Week 12

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.

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).

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.