It was interesting to read through some of these articles and see just how much things have changed even in the few years since this was written, for example the myspace pages linked have all but been abandoned. I guess it highlights the need to keep up with what is happening which being active in social networks would keep you?
Online social networks are so pervasive today that I think that is the way to engage with people, the new public noticeboards are online. The interconnectiveness of people on social networks means that it may be easy to reach a wider audience, you don't have to convince people to tell their friends, they just have to connect with you (like, friend, add, whatever) and all their social connections can know. So being involved in social networks is a way to engage in the community. I think these days it is not a question of should, how can we use social networking for client interaction, marketing and networking opportunities but just to join networks and be active.
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
Online applications and tools
Version control is the greatest application of online applications and tools. This is great for a library system where people are in different locations, but also I can see that actually maybe the application that might be the most useful is for documents that only one or two people are working on.
I can also see the benefit of tools that can be used online rather than having to purchase, install and maintain software especially for programs that may only be used occasionally.
The downside is of course that if your Internet access goes down you can't use it but that is one of the risks of the online age.
I can also see the benefit of tools that can be used online rather than having to purchase, install and maintain software especially for programs that may only be used occasionally.
The downside is of course that if your Internet access goes down you can't use it but that is one of the risks of the online age.
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Podcasts and Audio
For some reason I am very excited about podcasting whereas web videos not so much.
Like with video I can see the value of podcasting for staff training, but am most excited about what the use could be for the public.
I listened to a podcast from the OCLS about teen events coming up in the library. I think that using podcasts for library promotion is a good idea, to be used for specific events or groups as they have done there, or more generally such as a kind of audio version of the newsletter.
I can see great potential for recording and making available talks and events that have happened in the library. Also for providing library introduction and guides. Basically anything that is available now in printed form could be utilised in a podcast.
Like with video I can see the value of podcasting for staff training, but am most excited about what the use could be for the public.
I listened to a podcast from the OCLS about teen events coming up in the library. I think that using podcasts for library promotion is a good idea, to be used for specific events or groups as they have done there, or more generally such as a kind of audio version of the newsletter.
I can see great potential for recording and making available talks and events that have happened in the library. Also for providing library introduction and guides. Basically anything that is available now in printed form could be utilised in a podcast.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Mashups
Mashups are interesting.. but I'm finding it slightly hard to get my head around just what a mashup is, some I get, such as linking info to Google Maps for instance, but is adding a caption to a photo a mashup? So I'm a bit confused about using BigHugeLabs to create my own mashup.
If I've got my head around mashups right then the scope is so broad that there would have to be a large number of ways could be used in a library context. I'm thinking particuarly in developing catalogues there is scope for a lot of really good uses.
If I've got my head around mashups right then the scope is so broad that there would have to be a large number of ways could be used in a library context. I'm thinking particuarly in developing catalogues there is scope for a lot of really good uses.
Answer boards and social searching
I really like the idea of "Slamming the boards", it seems fun, but I'm not sure how you could use specifically for an individual library. However in general I think it is a good idea, a good way to promote library reference services, and anything that improves the quality of answers being provided on the online answer boards is great.
I also think that it is a good way for librarians to practice reference skills, particuarly those not directly involved in a reference librarian role or in areas where the volume and range of reference enquiries is not great. It is a good way to keep up the skills.
Customers rating and reviewing items in the collection or services is a way to provide feedback on what they like an dislike, but also to help other customers to find things they might be interested in. It always seems like a good idea to get feedback but the way the benefits stack up versus the resources to run it - because any system of rate or review needs someone to evaluate responses plus screen if they go public - needs much consideration.
Hmm, sounding negative again but I think I just need to think through it a bit more.
I also think that it is a good way for librarians to practice reference skills, particuarly those not directly involved in a reference librarian role or in areas where the volume and range of reference enquiries is not great. It is a good way to keep up the skills.
Customers rating and reviewing items in the collection or services is a way to provide feedback on what they like an dislike, but also to help other customers to find things they might be interested in. It always seems like a good idea to get feedback but the way the benefits stack up versus the resources to run it - because any system of rate or review needs someone to evaluate responses plus screen if they go public - needs much consideration.
Hmm, sounding negative again but I think I just need to think through it a bit more.
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Tagging, folksonomies, del.icio.us and LibraryThing
This week is the easiest to see how it can be useful in our environment. Bookmarks that can be access from everywhere is a really good tool in itself but I can see how it can be used in a library environment.
Like wikis it allows community collaboration which is great. I can really see the use for research assistance. The danger like any community thing is that it gets large and hard to control. But that is an unavoidable consequence of such technologies and the tools given to restrict and create own little communities within the larger structure is good to overcome this.
Looking at Technorati it suprised me how few results there were for "bookmobile", only one in general search but a few more using advanced search, (searching posts, all). I am surprised there are so few. But then it's not really finding anything for nswpln2008 so I suspect things have changed since this was developed. That is certainly the case with del.icio.us.
I've heard about LibraryThing before but I've never used it or had an indepth look at how it works. Again it seems fun, but I'm not sure how relevant to a public library.
more coherent thoughts later
Like wikis it allows community collaboration which is great. I can really see the use for research assistance. The danger like any community thing is that it gets large and hard to control. But that is an unavoidable consequence of such technologies and the tools given to restrict and create own little communities within the larger structure is good to overcome this.
Looking at Technorati it suprised me how few results there were for "bookmobile", only one in general search but a few more using advanced search, (searching posts, all). I am surprised there are so few. But then it's not really finding anything for nswpln2008 so I suspect things have changed since this was developed. That is certainly the case with del.icio.us.
I've heard about LibraryThing before but I've never used it or had an indepth look at how it works. Again it seems fun, but I'm not sure how relevant to a public library.
more coherent thoughts later
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Videos online
Looking at videos was interesting and I can see a lot of potential for example it is a great way to reach people online.
I particuarly liked using videos as training and introducing library environment and services, it is a non confronting way of helping people to become familiar with the library.
However I can't help but think that at the moment it is really just an interesting aside, that it is still something for the future. There is still a signifcant section of the population whose only access to the Internet, or a connection good enough to make using videos viable is through a public library or Internet cafe.
I feel like I am being quite negative but I can't quite shake the feeling that getting too excited about things such as web videos could have the danger of leaving others behind. For example I don't think however there is significant value in doing for example book reviews where it is just someone talking about the book, would have to be more interactive.
That said I think there is great potential things like giving a showcase of the library and posting videos of talks and events that have happened in the library.
I particuarly like the idea of using videos for showcasing oral history etc.
I particuarly liked using videos as training and introducing library environment and services, it is a non confronting way of helping people to become familiar with the library.
However I can't help but think that at the moment it is really just an interesting aside, that it is still something for the future. There is still a signifcant section of the population whose only access to the Internet, or a connection good enough to make using videos viable is through a public library or Internet cafe.
I feel like I am being quite negative but I can't quite shake the feeling that getting too excited about things such as web videos could have the danger of leaving others behind. For example I don't think however there is significant value in doing for example book reviews where it is just someone talking about the book, would have to be more interactive.
That said I think there is great potential things like giving a showcase of the library and posting videos of talks and events that have happened in the library.
I particuarly like the idea of using videos for showcasing oral history etc.
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