Yes, I've finally got there, and what a journey it has been. Now I just have to make the time to revisit these wonderful sites and allow them to further empower and enlighten my life. The question I ponder now is, "How does one engage others in the pursuit of knowledge and entertainment, through these glorious avenues?" Me thinketh, that there is little time and even smaller numbers of staff availableto carry out such an heroic task! But let's look to the future with positivity.
My favourite sites were: the Photo galleries, the newsreader sites, Wikis, YouTube and of course the eAudiobook sites. These were sites that were either entertaining, or informative and would be useful to introduce to our patrons who may not know about them yet!
An unexpected outcome for me, was just how much is out there in cyber space and just how user friendly most of it is! It was so much fun that it has prompted me to make more time for the Internet (and to get Broadband at home), and to work out ways in which I can impart my knowledge, skills and enthusiasm onto others.
Yvonne Hodgson signing off.
Friday, April 4, 2008
Week 9 Podcasts, video and downloadable audio
As I couldn't check out the collection of audio books on the world eBook fair (it is currently being updated), I looked instead at the NetLibrary eAudiobooks site and the OverDrive site. Some of the benefits of downloading these are: to expand the Library's services, by provision of quality
audio books of Fiction and Non-fiction. Access to best sellers, classics and award winning books would be made easier and the format would be readily accessible. Of course audio books do not wear out like print materials do, so money would be saved on processing, and maintaining print materials. Once the eAudiobook has been downloaded to your desktop or laptop then it can be transferred to a portable audio device.
OverDrive had some interesting features such as the means to create a digital library collection for download. They provide a program called Digital Library Reserve which enables patrons to download popular digital audio books, eBooks, music, and video from the library's customised website. I was also impressed to see that this site had 7,500 library partners represented.
These two sites give us the scope to further develop our resource collection, whether it be for recreational reading or reading for academic advancement. What costs would be involved I'm not sure, let's hope that cost will not impede the development of these new collections.
audio books of Fiction and Non-fiction. Access to best sellers, classics and award winning books would be made easier and the format would be readily accessible. Of course audio books do not wear out like print materials do, so money would be saved on processing, and maintaining print materials. Once the eAudiobook has been downloaded to your desktop or laptop then it can be transferred to a portable audio device.
OverDrive had some interesting features such as the means to create a digital library collection for download. They provide a program called Digital Library Reserve which enables patrons to download popular digital audio books, eBooks, music, and video from the library's customised website. I was also impressed to see that this site had 7,500 library partners represented.
These two sites give us the scope to further develop our resource collection, whether it be for recreational reading or reading for academic advancement. What costs would be involved I'm not sure, let's hope that cost will not impede the development of these new collections.
Week 8 Online Applications & Tools
In the Books category I had a look at the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners. www.lulu.com won first place and was a site where you could publish your own work, sell your work and be able to connect with other writers. So it was a site for writers, and would be of interest to anyone wishing to pursue this career. I was happy to see that the LibraryThing site won 3rd place, as it is obviously more library orientated as it helps you create a library-quality catalogue as well as connecting people based on the books they share.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Week 6 Web 2.0, Library 2.0
The del.icio.us site makes bookmarking and tagging sites so easy. I had a look at the education and reference sites and their related tags, the "clouds" made selection of popular sites so simple. Had fun looking at the TV Guide and reading the celebrity blogs!!
Now to the articles!
Yes the face of our public library system is changing, and like all services in the public sector we must keep abreast of current innovations and developments in technology and the Web.
I can remember when I started my university degree in Teacher Librarianship (back in 1981) and how terrified we were to hear that computers would be 'taking over' in a manner of speaking!! Coming from the generation of typed catalogue cards, it was quite alarming! Little did we know that this new technology would be a blessing in disguise, and we would not be out of a job! Like the innovations of yesteryear, Web 2.0 will only improve on the services and knowledge already provided by our libraries. We owe it to our patrons to have a good grasp of these Web sites, in order to impart this knowledge onto others.
Rick Anderson in his article "Away from the icebergs" sees our print collections being reduced as patrons become more educated in finding answers on the Web. Rather than us building collections of books we think our patrons might need, they can instead access virtually everything via the Web. So as librarians our skills then need to encompass how to best use the sites available to us.
He says that unlike school libraries, we will not have the time to teach these skills, due to the low numbers of staff in each library. So we need to work out a way of "eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need". Rather than the library being the main source of information we have to work out how we can best provide information to our patrons.
(I read all of the articles, great stuff!!)
Now to the articles!
Yes the face of our public library system is changing, and like all services in the public sector we must keep abreast of current innovations and developments in technology and the Web.
I can remember when I started my university degree in Teacher Librarianship (back in 1981) and how terrified we were to hear that computers would be 'taking over' in a manner of speaking!! Coming from the generation of typed catalogue cards, it was quite alarming! Little did we know that this new technology would be a blessing in disguise, and we would not be out of a job! Like the innovations of yesteryear, Web 2.0 will only improve on the services and knowledge already provided by our libraries. We owe it to our patrons to have a good grasp of these Web sites, in order to impart this knowledge onto others.
Rick Anderson in his article "Away from the icebergs" sees our print collections being reduced as patrons become more educated in finding answers on the Web. Rather than us building collections of books we think our patrons might need, they can instead access virtually everything via the Web. So as librarians our skills then need to encompass how to best use the sites available to us.
He says that unlike school libraries, we will not have the time to teach these skills, due to the low numbers of staff in each library. So we need to work out a way of "eliminating the barriers that exist between patrons and the information they need". Rather than the library being the main source of information we have to work out how we can best provide information to our patrons.
(I read all of the articles, great stuff!!)
LibraryThing and Rollyo
Loved LibraryThing, what an awesome site, so many different options and so easy to use. Terrific how books connected, and could give you the best recommendations. Loved how it could analyse your catalogue and come up with 100 or so books you might also like to read, what a great tool for the library!
Rollyo was equally as brilliant. Had fun searching news, travel and reference sites, again an excellent tool for patrons to know about, especially useful for students of any age.
Rollyo was equally as brilliant. Had fun searching news, travel and reference sites, again an excellent tool for patrons to know about, especially useful for students of any age.
Week 5 Play Week
Had fun with the online image generators. Looked at the comic strip generator, and logo generator, and chose some at random from the list of 942 generator sites. Found it relatively easy to use, and thought the Poster making site was quite good. www.ronyasoft.com/product/poster-forge/index.html
In this site you can make motivational posters, movie posters and old west 'Wanted Posters', it is an easy way of creating a professional looking poster, which could be put up in libraries or schools.
In this site you can make motivational posters, movie posters and old west 'Wanted Posters', it is an easy way of creating a professional looking poster, which could be put up in libraries or schools.
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
RSS
The sky is the limit, so much information from so many different sources. The problem will be having to select a limited number of relevant sites to satisfy your hunger for knowledge in your chosen areas! But what fun trying!! Again a wonderful resource probably more suited to upper primary, secondary and University students, as well as the general public, due to the nature of the information and the level of reading skill required.
It would be an excellent resource for Secondary students researching current affairs and issues, and would also be an invaluable tool for debaters.
I look forward to getting broad band at home, so I can dive into this world of information!
It would be an excellent resource for Secondary students researching current affairs and issues, and would also be an invaluable tool for debaters.
I look forward to getting broad band at home, so I can dive into this world of information!
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