Week 8 (November 16) Online Applications and Tools

Zoho Writer

This Zoho Writer is wonderful. Funny (sad) to think I just bought the Word for Mac program. I didn't realise there was so much free software available on the net. Mind you, being a nervous Nelly I still feel a bit queasy thinking of all my info floating around in cyberspace, yet I know it is probably safer (and more accessible) on an internet database than on a lone home computer. Incredible to think you could actually have all the applications of a home computer on a public one for free. The only thing I did find a little frustrating was that it was a bit slow to load and I had a few of the usual hiccups you get with the net but more than compensated for by its many features. I love the quick link to email. I downloaded the template for making speeches which would be a very useful homework aid for the dreaded speech making. The resume template also great. I have always hated all those files and folders so I love the way you can use tags instead and the way your documents are organised at the side of the screen. I wrote a short document which I successfuly sent to my email but I can't publish to my blog. It won't accept my blog's username and/or password. I've tried every permutation I can think of but it keeps saying one or the other is wrong.

Web.2 Awards

Yes, had a look at some of the sites. Some would be useful of course - saw a number we have been exploring here already. I think it is mostly that type that would be useful in a library setting (i.e. those related to books, organisation, office applications etc.) Many of them seemed recreational and just for fun, which of course also has its place but people seem to be pretty good at finding those themselves. I did like the look of the winners in City Guides and Reviews (I love reading about people's favourite cafes, shops, haunts, etc.) but they were all only relevant to the United States. Farecast under the Travel Awards is a very readable travel site, with clear and definitive prices for each day on flights all around the world. We have a very well travelled clientele who I think would enjoy this website and it is fun browsing and virtual travelling even if you can't afford it!I will definitely explore these more fully in the future.

Week 7 (November 14) Wikis

Wikis - Wow, again, so much reading! and what a huge topic. Obviously wikis have become much more prolific in the last couple of years than I realised. I'm trying to imagine their use in our particular library. I can see the promotional material for our bookclub now - "A wiki with your biccie". I think wikis encapsulate the best of the web and the worst of it. The best of it in that they enable freedom of expression and the worst in that they do. Imagine a bookshop containing everything anybody ever thought worth publishing - who would ever visit? (Actually, maybe they would.) Obviously they are very much the way of the future but I do think we need to be be careful that we do not end up using technology such as wikis just because it is there. I wouldn't like to see wikis replacing human interaction and personal communication when it isn't necesary. Clearly wikis are and will continue to be a major tool in enabling libraries and their customers to share ideas and information. I looked at the the steps to setting up a wiki using PBWiki, although I didn't actually do so. Impressed at how simple it is, obviously this has been a major factor in their success.

http://acllearn.pbwiki.com/Favourite+blogs

Week 6 (November 7) Tagging, Folksonomies and Technorati

Technorati

Made myself aTechnorati account, claimed my blog http://www.technorati.com/blogs/wannabtechie.blogspot.com
and added a blog from the tracking record. I can't resist reading any blog I choose from the tracking record - I'm always amazed how knowledgeable some people are and how sophisticated they have made their blogs. Mine is starting to look very side-heavy. I thought I'd try adding some pictures or links to my sidebar but it fell to the bottom and took so long to get it back I'm not going there again! I will definitely attempt customising it once I've finished though. Anyway, I digress. I think if I was going to keep a blogroll I would probably stick to Bloglines, I find it more accessible and straightforward. But interesting to see how many sites there are if you want to cover all bases.

del.icio.us

Set up a del.icio.us account and made a link from my blog. I use the internet for searching quite a lot but do tend to stick to a limited number of websites (I'm working on that), therefore not sure I would need a website such as del.icio.us. I can see huge benefit for school children and students however. My daughter uses our home computer, the uni computers and the public library computers for her study so this would be most advantageous. Will definitely recommend to her and any of our users in similar situation.

Web 2.0, Library 2.0 and the future of libraries

I'm afraid I was rather amazed by the reading on Web 2.0. I thought it was just an exercise in introducing us to some different sites and possibilities on the web - not a controversial worldwide philosophy. I don't really feel I have a grasp on quite what it means actually. I feel a bit overwhelmed by the amount of reading and anxious to carry on and finish! I can see that it has been an exercise in making us aware of the potential for interacitve use of the internet and its potential for library staff, empowering library users and reassessing the role of libraries in the future. I think I need a lot more time to think about all it could mean although of course we are already using a lot of collaborative technology. Here I will just state the obvious - that it is a very good thing that Library 2.0 aims to enable libraries and their users to be more proactive and for libraries to allow themselves to be more inclusive but I suppose the real challenge is in finding viable and practical ways for that to happen. I have no doubt that it will and that libraries will function very differently in the future, how much so will be interesting to see.