Social Networking

I have heard about MySpace and Facebook but really didn't know what it was all about. It is another way we can connect with people anywhere with similar interests and ideas. It could be used within our library service to connect people through our library. I can imagine the youth of the area embracing this, but young mum's isolated by distance and responsibilities of small children would enjoy the interaction through this social networking format. Books and libraries being the common thread it could also be used by the local history buffs and other interest groups. Perhaps a group of shire library services could develop a Facebook site to connect staff to exchange ideas, successes, and difficulties within their libraries. We would all have something to give and something to learn from each other.

Week 11

The amazing number of useful and free online applications and software is fantastic. I had no idea that these were available and that they would be so easy to use.

Google Docs has great potential as a way of communicating between our branch staff to organise holidays, staff meetings and help create a combined newsletter from all four centres.

I also thought Doodle could be helpful for scheduling things like meetings and leave. Personally I thought Tada might help me with my lack of memory and too many things to think about. The biggest advantage of these online applications is the ability to access your documents etc. wherever you are without the worry of failed drives etc. You are dependent on a reliable internet connection. Unfortunately in country areas this isnt a given.

Week 10 Mash-ups

I can see so much potential for Mash ups. It took a while for me to complete this week as my internet connection is dodgey to say the least. However I thought the street game was wonderful and could be used to educate us on so many things in a novel and fun way.

The uses in the library would be vast. Great for doing publicity, an interesting way to present local history, I can see uses for teens' and childrens' programs. The use of a digital camera and a program such as big huge labs gives you so much scope. I have made a poster for our library week promotion. Also shows off our new library facility.

Podcasts and Audio

I have been trying to download itunes and juice but to no avail. I have managed to listen to an audio from the British Library collection and also heard a literary lunch recorded on Nightlife, ABC radio several weeks ago. It was Geraldine Brooks and I saved it to a CD which was handy so I could listen to it wherever I wanted. I can see potential for the use of podcasts in our library service, particularly because we are using Navigators for the vision impaired. These navigators are like MP3 players for the elderly and we could download podcasts to them so the clients would have current material to listen to. Also these clients use their navigators for hours a day and they are needing them reloaded so quickly. a constant source of new material is fantastic.

Week 9 - The Illusive Podcast

Having a bit of trouble this week getting things to work. Love the selection of podcasts to listen to on the ABC website but had difficulty getting the url's to be accepted into the itunes software. Dont know what I am doing wrong. Very frustrating.

Week 8

Last week took me ages but I am happy with 'library thing'. It is a fun site. I especially love the suggestions and can see how this could relate to our customers. So easy to sign up and easy to use.
I had a play around with my blog and changed the RSS news feed to see if I could remmeber. I have also gone with a new layout which I like.
The unit on Answer boards is interesting and shows what clever researchers and information gatherers librarians really are. such a diverse range of topics. This quality resource should be advertised to our customers. Ask your librarian answer boards sound like fun but also time consuming.