Slideshow of Christmas display ideas for your library

Thinking about Nings (Part 2)

The adventure continued today. It took me three times to join Library 2.0 Ning successfully. I waited over the weekend to get the approval. I managed to edit my profile a bit and added a picture. I joined two groups. I added the Library 2.0 Ning badge to my Blog. It took me some time to get through all of this during a busy work day but I persevered.

Badges

Visit Library 2.0

Thinking about Nings (Part 1)

I explored the Nings of Mosman readers, Museum 3.0, Library 2.0 and discovered similar features I've used on Facebook. I like the Events and Videos features the most. Some Blogs had links to interesting podcasts too. I read some comments on the Forum. During my university studies I used Subject Forums a lot to post assignments, review other student assignments, reply to questions, give feedback, and share information. University Forums have strict user guidelines unlike Facebook which is more of a social network where you can get a Poke or gifts, etc. Nings can be used as a network for specific interests and I think this is most useful.

My thoughts on Web 2.0 tools (Evaluation)

I found this post quite fascinating and a real eye-opener. My library is not "keeping-up with the Jones'!". It does not have a Flickr and Twitter accounts due to Organisational restrictions. It has a Blog that you can subscribe to. I think Google alerts are installed as statistics are collected and reported about site hits and subscription numbers. I installed Feedburner for my blog analysis. I had a look at Surveymonkey and Zoomerang and these look like great tools for a service to collect and review statistics. A service needs to evaluate its effectiveness using both quantitative and qualitative data. I recall my university used a similar survey tool called Rodski to continually improve services. I think my Library Management Team, Promotions Team, Systems Team could do well using these tools in the future.

Exploring Delicious

The Delicious experience took me a long time to complete compared to everything else I have blogged about but I persevered with it and successfully bookmarked some sites.
The feature I found most useful is the tagroll. I like looking at other tagrolls because this uses tagged keywords to find information I am interested in. I have created a tagroll too.

Tagrolls

The Twitter Experience

I think Twitter is very similar to the dialogue box on the homepage of a Facebook account that reads "(Name)is ... "
I signed up to Twitter and afterwards I made some changes.
I changed my user name from stoct09 to changeschanges2. This is similar to my Blog name which I prefer. I also forgot the # symbol infront of learning2.1 link. Hence I micro-blogged three times.
I don't mind micro-blogging but I prefer to keep in contact with family & friends via e-mails and via Facebook. I feel I don't really need to tweet as well.
I'm currently following one person on Twitter and adding this link was easy to do.
It is great to see how several libraries are using Twitter to advertise services, programs and events by making a small comment with a link to more information. I'm all for Twitter in this case because it's maximising on free advertising and promoting of library services.

My twitter names is changeschanges2

Learning 2.1 begins today and the journey continues.

1. I have done some blogging since I finished the original course in Sept 2008 but not a lot due to work commitments. My work is busy with managing a branch library, serving customer needs mainly face-to-face on a daily basis, supervising the work activities of other staff, being proactive in promoting library services and undertaking weekly programs and other events.

2. I suppose what I like about blogging is sharing information.

3. I recently subscribed to my work's blog. I have not read other blogs since 2008.

4. After the introduction of Learning 2.0 Library Management set up an internal Intranet work blog. I have made my comments on it. This was mainly to share and read other staff opinions on current work issues and concerns.

Social Networking.

Technology is really amazing. Week 12 left me a bit "gobb-smacked!" It is endless what a library can acheive. The free on-line resources are available. It is a shame that working at a busy Branch Library with limited Staff (two of us) that there is little time available to explore everything.
The public library that has a dedicated Community programs/marketing section will benefit from everything that has been revealed to us in this course. I have enjoyed it and am glad I made it through to Week 12. I thought I'd never make it, having started in March 2008.
For client interaction, marketing and networking aspects, the library would be able to reach more people internationally as the physical barriers are broken down. A person does not have to be in the library or in the same country. Interactions, meetings, confrences is done in real time.
It is interesting how, on a single website, there can exist a variety of interactive resources/activities. A good example was the Teen Secondlife http://www.plcmc.org/teens/secondlife.asp

Google Docs

On-Line Application Tools.

There are things the library has to record and do on a monthly basis such as recording the end of the month statistics, write up new procedures, list programs on a calendar of events, produce promotional pamphlets for "What's on", etc.
The organisation could make great use of these tools where Staff can work on the same projects collaboratively and documents are kept up-to-date by the minute.

The "Love-Heart Bunnies".

I originally selected this picture for my first mashup. I kept on trying and finally got it in the warhol style.
One great way my library can use Mashups is by providing library locations, addresses, opening times, pictures and even voice-threads through an interactive map-site,like goolemap, making information quick and easy to access/available to potential new library users/members to find. Another good way is to mashup a calander with picture of up and coming events at the library. This would help further promote library services.

Mashup - Warhol style.

It took me some time to work out how to create a mashup but with a little help from others I managed to come up with this.

Podcasts

It was very interesting to listen to the various podcasts that are available. I really thought the podcast at http://libvibe.blogspot.com/ (posted 03/06/08)was intersting especially the one that discussed problems of "the library has turned into a shelter for the homeless" as the homeless seek shelter in public libraries and there is nothing libraries can do as it is a public place for all.
The "library a-Go-Go" was also interseting where books are dispenced to customers via a machine.
I think podcasts can be used in libraries to communicate services, news, events and further promote services to all. It is a great service for the visual impaired.
I like the way podcasts have been used for storytelling by the Denver Public Library. Others have used it for book reviews and listening to author interviews. Just think minutes may even be replaced by podcasts for those who missed meetings. Would you prefer to have the option of listening to a meeting that happened at work rather then reading the minutes?

Slamming the board! Go for it.

I answered the following in Yahoo Answers.

How old do you have to be to get a job at Wendy's?
• 16 years old. This is the age you are identified as an Adult. You will be on a low hourly rate at first because you are still considered a junior. Part-time work, usually on weekends or evenings will be offered. This is best to gain some pocket money while you complete your HSC.

At the library where I work this would be a great service. I can see it being used for book reviews/staff picks, new services/on-line tutoring, library surveys/customer feedback. Slamming the board is simmilar to FAQ and Blogs. People can look up ready referenced answers and add comments. I noticed that my local Council actually posted customer comments at the end of the final report when they introduced the Pets Companion Act 2005 Management Plan. I found it quite novel to read responses, concerns and issues and how Council then tried to address them.
Of course there was no best response ratings.

Delicious-Technology is great when it works properly.

I cannot complete Week 7. Access to the delicious website is denied at work. IT section is looking into it but it is a low priority as Council is busy upgrading their own homepage. The Internet is also slow as the library I work for is changing over from Horizon to Symphony(Sirsi-DynisX)Library Management System. I'm going to skip over to week 8 now or I'll never finish this course.

My library of books

http://www.librarything.com/catalog.php?view=HeyMicky39&shelf=list&sort=commentsREV

My Library of books.

POOR QUALITY LIBRARY SERVICE. A frustrated state employee gives a spacey girl a hard time..

I watched this video clip on You-Tube and had to sigh at viewing such bad customer service. I have experienced such behaviour and negative attitudes in my life of studies that hindered my "information seeking". Good help can be hard to find. What the librarian does in this clip is exactly what I have seen some library staff do to customers. Through creating a non user friendly environment it discourages customers from returning to the library. Some staff like to work in a boring, slow and quiet work place with no challenges or passion for libraries/library work. I just wish staff like that would leave as it creates a negative impact on the organisation.

Wiki lesson- My thoughts.

Recently I used a Wiki at work to quickly help me find a list of the "Where's Wally" publications. I was able to help identify the exact title a customer wanted to place an order. I just completed the week 5 lesson and have discovered that the Wiki is a great tool to use for supporting Readers Advisory work. Libraries can use it to access and record book reviews and promote recent aquisitions. I like the idea of the virtual tour. This is a great way to showcase exisiting libraries, especially ones that have been refurbished like the one I work at or to show new branches that have opened. Looking at a Heritage Wiki where people can add and edit information is great for libraries as it allows the community to record local history that would otherwise be lost. These are some of the benefits a library service can gain from using Wikis.