Learning what?

Wrap up

2008-04-22T23:12:00.000-07:00

Sad to have come to the end so soon. I have really enjoyed the course. We have covered a lot and I guess it will be interesting to see what I continue to use regularly. Time is always an issue. I will miss my blog. Bloglines has been useful and I have found some interesting items to bring to team meetings. Winning points on professional development.

I would love to see our Library use Myspace or similar but I'm not sure Council would approve the idea. Management would have to prove its usefulness. We often have trouble getting approval to promote our selves through print media I'm not sure their ready for Myspace. We might have more success with blogs and wikis. I was impressed by what some libraries are doing and hope we can participate in using these web based technologies in the not to distant future. We are currently looking for an new IT person. Fingers crossed the new appointee is pro change and can push us in the right direction.

Online applications

2008-04-15T23:31:00.000-07:00

This was probably one of the most useful weeks work wise in the course. Loved the idea of Google Docs and can see heaps of work uses, rewriting procedures, meeting agendas, planning for promotions and many more.

Had a few IT problems with Slideshare but I think we worked through them. It is great to have in house IT support. This is not so easy for our branch locations and I know branch staff are having problems with access restrictions.

Had a bit of fun creating a Google Doc. I think students working on group projects would love Google Docs. No more losing their memory sticks or problems with compatiblity. If the teacher had access they could give on going help and advice.

Online appliactions will make sharing information so much easier.

Mashups

2008-04-08T23:10:00.001-07:00

Busy this week so I have not had as much time to play with this as I would have liked. Google maps is great. I added some places. Might look into adding links to our locations on our web site so people can find us.

Had a play with Big huge labs. This was fun. Might be good for displays and promotional material. I'm sure clients would love it.

Podcasts

2008-03-31T20:32:00.000-07:00

This was interesting. Had some technical problems,IT restrictions etc. I was able to view some podcast. Not sure why some were restricted and others not but we won't even go there. I'm sure the IT department would give me a very long answer and I don't really have the time. Anyway I can see how podcasts could be used at work. There are endless training and educational applications and then there are alot of general interest topics. Such as this.

Answer boards and social searching

2008-03-27T21:56:00.000-07:00

Have enjoyed this weeks activities. Posted heaps to Del.icio.us. Loved the taste website. Ranking and comments are a great way to know if something is going to work.Dymocks also use the customer also bought idea that Amazon have.

Answer boards are an interesting idea. Have looked at them before. Have never post a question but have looked at questions and answers posted by others. My only concern is that you can't be sure of the accuracy of the answer.

At work we have an ask a Local Librarian on the intranet. If a query can not be answered at the Advisory Desk or needs in depth research it can be sent to the Local Librarian. The person is then contacted with the answer. I guess this could be done in the Answer board format.

LibraryThing

2008-03-26T17:24:00.000-07:00

Liked LibraryThing. Added some books I had on my desk. Love to add more but don't have the time. It is interesting to see how many other people have added the same books.

Del.icio.us

2008-03-18T22:42:00.000-07:00

I can see how this would be usefull on the readers advisory desk. I need to check it out some more. The tag idea would make finding bookmarks easier. A the moment my favourites list is a mile long and finding the right one is not always easy. Tags and bundles would help put some order to the chaos. Now I need to find the time to post them to my Del.icio.us account.

Video online

2008-03-16T21:21:00.000-07:00

I thought YouTube was just for car crashes and pranks. This weeks exercises have shown me it can be educational.

I liked the oral histories and exhibitions and can see how we could use this at work. We have exhibitions and could have videos of the artist discussing the work. Food for thought.

Wikis

2008-03-12T21:21:00.000-07:00

Yes I'll admit it. I use Wikipedia to answer information requests. Sometime people just want a short easy to understand answer. Wikipedia fills this need and sometimes is a good starting point to further research.

At work we use the ill.wetpaint.com wiki and find it a useful source. I find the idea of adopting an intranet based wiki for procedure manuals a good one. We have our procedures on our intranet and are currently reviewing them. With only a limited number of staff being able to add or remove items it can be frustrating getting your procedures up. A wiki may make the process easier.

I liked the Book Lovers Wiki. Maybe we could investigate doing something along those lines at work.

RSS

2008-03-04T14:50:00.000-08:00

Not to sure I like RSS just yet. Just one more thing to check daily. I already have two work emails and now two personal emails to chaeck. Just wondering when I will get the time to check them all.

Moaning aside I did find some interesting sites. Not sure I will kepp them all. So far I have signed up to.
1. ABC News : just in. I checked this morning and had 81 to go through. Not sure if I will keep this one.
2. Librarins' Internet index: New This Week. New and newly discovered web sites for Librarians. Once a week feed sounds manageable and it should help to keep up to date.
3. LibraryBytes. News about libraries and new technology. Found some interesting things here this might be a keeper.
4. MashUp. From the SMH. Looks interesting.
5. The Shifted Librarian. Worth looking at.
6. Girls Guide. Can't all be work.
7. Powerhouse Museum - Photo of the Day. Well this one had me stumped for awhile and I almost admitted defeat. I took another look at it yesterday and finally figured out how to do it. Gave a little cheer. I think I will keep this one. Something light and interesting. Share a lovely photo occasionally.

How to use this at work? A feed for new events and program posted on the library web site. We current do a Newsletter maybe we could do an electronic version and create an RSS feed.

Looked at the Yarra Plenty Blog. Very impressive. I think I will go back and subscribe. I thought the Campbelltown City Library assignment blog was a great idea and would love to see us doing something similar in the future.

I better get back to work.

Temporary Library

2008-02-26T18:56:00.001-08:00

Temporary Library
Originally uploaded by nancyd2049

I think I'm working my way around Flickr now. Managed to upload the photo and send it to my blog. There will be no stopping me now.

My Flickr experience

2008-02-26T17:26:00.000-08:00

It took me awhile to work out how to get the download to work. I would find an image try to download it to my blog. Something would not work. I'd go back and take ages to find the image again. Each search seemed to bring up different images. I guess I will have to work on this.

Anyway I loved my Flickr experience even though I think I might have a few more Grey hairs now than when I started. I think I went over my time limit. Hopefully the boss won't mind. I am learning though.

Can see many uses for Flickr both through work and privately. Through work we could share images of events and displays. We also have a lot of travellers coming through our library they might want to use Flickr to share photos of their travels with family and friends at home. I am looking forward to sharing my photos with family.

The Library is Not For Books

2008-02-26T17:25:00.001-08:00

The Library is Not For Books
Originally uploaded by jon_gilbert

Found this interesting. The library of no returns.

My first blog

2008-02-25T14:54:00.000-08:00

I did not think really think much of blogs before starting this program. I thought it was just something children did. Now after learning more about them I can see they might be useful.
In a Library setting I can see many uses. We could setup a Book Club blog. We have four book clubs going with about eight people in each, each group reading a different book. They could blog about what they have read if they can't get to a meeting. We could let them know about author nights. We have youth and children's programs these could have their own blogs. Why not a staff blog to discuss work issuse. It is endless once you start thinking about it.
I am looking forward to the program. If blogs have got me thinking this much I can't wait to find out what else is in the program. Our workplace has encouraged all staff to do this course. It is great that they support us in learing new skills. I am sure the skills we learn will be of benefit both to the workplace and outside of work.

Looking forward to the next step