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!

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/

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.

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?

Why Have A Blog

Check out this SlideShare Presentation:

Why Have A Blog

View more presentations from karajones.

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.

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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