andiction

Feedback

2008-02-20T15:49:00.003+11:00

First, I have found the program enjoyable, learned a lot, explored all sorts of things that I never would have if I hadn't been challenged. I do like to try new things and enjoy a challenge, but sometimes don't move too far out of my comfort zone, particularly with technology, so thankyou to all involved.

I enjoyed the fact that in my area people were asking each other for help and interacting in a way that I had not seen before.

The exposure to new technologies was worthwhile. It isn't possible to evaluate or ponder the usefulness or implications of something without having tried it.

I found some tasks quite challenging and some tasks difficult, I may not use too many of the skills learned on an ongoing basis, but at least I know a little about them.

Second life and libraries

2008-02-20T15:21:00.002+11:00

I have read articles and blog posts about second Life and libraries, they talk about offering virtual services from a virtual library to virtual clients. I am trying to think of ways that this will be useful, other than to the virtual client. Is there anything to be learned that can be transferred to real life in the library ?

Podcasts

2008-02-20T15:01:00.003+11:00

My mp3 player is used exclusively for podcasts and talking books, no music, although a looming, long overseas flight might change my mind. Mostly the podcasts are from ABC radio, usually Radio National. Ockham's razor is a favourite, but anything I miss on the radio really that looks interesting.

Watch You Tube videos

2008-02-20T14:46:00.002+11:00

I don't think I want to spend too much of my life watching videos on Youtube. I did a search using 'Libraries' and 'Australia'- none looked that interesting or appealing. I came accross one that I thought might cover two tasks, an offering from Murdoch University which explained the library's site on Second Life and the training that they run for students, they also argue that it is a legitimate educational activity.

On my colleague Tony's recommendation I also watched the Betty glover Library workout tape. It was made in 1987 and brought back memories of banks of catalog drawers and clunky monitors.

Pet photo on the wiki

2008-02-20T14:32:00.002+11:00

Putting the picture on the blog proved much easier than putting it on the wiki. Thanks Tony for your help.

Library 2.0

2008-02-20T12:39:00.003+11:00

Having read various explanations of Library 2.0, I think "user-centered change" is something that has always been a necessary part of Libraries. I realise that 'technology' is central to the concept' but that is only because that is the latest innovation to implement connectivity with the user isn't it? Of course the idea that a user can configure the display of an online library catalog much more easily than a card one is obvious, but the philosophy that the service responds to customer needs has always been part of the ethos of any library I have worked in. The idea that there is no point in collecting something if no-one can find it, that if customers want it, we should have it, and that there is not much need for a librarian if they are not helpful, surely, is not a new concept in libraries.

Michael Casey and Laura Savastinuk in their article 'LIBRARY 2.0 ; SERVICE FOR THE NEXT GENERATION LIBRARY' write that "At its most basic level, the Library 2.0 model gives library users a participatory role in the services libraries offer and the way they are used." Shouldn't this be central to any area of customer service.

The idea of commenting on Library 2.0 proved a stumbling block for me in completing the 23 tasks. What insightful and thought provoking comments could I make? It has caused me to think how much the rest of the world is doing the opposite eg. the experience of shopping/retailing for example. So much of what is on offer is preselected for us by the retailer with very little regard to the preferences of the customer eg. bookshops which stock the same generic stock of authors. Shopping centres where the same 40 or so shops appear, with the same window display and the same stock in each, no matter that they are in Glenferrie Rd,Torquay or Melbourne Central. A couple of experiences over the summer break for instance - going into the Birkenstock shop in the city and asking, specifically, for clogs, in December, to be told that they only stock sandals because NO-ONE wants clogs in summer. Recently in the Medicare office I was told how to rearrange my family's behaviour to cope with the fact that Medicare will only allow 2 cards per household, despite the fact that the household consists of 3 adults. Can we look forward to Retailing 2.0, or do we already have it, which is why online shopping is such a satisfying experience.

Mmmm.. the rantings of an ageing librarian.

Look at del.icio.us

2007-11-21T09:05:00.001+11:00

First of all I am dropping the full stops, can't be bothered. My initial thoughts about delicious were the same as with digg - ok, not my thing, just because someone else is interested doesn't mean that it will interest me. However after some playing around I found sites that I have never found before on topics of interest. I have searched numerous times for free knitting patterns on the web. I have found some very interesting blogs with ideas and hints, some patterns, some very quirky patterns but no significant resource. However, following a few threads in delicious I found this site which is fantastic, hundreds of patterns, all categorised. In the 'quirky' category fall knit and crochet graffiti and microfibremilitia. I have not joined and probably won't, but I will keep looking.

Create a Google Home Page

2007-11-13T14:27:00.000+11:00

I created a Google home page which I am using on my home computer. I have the weather, times in other regions of the world, sudoku, the NY Times crossword, a currency converter, a daylight map and a dictionary. I haven't yet had time to do the puzzles, but I quite like the look of 'busyness'.

I have added the Facebook gadget, Book search gadget and the Facebook gadget. All useful !

Google Books

2007-11-13T13:52:00.001+11:00

I could use this for browsing obscure topics of interest and to see what is published on a topic. My favourite search term 'Volhynia' finds 691 'full view' items, many in English. I tried surnames of my family and found reports of court cases, a name on a roll of pharmacists, and a history of Kent with references to my ancestors.

Google Maps

2007-11-13T13:38:00.000+11:00

I love Google maps, it has lots of uses. My son is moving to London, has found accommodation and looked at the address on Google Maps. We know how much traffic there is in the street, the size of the garden, distance to the station and his route to work.

I knew it existed and fiddled with it before, but never thought to use it for anything useful. I could have used it recently when planning a trip to Perth, for instance, trying to book an hotel, even with a map, it was tricky to envisage the location in relation to transport, shopping etc. Google maps would have been useful.

Google Docs

2007-11-13T13:30:00.000+11:00

I don't think that I would use Google Docs, although I can see that it could be useful to share documents, or if you needed to access documents from different computers. I suppose now that you know these tools exist opportunities may arise to use them.

Suscribe to another blog

2007-11-01T14:46:00.000+11:00

Subscribed to Librarians Matter to to read discussion of 'The Librarians' on ABC TV last night.

Explore Myspace and Facebook

2007-10-25T11:40:00.001+10:00

Myspace - looked at 2 libraries using Myspace Baltimore Law Library and Brooklyn College Library. Baltimore Law Library just seems to replicate a web page, not very exciting, Brooklyn's seems more interactive. It could be potentially very useful for childrens' and young adult activities in public libraries - with art work reviews by readers etc. Chicago Public Library have a link to a 'teen space' where their friends include authors, who discuss and promote their books.

Facebook - joined facebook. I think I could find this quite useful, keeping in touch with family overseas, viewing their photos etc. However looking at my nephew's site, he was kind enough to invite me to be his friend, do I want to know quite so much about his life ? I added the 'what vegetable are you' application and was very disappointed to find I was a pumpkin. Joined a group 'I luv Kews dancing man'.

Digg

2007-10-11T11:42:00.000+10:00

Digg reminds me of the TV 'Current Affairs' programs after the 6.00 pm news. I don't think I would ever look at it, a totally random collection of not very interesting information. A lot of the items I looked at were actually promotions for services.

2007-10-10T14:24:00.001+10:00

Set up a feed reader, look at Technorati, subscribe to a blog

2007-10-10T13:35:00.000+10:00

I set up an account for Google reader - not hard, although a little disappointing, is that all! I subscribed to two blogs which I look at regularly, In a minute ago and Old Saint Nick. In a minute ago is an embroidery blog which has an amazing amount of information with diagrams photos and a lot of shared information. I am not sure about using 'Google reader' often, it's just as easy to Bookmark a blog, although it puts everything in the one place. Like all of these things it depends very much on how much time you want to spend on them.

I then looked at Technorati - a way of searching for posts, blogs, videos and photos. The search for blogs is a bit tricky as it depends on the appropriateness of tags that blog owners use. I found a lot of blogs about Santa Claus but equally as many about Santa Cruz, Santa Barbara etc.

I didn't think the search for 'posts' would be very useful, but tried a search term that I use when looking at databases VOLHYNIA, an area of Europe of interest from a family history point of view. I found a video clip from a town very near our ancestral town, showing the landscape and buildings, far more information than I have ever found using a Google search. I have included one video clip....

Library thing

2007-10-04T14:59:00.000+10:00

Have created an account in Library thing and added a shelf of books - all to do with Crazy Quilting. I joined the 'Cozy Mystery' group and the 'Quilting' group, but not sure that I will ever follow it up.

I don't quite see the point of Library thing at all.

Playing with an image generator

2007-10-03T14:23:00.000+10:00

This is from a site for creating an avatar, looks a bit like a Librarian !

Flickr account

2007-10-03T09:38:00.000+10:00

I have created a Flickr account and with Tony's help changed the Buddy icon. I have added just one photo for the moment. I have joined 3 groups 'Santa Claus's' , 'Vintage Christmas' and 'Crazy Quilting'.

Adding a photo

2007-10-02T20:45:00.000+10:00

...the Santa snowglobes

Adding a photo

2007-10-02T20:37:00.000+10:00

Part of my Santa collection...the tall, skinny Santas and the Santa bells

The challenge - 23 things

2007-09-12T08:54:00.000+10:00

I have finally been pushed to explore blogging. This has arisen as a challenge in which everyone at my workplace, a University library, is taking part. It involves tackling 23 technological tasks eg. creating a blog, using facebook, flickr etc.

This blog will be a diary of my efforts to meet these challenges. I hope I can use what I learn to create a personal blog/blogs to follow up on some personal interests.

My first dilemma was whether to use Blogger or Wordpress. I had looked at websites which discussed the two, and had decided on Wordpress. However, reading the postings of 2 of my colleagues, on their newly created blogs, I was influenced by their criticisms of Wordpress and thought that I may be a little out of my depth.

I regularly read a couple of blogs related to my hobbies. I admire the amount of work involved and the dedication required to enthusiastically post daily updates that are interesting and informative.