Social Networking

Social networking can certainly be the new way of communication within libraries and outside to their patrons. It appears that in some libraries, email has been superseded by some of the new web 2.0 technologies.

These new interactive sites with their two/way communications provide an opportunity for libraries to promote themselves and their programs and to receive feedback from their patrons. By using sites such as Facebook and MySpace they are also reaching a younger audience.

These new technologies also lend themselves to networking as never before. Library colleagues have the opportunity to discuss ideas, share such things as websites and all without any geographic or time constraints.

Google docs

Google docs was quite easy to use - unfortunately a jpeg of a book cover that I wanted to include in my post did not transfer. I need to go back and discover what I did wrong.

I cannot see many uses for this free shareware in a library environment if there is an intranet and Microsoft Office and PDF readily available. It could be useful to pass on to users who may not have these applications on their home computers. As well, they could be useful for patrons who do not own home computers and may access the internet from several branches. They could format their documents and then access them from which ever library PC they choose to update their documents on.

I am surprised how much free software is available and look forward to trying more of them out.

Mashups use in the library setting

I think there would be many opportunities to use mashups in the library setting. A calendar could be used to promote author talks - the book cover as the photo and then the date of the visit circled. Local history sites could be marked similiar to British Library's 'London : a life in google maps'. As with all of the Web 2.0 tools - time, expertise and creativity could certainly enhance library homepages .

Mashups

Found it easy to produce a calendar page for June using a picture taken from front cover of an old children's book. The book is called Under the Window, Pictures & Rhymes for Children by Kate Greenaway ; Engraved and Printed by Edmund Evans ; published London : George Routledge & Sons, Broadway, Ludgate Hill/ New York : 416 Broom Street. I was hoping to include the whole cover page in the calendar but only managed to get the top picture. My concern was a copyright issue, not acknowledging the source. May even be a copyright issue using the drawing - not sure. For the benefit of the exercise, I was happy with result. Look forward to using many of the other tools on Big huge labs webpage.

Podcasting

I can see great potential for using Podcasting in the library environment. It would be great for collecting aural histories - this could be done with digital voice recorders. An older person might feel more comfortable talking about their life this way rather than being videod.

It could be used for staff training. Also for children borrowing picture fiction books - there could be a note on the book directing the child to a link on the library website where they could look at the pictures and hear the book being read aloud to them.

I liked the ABC podcast website. It is very well organized and easy to use - lots of interesting hours of listening.

'Slamming the boards'

'Slamming the boards' could be a great publicity tool. The intended date could be published on the library webpage with a link through to the site. Perhaps a certain topic could be chosen for a certain date and time e.g. 'Where to start with your family history' or 'Which tools does the library have to get started on researching your family history'. Another topic might be connected to high school students in how to use the online databases provided by the library. 'How to track down that newspaper article - are you looking for an article on a particular topic?" The pathfinder for finding the answer could be put up on the website at a later date. Perhaps the dates of the 'slam' could be publicised in the local paper a week or so before. It would certainly highlight some of the resources available at a particular library and the expertise of its staff.

Librarything

I love Librarything. This could be utilized perhaps on the Information desk to help recommend certain books for certain ages. You have heard of the book or read it e.g. Science Fiction for Years 7-8, you could have it on your page on Librarything -have the site bookmarked on del.icio.us and tagged as Science Fiction-Yrs 7-8. Could take some planning but I think it could work. We are getting an overview of all these applications which is great - at a later date with more time it will be very beneficial to explore them in greater depth.