Week 12 Social Networking

So the end is here, after 12 weeks (has it really been that long?) we have finally reached the end of the road....and what a road it has been!

Social networking? We do it all the time and probably don't even realise that we are doing it. I will admit that I hadn't gone as far as thinking about something like that specifically for our library, but it has so much potential! However you come up against the "you can't do that" or "you can't have access to that" problems.

But social networking goes even further than Blogs (I've found Live Journal is a really great way to netword, adding friends is so easy) and messaging. A lot of online games also have a social networking aspect to them as well. Free games like Runescape (you create a character and fight monsters, other players and complete quests, lots of fun!) to sites like Pogo (has things from card games to casino, but it is a pay site) and even WoW (World of Warcraft) all have and rely on a social aspect where people meet, greet and interact.

As for social networking in the Library, it has so much potential. You could get groups of people together who are interested in similar things, eg family history, kids clubs, mystery readers.

Broken Hill City Library has it's own website, which I try to keep up to date, but as with every website it has it's limits. You can't talk to like minded people, it's kind of isolating but it does have most of the information that you need, including what's happening.

So where does this leave libraries? I have always thought that the internet is a great resource for those who know how to use it, and for those who are willing to learn. I do believe it is under used in some situations and abused in others. But it is the way that the world is going. People like the speed with witch it works (most of the time) and with the way things are developing the internet has a great future and is going to be a great way to bring people together. I know using the internet and social networking has broadened my own horizons and circle of friends and allowed me to do things that just wouldn't have been possible in the past. We just have to be able to keep up, or at least not to far behind, and see where the ride will take us!

So here's to all who have completed the Learning 2.0 program, and I hope that everyone got as much out of it as I did. I know I've already employed some of the things that I've learned about in my daily work at our library and I intend to continue to share this knowledge.

Have fun and keep surfing people!

Week 11 Online Docs

So we are just one week away from the end of the course and what fun it has been!

This week we looked at online docs. I've been using Zoho for a while now and have shown it to a lot of people who have been coming through our library (our Word Processor has up and died and our Net Pc's don't have word on them....lots of problems) and I've always been impressed with what it can do. So I was interested to see what Google Doc's was like. I must say I was a little disappointed. Google Doc's looks good on the outside, but when you look closer you're probably better off using notepad. But having said that it is still a good alternative to Office and other programs that you have to have installed on your comp. Google Doc's has the basics for what most people need/want to do, and I will admit that it is very easy to find and start new documents with Google Doc. Zoho can be a little more difficult if your not sure where to look.

I have read a couple of blogs where people are saying that yes online docs are ok but they much prefer to use the programs that are on their computers. While I love having the programs loaded onto my computer, (and I will admit that my home computers have all the programs that I want on them) I tend to use a lot of different computers while I am at work. Sometimes I find it easier and faster to use Zoho for ease of use and time.

As with everything there are fors and againsts for them. Personally I've been using Zoho for a while now, and will continue to do so because of the ease of use and availability (ok so I have a laptop at home, and hey they tend to be small on space!). I'll also probably tell more people about Google Docs (well the ones who want a super basic WP tool).

As for other uses in the library...well I've already set up a Zoho account for our library staff to use, now it's just a matter of getting people to use it instead of fighting over the comps with Office on them!

D'oh! I did it again.....forgot those pesky little tags at them

Mashups Week 10 Final

Well I've had a little play here and there with mashups. But as far as using them in the library? Well probably not unless I'm desperate for an advertising idea. Most of the mashups I could find were about pic and photos and while that is fun it's not really anything you can't do with the right program on your comp. But having said that I'm glad that I did this week because at least now when someone comes in asking about a mashup or something that will do this type of thing I can now answer them. And trust me they will ask!

So now I'm off to do week 11 and wow has this course been fun and it's gone way to quickly. All going well I should be finished by early next week :o(