2 years....What web applications I'm still using

Wow attended the Crime RA Seminar this week at the State Library. Love the event name "Murder at the Metcalf"! Anyway just finish the evaluation, what a wonderful event, and checked out the wiki, next thing you know one thing lead to another and I found myself back to the blog I started what seems like years ago.

I just thought I pop back in and write down what 2.0 applications I'm using how many years later.

1. Delicious = fairly frequently, still love the fact I can look up my web pages with ease
2. Youtube = frequently
3. Forums
4. Big Huge Labs- photo creator
5. Flicker = occasionally
6. RSS Feed

Ciao for now.

And now it's time to say good bye.....

It's good to see that there are already a few libraries who have embraced the web2.0 generation and their technology to stay relevance in an increasingly physically disconnected world.

It was interesting to see Le Monde map of different social networking technologies used around the world, particularly NZ's and Australia's majority of users preferring Myspace and Bebo. It certainly seem to reflect my experience in our library's computer room around 3pm.

One of the funny things/patterns? about Beebo, that my sisters and I noticed was that almost every Islander (Samoan, Tongan, Fijian ..etc) who had a type of social networking profile would have a Bebo account. As you can see NZ, being the largest Polynesian community outside of the individual islands, it certainly seem to reflect the majority of their population using Bebo, with Rotorua Public Library having a Bebo account.

Anyway in terms of our library having a social networking profile, I know they were having problems getting approval as Council are still worried about the type of comments being placed on their profile. Here's hoping they would finally understand that their community have a strong Internet/online presence, and they need to equip Libraries with the tools to reach their audience.

Having an online presence would break down preconceived sterotypes about libraries. Who said we weren't hip and personable, and break down barriers (physical), create interest and discussion. Allows personable interaction and increases knowledge and understanding on the range of resources and services we provide. We would also benefit from direct and instantaneous feedback on events and activities we provide. What they like or didn't like.

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Every now and then I'm surprise when a new library member makes a comment about not realising that libraries had DVDs, or books, or another resource that we have had for years. Yes it's true. So to me, not having a social networking profile is akin to not having your contact details in the whitepages.

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Have tried signing up to second life on my friends PC and unfortunately his PC was too old. Will attempt it again on another PC and see what the fuss it all about.

I would like to thank the State Library for the opportunity to undertake this course. It's been crazy and difficult at times with accessing certain websites, but it was all worth it at the end.
I'm off to sign up to the NSW Reference and Information Services Group forum and to check out other blogs now that I've finished.

Online Apps

Explore: It's amazing to see the range of online applications that are predominately free to everyone. I wish these sites were created when I went to uni, it definitely would have made it easier to complete uni work, particularly beneficial for group work.

While still very basic in features, I'm sure that it's only a matter of time before we see not only an increase in free productivitiy software, but more advance features will soon be added. Small businesses, small departments who can not afford the full software, and with the added 'shared by invite' feature we will see an surge in the application of these within the workplace.

The hassle in planning seminars, meetings and other group projects will be minimise with the usage of this software. I guess the only foreseeable problem is, if your Internet crashes. However some business have a backup Internet connection, or a redundant line which will take of this. I don't think our Library has.

I've saved quite a few of them to my delicious account for future reference and usage. Have access these sites from home, however I wonder whether they would be accessible via our work Internet access.

Discover: I was in the whole learning 2.0 web 'zone' and started to create a powerpoint titled: A visual representation of my learning 2.0 journey to shared with the nswpln staff and then what do you know.........I stopped and couldn't recapture the energy to finish it. 1 1/2 week later ...I finally manage to complete it....hehe

Adventure: I used my google account to login to zoho writer. Quick appraisal: It seems to have more features, and more apps such as, wiki, sheet, note...and more. Pretty good.

Don't underestimate youtube

While this post may seem out of sequence with the weeks. I just had to include it because I didn't acknowledge the brilliance of youtube as an educational resource, particularly since I've started this course and have been directed to common craft to demonstrate various web technology.

It also helped with some of the other applications, when I wasn't quite sure I understood the concept, I just youtube the topic and found a vid for it and ..Eureka! I understand. It is web technology like this that enriches online training and development.

This course has definitely opened my eyes to how youtube can be utilised as a mean other than watching the latest music clip of Missy E.

Completely mashed up

'mashup is a web application that combines data from more than one source into a single integrated tool'

Am having so much fun with Big Huge Labs (BHL)I can't seem to stop mucking around on it. Where was this site a few years ago when I was creating my sister's 30th birthday invites! Though mine didn't turn out too bad, if I don't say so myself! BHL is great, it certainly makes one feel very artistic and the end product look professional.

I created this mosaic using pics of family and friends, the flower pics are from google. I wanted to create something like this since I saw one of the images from flickr, am glad it was so easy to do. BHL is definitely a website I would be using more of after this course.

Mashups allows for innovation within web technology to continue, their application for libraries can assist in promoting readers advisory services. One such library mashup would be whichbook, an new and exciting way to match readers with books.

Came across a youtube clip which directed me to ProgrammableWeb which seem to have quite a list of mashups. This site is all about keeping up with what's new and interesting with mashups, Web 2.0 APIs, and the new Web as Platform, it's worth having a look, as they have over 3,000 mashups. Conducted a search for books mash up, which resulted in 55 book mashups. Just a note, these 'books' websites are predominately aimed toward the American market.

A mashup that would be appropriate for libraries would be 22books. The main objective of 22books is to collect book lists. Lists of author’s books, award lists, books you want to read plus more. This could be a good way to capture community reading interest as well as using this as a Readers Advisory tool to look up authors books and award lists.

I'm not sure whether there are any sites out there that does do this, however some ideas for library mashups which would be worthwhile to develop locally would be:

Google mapping of authors in Australia:
-shows on map where author is lives/based
-provides list of authors books
-provides details on whether author conducts book talks
-books author is currently reading

Google mapping of all book groups in Australia:
-shows on map location of book groups in libraries, cafes or any organisation
- shows what books, book groups are discussing
-shows book group details of location and times, private or public
-displays advance listing of what books will be discussed in future
Advance feature:
-allows book swapping with various book groups.
-blogs for book groups

If you have come across a website that does this, please let me know especially one which is Australian based, rather than American, it would be interesting to see.

Personal On Demand

Discover: It would be good if they provided transcript with some podcast as it would have made it easier with some of the interviews conducted by the British Library.
I liked the fact that ABC provided three ways in which to access their podcasts, by subject, by network and also alphabetical. I also came also a podcast which I found interesting, it was Catapult, triple j. Catapult is about new ideas and inventions by young Australian entrepreneurs on triple j. The story, 'Socially networked success' is about the development of the company, thebroth.com which utilised social networking sites, particularly facebook to become profitable.

Explore: I would like our library to have podcasts for the following:

• Podcast for Children - Story books
• Podcasts for Youth events
  
• Podcast for Author Talks
• Podcast from Special events, both video and audio
• Podcast for HLS patrons for local events
  
• Staff: Training podcasts

Adventure: I didn't realise that yahoo had an audio section, pretty good stuff. It's also good to know that OEDB also provides free podcasts.

I download 2day FM radio station podcasts through itunes, which is a simple process, it just requires you to subscribe to a channel and it will automatically update when I hook up my ipod.

Slamming the board

Discover: What a wonderful global concept US Librarians have created to publicise reference services online and internationally. Congratulations to the two Australian Librarians who have also registered for wiki, it was good to see that we are being represented. Hopefully more reference librarians from Australia will register once they have completed this weeks exercise, however I know this would require time commitment.

In reviewing the 'Exemplary Answers' section of the Answer Board Librarians (ABL), slammers are encouraged to list sources, and often provide other links for more information. They also sign off using a general library tag which may or may not include links to local libraries.

Explore: Our library can set up a wiki where reference questions, services and collections can be discussed, questions answered and so forth. This way we are create a living breathing service, where the public can assist in creating the type of service they would continually use.

Adventure: Well I've done it, my question was 'Can someone give me a definition of 'resources' Thanks? I've included my answer which I got from merriam-webster dictionary online. Also I created my avatar, which was fun.

Some interesting links found while exploring:

Annoyed Librarian (blog)
Provides a less than enthusiastic view on slamming the board and wiki answers - post created quite a few comments.

Librarian net
Quite possibly one of the first Librarian blogger, Jessamyn West.

'My passion presently is mucking about in the intersection of libraries, technology and politics and describing what I find there.'

Ask Metafilter
'....arguably one of the more awesome “answer sites” currently in existence' J. West

Answer Board Librarians facebook profile
Can only be view if you are a member of facebook