Web Communications 101: Ongoing Portfolio

Introduction: What's in a name?

• Learned about the importance of a user name and namechk.com
• e.g. twitter, blogger, wordpress, flickr, linkedin and friendfeed
• Subscribe to a few of them - a bit tricky to get the same username for all (not possible...)
• I have started to follow many students - we all in the same boat. (Very interesting names..)This was a fun experience!
• Started to write my Portfolio today

Namechk is great!

http://namechk.com/

I have started with a Web Communication course and our lecturer provided this link in the notes. I would like to share this with you.

In my opinion, this is a very useful website.  You not only can check if you are a current user of some of these social communication tools, but you can also subscribe to a variety of web links.

It looks like Web communications are growing and growing by the minute... (I have to say a big thank you to Sky, as well as Namechk).

http://namechk.com/

Final cource blog

http://positivepsychologynews.com/news/aren-cohen/200812121313

Write a final blog post for the course, ruminating on your progress through the course. What parts were useful for you? Was there any of these services that you would encourage your library to use? Do you feel better informed? Were there any aspects of the course that didn't work for you?

Well, to be honest with you, this Web 2.0 training was very interesting and helpful. Not only did I enjoy creating my own blogs, but I found myself reading a lot of interesting information (maybe too much...). I think this training course should be made available across Australia. Then again, this would also benefit World Wide internet users. What I did find useful, was all the “...in plain English” YouTube videos. I have also enjoyed the interaction with fellow Bloggers. It is always nice to read about other people’s pondering and ideas.

Our library already uses Twitter, Facebook, Frickr and Blogs. It would be nice to see more Podcasting, Wikis and of cause Geocaching. The two main Web 2.0 technologies that stood out for me were Podcasting and Geocaching. I really enjoyed learning and exploring these technologies. I can see the benefits of Podcasting, especially book reviews, storytelling for children and senior users. For this reason, I also think our library users would thoroughly enjoy using them.

I must say, I am better informed and more confident in using the Web 2.0 technologies. Seeing that I have never created a Blog, this was an absolute worthwhile experience for me. I can now also encourage my family and friends to create a Blog.

There are no aspects of the course that I did not particularly enjoy. I enjoyed all the bits and pieces :) Mind you, if there was one slight issue, it would have to be the time factor. In my view, an hour per lesson/per week was probably not enough during work hours. I have found myself doing my blogging at home. It was more enjoyable and relaxing (than a busy working environment). In saying this, I would definitely encourage other people to participate in this course and create their own blogs. It is fun!!!

I would like to say a big thank you to the City of Swan Libraries and all the people involved in providing this training course. You were very helpful, especially Mel. Many thanks! Lizelle :)

Geocaching Australia

Geocaching are going to be heaps of fun!

 

 

http://geocaching.com.au/

I have become a member of Geocaching Australia and Geocaching.com  and I am very enthusiastic to find as many caches as possible.  My first thought, where should I start looking...? Then, firstly, I had a look in my own suburb and surrounding areas. On the Geocaching website you just have to put in your area code to see what treasures are around you. I have found a few catches that look very intriguing.

Plan A: I got my GPS out, and tried to download all the software/plug ins for my GPS. Unfortunately, this did not work. Plan B: I had a look at the Waypoint (Geocaching Australia), which provided the location code. (This was very helpful). Plan C: I went to Google Maps on Geochaching - found the location: longitude and latitude. Plan D: Will check these catches out over the weekend. Plan E: Will have to borrow my friend's GPS.

In the mean while, I had a look at some of the other people's findings/catches - very interesting and some very scary!

Geocaching

Write a blog post on whether you think geocaching could or should be used as part of a program at your library. Explain what program and how you think this could be done.

http://mommy23monkeys.com/2009/10/08/geocaching/

Geocaching – now this is great! In my opinion, this Web 2.0 technology wins the first prize trophy! Not only is it fun, but it is informative and eventful. In a library situation, this would be absolutely perfect and a wonderful contribution to spark user participation, enthusiasm, teamwork and enjoyment! When I had a look at the YouTube video, titled Scootgame – this also gave me a similar idea - our library could run the same initiative. Often library users come into the library, asking where certain genres, subjects or categories (Dewey Decimal classification system) are located. Geocaching would be great to help users find and learn more about certain categories and to get familiar with searching the library more effectively and efficiently, especially in bigger libraries. For example, the same basic idea (as Scootgame) could be applied. The title of the program could be: Where is Dewey? (Similar to: Where is Wally? - Children's book).

celebrateyourlibrary.wordpress.com

Clues could be transmitted via mobile devices. When users do find the correct book – there could be some sort of price or souvenir to collect. The person that finishes and finds all the clues within a certain time – could also be eligible for a more valuable price.  

http://geocaching.macfarlane.ws/

I think this would be a great game for children! In the same vein, the library could also introduce a Treasure Hunt in the library to encourage children to partake in library activities. Again, small prices such as book vouchers, graphic novels, lollies or 'Freddos' (chocolates) would be wonderful J. Moreover, children love games!

I remember once, a group of friends and myself were on a treasure hunt (an old ship docked in Albany WA). We all got a device simliar to a walkie talkie with clues on - we had to search for mysterious objects and clues all neatly tucked away on the old ship.  We managed to find all the clues. One thing is for sure, we enjoyed this hunt tremendously! A memory that will stick forever...

Podcasts

Listen to some of the podcasts linked on the Library Success wiki. Blog about how your library could use podcasts for your patrons and staff. What is an area that you haven't seen any local libraries using podcasts for? List a favourite podcast that you would or do subscribe to (does not have to be work related).

I had a look at some of the Podcasting resources available from Library Success wiki. However, I must say some of the links are not working, e.g. Sunnyvale Public Library podcast feed.

I found the following podcasts very informative and useful:

Denver Public Library podcasts:

The  7 Semyons, The pig who went home on Sunday podcast and Fat Cat - with theses podcasts I thought, it would be great to share children stories on our library's website. Children would be able to download these stories and listen to them at home, well anywhere. I really think this would be an enormous success in any library. I haven't seen or are aware of this method been being used  in any WA library.  Maybe other parts of Australia are familiar with this technology. It would be nice to know :)

Memorial Hall Library podcasts:

I have enjoyed this podcast! Teens write their own poems and then broadcast them via podcasts on the library's website. In this way teens are contributing and utilising the library actively. Teens could also download their poems and stories on MP3 players. This is great! 

One such example is the poem: Beautiful.  Again, it would be a good idea to involve users to contribute and podcast their own poems, short stories and other novels. This is also new to our libraries in WA.

Pritzker Military Libary podcasts:

Donald Miller: D-Days in the Pacific  - This is another very interesting podcast resource. The Pritzker Military Library podcasts are very informative. It would be great to have our library's history or local history collections documented in this format. Our community's historical events could also be broadcasted in this manner.

One podcast I would subscribe to without a doubt is:

Scientific American

A very good podcast!  In 60 seconds you hear something new. For example: Daydreaming and Heartbeats. This would also be very useful in our library; new information to our users every day! I am already subscribed!

Podcasting

http://blogs.voices.com/thebiz/sales_marketing/

Famous authors' books and feedback

I really enjoyed listening to the following pod- casts - it gave me insight into what the books are all about. It is also nice to hear the authors' views. They are worthwhile to listen to. 

Curtin University Book review: The Gospel of Gods and Crocodiles
Curtin University Book review: Flying under bridges
Monash Public Library service: Gabrielle Wang
Monash Public Library service: Cate Kennedy

In my view, podcasting is the road to future communications. Users are becoming more and more dependent on this technology, and in actual fact - they may not be able to "live without it". Why? Because it is convenient, it is free and it is easy to download and use. The term podcast originated in the early 2004. According to  Wikipedia (2010) and the Oxford University Press, "the term "podcasting" was first mentioned by Ben Hammersley in The Guardian newspaper in a February 2004 article, along with other proposed names for the new medium. It is a portmanteau of the words "pod"— from the name of Apple's portable media player, iPod—and "broadcasting"".

More online videos

Just to continue with this week's online video session....Another online video website, Vimeo provides a variety of videos which would suit anyone's taste. It is similar than YouTube, you can embed videos easily into your blog or website. I have also found that this website is very user-friendly, with not too many adds. Just to keep in mind, this site does not have as many video clips as YouTube, but it is still very effective. In my opinion, this is one of the best video sites :)

Books in our imagination 

 
LIBRARY from singsfish on Vimeo.
 
A fun library song


Library from The Bumblemen on Vimeo.

We can learn from Ghana

What is something that your library can do, that is different from the videos we have seen here.

After I listened to this song on YouTube - I became very teary... This is a wonderful song - a song of true library love... coming from young Ghana children. Thank you Ghana for such a memorable library song! You are a great inspiration.

My though - maybe we could sing a song about our library too. The joy and laughter it brings. Libraries bring people together from everywhere... actually it is remarkable... our libraries! We should cherish our services to the community, but most importantly, we should acknowledge our users. 

Also, it would be nice  to promote our library by making a You-Tube advertisement - promoting all our services and facilities. This would be fun! It is true that people buy with their eyes... 

Online videos

Libraries can use online videos for a whole raft of marketing, information and fun reasons. How could you see your library using online videos?

In my view libraries can use online videos as a marketing tool. It is a fun and practical way to promote services and activities to library patrons. For example, in one of the YouTube videos complied by Newman (2009), it illustrates how libraries can promote transliteracy to their patrons. Many patrons are not computer literate. In this video the emphasises is placed on staff and how staff can contribute to information literacy and technology needs of patrons. We must not only be the providers of information of technology, but also the "trainers" of these services. In my opinion, libraries will have to change (be transformed) and adapt to be the providers of patrons' learning experiences. So, I see the future more focused on technology, with new gadgets and gimmicks. We, as staff members, will also have to learn these new technologies - so that we do not miss out!

Maybe we need to be transformed from a little tadpole to a GREEN, GREEN FROG.... (feed the frog)

Twitter

I guess, I am now officially on the Twitter list - one of millions tweeting about something....nothing.....anything.... It is fun! Peoples' interests and existence are intriguing and you can learn a lot from them....  

I love to read about other peoples' tweeds.... some....happy..... some sad....some really funny :) In the end we are all human - everyone has a story to share...this is wonderful!

Let the Tweeting begin..... I am Rooirosie1

Oh yes, I actually researched where Twitter all started and interestingly an American computer whiz, architect and businessman, Jack Dorsey (born November 19, 1976) created Twitter. I am just wondering what he has done before Twitter? Maybe he left a few notes for all his family members and friends everyday....maybe he wanted everybody to know what he was doing every minute of the day. Well, whatever his reason, I think it was a great idea! According to Wiki (2010) “Twitter has gained popularity worldwide and currently has more than 100 million users”. Now that is something to tweet about....


Twitter Man - Jack Dorsey


Reference

Twitter. (2010). Retrieved October 4, 2010, from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Twitter

Facebook

Well, Facebook is so popular that I don't really think there is anything to add or say. After viewing the What the F*** is Social Media NOW  (Strange title though...) I was amazed at how much time people spend on Facebook - 500 billion minutes per month. 62% of impressions/views come from Facebook per year. This is incredible!  In a way, Facebook is addictive - especially with young people.  My greatest concern with Facebook is that time can disappear - it is like water in the sand.....So in my view, Facebook is a good thing and also a bad thing. It is a great tool to make friends and to find friends. From my experience I have found many "long-last" friends and family members.  I have also found my two half brothers and half sister. (I haven't seen them in 25 years..)

When it comes to business - library business - Facebook and Twitter is great! You can inform people of library services and activities. You can network with other libraries to see what they are doing. You can actually  learn from each other and create from each other. Also, libraries can stay up-to-date with the latest technology and information. Library users are constantly informed about the latest activities and what is happening in the library, as well as other library news. Clearly, these Web 2.0 applications will increase in the future - if we don't know how to use them, we might fall behind.  It is therefore vital for us (staff) to make use of these new technologies in the the best possible way...