Captured at last!!

The regular visitors to our block have been captured in a photo at last. I reported in a blog posting from February last year (Task 19 of the 23 Things) about the fallow deer who graze on our property. They wander all over block even during the middle of the day. However, trying to get a good photo as evidence has been a real challenge. They are very sensitive and take off as soon as they are aware of your presence.

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

Task 23 Feedback about the program

I must say that I did enjoy the program. Once I got underway and progressed through the tasks I found myself becoming more involved. Using a blog as the tool to record one's progress worked well. It was interesting to read other people's blogs and it provided an opportunity to learn more about your colleagues and their lives out side Swinburne.

The 23 things team who had obviously done a lot of work behind the scenes in setting up and monitoring the program plus providing encouragement along the way did a great job.
What's the next task!!!

Task 22 Read about Second Life

I did some reading on Second Life referring to the suggested resources for this task and looked at the Youtube videos to see what some libraries were doing in Second Life.

However, I did not find Second Life of any interest to me so did no bother to continue on and create an account in Second Life. This was the task that I was least enthusiastic about.

Task 21 Find and listen to a Podcast or two

There are a couple of programs on the ABC Radio and Radio National which I enjoy listening to. However one is scheduled at a time when I am at work and the other on my weekend sleep in morning.

Fortunately, being able to listen to a podcast has solved the problem. Now I can listen to the program when it suits and when I am using the computer since I don't have an iPod.

I've added the programs to my Google reader shared items page. The ABC program is called Lifestyle fitness and the Radio National program is Life Matters. I find Life Matters a most interesting program and it addresses a range of social issues.

Through Google reader I also subscribed to the SirsiDynix Institute. Some of the topics of past presentations cover the Web 2.0 technologies amongst other things so I'm sure I will be going back to the site.

Task 20 YouTube videos about libraries

Searching for videos on YouTube about libraries was an interesting exercise.

The displayed results for a "libraries and librarians" video search showed as "about 760" so libraries are well represented in YouTube land too. The reference interview did appear to be a popular video topic.

During my searching I also came across the video from the ABC comedy series 'The Librarians'. Since we don't have a TV at home, I have caught up and now know what everyone was talking about when the series commenced at the end of last year. However, I still think I am better off without a TV.

Now that they have the Wii set up at the Croydon Library, I wonder if we'll see the staff having a Wii game of tennis before the library opens.

Task 19 Add a pet photo to the wiki

I will declare up front that I am not a pet person. There's a couple of reasons. In our neighbourhood, properties are not fenced plus we are often away on the weekends.

Anyway, I tend to think that a low maintenance pet is definitely the way to go. When visiting Shepparation for a bike event last year I came across an ideal pet which fits this classification. So I took a photo and it's now on the wiki.

Unfortunately it didn't fit in the car otherwise I would have taken it home. It's real good watch dog material. Sitting at the front gate it would scared anyone away. Interested?

Now you will just have to go and have a look at the pets page on the wiki. It's down towards the bottom of the page.

Actually we have some "au natural" pets who visit and graze on our block at the moment. They appear every few days either early in the morning or just before dusk. It's a group of Fallow Deer. There are 2 adults, complete with antlers and several young ones.
I still haven't been able to get a good photo but will post it on the wiki just as soon as I do.

Task 18 Library 2.0 movement

Researching Library 2.0 has given me a greater understanding and knowledge about the movement. My reading included the suggested resources for this task and others sources I located using Google and Technorati.

Some points that I noted about Library 2.0 included:

• Through Library 2.0 a different library service model is evolving.

• It's more than just access to books and information.

• User participation is increasing as the flow of information becomes 2 way.

• Active encouragement of feedback and participation by users is occurring.
  

• People connect with information and then people connect as they share the information.

• Frequent evaluation of library services is a necessity.

• Constant updating of services and introduction of new technologies is essential to maintain relevancy to users.

Some of these points were also highlighted during the presentations I attended at the recent VALA conference.

Task 16 iGoogle home page

This task was fun. It seemed the end result of your creation was only limited by your imagine. Some of the gadgets I added included Google map search, Google book search, Google reader. Google Docs was another one so it was convenient to report on this task using Google Docs and then post it to my blog.
Another change I made to the iGoogle home page was to select a new theme. What a choice.

I confess I did get carried away with adding gadgets to my iGoogle home page but then I read about "tabs". Setting up different tabs resolved the clutter problem I initially had on the home page.

Other stuff of interest I added included the all important weather forecast and the Melbourne rain radar, ABC news, a calendar, the white pages and so the list goes on.
Searching through the list of gadgets I came across a number of different flickr slide shows which you could add to your iGoogle home page. The photo below is an example from a Nature slide show which I had added.

Task 15 Google Book Search

For me, a Goggle Book Search read is not quite the same as curling up on the sofa with a hard copy of a good book.

However, in my look at Book Search I did find that there were some advantages. The links to related books, other editions, web pages and finding a library with a copy can be useful.
The main disadvantage I found was that some of the text may be difficult to read and illustrations and photos don't display so well.

During a search, a book that caught my attention had been published in 1860. The book was a personal account of a women's point of view of everyday life in the colonies. My experiences in Australia told the story of a women's 15 month visit to the Australian colonies from 1856-7.
When I tried to download the book it came up with an error so I will have to try again. I think it's one I must read.

Task 14 Google Docs

I decided write my comment for this task using Google Docs and then post the document to my blog. It seemed simple enough initially.
However, I seemed to keep losing the document I had started. Anyway, I eventually got the hang of going in and out of a document.
Also, you have to configure your blog settings which you find under Settings in your Google Docs account

After my tour around Google Docs the main advantage I thought was the ability of a group to contribute to a working document. No need for emailing or having multiple copies of the document causing confusion. As well, the document is accessible from any computer.
It was interesting reading some of the User Examples as it gave an insight into how other people were using Google Docs.

Task 13 Google Maps

I had fun with Google Maps.

A feature I felt was most useful was the Get directions option. Using Google maps when planning to travel to an unfamiliar venue is ideal as it indicates the number of km's and travel time as well.

It's also a good way to plan a holiday. I was able to locate the pensions where we had stayed during a trip to Europe in 2005.

One place we visited was Leutasch in Austria. The pension we stayed at was called Haus Charivari.
Clicking on the word Leutasch in the sentence above will take you to the Google map.

Task 12 Explore MySpace and Facebook

Well I took the plunge and created an account so I could explore Facebook.

It certainly can be a place where all is revealed and it's easy to see how things can move beyond your control. So I decided just to keep a low profile and then see what develops. As well, I joined the Swinburne Library bikers users, one of the groups in facebook and made contact with several friends in the Swinburne network.

I found the Educause article listed as one of the discovery resources useful reading and it provided a helpful summary of Facebook.

It was interesting to browse a number of public libraries who have adopted Myspace profiles to link with teen users. A sign of the times as libraries need to keep in touch and relevant to their users.

Task 17 del.isi.ous

At this point I decided to skip ahead several tasks and have a look at del.icio.us.

The aspect of del.icio.us which I have found most beneficial is being able to either access or add bookmarks to my account from any computer. The ability to store and share bookmarks on the web provides another useful communication tool for interested users.

During my discovery tour of del.icio.us it seemed that on any given search term a host of results bounced right back to you. One often wondered where a particular link would lead. However, I think it important to first evaluate the material found.

In my travels I found a lot had been written about Web2.0 and libraries. Another link lead to me to Blogging Libraries wiki The purpose of this wiki was to collect links to libraries which have blogs. Yes, there was a link to Swinburne University of Technology Library.

RSS Feeds and Blogs

Task 9 Set up a feed reader.
To complete task 9 I decided to use Google Reader since it meant not having to remember another login. This is a real bonus. It was straightforward to set up and using folders to organise your subscriptions can help avoid things getting out of control.
I also added some items to my sharred page. There's link from my blog.
This task has been most useful and will be something that I will continue to use in the future.

Task 10 Add some subscriptions.
It's easy to get carried away and I found myself subscribing to numerous sites of interest including ABS, Choice Online and some ABC and Radio National programs. All good stuff I thought.

I spend some time looking at Digg.com and found a lot of "stuff" covering all sorts of topics. It would seem that with these social networking technologies your involvement can vary depending on your level of interest. I used the search option to find something with an Australian flavour. Although it hadn't hit the front page, I did find an item about the Choir of Hard Kocks.
The Living Library story from the Malmo Public Library in Sweden also rated a mention.
I don't think Digg.com will become my primary source of news but it is an interesting concept. What will they think of next?

Task 11 Subscribe to some blogs.
Using both Technorati and Google Blog Search, I was able to locate a number of library blogs and set up a link to several on my blog.

I found a site called Salem Press which provided a listing of Library Blogs.

Now its onto the next task, MySpace and Facebook. Hmm.....