Tina's Big Adventure

Well, the big adventure has really been finishing my Library 2.0 training. I had missed Rollyo and Library thing the first time around but have now completed them and all the other 'things' too. Hooray!

How did I find it? Well difficult really, but I had some great help from many of my colleagues - a big thanks to the many Sydenham Library staff who helped, particularly Vi and Laura. I'm not sure how much of what I have learnt I will use in the immediate future, but at least I'm more willing to explore some of what's 'out there' and have a play around with it and I think that's a good thing. There are definitely some things I can see myself using, or encouraging my kids to use anyway - flickr for example, and I do like 'library thing'. All up though, I'm glad it's done - it's really hard finding enough time to do such intensive training when you are a part-timer.

Library Thing is Fun!

I do like library thing and can imagine wasting lots of time cataloguing the books I've enjoyed. It's a good reminder too as most of the books I read are from the library (well der...) and so I tend to forget what I've read. Just reading other people's contributions reminded me of some novels I really enjoyed in recent years but had forgotten about - the alzheimers has already set in.

You Tube, Podcasts and eAudiobooks

It's my final week - hooray, I made it!

You Tube is something I'm familiar with only via my teenage children who seem to spend vast amounts of time (and gigabytes) downloading "stuff". I've chosen the attached video purely becasue I find it funny.



On the other hand, the podcast I've chosen for my blog I've selected for its interest value. I've enjoyed listening to Radio National for years and "lifematters" at 9.00 am generally has some great information and guest speakers. I've chosen this program as it has information on topics I'd like to know more about.

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/lifematters/ I've also added it as a podcast.

The eAudio book I chose to listen to was a Grimm fable entitled "Clever Gretel". Not sure I really approve of her methods at all, though I imagine my teenage son would find her hilarious...

Google Docs are Great!

I tried using Zoho Writer but couldn't make it work - how sad is that! So one of my colleagues suggested that I use google docs instead because it is easier. AND IT IS!

In an average week I use up to four different computers to work on and so I can really see the benefit of using the web rather than files within specific computers to store my information. Though I have to confess to not feeling entirely comfortable about these files being "out there" for all to see. I will experiment.

I did try to explore Technorati too but our WebMarshal blocked all attempts even when I tried "harmless" topics such as travel. Oh well, I tried...

Wiki's

I liked the idea of using Wiki's for assignments, for conferences and also for place based information. I can see the value of having a "Sydenham Information" page listing all kinds of community information that might be of use to our patrons - leisure & recreation, legal and medical, playgroups, skate parks etc. In fact all the information currently in our arch-lever file behind the "ask desk"!

Yes and I also added my blog to the PBwiki learning 2.0 site.

Library 2.0

I'm interested in access and equity issues for patrons and I can see the advantage of "us going to them" rather than the "come to us" model as Rick Anderson discusses. However, libraries are one of the last free, safe and welcoming places for disadvantage people to come. We're not just offering resources, we're offering an environment, a living room, a comfy couch, coffee, aircon a glossy magazine and a smile of recognition. Of course we need to fulfill people's information, training and learning needs too, but we need to keep sight of the fact that libraries and librarians do much more than this.

Had a quick look at Technorati. It's very busy with lots of "top" sites listed. Didn't really appeal to me for that reason. Searching under Learning 2.0 turned up lots of very different hits. In the advanced search option it was easier to limit the search, but this seems a fairly time consuming approach.

del.icio.us

Yes, I can see a use for this type of bookmarking as I use two computers on a regular basis and a third irregularly. One of my colleagues has just told me he's been using del.icio.us for a while. Maybe it's time I started...when my thesis is completed, I promise!