The rate of learning has definitely sped up. Aspects of web 2.0 were familiar before I started on this adventure. At first the new territories were rather daunting, but exploring from the end backwards has been rewarding.
I can see that web 2.0 can be a very poswerful promotional tool.
Today we had a meeting of the Friends of the Sargeson House (FOSH). I was very impressed to learn that FOSH has established a blogspot FriendsofSargesonhouse@gmail.com
One of the main drivers for establishing a bogspot was the development of North Shore City's arts' portal Shorespace. http://www.northshorecity.govt.nz/?src=/community-services/arts-culture/shorespace.html Shorespace is to be officiallly launched at the Bruce Mason Centre at the end of October. This will offer a wide range of groups and individuals an umbrella web space. It made me think that the Friends of the Takapuna Library could well do a blogspot and be part of Shorespace.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
WIld Thing, I think I love You, Library Thing
I must be a librarian at heart. I simply loved Library Thing. What a marvellous invention. I want to keep on going cataloguing all my books. However, I have catalogued my little desktop collection. I was really surprised some of the books were to be found on Library Thing.
If you want to see what an eclectic mix I keep within reach of my desk, please visit http://www.librarything.com/catalog/ValettaForest
I really would have loved to have had a tool like this when I set up the little library for the Accident Compensation Commission in 1973. It makes me realise what an incredible thing the internet is and how we are now able to do so much from whatever 'isolated' corner of the world.
If you want to see what an eclectic mix I keep within reach of my desk, please visit http://www.librarything.com/catalog/ValettaForest
I really would have loved to have had a tool like this when I set up the little library for the Accident Compensation Commission in 1973. It makes me realise what an incredible thing the internet is and how we are now able to do so much from whatever 'isolated' corner of the world.
WIld Think I think I love You Library Thing
I must be a librarian at heart. I simply loved Library Thing. What a marvellous invention. I don't want to keep on going cataloguing all my books. However, I have catalogued my little desktop collection. I was really surprised some of the books were to be found on Library Thing.
If you want to see what an eclectic mix I keep within reach of my desk, please visit http://www.librarything.com/catalog/ValettaForest
I really would have loved to have had a tool like this when I set up the little library for the Accident Compensation Commission in 1973. It makes me realise what an incredible thing the internet is and how we are now able to do so much from whatever 'isolated' corner of the world.
If you want to see what an eclectic mix I keep within reach of my desk, please visit http://www.librarything.com/catalog/ValettaForest
I really would have loved to have had a tool like this when I set up the little library for the Accident Compensation Commission in 1973. It makes me realise what an incredible thing the internet is and how we are now able to do so much from whatever 'isolated' corner of the world.
Rolling Home with Rollyo
What an interesting concept! And what fun to be able to develop a set of favourite searches which can be searched concurrently via Rollyo. To think that today I have built my very own mini search engine, called Validities http://rollyo.com/search.html?q=Search+for...&sid=468811.
I can see that the possibility for North Shore Libraries staff to create an uber rollyo search train using all their favourite sites.
I can see that the possibility for North Shore Libraries staff to create an uber rollyo search train using all their favourite sites.
Oh ho Zoho
The Magnificence of the Mountains
Take a stroll to the letterbox
Set the red flag upright
There's mail to collect
At Forest Park
No.1 RD
Ashburton
Above
all observe
the magnificence
of the mountains and breathe
in the alpine air. Do you hear
the wind soughing
in the pines?
These few lines are dedicated to my grandparents Sally and Thomas Taylor who bought their farm, Forest Park', in the 1920's and lived there until 1988. This year, 2008, our family lost the link with the farm as my cousin Martin sold up and moved to Nelson. Papa, my Grandfather would be appalled to know his beloved mixed grain and sheep farm had been converted to a dairy farm. With a mean annual rainfall of about 25 inches I can hear Papa muttering 'fools'.
Take a stroll to the letterbox
Set the red flag upright
There's mail to collect
At Forest Park
No.1 RD
Ashburton
Above
all observe
the magnificence
of the mountains and breathe
in the alpine air. Do you hear
the wind soughing
in the pines?
These few lines are dedicated to my grandparents Sally and Thomas Taylor who bought their farm, Forest Park', in the 1920's and lived there until 1988. This year, 2008, our family lost the link with the farm as my cousin Martin sold up and moved to Nelson. Papa, my Grandfather would be appalled to know his beloved mixed grain and sheep farm had been converted to a dairy farm. With a mean annual rainfall of about 25 inches I can hear Papa muttering 'fools'.
This little piece of writing using Zoho Writer, was not so oh ho easy as at first it seemed. The importation as html was a bit of a tease. However, it was realativley easy to do things differently. I would love to become better at using the Zho software as it was great fun.
Web 2.0 What makes an award winning site?
The web 2.0 Awards showcase the best of innovative applications of web 2.0 technology.
For example, Villanova University was third placed in the books category, with Vufind: http://www.vufind.org/
Vufind has been developed specifically for libraries. It uses open source technology. Initially, it does not look too different from the tradional opac cataloue. However, it enables the user to search or browse through all the libraries' resources simultaneously.
If this was applied to North Shore Libraries, it would mean, for eaxample, that a search on Takapuna Library would pick up items in the local history collection in a single search. ALthough the eLGAR Libraries are getting something similar with the development of , as far as I could ascertain, Vufind seemed a more user friendly solution.
The biggest drawback for me, was that it is very boring looking, typical of university software applications. Still a little prettying up shouldn't be too hard.
For example, Villanova University was third placed in the books category, with Vufind: http://www.vufind.org/
Vufind has been developed specifically for libraries. It uses open source technology. Initially, it does not look too different from the tradional opac cataloue. However, it enables the user to search or browse through all the libraries' resources simultaneously.
If this was applied to North Shore Libraries, it would mean, for eaxample, that a search on Takapuna Library would pick up items in the local history collection in a single search. ALthough the eLGAR Libraries are getting something similar with the development of , as far as I could ascertain, Vufind seemed a more user friendly solution.
The biggest drawback for me, was that it is very boring looking, typical of university software applications. Still a little prettying up shouldn't be too hard.
Thursday, October 9, 2008
The Space Junk that is U Tube
Well U Tube is a massive conglomeration of everything from the important to the crazy. I think that it just about drives you crazy with the reandomness of what comes up via searching on U Tube itself. A better strategy I have found is to search on Google, using the advanced strategy. Or if you know a good site you go directly to that, for example, canterbury Public Library had a delightful video of their librarians modelling the old floral smocks. In my haste, I thought I'd find that easily again, but not so thwarted by u tube sapce junk. I might have another go when I am feeling less rushed.
However, I did find this delightfully hilarious piece by Kelston Boys High: A Day in the Life of a Library Bag Monitor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUJpLddzXBk
Despite its drawbacks, I think that U Tube could be an excellent promotional tool. Imagine author events on U Tube. Of course, this could only be done with the consent of the author.
However, I did find this delightfully hilarious piece by Kelston Boys High: A Day in the Life of a Library Bag Monitor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUJpLddzXBk
Despite its drawbacks, I think that U Tube could be an excellent promotional tool. Imagine author events on U Tube. Of course, this could only be done with the consent of the author.
Fun with Podcasts
This has been a great journey of discovery, in that I have been accessing podcasts when I have been researching a visiting author who I am to introduce. However, I had not realised there were so many good directories. I was able to get to Radio New Zealand pod casts via www.podcastalley.com/redirect.php?pod_id=14844
The podcast I selected was 'The Kiwi Podcast': www.feeds.feedburner.com/politechs
This has also been a backward journey as I had to find out where my draft disappeared to. I had been trying to activate the html format and then lost my peice of work. Such is the journey of a blogger
The podcast I selected was 'The Kiwi Podcast': www.feeds.feedburner.com/politechs
This has also been a backward journey as I had to find out where my draft disappeared to. I had been trying to activate the html format and then lost my peice of work. Such is the journey of a blogger
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Looking at ebooks
The ebook is coming of age. A site such as LibriVox is a fantastic resource for anyone who has listened to all the audiobooks they have been able to get their hands on. I have been aware of the tremendous work being done by Project Guttenberg, but was surprised by some works that were not there. For example, James Joyce's Finnegans Wake has not been included, but his Chamber Music is able to be searched at this reference: http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/20601
Perhaps the way of the future for libraries is to have facilities for the downloading of ebooks. It is timely that North Shore City has partnered with Vector to facilitate high speed internet.
Perhaps the way of the future for libraries is to have facilities for the downloading of ebooks. It is timely that North Shore City has partnered with Vector to facilitate high speed internet.
Getting social, finding friends on facebook # 21
I am in familiar territory using facebook and myspace, as this is an area I have been using for some time and recently started my own site: http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1436135530&hiq=helen%2Cwoodhouse
These sites are a great way of keeping in contact with younger members of the family. Letter writing is definitely a dying art for my neices,nephews and son, but they are really great at responding on facebook.
I can see the possibility of having a gallery of visiting authors as a library facebook site.
These sites are a great way of keeping in contact with younger members of the family. Letter writing is definitely a dying art for my neices,nephews and son, but they are really great at responding on facebook.
I can see the possibility of having a gallery of visiting authors as a library facebook site.
Social Networking: the way of the future for libraries (exercise # 22)
I found it fascinating to read about the applications for web 2.0 technology, especially in the area of social networking. The potential seems unlimited. This represents a big change for the mindset of librarians. Traditionally librarians have controlled the formatting of indices and catalogues, but web 2.0 shows the way towards working with the patron to create a customer centred service.
The various social networking sites that I have looked at vary greatly in how they interact with the customer. For example the University of Central Florida www.myspace.com/ucfaskalibrarian is fairly traditional in its approach, whereas the Tenn Inks' site http://www.myspace.com/teen_inkis an inviting and bedazzling glimpse of what social networking sites can do and be.
It is also great to see that teaching instiutions are promoting this great tool. For example, http://innovationsinelearning.gmu.edu/index.asp?page=2008presentations
The various social networking sites that I have looked at vary greatly in how they interact with the customer. For example the University of Central Florida www.myspace.com/ucfaskalibrarian is fairly traditional in its approach, whereas the Tenn Inks' site http://www.myspace.com/teen_inkis an inviting and bedazzling glimpse of what social networking sites can do and be.
It is also great to see that teaching instiutions are promoting this great tool. For example, http://innovationsinelearning.gmu.edu/index.asp?page=2008presentations
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Montage # Exercise 5
http://www.deviousgelatin.com/montager/image.php?image=1396700009
It was extremely easy to make a montage using montager, but the process of trying to bring the image across into the blog was alot more difficult. It didn't help that all the headings reverted to Chinese. I seem only to be able to bring across a reference to the montage I made, but not the montage itself. It may be a difficulty with loading the number of pictures in the montage, but I couldn't get to see the photo mantage I made. I give up.
It was extremely easy to make a montage using montager, but the process of trying to bring the image across into the blog was alot more difficult. It didn't help that all the headings reverted to Chinese. I seem only to be able to bring across a reference to the montage I made, but not the montage itself. It may be a difficulty with loading the number of pictures in the montage, but I couldn't get to see the photo mantage I made. I give up.
Monday, October 6, 2008
The NZ Pole Blacks with Woz
The new way to travel and to play and the kiwis are doing it.
I did enjoy finding out about tags. They are just like cataloguers' subject headings, but much more flexible. And I was able to add a heading of my own.
I did enjoy finding out about tags. They are just like cataloguers' subject headings, but much more flexible. And I was able to add a heading of my own.
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