Online Videos

We could use Online Video across the library service in a variety of ways. They would be great if we could do Book Reviews on video - great for Book Clubs and Literacy Groups. Because of amalgamation and having several more branches videos could be used for staff training and filling staff in on certain procedures. We could do a video on how we became to be Public Library of the year and what we have done since amalgamation to make the transition as easy as possible for the community and staff.

1. Sesame Street: Cookie Monster In The Library 2 min 54 sec - 6 Aug 2008 www.youtube.com	Mr Bean - Library 9 min - 28 Dec 2006 www.youtube.com
   Tour The Library 2 min 40 sec - 13 Dec 2007 www.youtube.com	YouTube - No Cookies in the Library - Classic ... 2 min 47 sec - 25 Jun 2006 www.youtube.com
   YouTube - Library Limbo 2 min 54 sec - 30 Jul 2006 www.youtube.com	YouTube - Rock 'n' Roll Library 4 min 51 sec - 31 Mar 2006 www.youtube.com
   Library Dominoes 22 sec - 15 Mar 2006 www.youtube.com	YouTube - Interval Library 2 min 33 sec - 27 Jun 2006 www.youtube.com
   Building Academic Library 2.0 71 min - 19 Nov 2007 www.youtube.com	YouTube - Library detective Mr. Bookman Seinfeld 2 min 37 sec - 24 Nov 2007 www.youtube.com

Had fun looking up all the recommended sites - weren't those dust storms we had amazing. Never seen so many dirty cars. Thought these videos were great and thought I would share them.

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Google, Google and Some More Google

Wow - once again I am gobsmacked by all that Google has to offer - I have used Google Translate before and am amazed to learn that it can translate the whole web page. We have used it to translate a few words and phrases for patron so this feature will come in handy. We could use this feature in the library for backpackers, tourists from overseas and other library users from overseas. It is often hard to communicate there needs so this could be a great help. Google Books are a great idea and when I went into to have a look around it was very user friendly. It would be great for Book Clubs to pick books and be able to view the first pages which they may enjoy reading and for children to begin reading. Google Calendar is also well used at work and play because of it ease of use and we can use it at work to see what everyone is up too and any changes could be made. We could put upcoming events and when and where staff are expected to attend training. We can have the calendar displayed in daily, weekly or monthly timeslots. Google Maps allow us the view directions and location of business. We often get patrons coming in looking for certain business and places and we can print off details because we do not keep street directories anymore or many telephone books. Widely used throughout the library service. Travellers and backpackers often ask for directions and want to know how far tourist attractions are in our local region. Know we can help them with information at the click of a button or two. Personal maps could be used to show locations of book clubs in our regions and dates meetings are held or planning a trip away from the everyday.

Cheers for now - Another late night exploring

Web Browsers

It was interesting to see the film clip comparing 4 of the web browsers - it is amazing that Internet Explorer comes out last in the test although it is the one we use most often - including both home and work. I downloaded Firefox which I found really great and it seems to be the clear winner in Speed, Security, Customization features and Killer Features. I liked the features of Firefox which included Private Browsing, Saving Tabs, able to view web pages faster, One Click Bookmarking and Instant Web Site ID.
On looking at the different web browsers they all how they own wow factors but I think I will be sticking to Firefox at home and guess the council won't be changing Internet Explorer any time soon. I found Google Chrome to be fairly user friendly (which I need) and will study that a bit further because they seem to be getting up there with the others. It was great to have a look at different Web Browsers because we do get bogged down with what we know and don't really get out there and look at something that may be bigger and better.

Podcasts

I am the last member of my family to get into podcasting - the kids have been using podcasting for what seems like forever and I can see why - so easy and so much stuff out there. So great that as long as you can get to a computer, mp3 or mobile the world of podcasting is there for you.

Podcasting could be widely used in Library land for housebound patrons and for author talks and for various training sessions. Could be used for foreign language patrons who can't access as many items as they may like. The childrens section was great that I ventured into and could be tapped into through the library computers. I loved the mediation section. We could offer training at the library to introduce our patrons to the wealth of information available to them. Oh if only we didn't have to earn money - computer land has so much to offer.

The ABC and SBS sites have a great section of podcasts and have looked at the Triple J podcast page which offer to send a selection of music every week - can't get much better than that. I have only skimmed the surface - have sites bookmarked for when I have a spare moment. We went to the Powerhouse Museum in Sydney recently so that was great to look at. Learn Out Loud Podcasts would a great site to really explore - so much information there - would be great to learn a language and download for the long car drive to work. It was great to look at The State Government of Victoria site - lots of information there and will show to other staff to see if we can use any for our service

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/podcasts/events/llewellyn_dressmakers

http://www.slv.vic.gov.au/about/site/feeds/

MashUps

The video made Mashups easy to understand because I hadn't heard much about them or seen them used. I like the concept of bringing applications together and I did find some of them a great way to make a web page more appealing - some people must have a huge amount of spare time to do all this stuff! The New York Public library mashup was a great concept because it compared then and now and the changes over the years. That would be a great project for our region as we would have some great snaps around.

Suburbview was a well set up site and so easy to use - great if you were moving to a new area and wanted to do a report on the area for buying or renting a property and to see how the market was going.

Went to the mashup up awards but I didn't love it - sooo many of them refered to Twitter.
Then went to google and tried to find some Mashups with Australian content - found the ABC had a great selection of political video satire and oh what fun!!! A few I enjoyed were
The Australia Day Hypocrite - Creator: Yakovich
Women in Politics - Creator: Staa
Books Books Books - Melbourne Writers Festival - Creator: Cyrius01
Well worth a look at.

Cheers for now

Totally Random Survey and Other Useful Information

Hi have just been in Google Docs and went through heaps of Templates -wow you don't have to do much hard work any more do you - great for the time poor.

I have hopefully forwardede a Totally Random Survey for you and also and also a request for some ideas for our upcoming Spring Holiday activites

Cheers

Welcome back for the next round of learning - I have been working my way through the different units while trying to work out how to get back on to the blogging site - apparently I should have used it more - but alas all is now well and I have lots of blogging to do to show off any new found talents!!

Love working with Google Docs - find it is a great way of sharing ideas so everyone can be on the one page when you can finally get together face to face. The planning stages can be done without all the normal run around so when everyone meets the groundwork is already done. It is great with amalgamation with such a lot of branches and not enough hours for all that needs doing. It keeps everyone in the loop. Found Zoho great as well and will spend more time exploring there. Was great to be able to use the google login - saved remembering another password.

Survey monkey would be a useful tool for creating surveys for different training purposes.

It is great that the online apps are mainly free and most can be accessed from any computer, anywhere. Web Conferencing would be great if you were unable to attend - went to a meeting recently where a staff member was unable to attend a conference because of illness but was able to tap into all that was going on from the comfort of her sick bed.

Zamzar will be a favourite for all staff at our branch when I research it more - we have almost daily a problem with a document presented itself in the wrong format ( both staff and patron) and how clever will we feel to be able to change them and so easily -- I hope!!!

Anyway enough for now and onward we go

Cheers