RSS Could there be a more positive side to this application?

I came across a Library in the ACT, the New Gungahlin Library, using a 'Gadget' on their home page that led me to believe it allowed you to specifically target what you want in your feed. Or at least narrow it down to a Blog or eNewsletter. I've been complaining about there not been anything like this for ages. Maybe Australia is setting the pace? It is the first website Ive seen using anything like it! But alas no...just a gadget lookalike. In fact when you click on either one of them it is a link to 'Libraries ACT Blog' and their eNewsletter subscription page. Got my hopes up for nothing!

You never know, one day in the near future you may even be able to narrow it further by subject category. To begin with maybe not too specific...

Web 2.0, Digital Conservation, Book Binding, Book Restoration. 

Or if you really wanted to dream... 
Digital Conservation of 1912 photographs, Book Binding in the 19th Century or repairing torn pages.

Having my curiosity peaked I did some research on Blogger and they don't have anything new that is remotely like it.  Although they are experimenting with some new features, that we are able to take part in. 

Seems Blogger is having one of it's 'glitches' on me! Rotten thing is putting line spacing in where ever it feels like today as well showing Confessions of a Curator having her last post three years ago! Where in fact it was only two days ago. Nothing I do will change either problem - I've tried for hours!

YouTube

The question posed is... How can Libraries use this extremely popular piece of the 21st Century? I imagine there are many ways possible and all relevant in their own unique way.

For me, when I think YouTube I think...MUSIC, MUSIC, MUSIC

...ooo... do I feel a song coming on?

On a more serious note, I came across these videos from a blog I follow. I just loved them. This is how Confessions of a Curator is using YouTube as a teaching tool for Web 2.0. It comes from the Folger Shakespeare Library who have their own YouTube Channel. How invaluable is this for information sharing amongst Conservationists, Book binders, for all manner of  restoration and the like across the world? I feel it could be utilised by a great deal more, if only there was time, money and inclination.

This video on Social Media Revolution in 2011 is great. The figures and information it presents is rather confronting if your not up with the latest. A useful tool for it's 'shock' value, that could be used in Libraries to promote the use of these new and rapidly emerging technologies; that are here to stay.

It is not the world as we know it. And all generations are embracing technology in one way or another. Whether they like it, will admit it or realise it or not.

From a popular Australian (yes I have finally found one) University Lecturer and avid blogger Hey Jude we can see her many examples of YouTube video's in her blog; which both enhance and complement the subject she is writing about.

In all I found 'YouTube', this weeks adventure into Web 2.0 well worth it. It's like Google to my mind. Anything and everything can be found here. Used as a teaching tool for Library staff, everyone including the 'readers' would benefit in so many ways. Think outside the square - there are so many different types of Library and employment skills needed in ALL aspects of this industry. It's not just about lending a book or knowing your way around a computer.

In the more financial lending libraries and especially if you have a clever arty type to make some videos, it would be a good way of enticing the 'Digital Natives' to physically come in, visit you and grab a book.    Did I just say that? Am I dreaming? It is a nice thought though.

Now when I think YouTube, I think...

INFORMATION SHARING, INFORMATION SHARING, INFORMATION SHARING...  No, no song there.

Here's a bit of a ggle for you  

When there is more time and energy in my days I'll get around to editing it on YouTube. It looks like a fun thing to do.

Wiki Update

Soo...

Came across this blog from the States which I am following...it's really quite educational and you can glean for what your interested in. Came across a load of information on using Wiki's in a Library. Easy to read and take it in. Mind you as with lot's of the Wikis I found previously this dated 2006. Must have been about the time Wikis  were the new emerging Web 2.0 tool.

At work this week I 'overheard' a conversation that suggested a Wiki could be used to gather information from a particular group of people and also follow on with clear instructions on how to partake in an upcoming event. Maybe if it goes ahead a video could also be done for instruction and imbedded here?

Just thinking out load. Not saying I have changed my mind or have been sold on them, but I now have my eye's opened here and may just come around...

Wikis

Wikis Wikis Wikis Wikis......

Well to be brutally honest the jury is still out here. Apart from 'Wikipedia' I never knew there were personal or professional applications available. Yup; another learning curve today.

However the imagination and logic needed to apply this within the 'Library or Information' industry is on holiday. I 'spose there is some good arguments in the 'for' side but in my case unless I'm out there using it day by day it just doesn't grab me. Think that would be the only way I could be bought around. A full day Personal Development session by a service hooked on it, done the studies and with a viable network to other users would be well worth my while. Not that I want someone to SELL it to me, I just don't, well I just don't...Someone to open my eye's is possibly what I'm getting at. Then I could objectively give an opinion.

Many many hours have been spent searching for these little lovelies. Not easily found. Maybe I should say not a lot up to date, very interesting - to my mind or within my criteria. I certainly didn't start with the 'criteria', very broad searching is what I began with.Some of the methods I used were Wikipedia, Google, Google Blog, Technorati ( I know stabs in the dark) and recommended class links (which I really didn't want to utilise finding my own was far more important to me), as well as looking at home pages to some blogs I follow.

Nothing catching me for inspiration to write about here. A couple of Wikis that looked like a good idea, had a lot of work on them and then not utilised to their fullest are Library Goddess and Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki both dated 2006. Giving me the impression Wikis have been a flash in the pan. A large amount of time and effort sadly wasted.

At the National Library of Australia my Wiki search came up with the definition of one and the State Library of New South Wales takes me to a blog but still nothing within my criteria...and more and more I find are all done in the last decade! I heard UTAS uses them but all I could find was how to cite them.

I even tried searching for Rare Books. Now that was interesting, all of my hits came up with blogs relating to GAMES with the words rare and books and how to play the game.

Can you feel me getting rather 'frustrated'??? Time to have a break and check out what fellow class mates have come up with. Am I soo glad I did this! I found something that piqued my curiosity.

  

ULCAT Wiki published by the University of Limerick contained a good variety of 'Useful Websites for Cataloguers'. This includes information such as: 'about' the University, Tools, LC Authorities to Miscellaneous and Library Wikis. 

Up to date and still keeping me interested I decide to check out the Dictionary section. The German one to be precise, have a daughter who has just come back from an exchange and wondered if it would help. It wasn’t quite what I expected – more like a magazine on line and then into the Miscellaneous section at….yes you guessed it ‘Bookbinding and the conservation of books’.

SMILING  SMILING  SMILING  SMILING  
 Do you see me smiling?

Finally something within my criteria! YAY!!!

I had to suffer pop up window of ads first on my way to a new place called Etherington and Roberts  tried it twice but not too sure if it is a website, blog or wiki – not loading correctly- grrr…computers. So I hit a link ‘color plates’ and get a wonderful page of photographs!                                                            Oh just yumm      Just beautiful.                   

There is also 'A Dictionary of Descriptive Terminology'  Still not sure what I’ve linked into – looks the same – not loaded correctly or just baaaad web design????   Obviously ‘baaaad web design’ is what it is; as I have come from something called ‘Useful websites for cataloguers’.  Not sure if this is too useful for them as I couldn’t find anything ‘catalogue’ related on the surface. On further study skimming through the Preface. I find it could be worthwhile for them. ‘Cool’ are the people responsible and I quote…                         

“…an online resource operated by the Foundation of the American Institute for Conservation is a full text library of conservation information, covering a wide spectrum of topics of interest to those involved with the conservation of library, archives and museum materials. It is a growing online resource for conservators, collection care specialists, and other conservation professionals…”   

  

Not a ‘Wiki’ but it came from a 'Wiki' and again we come across something non Australian….but it fits my ‘criteria topic!’

In the end I came to the conclusion 'networking' in industry was the only way I was going to come up with anything worthwhile.

Glucksman Library, University of Limerick, Ireland. (2011). UL Cataloguer's Desktop. Available: http://ulcat.wikia.com/wiki/ULCat . Last accessed 24 Jul 2011

Etherington & Roberts. (2011). Bookbinding and conservation of books. Available: http://cool.conservation-us.org/. Last accessed 24 Jul 2011

Thanks also to Danielle's Library Blog