals to many who use social media as it is very direct and concise sharing of information, which is a bonus when we are overwhelmed with such huge volumes of daily information.
I am new twitter and am now a twitter convert. This form information sharing appeals to me immensely.
Widgetwaves is my twitter name and I would enjoy a twitter from you.
I have created a new Facebook account for this Web 2.0 excercise but am I already a Facebook convert. I find Facebook a wonderful forum to converse with family and friends, particularly those who live overseas. It is such an inexpensive and instaneous form of communication. I find wall posting a fabulous way to converse with a large group of friends and family. The photo album feature is also fantastic to share news about events and outings with family and friends who live overseas.
I hadn't considered Facebook before as a useful tool to communicate and converse with the library community and yet I see the advantages of such a forum in the library environment. Particularly as so many users would particpate in social networking such as Facebook. I think the Mandurah Libraries should definitely set up a facebook page, just think of the number of patrons we would reach.
My Facebook name is Widgit Waves. Please be my friend.
Widget Waves profile:
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I hadn't considered Facebook before as a useful tool to communicate and converse with the library community and yet I see the advantages of such a forum in the library environment. Particularly as so many users would particpate in social networking such as Facebook. I think the Mandurah Libraries should definitely set up a facebook page, just think of the number of patrons we would reach.
My Facebook name is Widgit Waves. Please be my friend.
Widget Waves profile:
Tagging and Delicious
Do subject headings and keywords need to be consistent? Originally I thought yes we need to use consist words, but the concept of tags changes this notion. So many concepts are changing with the advent of the internet and the endless possiblilties there are in sharing information with like-minded people. So many ideas are being challenged and evolving with this information resource. As a result I now believe the more varied the tags are the greater success someone has in searching for and locating particular information they require.
As a consequence Delicious is a useful tool to group particular information with similar tags and this enables the information to be easily shared with groups with similar interests in certain information. I would use a Delicious account to group excelllent and reputable book review websites which can be difficult to locate with the myriad of book reviews and book reviewers on the interent.
My Delicious http://www.delicious.com/widgetwaves
As a consequence Delicious is a useful tool to group particular information with similar tags and this enables the information to be easily shared with groups with similar interests in certain information. I would use a Delicious account to group excelllent and reputable book review websites which can be difficult to locate with the myriad of book reviews and book reviewers on the interent.
My Delicious http://www.delicious.com/widgetwaves
Wednesday, 15 June 2011
LibraryThing
I am a LibraryThing addict. Being an avid reader I am enthused about using LibraryThing to create a book journal of what I read, my response to what I read and the prospect of sharing this information with a community of fellow bibliophiles. Creating a record, a history, of what I have read over time is a wonderful prospect. I will have the ability to look at my LibraryThing in several years time and relive the world of that narrative. How exciting!
LibraryThing in the library environment is great. Searching the library catalogue for new titles and favourite authors with the added feature of reviews and ratings from LibraryThing is a fabulous enhancement to the catalogue, as it is a link to additional information for the reader. LibraryThing is sharing of information by book lovers for book lovers. Additional free information for our readers is what every library needs.
LibraryThing in the library environment is great. Searching the library catalogue for new titles and favourite authors with the added feature of reviews and ratings from LibraryThing is a fabulous enhancement to the catalogue, as it is a link to additional information for the reader. LibraryThing is sharing of information by book lovers for book lovers. Additional free information for our readers is what every library needs.
Wednesday, 4 May 2011
Wikis
What I found the most reassuring was the validation of information posted on Wikipedia. I seek information from this source on a regular basis and encourage others to search on Wikipedia also, so it was great to discover that the information posted on Wikipedia has stringent verification standards.
Wikis would be a great tool in the library to post coming events, a 'What's on page'. I believe a 'What's on Wiki page' for community groups within the library website would be fabulous also. Local community groups could contribute and promote coming events. As the local library website has a large number of daily hits I think it would be a great way to promote events reaching a large number of people within the community. It would be excellent to have community members contributing to information dissemination within their own community via their local library website.
Wikis would be a great tool in the library to post coming events, a 'What's on page'. I believe a 'What's on Wiki page' for community groups within the library website would be fabulous also. Local community groups could contribute and promote coming events. As the local library website has a large number of daily hits I think it would be a great way to promote events reaching a large number of people within the community. It would be excellent to have community members contributing to information dissemination within their own community via their local library website.
Sunday, 1 May 2011
RSS Aggregators/Feeds
Excellent format to organise information sources and a quick and easy way to arrange these sources of information I would seek weekly and sometimes daily. The application of RSS Feeds is highly relevant in the library environment. Any tool that saves time is invaluable in a workplace. The ability to see at one quick glance any updated information is tremendous advantage.
The RSS feeds I have set up in the Google reader are The West Australian Newspaper, The Western Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Perth Now for excellent local 'what's on' information. These sources of information I would access on a daily basis for important local news. Another RSS link was the Penguin Publisher Blog as I like to keep up with recent publishing and author information. I will set up a number of links to publishers to enable me to access updated publishing information as quickly as possible. And of course I added the link to Unshelved as this comic strip always brings a smile, sometimes even a chuckle.
The RSS feeds I have set up in the Google reader are The West Australian Newspaper, The Western Australian Bureau of Meteorology and Perth Now for excellent local 'what's on' information. These sources of information I would access on a daily basis for important local news. Another RSS link was the Penguin Publisher Blog as I like to keep up with recent publishing and author information. I will set up a number of links to publishers to enable me to access updated publishing information as quickly as possible. And of course I added the link to Unshelved as this comic strip always brings a smile, sometimes even a chuckle.
Saturday, 30 April 2011
Clouds
I think this is the essence of Flickr - the endless possibilities of sharing images, interests and information with others. This is why Flickr is so relevant to libraries today. Flickr will enhance the sharing of information within library communities. Information, in the form of images, would perhaps be inaccessible without tools like Flickr.
Blogging
this is new to me...I believe I will enjoy the experience and the opportunity to converse with like minded bloggers is something to look for forward to. Maybe I have the potential to become a blogging enthusiast. Time will tell...
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