This course has been fantastic!

The course has been fantastic and the knowledge I have gained has been invaluable. I have learned many things - some which are of interest and many that I hope to put into practice and use both in my work and in my studies.

Many thanks to the State Libray and the wonderful team that have supported us all in our learning experience.

Mashups

I've used mashup programs before, without actually realising that they were called Mashups.

They are lots of fun and the potential for use in the library is endless..... For promotion and publicity, for teen and children's websites, to teach children and teens to use different programs, for craft activities .....

Podcasting

I can see great potential for libraries to use podcasting to promote their services and reach the wider community (libraries without walls).
Although I can't see them being used much in Australia at the moment, the potential is there for storytimes and baby rhyme times, teen webcasts, book reviews, poetry readings, author talks, HSC lectures, special events, library news.

Answer boards

It's nice that librarians can answer questions and get rated as the best answers (well of COURSE they know the best answers... that's why they are librarians!)
But, I must admit, I found a lot of the questions and answers on yahoo answers so silly that I didn't bother asking a question or answering one...
examples of silly questions:
How can a prostitute get and online job?
How long is the best for holding a party?
If I am two months pregnant, when did I conceive?

Could be fun using these sites if you need a life.... I have more important things to do. A bit of a waste of time in my opinion, but I can see that lots of computer buffs get into it..... all a bit silly to me.

Library Thing

Is good for sharing your favourite books and discovering others' favourite books too.

I have added a few of my favourites for storytelling

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

Del.icio.us

Is fantastic! I love it!
What a great way to share my favourite craft and storytelling sites with my colleagues (or anything else for that matter) as well as saving anything that I think is interesting without having to bookmark any site that I think will be useful.
It's a great way for me to be able to view my favourite sites from home as well.

I can see huge potential for libraries, teachers, researchers and the general public for using this technology.

http://del.icio.us/leescastledine

Google video

I searched Google videos and found this interesting video
"If Google becomes Giigle"
ABSTRACT - In this talk I will focus on the importance of designing new technologies for children and how children can change what we design. Our methods at the University of Maryland for design with children will be highlighted. In addition, examples of the work we have developed with these methods will be presented e.g., the International Children's Digital Library,

Video online: Youtube

I use youtube a lot for my own interests, as I get lots of good music clips from youtube.
This time I searched for storytelling with children. I found this lovely video, which is great for promoting storytelling at your library.

Wikis and Wikipedia

In my search of the wikis given as examples, I was impressed with the concept of librarians sharing information and ideas in Library Success wiki. I was disappointed that in Services to Special Groups, there wasn't anything for children (only in school libraries and in teens).
I believe it would be a valuable resource if set up for specific groups such as children's librarians.

The Book Lovers wiki is good and I think that book clubs having their wiki attached to the library website is a great idea for reviews.

Although I have previously used Wikipedia a lot in my own studies and in serving people at the library, I knew that it offered to contribute to the page, but I thought that was for experts on the subject.
I didn't realise that Wikipedia can be edited by anyone. That worries me!
Although the start of this lesson assures that if people put errors on they are often (but not always) corrected quickly, what happens if I find information before it is corrected?!!

RSS feeds

Wow! There is so much information out there, I worry about subscribing to too many blogs, because the amount of time it would take to read all of the information would quickly become overwhelming! It already takes way too much time to read e-mails, without asking for more information!

BUT

I think that RSS feeds, if used very selectively would be a wonderful way to keep up to date on the latest info available on a given subject.

I have added a few blogs through the quick blogger, which I will have to delete, as I have no intention of ever reading them (I will probably keep the joke of the day if they are any good!), but I have also added a few blogs of interest, after finding them on Google Blog Search.

Storytelling with Children podcast, and Henna Tattoos Blog were of particular interest to me.

As you can see from my profile pic, I am a children's storyteller (pic taken at the Norman Lindsay Gallery, Springwood, for the National Children's Literature Festival). As you can see from my user name, I am also a mehendi artist (henna tattooist)

Flickr photos

I love my heavy rock music! Have you noticed? I'm not a quiet librarian ..... lol
This is Black Label, my favourite Aussie pub rock band. I have added this photo from Photobucket, as that is where I have my account.


I've been having a look around Flickr. There are some great library photos, some fantastic henna tattoos and lots of good photos of bands by my friend Troy (MystifyMe). He goes to lots of concerts and takes photos of the bands.



Some that he has gone to in the last year or two include: Pink, KISS, Divinyls, Bon Jovi, Guns n Roses, Justin Timberlake, Silverchair, Powderfinger, Kelly Clarkson and Good Charlotte.



If you like any of those bands, have a look at Troy's pics that he has uploaded onto Flickr.



http://www.flickr.com/photos/mystifyme07/

Lee Learning Library 2.0

What a fantastic opportunity! To learn Library 2.0 from my desk at work, without having to go anywhere or take time out attending workshops...
Now.... What am I hoping to learn? Whatever I can to keep up with the kids and youth. To be able to create (or know what I am talking about when I ask someone else to create for me) websites and blogs, social networks (I really DON'T think that library myspace works for youth. I've had a look at a few library pages on there and they are not used).
Then I want to find out what RSS feeds are? Wikis? Podcasts? Mashups? (Can I have gravy with that?)
Looking forward to learning a lot and being able to put it into practice!