Wrap up & Social Networks

The last week of this journey, how so much has changed since that first week where I knew so little. I have much more confidence now with new technologies on the web, it has been a great experience, thankyou.
Social networking using MySpace, Facebook would be helpful to our library system for keeping everyone in the loop. It would help avoid constant emails when planning events and promotions for the branches. Socially for myself it gives me the opportunity to keep in touch with friends.
I enjoyed the Coshocton Library MySpace page and the inventiveness of it.
The second life, hmmm. I think it may appeal to younger people, those who have grown up with video games and have been using web games for some time. But can't really see a use for it in our library system at this stage. We have limitations through councils IT department with what we can and can't do but I look forward to the future with local government changes as web technologies become increasingly familiar. I read "Beyond the Hype: Web 2.0" and what Kiama library have achieved by developing their own network so that their council IT department does not interfere with what they do. Wow, this could be a sign of change.
So once again thankyou plsnsw for helping me expand my boundaries.

Online Applications and tools

Online software , has to be a bonus for those people who can't afford the traditonal software and not having to install this makes it even better. I found Google Docs relatively easy to use but I didn't ask my co-workers to edit the document I submitted. Sent to pls NSW. I think regional libraries would find Google Docs a time saver. It would end the back and forth emails and phoning when having to collaborate on all types of documents. I read online that microsoft are taking notice as more people use free Google Docs and that there is an increased business usage, probably because it is free.

Mashups

Mashups/Googlemaps could be useful for our region to show patrons the exact locations of our branches with information attached such as opening hours. I think the voicethread mashup would also be helpful adding an extra format of information in our history room. Really, as I browsed through Big huge labs people can be as creative as they like with this technology. I have enjoyed looking at some great artistic work. (Thought I should put another photo in here other than another magpie!)

Podcasts and Audio

Podcasts could be another service used in our library system as a tool to be used by patrons who have missed author talks, storytime, books reviews or any event that has been perviously held at the library. Many people are "time poor" as we hear, so a missed session could be accessed at a later time via computer. Also sight impaired clients may feel audio podcasts are an additional service for them. At a personal level I enjoy listening to podcasts on a favourite radio station.

Answer Boards & Social Searching

It was good to see the positive response the Librarians Answer Board received, really good feedback from the community. This has to raise the profile of libraries when adding in the answers where additional information can be found, at libraries and on their websites. Answer boards could be used as another search tool adding another resource skill.
Many patrons may feel comfortable using answer boards as they can remain anonymous if they wish.
I didn't post an answer on Yahoo Answers but I did search a subject I am familiar with and checked out the questions and answers instead. I was checking to verify whether the information posted was accurate and I found most of the information to be correct.
There are so many people "Slamming the Boards", it makes for some very interesting reading.Tag lines and signatures seem to promote USA libraries so it would be great to see more Australian promotion.

Del.icio.us/Technorati/LibraryThing

This week with so much to do I think I will break this into 3 exercises. In del.icio.us I have added three bookmarks at this stage but plan on adding more later. It wasn't too difficult adding these but what I have found is that there have been some changes made to this site since the 2.0 learning course started. 'Adding tags' is in a slightly different area and the symbol is different, not worded as post. Anyway I am finding my way around.
Having these sights bookmarked in delicious, tagging can be shared amongst library groups which would be time saving and also great that this can be viewed from any computer unlike stored in favourites. Maybe local history rooms at some branches could share. It is all so interesting what is available.
Delicious/WanderingLil

With Technorati I chose not to register but I can see having this tool available for raising your profile on the web. There is so much information to browse through too, it is almost overwhelming. I did the exercise for 'bookmobile' and found over 800 hits and through advanced search chosing 'tags' I got 44.

I really enjoyed the Library Thing adventure and felt it was easy to navigate around. What a good reference tool and I liked the idea that you can create or join in a book group. I think many clients at our library would be interested in Library Thing. Using the clouds, bringing up all the tags maybe helpful for searching for a book when a client has forgotten the author and title, a bit like a subject search.
I added 5 books but plan to add more books to my profile later and play bit more with Library Thing.

U tube & Google video

Once I started watching u tube clips I lost all track of time. So many different subjects, some done really well, others I only watched a couple of seconds of. I searched several public library related videos and found some of these informative and entertaining. I especially liked the "Discover a new world at Columbus Public Library" promotion clip which was obviously professionally done but would be very appealing to teenagers and children. I think promoting libraries via u tube is the way to go with instructional clips helpful to new patrons. More Australian content on u tube I guess will happen in time.
discover a new world at columbus public library - Google Videos