WEEK 12 SOCIAL NETWORKING - AND NOW THE END IS NEAR

Had a look at social networks Facebook, Bebo etc. For anyone under the age of 25 these are such a normal means of communication. While they are an easy and great way of staying in touch with numerous friends and colleagues I've recently read that perspective employers and even tertiary institutions now look at these social networks to assess or determine whether a potential candidate is suitable as it gives an insight into the "real person". They check out the likes, dislikes, habits etc. embarrassing photos (as the Australian Olympic swimming team now knows) that's kind of scary. I still think they have a lot of merit.



I like the fact the British Library is on Facebook. It appears to personalise it and I think is a really good way reaching a generation who for whom perhaps the library holds no great significance. It has photographs, videos etc.I can't believe we have reached the end of this particular journey or is it just the beginning of a commitment to lifelong learning. I have been introduced to so many new web applications the mind boggles, the mind also boggles at the speed at which new applications are coming online. Such clever people out there. I do feel a sense of accomplishment at have survived my 'test pilot' experience without a parachute and I hope to venture further into the great World Wide Web.

Week 11 ONLINE APPLICATIONS AND TOOLS

I am running late with my Learning 2.0 program, that will teach me to take holidays in a place where I could not access a PC (yes such places do still exist).



Have been looking at Zamar and converted an existing file to PDF which again was relatively easy. I have to admit that looking at Slideshare I am amazed at the number and variety of web applications that exist to make life easier. From a work perspective the ones that appeal to me most are Doodle to arrange meetings (I think this is what Ellen & Mylee used to co-ordinate the time for our last meeting to assess Learning 2.0 ?) what a good way of getting people to RSVP to a meeting and to nominate the times most suitable for them, in a large organisation and across departments this would save a lot of phoning and emailing to co-ordinate meeting times.



I also like Jott which allows for someone to send a voice message via cell phone and then have it transcribed to text or email & sent to a nominated recipient. I think anyone who travels for work would find this a godsend and just for fun I like the idea of Picnik a web based photo editing site.





I started a document last week in Googledocs which I hope I can retrieve and finalise send on to slnsw2.0@gmail.com

WEEK 9 MASHUPS

Not really sure if this picture is a mashup or not. I used
big huge labs to turn a Christmas photo into a jigsaw which was relatively easy and fun to do.

Being as technically inept as I am I chose a simple exercise but I imagine mashups are something that you could play around with quite a bit. Perhaps as I develop a little more expertise and confidence with the technology I may become a little more adventurous.

WEEK 10 PODCASTS

This is one of the few components in learning 2.0 that I had actually heard of previously even thought I had never accessed a podcast (but I have now been converted).





I listened and watched a number of the British Library pod casts which I found really interesting. What a way of opening up your collections to a much larger audience and possibly a world audience. I particularly liked Michelle Browns a former BL curator walking us through the pages (literally and figuratively) of the Holkhem Bible. I thought this could be a really good way of getting people who are experts in their field to speak about and explain particular items held in our collections. We can all appreciate the rare and unique items held but we probably only appreciate them from an aesthetic point of view however having someone provide an explanation or a journey through the item and provide a historical context would be so much more valuable. By combining an audio journey (pod cast) with a visual image provides a unique aspect on any given item in our collection.





In many ways access to the library is limited to the people of Sydney or people visiting Sydney, pod casts of talks on particular items held in the collections, pod casts of talks & events held in the library where appropriate) would once again open the library to a much wider audience both in New South Wales and beyond.

WEEK 8 ANSWER BOARDS

I thought this was intersting and had some merit. I didn't initially understand the terminology Slamming the Boards which appears to be an American expression as are many of the examples in the tutorial. The concept appears to be based on a co-operative of libarians answering questions in order to raise the profile of libraries. On our own SLNSW Ask a Librarian the concept would appear to be similar if not as universal. We offer an interactive online service with librarians answering questions in real time. So I guess the point of difference is that Answer Boards are trying to be more procative rather than reactive which can only be commended ?

On a personal note was approached by a colleague this week who had located FLICKR and was keen to know how he could use it. We had a play around and while I am by no means technically advanced was able to help and answer some of his (basic) questions. Felt good.

Haven't yet tried a Mashup but will do (it can be my homework)

WEEK 7 MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

It's Friday afternoon I'm tired and I'm confused. I think all this "tagging" is getting to me and I'm beginning to wonder if I'll ever get outside to see the light again.

I've been looking at Del.ic.ious and LibraryThing. I really like LibraryThing and will probably set up an account to check out new or unknown titles in areas of interest (I don't think it will be "tagging"). For me the jury is still out on Del.ic.ious . I checked out Sutherland Library tag cloud (I always thought a cloud was something in the sky but obviously because I'm such a late learner the meaning of cloud has changed. Note to self check Wikipedia for most up to date meaning of cloud). I would have thought that a lot of the entries and links in Sutherland's tag cloud would have been covered elsewhere perhaps on their web. All of this makes me curious to know with so many new web based tools available

• How do institutions decide what to go with and/or what the content will be
• What's involved inkeeping all of this information relevant and up to date
• Are they maintained by one individual or department within an institution
• How do we determine which tools to use and which may become obsolete

WEEK 6 VIDEO, ONLINE, YOUTUBE

This exercise was fun and the first time I ventured into Youtube and Google video.
Once again it's so easy to be distracted when you see topics that interest you, I can see why people become addicted (and those lego men could keep me amused for hours).

I could see so many uses for this within the library. Some of my ideas are not very original but the use of Youtube for staff training I thought was pretty good. It's something that could also be used to show practical applications at work. Sometimes it's not always easy to absorb and remember everything taught in a training session and if a practical "show me how" Youtube video was available staff could continue to learn at their own pace or simply refresh themselves on a topic/skill that they may not use on a regular basis. It could also be used to show correct methodologies for OHS issues such as manual handling or perhaps an orientation tour around the library buildings for all new staff and volunteers would be a good use. (It could also be used as a means of attracting new volunteers). It could be used to introduce clients or special interest groups to the library. You could walk someone through say a family history research project. There are just so many applications. It's a technology that is easily accessible, and readily available on everyone's desktop.

I have been to lucky enough to attend a number of library events. The library hosts some really great speakers and if these sessions were taped and uploaded on to the library's web then it opens up the library to all NSW residents not just those close enough to Sydney to vistit the library. I think Mosman library have got it right taping their visiting speakers.

Given that this is such a historic week in Australia's history I decided to add (well I hope I will be able to add) a youtube video of Kevin Rudd's address to Parliament this week apologising to the Stolen Generation of Australian Aboriginals.