#23 the end

The end is here, but really for me at least it is the beginning. I have thoroughly enjoyed this learning experience and can see so many opportunities where we can implement web 2.0 in to our library. It is not about implementing new technology or new services just for the sake of it, but to reach out to our patrons in alternative ways then just expecting them to walk through the doors of our libraries all the time. As with all technologies in libraries balance is really important. The reality is that a lot of our patrons are not interested in this technology and don't want to learn about it, so we cannot make a complete changover to web 2.0, but there are certainly a lot of existing patrons who are interested and will use some of these technologies and by implementing them we will attract new patrons as well. To me it is about the whole picture, and using web 2.0 to enhance what we already do, and to do some outreach to those poor souls who aren't already regular library users.
Thank you very much to the State Library of Victoria for organising this program and to the Yarra Plenty staff for all of their time consuming work in making the program a success. We were only able to fit 40 staff from our library service into this program, so I am hoping to organise for the rest to do the program at a later date as I think it is very worthwhile.

#22 eAudioBooks

I think the concept of this is great and is clearly the future of audiobooks. I thought the world ebook fair site was quite 'messy' and not very easy to navigate. I would like to see our library investigate eaudiobooks and make them available to our patrons.

#21 podcasts and directories

Podcasts are great and bring that personal touch to describing a service, or task etc. There are so many podcasts about every topic you can think of. I did a quick search on raising a reader and found lots of interesting podcasts. Patrons seem more and more interested in early literacy development so I think we could create links to existing podcasts or create a few of our own on this topic in particular, or do instrucitonal podcasts or videos using YouTube to demonstrate how to use library resources and services.

#20 Youtube

I now see the fascination with YouTube that everyone seems to have. It is so much fun and so entertaining. I really liked the video below as I thought it was a lot of fun. It is called Ray of Light from ST Joseph County Public Library and is a fast forwarded day in the life of a public library and staff.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrtYdFV_Eak
This YouTube video is about a recipe to raise a reader. I thought this would make a great competition for library patrons.
Librarian 2.0 manifesto
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZblrRs3fkSU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9Tej7RwBdM


I think there is a lot of scope for libraries to use YouTube to make our websites a lot more interesting, including library tours, services on offer, storytimes, tips for raising readers etc.

#19 facebook

I'd like to explore facebook further and develop an account for the library, or a myspace account, or perhaps both. It is probably a good way to communicate with teens etc as long as it is kept active and interesting.
Lots of my friends seem to be making facebook accounts too, and it has taken over from email.

The web 2.0 directory is just mind boggling. There are so many applications to do just about everything you can imagine. My issue is that I hate having to make an account for all sorts of separate things. I like that google and others are trying to link them together so you only have to have one account to access everything, or at least the most commonly used things.

#18 googledocs

I posted the below from googledocs. I decided to use this one so I don't have to create another account and remember another password and I think that google seems to be doing a lot of work in developing sharing resources and making them really easy to use.

This document is my first one using google docs. I just love this concept of being able to access my word documents wherever I have Internet access. Maybe if it is developed really well, it will be the end of Microsoft Office.

#17 pbwiki

when a wiki is named after a peanut butter sandwich you know that it has been set up to be easy.
Playing in the sandbox was fun too and there a lot of great holiday ideas. Now if only I had some money.......

#16 Wikis

We've finally got to wikis. I didn't know that it was a Hawaiian term, so that is interesting. I think there are so many uses for wikis, particularly for subject guides and I'd like to explore the option of using a wiki instead of an Intranet.
They also look like a great way to share resources and knowledge for any collaborative work being done by anyone working on similar projects, whether they be children's services or reference. I think there is a definite possibility that wiki's will take over and make life and gaining knowledge so easy.

#15 web2.0 and the future of libraries and librarians

Just by getting staff to undertake the learning 2.0 program, we have taken the first steps towards incorporating web 2.0 technology into library services. We are all very good at face to face library services, but I don't think that this is enough any more. It is not enough to provide an excellent service within our four walls. We need to step up, learn a lot more about engaging the interest of online users, what their needs and wants are and how we can provide these, and how we can market ourselves to them.
I know that at our library service this program is introducing staff to a lot of different 'things' and as it does this, it also increases their IT skills which is great. Sometimes people can get caught up in being incredibly busy issuing books etc, but I think we would all like our libraries and our library work to be about so much more than just issuing books. We want to be able to do all the reader development things, help with homework and education and technology and just enjoy reading and talking about books. I think that web 2.0 can be one way of sharing our love of reading, books, education, literacy, social hubs and all the other things that libraries are about. It just isn't always going to be face to face.

#14 Technorati

I've searched technorati for learning 2.0 and had more appropriate hits when I did an advanced search for the exact phrase. I guess with so many blogs out there, it is useful to have a tool to search them. One to keep in mind.

#13 del.icio.us

OK, I really like the look of this social bookmarking tool. I can really see it as a good reference tool that can be shared by all library staff in a particular region.

#12 rollyo

OK, I've made my own rollyo search tool and added it to my blog. I can see that this could be useful, particularly for people doing a lot of searching in specific areas etc.

#11 Library Thing

I really like library thing. I've never enjoyed cataloguing very much, but Library Thing makes it really easy. I think the best part of it is the book suggestion tool so you can get lists of other books similar to those that you really enjoy reading.
The group section is really interesting too.
I'll have to play around here a lot more.

#10 image generators

I just love image generators. You can create something that looks absolutely fantastic with so much ease and there are so many different options to choose from.
I've gone for a magic 8 ball option.
To see the answer to all current library questions just look at the magic 8 ball above.

#8 and #9 RSS feeds

Well, I've got a better understanding of what RSS is now and what it can do for me. I've set up a bloglines account and subscribed to a few sites. I know the idea is to make it easier and quicker to keep up to date with information. I definitely think it will be easier, but I think I could spend a huge amount of time reading all the things I am interested in, so lucky I'm good at scanning articles.

learning 2.0 program tip

Hi everyone,
a tip that I have been giving a few staff in need of assistance with the learning 2.0 program is to keep going back to master page http://geelonglearning.blogspot.com/ which lists which 'things' you will do each week. I know some people have been a bit confused as some of the links have taken them off the track so to speak (although this has been good to encourage exploration) and they haven't been sure of what steps they need to do. If you have a good look at the master page before you start and before you finish, you can see which 'things' you need to do that week. Remember, the idea is to learn through play. If you have any questions just ask me.

#7 Technology - the Internet

To me the biggest piece of technology that has changed my life and affects just about every aspect of my job is the Internet. It is amazing how many people are welcoming the Internet into their homes and the number of people with home Internet access is constantly increasing. We just have to look at the statistics for catalogue use via our online catalogue, with patrons searching for titles, placing holds, renewing items....it is our busiest branch and more and more people are accessing it from home.

So, what does this mean for public libraries? It means that we need to be creating 'virtual' ways of communicating with our patrons and this ties us nicely back to web 2.0. Yes, technology is there to support what libraries have always done and it is a tool, but now we really have to be open to the ways we can use it to communicate with patrons too. Websites need to be treated as a 'branch' of the library service and the possibilities are endless.

It also means that people have got used to having information at their fingertips and I think are becoming increasingly impatient with libraries if they can't provide the book or information they want exactly when they want it. Libraries and library staff have the challenge of maintaining and developing the delicate balance between providing the information needed in the format needed and at the time needed with the love of books and reading and providing a library community. It really is an exciting time to work in libraries.

blogging tips

I've learned that you can edit your posts after you have published them, so if you forget to put something in, or want to change the title etc to include the number of the 'thing' you are doing, you can click on edit posts under posting.

I've also learned how to add a link to a post and how to add a picture to a post, by using the icons in the toolbar above.

Of course, adding labels to your posts is also very important. As library staff, we definitely understand the concept of being able to find things again when you want them.

#5 and #6 flickr

Wow, there is so much on flickr. It is amazing what you can do with it and all the mashups etc. I think we should keep it in mind when creating posters etc.
I thought the below link certainly made it obvious where to go to check out. I've had a play and will hopefully be using it in the future.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/librarianinblack/246132668/in/photostream/

How to change the time to Melbourne instead of American time

If you would like to change the time on your blog so that it is accurate instead of being American time follow the steps below.
login to your blog
click on settings which is in the middle of the page about a third of the way down
click on the formatting link
change the time zone to Eastern Time – Melbourne Sydney
scroll down to the bottom of the page and click on save settings.

#3 created a blog

OK, this is my first blog for this learning 2.0 program. It is good so far.