# 23 The End/ The Beginning

So I've come to the end. Or is this the beginning. This program has opened my eyes to the many tools available on the Internet. First of all I will mention my favourite things:

1. Creating my blog was exciting. It was scary also because I was afraid of putting anything personal or being known by others (funny since my blog has my name in it!) but I saw too many Oprah shows exploring the abuse that can happen on the net. I didn't realise it could be fun too. I wanted to do this program because I knew things were changing constantly and that I needed to keep up. I also wanted to show my teenage nieces and nephews that I knew things too. Also if I wanted to continue working in the library industry I needed to learn the new stuff out there.

2. I of course loved putting pictures and funny stuff on my blog. It was fun seeing how I could play around with this stuff.

3. The best one was the web applications and tools (widgets!). This was the easiest and there were more options. Funny how I just love the fun stuff but I was also learning.

4. Just learning what was out there on offer and for free such as the web applications, library stuff(Library Thing), rollyo (very convenient for someone doing many searches). Knowing the many options available to the public has opened my eyes to the many possibilities for the future. This is why I know I will need to continue to keep my eyes open and my brain ready for more stuff to come.

Another thing this program has pushed me to do is buy a new computer so I could stay updated. I did have an old one and I thougtht this would do me but since I wanted to do this course I realised I needed to upgrade not just for this but for future needs. No more staying in the dark ages for me. Next I may even get broadband. Right now shock, horror I am using pre-paid dial up. I thought I could control my usage this way but its not working. I am spending more than if I were to use Broadband. Oh well we live, we learn.

Because of this program I have actually started reading computer books. I never thought I would see myself doing this, They're not exactly riveting reading! I can't ever recall doing this before unless I had to for whatever course I was doing. Now I am interested in learning more. I do not want to be someone that just accepts that it is beyond me or past my time. This program has shown me that I can learn these things, it might just take a little longer to get my brain around things, but I do eventually grasp these concepts and anyone else can too.

This program has reminded me to aways look for new learning experiences whether work related or otherwise.

An improvement on this progeam might be to add more instructions on the more difficult parts such as Flickr and Rss feeds, though I suppose helping each other was also part of the training. Actually because my co-workers needed my help sometimes it did make me go over the stuff I had already completed and made me think more about it. The rest was great.

Lastly I would like to thank the learning 2.0 people (especially Lynette)for offering me this opportunity. I can't imagine any other place that could show us all these different tools in one place. The large workload must feel overwhelming to these poor ladies having to check all this stuff. I hope you know this has been an invaluable experience for me. And it was FREE! It can't get better than that.

Three Cheers to Life Long Learning!

Can't Wait for Learning 3.0 SIGN ME UP!

# 22 E Books

I have been looking at Worldebookfair. It is very interesting. These books seem old, I'm assuming this is because the copyright has expired. I don't see current authors allowing their books on there which is a pity. Though these boolks would be hard to get a hold of and the yearly membership is low. Great idea! I can see using the mp3 format will be the future for talking books. What a great way to listen to a book. I myself prefer the paper version but when I am too old to see properly I hope this form is available. By then I will be able to use an mp3 player.

Imagine in your old age being able to buy a book online and put it on your mp3. No large cd players to handle just a small device. With shopping at your fingertips and having many books to choose from without having to trek long distances to your local library. I wouldn't have to leave the house for much. I may turn into an eccentric, cat loving lady but I would have my books and that would make me happy. And all just a click away. The older generation would benefit enourmously with this technology. I can see using this format and podcast(in mp3 format) for teachers also. They could put their lectures on them and lazy students that don't go to lectures could listen to them on their mp3's.

I'll have to keep up with new technology to prepare for my old age!

# 21 Podcasts

I put a podcast on my bloglines account, its just a pity I havent been able to listen to it. I thought I could do this at work but the work computers are just as bad as my home one. How frustrating. I couldn't look at any videos because it took forever and forget about podcasts (didn't work at all). That said I think podccasts would be great for training purposes. If we had online tutorials for the public to use such as computer training, email training, they could do this at their own pace. Just wack some headphones on them and away they go.

Of course the internet would have to work properly for this as we would have people throwing the computers around which is what I would like to do with them right now.

#20 You Tube cont.

Well I didn't know you could do that. Put html in a new post that is. You Tube would be fun if I could view the video's better, it kept stopping which was really frustrating, I nearly gave up. I assume it's my internet connection. I chose Conan the Librarian because it was funny and it was easier to view. I suppose thats because it was a small file, the other videos were larger and I didn't have the patients to wait for it. I also looked at google and yahoo video which I didn't know existed. You Tube seems to have more videos to look at. I know it is more well known and has been around longer even the politicians are using it (weird).

This would be good for libraries because we could show funny stuff like this to show the public we have a sense of humor. We could also advertise our services in a different way. It might catch the public's attention. I just wish my computer would view videos better because I would be looking at more funny videos. Its amazing that people would put themselves on there. I guess everyone whats their 15 minutes of fame.

#20 You Tube - Conan The Librarian

#19 Online Applications and Tools (and FUN!)

From the many tools available I chose a fun widget( before this training I didn't even know what a widget was). You can get all kinds of things to put on your blog or website. Since so many are too serious for me, by that I mean they are good for work purposes but I wanted to have fun as usual. I chose Einstein quotes, I don't even know if they are real but they sounded good.

It was easy to do I just had to copy the html code. I must be learning something because I would never have said the word easy before when trying to put something on my blog. I think these tools are made to be easily accessible for the public (thank god). As for the library setting there are so many tools and they are free I wouldn't begin to know which ones to use for a library. One idea is to put a list of the free tools on library websites for the public to choose from. I'm sure there are many people out there who have no idea of whats out there freely available on the Internet. If libraries made this information available I think we would look pretty cool and knowledgeable as a source of freebies!

I may even use some more fun widgets!

#18 Web-based Applications

I've tried zoho and I guess its good for people doing a lot of paper work and presentations who are on the move a lot. This way if they have their stuff on zoho and they forget something at the office on their way to an important meeting then they can access it. As for replacing Microsoft office and not having the problem of software compatibility I'm all for that!

It was a bit confusing especially since I didn't know which item to use. I chose a presentation which I had to make public in order to put it on my blog. That was a bit embarrassing but I may have stoped it from becoming completely public. I have no idea. Anyway the more web applications the better. If we can have everything at our fingertips the better.

#17 More Wiki

I've added my blog to the Wiki and I found it a little daunting. I was a little embarrased that others could see my mistakes and I did make some! I added a page not really realising what I was doing and it took me a while to figure out how to delete it. I then added a heading with Brimbank blogs (the ones who are up to this lesson) and I felt like I was doing something naughty. Oh well if someone doesn't like it, it can be taken off, but then I may be offended. This is weird stuff.

I realised with this wiki that someone who had the time would need to go in and fix it up. At the moment it is a little long, if someone made it more reader friendly with the favourites lists being ordered, it would make it more appealing. I did find this fun and interesting though.

#16 Wikis

I think wikis are ok I just wouldn't encourage anyone to use it such as kids. you really need to be careful and check who is behind it. I suppose it is policed by other users so it can be okay but as a source of information I would want to double check in a more reliable source. It just doesn't seem right to get information from a place that is so open to mistakes. That said I have read wiki entries lately when googling and because there are so many wiki entries it is hard not to go there.

In one sense it sounds pretty good to have anyone that is able to make entries. This way you can get information from many sources. Its funny because when I first heard about it it sounded ridiculous but now that I am getting used to the idea it is sounding better. I just can't believe people can be bothered making entries as a lot of the information is so in depth. I guess for professonals it is helping others. As for libraries I like the idea of something like adding books and anyone being able to make a comment, and for other information where the public can get involved.

So now I'll try Sandbox wiki, whatever that is!

#15 Library 2.0 and Web 2.0

Hmmm.

This is very interesting. Its also exciting, weird, confusing, scary, silly and fun! I love the ideas about the future of Libraries. Im just glad I'm not a Librarian. They may need to be not only information experts but technology experts as well. Its hard enough keeping up with so much information that is available now but trying to keep up with the ever changing technology will be difficult. It would be great to see all these technologies available for the public to use and in an easily accesible way but you would need many staff to be continuously updating their skills to keep up with this. I do believe this needs to be done.

I think Library courses need to change NOW to reflect what future libraries need to be. Potential library workers need to be informed of what skills will be needed.

I think this involves GREAT customer service. Without this people will not come in no matter the great technology on offer. Staff need to be open to continual change, we must be willing to make lifelong learning a part of our life (Oh so thats what this is about. I thought it was about the prizes. Just kidding! I get it now!).

This will be harder than it sounds. I myself thought I was always open to change because I get bored pretty easily, but when those changes happen it can throw you a bit. Our first instinct is to reject it because it is not the way things were done in the past. All it takes is some getting used to I guess then it becomes normal. But our initial reaction is to reject it. Things are changing so quickly that I believe libraries must keep up in order to remain significant. By that I don't mean just a few bits of technology here and there but complete availability of all new technologies. This is where staff will need to have their finger on the pulse, daily, weekly, monthly to attract patrons and to keep them interested.

That said I still believe books have a place in there but this must be one aspect of what the library of the future must be.

So now there's 3d and web 4.0. This could happen faster than we realise. It could all turn around pretty quickly. I can't wait for web 4.0, back to enjoying a good book without all the gadgets. Technology is fun but it makes my head spin. As I'm pretty new to the library industry I am curious to know what others who have been around longer think (Librarians, Technicians, Officers) I'll be asking my co-workers where they think we're headed as I can only speculate. I know that bringing in more cd's and especially dvd's has brought in more people that otherwise would not use the library( I have had patrons tell me this.) and while there they have been educated on the other services on offer which has surprised and interested them. I wonder what else will bring in more new users.

So again I am excited, confused, scared, intrigued and can't wait for the fun to begin! Bring it on!

#14 Technorati

Im not sure I like it. I don't understand why the popular Blogs are popular. I don't understand top searches, they seem pointless and I can't understand why these search terms are used. As for the popular blogs you've got to be kidding, what I saw was not good.

The only good thing I can see is if you want to see what other people are doing and their thoughts on things such as new technology. You would want to make sure they knew what they were talking about. Since you don't need to be an expert on anything to have a blog I would not want to look much at others blogs. I suppose I would look at other library blogs but thats about it.

If I was searching for some info on the internet I would still go to google. Call me old fashioned but I still think google is way out there technology wise as it has everything you need. It will bring up blogs and whatever else your looking for.

#13 Delicious

So I've managed to create a Delicious account quite easily. Now this is pretty good but I've realised that I just prefer a normal link on one single page. I suppose it is good if your studying so you can look at what others are bookmarking. For personal use it is ok.

There are so many ways to find information. It is really useful to know all these options which I didn't know about before this so I guess I am learning something. I am also getting a little overwhelmed with all these options. If I am looking for information do I go to my Rss feeds, Delicious, blog with all my links or just the plain old web. I think its just a matter of getting used to thinking in this way. Anyway its great to have all these options I just have to remember that they're there.

#12 Rollyo

I've managed to create a searchroll using Rollyo. My subject is technology. It wasn't too hard setting up. Still it takes my brain a while to process these new technologies. I guess it is good to have actually its excellent since you can choose your own sites to search what you need. This would take a lot of the crap away when searching the internet. It is useful for library sites because the easier you can make searching for the public the better. This would take away the not so good sites for people when searching for authentic information.

Since I've started this course I have realised the need to keep up to date with the latest tech news hence my tech. subject on Rollyo. It is not a good idea to be working in libraries and not know at least the basics of whats out there and especially what the younger kids are doing and using. I dont think its good enough to say "Oh well the younger generation have grown up with this stuff. Its easy for them" As library workers we should be keeping up with these things even if we don't use it. We can't let the kids think we're old and ancient. We need to keep up with the times and change the view of libraries and especially library workers as being just about boring old books (even though I love Books!)

Imagine how much more younger kids (especially teenagers) would use our services if they new they could come into a library for techno. help instead of just to do their boring old homework. Librarians can become cool!

And yes I do like to see teenagers coming in to the library even if its just to play and make a lot of noise. I like noise.

Anyway this Rollyo is beneficial I just wish someone else would do the work of setting it up for me. Thats what Librarians should be doing for the public cause people like myself are too lazy to do it. I'll only do it when I have to. Library thing, Rollyo etc. should be all in one place (such as the library catalogue) where you just click on which ever search you need. Most of the public do not think too hard and will only use whats in front of them. (Im talking about myself of course)

So enough blabbling from me for now.

Cheers

Zoya

RSS Feeds Help

Now I will try to help you with RSS Feeds. I found this a bit hard, so here goes.

Create an account with Bloglines

You need to create an account with bloglines . Do this here Bloglines

Adding Rss Feeds

1. Once you have signed up you need to add Rss Feeds.
2. Find a website that you like and search for the icon feed, it usually says rss feed either on the bottom/top/side of page (You will need to open another window for this)
3. Once you have clicked on the websites feed it will give you an address with xml or rss feed at the end of the address.
4. Copy this address by highlighting the address then right clicking your mouse and clicking copy.
5. Then go to "Feeds' on the Left hand side of the bloglines website (you must be logged in)
6. Then click on 'Add' this will bring up a small address bar.
7. Right click and paste your address feed here.
8. Click 'Subscribe'
9. This will bring up how you would like your feeds to appear, such as in a new folder.
10. Scroll down and and click 'Subscribe'

Adding RSS Feeds to your Blog

1. First you must go to your profile and allow sharing.
2. Then click on 'Share' at the bottom on the left hand side of bloglines.
3. In 'Link Target' type in your blogger address eg. http://zoyasstuff.blogspot.com
4. Click on 'Generate html'. This will give you a Html code
5. Copy this then go to your blog.
6. Add a page element with the Html/Java element
7. Copy this
8. You should now have a link to the websites you have Feeds to.

Viewing Updates

1. To view your feeds you need to go to Bloglines and sign in, it will bring up the websites you have subscribed to with numbers next to them.
2. These are the new items you haven't read. This is where you view updates, not from your blog.

Adding Blogrolls (your sharing Bloglines account) to your blog is so that you can show others what you have subscribed to. If you click on the website from your blog it will take you to the website but not show only updates. The updated items can only be viewed through your bloglines account.

Editing Websites

1. To change your website feeds such as Delete, Create Folders etc. you need to click on Edit.
2. This will bring up what you want such as Folders, Delete sort Alphabetically etc.

I hope this makes sense

Flickr Help

So I'm going to try to help others who are having trouble. Just follow the steps below. Here goes.

1. You need to create a Flickr account. To do this go to - http://www.flickr.com/ follow the steps to create your own account , yes you need a yahoo email account.

Putting Pictures on Flickr

1. Search for a picture you like on flickr.
2. Right click your mouse over the picture
3. Choose 'save picture as' (this will save it to your computer)
4. Go to 'You' on flickr
5. Go to 'Upload' at the bottom of the screen
6. Click on 'Choose Photo'
7. Choose your picture, then double click or open picture
8. Save picture
9. You can add a tag if you like, this will help to organise you photos

Putting Flickr pictures on your blog

1. Look for pictures on flickr you like or from your own flickr pictures.
2. Click on the picture
3. You will then notice a small icon on the top of the picture that says 'Blog this'. Click on this and it will ask you for your blog
4. Follow the steps to allow Flickr to access your blog
5. Add a title or post with this picture.
6. Click on view blog to see your picture

More Flickr Tools

1. Go to this link Flickr Tools for more options.
2. Remember a lot of these tools require you to copy the html and add this script to your new page element.
3. The page element needs to be the Html/Java script element.

I hope this has helped

#11 Library Thing

I have been looking at Library Thing. Its pretty interesting. I have been using it as a way to find books in my favourite genre. What a great tool! I was going to add books that I have read but then I realised I can add books I would like to read on my account. This way I can go to my account when I need some ideas.

I am not a cataloguer so I don't need all the cataloguers info I just need the title and author. I also find the reader comments very useful.

I will continue to look at this site to get more familiar with it. I'm sure there's more you can do I just haven't figured it out yet. Stay tuned...

# Image Generators cont..

Now I found one that I like. There is a link below for others to look at. This site is safer and has some pretty fun ways to make photos. I may start using a digital camera and taking my own pictures and seeing what I can do with them. Once my new computer is delivered I'll be playing around a lot. There's a lot of fun to be had with family photos!

Cheers for now

Zoya

# Image Generators

I have been looking at some of these Image generators and the first one I got wouldn't work on the work computers. So it was back to the drawing board. Also I think it was a bit weird. I did an Emo image but when I went to create a link it didn't seem to take me to an appropriate site. It had gambling and stuff like that on it which is not something I want to encourage so I guess you really need to look at the website creating these generators.

That said it is pretty funny, so I'll be playing around alot.

Here is a link to the sign I did. glassgiant

# 9 Finding Feeds

I have tried Bloglines and Topix. Bloglines is easier for me as I am now getting used to it and the screen is now familiar. Topix was pretty good as you could choose feeds just in Australia. As for Technorati, I don't think I would want to use a search tool just for searching blogs. Maybe others blogs can be good to look at but if I was searching for information I would not look at blogs but an authentic site. Technorati also looks pretty complicated for my old brain.

PS CONGRATULATIONS to Laura and Kristin. Sydenham staff are either pretty interested in Technology or we just like to play alot. Hee Hee

Cheers

Zoya