Realised that even though I did all the tasks, I hadn't written about them. Think I have covered them all now.
This course has been great. I have already made my final comments a few blogs ago.
Sunday, December 2, 2007
Web 2.o Awards
I'd give it to GoogleDocs without a question. I love it and I think it is THE MOST USEFUL site ever....
but I have bookmarked Cocktail builder for my next party....
but I have bookmarked Cocktail builder for my next party....
Rollyo
I can see the use of this but do not want to use it myself and I don't like to limit my searches too much and search for vastly different topics most of the time.
librarything
Had a look at Library thing a few weeks ago. Not really my thing! Interesting but a bit patchy.
tagging and newsfeeds
Another one I forgot to blog about.
Have used Tagging in this blog and even forced library vendor to do so in LMS OPAC.
Newsfeeds are well and good but I find that they can be a little too much info for the time I have to play.
Have used Tagging in this blog and even forced library vendor to do so in LMS OPAC.
Newsfeeds are well and good but I find that they can be a little too much info for the time I have to play.
Blog about technology
Ooh I missed doing the blog entry on this.
I have been using technology way before it was cool..
I remember my first job in a typing pool where we typed overdue notices for account holders. We had to go through a room full of cards in drawers and then type each letter individually. Now I send out over 100 overdues in two minutes and they are all customised to the period of overdue. Times have changed.
I also had a job where it manned the telex maching. You know those machines that spat out a long tape with holes in it - seen them in the movies? Well way back then you couldn't correct errors you had to start over. I had to do complete shipping lists of unusually named professional cinema cameras. You can imagine the stress. I was SOOO pleased when we got a Sagem telex machine that allowed you to cut and join the tape.
I learnt to type on a manual typewriter, you had to have really strong little fingers. I was stoked when I got to use a golf ball typewriter in my first job which was primarily the assistant PABX operator. We had to answer all calls (to a large company in Syndey) and physically put them through to the correct extension. Yes, go back to the movies for the woman (they were always women) sitting at a large console, with headphones and microphone (that looked like a small trumpet) plugging cables into holes in the wall in front of her. That was me... Earnt a whole $88.00 a fortnight too!
I remember the first Apple PC, the operating system BEFORE MSDOS, Atari and Commodore 64s, $20,000 PCs that didn't have any input device but the keyboard and mouse, (no tape, floppy or CD). I also used an accounting machine that had cards with holes in it which was the program!
So when PCs arrived, there was no stopping me. YEE HAA. way to go...
I have been using technology way before it was cool..
I remember my first job in a typing pool where we typed overdue notices for account holders. We had to go through a room full of cards in drawers and then type each letter individually. Now I send out over 100 overdues in two minutes and they are all customised to the period of overdue. Times have changed.
I also had a job where it manned the telex maching. You know those machines that spat out a long tape with holes in it - seen them in the movies? Well way back then you couldn't correct errors you had to start over. I had to do complete shipping lists of unusually named professional cinema cameras. You can imagine the stress. I was SOOO pleased when we got a Sagem telex machine that allowed you to cut and join the tape.
I learnt to type on a manual typewriter, you had to have really strong little fingers. I was stoked when I got to use a golf ball typewriter in my first job which was primarily the assistant PABX operator. We had to answer all calls (to a large company in Syndey) and physically put them through to the correct extension. Yes, go back to the movies for the woman (they were always women) sitting at a large console, with headphones and microphone (that looked like a small trumpet) plugging cables into holes in the wall in front of her. That was me... Earnt a whole $88.00 a fortnight too!
I remember the first Apple PC, the operating system BEFORE MSDOS, Atari and Commodore 64s, $20,000 PCs that didn't have any input device but the keyboard and mouse, (no tape, floppy or CD). I also used an accounting machine that had cards with holes in it which was the program!
So when PCs arrived, there was no stopping me. YEE HAA. way to go...
Completion of Course
Finally at the end of this. Have had to catch-up my posts today as most of this course was done after hours and didn't have my blog sign-in.
I also used this course for my TAFE students who are studing towards their library technicians course. I gave them a long list of resources, including this course and they unanimously decided that this was definitely the best resource of the lot. They loved it because it was in plain English! and didn't require a knowledge of IT terminology.
I set their final assignment around choosing two Web 2.0 technologies and how they could use them in a library situation. They blitzed the assignment and all got top marks. They have some fantastic ideas for using the technologies and accurately identified (and in most cases found a solution for) and problems.
Thank you for running this course. I would (and have) thorouhly recommend it.
I only wish that our own staff had enough time to spend completing the course as many of the other libraries seem to have. For the uninitiated it took a lot longer than 15 minutes a session. Many of our staff do not have a lot of time off desk - maybe the fault is our rosters -not the course. We will have to find more time for staff to use these technologies.
I also used this course for my TAFE students who are studing towards their library technicians course. I gave them a long list of resources, including this course and they unanimously decided that this was definitely the best resource of the lot. They loved it because it was in plain English! and didn't require a knowledge of IT terminology.
I set their final assignment around choosing two Web 2.0 technologies and how they could use them in a library situation. They blitzed the assignment and all got top marks. They have some fantastic ideas for using the technologies and accurately identified (and in most cases found a solution for) and problems.
Thank you for running this course. I would (and have) thorouhly recommend it.
I only wish that our own staff had enough time to spend completing the course as many of the other libraries seem to have. For the uninitiated it took a lot longer than 15 minutes a session. Many of our staff do not have a lot of time off desk - maybe the fault is our rosters -not the course. We will have to find more time for staff to use these technologies.
audio books
I have been investigating and using audio books for quite a while now. There are several companies that provide audiobooks that you can add to your catalogue and I would like to be able to implement this in our libraries. With the cheap MP3 players available today we could even offer a borrowing service for the players which would mean members aren't disadvantaged if they do not have the technology. These could be preloaded with audio books too. That way they would be useful for our housebound borrowers who may be technologically challenged.
There are even audio books with their own player built in. No downloading required!
I like to use my Creative video/mp3 player on trips to Sydney, Melbourne or on holiday flights. I can sit and patchwork or close my eyes and listen to a good book. There are lots of free files to download. On flights I get to watch the movie I want to! It is surprising how the small screen is not as off putting as you would think.
TIP: If you are buying an MP3 player, avoid the IPod and get a generic player such as a Crative or Iriver (or any cheapo one) then you will have access to many more files and the IPod only uses its own file format.
There are even audio books with their own player built in. No downloading required!
I like to use my Creative video/mp3 player on trips to Sydney, Melbourne or on holiday flights. I can sit and patchwork or close my eyes and listen to a good book. There are lots of free files to download. On flights I get to watch the movie I want to! It is surprising how the small screen is not as off putting as you would think.
TIP: If you are buying an MP3 player, avoid the IPod and get a generic player such as a Crative or Iriver (or any cheapo one) then you will have access to many more files and the IPod only uses its own file format.
Podcasts Youtube
I love Utube and have used it for quite some time. It is a real time waster but huge fun. Love some of the library video clips. It is easy to share videos.
Google Docs
I have used Google docs and introduced staff to this technology about 6 months ago. It is a great resource and has a few advantages over loading the software on the PC. I trained staff in its use, hoping that they would pass this info on our public internet users. I am planning to run sessions for public internet users in the new year. Google docs allows users to log on from anywhere in the world and users never have to worry about the version of the software they are using. This is a problem in libraries when members bring in a document for editing or printing and find that the library runs a different version. No problemo with Google docs!
Also users can share documents and collaborate with colleagues anywhere in the world. Docs can be save in most popular formats. I love this product and will continue to encourage people to use it.
I would like to use it to collect statistics from the branches which are required by the State Libraries. It would be a great way to back up their training if they actually had to use it at least once a month...
Also users can share documents and collaborate with colleagues anywhere in the world. Docs can be save in most popular formats. I love this product and will continue to encourage people to use it.
I would like to use it to collect statistics from the branches which are required by the State Libraries. It would be a great way to back up their training if they actually had to use it at least once a month...
Wikis
Wikis are great tools. I can see several uses for the for sharing information between staff. Have used them several times in the past but wonder about the accuracy of the data when it is often the first link that comes up in google.
Technorati
Hmm what can I say. This could be a BIG timewaster. I am trying to cut down on the time I have to spend on the net, not waste more!
Snowflake generator
Ooh I really feell guilty playing with this. No really purpose but very addictive, especially when your try 3D.
chinese Name Generator
This is a bit of fun and you can choose different fonts. I am realy curious as to what the symbols actually mean.
Sunday, September 30, 2007
RSS Feeds
Well I added a few more RSS feeds and probably understand a little more about them. Internet Explorer 7 does include them so I had better update IE on all staff PCs ASAP.
I will find out how to get the RSS feeds working from our Library Catalogue too as I know it capable of providing them. It probably needs some parameters set. Nice to have a LMS (Libero) that is ahead of the rest.
I will find out how to get the RSS feeds working from our Library Catalogue too as I know it capable of providing them. It probably needs some parameters set. Nice to have a LMS (Libero) that is ahead of the rest.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
mashups -Retrievr
Retrievr appealed to my creative side. It lets you draw a shape and it matches photos to it. I suspect it relies on the colour and contrast a bit. Give it a try, it is suprising what you find, an one thing leads to another....
I think this is a nifty tool because you don't always want to search photos in a logical, word search method. It allows you to browse without words. Cool.
I think this is a nifty tool because you don't always want to search photos in a logical, word search method. It allows you to browse without words. Cool.
Adding a picture to Flickr
Well I have added a picture to Flickr and it was even easier than I expected.
Will have to bring in some better photos from home though. Still haven't found that elusive photo where I look like I should. Maybe I just need to photoshop one a bit. Then again, if you photoshop a photo too much it can end up looking really weird....and I probably need to photoshop a LOT...
Aarh we are all our own worst critic.
Will have to bring in some better photos from home though. Still haven't found that elusive photo where I look like I should. Maybe I just need to photoshop one a bit. Then again, if you photoshop a photo too much it can end up looking really weird....and I probably need to photoshop a LOT...
Aarh we are all our own worst critic.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
First Blog
Well, after reading many blogs, I am finally making my own. I have resisted so far, as many of the bloggers blogs I have visited seemed a bit obsessive about their blogs - logging in from cafes when they are on holidays etc.
I also feel that I don't really have anything I need to 'get off my chest' so maybe I will have to take another approach. I also don't want to create a blog that is not kept up to date, and feel that keeping a blog 'alive' requires consistent input which would require a significant time committment.
That being said, I am thinking of a couple of options for blogging. I manage the mobile libray website, so maybe there is an opportunity to start a blog on telecommunications for mobiles which is constantly changing. It would allow a more informal input for anecdotal comments from new technology users and remove the need for me to be involved in their contributions (unlike the website).
Then again, I could just do a blog on quilting or gardening which are two of my hobbies. See, I am only a nerdgirl by day - by night I avoid computers except for the essentials. Who needs to work with computers all day and then go home and play on them. NOT ME... I get enough challenges in my work day that I do not need to find more on a computer after hours. Computer games are not relaxing, in fact they tend to put people in a bad mood - too much frustration.
I also feel that I don't really have anything I need to 'get off my chest' so maybe I will have to take another approach. I also don't want to create a blog that is not kept up to date, and feel that keeping a blog 'alive' requires consistent input which would require a significant time committment.
That being said, I am thinking of a couple of options for blogging. I manage the mobile libray website, so maybe there is an opportunity to start a blog on telecommunications for mobiles which is constantly changing. It would allow a more informal input for anecdotal comments from new technology users and remove the need for me to be involved in their contributions (unlike the website).
Then again, I could just do a blog on quilting or gardening which are two of my hobbies. See, I am only a nerdgirl by day - by night I avoid computers except for the essentials. Who needs to work with computers all day and then go home and play on them. NOT ME... I get enough challenges in my work day that I do not need to find more on a computer after hours. Computer games are not relaxing, in fact they tend to put people in a bad mood - too much frustration.
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