Would u like fries with that?

Podcasts and audio

2011-06-13T23:20:00.000-07:00

Loved the British Library podcasts about what to do when you visit the Library. I am heading there in August and now have a lovely list of things to do when I get there!

Also checked out the ABC and got a bit distracted by Triple J and all the fun stuff on there - step away from the music site....

I have downloaded podcasts before using iTunes and listened to them on planes etc... I would like to be able to put them on our library's website - perhaps recording guest speakers, storytime presentations and other interesting stuff.

Answer Boards and Social Searching

2011-03-09T18:20:00.000-08:00

What a fantastic idea to have librarians providing reliable, valid answers on Answer Boards! I have often cringed when I have seen answers provided on these sites that are at best questionable and at worst, misleading and just plain wrong!
It would be a good promotional tool for libraries to be able to do this regularly, but with busy staff and other priorities this could prove difficult.

Wild 'Thing I think I love you...

2011-03-09T16:18:00.000-08:00

And I think I know for sure...

Library Thing is quite the fun time -consumer, especially if you are a particular fast, avid reader who cannot possibly add all the favourite things that I have read.

I did manage, after some investigation, to add the Library Thing widget to the blog - as you can see :)

We are already discussing forming a Library Thing account for young adults and popping it on our youth blog.

Technorati

2011-03-09T16:13:00.000-08:00

Wasn't quite so enamoured of Technorati.

I see that is useful for commercial bloggers and those seeking more blog 'traffic'. Our library has a youth blog which is about to be 'renovated' and once this occurs it would probably be worthwhile registering it.

I tried both searches ('bookmobile' and 'nswpln2008'), but was unsuccessful. Perhaps it is because I am doing the activity so late.

Yummo! Del.icio.us....

2011-03-08T20:37:00.000-08:00

I heartily approve of Del.icio.us! It is interesting and useful to have a website to save your bookmarks on, rather than relying on your computer to not cark it on you... an occurrence that has happened to me twice now...

Here is the link to my delicious account:

http://www.delicious.com/melaniemorgan761977

I had a look at the other libraries that are using delicious and feel that it could be a possible option for ours. it is a good way to categorise info for easy access. It also means that if our website crashes and clients are aware that info is available on delicious they can still access it remotely.

Video! Videeooo! Night time come and you want to veg out!

2011-03-07T16:37:00.000-08:00

I am a regular user of Youtube - but usually link to videos from Facebook. I haven't embedded one in a blog before but here goes:

Hooray!

As far as applications in our library go, I think that videos would be invaluable for local history interviews and film's like Olive's - as well as promotional material for events and also book reviews, especially for teens.

Wiki Wiki Wiki, Quick Quick Quick

2011-03-03T20:42:00.001-08:00

The wiki activity brought back the memories of the big warnings we received about using wikipedia as an information source due to it unreliability. It was interesting then, to read that the German language version of Wikipedia had been found to be more accurate than their leading encyclopedia!

I realise that it is important to ensure any data be validated prior to supplying it to a customer, but it is reassuring that if people are using wikis themselves without an information professional, the data they obtain from these sources is pretty likely to be ok.

Being from a regional area, I am a huge fan of wikis like Mylee Joseph's children's services wiki, which I have used extensively. I also like the Readers Services wiki. These wikis make it easy for more remote library services to access information about new ideas and programs run by other libraries.

RSS Ok!

2011-03-03T17:53:00.000-08:00

Got just a tad excited while using Google Reader - have subscribed to a huge array of news feeds and became distracted by an article about Charlie Sheen... oops...

Google Reader appeals to me far more than Bloglines because once I had logged into my blog using my Google login, I was already logged into the feed reader. Very convenient.

I understand and appreciate the concept and convenience of RSS feed readers, but generally do not have much time to read the feeds on a daily basis.

Flickr and all that picture-y stuff

2011-03-02T21:21:00.000-08:00

Having looked at the Flickr website quite a number of times now - I have become reasonably familiar with the photo uploading particulars - in theory. I am very keen on the idea of having a private web backup for my own photographs in case my computer ups and has a huge 'nana.

Our library at this stage does not upload to Flickr - but this may change as we become more familiar with Web 2.0 technologies. It may be a case of having a staff member who is designated as the official "Flickr-er" - perhaps as part of the library's marketing.

Blog Blog Blogging

2009-08-12T18:17:00.000-07:00

I am getting quite adept at blogging - I am currently maintaining the Macquarie Regional Library Youth Blog - mrlyablog - here's the link if anyone would like to check it out...
http://www.mrlya.blogspot.com/. I have been uploading photos from our Youth activities, reviewing books and taking jeans to cool places!

Learning 2.0

2009-07-15T23:41:00.000-07:00

I should probably finish of Learning 2.0. I did get up to Week 7, but then short staffing and a very busy library distracted me.

So I am now familiar with:

Blogging
Flickr etc
RSS
Wikipedia and other wikis
Video online
Tagging, Delicious etc

I will now continue from Week 8...

School Holidays are ......

2008-10-02T20:28:00.000-07:00

Having an action-packed holiday time at the library! Jam session, mosaic, fake fire alarms...

Time goes by...

2008-06-02T19:42:00.000-07:00

At last... a blogging opportunity. And to think people think libraries are quiet places! Next person who tells me how nice it must be to sit and read books all day will die a painful and inventive death!! (Not actually a homicidal maniac - really). Have become quite obsessed by orchids recently - please see pic. Now have 28 and soon will run out of space.

Maiden Voyage

2008-02-20T16:24:00.000-08:00

'Blogs are cute, blogs are beaut, blogs are soft and curly'.... with apologies to Bob the Kelpie

Making a blog appears to be quite simple, but choosing a name and a template, far too much decision making!

I am very excited about the Web 2.0 training and am waiting with bated breath for the next training modules. I am a compulsive learner and hate not to know things. I hope that does'nt sound too teacher's-pet. I hope that the other participants are equally as enthralled (muffled curses from background) er, perhaps not. It is a good thing to be able to self-pace.

The Stephen Fry interview was very interesting, also realised that he is the one who reads the Harry Potter talking books. Very relaxing voice (you are getting very sleepy...).