#18 Finish Line

So, here it is, the end. All is finished and done, with many things learnt and many things left to learn. Where exactly did I get?... I got to the place of knowing that no matter how much I uncover there will always be something else to find.

I think that the most interesting things that I found were Zoho Writer, and Flickr mashups. I also spent quite a bit of time with RSS feeds.

Throughout the rest of my working life, I will need to continue to keep up with the emerging technologies, in order to provide the service that is necessary. This thought places a bit of pressure on me, but also provides a challange that, I would like to think, I as library employee will be able to do. All in all I think that this program has assisted and changed the way I work, and also the way I provide assistance.

One thing that I did find was that it took quite a while on each exercise. There were times that I felt guilty about the amount of time that the program was taking up, and how I could have been doing a whole range of collection work instead. Having said that, I can see the benefit of spending time on each new thing, without using a quaility amount of time the whole program would be worthless.

Thanks to Lynette, Leanne, and Mark providing this program.

May all who tread these paths be changed, αμήν!

#17 Library 2.0

What is Library 2.0 you ask? I find myself asking the same question in many different circumstances: While I've been doing these 'Things', when I'm asked what I think about Library 2.0, and when I see it in an article. And yet I don't think I have come up with an answer that satisfies me.

Off the top of my head I would say that, Library 2.0 is an idea in which libraries need in order to advance into the next stage of offering the public the best resources and services possible. It is an idea of connecting library staff with one another, with the public, and this by a knowledge of the wider technological tools. Of using that which we have at our fingertips in order to go beyond the wider expectations that libraries are known for there books and access to computers.

And yet can we get too caught up in the programs and tools out there that we miss learning more about our customers, and turn into people who are used because we know more, or should I say, are expected to know more. I think that it is enough that we know that certain tools are there. Some of my best experiences in dealing with the public is when I am learning right alongside them, and that by bouncing ideas of each other we can then create some kind of bond, instead of giving them the answer or showing them the answer.

We continue to learn, but we must learn in a way where it is benifical to all.

#16 Podcasts

Out of the podcasts directories that were listed I found that Podcast.net was the most attractive and for my skills it provided the best results.

Now that I know that it is there I may use it in the future, or at least be able to direct others to it.

#15 Video sharing

Now, I have seen YouTube used and used it a little bit myself. Which, in relation to other things I've learned in this program, means that I'm an expert!

After looking around on YouTube I went and looked at both TeacherTube, and ScienceHack. I found that TeacherTube was set out a bit more like YouTube and it seemed that it was more of a professional site. ScienceHack, on the other hand, was a lot simpler to use and I found that it wasn't as comprehensive as it covered a more specialized content.

I decided to add a video from YouTube that I've seen before, and thought someone else might enjoy it!

#14 Biblio

I went for a stroll through the different sites and selected one of the book sites.

Biblio.com

I thought that the site was of a reasonalby good quality. The amount of different search features was very good, with the only thing that I didn't like was that it seemed a little bit cluttered.

Also, Biblio founded an independent non-profit organization known as BiblioWorks in 2005. Since then, Biblio has supported in building 5 community libraries in Bolivia, South America. Something like this also draws me into liking and probably using their services. (I'm sure they will be glad to hear that!)

I did a few searches on authors that I have at home, and found that one of the old books that got for in a second-hand store for $8 is selling on Biblio for nearly $600. That's if they sell it at that price!

Biblio.com has joined my bookmarks.

#13 Technology!

Ah! Technology.

I remember back a few years to school day where the class would move into a shared room and stare at the wonderful thing called a computer. (Not so old that I don't remember computers at school)The teacher would show us word processing and such, and even gave us a chance to actually touch the keyboard as well.

It is amazing to think that over such a short space of time computers and other tech gizmos (etc. mobile phones) have taken over the world. People find it hard to get jobs if they don't have a grasp on all the advancements, while others use their whole days working and playing with such things.

I think that many things got done just as well 20 to 30 years ago, some with a lot less stress, and at a slower pace giving people time for other things. Is there such a thing as too much technology? You get one thing and a day later it is obsolete! Do we need to keep up, or can we go slower and possible do better jobs?, and build better relationships with those we work with and those we live with.


Yes, technology is great, and has made life a lot easier in many areas, but in other areas it has been the cause of many peoples downfall.


p.s. I don't have a: mobile, MP3 Player, ipod, laptop, cd player in the car, digital camera, but I do have a computer that has dial-up that works occasionally.

#12 Web based applications

Got onto to Zoho writer and played around and found it to be extremely interesting.
This could be something that I will continue to use in the future.

I loved the templates and was especially tempted to post a Bill of Sale template with a Chrysler 300C on it!

#11 Flickr mashups

Jumped onto Flickr color Pickr and found it to be a lot of fun!

#10 Flickr

A picture from Flickr

#9 Technorati

Had a quick look at Technorati and did a few searches.

Also searched under "Learning 2.0" with the following results:

510 - Blog Posts
840 - Tags
753 - Blog directory

Not really my thing.

#8 Tagging

I found that "tagging" would be very useful if you had a large amount of bookmarks and a lot of spare time - which cancels me out! Being able to access your bookmarks from anywhere (on a computer) could come in very handy, I suppose.


As for using it at the SLV, it would provide students with a tool that could help them in their research, though there would have to be some kind of control over it. More work than its worth, I think!

#7 Finding feeds

I found that Google Blog search was the easiest to use and the most useful, though I have not been able to get onto Feedster so the judging process was hampered a bit. Most Google tools seem to be designed to be simple to use, so maybe that is why I like it.
I am not used to finding information by topics, so Topix.net was a little more confusing, though I'm sure that after spending time with it I may change my mind.

#6 RSS

The only way that I can see RSS feeds being a benefit is, if you were in a hurry and wanted to knock off the time it would take to go to the website, which would be all of a few seconds. Otherwise it seems to me that it is just another thing to 'sign in' to.

Okay, so it might also help those who have poor memories and need this to remind them of what they wanted to see.

But I am open to other ideas about RSS, as I can't have seen all the opportunities this has.

#5 Wikis

What can I say?
I had a look around at the various resources and then went to add my blog to the list. This took a while as other people kept using the edit feature and I was cautious about stealing the lock.
Do unto others and all that!

#4 Wikis

Not being a frequent user of wikis I have found that they could be very useful. With people able to publish information about things that they have special knowledge about. During my schooling as a mature student, I was advised to stay away from wikis such as Wikipedia as they were not reliable sources for info. So, with that being the first thing I learnt about wikis I have found that I continue, on the whole, to regard wikis as a tool only to be a last resort, and that they need to be checked against a more authoritive tool.

Overall, it is good to learn about such things, but for now I will continue to use more trusted tools.

I did find that Mark's SLV wiki provided some useful sites, some of which have found there way onto my bookmarks.

Online!

Finally, here it is!