Handle with care - Maual handling training

I thought the online Handle with Care training module developed by Deakin University Library was a useful exercise for desk staff by raising awareness of how to manage the manual handling issues that we face daily.

Bookmarking the web site in Del.icio.us meant I could easily return to the site as I worked my way through the different sections.

The idea of using gloves with rubber dots while shelving or moving collections to assist in reducing the amount of pressure needed to grip a book was a suggestion I thought could be tested at our campus as well.

Since completing the training I am aiming to commit to doing a couple of the exercises at each shift change and during breaks and will encourage other staff to do the same.

At our campus, I think we now have the perfect small trolley. It's called a zip trolley and is ideal for shelving, collecting holds and moving small pieces of loan equipment etc. It really is a must have trolley.

+ 5 tasks - Read about the Semantic Web

An article on the web which I found interesting and readable that shed some light on the Semantic Web for me was from Scientific American.

The article was called The Semantic Web and written by By Tim Berners-Lee, James Hendler and Ora Lassila.

A scenario described at the beginning of the article illustrated how the Semantic web software could manage several complex tasks of retrieving specific information and then arranging a schedule of appointments.
Just imagine all done for you in a "jif" and hassle free.

I think if the Semantic Web provides a structure enabling computers and their users the ability to work constructively together, it will be beneficial in assisting to tame the present web jungle.

I'm sure in the not too far distant future we will be reflecting " how did we ever manage without it"

+ 5 tasks - Voyage RSS Feed Reader

I spent sometime trying to work out how to add an RSS feed and ended up typing into Ms.Dewey "how do you add RSS feeds in voyage". Thank goodness for that mute button.

Fortunately, Kim's blog came up in the list of search results. After reading Kim's post in her blog on Voyage, it was all plain sailing. So thanks Kim.

I did successfully add the ABC online latest recipes although it did take some time to load. So now I will have access to some good recipes when that regular question crops up. "What's for dinner"

However, more playing is still required before I get it all worked out. The page design of Voyage is "nifty" but I didn't find it very user friendly. So I think I will stay with Google Reader for a while yet.

+ 5 tasks - Using KartOO

After checking out KartOO and a number of other Web 2.0 search engines, one can only say "What will they think of next"

Some other visual search engines I looked at included Quintura and Pixsy. Once you get the hang of navigating, as the search options are presented differently, I thought they were more dynamic. Searching through various layers seems to be a common approach.

On further searching, I came across The Top 100 Alternative Search Engines.
If you want some entertainment, try the search engine Ms Dewey and see what you think?

+ 5 tasks - Using VuFind

This task did capture my interest. The VuFind website had a podcast interview on the development of VuFind which I thought was useful as an introduction to VuFind. However, be warned that the interview does run for 30mins.

I searched the catalogues of both the National Library of Australia and the Villanova University to experience VuFind. One could appreciate the simple, compact and non cluttered look of VuFind after searching the old catalogues of both libraries.

Given that VuFind also offers flexibility in customisation, it does appear to have the potential to be a suitable replacement for a library OPAC. Some consideration may need to be given to the fact that as an open source product it could be "here today and gone tomorrow". I guess it reflects the disposable society in which we now live. You just simply chuck it out and get a new one.

+ 5 tasks - Using LinkedIn

I had a look around LinkedIn, set up an account and sent off several connections emails to see how it all works. Let's see what happens next.

The description of LinkedIn given in the first paragraph in the article At Social Site, Only the Businesslike Need Apply was most appropriate I thought and it was interesting to note the average user's age was 41. Well I qualify on that front.

I found a Google search for information on LinkedIn did also reveal quiet a range of views, both pro's and cons for this networking site.

Most likely, LinkedIn is not a site that I would continue to use. However, I did notice that there were no other users with the same name. Does that qualify as a claim to fame?

Cheers