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.

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.

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

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

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.