Social networking...and completion of Learning 2.0!
First, considering possibilities for the library re using social networking for client interaction, marketing, and networking opportunities - this seems to be such a rich area for development, all centring around creating a virtual community. I was impressed by the article on Seb Chan's blog (developing Josh Bernoff's chart), as it listed the options for listening and learning (eg from library customers, other libraries, and professional networks); for talking (eg to our clients); for promoting our services through a social online presence; and for energising the library community and generally creating a 'buzz' about libraries.
I feel my library could use social networking in 2 main ways: to engage with niche communities (as done by Coshocton Library's 'Animanga Club' on MySpace)- such as children or teens; and also more generally to provide a bridge to the library, as done by the ALA's MySpace page and Rotorua's Bebo - eg providing a means of contact, promotion, updates, blog highlights, discussion and interaction etc etc
Finally, as this is my last week in Learning 2.0, I would like to express my thanks to the Public Libraries staff facilitating this program. I've really learnt a lot.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Monday, May 4, 2009
Week 11
Hi again. Week 11 and we're covering online applications and tools.
I have created a 'Google doc' and shared it as instructed with the good people at NSW Public Libraries who're supporting us in this Learning 2.0 course - I hope it arrived safely!
It's easy to see the advantages of tools such as 'Google docs' and 'Zoho' for ease of collaboration and sharing - perhaps especially on complex projects with multiple collaborators. In my job, involving children's work, I can see possibilities re preparing programs for promotions, book week etc with the children's librarian and other members of the team (potentially saving a lot of time in meetings!). In the public library context, I can also see the advantage for customers of being able to access their documents online from any computer with internet connection.
I looked at 'Zamzar' (great for converting files without having to download software), and then 'Slideshare' - how good to be able to share Powerpoint presentations and slidecasts! Could well save reinventing the wheel! For example, I found slideshows such as 'RSS at your library' (practical ways librarians and libraries can use RSS), examples of library orientations, and even a slideshow on the history and future of libraries (great to use in preparing a general interest community outreach talk, or something similar).
I have created a 'Google doc' and shared it as instructed with the good people at NSW Public Libraries who're supporting us in this Learning 2.0 course - I hope it arrived safely!
It's easy to see the advantages of tools such as 'Google docs' and 'Zoho' for ease of collaboration and sharing - perhaps especially on complex projects with multiple collaborators. In my job, involving children's work, I can see possibilities re preparing programs for promotions, book week etc with the children's librarian and other members of the team (potentially saving a lot of time in meetings!). In the public library context, I can also see the advantage for customers of being able to access their documents online from any computer with internet connection.
I looked at 'Zamzar' (great for converting files without having to download software), and then 'Slideshare' - how good to be able to share Powerpoint presentations and slidecasts! Could well save reinventing the wheel! For example, I found slideshows such as 'RSS at your library' (practical ways librarians and libraries can use RSS), examples of library orientations, and even a slideshow on the history and future of libraries (great to use in preparing a general interest community outreach talk, or something similar).
Week 10
This week - mashups. I'd never heard of them before - but what amazing tools these provide! I used the 'motivator' tool from 'Big huge labs' to assemble a promotional library poster (see below).
The major applications of mashups I can see for libraries would mainly involve promotion and/or mapping. The options for quickly, easily, and cheaply producing professional-looking promotional material (leaflets, posters, bookmarks etc)are really mind-boggling. For example, I noticed 'Big huge labs' provides tools such as the 'Warholizer'- which turns digital photos into pop art images - and the 'Hockneyizer' - producing collages in the style of David Hockney - not to mention mosaic makers, jigsaw puzzle makers, and so on. All of these tools enable high-quality graphic effects for any promotional material the library might require.
I looked at the British Library's 'London: a life in google maps' (a virtual exhibition charting the city's history via maps and associated text), and also 'Voicethread' (which, as noted, might have local studies and /or virtual exhibition applications). I can see how these might have library applications (especially in an academic library context). And of course, all library systems could take advantage of a tool such as the 'public library finder', to ensure our customers can find us!
As a worker in a public library system, though, I have to say that it is the possibilities that mashups provide for promotional material that has really excited me.
The major applications of mashups I can see for libraries would mainly involve promotion and/or mapping. The options for quickly, easily, and cheaply producing professional-looking promotional material (leaflets, posters, bookmarks etc)are really mind-boggling. For example, I noticed 'Big huge labs' provides tools such as the 'Warholizer'- which turns digital photos into pop art images - and the 'Hockneyizer' - producing collages in the style of David Hockney - not to mention mosaic makers, jigsaw puzzle makers, and so on. All of these tools enable high-quality graphic effects for any promotional material the library might require.
I looked at the British Library's 'London: a life in google maps' (a virtual exhibition charting the city's history via maps and associated text), and also 'Voicethread' (which, as noted, might have local studies and /or virtual exhibition applications). I can see how these might have library applications (especially in an academic library context). And of course, all library systems could take advantage of a tool such as the 'public library finder', to ensure our customers can find us!
As a worker in a public library system, though, I have to say that it is the possibilities that mashups provide for promotional material that has really excited me.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Week 9
Podcasts and vodcasts...Wow! What a range of resources presented by this technology, and its significance in circumventing the traditional restrictions of broadcasting (for both producers and consumers).
Via British Library, I listened to a talk about Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, and then via the ABC, listened to a report on Australia's best loved play competition. The podcasts linked to the 'Library Success' wiki were an inspiration - I sampled author talks, teen webcasts, library tours, book reviews, and even a 'new books in the school library' session!
I also visited the 'Online education database', and was impressed by the range of resources (tertiary level)in various disciplines, from prestigious universities such as MIT and Stanford.
I can certainly see a wide range of library applications, including professional networking, library promotion, author talks, user education and library tours, staff training/induction, and more. As a library officer who's done a lot of children's work in her career, I'm particularly impressed by the ability of pod/vodcasts to 'capture' storytelling performances and make them available beyond the library walls. I remember back in the 80's wanting to share a performance at a children's book week conference in another city that I couldn't attend - I had all the effort of arranging for a Council media person to video my performance, which was then sent to the conference, which then had to be timetabled in to a schedule to ensure it would be seen (and I'm sure some attendees would have missed it). With podcasting - problem solved!!
Via British Library, I listened to a talk about Joan Littlewood's Theatre Workshop, and then via the ABC, listened to a report on Australia's best loved play competition. The podcasts linked to the 'Library Success' wiki were an inspiration - I sampled author talks, teen webcasts, library tours, book reviews, and even a 'new books in the school library' session!
I also visited the 'Online education database', and was impressed by the range of resources (tertiary level)in various disciplines, from prestigious universities such as MIT and Stanford.
I can certainly see a wide range of library applications, including professional networking, library promotion, author talks, user education and library tours, staff training/induction, and more. As a library officer who's done a lot of children's work in her career, I'm particularly impressed by the ability of pod/vodcasts to 'capture' storytelling performances and make them available beyond the library walls. I remember back in the 80's wanting to share a performance at a children's book week conference in another city that I couldn't attend - I had all the effort of arranging for a Council media person to video my performance, which was then sent to the conference, which then had to be timetabled in to a schedule to ensure it would be seen (and I'm sure some attendees would have missed it). With podcasting - problem solved!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Week 8
Answer boards and social searching - I checked out the exemplary answers on the 'Answer Board Librarians Wiki', and can readily discern the quality responses one would expect from librarians eg they provide an authoritative source and its web address if appropriate; identify themselves as librarians; refer people to local libraries, and highlight the library's myriad services and resources (including online reference services). It's easy to see the importance of librarians being proactive and maintaining and developing a presence in the 2.0 environment.
I suppose 'slamming the boards' can be seen as an extension of modern reference services (as well as a promotional/awareness exercise). My library (Wollongong City) offers an email-based reference service, but it would be good to develop and/or participate in an answer board project, facilitating as it does the social dimension. Multiple users could benefit from an answer, and there is so much scope for further interactivity (eg comments, voting).
I posted an answer on 'Yahoo! 7 Answers', answering a question regarding finding a poem that demonstrated the quality of euphony. I found a good article and example (Tennyson's 'The Lotos-Eaters') in Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (in a library database) - and made sure I gave the source - and mentioned the library! - in my response.
I suppose 'slamming the boards' can be seen as an extension of modern reference services (as well as a promotional/awareness exercise). My library (Wollongong City) offers an email-based reference service, but it would be good to develop and/or participate in an answer board project, facilitating as it does the social dimension. Multiple users could benefit from an answer, and there is so much scope for further interactivity (eg comments, voting).
I posted an answer on 'Yahoo! 7 Answers', answering a question regarding finding a poem that demonstrated the quality of euphony. I found a good article and example (Tennyson's 'The Lotos-Eaters') in Merriam-Webster's Encyclopedia of Literature (in a library database) - and made sure I gave the source - and mentioned the library! - in my response.
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Week 7
Hello again. Week 7 - del.icio.us, tagging, folksonomies, LibraryThing, and Technorati - a big week! I did the del.icio.us exercise, and happily found it quite straightforward. Set up an account (http://delicious.com/missemerald) and posted 2 bookmarks to it - one to this blog, and another to 'Faith and Theology' (a blog I read regularly). Initially, I didn't understand that to use 2 words or more for one tag you need to combine them without a space (eg nswstatelibrary), but once I got this right I was happy with my tags.
I then explored Technorati and LibraryThing. I was impressed by the advanced search capability on Technorati (keyword, URL, tag), and am now tempted to use LibraryThing to organise my somewhat chaotic home library!
To me, the striking thing about all these tools is their profoundly social nature. Yes, they have other benefits (eg accessing your bookmarks from any computer via del.icio.us), but it seems to me that the overriding advantage they offer is various forms of sharing and collaboration with others (eg is easy to see how libraries can use del.icio.us to assist users in accessing quality sites, and also how different libraries can share their discoveries with each other).
I then explored Technorati and LibraryThing. I was impressed by the advanced search capability on Technorati (keyword, URL, tag), and am now tempted to use LibraryThing to organise my somewhat chaotic home library!
To me, the striking thing about all these tools is their profoundly social nature. Yes, they have other benefits (eg accessing your bookmarks from any computer via del.icio.us), but it seems to me that the overriding advantage they offer is various forms of sharing and collaboration with others (eg is easy to see how libraries can use del.icio.us to assist users in accessing quality sites, and also how different libraries can share their discoveries with each other).
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