My favourite discoveries/exercises on this learning journey was getting to know Flickr, libraries using RSS and finding about e-books, and how to access them.
What I enjoyed the most from this learning journey was playing with the image generator, and finding out about how libraries are using social networks to approach their patrons. It was interesting to see the different opinions people had about this.
This programme has assisted my lifelong learning goals as now I want to try out new things in my life that I have not tried before. For example, out of the 23 exercises, except for 2-3 exercises, all of the rest were new stuff for me- I had never heard about them, and I have never tried to find out about them.
But through this journey that I took, I now know much more about web 2.0, and how efficient theses applications/web sites can be for the librarians.
Overall, I thought this whole programme was very good however there were a couple of exercise (such as podcasts) that took me a long time to figure out how to access the things that I needed to, in order to complete the exercise.
However, I thought this was okay, because it was like a challenge for me to independently find out use these sites.
What I found really struggling was trying to finish the exercise on time, on my own ( I didn't want help unless I REALLY needed it).
I managed to complete all of them by myself, and on time -which I am so proud of :)
Anyway, I think this journey was really useful- I gained a lot of information about web 2.0 and how libraries can relate to them, and I now think that I am capable of using them within the library to help patrons.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH for organising such a wonderful learning journey!
Sunday, September 28, 2008
Library and Social networks
I think it is a fantastic idea that libraries have started to use social networking services to reach patrons (mostly teens).
Firstly, its more appealing for the teenagers as they think it's "cool" to use social networking, and secondly because it's much easier and quicker for the libraries to reach these patrons through social networks than any other method (such as mails, e-mails, phone calls etc).
Reading some articles, there has been positive and negative views on libraries using social networking, however I think as long as the library uses it efficiently, and make the whole thing more approachable to patrons, than it will be a huge success.
Plus, I totally agree with what has been mentioned on http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6375465.html about teenagers not receiving e-mails, as most of them contact each other via social networking (leaving a message on their blogs, etc).
As long as the libraries use social networking as a two way connection, then it's perfectly fine. Through social networking, the libraries can introduce new ideas, updates on library news, and information on patron's account etc.
Firstly, its more appealing for the teenagers as they think it's "cool" to use social networking, and secondly because it's much easier and quicker for the libraries to reach these patrons through social networks than any other method (such as mails, e-mails, phone calls etc).
Reading some articles, there has been positive and negative views on libraries using social networking, however I think as long as the library uses it efficiently, and make the whole thing more approachable to patrons, than it will be a huge success.
Plus, I totally agree with what has been mentioned on http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA6375465.html about teenagers not receiving e-mails, as most of them contact each other via social networking (leaving a message on their blogs, etc).
As long as the libraries use social networking as a two way connection, then it's perfectly fine. Through social networking, the libraries can introduce new ideas, updates on library news, and information on patron's account etc.
Exercise #21
I was surprised by how easy it was to create a Facebook page.
All I had to do was enter my name, e-mail address and my birthday.
QuizzyLizzy and I are Facebook friends :) and we found each other with our e-mail address.
I also like the way facebook has 'network' which makes it so much easier when looking for someone....However, the network was confusing for me in the beginning as I didn't know what it was used for, until I realised that it was a tool for finding people quickly.
Facebook is really popular among many people, as well as Bebo and MySpace, however I find Facebook more comfortable to use (I also have Bebo, but I don't go on it often.I think if libraries all started to use these social networking services, more teens would start to have interest in libraries and use it more often. Approaching teens through these social networking services would be effective, as it would be more appealing for them.
Here is the link to my Facebook account: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1387283672&ref=profile
All I had to do was enter my name, e-mail address and my birthday.
QuizzyLizzy and I are Facebook friends :) and we found each other with our e-mail address.
I also like the way facebook has 'network' which makes it so much easier when looking for someone....However, the network was confusing for me in the beginning as I didn't know what it was used for, until I realised that it was a tool for finding people quickly.
Facebook is really popular among many people, as well as Bebo and MySpace, however I find Facebook more comfortable to use (I also have Bebo, but I don't go on it often.I think if libraries all started to use these social networking services, more teens would start to have interest in libraries and use it more often. Approaching teens through these social networking services would be effective, as it would be more appealing for them.
Here is the link to my Facebook account: http://www.new.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1387283672&ref=profile
MySpace
I searched for Stacie Orrico (singer) under the Myspace tab, and here is a picture of her :D (from http://www.myspace.com/stacieorrico).
I didn't have to login to view her profile, or her picture.
I reckon MySpace is a good social networking service, and it seems very easy to use it because it's set up in a simple way- clearly stating which tabs are for what, unlike many other sites where everything is like a maze.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
e-books
I used LibriVox to look for some e-books. http://librivox.org/.
To search for a book, I had to enter the title of the book and the author.
For status, I left it to say 'any'
When I searched for Macbeth by William Shakespeare, I had to download the audio file (mp3) for the particular act of the play, which opened up through Winamp when I opened the file.
I didn't know that I had to download the file in order to listen to it, in the first place.
What I found quite interesting was, that people volunteered to be readers of a Act, and so when listening to it, the voices constantly changed throughout the Acts.
Some of the Act had not been read by readers, so it had a status of available (for volunteers to take over) or assigned (waiting for the volunteer to finish reading it).
My next search was for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
The search produced a page with downloadable chapters in mp3 files or ogg files.
Here, what I liked about downloading the mp3 files was that you could choose between 64kbps or 128kbps.
Oliver Twist was also read by a different reader for every chapter.
Overall, I think it was quite easy to search for classic books and it's really cool to be able to have access to them through Internet instead of having it in hard copy. And LibriVox is free to use too.
To search for a book, I had to enter the title of the book and the author.
For status, I left it to say 'any'
When I searched for Macbeth by William Shakespeare, I had to download the audio file (mp3) for the particular act of the play, which opened up through Winamp when I opened the file.
I didn't know that I had to download the file in order to listen to it, in the first place.
What I found quite interesting was, that people volunteered to be readers of a Act, and so when listening to it, the voices constantly changed throughout the Acts.
Some of the Act had not been read by readers, so it had a status of available (for volunteers to take over) or assigned (waiting for the volunteer to finish reading it).
My next search was for Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens.
The search produced a page with downloadable chapters in mp3 files or ogg files.
Here, what I liked about downloading the mp3 files was that you could choose between 64kbps or 128kbps.
Oliver Twist was also read by a different reader for every chapter.
Overall, I think it was quite easy to search for classic books and it's really cool to be able to have access to them through Internet instead of having it in hard copy. And LibriVox is free to use too.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Podcast
Podastpickle.com http://www.podcastpickle.com/cast/1273 and Podnova was where I look ted to find some pod casts that related to libraries.
For both sites, I came across pod casts on book reviews, and occasionally some audio books where I was able to listen to a particular book, for free.
At first it was a bit difficult to look for a podcast that I liked although I used tags as a shortcut, as lots of them did not seem very relevant to what I was looking for.
However, after searching through a couple of pages I could find a couple that I liked- which I also added to my Bloglines account.
I tried Podcastalley.com as well, but I think it asked me to join up and also to pay.
Podastpickle.com and Podnova does not require you to join up or anything. Very simple.
I think the two sites that I have mentioned above, are quite useful as I can listen to the reviews of a book before reading the book. As for audio books, they are very good as it means that I can always listen to the story as I do some other work. (Allows me to multi task)
For both sites, I came across pod casts on book reviews, and occasionally some audio books where I was able to listen to a particular book, for free.
At first it was a bit difficult to look for a podcast that I liked although I used tags as a shortcut, as lots of them did not seem very relevant to what I was looking for.
However, after searching through a couple of pages I could find a couple that I liked- which I also added to my Bloglines account.
I tried Podcastalley.com as well, but I think it asked me to join up and also to pay.
Podastpickle.com and Podnova does not require you to join up or anything. Very simple.
I think the two sites that I have mentioned above, are quite useful as I can listen to the reviews of a book before reading the book. As for audio books, they are very good as it means that I can always listen to the story as I do some other work. (Allows me to multi task)
You Tube
I like going into You Tube to listen to Grease- Summer Nights - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=blcvkFqeKac
it has always been my favourite song, and I often go to You Tube to see this part of the movie.
For videos related to libraries, my favourite one was 'Another music video...just a little different :-) from The best of library videos blog: http://libraryvideos.blogspot.com/.
I liked this because he sings his story and it's more catchy to listeners. Plus, I can relate to it quite well as I'm a student myself. XD
I think that if libraries had some videos that showed how the library function, it would be more appealing for the people.
They will know who to look for, where and how to look up key information.
I also like The Amazing Library 101 Challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXy35Bvnq18, posted on http://www.infotubey.com/.
This was a game, that involved using the library and approaching librarians for help.
By making it a game, people involved in it would've learned a lot about libraries from this, and also the people who watch this will also learn quite a lot on libraries.
I think if we had something like this at our own library, many people will be learn a lot about our libraries too.
I think making a video on NSL featuring how to issue a book on the self check machine, what is needed to join the library, how to use OPAC etc, would attract more patrons to the library. Also, for those who are too embarassed or shy to come up to the desk to ask, can refer to the videos when they need help.
And it's also free to upload videos on You Tube!
You Tube also shows all other videos related to libraries when you enter 'libraries' for searching.
it has always been my favourite song, and I often go to You Tube to see this part of the movie.
For videos related to libraries, my favourite one was 'Another music video...just a little different :-) from The best of library videos blog: http://libraryvideos.blogspot.com/.
I liked this because he sings his story and it's more catchy to listeners. Plus, I can relate to it quite well as I'm a student myself. XD
I think that if libraries had some videos that showed how the library function, it would be more appealing for the people.
They will know who to look for, where and how to look up key information.
I also like The Amazing Library 101 Challenge http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXy35Bvnq18, posted on http://www.infotubey.com/.
This was a game, that involved using the library and approaching librarians for help.
By making it a game, people involved in it would've learned a lot about libraries from this, and also the people who watch this will also learn quite a lot on libraries.
I think if we had something like this at our own library, many people will be learn a lot about our libraries too.
I think making a video on NSL featuring how to issue a book on the self check machine, what is needed to join the library, how to use OPAC etc, would attract more patrons to the library. Also, for those who are too embarassed or shy to come up to the desk to ask, can refer to the videos when they need help.
And it's also free to upload videos on You Tube!
You Tube also shows all other videos related to libraries when you enter 'libraries' for searching.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
