Week 12: Wrap up; social networks and catch up

Once upon a time....in a land far, far away...

A litttle girl set off on an adventure not knowing where she was going....She visited places both fascinating and new.She learnt so much and when she got home she invited her best friends to join her and wow what fun they're having now !

You know how the story goes!

And you also know that you only get out of it - what you put in.



The end of this programme is here and like a good read it is with reluctance but an acceptance that enough time has been spent on this part of the journey.

However it doesn't really end here. There is such a thing as Lifelong Learning-its what we do everyday esp. @theLibrary. I am sure many of us have the intention to re visit many of the things we so briefly ventured into during Learning 2.0 and often stumbled upon just as we often go back and re-read a favourite book or part there of..and rediscover or discover for the first time something we missed or overlooked or perhaps didn't understand. As our experience grows and our perceptions and learning develop we gain insight and awareness.I look forward to catching up on the updated blogs as they progress and viewing the RSS Feeds I set up.I eagerly look forward to sharing with Staff my discoveries. And now I am empowered with tools that will make this possible. And what about Library applications ? Social networking certainly looks inviting and I've heard so much about it that perhaps its time to join in too. Why should the X and Y gens have all the fun ? So I think networking is the way- who knows where we'll end up.In Web 3.0 ? Who knows what we may produce ? Look at the excellent resource we now have as a result of the NSW Public Libraries Learning 2.0.

Cheers!

Week 11: Online applications and tools

Google Docs has provided a solution to managing Storytime Sessions . The Branch Library Officer can collaborate with staff and volunteers at work or home at convenient times to organise and give feedback on each session. The facility also keeps a record for reference and everyone can contribute and follow up ideas. It is great for adding pictures, craft activities and even video footage of the sessions which can then be used in training sessions.If time permitted this tool could have wide applications for advertising Library events, communicating with Friends of the Library groups and much more.It gets my thumbs up for the widest range of applications capable of being shared.

Just for Impact

Just for Fun

Week 10: Mashups

Mashups provide lots of opportunities for the promotion of your library and its' activities. They are also good for reference resources like the mapping features and Anthems on map.

Week 9: Podcasts and audio

Podcasts/ audio are tools for distribution of information allowing the user to listen/view content when and where they want. It's very attractive and familiar to the younger generation who love their MP3s and ipods.
Podcasts for professional development are wonderful and great when studying at Uni: suits different styles of learning, busy people and are also great for "How to" instructions.
In Public Libraries suggested uses include:

• how to search the catalogue
• updates of Library procedures
• new innovations in Web 2.0 and future

It's a really satisfying learning experience to listen/view what others are doing in their libraries like Cornell University Library and these applications could work well in our Public Libraries.

Week 8: Answer boards and social searching

The techniques of social searching are appealing , refreshingly new and easy to use. However time quickly slips by as one browses contributions. Answer boards appear to be the quick fix that the next gen so badly wants and demands. If they knew that sort of thing was happening at their local library they might be engaged. I'll ask on Yahoo!7 how Answer boards could be used in public libraries and see if it merits a response. One of the best features of these boards is that if your question has already been asked, there will probably be an answer waiting : what great service! An important thing to keep in mind is evaluation of these sources of information.

A practical example: What does the Great Wall of China really look like?

This question from a little boy who has heard about rabbits and the Great Wall courtesy of Telstra, and heard about it in relation to a cancer fund raising walk and the pending Beijing Olympics. My answer: let's look at YouTube.

Week 7: Tagging

Do you remember playing tag ? There are many versions to choose from and they can be adapted to suit the group. Tagging involves linking and very quickly one or two becomes a big group. This is what happens when Web 2.0 tools like those explored in the Learning 2.0 program are used. They are social, quick, easy to use and accessible. A key feature of Web 2.0 is sharing; of information, resources and ideas. In the game of tag players get caught. As I explored the participants blogroll on Learning 2.0 and Technorati I realised librarians are being caught in the activities and weaving a web rich in information and ideas. Del.icio.us has enabled saving of references to share anywhere. I found it very good when studying at home, then come to work and show my colleagues what I had discovered. The AskNow resources are very well suited to reference desk enquiries.

I will survive Learning 2.0

National Library Week: Super Sized

Everyone Loves Stories!

Using videos and libraries: the possibilities

Entertainment, motivational, inspirational and instructional uses for videos can easily be discovered surfing Google video . For our small Branch Library video could be useful for:

• advertising events like Library week
• Local history
• storytime
• author and writer talks - the possibilities seem endless.

Daniel Vettori @ Your Library

Week 6: Videos online

Like most of my learning about new web technologies it has been accidental or as a result of a younger generation joining in social networking and sharing their lives with each other and infrequently with me. Recently I have been fortunate to learn through being engaged in university study and professional training. This is the way to go. Stunned and amazed was the reaction when YouTube was first demonstrated to me. Reluctant learners were fanatically engrossed in organising and producing videos for sheer entertainment value. Another dimension was revealed when I had to access Google videos for training modules. Now I am thinking that motivational clips like Daniel Vettori @ Your Library might be useful to help promote our libraries.

Week 5: wikis

The investigation of another type of software application to help with the management of information has been done. It was discovered that many wikis had already been visited and looked like websites. Wikis work much faster to compose, edit and link with more information. It was interesting that one very informative resource used frequently when searching for technological definitions of terms was wikipedia. It was first discovered when I was trying to work out the difference between lossy and lossless compression and as indicated by my pen name , I enjoyed the discovery !
Types of Library applications that might work well with wikis could include:

• internal procedure manuals
• computer technical and troubleshooting
• online book clubs

Week 4:RSS

Blogging is proving itself a worthy and easy to use tool for sharing information among our group of library workers. Last week , using Flickr for sharing and preserving images, showed a good online resource at our finger tips. This week , the RSS feeds was a bit more time consuming. There is so much information "out there". Any tool like RSS that sends regular updates must be advantageous for busy people.In my opinion its best application for public libraries is for informing of events , professional training and activities and for sharing all the great things we do. Some of the feeds I subscribed to included:

• http://nswpubliclibrarieslearning2.blogspot.com/
• State and local library blogs
• Library Associations blogs
• http://www.resourceshelf.com/
• peer blogs

I could also see an application for Readers Advisory services. Can anyone suggest useful feeds to help select books particularly for seniors ?

Week Three- Present

Civic Square Precinct. Peace Bell.

Many libraries today share their physical space and act as a community hub. One example in our town is a shared space supporting the Council, Art Gallery, Civic Centre, Public Computer Access, Family History Group and Multi-Purpose Function Room.

Week Three- Future

It's what's inside that counts.

Week Three- Past

The photo of the Gundaroo Literary Institute Library is an example of how new technology can preserve images of the past for future reference use.

Week Two

A blog is an evolving thing and this one is still under construction. Let the fun begin.. Lossy is eagerly awaiting any comments.It is essential to consider the audience in the design of the blog and the content. A blog is an ideal medium to meet X and Y Gen clients in a space that is familiar to them and using tools that they utilise in other social networking applications. Blogs in libraries represent a new interaction opportunity and easy means to reach a wider audience.

Week One

Participating in the Learning 2.0 program will highlight new technologies that are available on the web and enable Library staff to connect, engage and interact with their peers and a wider clientele beyond the physical environment of their own library building. The outcome should be provision of better customer service and a wider sharing of library knowledge and resources.