Is this really the end? Or just the beginning ...

Favourite discoveries or exercises: Learning exactly what a blog is, Rss feeds, wikis, image generators have been some interesting discoveries.

Assisted or affected your lifelong learning goals?: I am still totally amazed by what is available on the net and this program has certainly opened my eyes to what is actually available to have fun and to assist my learning.

Take-aways or unexpected outcomes from this program that surprised me?: Some useful sites, for instance image generator, flickr, online productivity web-based applications, learning about mashups and that they are freely available to the world wide internet community.

Do differently to improve upon this program’s format or concept?: Having more Australian content/links would be great. Some problems with links/podcasts no longer being current/available. Although some tasks were time consuming, I have learnt about a lot of useful resources/applications which could be relevant to my work.


This whole program is a great introduction to the tip of the iceberg that is the internet and all that is available. I have become more confident in my knowledge in how these programs work, their content and their usefulness and just what is out there on the internet for work or play. It seem limitless to what can be achieved just using a computer and its applications to keep clients, staff and the general public informed in whatever their area of study, work or interests are.

Mashups

I have found some relevant sites and an interesting book with relevant applications mashups could used for developing the library. A useful application to incorporate many useful sites into one site.

Some interesting sites:
Mashup Australia - was a government competition held last year http://mashupaustralia.org/

LibWorm - Mashes up updates from 1400 RSS feeds+ from library sites. The contents of these feeds are then available for searching & search results can be output as an RSS feed that the user can subscribe to in his/her aggregator.
LibWorm is intended to be a search engine, a professional development tool, and a current awareness tool for people who work in libraries or care about libraries. http://www.libworm.com

Mashup Australia - was a government competition held last year http://mashupaustralia.org/

And my favourite : The Vine http://www.thevine.com.au/entertainment/top10/top-ten-trailer-mash_ups20100720.aspx A great mash up of favourite films ie they turned Jaws into a love story, watch the preview - you'll never the movie series again.

Book: Library mashups : exploring new ways to deliver library data / edited by Nicole C. Engard /Published by: Information Today, Inc., c2009. ISBN 978-1-57387-372-7

Podcasts, Smodcasts!

I found this activity very time consuming and at time frustrating. Clicking onto view/hear a podcast it would be time consuming to load and would often take you to another site requiring you sign up.

RSS feed for a podcast: http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/feed%2Fhttp%3A%2F%2Fwww.squidoo.com%2Fxml%2Fsyndicate_lens%2Ffree-podcast-resources

The most useful podcasts I found were Audio books for free: http://www.pickthebrain.com/blog/free-audio-book-and-podcast-resources/

It is great to see the library using this tool, I think more podcasts could be created with useful information for library clients

YouTube

I enjoy looking at youtube now and then, some interesting videos certainly get placed online. I have attached 2 recent favourites, the first one because it is certainly interesting to watch peoples reaction and the organisation that went into setting up  this event in such a public place

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WkBepgH00GM&playnext=1&list=PL9AA17914577B354F&index=30

and the second clip because everytime this life saving ad came on telly when my daughter was a baby, she would stop what she was doing and become transfixed by the music in this ad. We discovered it on youtube and it still has the same effect on her.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyiZp5w9QT4

My partner especially likes to look at funny/prank videos - some are funny and some are downright cringe worthy. Just makes you wonder sometimes how people stay friends!

Some great uses for the library: How to videos - ie using the self checkout ; Videos about the university/library - facilities etc it would allow students/staff to get an overview of the Uni/library and what is available

Web 2.0 Awards

Seems a little out of date, as some of the links no longer worked, would be usful if it had Australian content.

Although not library related, the Mothersclick seemed a useful site for information  - but their are plenty Australian site that provide a similar service, with links to local services and information.

As far as useful applications for the library, having access to these sites could provide useful information for clients of the library, if for instance a collaborative website was created for the library clients could add information about books, social networking, course information etc; could be most useful for future clients of the University, especially if they were new to the area or studying at a Uni.

Online Applications & Tools

Web-based Apps

Many usefuul applications on Google docs and Zoho Writer. Would use if I didn't access to Micrsoft applications on my PC. Some great templates for whatever document you my be working on. Will be passing these websites onto a few friends.

 My Top Ten List

1) Christmas present shopping (and wrapping)
2) Shopping for ingredients for german potato salad (From Singleton for the salami and all over newcastle for the authentic gherkin)
3) Christmas cards to be written and sent out and santa photo if I can get Renee near to Santa!!
4) Pick up 12 dozen Turners Frute Ice blocks for Mother in-law (her favourite addiction)
5) Get to family get together with my brother (only time I see him and his family - thanks to a lovely sister inlaw!!) and my 2 sisters and their families on Sundaythe 12th. Thank goodness only at Pearl Beach (Central Coast) this year.
6) Catch on washing
7) Start organising a packing list with everything I have to remember to take to Canberra - from the cat (and all her bits and pieces) - to Renees, my partners and my odds and bods.
8)Remind partner about checking the car and organise all his junk to pack
9)Christmas lights drive around with Renee - hope she stays awake
10)Run away to a tropical island and enjoy a few relaxing drinks!!

 

https://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dhq7rpvf_0c6x4f6gb

Playing around with PBWiki

Was unable to edit this site, requested access and never got a reply email - could be an interesting way of keeping up with work colleagues and their interests.

Wikis

 Some interesting sites and an interesting concept to involve people in editing/adding to websites. This would be a great  way to involve our library clients with their input to include useful resources for other library clients to access.

I found this Aussie wiki site, to quote: "This is a collaborative blog for Australian libraryland" http://librariesinteract.info/

A couple of other interesting sites used by other libraries;
Catalogur's Toolbox: http://staff.library.mun.ca/staff/toolbox/   -  Memorial University of Newfoundland

Planet Cataloguing: http://planetcataloging.org/ - Planet Cataloging is an automatically-generated aggregation of blogs related to cataloging and metadata

Some great reading and a great way to keep informed of what is happening in other libraries. Like Virginia mentioned, Wiki could be a useful tool for Bibliographic Services/NOVA to have all our resources in easy access and for the the team to keep the site up-to-date with current and relevant information to our relevant area of  work.

On Library 2.0 & Web 2.0 ...

 ARTICLES:

To better bibliographic services

 I found this article very interesting, talking about the current direction and where libraries are heading now and in the future. Metadata is the new buzz word used these days to describe the way information we enter onto databases is made available worldwide.

Away from the “icebergs”

The ways libraries have changed in the last decade from being print collection focussed and having the clients actually coming to the library to use resources and to now  the focus is on digital collections ie online access to everything, anytime access by clients, shows just what can be achieved in a short span of time - What will the future hold. I see our library successfully embracing the clients needs and taking this direction with more electronic resources being made available and hopefully not hitting any icebergs in the near future!!

To a temporary place in time...

I believe our library has embraced many changes to meet the needs of the libraries clients, ie 24 hour access, cafes in the library, more computers for studying - these are just a few examples which helps to make our library a multicultural, friendly community. More importantly we have great library staff to help run this great community and are always seeking ways to assist and improve our community

 

 

Technorati

Lots of information to look at with this website, with lots of links to other blogs, videos. Takes a bit of looking around to find  anything useful -search boxes are useful. To many adds flashing on the screen. When doing a advance search for Learning 2.0 - no results and when doing a keyword serch 14 blogs found out of 1192108 - just mind boggling how many people are online in one form or another  - doesn't seem to be any anonymity anymore.

Del.icio.us

Very useful site for saving your favourite websites and the ability to keep viewing by others private or share is a good feature. The advantage of this site is you can access you favourite websites no matter where you are, no remembering the web address or the need to save to a thumb drive!!
For research, it could a resourceful tool for colleagues to share useful reserach websites and for teachers providing information for relevant websites to their students.

Making use of web 2.0 technologies and our library

Web 2.0 technologies and our library:

Keeping up to date with relevant  and current information is a great way our library is providing information and pictures  to staff, students and the general public with the computer age we live in, where we expect information access 24x7.
Maybe the service could be advertised more widely to library clients to promote web service that we provide - maybe training sessions could organised to inform of  the Library blog, RSS feed etc and ways of using the library catalogue to suit their needs ie adding tags, creating own virtual reading shelf etc

LibraryThing

 LibraryThing Advantage:
1) The ability to keep track of your own book collection online and find earlier/later works by the chosen author
2) The ability to find local libraries and bookstores where I can locate my chosen material
3) Online chat groups and other peoples opinions could be useful

 LibraryThing Disadvantage:
 1) Time consuming
 2) Another log in/password to remember - to many sites require you to sign in and give out details - at least this site doesn't ask for your email address



http://www.librarything.com/catalog/mgw463

http://www.fototrix.com

My Sweetpea Reneee

RSS Feeds

This is great service have all your favourite sites in one location. Makes keeping up to date with your favourite sites easy.

New Technology

Everyday there seems to be some new advancement towards  technological development. These days if don't have a computer at home you are considered behind the times. According the 2008/09 Australian Bureau of Statistics "72% of Australian households had home internet access and 78% of households had access to a computer. Between 1998 to 2008-09, household access to the internet at home has more than quadrupled from 16% to 72%, while access to computers has increased from 44% to 78%."
My mother, who is in her mid 60's, has recently purchased a laptop, as she was feeling not having access to the internet disadvantaged her somehow. In the 3 months she has had the computer I've had 2 emails - trying to get her to reply and I usually get a phone call - still hasn't quite got the concept of communication via email!!

With all that is available online, onlinechat programmes, social networking etc I think they if you have the time go ahead and enjoy these programmes - they're not for me. Whilst having access to information at your finger tips is great, I just don't have the time or the want to put out any more unecessary information about myself on the web.
Overall, Learning 2.0 is certainly interesting in exploring and expanding my knowledge of the Internet

OUR DAILY VIEW....

Sunset Umina Beach

Sunset Umina Beach
Originally uploaded by bivoir

Growing up with Umina beach at the end our street, with many morning and evening walks the lengthof the beach; seeing sunsets like this just make you want to be back there again. With the smell of salt air and a cool ocean breeze on a hot summer day and the cool water lapping at your feet - just a perfect way to start or finish the day.

See no evil...

See no evil...
Originally uploaded by ucumari

Xi Lan-Woe is me!

Xi Lan-Woe is me!
Originally uploaded by Xi Shan

Haven't we all had days like this!!

7.5 Habits of Lifelong Learning

EASIEST

Habit 2 - Accept reponsibility for your own learning

If you didn't want to go any where in life and not keep on learning  this habit would be pretty easy to ignore. We are bombarded with information and a natural curiosity in life for how, why, where, what for etc in our daily lives. So even as baby in the womb before we are born, we are already learning. Then we learn to talk and bombard our parents with the questions like 'why' ; 'what for' ; 'what's that' ; 'how come' etc ; then we learn to read and write and for the rest of our lives we challenge ourselves to learn new skills and learn something new and unexpected every day.

In our own personal or work lives learning enhaces who are as a person and makes us more confident in our quest for answers. Just learning one new thing a day can make you a better person.

“We learn more by looking for the answer to a question and not finding it than we do from learning the answer itself.”   Lloyd Alexander


HARDEST

Habit 3 - View problems as challenges

To accept a problem as a challenge can sometimes seem as though there is is brick wall in front of your pathway with no way around it (and sometimes feel like banging your head on this wall may seem like it would be good idea, when the problem seems impossible!!). Yes, it is a great feeling when you finally overcome the challenge because you know you have achieved something and probably learnt something new in the process. Whether it is work or at home challenging myself to overcome problems as they arise and not put them of for another day/time is often difficult for me, but once the task is complete I often wonder what I was worried about - the problem wasn't as bad as I though it would be. One new challenge for the week is enough and yes this blog has certainly been a good challenge for the week.

“Finish each day and be done with it. You have done what you could. Some blunders and absurdities no doubt crept in, forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day, you shall begin it well and serenely...”   Ralph Waldo Emerson

Only 8 weeks until Christmas!!

The countdown begins, the shops are already set up with their decorations and the madness and the fun of the holiday season begins!! With the excitement of my three old excitedly looking forward to Santa paying a visit - because she is a good girl (in her own words!), & has put in her order for a trampoline and dog - like her dad would be impressed bringing these from Canberra!! (as he is always complaining I pack to much and always bring to much back with us.)
Well, I've spent enough blogging today, so I shall return another day hopefully something more to say.