#23 The End

I Can't believe the program's over. My favourite exercises from the program were playing around with online image generators and Youtube. I've enjoyed looking at Youtube for a little while now, but sharing favourites with work colleagues has been a lot of fun. I think the most useful applications from a practical work perspective were wikis for storing information; rollyo for accurate searching; podcasts and downloadable audio and video for instructional and training purposes. RSS feeds would also be useful for keeping up-to-date with current information and bulletins.

I can see a use for social bookmarking sites, but found searching (trawling!) other user's tags a bit tedious at the time.

Finally, I love the concept of learning by playing. It is great if workplaces can continue to embrace this as an acceptable means of learning.

I've also really enjoyed sharing this learning experience with work colleagues. It was great sharing some of the discoveries along the way and laughing at some of the things that we had come across.

I look forward to Web 3.0, avatars, Second life and whatever else is coming!

#22 Audiobooks

I love the idea of these audiobook sites. There is a high demand for CD talking books in the library at the moment and these audiobook sites would complement this demand nicely.

Access to ebooks in other languages, rare, out-of-print, obscure or even alternative versions of books make these sites an exciting resource.

Maybe these sites are in their early stages, but I did have trouble locating titles with a few specific searches. However it was interesting (and a bit perplexing!)browsing through the lists of obscure titles of ebooks and documents.

I loved looking through the old children's book titles like the "Adventures of Squirrel Fluffytail".

These sites weren't quite there yet for me but show lots of exciting promise.

#21 Podcasts

Had a look at the podcast directories recommended in the exercise and enjoyed listening to some music and author interviews.

Looked at library related podcasts and then added an RSS feed of the "The Rock 'n' roll Librarian" to my Bloglines account.

The author of this podcast goes to conventions and reports on the event and interviews participants. Podcasts are ideal for this sort of reporting.

I did find that the podcast directories listed new topics which I found a bit limited. Most searches turned up no results. I'm looking forward to the time when more varied and interesting material become available on these sites like old and rare radio broadcasts and rare recorded materials.

#20 Youtube

I love Youtube. It can be educational, interesting or just funny (like this video). The footage here shows a beauty pageant entrant demonstrating her questionable dancing and trumpet skills.

Youtube can be used in all sorts of ways on a library website such as online training; showing building developments; auspicious moments such as an opening; author talks or even something library related that is fun and friviolous.

I've come across some great rare footage such as old blues musicians that have thought to have never been captured on film; where someone has found some old film taken by there father or grandfather and posted it on Youtube to share with everyone. I love the sharing, community spirit of sites like Youtube.

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 tools

I really liked Biblio.com. It is an online bookstore for rare and out of print books. People are often seeking rare or out of print titles in the library. This site allows us to search over 50 million out of print books. Biblio is a US driven site but users can search just within Australia and New Zealand or broaden the search overseas. Searching can be done by title, author or ISBN. Other features I liked were that prices could be translated into Australian currency. Also, searches can be done on first edition copies, signed copies, paperbacks or hardcovers. The book condition status is also included.

#18 Web based apps

 

I like web application tools

                    

Compatability of Word programs with different PCS is an issue sometimes. It's good to have an alternative.

#17 Sandbox wiki

Added my blog on the Sandbox wiki.
Nice and easy, the way I like it.

Looking forward to using wikis more in the future.

#16 Wikis

Wikis are the answer to many a librarians' prayers. They can replace paper folders and can be easily updated and edited. I love the idea of sharing information and having many and varied contributors. A wiki can pool staff ideas to one site and can be accessed and edited from any pc. Staff reading suggestions, booklists, community info, library procedures, web links, council contacts, databases, local history etc etc. The examples in the exercise demonstrate the range of possibilities ie book lovers, Best practices etc.

#15 On library 2.0 and web 2.0

(A train of thought, unedited rant about web 2.0!)I remember reading once that the role of librarians is to make sense of the world of information. This has always been the case and I think it always will. Web 2.0 technology simply provides us with more tools that will enable us to effectively harness the vast matrix of online information. Patrons are always going to need librarians to guide and assist them, just in different ways. The increased digitalisation of information and materials replacing the printed format may allow end users to access a greater ammount of information online from home but also creates greater confusion and no doubt associated anxiety. The physical compartmentalised library (ref, children, fiction etc)has an order and harmony that will continue to be a place of social and emotional engagement, as well as a sanctuary. Yes we will have to bring the services to the patrons via the web with podcasts wikis, blogs etc., but this will just be an added component to the library service. The tactile, physical experience will never go away but it is important to make the library an attractive and comfortable space and follow retail trends in this area. Web 3.0 and 3D virtual visits, avatars...very exciting for all of us. Bring it on!

#14 Technorati

Searching 'Learning 2.0' in Technorati in keyword, tags and directory searching produced a mixed serve of results. Tags seemed to produce a more reasonable number of results. I also tried some more vague and obscure music searches and also found Tags to be more on the mark, often producing just a handful of desirable results. The keyword searching facility seems a bit 'troubled' and needs some work(or is it just me? ie phrase searching, boolean)The authority feature is a good idea in tag and directory searching. Interesting to look at the popular searches, particularly in regards to the upcoming US elections and the concerns and opinions of the US public. Good to see Boingboing is maintaining it's popularity as its always been fun and interesting.

#13 Del.icio.us

Another handy organising tool. I love the idea of bookmarking(tagging)sites to one place. I can be on holidays at an internet cafe or at home and not have to remember sites bookmarked on my work pc. I also had fun searching topics on Del.icio.us and finding like-minded people and exploring their tags.

#12 Rollyo

Nice to be able to limit searches to known or reputable sites. I may use this at work for discovering book reviews for patrons. The recipes searchroll useful too, not to mention my own brilliant (and completely self-indulgent!) personalised searchrolls.

Select...Paul\'s blogSearch The Web

#11 Librarythang

Not a bad gizmo. A good way to convey reading interests or recommendations.

What... me?

Have you heard this rumour on Bizarre rumours?
As the gossip-mongers are telling it, a football stadium full of pornographic barmaids controversially worshipped nose picking Paul.

#10 Image generators

#9 Finding feeds

The previous exercise in bloglines was probably my favourite so far, in that I'm able to control and reign in information to a single source. This is one tool that I will probably continue to use. My family resembles the United Nations, so I'm always on the lookout for the latest information on Argentina, India, The Netherlands etc. RSS would be a great way to stay in touch with relevant news. However I found "finding feeds" through Feedster, Topix.net etc., a bit hit and miss. The Bloglines search tool seemed to be the best. The content appears to be edited to some degree.

#8 RSS Bloglines

I've always been impressed with people on blogs and newsgroups that constantly submit relevant, interesting and topical information gleaned from websites. I assumed they spent too much time trawling web sites, emails etc. Now I know the secret! Very useful for keeping up with news and developments for work and personal interest type stuff, not to mention dinner party banter (ie boing boing)! Here's my public blogline: www.bloglines.com/public/conanthelibrarian

#7 New technology...you can keep your ipod!

I brought this 1960s radiogram home from the op shop the other day, much to the bemusement of my kids and chagrin of my wife. "Where's it going to go?" "What are you going to do with it?" my wife asked. I went to turn it on...uh oh false start, it's not working. It worked well in the shop. Anyway with a bit of tweaking I managed to get it playing. Wow, what a sound! I played old records on it for the rest of the afternoon while my kids danced in paganistic abandon around it. Even my wife conceded that her Irma Thomas and Bettye Lavette LPs sounded better on the old dear. "The way they were meant to sound" was her comment. There is definitely a warmer sound to records. I find digital sounds too clean, cold and even a bit harsh in comparison. Friends are buying ipod docks with single speakers lately, proud of the fact that it plays 3000 songs (ripped off from the internet). They seem to overlook the fact that it sounds cold and tinny, like icicles assaulting the eardrums. My new/old unit is better (to me anyhow). All week now in the warmer evenings when the kids have gone to bed, I've been relaxing in the easy chair spinning old soul, blues, rock 'n' roll and country records on the radiogram content with the world. I might even start whittling.

#6 Flickr mashup

I went to 'Photo Fortune' and tried my luck with a mashup there. It combines a phrase with photos. The phrase read "You are sick, twisted and perverted. I like that in a person." The photos were a bit strange with a couple of guys doing something weird in a laundry. Hmmm.... I liked it. Maybe I am sick, twisted and perverted!

#5 Flickr- The Librarian

http://www.flickr.com/photos/graypilgrim/11252175/

"The Librarian" (1566). Anyone else feel like this during Monday's chute clearance and picklist?

#2 Hold the wedding...

I'm a bit late but it's great to be here with all of you. I feel like I'm about to enter a cyber playground. It should be fun.