Still week 6 You tube

Thanks to Victoria for responding to previous questions.
Will now try to embed a video from You tube -in keeping with the venice theme of this blog (and also as the selected clip is very short, as i have very little download time available...da dah!!

Youtube + Google video

My home computer can't cope with all the recent usage and we are so busy at work that I haven't had time to add a new post on week 6 activities...
Watched intro video clip and explored www.youtube.com site.
Could see the possibilities of videoing oral histories ( as in the Olive Riley story) - great for Local Studies groups, genealogy/family histories...Also, the time-lapse clip depicting the construction of SLQLD was interesting.
I thought the virtual new staff orientation video with the director of PLCMC was a terrific concept, if there were heaps of staff or you couldn't meet the director in person.
This could be a different idea to have an optional library tour clip when patrons log on to the library computers.
Mosman library stands out for introducing new technologies to the public; You tube great for viewing author talks and other library activities on the catalogue site.
Will try to find a video to embed in this blog, but have to wait till download time is restored!

more wikis

Have now viewed the PB wiki tour (this narrator speaks so fast that I needed to pause the clip to catch the instructions!) Now know that an Invite key is a loggin.
Have added two comments to the NSW Learning 2.0 wiki. That was fun and I enjoyed reading the comments of the other contributors.

Just a question: I couldnt find a colour selector for changing the type colour when you add an entry to the wiki; couldn't find a settings button ...

Had a browse through the Possible next generation catalogs; was impressed with Aquabrowser at Queens Library for ebooks and emusic entries, also the State Library of Tasmania for ease of navigation - much more visually appealing than some of the American sites, for some reason.
I haven't been working with a group so haven't set up a work wiki yet; will look into this with an interested librarian...

I'm finding it very disconcerting to receive emails when I edit something on the wiki site. I can see that you candiscontinue the emails - are they to authenticate the poster?

week 5 - wikis

Would like to tackle the "adventure" section of week 4 but don't have time at the moment so will start on the wiki workout.
The opening descriptive videos on the topics are very useful; pitched for people like me who have no knowledge of these technologies. I now understand a wiki as a collaboratively-edited web page, better than email as they reach any number of people at the one time, not just those who you cc, sort of like a huge continuous conference call! They can be open to everyone, or closed to a specific group, similar to an interactive intranet site. I loved the Antioch University staff training wiki:
http://www.seedwiki.com/wiki/antioch_university_new_england_library_staff_training_and_support_wiki/
- would be so useful in our library where there are quite a few casuals working.
I also found the Booklovers wiki on the Princeton Public Library site really interesting; it enables patrons to input their thoughts and exchange ideas on the books they've read. I liked its links to the library catalogue, book discussion groups and databases on books and reading.
Our library has just launched a wonderful collection of Bookclub boxes containing 10 same-title books available for loan to bookclub groups. I can see that a "virtual bookclub" wiki site could be established quite simply for people who are physically unable to attend a group, maybe tapping into the ebook collection.
I found the full library success site fascinating - there's so much useful information that would take hours to explore. I liked the weeding the collection link and the library displays link. Will definitely return to this site when time permits...We have a very talented librarian who has produced some fabulous displays that should be shared on the library success wiki, if she agrees.
http://www.libsuccess.org/index.php?title=Main_Page
I had a look at the wookieepedia link but am not a Starwars follower - looks a good resource and fun interchange for Starwars nuts though. Then chose the Montana History link; it was visually unappealing. Tried the link to Montana newspapers, which was just a list of historical papers that couldnt be accessed and its PBwiki blog site which was uninspiring...Sorry for the comments. I think that if our library started up a wiki it would have to have a few catchy elements - or at least some colour!
The Wisconsin Heritage wiki
http://wiheritage.pbwiki.com/Explore+Other+Digital+Collections
Explore other digital collections link lead to heaps of historical material. Listened to an audio clip read by a 79 year old Sioux Indian in 1967 (Arthur the rat - DARE interview). Couldn't figure out how to access full text of articles... This is a great resource idea to have a Living Histories audio database connected with Local Studies section of the library.
Now for the practical part of the exercise...

NEWSFLASH!! Have just fixed the links on two photos that I couldn't connect to before; I may not have been logged in to Flickr when I copyed and pasted the links. When I logged in and tried again, the link connection worked. Simple really!

Week 4 RSS continued

PICT0356
Originally uploaded by julianbleach

A colourful Julian Bleach image of the SSO, blogged from Flickr
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ceasefire/275900720/

After searching lots of sites that I hoped would have the RSS option (and didn't), I finally found some that could be of interest, namely:

1. ABC: At the Movies
2. Choice magazine
3. Lonely Planet Travel Stories
4. New York Times Book Review
5. Powerhouse Museum Picture of the Day
6. SSO - Upcoming Events

I can see that theoretically, this technology could save much trawling through the net by delivering selected information to the viewer. This is good, especially for regularly required information such as, eg, regular weather reports, regular book reviews etc etc. But it could be a case of too much information if the searcher's needs are sporadic, eg only needing to find what's on at the Sydney Opera House in December 2008, rather that every week.
The application of the service using the Bloglines aggregator is easy, although I haven't tried the others that were suggested.
At one stage I was preparing a weekly display of "CD of the Week", for library patrons. The ABC and Triple J feeds could have been useful for receiving up to date reports of new releases, although having said that, Triple J appears to offer only RSS podcasts, rather than blog feeds.
Libraries can take advantage of RSS technology by providing useful feeds on their public catalogue site for patrons to access eg ABC news/current affairs, BBC & CNN links etc etc
I found library blogs on Mosman and Manly libraries' websites. Manly has set up 3 blogs; local studies, novel ideas and the whatever club for high school students...good idea!

week 4 RSS

Have been very busy this week so have only had a little time to spend on the Web2.0 project.I like the simplicity of the youtube RSS definition as a facility to receive preselected information from the internet to your computer via an RSS aggregator, rather than searching sites for possible info. Sort of like reeling in the line with a fish already hooked, rather than throwing the line into the ocean hoping to catch something...
Created an account with www.bloglines.com and checked some of the catagories that bloglines suggested; the Contemporary literature and ABC News:Travel seemed America-skewed and not so relevant to me so trashed those.
Have subscribed to Powerhouse Picture of the Day.

Link problem

Just when I thought I had it sorted, the link I attached to my St Marcs pic and the Venice Dream pic don't connect...if the curser is held over the hyperlink, there appaers an extra www.blogger.com/ in the link ???
Any suggestions greatly appreciated.

Venice dream

Venice dream
Originally uploaded by bekahpaige

A beautiful photo by bekah paige, blogged from Flickr.

I finally discovered that I have to LOG IN to Flickr, then the "blog this" option will appear if the image is public. Flickr HELP option was useful for this, as were the comments from week 3's exercises. Must have done this initially but I forgot next time!! I know my blog isn't very creative and the content runs like a stream of consciousness...but I'm definitely learning more.
Again, link to pic is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bekahpaige/1228786888/

WOW! I just discovered the LINK button - another new discovery, so all is good!
Now for week 4.

pre week 4

Before I start on the wk 4 exercises, I wanted to get the Flickr photo download sorted. Now having problems selecting a photo that has the "blog this" entitlement'. Tried the Venice image that I wanted to download yesterday and the "blog this" selection wasn't available...I'm sure i was able to do this before, and now can't find Venice images that have this option. So am not able to play around with the size of image I want to export. Can't fit this exercise into work schedule so will try again tomorrow night...I don't feel that i have made any progress from yesterday, although much progress to then.

st marcs bascilica

st marcs bascilica
Originally uploaded by alanina

This is not a quality image - just testing here. This is my photo that I uploaded to Flickr then blogged to my blog site. I managed to tag and caption it on the Flickr site, so am very pleased about that.
Its link follows but I haven't figured out if that is for the page or the photo...






http://www.flickr.com/photos/24496863@N07/2318864275/

Mel in Venice - room with a view

Have downloaded one of my photos, another Venice pic. Next I can see that I have to do some serious editing of the images ( or just go back and take some more!!). This is so addictive - week three trawling Flickr has been a really excellent learning experience.

Ok, so I went to view the last posting and found that the empty narrow horizontal bar at the top of the post was where the Flickr image should have been - maybe I should have reduced the image size or allowed more space for it...
If the space is clicked on, the image will appear. Suggestions please?
Signed, perplexed.

the Flickr experience

Have just created a Flickr account and uploaded ONE photo, due to previously mentioned lack of digital camera! Just had a couple of photos to use, including a pretty bad shot of St Marcs Bascilica, Venice. I thought I'd tagged the photo (St Marcs, Venice) accordoing to Flickr prompts, but when I looked through Flickr's tags, there's none for St Marcs, and when I view my Flickr account, my photo is there but it has no tag...When I eventually GET a camera I'll have more shots to choose from and will experiment with the tagging thing.
In keeping with the Venice theme, I looked at heaps of beautiful images and chose one from the Geotagged photos by bekah paige; it's of gondolas (what else!) interestingly captured in a little calle outside a snazzy hotel. My daughter and I took shots (which she has) of the same stunning location, so it's a good memory. I clicked "blog this" and registered my blog site with Flickr but don't know how to access the photo. The link is:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/bekahpaige/1228786888/in/photostream/
although it's not hyperlinking...
This is all sooo engrossing but I have to go out now...

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

week 3 cont'd

How Cool! I really appreciated receiving a comment on my last post!
Just wonder how the time stamp on the postings works ...
I read the Library of Congress article by Matt Raymond re exposing >3000 non-copyright photos onto the Flickr site to get public tags and comments. A lateral and inclusive approach to archiving material, to open up the collection and interact with the global community; an ingenious and simple idea made possible by clever technology concepts. Blogger Gary Price from Nat. Lib. Aust. responds that the Lib. of Congress has been beaten by Picture Australia project which offers a Flickr section. I got caught up here looking at many amazing shots, from fireworks to the Sydney Opera House...
Am now reading about Creative Commons; I found the tutorial link a bit difficult to get my head around but the Wikipedia definition easier to comprehend. I now get the general idea that the traditional copyright restrictions on creative works are now negotiable, with Creative Commons being one orgnization that facilitates the accessibility and use of creative material. The Fedora Commons link was amazing... when I have a spare 3 hours i'd love to investigate the whole site.
My next 2.0 adventure will be sending photos to Flickr, but that will have to be tomorrow.

week 3 - a little late...

So much to learn! I now get the concept of photo sharing and tagging of images. I am one of the few people in the world who doesn't own a digital camera (yet) so have to borrow one to get max benefit from this exercise.
Looked up Flickr search of Mosman Library, as per suggestion; lots of events photos such as would be included on library catalogue events tag. However, by also photo sharing on Flickr or similar provider, interested searchers can qeasily find heaps of relevant and related material.
Observation: once you start you just can't stop! One link leads to so many other avenues...I love National Library's Music Australia and Picture Australia, esp. how "picture trails" will custom-create a topic into a trail. And the usefulness of images that can be downloaded for private use - excellent for kids wanting images for school projects and a great alternative to the ubiquitous Google images.
Good library holiday programme idea: photo competition/workshop for teens as in Lansing Illinois Pub. Lib.
More later, am going to feed the cat...

glitches

testing again

crisis averted

Oops! was putting in wrong URL... I have rediscovered myself...

help!

Am a bit confused as to how to access blog site...entered what I thought was my blog address and it couldn't be found. Am looking forward to being listed on the postings site for week two...
more later

new to this!

This is like jumping off the edge! I haven't had any blogging experience so am looking forward to exploring this new (to me) communication tool. Am two weeks late starting the program and setting up the blog site; I'm finding it's taking much longer than the suggested 15 mins per day to work through all the information on the Web 2.0 program...but it's so interesting! I hope to feel much more confident, and dare I say, knowledgeable, on blog "functionality" by the end of the course.The preview clip, Blogs in Plain English, was useful, as were the links to the libraries that have incorporated blogging in their websites. I particularly liked the idea of the librarian who was enabling young adults interested in the Dungeons and Dragons game to link up via the web, as well as through game sessions at the library.
My Lifelong Learning flame has just been re-ignited. We see the benefits of continuous learning programs, computer pals groups, book clubs etc in our library visitors. Hope I can keep up!
more later...