# 23 Is this the end???

Wow after spending lots of time procrastinating the 'end is nigh'. What a great idea aside from all the issues with trying to find time at work to complete this I think it has been a really good idea. (Currently my branch is getting painted, hence I am able to finish the course so fast). I have used google docs to write a presentation and even added some images from image generators! When I have time I will use Rollyo to create a list of all the links i have discovered during this course so that i can find them all again. I really enjoyed lots of the course and think it will promote lots of discussion and opens up many possibilities for tools we can utilise in the library. Alot of the tools I will be happy to show members and I feel alot more confident with the technologies of Web 2.0.

#22 Audio books

i love the idea of audiobooks on the net. I even found a Kurt Vonnegut book (my favourtie author) that I had never even heard of!!! I did not download it because I am at work. I wonder about how long it takes to download an item and also issue around copy writing...lots of issues to explore. But in general I think the idea of access to many readers online is a great idea and a very interesting one for the library

#21 Podcasts

I think that podcasts are agreat way of incorporating the activites that occur in the physical library into the online'branch' of the library. Author talks, events anything that is applicable for an online user would be great to add to a libraires websites. I think adding podcats to Bloglines is trickey as the podcast I wanted to add didn't have an RSS feed button and would not add by being cut and pasted. Anyway I still mnanaged to add one to my bloglines!

#20 YouTube (take two)

So i have managed to psot two videios from YouTube onto my blog and I am quite proud of myself. I found the site itself really easy to use ONCE I HAD WORKED OUT HOW TO USE THE EMBEDDED information. I tried cuttingand pasting the web address and various other things so all I have to say about YouTube is that I think it would be great to have obvious directions as to how to add/save content from YouTube on the site somewhere obvious. I have found that once I have worked out how to use alot of these sites I am able to use most of them as they work on the same principles.

#20 YouTube

#19 Web 2.0 Tools

O.K. So i had a go of a few different tools to see what I thought. Cool me old school but I would still rather listen to an album than Last FM which I found didn't really have the muscicians I like and when it did it didn't have the songs I wanted to her. Then I tried Cocktail builder, now this I thought was great idea where you typed in one or two ingredients and it offered you recipes with just those ingredients and some including added ingredirents - what a cool idea...I wonder if there is a similar tools for recipes, now that would be a great idea!

Google Docs

I have just done a presentation using Google docs, what a fantastic idea. I can really see it being useful for library members, kids, students anyone wanting to use library computers who does not have Power point etc on thier own computer or even if they do not have access to any computers other than public ones.

# 18

I have had a go @ using ZOHO writer and it's a great idea. I'm all for sharing the technology and open access to all and this seems a perfect way to give many more people access to programs!

#17 Playing around with PBWiki

I have added my blog to favourite blogs under our library and found it pretty easy by just cutting and pasting. I found reading the Wiki a little confusing as it was like reading streamof conciousness coming from a few different people at once!

# 16 Wikis

Reading about Wiki's on a basic level is great, who knew that the term WIKI came from a Hawaiian phrase meaning something fast. I also really love the idea that there are "editing wars" going on out there in cyberspace, where various people edit the same entry to alter the entry in line with their opinions. I think that Wikis are a great resource BUT, (oh yes there is a 'but') I am concerned about how kids/users use them as reputible sources of information without questioning where that information originates. Are users able to delineate between information that is informed and reputible and information that is totally subjective?
I could go on about all those post-modern arguements about history simply being one version of events, that is that everything is subjective we just dress it up as objective.
I don't know if I really agree that Wikis 'democratize' Internet, because in a library situation any online forum/ Wiki needs to be monitored for offensive content. I think it would be irresponsible of libraries to not check the content of a Wiki for racist, sexist etc. content and, as such be responsible for not sanctioning such content.

Having said all this..I use Wikipedia alot and find it very useful for quick reference enquiries. I also thought that the video explaining how Wikis work was great

# 15 Technorati

I like the idea that people out there are thinking about the sorts of things that Technorati is! I would never have thought that people need to access the best blogs or that people want to know what other bloggers are blogging. I found a great knitting video but am still unable to add one to this blog. I will try again..who would hav thought it???? Go into edit html and then add the paste codes...I have tried so many times, prepare to be inundated...enjoy!!!

# 13 :Del.icio.us

Well I have had a quick look and I have to say that I really like the layout of Rollyo more than that of Delicious. I understand that tags are a great idea, like some kind of subject heading but without using Library of Congress...yes I have to confess I am in cataloguing! Anyway, when I think about it http://del.icio.us/ is a not only another 'social networking tool' ( I thought that was going to the pub for a drink with some friends...but I am over thirty!) but a form of using metadata. I went to a talk on metadata once, sounded very interesting, sounded like the kind of thing that libraries should get more involved with to make their collections more accessible to "generation now"...I think that's what they are called.
Anyway, as impressed as I am with the technology I simply don't think I would use this site much, but somehow the concepts behind it could be of great value to a library, I will just have to think about exactly how.
I also found some great links to knitting blogs which I have added to my Bloglines account.

Rollyo #2

Well I have reloaded my rollyo link and I'm sorry to say I haven't got the time to go back into RSS feeds and try them again. But it works!!!! It's strange how some links like that are really easy to add (like Rollyo) and others are not so...ah technology.

Rollyo

Well I have created a copule of search rolls using Rollyo, and even added a widget again to search my search rolls from this blog. I have not had much of a chance to see if it is working well though, so anyone reading this fee free to have a go! I did two search rolls one on recipes and one on knitting.

Image Generators

Here are some of the images I have created using image generators.The Andy Warhol (izer) was from FD Toys and the other two images were both from Generator Blog.

What fun, there is not enough time in my day! I also found a generator for that Bob Dylan song where he holds up all the lyrics on cards in front of him as he sings...I'm sure I can use that for something!

Week 5: Play week Library thing

Wow, what a great site! I love Library thing! Gone are all the notebooks full of books I have read, because, let's face it I can't always remember titles. No, now I am part of the cyber age, a modern woman who always forgot to write titles down until months later when I had vague memories of the book. Well, welcome to the modern age, what a great site. Being visual I also love the fact that I can display my list by cover and even change the cover so that it corresponds to the actual cover of the edition I have read. What joy, to browse the titles with such ease!

I have also added a widget (?) to enable visitors to my blog to serch my books. I have to thank Georgeous papercutz for that as she showed me the light i.e. how to add it. I look back on Bloglines and whilst I like the idea of the site I don't think I will use it too much. I will try to load the link from Bloglines to my blog again...just not today - I am feeling a little tender at the thought of the frustration involved last week. No, better to have fun and play as is the aim of the week. So, Librarything, I am a big fan.

I have also suggested to my book club that we join. (We have been muttering about making a website for years and it has always just seemed like too much hard work.)

Bloglines #2

Well lets just say that I have tried a few times and still I am unable to link my bloglines to my blog. In the inerests of sanity I am going to move on. After having read other Library 2.0 blogs I have come to realise that I am not the only one who has had issues with this process! It feels like it should be sooo simple, however I have to admit defeat...for today!

I spent yesterday at the ALIA Conference and am feeling pretty pumped about the ideas I came across.

One was from Lismore Library where they have successfully run "Living Book" days when voluteers become'books' and lenders are able to ask them questions for 30 mins. It sounds like it was a great success and I'm feeling all inspired and motivated. Here is the link for anyone who is interested.

http://rtrl.nsw.gov.au/site/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=71&Itemid=130

Linking Bloglines to my blog

Well, after at least half an hour of attempting to make the link to bloglines work I give up! Thanks to Lorraine and Liz for their expert advise......but for some unknown reason I can't work out how to change my username in bloglines as requested by the link. So essentially I am trying and will have another go later on this week!

Bloglines

Well I have opened my bloglines account ans added a couple of links to it. It seems pretty easy but I really want to see it in action and check when it updates the information and whether it is a tool that I would be interested in using. I have added several other library members blogs as links and I really like the idea of RSS but still need more time to play with it and get the best out of the technology. Happy blog -lines!

Technology

O.K. A new week and a new sense of motivation!!! I moved on the weekend and now have time to really get into the Learning 2.0 Program ( although I am wondering if that is just an excuse not to move too much as my back is aching!).

Sooo, technology...what do I think. I see kids gliding their way effortlessly across the cyber world and whilst I wonder what I'm missing I also wonder about how easy they make it look. When I was in primary school we had 'Computer classes'. These consited of learning how to instruct a 'turtle' to draw a shape. This was done on the old Apple computers, I rememeber being really taken with the multi-coloured apple symbol on the computer!

I am really aware of how my mind simply does not function on the Internet like that of my 14 year old niece....and I'm not that old! I really think that the concept of how we interact with technology is something that is all about our perception of that technology. It does not have to guide us, it is a fantastic tool that we can manipulate without losing our sense of community, in terms of the library, and self on a personal level.

Well I am finally able to access my blog again after being given the secret key by 'little one'. (Thanks) I found searching in Flicr heaps of fun and even found some images posted by people I know. This particular image really caught my eye as I knit a little and love the idea of an entire knitted picnic. As some may know I have knitted food in the past but the thermos in this image is something I may aspire to in the future. I really enjoyed the calendar option on Flickr just out of curiosity and the idea that anyone is able share their images with everyone is pretty interesting.

I tried

Well, I have tried to upload a video to proove I am computer savvy.......however I am obviously not THAT computer savvy! All I can say is that I have tried and my 5 minutes is up so I will try agian on Monday. Whilst trying this I have also discovered that I can't just add a video as an image, I know I shouldn't have bothered but if you don't try you will never know! Til next week then....

Welcome

Welcome to my blog!

You may ask - "Where does the title come from?" Well, in a fit of panic I looked around my desk and my eyes fell upon a little Leunig cartoon. A seelction of things that are good for your soul. And one of them was 'A quiet stroll around the mental block', another of my favourites is 'A chip off the old bloke'.