Well it has been an interesting journey and not always a fun one. To be honest some of the stuff I really disliked like the RSS feeds. That was a right pain. The image generators while fun I was thinking " so what's the point" if someone wants to fiddle with that rubbish they can do it themselves.
I did learn and retain some things like uploading photos and creating hyperlinks in my blogs. I thought the program was quite long 23 things is a lot to do and accomplish by a deadline when you have other pesky things to do as well like serving customers and putting books away etc.
There was also the frustration of having to try and get a computer in the Learn.net to actually do a lot of the lessons as the bits and pieces we needed were actually blocked on staff terminals.
However I carried on plugging away and finally I have reached the end and I am so pleased. Yay this is the last of dazed and confused kiwi. I am finished.
Monday, September 8, 2008
E Books
Well Project Gutenberg seems to be well set out and easily searchable but I wasn't a big fan of it.
I like the way there are at least 50 books available in most foreign languages. 50 is better than none.
There don't seem to be many if any at all contemporary best selling authors. A lot of what is available would be termed as proper literature by literary snobs who don't neccessarily approve of best selling literature like Catherine Coulter or Nora Roberts as an example.
I din't find anything that I wanted to download mainly because I couldn't really find authors that I like enough to listen to. If I am going to listen to an e-book I want a story that will keep me entertained but not give me a headache hence an author like Nora Roberts or J D Robb etc.
Great idea but broaden the genres and availability if copyright doesn't prevent them from doing so and then I may find one I like.
I like the way there are at least 50 books available in most foreign languages. 50 is better than none.
There don't seem to be many if any at all contemporary best selling authors. A lot of what is available would be termed as proper literature by literary snobs who don't neccessarily approve of best selling literature like Catherine Coulter or Nora Roberts as an example.
I din't find anything that I wanted to download mainly because I couldn't really find authors that I like enough to listen to. If I am going to listen to an e-book I want a story that will keep me entertained but not give me a headache hence an author like Nora Roberts or J D Robb etc.
Great idea but broaden the genres and availability if copyright doesn't prevent them from doing so and then I may find one I like.
Podcasts
Well I looked at both suggested Podcast directories. Both were pretty pathetic but given the choice Podcastalley was a bit better.
I subscribed to two podcasts one on Ice Hockey (NHL) and one on Major League Baseball.
Very quick and easy to add to Bloglines but was a bt slow on the baseball as two of the sites that interested me were blocked.
I think from my own experience Itunes has a much better selection of Podcasts available to choose from if that is your thing and they are all free to subscribe to.. Yes you need the itunes software but that is free to download from the net anyway. So go Itunes
I subscribed to two podcasts one on Ice Hockey (NHL) and one on Major League Baseball.
Very quick and easy to add to Bloglines but was a bt slow on the baseball as two of the sites that interested me were blocked.
I think from my own experience Itunes has a much better selection of Podcasts available to choose from if that is your thing and they are all free to subscribe to.. Yes you need the itunes software but that is free to download from the net anyway. So go Itunes
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Youtube
I love Youtube and it's a great way to spend your lunchbreak if you can get on a terminal in the Learn.net
I looked up my favourite group The Ten Tenors and was spoilt for choice. I decided on one of my favourites which was The Boxer. Again it was frustrating trying to link this as we can't right click to copy and paste which of course is how most of us were taught.
However Youtube was very easy to get around and all I did was to put The Ten Tenors in the search box and I got a whole list of choices. The quality of the video in most cases isn't bad. Some aren't clear as but really they aren't too bad. Sometimes sound is an issue but as I said I love Youtube. They even have heaps of vids by one of my favourite male singers Mario Frangoulis.
You could always post Library events on Youtube and there may even be people crazy enough to watch them.
I looked up my favourite group The Ten Tenors and was spoilt for choice. I decided on one of my favourites which was The Boxer. Again it was frustrating trying to link this as we can't right click to copy and paste which of course is how most of us were taught.
However Youtube was very easy to get around and all I did was to put The Ten Tenors in the search box and I got a whole list of choices. The quality of the video in most cases isn't bad. Some aren't clear as but really they aren't too bad. Sometimes sound is an issue but as I said I love Youtube. They even have heaps of vids by one of my favourite male singers Mario Frangoulis.
You could always post Library events on Youtube and there may even be people crazy enough to watch them.
Sunday, August 24, 2008
Web 2.0 tools
Well this week I had to look at Web 2.0 tools and see whether any of them were any good or for that matter had any practical applications within a Library framework.
There was a lot of choice to look at and I chose to look at the music tools.
The one I liked a lot was the site that won for music which was Last. FM. At first appearance it looked like it only covered alternative type music but I found appearances were deceiving. I entered a variety of artists from many different genres and found that they were listed.
There could be good revenue making opportunities for Libraries if they were to promote sites like this. People would consider paying to use our computers to listen to the music they like especially if they don't have a computer of their own at home.
Perhaps libraries could even take it one step further and work on finding a way that people could access legal music subcription services through the Library and get the music they want rather than just listening online.
There was a lot of choice to look at and I chose to look at the music tools.
The one I liked a lot was the site that won for music which was Last. FM. At first appearance it looked like it only covered alternative type music but I found appearances were deceiving. I entered a variety of artists from many different genres and found that they were listed.
There could be good revenue making opportunities for Libraries if they were to promote sites like this. People would consider paying to use our computers to listen to the music they like especially if they don't have a computer of their own at home.
Perhaps libraries could even take it one step further and work on finding a way that people could access legal music subcription services through the Library and get the music they want rather than just listening online.
Zoho Writer
Well it was simple enough to join up to use it. Zoho Writer seems to be well set out and easy to use but I did have connection issues.
I got a lot of messages that Internet Explorer had encountered a problem and needed to close. This was very frustrating when you were trying to get something done in not a lot of time.
I think that Zoho Writer had some good practical uses but still a bit of a hassle. If you want to type a document why not just use word? Google Docs is okay too but these applications are only useful if you want other people to see your stuff or you don't have a computer and therefore need the functionality of Public storage space like Google Docs or Zoho.
Quite useful and some good ideas behind what you can do in Zoho but personally not my thing. For others however it may be the answer to all their needs.
I got a lot of messages that Internet Explorer had encountered a problem and needed to close. This was very frustrating when you were trying to get something done in not a lot of time.
I think that Zoho Writer had some good practical uses but still a bit of a hassle. If you want to type a document why not just use word? Google Docs is okay too but these applications are only useful if you want other people to see your stuff or you don't have a computer and therefore need the functionality of Public storage space like Google Docs or Zoho.
Quite useful and some good ideas behind what you can do in Zoho but personally not my thing. For others however it may be the answer to all their needs.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Thing 17
Well being stubborn I chose to send a friend request to Catatonia's Bebo Page. However when Catatonia and I tried the hyperlink on our express terminals it didn't work because right click has been disabled but she assures me I have the correct link.
When I went on to Myspace nearly every search I tried was blocked by Webmarshall for inapropriate content when I was looking up absolutely harmless music that I like which is by no means inapropriate in any way. However I found a picture of a singer I like who is a New Zealander and formed the group Amici. Geoff has now gone solo and his first album is very good he has a great voice
If people have to search Myspace for this exercise then I suggest our Library techs take a look at relaxing some of the blocks on this site.
Well next I went to Facebook and found my buddy Catatonia so have added her as a friend not that I intend to use my Facebook profile I had to create just to complete this exercise. In adding her as a friend it sends a request to her to add me thus doing what you are supposed to get through this drama.
I went on to Hennepin County Library site on Facebook and it's not too bad. It gives you relevant information like their URL for their web page. You get contact details for where they are. Most important of all I like that you can search their catalogue from Facebook which is a really good and useful service.
Well that's enough Social Networking for me I now have to go and update our Olympic Games Displays and medal table. Go the Kiwis
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
Library Thing
Since the ghosts that haunt Manurewa Library have managed to delete my Library thing post which Catatonia helped so nicely with I have to do it again.. I liked Library thing and I didn't forget to do this blog not when you have Catatonia guiding your every move.
I enjoyed LibraryThing and found that it would have a multitude of uses for libraries even just down to checking what and author has written in terms of titles. If you were lucky enough to read my original blog on this subject it was probably a whole lot more interesting. Never is when you have to re-create it
The challenge for me was to remember what my username and password were as now being hugely further on that this I haven't used library thing for well at least a month now. I'm lucky if I can remember yesterday.
Well on to see if any more of mine have vanished into the same black hole
I enjoyed LibraryThing and found that it would have a multitude of uses for libraries even just down to checking what and author has written in terms of titles. If you were lucky enough to read my original blog on this subject it was probably a whole lot more interesting. Never is when you have to re-create it
The challenge for me was to remember what my username and password were as now being hugely further on that this I haven't used library thing for well at least a month now. I'm lucky if I can remember yesterday.
Well on to see if any more of mine have vanished into the same black hole
In the words of my neighbours 4 year old - oopsie
Or hey if you prefer Britney Spears oops I did it again. Well not again first time in awhile for being forgetful. I forgot to blog lesson 5 Newsfeeds and blogs so better late than never.
All the suggested ones to look at are all useful but in reality if I want news why not just check Yahoo or Google or Reuters etc if something catches your attention that you want to know about.
Personally I probably liked Topix the best. But like I say all easy to use and find your way through. But I don't have time to look at a ton of news feeds and a lot wouldn't always be relevant or of interest even if you subscribed to what you thought would be most interesting to you.
When I want news I go online looking for that one thing of particular interest or have a quick look at yahoo and yahoo.com.au whenever I log on at home so while interesting newsfeeds etc aren't for me.
All the suggested ones to look at are all useful but in reality if I want news why not just check Yahoo or Google or Reuters etc if something catches your attention that you want to know about.
Personally I probably liked Topix the best. But like I say all easy to use and find your way through. But I don't have time to look at a ton of news feeds and a lot wouldn't always be relevant or of interest even if you subscribed to what you thought would be most interesting to you.
When I want news I go online looking for that one thing of particular interest or have a quick look at yahoo and yahoo.com.au whenever I log on at home so while interesting newsfeeds etc aren't for me.
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Library and Web 2.0
It's really hard to read sometimes when you are sitting in a room full of noisy, chatty women but I did my best. I read Into a new world of Librarianship and To better bibliographic services.
I like the concepts discussed in the first one which included what a user-centered library does and how the library involves the users in projects and plans that it makes. There was also talk in the first one I read about how the web could enhance Library services. This is a great concept but in our haste to keep up with Technology we can't forget our customers who are not au fait with it.
To better bibliographic services focused a lot on technology and using it to enchance bibliographic services which I think is a cool concept and it would allow you to think outside the square. You could even allow customers to contribute their reading views via a wiki. The idea of keeping up with technology and using it to enhance services to your users is great but technology costs money and you would have to convince the people who hold the purse strings of the validity of putting the money towards technology projects for the benefit of Library users.
I like the concepts discussed in the first one which included what a user-centered library does and how the library involves the users in projects and plans that it makes. There was also talk in the first one I read about how the web could enhance Library services. This is a great concept but in our haste to keep up with Technology we can't forget our customers who are not au fait with it.
To better bibliographic services focused a lot on technology and using it to enchance bibliographic services which I think is a cool concept and it would allow you to think outside the square. You could even allow customers to contribute their reading views via a wiki. The idea of keeping up with technology and using it to enhance services to your users is great but technology costs money and you would have to convince the people who hold the purse strings of the validity of putting the money towards technology projects for the benefit of Library users.
Technorati
Well when I entered Learning 2.0 as a search I got 10,303 results. The most interesting titled one I found was "Malfunctioning Bladder could alter your Brain". Popular ones on Technorati cover a huge variety of topics.
I have to say Boing Boing was one of the more interesting popular blogs with a very interesting collection of tags that related to it.
All in all it wasn't of any use to me and I can't of the top of my head thing of any practical applications for it except maybe to drive staff mad.
Glad to be rid of that exercise.
I have to say Boing Boing was one of the more interesting popular blogs with a very interesting collection of tags that related to it.
All in all it wasn't of any use to me and I can't of the top of my head thing of any practical applications for it except maybe to drive staff mad.
Glad to be rid of that exercise.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Del.icio.us - maybe, maybe not
Del.icio.us was interesting. It did give me some useful links. Like under the recent posts you could go to Classic TV quotes which was quite hard case. The quotes one was well organised and you could go by show.
The other one that interested me was Abandoned Buildings, Towns and Cities WebUrbanist
However as interesting as I found this I can't at this point think of any useful applications for it.
If you have untold time to surf and explore this is probably an extremely cool site to muck around in.
It's kind of like going through Bebo or Facebook but for bookmarks rather than personal stuff that you would find on the two mentioned social networking sites.
Personally if I find a good site of use to me I prefer to bookmark them for myself if someone else is interested they can ask and I would share the address and let them bookmark it themself.
So while Del.icio.us was interesting it's not really of a lot of use to me.
The other one that interested me was Abandoned Buildings, Towns and Cities WebUrbanist
However as interesting as I found this I can't at this point think of any useful applications for it.
If you have untold time to surf and explore this is probably an extremely cool site to muck around in.
It's kind of like going through Bebo or Facebook but for bookmarks rather than personal stuff that you would find on the two mentioned social networking sites.
Personally if I find a good site of use to me I prefer to bookmark them for myself if someone else is interested they can ask and I would share the address and let them bookmark it themself.
So while Del.icio.us was interesting it's not really of a lot of use to me.
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Sandbox Wiki
As a kid I used to love playing in my sandpit. It wasn't quite like this one but hey the world has moved on. The sandbox wiki was fun and easy to use and I had great fun trying to decide which favourites thing I was going to add to or whether I wanted to create a new favourites thingy.
Decisions decisions decisions well in the end I decided to move the music one along a bit and added to that. So far the only ones who pretty much have any favourite music is me and Catatonia.
My blog is now in the favourite blogs list in there not that mine is in any way, shape or form actually worth reading but hey they say one man's trash is another man's treasure so you never know someone might actually want to read my ramblings and heaven forbid they may even enjoy them.
Decisions decisions decisions well in the end I decided to move the music one along a bit and added to that. So far the only ones who pretty much have any favourite music is me and Catatonia.
My blog is now in the favourite blogs list in there not that mine is in any way, shape or form actually worth reading but hey they say one man's trash is another man's treasure so you never know someone might actually want to read my ramblings and heaven forbid they may even enjoy them.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Wiki Wiki everywhere
Wikis are the subject of my ramblings for this post.
As an avid user of Wikipedia I was interested to look at this exercise. There seems to be no end of use in terms of application of Wikis in Libraries.
They can and are used for very dry subjects such as Project management and strategic stuff but also for more fun practical things such as book reviews.
Princeton Library applied the book review scenario to their Wiki but I found that it seemed to cover more fiction stuff and not enough good non fiction stuff.
It would be a great concept to create a Wiki fo staff and customers to use to post reviews etc about books even possibly linking it to the Library catalogue.
This would be a great aid in helping people to choose books.
Libraries could perhaps apply the Wiki process to major projects such as rennovations so that customers can not only see what the concept for the finished rennovation is but they could perhaps get on and contribute positive or negative feedback on the rennovations once done.
Well that's pretty much enough waffling for now but Wikis could be a good practical tool for Libraries.
As an avid user of Wikipedia I was interested to look at this exercise. There seems to be no end of use in terms of application of Wikis in Libraries.
They can and are used for very dry subjects such as Project management and strategic stuff but also for more fun practical things such as book reviews.
Princeton Library applied the book review scenario to their Wiki but I found that it seemed to cover more fiction stuff and not enough good non fiction stuff.
It would be a great concept to create a Wiki fo staff and customers to use to post reviews etc about books even possibly linking it to the Library catalogue.
This would be a great aid in helping people to choose books.
Libraries could perhaps apply the Wiki process to major projects such as rennovations so that customers can not only see what the concept for the finished rennovation is but they could perhaps get on and contribute positive or negative feedback on the rennovations once done.
Well that's pretty much enough waffling for now but Wikis could be a good practical tool for Libraries.
My Ipod
Ipods are a beautiful thing. These days I have the classic 80gb ipod which holds something like 20,000 songs.
I don't know that I will ever get to 20,000 but I am up to about 500 songs at present. What i also like is that I can create playlists for every mood.
Ipods are also great for tuning out the world and ignoring people when you want to be left in peace.
I honestly don't know why people want to go around listening to music on their mobile phone when they can get an ipod and have ten times as much music on their ipod than they can on their mobile phone.
At least if the music is on their ipod the music is silent and everyone they pass isn't forced to listen to whatever rubbish they are currently blowing their ears out with.
Some of these teens have mobile phones that cost more than an ipod so hey do the world a favour and get an ipod so people don't have to listen to your music if they don't want to.
Big hello to Princess Smutty who is the recipient of a comment or ramble from me this week.
I don't know that I will ever get to 20,000 but I am up to about 500 songs at present. What i also like is that I can create playlists for every mood.
Ipods are also great for tuning out the world and ignoring people when you want to be left in peace.
I honestly don't know why people want to go around listening to music on their mobile phone when they can get an ipod and have ten times as much music on their ipod than they can on their mobile phone.
At least if the music is on their ipod the music is silent and everyone they pass isn't forced to listen to whatever rubbish they are currently blowing their ears out with.
Some of these teens have mobile phones that cost more than an ipod so hey do the world a favour and get an ipod so people don't have to listen to your music if they don't want to.
Big hello to Princess Smutty who is the recipient of a comment or ramble from me this week.
Mosaics and Trading Cards
Well I had fun using the Mosaic maker to do a mosaic of scenery type photos (see left)
I also created a very bland trading card ( seen on the right)
The mosaic maker was a lot of fun and you had choices for what format your mosaic picture would take.
Luckily not too much choice which is bad for people who can't decide between one or another. The mosaics make pictures look even better when they are arranged in an adhock kind of way. My creative back was distinctly absent this week especially when it came to the trading card but hey at least i fiddled around and did something with it.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Manukau Learning 2.0
This is my photo of Manukau Learning. Here a lot of kids are playing with little Police cars to learn about Road Rules and Road Safety as part of our annual Safety Week
Whether they actually learnt anything or not who knows I hope they did.
Flickr was kind of fun but I don't know that I will do anything more with it once training is finished.
Too many other things to do, places to go, people to see.
Well it's time to go and explore what the next training exercise will bring.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Rollyo
Well another lesson another grey hair. Actually Rollyo was sort of interesting especially with trying to decide what I wanted to do.
View this link to see my searchroll.
The fun and games started when I had to link everything. It's not always easy flicking between your blog and the screen of instructions and remembering the correct order of doing things, especially ifyou have a bad memory in the first place. However Waltzing Matilda got it done even if I was left confused at the end. Thanks to Catatonia for getting me unstuck.
Well that's it till next time.
View this link to see my searchroll.
The fun and games started when I had to link everything. It's not always easy flicking between your blog and the screen of instructions and remembering the correct order of doing things, especially ifyou have a bad memory in the first place. However Waltzing Matilda got it done even if I was left confused at the end. Thanks to Catatonia for getting me unstuck.
Well that's it till next time.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
Wasting Time
I had some fun wasting time and looking at what some of the generators were.
My favourite was probably the Honorary Italian Grandmother (and Saint) one.
See the link below
http://oneletterwords.com/ecards/saint/
I did do some fiddling with what some movie stars would look like with Plastic surgery and that was kind of funny.
I have also attached the certificate I made for Catatonia as she is always great at utilising what is to hand just like MacGyver.
Library Thing was very interesting to play around with. I had lots of fun and found there is a huge range of books in there. Good Book cover images as well.
I could have spent ages just browsing books but hey we have to do real work now and then. This is actually nice and relaxing and mindless to do after the chaos that was the first day of the school holidays.
Well it's just about time for me to go home now so until next time............Ciao
Thursday, July 3, 2008
RSS is a huge pain
Well I endeavoured to do the RSS exercise and what a pain in the rear end that was. Still with the help of Catatonia (you rock) I got there in the end.http://www.bloglines.com/public/waltzingmatilda
There were way to many things to choose from and then there is the samll matter of your workmates ones if you subscribe to one and not the other hello you have the whole I'm offended thing goin on.
I have included a clip from my favourite music group and since Catatonia already has posted a pic of them on her site I will post a pic of another of my favourite singers who is Mario Frangoulis and from a female point of view if you are alive and breathing he is a total hottie unless you are Natalie Mahoney who thinks guys like this are on every street corner and easily available.
We look forward to seeing what Miz Mahoney puts on her blog when she finally gets round to creating it since she has blithely informed us that she will outshine us. To that we here in neverneverland say a big fat ha.
Monday, June 30, 2008
My first adventure into blog land
Well dazed and confused I was in trying to decide what to label myself. Soooooooooooo many choices what's a girl to do? Except be even more dazed and confused than normal.
Still when you take the time to focus it's actually very easy and may even prove to be fun. Though it will be fun to think of things each week (maybe not).
Now if you look at my profile you think Waltzing Matilda !!!!! what's that all about? Well it's like this my favourite music group is Australian and having just seem them the other day they sprang to mind. However I swear they are not called Waltzing Matilda.
Well that's enough rambling for today so on to whatever else springs to mind.
Still when you take the time to focus it's actually very easy and may even prove to be fun. Though it will be fun to think of things each week (maybe not).
Now if you look at my profile you think Waltzing Matilda !!!!! what's that all about? Well it's like this my favourite music group is Australian and having just seem them the other day they sprang to mind. However I swear they are not called Waltzing Matilda.
Well that's enough rambling for today so on to whatever else springs to mind.
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