Social Networking........

Well let me tell you about networking ... on second thoughts perhaps I should only talk about professional networking and its application to Libraries. This may take me a few moments to think through the process but I will get back to the point soon.

The above two images sum up views of Social Networking, I agree with them both and can see the future applications of SN in LIbraries:

Book Groups,

Reference Desk

Library News,

Local Studies,

etc

etc

etc.

ZOHO Woho!!!

What a fantastic collection of technology tools. Would be great to have access to this at a LIbrary Computer level. Would not only reduce costs but widen access to a collection of technologies otherwise too expensive for a number of Libraries. I also like the clear layout of the screen at the access and selection point - nothing fancy just direct access and there you go.....

Blogging Book

HiYa.

I hate that expression, but it is a wet Sunday and I am at work.

I have found a great book to use to start you Library Blog site. "The Corporate Blogging Book: absolutely everything you need to know to get it right". by Debbie Weil. While this book is directed towards a Corporate Blog there are many ideas and issues we can take over to our Library Blogs. I like the idea of having Internal and External Blogs - to me this is a good way to make use of the Intranet but with a much closer focus on the Library environment.

Anyway have a look and see what you think. I like the idea of not having to re-invent the complete process, or how to effectively plagiarise and publish.

Mashups

I like the idea of using mashups to create a Then and Now view of the Local area for Local Studies. This could also be done for Historical Walks etc.

Also jigsaw mashups would add interest to any Blog or Web Page, as a point of interest or offer a thinking/discussion point - famous landmarks, Book Group Discussions, and to quote ABBA - On and On and ON we go.

Mashups

Bring them ON...................

Podcasts and Audio

What a great avenue for Libraries for such things as Living Books, Local History interviews, Library introductions for the vision impaired users. In other words another extension to Library services that is limited by our time and our fears.

Also an invaluable add on for Conferences and training sessions.

Tagging

No longer is Tag a game we use to play, it has taken on a whole new meaning. Similar in concept to the game, but one that allows others to use tags we create and to share a common collection of tags.

Answer Boards and Social Networking.

As a Reference Librarian I find answer boards fascinating. People throw out their questions - and some of them are questions they would never ask another person face-to-face, and there is a body of ready people with answers. This is great.

Libraries could use this as a variation on Ask a Librarian, especially if the board is constructed as a group board - HSC Students, Local Studies People, Family Histories; the list is really endless and limited only by our (Library) collective thinking, time and approach to using the net. But what am I saying, if we did not have ideas, visions etc, we would not be doing this programme.

I also stumbled onto the WetPaint site, but that is a different entry and should be saved for another day.

Library Thing Plus

So I have become addicted to Library Thing. I have only placed about 50 books so far - so many to go.

Library Thing

Great Great Great idea. Love it.

Easy to use, beats having to create and database etc. Got a little carried away added 25 book. I was happy to see that I was not the only person with these titles except two titles. Lets see what happens some more of my books. But this must wait awhile.

Exercise for Library Thing - Done.

So come visit me at My library.

del.icio.us Week.

This week we had to investigate del.icio.us (whoever came up with this address has not only a wicked sense of humour, but has great word skills). Anyway back to the task at hand. this is done. del.icio.us account created and bookmarks added. so please visit me at Sorvad - see you there? Setting this up was a lot easier thant I had anticipated. Simple instructions, clear pages and easy to use.

On we go. The potential for using del.icio.us in the Library world will be only be limited by OUR imagination. Reading Groups, Thematic Bookmarks, HSC Bookmarks. All possibly linked to Blogs or other social pages. As I said we should release our imagination and play and grow.

Original Britney S.

This is an artist called Twinkle from 1964 with her hit Terry. A teenage biker song, love, leaving and death.

Cher Videos - Then and Now.

It's amazing what a few years, make-up and plastic surgery can do for a persons career.

Lane Cove Resident

I know we were told not to include the faces of anyone in our photos at Flickr, without their permission and with regard to their privacy. But in this case I could not resist. This was taken a few weeks (during the daylight hours) ago near part of our disjointed library. We are working out of two locations while our new library is being built.

WIKIIAN & WIKIIANS

I do not know if there is such a word as Wikiian/Wikiians, but then again there was no such word as Wiki a few years ago!

If this word takes off I claim the credit for inventing it???

Two Dr Who Videos from YoutTube

Wikis with Will

This week we are starting to look at Wikis. I found the article about the German language version of Wikipedia interesting, shows how involved people can become when they are given open ownership of information combined with the responsibility of maintaining the correctness of that information.

OK it's Discover Time.

I looked at the Wookieepedia. Firstly I found the play on names highly witty and interesting. I was taken by the ownership and forward looking of the creators and Wikiians. (I can not think of a nother name for them/us.) A great collaborative venture. This type of Wiki could be used by Librarians as an extension of Book Groups or Study Groups. This setup would allow Wikiians to create a world in which the characters they read about grow and develop, while at the same time encouraging "readers" to expand their ways of thinking, absorbing text, plot lines etc, and developing a group approach to study and though processing.

Next I looked at Library Success: a Best Practice Wiki. I liked the inclusiveness of this Wiki. It's goal to be "a one-stop shop for great ideas and informtion for all types of librarians" I though was abit high, but it appears to be what it set out to be. I especially liked the inviation/request of adding your own user profile page. this is a great way of building a community. I think this has abvious library uses - as outlined in the name. (If only I could get an RSS feed from there it would be magic.)


Thirdly I looked at Book Lovers Wiki. As the names suggest a community Wiki for readers and their discussions, reviews etc on what books they are reading, or have read. Highly applicable to libraries as a means of sharing information about what books are hot and why or what books are not hot and why. Could also be used as part of the Who Writes Like, or even for creating booklists etc. As I said a few lines up highly appplicable and usable by libraries. An extension for New South Wales Libraries could be HSC Text Readers Wiki as a means of promoting cooperative discussion about texts, movies poems etc. One worth looking at a little deeper I think.

Local History and Genealogy are other areas where Wikis could easily be applied as part of the Library program and presence in the community. Then Local Studies/History would truly be opened to the world for comments, photos, gossip etc that may not have otherwise been available. Would Local Studies/History be a bigger and more living part of World Studies/History?

At a local Level I can see a Wiki with a title like:

Lane Cove - Local Studies.
The World Looking at Our Suburb.

But that is for another day.

RSS Workshop

This weeks exercise was looking at the functionality and uses of RSS. When you step back and think about it, RSS is a highly useful tool and one that is easy to use.

Five of the RSS feeds I selected are:

Powerhouse Museum - Photo of the Day: This sites presents an everchanginh view of Sydney and other cities, with unusual aspects and details.

iTunes Top 25 Songs: Where else can you get a list of the top songs available at one of the best music shops on the web.

Library Stuff: I selected this feed as a work based tool and one that presents a diverse selection of information worth looking at and thinking about.

Accidental Hedonist: This sites name says it all.

Star Wars: What else can I say - but I am a child of the movies.

Austro-Hungarian Imperial Arms

Found this great image @ Flickr.

The best description I can give of these arms are (left to right shields):

1. Shield toped with the Crown of Rudolph II.
1. Galacia nd Lodomeria.
2. Bohemia.
3. Dalmatia.
4. Silesia.
5. Salzburg.
6. Moravia.
7. Tyrol.
8. Bukovinia.
9.i Vorarlberg.
9.ii Unknown.
9.iii Gorizia and Gradisca.
10. Bosnia.
Escutcheon of:
i. Lower Austraia.
ii. Upper Austria.
iii. Styria.
iv. Carniola.
v. Unknown.
Escutcheon of:
i. Austria - Modern.

2. Shield topped with a Royal Crown.
1. Habsburg.
2. Austria - Modern.
3. Lorraine.

3. Shield topped with Crown of St Itsvan of Hungary.
1. Dalmatia.
2. Croatia.
3. Slovenia.
4. Transylvania.
5. Bosnia.
6. Fiume.
Escutcheon of:
i. Hungary - Ancient.
ii. Hungary - Modern.

Tsimba

A few people I work with and others I know have asked me about our cat's name - Tsimba. We inherited him from a friend going overseas to teach and live. He had the same name but spelt Simba. We added to T to make it sound and look exotic.

So here is a photo of him doing what cats do best - RESTING. At least he is not running around the place or annoying us, or just staring at us. So he can sleep as long as he likes.

Great Graffito

I saw this piece of graffito earlier today and was undecided if I should post it or not. But I think the content is worth it.

"I thought I was a slut, then I realised I was acting like a man!"

House Views

A selection of three of my favourite photos of the Sydney Opera House. I am always fascinated how aspects of the House change from day to day, from hour to hour, season to season, but especially from perspective to perspective. Almost like a living thing.

I think that this is still one of the most beautiful building of the modern world, and the fact that it is in Sydney just adds to the significance of the builder and its dreamer/architect Jorn Utzon.

Week 2 Web 2.0

I love this dog he reminds me of how I should approach learning - just go for it, but believe me it is only another weeks worth of learning.

I know I should have patience, but please finding the time is the first obstacle -- but again I digress.

So far so good. Lets see what happens.

Welcome.

I know for a Librarian I should be able to have something a bit more original or witty, but it's a start. Lets see how the journay goes, and not only what I learn from the journey but what the journey learns from me.

Two very smart men once uttered amazing word: "I have been to the mountain top... and I have looked over." (Martin Luther King Jr.), "let us think of education as the means of developing our greatest abilities, because in each of us there is a private hope and dream..." (JFK). So as I start this journey I am ready not only to look over the top of the mountain but to embrace the learning and changes I know will be there!!!