Week 14 - Social Networking services

I have used a few different social networking services already, mainly Facebook and MySpace (although I haven't visited my MySpace profile for at least 6 months).

I can see some benefits for the State Library in having a presence in these services, but the benefits may only be small unless we could properly resource them. That is, one or more staff members would need to regularly maintain the profiles, post updates, reply to messages, check for notifications, etc.

Since starting this post, I have become a "fan" of Libraries Australia with my Facebook account. Is this the start of libraries colonising Facebook? Who knows?

And this is my last official post as part of the Learning 2.0 program. Hopefully I will be able to continue my learning on my own, however; that was the whole point, after all!

Is this the beginning of the end, or just the end of the beginning?

Only time will tell....

Goodbye for now!

Week 13 - Productivity software

I have created a document on Google Docs, and given viewing access to slnsw2.0@gmail.com.

Online productivity software is probably of more use to clients than to State Library staff. Staff have access to a range of software already, but we do not offer word processing or spreadsheet access to clients. I was pleased when I first learned about google docs, because I can now suggest it to clients in the reading rooms when they ask about word processing facilities.

The other online tools look useful as well, but I don't think that I have much call to use them.

One of the more useful aspects of the online applications is probably accessibility - I can work on documents anywhere I can get web access, without having to carry a physical object containing the files.

All in all, they are probably some of the more useful tools available on the Web.

Week 12 - Mashups

Well, here it is. My Big Huge Labs mashup. Enjoy!

Week 11 - Podcasts and Audio

This has possibilities.

I downloaded a couple of ABC broadcasts, as well as one from the Wadsworth Public Library that I accessed through the Library Success wiki. I listened to them on my mp3 player while doing the shopping on Sunday.

It was very interesting, especially the public library one. Although not as professionally produced as the ABC podcasts, I chose one on a topic that interested me (slow food), and quite enjoyed it. Unfortunately, although my local library holds a few of the books mentioned in the podcast, they were all checked out when I went there that afternoon!

The State Library could podcast talks by staff and fellows, interviews with authors, presentations, and other similar things. Internally, maybe some meetings can be podcast for staff who were not able to attend (or who were there, but want to check their memory of what was said...)

There is considerable potential in podcasting.

Week 10 - Answer boards

I'm afraid I'm going to be a wet blanket again.

I really don't see any role for the State Library in "slamming the boards". Quite frankly, we are stretched to manage our existing services, without adding yet another one.

With the news of yet another budget cut this year, I think that trying to do more with less is a recipe for disillusionment.

Sorry to be so down on this one.

:-(

Week 9

Week 9 is (or, more accurately, was) another catch-up week.

Woohoo!

Week 8, Part 3 - LibraryThing

Now this is fun! I can see myself spending a great many lunchtimes on this site!

LibraryThing is a fantastic idea.

For us at the State Library, perhaps it could be used to give a list of our newly purchased books, or something along those lines.

Week 8, Part 2 - Technorati

Not much luck with Technorati, I'm afraid.

The "bookmobile" search got quite a few hits, but the "nswpln2008" search only got 1 hit on basic and 2 hits on advanced, both of which were other SLNSW Learning 2.0 blogs!

Don't really see the usefulness of Technorati just yet.

Week 8, Part 1 - del.icio.us

So I've created my del.icio.us account and added (so far) one link, which had already been added by 139 other people.

My del.icio.us account is here. I'll try to add more to it later!

Week 7 – Online Video

The main constraint I have faced in exploring online video is time!

I just can’t seem to get the time to search through the huge number of videos available to find those that might interest me. The search functions in YouTube and Google Video are helpful, but I don’t find them as precise as, say, a library catalogue.

There are good videos out there – I’ve seen a few - but it’s a bit of a chore to sift through all the dross to find them.

As to how the State Library could use this technology, well, the obvious thing would be to create videos that promote the Library or give information about a certain aspect of our collections and exhibitions. These could be hosted on one of the video hosting sites, with embedded links in the State Library’s own website.

I can’t really think of any other great ideas on how to use online video, but if I do I’ll write a blog post about them!

Tidying up loose ends

I'm looking at the activities for past weeks, and checking which activities I haven't completed yet.

One thing I forgot to do was find an image that illustrated one of the values of the State Library of NSW.

So here it is! Energy and Teamwork!

Checking out the blogs!

I've been having a look at some of the other blogs that are on the participants blog roll, I left comments on a couple.

There are some really impressive efforts! It's actually pretty inspiring (and just a tad intimidating) that people are doing such great work for the Learning 2.0 program.

I've even created RSS feeds for a few of the blogs that I particularly enjoyed reading.

Week 6 - RSS

I’m not sure I see the advantage of RSS yet. I have registered for Google Reader, and created RSS feeds from the Powerhouse Museum’s Picture of the Day, Librarybytes, ABS for Librarians, Undercover (the SMH book blog), and ABC news.

At the moment I probably won’t be using it at work, because I can’t seem to get Google Reader working on my work PC. I had to set it up and create the RSS feeds from my home PC. But that might just be something I need to talk to the Help Desk about.

There doesn’t seem to be a huge advantage to RSS compared to a good list of bookmarked sites. Perhaps I’m missing something.

I’ll give it more time…perhaps it will grow on me!

:-)

Week 5 - Catch up week

Phew! I guess I can skip over this one!

Week 4 - Wikis

The idea of Wikis sounds interesting; an online document that anyone (or anyone with the proper authorisation) can edit, which can be used as a way of pooling the talents of a number of people.

The Wikis I looked at were the SJCPL Subject Guides wiki, Book Lovers Wiki, and Wookieepedia. I’m particularly attracted to the idea of posting book reviews and similar information, but the idea of being able to correct erroneous information in a Wiki site does have its appeal. Unfortunately, either I don’t know enough or the information I looked at was all correct, because I couldn’t find any errors in the few pages I looked at!

There is an obvious danger of vandalism, though, and I think there needs to be some restrictions on access, to prevent the antisocial minority spoiling a Wiki for everyone else.

Week 3 - Flickr and photosharing

I’ve never looked at Flickr before. There are so many images here! Even just the photos of the State Library of NSW are many and varied. Here’s one of my favourites:

I just love the light and shadows in this image, and the way it brings out the lines of the Mitchell Wing building.

And here’s another image I found on Flickr that caught my eye:

It's always important to follow the rules, I believe!

Catching Up?

Well, it’s already week 8 of the SLNSW Learning 2.0 program, and I seem to have missed weeks 3 to 7. Things keep getting in the way!

Time for a big catch-up, I think!

I will try to do a week each day this week...

What I hope to gain from Learning 2.0

I see an ever greater impact on Library services by the Web and other digital media.

My hope is that Learning 2.0 will help give me an understanding of how these work, and how to use them effectively. With this knowledge I may be able to learn ways to harness the potential of these new technologies, to improve services or promote the Library to the public.

Lifelong learning is also a great idea, and I plan to use my own personal interests to encourage myself to continue learning and developing in a number of areas. This will, of course, include things which should help me in my work!

;-)

First post to the past...or something like that

Welcome to my new Blog, which I am developing as part of a Learning 2.0 program at work.

Here I shall record my cogitations and ruminations on the big questions of Life, the Universe, and Everything....such as, When is my next tea break? And is anyone looking over my shoulder as I type this?

Tune in next time for more exciting thoughts from an Employee of the State Library of New South Wales.