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.

Wikis

It seems I didn't post this post about wikis

So Wikis seem like a really good way of content sharing and collaboration. In a library environment I think best practise and ideas sharing. I also really like the idea of a communtiy Wiki, linked perhaps to the library. The trouble would be focusing and making relevant. But I think you need a lot of control.

I really like the idea of Wikis the local info ideas might work well, I think that you could use a Wiki as an extension of a library website, I don't know how you would define it's scope though. I like the idea of linking it to library membership, that way there is a purpose.

RSS

I had a basic idea about RSS and thought it seemed like a good idea, but I've never used it before.

Having created a Bloglines account and played around a bit I'm seeing the benefits and limitations of the technology.

I think it would be most useful for sites which don't update very frequently, or for blogs; as for general news sources I think I'd get a bit overwhelmed. I suscribed to the BBC News feed as it is something I use, but I think I prefer to visit the website and be able to pick and chose what I read rather than in a linear format. Visually Bloglines isn't the most exciting to use.

I'm liking this RSS feeds | State Library of New South Wales, I never thought about using RSS for catalogue related stuff, but I guess RSS is really just a format for distributing information and bringing lots of different sources together so can be used for just about anything. Although it's tempting to search for more feeds to subscribe to I think I would use it more as an extension of what I already do - to help make it simpler to keep up with blogs, sites etc.

Sharing Images

Creative Commons seems great, seems straight forward.

I thought I'd include a topical photo, I think I'll try just a link as the safest option. If I can figure out how to do it.

Kaiserslautern, 26 June 2006 (5)

Photo sharing seems like it could be fun and I'm sure we can think of creative ways to use it in a library environment, but I'm unconvinced of its general usefulness to a library. Maybe I just need to have a look around a bit more.

Blogs seem like a good idea but I think you've got to have a clear idea of what your purpose is. The process of choosing a blog title, username, password etc is rather harrowing. In a library environment this may be easier because it would be something related to your library.

I'm looking forward to learning about the different technologies, I consider myself fairly web savvy but there is a lot I don't know or have any experience of, RSS for instance or mash-ups.