Thanks Guys

To Lynette and Leslie...many thanks for taking the fear out of new technology and for your positive and regular posts on my blog. Thanks too to the others for looking at what I discovered along the way. It was lots of fun, heaps more time consuming than I had first thought but useful. I doubt I shall be using Facebook regularly, but have already been able to help a member of the public with this feature. So you see girls, it's all worth it!
The only way I can think of improving the course is to maybe even up the weeks a little. Some weeks there seemed to be a lot to get your head around, and others seemed light on? But that too could be because some features seemed to be more obvious and user friendly - and that of course, could be very much an individual perception.
So..... see you round the traps :-)

The Gutenberg Project - WOW!

Downloaded "Bleak House" in HTML format. So easy, and the font was easy to read. But wait! Then I discovered "The Adventures Of Huckleberry Finn" in mp3 format - amazing. This site is so user friendly. Saved it to my del.ici.ous.....and suspect I will be visiting it often. As a public library service maybe we could be promoting this to our housebound clients ?

You Tube - You Choose

But how do you? So much stuff on there! Heaps of applications for libraries here...adverts for up and coming events; videos of workshops; activities; sharing of ideas for physical layouts etc. The list is endless.

Second What???

This concept blew me away. The "Flying Librarians of Oz"? Oh Murdoch Uni! I guess this is the way of future learning. My kids should be good at it as they have been playing SIM games for years. I noticed the female atavars I looked at were all barbie doll like. Hmmmm....
I can see that virtual learning would be easier with an image to work with rather than visualising your peers tapping away at computers in isolated cold dens. It scares me a little I confess. Reality seems to be slipping away from me. Will our vocal abilities change as we cease talking as much and sit in front of screens more to communicate? How will we evolve to deal with this new age? I look forward to seeing where this goes. Actually ;-)

RSS feed to my Google Reader of some seriously unPC stuff.

Had a good look at some podcasts and particularly liked, from Podcast Alley, segments from something called the "Onion". Bit naughty and when I read and listened to them I glanced furtively around before guffawing.....e.g.
Recent Saving Of Planet Attributed To Working Assets Long-Distance Plan from The Onion
UNITED NATIONS–A U.N. report released Monday traces last week's saving of the Earth to Working Assets' long-distance plan. "Working Assets, with its donation of 2 percent of profits to groups like the Rainforest Action Network and Amnesty International, has been found to be the force behind the planet's saving," the U.N. report read. The report also found that by using green, soy-based ink and off-white, 20 percent post-consumer recycled paper for its bills, Working Assets halted the deforestation of 10 million acres of Amazon rainforest, prompted the release of 11,000 Tibetan political prisoners, and increased literacy in Honduras 40 percent.

Sorry, the devil made me do it.......

Rollyos for kids

I think school kids would really warm to this feature...checking out others search rolls. Even though it is easy to use, didn't find it appealing for me somehow. Not like wikis...now THEY appeal to me far far more!

Wikis

I think a Book Lovers wiki for our library would be a good idea as a starter. Easier to manage than blogs and I like the informality heaps. The fact that anyone (within reason - library borrowers only?) can edit pages means that we all get the chance to contribute to ideas and conversation that doesn't involve a lot of emailing back and forth. Yes, this is a useful tool I think. Had a quick look at Biz Wiki - a site offering multiple articles about business practices and links to business related wikis. I like wikis! I can see an application for wikis here too as part of our growing Outreach activities. Lots of networking opportunities.......

Library 2.0

Because we (libraries) are competing with blogs, online encyclopedias etc we need to be right up there and in the game. No time to be cautious, sit back and watch, we need to be aware of and using this rapidly changing technology. No doubt in my mind whatsoever after reading the articles on the Web 2.0 movement! I think an OPAC with tags for browsing is a great idea..using Flickr for posting photos or events within our individual libraries onto home pages AS WELL as onto external sites..... Now I am off to see about tag clouds. Now THERE'S a lovely idea. The word "library" bold and in white with words that are a bit different and inviting about library services that are not normally associated with what we offer swirling around e.g lounging, chatting, wikis, coffee, RSS feeds, web casts, plays, belly dancing workshops....... :-)

Del.cico.us is addictive

Took a while to get my head around this concept but now that the buttons are at the top of my screen, it is positively dangerous. Each time I find a site I know I want to lump with others in a simlar vein (love the free text) I can add it at the click of the button. Brilliant. Professionally and personally this will be an incredibly useful tool. Wait 'til I show my daughters this!

igoogle is cool

This is great...how to put everything you most need in at a glance. Added The New Yorker as my book search gadget - bit outside the square I know - and played with customising my home page (Encroaching Smoke theme, which seems appropriate for Tassie at this time of year) . Dragged the gadgets about and have Map search, Facebook, my Google Reader and Shared Docs all on the top line. Hooked up with Library Stuff and unfortunately had to choose Launceston's weather as my base weather chart. I like the convenience of having all google services signed in and there to see (except for Facebook of course).

Facebook

Getting used to it. what a time waster this has the potential to be. Found out I am a Piano (what a prima donna I must be), got drinks bought for me and my friends have some seriously weird and interesting friends themselves. I constantly get poked and prodded and have people writing on my wall - how rude I say!

Googling all sorts of stuff

Google maps and directions are excellent, although I was amused to see that they chose my starting point in Ulverstone as from the Clock Takeaways rather than from the Clock Tower :). Does my computer read my mind? - Hot chips drenched in vinegar and with lashings of salt.............aaargh! Got a real buzz out of looking up Birth of the Ecowarriors on Google Book Search. A terrific kids adventure story about corrupt corporations sabotaging environmentally sensitive areas . Written and published locally.
Sharing Docs would certainly have it's uses too...I was kind of hoping that if I shared my calendar then someone else might remind me to look at it or give me a reminder prod. I found out what staff are reading at a library along the coast a little further. Very eclectic tastes! Added my own current reading matter and now have some to add to my wish list.

My Space huh?

I have had a browse and found some interesting pages on Myspace. It struck me that a lot of users have music that starts up automatically upon entering their page. I found that irritating. Especially Pete's page with tumbling guitars across his text too. Sorry Pete, I'm sure you are a nice guy :). Although his partner Goldie must be anxious about DL sending him throbbing (I kid you not) hearts and kisses. Headings that I thought were probably useful were: schools attended; concerts attended....good networking starting points. Check out Ronia's page...had to say all her posts out loud to decipher them - jes gawjes

Barb's base camp reads.....

http://www.librarything.com/catalog/barbarajs

Google Reader

And yet another string to add to my bow (take THAT Robin Hood), I have now subscribed to way too many news services through Google Reader. I didn't find it user friendly at all and the attractive packages they offered in subject areas were "interesting". Deleted the 10 most watched YouTube videos from my list immediately. Finding out how to share with friends a nightmare. Gulp.

Library Thang

Well...tried very unsuccessfully to create my own library on Library Thing tonight. It seems to be experiencing some "down time". Did the tour, looks very interesting and will try again later. I guess I will have to aim to have all my titles out of order :-)

For Rhona

I am a fan of U2's Angel of Harlem, so just let my mind run amok, which it does very well. Shorewell is a famous suburb of Burnie :-). Having fun playing around with images and words. This could be dangerous.

First try

The hardest part about all of this initial registering and setting up a blog was finding a name that wasn't too ridiculous! Up and running, Burnie had better watch out......