#27 Photobucket

I started a photobucket account last year because I was told that it was a far more effective (and cheaper) way to upload photos to ebay. (it is)


I used it for a while and then promptly forgot about it.

Revisiting it today I thought I'd set up a new account for the purpose of this thing but that probably I'd continue to use flickr for my online photo needs. Now I'm not so sure.

Playing with photobucket again today I really liked the ease of photo handling and the range of visual media that can be accessed and stored.

However I found the ads very intrusive. I accept that the trade off for free access is ads - I just found the ones on photobucket to be very annoying and far more in-your-face than flickr.

Is it enough to stop me converting to Photobucket? Maybe.

Stay tuned as photobucket and flickr go head to head for the chance to host my photos.

#26 Widget, widget, who's got the widget (wicked!)

Courtesy of yourminis I have added a calendar and a clock to my blog. (I desperately wanted to add 'Dilbert' cartoons but I couldn't work out howto resize them so that the whole strip was visible, and not just the first frame and a half - memo to self - homework for weekend)

Late breaking news - I couldn't help myself - I had to add a 'to do' list.

There was a huge range of widgets I could have added (and may still, see comment above) such as 'quote of the day', the weather channel, a 'to do' list and many, many, more.

For a while there this evening my blog was in danger of being 'widgetized' to within an inch of it's life - as I added widget after widget before deciding that widgets should be added in moderation so i settled on clock and calendar, with cartoon and to do list sitting on the interchange bench.

Widgets such as these would be very effective on a library blog (especially weather, news, clocks etc.) as they could localise and indivdualise a web presence (be it a blog or a social network, or even the web page)

#25 Letterpop (My boy Lollipop)

I've created a newsletter on Letterpop. it was fairly easy, although once I'd uploaded and image and dragged it into my newsletter, I couldn't work out how to delete just the image. I ended up trashing the whole newsletter and starting again.

The free version of letterpop only allows you to upload 25 images - which probably wouldn't be enough in a year - a library newsletter would most likely be monthly which would limit you to 2 or 3 piccies per issue - which isn't many because I would want to illustrate a newsletter with piccies of activities, 3 just wouldn't be enough...

If you didn't have ms word then letterpop would be useful - I think it could replace ms publisher in the newsletter stakes but I didn't find it any easier to use than the newsletter template in word.

#24 Zamzar (Merry Christmas Maggie Thatcher)

Way back in #7 I mentioned my then favourite website zamzar - it's a file conversion site and I'd been using it to convert old clarisworks and msworks files into formats my pc could understand.

Well three months on and still zamzar is one of my favourite online tools only now I'm using it to convert youtube videos to ipod (mp4) which I can then watch on my ipod (although why I would want to watch them on a 2 cm screen is a mystery to everyone, me included.) But the point is - I can!

After seeing Billy Elliot the other week I've been downloading clips from the previews and rehearsals and watching them on the ipod.

I've also experimented (so far semi-successfully) with converting .bmp photos to .jpg (some have worked, some haven't).

With zamzar you upload the file (or link) you want converted to zamzar, and specify the conversion format. Zamzar then emails you a link to the converted file which can then be downloaded.

The major drawback to the free version of zamzar is that the download link only stays active for 24 hours so you need to be ready (it can sometimes take a little while for the email to arrive)

Still zamzar rocks!

In a library sense I've already recommended zamzar to patrons who want to edit and print a document format not supported on the library pcs (eg: pdf to word, mac to microsoft).

It's an added platform that gives us and our patrons more flexibility when wanting to use our pcs as the number of file formats supported increases. In a 'back room' sense no more queueing up to use the 'publisher' pc - we can convert the publisher file to another format to have a look at it.

Encore Encore

Well it's been two weeks since I wrote my last post and finished the 'blog' portion of Learning 2.0 (she says gloatingly) but my involvement didn't end there.

Since then I've been 'mentoring' (bribing, bullying, threatening, cajoling - you get the picture) people into starting, continuing, or finishing the program.

It's interesting to see the effect that Learning 2.0 has had on people.


I'ts been called narcissistic (I like to blog - so sue me);

some have embraced it with an almost religious fervour;

others are doing the minimum amount possible (to stop me from nagging them, I guess)


Many people (myself included) suffered from a mid-program slump where the blogs remained untouched for a couple of weeks before finishing strongly with the proverbial 'wet sail'.

Some are finding it very hard going - convinced that it is all too hard for them.

I listened to the podcast of Stephen Abram's talk at the State Library earlier this year - he talked about the hardest thing we've had to learn in the past few years is to double click (actually he said freakin' double click - but you get the picture).

It seems that many people still have a fear of computers and computing despite having used pcs at work for over 15 years - is that the reason people didn't want to web 2.0?

I loved exploring the different tools and thinking about how I'd use them - and not always in a work sense.

Some of the tools I played with in learning 2.0 have become part of everyday life (bloglines, del.icio.us, youtube), others I want to explore more (rollyo).

Perhaps (inhouse) we could look at 'modulising' web 2.0 a bit - instead of completing all 23 things people could opt to complete a youtube module, or a bloglines module - and relate it directly to their library or their position.

Would people find it less confronting if they could complete 4 or 5 tasks, involving say Bloglines, at their own pace and then move onto something else?

Back to Library 2.0 though...I guess what I'm wondering is how can we get library staff to try something that they're convinced they can't do, are sure they don't want to do, and are convinced will bring about the downfall of the free world (and libraries) as they know it?

(Something about you can lead a librarian to a computer but you can't make them blog...)

Roll on Learning 3.0!

Finale

You have reached the last page of the internet.


Please turn off your computer and go outside and play.


Thank you for dropping by.

#23 Give my regards to Broadway

Libraries are not made, they grow. (Augustine Birrell)

How true.

I've enjoyed the learning 2.0 program. A lot of the 'things' I'd used, or heard of, already but I hadn't really thought about how they could be applied in libraryland.

If I have a criticism it is that we really only skimmed gthe surface of a lot of things - I have a list of websites to go back to, to explore in more detail, to play with in library terms, as I could have played with some of these websites (especially youtube) 24/7.

Where to from here?

What tools could we use in the library right now?

Which programs could we put in our 'to do later' file?

Does our website have the capability (bandwidth, download capacity, IT backup) to host all the applications that we want to add?

The Internet adds a whole other dimension to the traditional look and feel of a library; we can reach a much wider audience, and an online program means that users are not bound by library opening hours (for example) when they want access to library information, programs, and services.

It's another way in which we can "provide maximum access to a free and effective public library service to support the informational, cultural, educational and recreational needs of all members of the community on an equitable basis" (City of Boroondara Library Service Collection Development Policy)

The End

#22 Audiobooks (A pirate's life for me)

Worldebookfair

Personally this is not a resource that I would use as ebooks don't interest me all that much. Mainly, i think, because I find it easy to tune out voices and near impossible to tune out music (so maybe if the ebook was set to music... bizarre mental image of me listening to a musical version of Sun Tzu's "Art of war")

Librarily I think these online ebook libraries would be a boon. People could download them from home or from library computers and listen to as many, or as few, as they liked. Especially as MP3 is such an available format now.

I was interested in what, if any, mechanisms are in place to prevent piracy - for example: can I, instead of (or as well as) saving the book to my MP3 player, burn it to cd also? I mean what is to stop me (hypothetically speaking) from downloading something that's on the VCE reading list, burning mutiple copies to cd, and selling them to students?

I had a bit of an explore and couldn't find anything that specifically addressed that issue. Will continue to look (for interest's sake, not for nefarious reasons)!

#21 Podcasts (Listening to you)

I have been looking at the use of podcasts in public libraries for a while now as we are keen to make available podcasts of booktalks and guest speakers on our website.

A few years ago we got a grant to record some book reviews and put them our website and, in a way, that was the forerunner to podcasts. (The reviews were very popular and at one stage were one of the most visited parts of the site)

Podcasts are a great way to introduce people to the range of services offered by the library. It doesn't have to be a podcast of a booktalk, it can be an instructional tool - how to reserve a book; informative - listen to the library guide rather than reading it; find out what's new in library land.

I've added the podcasts of (author) Michael Connelly to my bloglines account. He regularly adds new podcasts to his website - usually of interviews he has done or talks he has given. As he is one of my favourite crime authors I can hear him: read a chapter from his new book; talk about character development in his next novel; or discuss crime fiction with other authors.

I can see a lot of uses for podcasts in libraries, the open up a whole new way for people to access the library and its programs without necessarily having to enter the building.

#20 Youtube (You should be dancing)

This clip combines three of my favourite things

• Rudolf Nureyev
• Swan Lake
• The muppets
  
  
  

Couldn't decide between the above clip or this one

• Rudolf Nureyev
• The Muppets
• Tap dancing

Both clips show that Nureyev, as well as being a stunning dancer also has a wicked sense of humour. It also shows the creativity of the talent behind the muppets.

In a library sense we could maybe film booktalks, storytimes, guest speakers etc. and post them to youtube so that all patrons could view them, not just those who were able to attend.

Would need a video camera of some sort and due care and attention to copyright issues.

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 tools (Eureka)

I used netvibes to set up a personalised start page for my computer. It's a free web start page; the idea being that when you turn on your pc your start page is the netvibes page you have customised.

There are a number of templates you can use (or you can design your own). On the start page you can have up to four columns and a nunmber of browse boxes within each column. You can also add tabs (think tabbed browsing a la firefox, or IE 7) to further customise your page.

In a library setting I think this would be a very useful tool. For example the first screen the user sees on the library pc might include:

• a search box for the library catalogue
• a list of upcoming events (with a search option)
• a list of feeds from the library blog(s)
• todays weather
• todays news headlines
• google search
• link to online databases
• link to ebooks
• podcasts
• youtube
• flickr
• and so much more

As with all this type of thing the hardest part is the setting up - deciding what to put on the page, how to arrange it, and what it should look like. Once those decisions are made it's easy.

#18 Web based Apps (Memory)

I've been using google docs for a while now - mainly the spreadsheet application. I use it to keep track of my to do list. Being web based I can access it from work and/or from home, or from anywhere where I have web access.

I've opened up an account with Zoho and had a bit of a play with its various functions. I really like the look of the planner as it seems to have most of the features I'm looking for - to do list, appointments, notes, I can email stuff to it, and it's free.

Looking at the list of "Web based productivity applications" it seems that if you have access to the internet then there is a huge range of web based applications. No need to carry round a memory stick (or floppy disc) with info that you want to be able to access on different computers. Instead you can have a half finished letter saved in zoho writer or google docs, a shopping list saved on remember the milk or tada lists, a calendar application that sends you an email to remind you of an upcoming appointment and so on.

I can also give other people access to this info if I want to. When planning a family get together I can check my sisters online calendar for a date we're all available, she can do likewise (it reduces the number of back and forth emails as we all try to decide on a date/time.

There is such a range of free, online apps that it makes me wonder if there is any real need to purchase Microsoft Office or similar programs anymore.

#17. PBWiki (I have confidence)

Well, I added my blog to the Australian blogs list at PBWiki.

I was tempted to confuzzle everyone by adding it to one of the library services that had added their logo (- how did they do that, btw?)

I tried to use the WYSIWYG editor to add the link to the blog title but it just kept pointing at me and laughing (or saying error on page - you choose)

I will return to PBWiki at a later stage as I'm determined to do the whole title/link thing or die in the attempt.

#16 Wiki Wiki Wiki, Oi Oi Oi (All that jazz)

In one of my other (non library) lives I am involved in an organisation that used to have an entry on Wikipedia.

The entry (which a third party wrote) contained some factual inaccuracies which we felt obliged to correct. We then (with the blessing of the original author) continued to update the entry regularly with competition results and the like. (This is sorta, kinda, against the Wikipedia rules which discourage autobiographical entries)

However someone took umbrage with the organisation and edited the information on Wikipedia maliciously.

This led to accusations of vandalism, sock puppetry*, and whatever is the internet version of duelling pistols at thirty paces.

This gave me a somewhat jaundiced view of wikipedia and wikis in general.

I can see how useful they could be in a library but the collaborative, anyone-can-edit aspect concerns me especially where accuracy of information is crucial.

Unfortunately what is attractive about wikis (their openness to all, minimal moderation, anyone can contribute to them) can also be what is most dangerous about them, and most open to abuse.

Nonetheless I think a wiki could be extremely useful (and valuable) for a public library - as a form of interaction between the library and the readers, (eg: book reviews, recommendations, suggestions) and the library and the wider world (information sharing, local knowledge etc.)

* Sock puppetry - an explanation. On Wikipedia sock puppeteers are contributors who have multiple logins/ids (and use their multiple ids for evil instead of good). Wikipedia have a 'one vote, one person' ideal but some people have multiple logins so that they can basically vote/comment more than once on a issue in which they have an interest.

#15 The terrible 2(.0)'s (Tea for two)

Reading about the 2.0's reminds me of a couple of recent conversations with colleagues.

A colleague and I were discussing the changing face of reference collections - where hard copy resources are being replaced with online sources. A quick look at our reference collection had us wondering how long a hard copy reference collection would remain.

At the moment we seem to be in a transition period - where hard copy and soft copy resources co-exist but don't necessarily complement each other - some patrons prefer one format over the other.

We have one patron who comes in once or twice a week with the crossword from the Saturday Age. He spends a few hours each day trawling through the reference collection looking for the solutions. (he is probably more familiar with the ref section than some of the staff are).

He will happily look up an answer in the hard copy of Britannica, but using the computer (even if it is to use the online Britannica) is, to him, only one step removed from cheating.

I've shown him google and the online databases but he's not interested. I'm sure he's not the only one that feels like that.

In five, ten, years time he may not have any choice - the ref collection may well be mainly online.

I mean consider today's reference resources compared with ten years ago. The online environment means that the library's collections, and how we access them, is constantly changing and evolving.

A recent article in the Sydney Morning Herald titled Internet a surprise boon for books
looked at longstanding predictions that the internet would crush the book publishing industry with digital readers and online sales of used books. It noted that people seemed to want to be able to download music online but that they still wanted to own a physical book (or borrow it from a library I guess).

Local schools still set projects which specify that students must use a mix of sources - online, hard copy, reference encyclopedias etc.

As people become more familiar with the Internet should library online catalogues look more like web based search engines?

A lot of people are familiar with searching using a search engine such as google, but they struggle with the library catalogue - perhaps because it isn't as 'intuitive' as the google interface?

If you misspell a word or term in google you get, at the top of the results, a 'did you mean " option. In most library catalogues if you make a spelling mistake -that's it, you don't get a match (and you don't get an alternate spelling option - at least not in the system we use)

Libraries are looking at ways of getting themselves more noticed in the online environment - applications such as blogs, myspace, are very attractive as ways of taking the library to the wider population.

The fact that some public libraries have started using LibraryThing for libraries to enhance their catalogue (and to provide a link between the library catalogue and LibraryThing) shows just how powerful and effective the web can be.

#14 technorati (Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop)

I've been having a look at technorati - I've managed to claim my blog (one of them) and create a watchlist - using one of my other personas.

Looking at the most popular searches on technorati - I recognised very few of the terms entered. The top search term was leopard (I'm guessing the new apple os, not the cat), next was noelia (no idea until I looked at the tags -now I wish I hadn't looked at the tags), third most poular search term was Mark Driscoll (once again no idea until i looked at the search results - he's an elder in the Mars Hill Church).

The three top favorited blogs are Boing Boing (cultural curiosities & interesting techie stuff), Blog tips to help you make money blogging (self explanatory), and Techcrunch (all things web & techie).

The three top blogs are Engadget (for gadgetaholics), Gizmodo the gadget guide (more gadgets) and Boing Boing.

Obviously I've been looking at technorati at the same time as the gadget freaks - I can see the usefulness of searching blogs for info on the leopard os - cos you'll get posts by users; but looking for blogposts on a church pastor? why? - if he's newsworthy (or even if he's not) I'd probably just google him - I doubt I'd think to use technorati for news of him.

I can see why the gadget blogs are favourites - there's some weird and wonderful stuff out there - and I like to read reviews from users of gadgets rather than professional reviewers - it's a sort of anonymous 'word of mouth' recommendation, to be supplemented by a third party review.

Perhaps we should organise for every participant to 'favourite' or search for the Victorian Public Libraries Learning 2.0 blog on a certain day/time.

Wouldn't it be cool to see a library blog in the top ten?

#13 Del.icio.us (A spoonful of sugar)

I've been using del.icio.us for a while now; mainly as a way of transferring my bookmarks from work to home and vice versa.


In a work context it could be very useful for bookmarking sites such as 20 favourite crime authors, or authors who write like Maeve Binchy.

I see it being used as a sort of list generator (in a way) where instead of having a printed list of Maeve Binchy read-a-likes the del.icio.us version would be dynamic, more up-to-date (updateable), and much cheaper to produce.

If we have a guest speaker or author event we could bookmark relevant and related sites on del.icio.us (author's homepage, websites on the topic, all sorts of things).

Since exploring with the PLCMCL2 account I've been somewhat sidetracked by the Nancy Pearl action figure pool party from Flickr (not strictly relevant, but fun all the same!)

#12 Rollyo (Merrily we roll along)

Rollyo.

I can see this having many uses in a public library.

Book reviews - by entering the search term (book title) into the Rollyo search engine it would search up to 25 book review websites for reviews - great for bookgroups and the like.

Limited only by 25 websites per searchroll you could set up searchrolls on current topics - such as study tips, or exam tips.

Current affairs/todays headlines - links to daily newspapers, and so on.

Could be extremely useful - am already planning how we can use it for our guest speakers and booktalks next year.

#11 Library Thing (Marian the Librarian)

I've been a fan of Library Thing for a while now and have been slowly cataloguing the "tapsister" collection onto it.

It's actually rather scary to see how many books I (allegedly according to Library Thing) own. It seems so much less when you see them on a bookshelf (or two, or three, or...)

Which is why, for the purpose of this exercise, I've started a new account just for my family history related titles.

My sister and I wrote the history of dad's family about 20 years ago and we are currently (still) updating it. When we first wrote it we had to photocopy photos into it as digital cameras (and scanners) were not readily available.

Now we can scan all the photos in and include them in the middle of the relevant text rather than having to stick a photo on a page of text and then photocopy it numerous times.

Relatives overseas can scan in family photos and email them to us for inclusion in the book rather than having to photocopy and post us a copy.

We can (and do) also upload photos to Flickr and ask the rellies worldwide if they can identify the people in the photos for us. We seem to have a lot of old photos that have the identity of the person written on the back.

Unfortunately it is usually just a one word identifier such as dad, mum, or Robert. (whose dad, whose mum, which Robert?).

We then get sidetracked (rather like this post!) into trying to date the photos using the clothing and hairstyles as a guide.

But back to Library Thing.

It is free for the first 200 books. After that it's us$10 for a year or us$25 for lifetime membership. Or if you're too cheap to pay, or too lazy to pay, you can set up multiple accounts eg: by genre: miffy_crime, miffy_travel, etc. It takes some keeping up with but it is definitely do-able.

There is a LibraryThing for libraries which explains why a library would want to join LibraryThing and links to a few libraries which have already joined.

The Bedford Public Library inTexas is one public library which is on LibraryThing. At the bottom of the catalogue record is a list of all the tags that have been applied to that title. So by clicking on a tag you can link to other titles that have that tag as well - way cool.

A rather easy way to get a list of 'who writes like' or 'if you enjoyed this book you might enjoy such n such' recommendations.

Could be useful...

#10 Image generator (The lollipop guild)

This post should really be titled A Librarian's Best Friend (playing into the whole Librarians love chocolate stereotype).

Image generators (such as these) would be fun to use in marketing library events and programs.

You could create some really cool and unique images that would stand out and catch the eye of the patron who maybe no longer sees the 'usual' notices and publicity type stuff.

#8 & #9 Bloglines/RSS feeds (Shuffle off to Buffalo)

No connection really but I saw 42nd Street last night.

Anthony Koutoufides played Gangster No. 1 - he had 3 lines (and 2 minutes of stage time) which is apparently enough to get him a higher program listing than Pia Morley who is on stage for a lot of the show and has several songs as well.

Who knew Kouta would be such a musical drawcard!

In learning 2.0 related posting mode I have set up my bloglines account (see link on left hand menu - headed Bloglines!)

Of all the tasks so far - this is the one that I could play happily with for the rest of the program - amazing number of blogs and feeds available on subjects I am interested in, subjects I'm not interested in, subjects I didn't know I was interested in, and bizarre mis-spellings.

Type in a word, search for feeds, and almost immediately a whole new world opens up. Personal blogs, professional organisations, links to podcasts - you name it , it's there.

I actually enjoy looking at the blog titles that people come up with - there is the simply descriptive (Barb B's learning 2.0 blog) and the catchy (Hey there's a dead guy in the living room).

By clicking on the links in my bloglines list I can choose how far back I want to check for new posts (hour, day, week, whatever) which allows, I guess, for 'binge bloglining' (sounds almost illegal doesn't it?)

Could be spending a lot of time here methinks....

#7 Technology (Thoroughly Modern Millie)

Blog about technology hmmmmm...

Where to start?

One of the most useful sites I've come across of late is Zamzar. It's an online file conversion site; you upload the file you want converted (and specify what format/program you want it converted to) and they email it back to you in the format requested.

I've been going through my old floppy disks (floppy disks -what are they?) and using zamzar to convert the files on them to something my computer can understand.

Another website I've been spending a lot of time at lately is LibraryThing, in fact I'm gradually 'cataloguing' all my books onto it.

A long time ago (in a galaxy far, far away) I entered all my books onto a database in Clarisworks.

Using zamzar I've been able to convert this 'catalogue' to a csv format and then import those records (luckily I'd included isbn's) into LibraryThing. The result is a very quick, remarkably painless, way of entering my older books onto a database with my newer books.

What is it they say about a Librarian's desire to collect, classify and catalogue?

#6 More Flickr fun (Thank you for the music)

My creation
Originally uploaded by batgirl_the_librarian

Following on with the Musicals theme from my last post, I have created a trading card with a piccy from the final performance of Mamma Mia in Melbourne.

I'm fairly confident I've seen more than 52 musicals over the years (with photos) so I'm already thinking of a set of musical themed trading cards for my sister for her birthday.

I think she'd appreciate it...

Trading card maker was a lot of fun to use - the hardest part was deciding which photo to use . The back of the card (optional) displays a flickr logo.

The next step is to investigate card to print them on. (and find the other 51 photos).

I'll probably also add more desciption to the card. There's a fair bit of empty space there that could be filled with more details about the performance (cast members, theatre, even seat numbers).

Could end up being bigger than Ben Hur!

#5 Flickr (Flash, bang wallop, what a picture...)

CIMG0006
Originally uploaded by batgirl_the_librarian

Hugh Jackman in The Boy from Oz, one of my Australian theatre highlights from 2006.

I had all my photos on Yahoo photos -with their (soon to be) demise I moved the photos to Snapfish.

To get used to Flickr I decided to 'experiment' with Hugh Jackman (well, who wouldn't?).

I found it surprisingly easy so now the big decision -Do I leave some photos on Snapfish and move some to Flickr? Do I move them all to Flickr? or do I procrastinate and do nothing?

I'm guessing that procrastination will win out...

Getting to know you

A borrower and I have just agreed that by reading crime fiction we become fictional master criminals rather than actual master criminals... but is that true?