Wrap up!!

I have had a bumpy road with the Web 2.0 training, starting on time but only doing a few topics before finding I was too time poor at work to go any further before christmas. I was on holidays for 2 weeks after Christmas when I remebered I hadn't done it, so I freaked out mildly and decided I had better get on with it. Well once I got back into it, I've really quite enjoyed it, it's been a challenge as I didn't have any help being at home, except when Mary told me the final step to embed the library thing over the phone. My brain got a good workout I must say, I found the instructions made me think rather than just spell things out, which is good as it meant I had to really explore and play around. I recovered from various moments of intense frustration!!!
I'm really glad I did it, I have really learned alot and I feel so much more aware of the technologies out there now. Many thanks to the  City of Swan.

Geocaching

Geocaching sounds like good fun, almost like orienteering. It's like a high tech treasure hunt using a GPS where you follow coordinates to find a "cache" which leads you onto the next clue and then onwards to a prize at the end. I'm wondering if our library could use it in some way to enthuse older kids and young adults to enjoy a learing experience where they navigate the local area including the three branches of Cockburn libraries and local landmarks thus increasing their awareness of their environment and local landmarks. Young adults like a challenge and the prize could be a nice new technological device!

Pod casting

Pod casting is a great way to easily access audio recordings from a variety of tools such as Ipod, Pc, MP3 players. The uses are endless for uni students to access lectures, Author talks, oral history, accessing audio books and i think another way the library could utilize Pod casts is to have a book reading for kids on the web site, where we record a story reading of a short JK book and kids can easily access and listen to it. We could have a story a week by different authors or even a theme. I shall investigate podcasts for my own entertainment as now i know what they are, thanks to the web 2.0 training!!!

Online videos

I am very familiar with Online videos as My boy Jasper is always getting me to watch CRAZY videos online with him, some of them are really funny, some are amazing. It is incredible to have a world of short clips at hand at the press of a button. I chose this one because that funny thing some cats do with their jaws to make a clicking sound when they see a bird is what my my old friend Werrol used to do when he was still with me. I always found it hilarious!! In our library i think that perhaps short Videos of previous events and workshops would give people a tantilizing taste of what to expect from some of the activities we hold, they could be accessed through the website for viewing.

Talking Cats

Facebook and Twitter

I have had a facebook account for a couple of years ever since my friend moved to Mexico and invited me to join so i could see her photos and stay in touch. I don't really use it alot, and weeks can go by before i check it each time, but I find it is a great way to keep up with people I don't see regularly like friends in other countries or towns. I think also that Facebook can be a big time waster if used too much.
I just don't have the time or inclination to be on it checking it too much.
Using facebook for libraries can be useful in involving patrons in whats going on in the library and letting them know of up and coming events etc.


My Twitter name is Suncatcher64


I think twitter could be used in the library the same way as facebook, to post updates to many people simultaneously. I'm not sure if i would really use it alot but lets wait and see! Iam starting to catch on to twitter abit more, it is an instantaeous way to write a short sentence on whats happening at that moment
or what is coming up in someones day but can also be used in a more professional setting such as the library to notify users of what events are coming up or whats taking place at the library.

I guess alot of twittering is just empty and pointless telling others what one had for breakfast or other insignificant things but it can have its more positive uses.

Delicious and Library Thing

http://www.delicious.com/

Well I hope this is right, I can see that Delicious could be a good way to store all links to favorite and most used websites, but I don't think it is something that I would use...but i guess you never know since

as time goes on we store more and more information and its a good way to access quickly ( once you get used to the process which iam not yet!!) I have found the Delicious website really hard to navigate, I think visually it is very crowded and I have found it the hardest part of the web training to put to use. Strange since some have said it was so easy!!


Library Thing


Library thing could be really useful for most patrons and staff, It's a very personal organized way to store a record of all books read and sort them into areas so they are easily found and viewed.
I have at various times tried to make a paper list of books i have read so i can keep track and have a record but have always found the list goes missing or i don't add the books i have read so this way of storing them is fantastic. I'm sure that alot of library users would love to be introduced to Library thing. We always get people coming to the desk asking if they have read such and such a book and this way they could keep track themselves. 

Library Thing