From a marvelous holiday in September 2007.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
#23 End or beginning
Has been a very interesting exercise for someone who was 'internet illiterate', and I have certainly dicovered a whole new world. I particularly enjoyed working with flickr and would like to follow this up, as well as wikis.
However unfortunately my enjoyment has been rather tempered by the fact that as a part-timer I simply did not have enough time to explore each area properly, and because of the pressure of finishing on a deadline I know there is an awful lot I have not taken in.
For future reference I would suggest this programme needs a good 6 months, for people (both full and part-time workers) to explore each area thoroughly and not just skip over the surface.
However unfortunately my enjoyment has been rather tempered by the fact that as a part-timer I simply did not have enough time to explore each area properly, and because of the pressure of finishing on a deadline I know there is an awful lot I have not taken in.
For future reference I would suggest this programme needs a good 6 months, for people (both full and part-time workers) to explore each area thoroughly and not just skip over the surface.
# 21 Podcasts
Have had a look at podcast alley, but found it all quite confusing and had no luck in getting an RSS feed onto my blog. Nonee of the screens I am looking at seem to bear any resemblance to any of the instructions!
#22 Audiobooks
This is an amazing site for the volume of titles available.
Found Kipling's 'The man who would be king' and got the full text on the screen, although was unable to hear it on my Mac computer.
Obviously there are library uses here for borrowers to download ebooks, particularly in the case of out of print books, or books hard to source, obviously those that have no copyright restrictions, but I'm not sure how satisfactory the audio component would be. Are they read by actors, like books on tape.CD?
Found Kipling's 'The man who would be king' and got the full text on the screen, although was unable to hear it on my Mac computer.
Obviously there are library uses here for borrowers to download ebooks, particularly in the case of out of print books, or books hard to source, obviously those that have no copyright restrictions, but I'm not sure how satisfactory the audio component would be. Are they read by actors, like books on tape.CD?
# 20 YouTube
A fascinating site which is a whole new world for short film and video lovers, and people wanting to share their own movies.
I looked at some spectacular short films on the northern lights (aurora borealis) and was particularly impressed with one called "Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) by someone called Ramirashko. Although it is really a more like a slide show rather than a movie, the colours and music are stunning!
I think a video component could be added to a library webpage, perhaps to give a guided tour of the library, or to show some of the events we held.
I looked at some spectacular short films on the northern lights (aurora borealis) and was particularly impressed with one called "Aurora Borealis (the Northern Lights) by someone called Ramirashko. Although it is really a more like a slide show rather than a movie, the colours and music are stunning!
I think a video component could be added to a library webpage, perhaps to give a guided tour of the library, or to show some of the events we held.
Saturday, December 1, 2007
# 19 Discovering web 2.0 tools
Had a look at the book creating site "Lulu".
Found this quite fascinating with the ability to create your own publications of all sorts and have them bound at what seems to be a very cheap rate and then distributed for sale if you wish - with the added claim that because of the site's 'no. 1 rating among self publishing websites' your work will appear at the top of searches in google etc.
I loved particularly the photo books you can create with full binding etc. (I have seen this done professionally and it is very expensive.)
I think there would be many uses in libraries for this sort of technology, such as annual reports, brochures. poster etc.
I like the idea of a library produced calendar with the year's main events printed in it as well as all sorts of promotions and information included. The run would probably have to be restricted though or the cost could still be prohibitative.
A great idea (and more economic!)I think would be to have a children's book writing and illustrating competion, with the winner receiving a bound copy of their book.
Found this quite fascinating with the ability to create your own publications of all sorts and have them bound at what seems to be a very cheap rate and then distributed for sale if you wish - with the added claim that because of the site's 'no. 1 rating among self publishing websites' your work will appear at the top of searches in google etc.
I loved particularly the photo books you can create with full binding etc. (I have seen this done professionally and it is very expensive.)
I think there would be many uses in libraries for this sort of technology, such as annual reports, brochures. poster etc.
I like the idea of a library produced calendar with the year's main events printed in it as well as all sorts of promotions and information included. The run would probably have to be restricted though or the cost could still be prohibitative.
A great idea (and more economic!)I think would be to have a children's book writing and illustrating competion, with the winner receiving a bound copy of their book.
# 18 web-based apps
Have looked around this site and attempted to create document with image, but it was extremely slow and often not responding.
Looking at the list of 'bugs' in the 'forums' I think there may be some technical problems with this site.
The idea of this free service is good but I don't find it very user friendly.
Looking at the list of 'bugs' in the 'forums' I think there may be some technical problems with this site.
The idea of this free service is good but I don't find it very user friendly.
Thursday, November 29, 2007
# 17 Playing around with PBWiki
Seems to be a very easy website to use and you do feel as though you are 'talking to' other people.
# 16 So what's in a wiki
Love the community feel of these wikis, although I think one of the main problems would be accuracy of informnation, and you would need to accept people changing your entries whenever they wanted to!
I think they would be excellent for library web pages where libaray patrons could be invited to add their comments on all sorts of things eg. libaray actitvities they ahve been to, local facilities they have used that might be of interest ot others etc.
They would also be great for library catalogues where users could add reviews of the books listed, suggestions for 'tags' or other added search terms etc.
I think they would be excellent for library web pages where libaray patrons could be invited to add their comments on all sorts of things eg. libaray actitvities they ahve been to, local facilities they have used that might be of interest ot others etc.
They would also be great for library catalogues where users could add reviews of the books listed, suggestions for 'tags' or other added search terms etc.
# 15 On library 2.0 & web 2.0
All the visions for the future of Information provision et. are quite exciting, but I have to say to me in many ways quite overwhelming! The librarian in 'into a new world of librarianship' obviously does none of the traditional library tasks - there simply wouldn't be time!
(Also a plea for more simple, meaningful terminology - alot of the concepts are really not difficult but they are hidden by 'trendy' terminology.)
I prefer the view in "To a temporary place in time' where at least there seems to be a feeling that a library should still be a pleasant PHYSICAL place to go, not just a virtual space (and I like the sound of the comfortable chairs and brandy - and maybe even some books!)
Having had a whinge though I think there are lots of avenues for new ideas, and particularly in my area of cataloguing. The traditional methods and techniques of cataloguing should not be thrown away, but they could well be enhanced with the use of metadata, public tagging etc., which might make the catalogue a lot more user friendly.
(Also a plea for more simple, meaningful terminology - alot of the concepts are really not difficult but they are hidden by 'trendy' terminology.)
I prefer the view in "To a temporary place in time' where at least there seems to be a feeling that a library should still be a pleasant PHYSICAL place to go, not just a virtual space (and I like the sound of the comfortable chairs and brandy - and maybe even some books!)
Having had a whinge though I think there are lots of avenues for new ideas, and particularly in my area of cataloguing. The traditional methods and techniques of cataloguing should not be thrown away, but they could well be enhanced with the use of metadata, public tagging etc., which might make the catalogue a lot more user friendly.
# 14 Technorati
My keyword search in blog posts today came up with 1821 results, but even though I did a phrase search the results were often for the separate words. Much better when refined under "Blogs about" and I put libraries (25 posts).
Searching in tags gave 1514 articles but again not necessarily as the phrase. These were more actual articles, presumably tagged by the 'poster'
Blog directory gave 827 results, but still contained a lot of seemingly 'off the topic' results (eg. elearning, web 2.0).
Searching in tags gave 1514 articles but again not necessarily as the phrase. These were more actual articles, presumably tagged by the 'poster'
Blog directory gave 827 results, but still contained a lot of seemingly 'off the topic' results (eg. elearning, web 2.0).
#13. Tagging, folksonomies etc.
Have had a look around del.icio.us. Aileen says the main interest here is the grouping and tagging of your "favourites" but I didn't seem to come across a lot on that topic, rather more on the tagging etc.
The concept of public tagging (metadata?) is interesting to a cataloguer but I feel lack of any structure can have drawbacks in lack of consistency in headings used. Good for browsing etc. but for serious searching I think there also needs to be some sort of authority structure.
Maybe public library catalogues could eventually allow for the users to add their own tags to the catalogue record?
The concept of public tagging (metadata?) is interesting to a cataloguer but I feel lack of any structure can have drawbacks in lack of consistency in headings used. Good for browsing etc. but for serious searching I think there also needs to be some sort of authority structure.
Maybe public library catalogues could eventually allow for the users to add their own tags to the catalogue record?
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
#12 Rollyo
Have created a search roll for travel. Hopefully will add more later.
Handy to use for sites you use often and trust.
A library application: On our website we have lists of online databases in categories eg. health. There are several databases under each category and they could be linked with search rolls through 'rollyo' so only one search is needed not several.
Handy to use for sites you use often and trust.
A library application: On our website we have lists of online databases in categories eg. health. There are several databases under each category and they could be linked with search rolls through 'rollyo' so only one search is needed not several.
#10 Image generators
Surprisingly easy now I realise I can save pictures to Flickr before uploading to my blog!
#7 Reflections on technology
The technology we have been learning about in this programme opens up all sorts of possibilities for individual people! I look forward to spending more time exploring.
Tuesday, November 27, 2007
Monday, November 26, 2007
#8
Have found this very time-consuming but I can see it could be very useful in gathering items of interest and news. Need much more time to investigate properly but I have to move on!
Sunday, November 25, 2007
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