Welcome to my blog

Welcome to my blog. I hope you enjoy some of the feeds and videos that I manage to add to the blog. This is really trial and error for me so I'll join you on the 23 things journey

Wednesday, December 2, 2009

Topic 12 Tagging with Delicious

On looking at some of the libraries that have a Delicious page a few uses for this type of tool come to mind
  • The obvious one of keeping track of websites. But it could be structured from the libraries page to cover subject areas with tags relating to specific topics so a student could go in and select a topic and find a selction of sites that mauy be of use - a bit like our USS but bigger and with wider input.
  • Use it to put pictures up of a process -using the new library system, cataloguing an item,what each library looks like, referencing examples
  • Links to You Tube videos on lecture topics
  • Link it to the student moodle

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

back to Flickr fun with mashups

There are a myriad of mashups avaliable and they would take cosiderable time to explore them all Some that appear to have potential for Library services are those that deal with making of Posters and advertising such as those found on http://bighugelabs.com/. Other applications can be used to create art, special effects and much more. Flickr could be used by the libraries to showcase events, collecctions, activities

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Yammering

I've just used Yammer to let whoever is following me know that TAFE staff have access to 3 new online databases on a trial basis and gave them the EBSCO link
I did get a reply from Marlene Manto so maybe Yammer could be a good/new way to get bits of library news out there!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Twittering

I've set up a Twitter account and will try to find some useful persons to follow and think of ways Twitter could be used in Library Services.

Some articles I've come across via my RSS feeds


http://mobile-libraries.blogspot.com/2009/09/100-ways-to-use-twitter-in-your-library.html

http://www.kellyd.com/2009/07/29/how-your-library-may-not-be-using-twitter-but-should/

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Second Life and the Libraries

Second life and its virtual spaces are being used by many educational institutions to deliver or be part of the delivery in their courses. It has a many ways it could be used by lecturers and students who are computer literate and computer confident and who can immers themselves in this kind of world. I'm not sure it is for everybody and especially some of the students that we have.It requires certain computer specifications and fast access to be able to be used sucessfully. Experiences can be developed where students can learn facts, collaborate, experience simulations, talk with people from all over the real and second life world. There is a "Sloodle" which I believe is like a Moodle. Many libraries are already part of this world (see the RSS feeds on my blog for some of the Google videos). Second life versions and simulation of the things that would be covered in Information Literacy instruction on campus can be set up. The content is practically limitless but it needs time, expertise(in both library content and program module requirements ), imagination, and skills to develop. Things can be just as boring online as they may be on campus! There are already many things in second life already developed by other libraries. If we want to have a presence in a small way initially we may be able to use /tailor some of these. I presume there are copyright issues which I haven't delved into as yet. We could run a small project to see what libraries are providing in second life and as (I think) TAFESA has purchased an Island maybe we can develop a second life library orienation.

Wednesday, September 16, 2009

Jumped to Yammer

I've jumped from iGoogle to Yammer but I will explore more fully the other segments over the next few weeks. Time to explore the topics has been an issue for me as I need to get my head around some of them and see their relevance to library service delivery. I have done some of the readings and had a brief look at all of the topics but not completed them. Some are more instant so I've just signed up with Yammer and received a couple of messages. I need to use it more to find out its potential and if it gives us more than just using email to communicate. Its a bit more visual and "out there" but does it supply anything extra?

Monday, September 14, 2009

Why Have A Blog

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Monday, August 31, 2009

iGoogle

I've got behind in my travels through 23 things but today I am looking at iGoogle and you could go mad (in a nice way!) with all the "stuff" there is to add . It's a lot of fun. I've added access to Google docs, Quotes of the day, Word of the day, Optical illusions, News, Maps , You Tube and I am sure there will be more to find. I am still to get to organising the content but iGoogle lends itself to being a "relaxation" zone and can have more serious content. A mixture of fun and learning. Something that we would like to incorporate into the library website somehow
It would be good to have a link to the new library catalogue available so patrons can check their loans, see any messages, renew their loans (within set parameters). A link to the libraries websites would be useful.

Friday, July 10, 2009

Flickr account created

I've had success today in creating a Flickr account. Still have to find my way around the site and upload some photos. I found a YouTube explanation of some of the features of Flick which you may wish to look at.
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A YouTube Video on How to Use Flickr
Jeff Utecht, a teacher and blogger at The Thinking Stick put together a video tutorial on how to use Flickr, then published it to YouTube:

http://www.technologyevangelist.com/2006/08/a_youtube_video_on_h.html
(or access via URL converted by tinyurl.com.au http://tinyurl.com.au/x.php?1vp9 )(thanks Sue for telling me about this feature)

It provides step by step instructions on how to use Flickr, followed by tips on how Flickr can be used in a classroom setting, and shows off a few cool applications that have been built using Flickr's API.
Using YouTube to explain Flickr. How Web 2.0 of him. That's something that should be added to del.icio.us, or published on Digg.
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Thursday, July 9, 2009

Flickr

I've been trying to create a flickr account for the past 2 days but have had no succeess yet. When I try to access flickr the site times out and says it is not available. I will try agaion tomorrow. I did create a Yahoo account which was the precusor to creating a flickr account.

Wednesday, July 8, 2009

Still on the wikis

I have accessed the LEARNwiki Sandbox to add a couple of comments. It took me a few minutes to figure out how to add my own comments but I achieved this. To find out more about using and configuring a Wiki I am developing one of my own called "subjectconnect" where I will see if I can add information and links that are useful for some subject areas. It's just begun and I will work on it over a period of time as I get time. Feel free to suggest some links and content if you wish. The main areas I will cover are in the Engineering field.

Monday, June 29, 2009

developing guidelines for Library Blogs and Wikis

We will be discussing developing some guidelines for using blogs and wikis at our next Librarians meeting. Has anyone already had this discussion in TAFE and developed a set of guidelines?
Greg sent this link to a NSW TAFE site that contains information that has some good starting points . http://icvet.tafensw.edu.au/ezine/year_2007/jan_feb/documents/guidelines_blogs_wikis.doc
I have done some searching for sites that will give us some guidelines. One of these is
http://www.corporateblogging.info/basics/why/
The question remains on when to blog and when to wiki. I can see some benefits to developing subject guides using the wiki format. But then the decision is what to have on a library website, and a student portal? do the wikis hang from these? Are they a separate entity?How do you integrate the whole so its seamless for a patron?

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Blogs on my mind

I'm still coming back to the Blogs topic trying to think about ways that they can be relevant and get interaction from the developer and an audience. Why use a blog? As I am beginning the Wiki I am thinking also about when to use a blog as compared to a Wiki? What's the difference. When to use one or the other.

On doing the Wiki reading I came across this site that is a quite long .ppt but has lots of facts, links and examples of Blogs, RSS and Wikis. You may want to have a look at it.

http://library.swantafe.wa.edu.au/library_site/slibrary/weblinks/Subject/Blogs,Wikis/DHookOaltAbopresentation[1].ppt#257,1,Staying Connected with Blogs, Wikis & RSS Feeds

Monday, June 22, 2009

Movi & See and Share

For Movi I needed to get a login and password. I have received these, downloaded the Movi software and was able to use the webcam with the software. For See and Share I have downloaded the software but am so far finding it more difficult to shedule a session and how do you set it for a particular time. Or do I shecdule to be online at a particular time and have other members schedule to log in at that time. I will try this again.

Monday, June 15, 2009

Spelling errors on Posts

I noticed that I made 2 spelling errors on my previous post.(Movie Videoconferencing) so wondered How does one avoid this? And can you amend the spelling once you have Published a Post. Is there a spell checker available or do I save the post re read it to edit it and then Publish it? have I been too hasty and Published it when I think I've finished?.
But help is available. I've discovered you can amend a previous post! For those who don't know how to do this. Go to New Post. You can select Edit Posts. A list of your Post will appear. You can click Edit next to the Post you wish to change.
This is great as it may save some embarrassment if you have made some blues in your Post.

Movi Videoconferencing

I'm running a bit behind with the topic from last week but should be able to do Movi and See and Share this week. Paul Rixons demo movie of using these 2 together was useful and I' give this a try later in the week
I've emailed to get my Movie login and will get ready for a Movi session when I receive this.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

More RSS feeds and links to the blog

Continued with the addition of RSS feeds and other types of links using the "Add a Gadget" tool of the blog. I think these can be used to add interesting,useful and diverse content to the blog giving it wider appeal. These gadgets could be used to develop a blog that may deliver content that enables the blog to be used as a learning and marketing tool. This is an aspect of the blog that I will try to discover and develop more.

Saturday, June 6, 2009

RSS Feeds

Making a start on RSS feeds.
Finding the sites to get feeds from does take a bit of searching. I've made a start and will add to these over the next week. I'll try to get a variety and then see how they work on the blog as the days go by

Monday, June 1, 2009

Making a start! Topics 2&3
My journey through the 23things begins!
The initial readings have given food for thought.
Some of the terms encountered are :
  • shared network spaces
  • interactivity
  • remixed content
  • elimination of barriers
  • technolust
  • trend spotting
  • Web as a platform
  • users to add value
  • user initiated services
  • libraries not in total control of content
  • menu of choices
  • systematic sharing
  • the library is everywhere
  • barrier free
  • Library 3.0 - 3D
  • The neo library experience - Web 4.0
  • retreat from technohustle
  • users to paticipate in creation of content and community
  • radical trust

Most of these terms are not new to me but the challenge will be in using them to change/initiate/shape/implement library practices using e-leaning concepts and tools.

There are many tasks to work through on the travel through the 23 things. Experiencing them and thinking how to use them in our changing library environment will be the challenge

The tour begins !