Sunday, September 30, 2007
#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.
Thursday, September 27, 2007
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.
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.
Wednesday, September 26, 2007
#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.
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.
Tuesday, September 25, 2007
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.
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.
Monday, September 24, 2007
#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/
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
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.
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.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
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