Yahoo have recently announced that they're shutting down / selling off the Delicious social networking bookmarking service. For those who are big users of Delicious (I must admit to being an intermittent user) this is something of an "OMG, what do I do know?" moment.
So, thank you Mylee for sharing The Ultimate Guide to Moving Your Delicious Bookmarks. This neat 'How To' post from Edudemic gives some great advice....... all I need do now is decide between Diigo, Mister Wong, Pinboard, Google Chrome / Firefox, Xmarks, and Faviki ..... and learn some new tools and applications along the way - bound to be fun.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Monday, October 25, 2010
Rain
It's been a while.
I started a new job with Coffs Harbour City Library & Information Service on September 27th as Team Leader - Resources & Support and since then I've been navigating the learning curve and getting to know everyone here (not to mention the 85 kilometres of road between Grafton & Coffs Harbour).
Aside from a day here and there it has pretty much rained the whole time. But that's okay (except for being stuck at Blackadder Creek once or twice ...... whilst listening to Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson & co.) which seemed mildly appropriate). I've found that rain tends to slow people down and allow for a little introspection so it's been nice to have that time to talk to people, learn how Coffs does things, and apply everything I've absorbed from Central Northern & Clarence Regional Library Services. Which I guess is what has made the transition to Coffs so fluid. I'm also extremely grateful I haven't had to learn a new LMS, one yay for Spydus.
It's 5 years since I returned to the world of Public Libraries and it's been a very full 5 years at that. I'm grateful for much during that time - the mentoring provided by big-picture library managers (Kay & Sally), the friendship & fiendish mayhem of colleagues (PL & MB especially), and the sheer excitiement of what libraries can do (inspired by Ellen & her sheer passion for public libraries). I've played in the world of 2.0 & 2.1 (thanks to Ellen, Mylee, Leanne, Victoria & all the consultants at NSL-PLS) and I've been pushed & stretched to explore RA, Ref-Ex, RISG, etc and be excited by it all. I've established networks that have meaning and discovered new & exciting people thanks to Twitter & rss feeds.
So despite the lingering rain there continues to be sunshine in my office, I like sunshine but I don't mind the rain either.......... unless it floods and then I'll probably have a few issues......
I started a new job with Coffs Harbour City Library & Information Service on September 27th as Team Leader - Resources & Support and since then I've been navigating the learning curve and getting to know everyone here (not to mention the 85 kilometres of road between Grafton & Coffs Harbour).
Aside from a day here and there it has pretty much rained the whole time. But that's okay (except for being stuck at Blackadder Creek once or twice ...... whilst listening to Blackadder (Rowan Atkinson & co.) which seemed mildly appropriate). I've found that rain tends to slow people down and allow for a little introspection so it's been nice to have that time to talk to people, learn how Coffs does things, and apply everything I've absorbed from Central Northern & Clarence Regional Library Services. Which I guess is what has made the transition to Coffs so fluid. I'm also extremely grateful I haven't had to learn a new LMS, one yay for Spydus.
It's 5 years since I returned to the world of Public Libraries and it's been a very full 5 years at that. I'm grateful for much during that time - the mentoring provided by big-picture library managers (Kay & Sally), the friendship & fiendish mayhem of colleagues (PL & MB especially), and the sheer excitiement of what libraries can do (inspired by Ellen & her sheer passion for public libraries). I've played in the world of 2.0 & 2.1 (thanks to Ellen, Mylee, Leanne, Victoria & all the consultants at NSL-PLS) and I've been pushed & stretched to explore RA, Ref-Ex, RISG, etc and be excited by it all. I've established networks that have meaning and discovered new & exciting people thanks to Twitter & rss feeds.
So despite the lingering rain there continues to be sunshine in my office, I like sunshine but I don't mind the rain either.......... unless it floods and then I'll probably have a few issues......
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Serendipity
Further to yesterday's post I felt it worth noting that thanks to my meandering following of Katrina Lantz I was directed to a #writeoncon online video workshop with Mark McVeigh, lietary agent which was both inciteful and informative for how one side of the publishing industry works. Opportunities like this (it was 10:30pm where he was in the USA) aren't always available to mere struggling library staff (in Australia) so the access to online content is invaluable and the fact that I only came across it through an act of serendipity rather rewarding.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
The value of rss and twitter to my RA & Reference skill set
I was over at Sandy Fussell's blog recently and found a cute little button for the Top 50 Australian Blogs for Writers. Curious I followed the trail of breadcrumbs and was taken to Copywrite and an amazing list of blogs.
From a Collection Development point of view this is an invaluable resource.
From a Readers Advisory point of view this is even better. Not only do I have a quick pick list of Australian writers, I've got access to their blogs - ie, to the information about them, from them, about their books, etc. What's out now, what's coming soon, where in the world they happen to be right now, that sort of thing.
I realised that over the last 12 months my selection of rss feeds and twitter streams has developed to a more organised and focussed agenda. This got me thinking about the way I use Twitter and RSS feeds to inform my Readers Advisory (and Reference) skillset. I have feeds set up for various writers, including Sandy Fussell, Anita Heiss, and Stephen Fry. I also follow a literary agent and Amanda Palmer this way (this last one mainly because I've found this is the easiest way for me to read Amanda Palmer as opposed to via Twitter, Facebook, etc).
When I look at my twitter stream I'm following Sandy Fussell again, Stephen Fry also, Neil Gaiman, Katrina Lantz, Melissa Marr, Kate Forsyth, Diana Tixier Herald, The Reading Agency (UK), Waterstones (UK), Nancy Pearl, the British Library, GalleyCat, AusLit, Australian Literature, Penguin Books Australia, Random House Australia, Simon & Schuster Australia, Pan Macmillan Australia, Harper Collins Australia, and Aurealis Xpress .... thus far...... There are many other people I follow whose opinion and comment also inform my skill set but these ones I've specifically earmarked as worthy and useful for my personal interests and for the questions I find myself being asked. This list is certainly not finite and I most certainly see myself adding to and subtracting from it over time as I discover more authors and publishers and literary agents and booksellers whose comments and contributions I find useful and bring light to the day.
Back to the value of the Top 50 Australian blogs for Writers though. Here I now find a myriad of blogs to follow should I choose. What I really like about this list is the options it offers me: - here's the blog name - add them to your rss feed; here's the blog writer's name and what genre they fall into (whether they're a novelist/copywriter/screenwriter/etc so at least you know what perspective they're coming from and just who on earth they are); some Technorati etc stats (always good for understanding why they're ranked at the spot they are); and finally their Twitter tag should they have one 'cause maybe that's an easier option for you to follow them.
I can see me spending a lot of time with this list working out just who I want to follow and how. I'm sure to meet some new people along the way and learn so many new and exciting things to further enhance my continually expanding skill set for both Reference and Readers Advisory.
Can't wait.
From a Collection Development point of view this is an invaluable resource.
From a Readers Advisory point of view this is even better. Not only do I have a quick pick list of Australian writers, I've got access to their blogs - ie, to the information about them, from them, about their books, etc. What's out now, what's coming soon, where in the world they happen to be right now, that sort of thing.
I realised that over the last 12 months my selection of rss feeds and twitter streams has developed to a more organised and focussed agenda. This got me thinking about the way I use Twitter and RSS feeds to inform my Readers Advisory (and Reference) skillset. I have feeds set up for various writers, including Sandy Fussell, Anita Heiss, and Stephen Fry. I also follow a literary agent and Amanda Palmer this way (this last one mainly because I've found this is the easiest way for me to read Amanda Palmer as opposed to via Twitter, Facebook, etc).
When I look at my twitter stream I'm following Sandy Fussell again, Stephen Fry also, Neil Gaiman, Katrina Lantz, Melissa Marr, Kate Forsyth, Diana Tixier Herald, The Reading Agency (UK), Waterstones (UK), Nancy Pearl, the British Library, GalleyCat, AusLit, Australian Literature, Penguin Books Australia, Random House Australia, Simon & Schuster Australia, Pan Macmillan Australia, Harper Collins Australia, and Aurealis Xpress .... thus far...... There are many other people I follow whose opinion and comment also inform my skill set but these ones I've specifically earmarked as worthy and useful for my personal interests and for the questions I find myself being asked. This list is certainly not finite and I most certainly see myself adding to and subtracting from it over time as I discover more authors and publishers and literary agents and booksellers whose comments and contributions I find useful and bring light to the day.
Back to the value of the Top 50 Australian blogs for Writers though. Here I now find a myriad of blogs to follow should I choose. What I really like about this list is the options it offers me: - here's the blog name - add them to your rss feed; here's the blog writer's name and what genre they fall into (whether they're a novelist/copywriter/screenwriter/etc so at least you know what perspective they're coming from and just who on earth they are); some Technorati etc stats (always good for understanding why they're ranked at the spot they are); and finally their Twitter tag should they have one 'cause maybe that's an easier option for you to follow them.
I can see me spending a lot of time with this list working out just who I want to follow and how. I'm sure to meet some new people along the way and learn so many new and exciting things to further enhance my continually expanding skill set for both Reference and Readers Advisory.
Can't wait.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Desiderata
Last night my family were trolling through old photo albums and out fell an old yellowed copy of a Desiderata dated 1692 from Old St Paul's Church, Baltimore.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons they have their vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons ... than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham and drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful. Strive to be happy.
These words express such sincere sentiment to a life well lived and a life lived well - it's nice to be reminded of them. Oddly enough it puts me in mind of a poem by W.B. Yeats which my father often recited to me as a child and which I ended up studying at Uni (oh so many years ago now).
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core
Be well.
Go placidly amid the noise and haste and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons they have their vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons ... than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is. Many persons strive for high ideals and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.
Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars. You have a right to be here and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.
Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be and whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham and drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.
Be careful. Strive to be happy.
These words express such sincere sentiment to a life well lived and a life lived well - it's nice to be reminded of them. Oddly enough it puts me in mind of a poem by W.B. Yeats which my father often recited to me as a child and which I ended up studying at Uni (oh so many years ago now).
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree,
And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made:
Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee;
And live alone in the bee-loud glade.
And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow,
Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings;
There midnight's all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow,
And evening full of the linnet's wings.
I will arise and go now, for always night and day
I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore;
While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey,
I hear it in the deep heart's core
Be well.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
There be faeries furnishing ur xml
I enjoy the beauty of statistics, they tell you things you didn't know, or verify things you did. They provide evidence one way or contradict another - glorious.
I also love the fun which Twitter adds to the information it shares - things like Tweet Stats.
This nifty little app looks at my twitter traffic and gives me stats back showing my activity, breaking it down into months, days, hours, etc. Exciting stuff for someone who likes stats (bizarre given that I generally loath library metrics, though I find it satisfying to create synopses of PLEG stats, go figure).
Who knew that I spend most week-day mornings in Twitter? (well, actually I did know that but here's the proof!!) Or that I do most of my Tweeting on a Friday??
This is a brilliant little app. I look at it and can straight away understand why my twitter traffic was higher in March, May & June this year. That would be the RA seminar, Reference seminar and Games seminar respectively. Nice to see the correlation.
Okay, back to work. It's Tuesday so obviously a slow Twitter day for me..... ha.
I also love the fun which Twitter adds to the information it shares - things like Tweet Stats.
This nifty little app looks at my twitter traffic and gives me stats back showing my activity, breaking it down into months, days, hours, etc. Exciting stuff for someone who likes stats (bizarre given that I generally loath library metrics, though I find it satisfying to create synopses of PLEG stats, go figure).
Who knew that I spend most week-day mornings in Twitter? (well, actually I did know that but here's the proof!!) Or that I do most of my Tweeting on a Friday??
This is a brilliant little app. I look at it and can straight away understand why my twitter traffic was higher in March, May & June this year. That would be the RA seminar, Reference seminar and Games seminar respectively. Nice to see the correlation.
Okay, back to work. It's Tuesday so obviously a slow Twitter day for me..... ha.
Monday, July 19, 2010
federal election 2010 - rant
A federal election has been called for August 21. When we started the year we had Kevin Rudd as PM at the helm of the Australian Labor Party, going into the elections we have Julia Gillard.
I think it's great that we have a female PM, don't get me wrong, I just don't like how she got there.
Prior to the election being called there has been much debate around the national broadband network (NBN), internet filters, and education. There's been debate about other things too but these are the ones that I have opinion about.
The NBN would be great, if it worked. Maybe then I'd get broadband connected at home.
Internet filtering is just plain bad (a much milder phrase than the one I'm thinking mind). Along side here is the whole rating of games fiasco - take a look at any gamer mag to find out why.
Our education system is weak. I took an active role in commenting on the Australian Curriculum, I think the idea of a national curriculum is great. What worries me is that my children have missed out on essential schooling skills because previous changes to the education system took them away - seriously, is there some particular reason why children can't be taught to spell correctly rather than good enough will do?
And in the midst of all this, what about libraries? Where do we fit in the grand election promise? have we actually raised ourselves to the point where we do matter? Teachers can strike, health workers strike, but when Librarians strike who listens?
I feel very disheartened at the moment about the state of all our major political parties. I've just finished reading a news item about the allocation of preferential voting. It's ludicrous. If my vote counts then I want it to count how I say, not in some predetermined fashion. I've been thinking about how I would vote in this next election and after reading through this news item I'm tempted to tell them all to take a hike. None of them are listening to the Australian population and I don't think that any of them deserve my vote.
The really sad thing is that it's not really me who will suffer, it's my kids and the future which is being strangled before they have a chance to explore it.
Another news item I noted was about the continuing brain drain from Australia - and they wonder why........
Rant over.
I think it's great that we have a female PM, don't get me wrong, I just don't like how she got there.
Prior to the election being called there has been much debate around the national broadband network (NBN), internet filters, and education. There's been debate about other things too but these are the ones that I have opinion about.
The NBN would be great, if it worked. Maybe then I'd get broadband connected at home.
Internet filtering is just plain bad (a much milder phrase than the one I'm thinking mind). Along side here is the whole rating of games fiasco - take a look at any gamer mag to find out why.
Our education system is weak. I took an active role in commenting on the Australian Curriculum, I think the idea of a national curriculum is great. What worries me is that my children have missed out on essential schooling skills because previous changes to the education system took them away - seriously, is there some particular reason why children can't be taught to spell correctly rather than good enough will do?
And in the midst of all this, what about libraries? Where do we fit in the grand election promise? have we actually raised ourselves to the point where we do matter? Teachers can strike, health workers strike, but when Librarians strike who listens?
I feel very disheartened at the moment about the state of all our major political parties. I've just finished reading a news item about the allocation of preferential voting. It's ludicrous. If my vote counts then I want it to count how I say, not in some predetermined fashion. I've been thinking about how I would vote in this next election and after reading through this news item I'm tempted to tell them all to take a hike. None of them are listening to the Australian population and I don't think that any of them deserve my vote.
The really sad thing is that it's not really me who will suffer, it's my kids and the future which is being strangled before they have a chance to explore it.
Another news item I noted was about the continuing brain drain from Australia - and they wonder why........
Rant over.
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
r u game? post event happenings
It's almost 3 weeks since the rugame2010 seminar in WoW and in that time it's been great to see the wiki grow as participants add in screen shots, an edited transcript, websites mentioned, etc.
On top of that it's also nice to catch up with what others have put together from their experience of this event (thanks Kim).
Overall, this was an exciting program for public library staff and has opened doors for more of the same. The success of the online session in World of Warcraft certainly validated the scepticism that some felt for such a venture. Too often as Librarians we feel comfortable where we are and don't want to explore new ways of doing things. Events like this, which to many would appear mundane, make us uncomfortable. We lose sight of its inherent value.
I look back at this event when I sat glued to my pc for 2 days following Twitter and think how I would most certainly go through that again for the benefit I got out of it. I cannot promote to enough colleagues the value of events like this which push the boundaries just a little.
Planning is now underway for next year's Reference @ the Metcalfe seminar and I'm very excited about the proposed program. It too pushes the boundaries of what's comfortable just a little and to be perfectly honest I think we need that push - really.
I'm also looking forward to designing a new shirt to add to the RISG collection on RedBubble.
On top of that it's also nice to catch up with what others have put together from their experience of this event (thanks Kim).
Overall, this was an exciting program for public library staff and has opened doors for more of the same. The success of the online session in World of Warcraft certainly validated the scepticism that some felt for such a venture. Too often as Librarians we feel comfortable where we are and don't want to explore new ways of doing things. Events like this, which to many would appear mundane, make us uncomfortable. We lose sight of its inherent value.
I look back at this event when I sat glued to my pc for 2 days following Twitter and think how I would most certainly go through that again for the benefit I got out of it. I cannot promote to enough colleagues the value of events like this which push the boundaries just a little.
Planning is now underway for next year's Reference @ the Metcalfe seminar and I'm very excited about the proposed program. It too pushes the boundaries of what's comfortable just a little and to be perfectly honest I think we need that push - really.
I'm also looking forward to designing a new shirt to add to the RISG collection on RedBubble.
Monday, June 28, 2010
The question of "Cyber" Safety
This morning (with thanks to @craigthomler & Twitter) I came across this Submission to the Joint Select Committee of Cyber Safety from Mark Newton. It's 18 pages long yet I sat at my desk and took the time to read through it, thoroughly, no skimming
I was struck by much of this submission, agreeing with most of it and glad that someone was both able to put into words so many of my own thoughts and arguments as well as submit the same to the Joint Select Committee. I look forward to reading ALIA's submission on the same topic.
Perhaps just a few of the many quotes that struck a chord with me.
"This committee is looking at “cyber-safety.” I put it to the committee’s members that the real issue is “safety.” Child abuse is child abuse; bullying is bullying; stalking is stalking; harassment is harassment. Whether they happen online or offline is totally immaterial to the victim and irrelevant to the perpetrator. The Government’s response should and must be indifferent to the medium through which the crime is committed." (p5)
And the bit that really got up my nose in regards to the better rating of games, indicating that if the public response doesn't say what the government wants to hear then they'll just ask the question again is.... "Public consultations yielding over 50,000 responses in favor of the establishment of an R18+ rating for computer games, put on the back-burner because, apparently, 50,000 responses is inadequate and more consultation is required." (p18) wtf!!
And in closing,
"This Government has literally no idea what it’s doing with the online environment, and has shown an outright refusal to be educated about it. Is it any wonder that so many people distrust them?
This Committee represents a very rare opportunity to inform the Government. For all of our sakes, I hope they’re prepared to listen." (p18) Here, here.
I was struck by much of this submission, agreeing with most of it and glad that someone was both able to put into words so many of my own thoughts and arguments as well as submit the same to the Joint Select Committee. I look forward to reading ALIA's submission on the same topic.
Perhaps just a few of the many quotes that struck a chord with me.
"This committee is looking at “cyber-safety.” I put it to the committee’s members that the real issue is “safety.” Child abuse is child abuse; bullying is bullying; stalking is stalking; harassment is harassment. Whether they happen online or offline is totally immaterial to the victim and irrelevant to the perpetrator. The Government’s response should and must be indifferent to the medium through which the crime is committed." (p5)
And the bit that really got up my nose in regards to the better rating of games, indicating that if the public response doesn't say what the government wants to hear then they'll just ask the question again is.... "Public consultations yielding over 50,000 responses in favor of the establishment of an R18+ rating for computer games, put on the back-burner because, apparently, 50,000 responses is inadequate and more consultation is required." (p18) wtf!!
And in closing,
"This Government has literally no idea what it’s doing with the online environment, and has shown an outright refusal to be educated about it. Is it any wonder that so many people distrust them?
This Committee represents a very rare opportunity to inform the Government. For all of our sakes, I hope they’re prepared to listen." (p18) Here, here.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
r u game fashions.......
I noticed in amongst the comments from yesterday's seminar at NSL was the importance of branding, like what we are trying to achieve with RISG on RedBubble. Yesterday I wore my pink girlie shirt to work and today I'm wearing my black long-sleeved number with the text on the back.
I've decided I like wearing Library themed shirts to work - certainly eases a few of the wardrobe decisions some mornings!
A few extras from r u game? yesterday
Go to www.slideshare.net/hayesg31 to view Gary P Hayes' presentation (you could also follow him on Twitter - @GaryPHayes)
Jenny Levine (@shifted on twitter) is one of US' library gaming gurus and can be found at http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/category/blog
And Michael Stephens can be found at http://tametheweb.com/ (@mstephens7 on Twitter)
Jenny Levine (@shifted on twitter) is one of US' library gaming gurus and can be found at http://theshiftedlibrarian.com/archives/category/blog
And Michael Stephens can be found at http://tametheweb.com/ (@mstephens7 on Twitter)
Oh the fun they had at r u game? yesterday!!
I so enjoyed following the comments on Twitter yesterday and am enjoying following them again today from the online seminar in WoW. this is such a great event and judging by the comments on Twitter is really engaging with a lot of library staff.
One thing that struck me yesterday was the number of urls flying around so I thought I'd best compile them from the twitter feed before they disappeared into the ether.
Here they are:
http://www.muvedesign.com/ (Multi User Virtual Environment design)
http://www.mcvideogame/ (understand McDonalds processes)
www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_start.jsp?id=homepage (check out Toyota's new iQ)
http://www.persuasivegames.com/ (Jetset: a game for airports)
http://www.dafurisdying.com/
http://missioncontrol.adventureecology.com/
www.reachout.com.au/ (helping people to understand why they get depressed)
http://thesims3.ea.com/ (teaching teens how to react in siuations)
http://akoha.com/ (social reality game)
http://isites.harvard.ed/icb/icb.do?keyword=harp (Handheld Augmented Reality Project)
www.interactivestory.net/#facade
http://www.xbconnect.com/
www.truism.com/ (paramedic simulation)
http://www.afmpgame.com/ (political crisis handling simulation)
www.msafire.com/game_home.com (fire simulation)
http://www.food-force.com/ (decision making in disasters)
http://www.sydac.com.au/ (build simulator, driving train, flying plains, etc)
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/service/augmented_reality_introduction_1.html (BMW mechanic wears goggles while working)
www.parkmanmurder.com/ (Walking Cinema: murder on Beacon Hill - a beautiful piece of storytelling)
www.museumoflondon.org.uk/streetmuseum.htm (iphone apps map + video showing then & now of a streetscape)
www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2010/05/20/museum-of-london-launches-incredible-augmented-reality-iphone-app-115875-22272465/ (newspaper article re above app)
www-01.ibm.com/software/solutions/soa/innov8/index.html (enabling staff change)
http://www.americasarmy.com/ (USA militatry recruitment game) - compare to Australia's http://defencejobs.gov.au/games and fly the RAAF Strike Fighter F-35 Lightning II)
http://www.metaio.com/
www.metaio.com/demo/demo/pop-sci-cover/ (3D magazine cover)
http://www.harrypotter3d.com/ (3D map of Harry Potter)
http://worldwithoutoil.org/ (imagine first 32 weeks of a global oil crisis)
http://www.superstructgame.org/ (imagaine the world in 2050)
http://www.urgentvoke.com/ (latest game from Jane McGonnigal - games to change the world)
http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/ (so Town Planners can learn about social impacts)
www.seriousgamesinstitute.co.uk/ (Serious Games Institute, UK)
www.abc.net.au/tv/seriousgames/ (ABC Serious Games Initiative)
www.abc.net.au/innovation/bluebird/ (ABC's Bluebird project)
www.wired.com/magazine/2010/05/ff_pink_shirky/ (Wired mag article on Cognitive Surplus)
http://developer/nvideia.com/object/udk.html (Unreal Development Kit)
www.dsto.defence.gov.au/MAGIC2010/ (competition for robot development)
www.torquepowered.com/products/torque-3d
http://www.nearmap.com/ (alternate source for mapping graphics)
www.vimeo.com/shanachietour
www.dutchcowboys.nl/gaming/18804 (some recent game statistics)
www.redbubble.com/people/nswrisg (the importance of branding)
http://scratch.mit.edu/ (create interactive stories, games, music, art & share online)
http://www.ugame-ulearn.com/ (in Dutch)
www.tudelft.nl/ws/381465?shdoc=381465&language=EN (Dark Ink)
www.cannibalgamestudios.com/
http://vimeo.com/5643953 (connecting council image archives and library databases)
http://www.shanachietour.com/
http://www.thisweekinlibraries.com/
Phew!
One thing that struck me yesterday was the number of urls flying around so I thought I'd best compile them from the twitter feed before they disappeared into the ether.
Here they are:
http://www.muvedesign.com/ (Multi User Virtual Environment design)
http://www.mcvideogame/ (understand McDonalds processes)
www.toyota.co.uk/cgi-bin/toyota/bv/frame_start.jsp?id=homepage (check out Toyota's new iQ)
http://www.persuasivegames.com/ (Jetset: a game for airports)
http://www.dafurisdying.com/
http://missioncontrol.adventureecology.com/
www.reachout.com.au/ (helping people to understand why they get depressed)
http://thesims3.ea.com/ (teaching teens how to react in siuations)
http://akoha.com/ (social reality game)
http://isites.harvard.ed/icb/icb.do?keyword=harp (Handheld Augmented Reality Project)
www.interactivestory.net/#facade
http://www.xbconnect.com/
www.truism.com/ (paramedic simulation)
http://www.afmpgame.com/ (political crisis handling simulation)
www.msafire.com/game_home.com (fire simulation)
http://www.food-force.com/ (decision making in disasters)
http://www.sydac.com.au/ (build simulator, driving train, flying plains, etc)
http://www.bmw.com/com/en/owners/service/augmented_reality_introduction_1.html (BMW mechanic wears goggles while working)
www.parkmanmurder.com/ (Walking Cinema: murder on Beacon Hill - a beautiful piece of storytelling)
www.museumoflondon.org.uk/streetmuseum.htm (iphone apps map + video showing then & now of a streetscape)
www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology/2010/05/20/museum-of-london-launches-incredible-augmented-reality-iphone-app-115875-22272465/ (newspaper article re above app)
www-01.ibm.com/software/solutions/soa/innov8/index.html (enabling staff change)
http://www.americasarmy.com/ (USA militatry recruitment game) - compare to Australia's http://defencejobs.gov.au/games and fly the RAAF Strike Fighter F-35 Lightning II)
http://www.metaio.com/
www.metaio.com/demo/demo/pop-sci-cover/ (3D magazine cover)
http://www.harrypotter3d.com/ (3D map of Harry Potter)
http://worldwithoutoil.org/ (imagine first 32 weeks of a global oil crisis)
http://www.superstructgame.org/ (imagaine the world in 2050)
http://www.urgentvoke.com/ (latest game from Jane McGonnigal - games to change the world)
http://simcitysocieties.ea.com/ (so Town Planners can learn about social impacts)
www.seriousgamesinstitute.co.uk/ (Serious Games Institute, UK)
www.abc.net.au/tv/seriousgames/ (ABC Serious Games Initiative)
www.abc.net.au/innovation/bluebird/ (ABC's Bluebird project)
www.wired.com/magazine/2010/05/ff_pink_shirky/ (Wired mag article on Cognitive Surplus)
http://developer/nvideia.com/object/udk.html (Unreal Development Kit)
www.dsto.defence.gov.au/MAGIC2010/ (competition for robot development)
www.torquepowered.com/products/torque-3d
http://www.nearmap.com/ (alternate source for mapping graphics)
www.vimeo.com/shanachietour
www.dutchcowboys.nl/gaming/18804 (some recent game statistics)
www.redbubble.com/people/nswrisg (the importance of branding)
http://scratch.mit.edu/ (create interactive stories, games, music, art & share online)
http://www.ugame-ulearn.com/ (in Dutch)
www.tudelft.nl/ws/381465?shdoc=381465&language=EN (Dark Ink)
www.cannibalgamestudios.com/
http://vimeo.com/5643953 (connecting council image archives and library databases)
http://www.shanachietour.com/
http://www.thisweekinlibraries.com/
Phew!
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
r u game?
The inaugural r u game? Games & Public Libraries seminar is on today at the State Library of NSW. I wish I was there.
However, just because I couldn't make it doesn't mean I can't participate & share in the wonder that is today.
I'm wearing my r u game? shirt which I got from RedBubble.
And I'll be following all the action on Twitter.
I think Ellen Forsyth has done a great job in preparing both today's seminar and especially tomorrow's event in World of Warcraft. This is such an exciting thing she's achieved, I hope everyone pays attention.
However, just because I couldn't make it doesn't mean I can't participate & share in the wonder that is today.
I'm wearing my r u game? shirt which I got from RedBubble.
And I'll be following all the action on Twitter.
I think Ellen Forsyth has done a great job in preparing both today's seminar and especially tomorrow's event in World of Warcraft. This is such an exciting thing she's achieved, I hope everyone pays attention.
Friday, June 18, 2010
CRL's online newsletter - June
Here's the latest news from Clarence Regional Library's online newsletter
Lots of things happened around the branches during Library & Information Week and a lot of fun was had by all during National Simultaneous Storytime too. I had loads of pictures to put into this newsletter but given the constraints of the newsletter program could only add in 1 for each section. I'm working on plans to open up the sections a bit more over time so I can put loads more photos in.
Anyway, enjoy.
Lots of things happened around the branches during Library & Information Week and a lot of fun was had by all during National Simultaneous Storytime too. I had loads of pictures to put into this newsletter but given the constraints of the newsletter program could only add in 1 for each section. I'm working on plans to open up the sections a bit more over time so I can put loads more photos in.
Anyway, enjoy.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Simple things often best
We've been living with our new CRL website for over 12 months now. It was a long time coming and took quite some effort to pull together but we were really happy with it (trust me, after our previous one it's fantabulous!). Anyway, as with any good website we didn't just sit back on our laurels we recently did a complete audit of it and made a few changes. They aren't big changes but just enough to keep the website fresh and interesting and more importantly to show that we're growing and changing with our community.
A recent blog post from Craig Thomler at eGovAU on reinventing website perfection iterates this point: "the ability to be flexible and agile to meet changing needs quickly and be capable of making a wesbite more and more effective over time, improving reputation and reducing legal risks".
It's nice to know we're trying to get it right.
A recent blog post from Craig Thomler at eGovAU on reinventing website perfection iterates this point: "the ability to be flexible and agile to meet changing needs quickly and be capable of making a wesbite more and more effective over time, improving reputation and reducing legal risks".
It's nice to know we're trying to get it right.
Friday, June 4, 2010
r u game?
Ellen has created this great little Slideshare 'how to...' for the online section of the r u game? games and public libraries seminar on June 24th.
r u game online 2010 : getting ready
View more presentations from Ellen Forsyth.
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
CRL website development [sigh]
It's website review time again at work - actually I think it's everything review time [sure feels that way].
Anyway, we're revamping things just a little and as a result I get to go play with Google calendar, or whatever other calendar options are out there that we could use for our website for a "What's On" page/section/etc.
I love playing so that's the good thing. Not too sure how helpful it's going to be though - the biggest challenge to any What's On page is always getting the branch staff to contribute and tell us what they're doing (sometimes it's harder than pulling teeth, and trust me, I can get blood out of a stone!!). A few branches are really active but some of the others, ........... [sigh]
Not to worry, spot of lunch and then it's valid play time....... yay!
Anyway, we're revamping things just a little and as a result I get to go play with Google calendar, or whatever other calendar options are out there that we could use for our website for a "What's On" page/section/etc.
I love playing so that's the good thing. Not too sure how helpful it's going to be though - the biggest challenge to any What's On page is always getting the branch staff to contribute and tell us what they're doing (sometimes it's harder than pulling teeth, and trust me, I can get blood out of a stone!!). A few branches are really active but some of the others, ........... [sigh]
Not to worry, spot of lunch and then it's valid play time....... yay!
Monday, May 24, 2010
r u game? games and public libraries
Coming soon to the State Library of NSW is a fabulous seminar exploring the role of games in public libraries! Thanks to the hard work of Ellen Forsyth r u game? on June 23rd will start the conversation which continues on June 24th with an online gaming seminar in the land of World of Warcraft. Check out the games and public libraries wiki for more!
To cap off this great event, you can also buy the #rugame2010 tee shirt!!
To cap off this great event, you can also buy the #rugame2010 tee shirt!!
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
risg2010 presentations
Great to see the presentations from the 2010 Reference @ the Metcalfe seminar going up on the RISG blog
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Ref ex wiki update 2010
Ellen & I both presented an update, what the stats have shown, and future plans for the Reference Excellence wiki at the 2010 Reference @ the Metcalfe seminar on May 4th.
Ref ex wiki update 2010
View more presentations from Clarence Regional Library.
Friday, April 23, 2010
nswRISG on RedBubble
I'm so excited!
After a couple of hectic weeks trying to sort out the legalities, the financials, & the technicalities of artwork the NSW Reference & Information Services Group finally has a RedBubble account and some tee shirts to sell (at no profit I might add) promoting just some of the various activities they're currently involved in - #bookbinge & #risg2010 for starters.
Check it out - http://www.redbubble.com/people/nswrisg
10-15 days delivery is advertised but I was lucky & my shirts arrived in only 3 business days.
A huge thankyou to the RA team for floating the tee shirt idea & to Ellen for all her hard work in dealing with the legalities & financial aspects (making sure we don't make a profit & don't breach any Australian laws). I have to say I had fun playing with the artwork & using GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) for the very first time.
After a couple of hectic weeks trying to sort out the legalities, the financials, & the technicalities of artwork the NSW Reference & Information Services Group finally has a RedBubble account and some tee shirts to sell (at no profit I might add) promoting just some of the various activities they're currently involved in - #bookbinge & #risg2010 for starters.
Check it out - http://www.redbubble.com/people/nswrisg
10-15 days delivery is advertised but I was lucky & my shirts arrived in only 3 business days.
A huge thankyou to the RA team for floating the tee shirt idea & to Ellen for all her hard work in dealing with the legalities & financial aspects (making sure we don't make a profit & don't breach any Australian laws). I have to say I had fun playing with the artwork & using GIMP (GNU Image Manipulation Program) for the very first time.
Friday, April 16, 2010
Playing with graphics
I've spent the last 2 days playing with RedBubble - www.redbubble.com.au - and Gimp - www.gimp.org - turning images from one sphere into wearable art in another sphere. Challenging. Scary. Rewarding. Fun (my bank balance may never recover from the resultant retail therapy!!)
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Feb 1 - MashUps revisited
MashUps are one of those things I wish I had far more time for. I enjoy utilising what others have done but would really like to be able to do more of them myself. That said, I'm choosing not to do this week's challenge simply because after 6+ weeks of finding time to fit these activities in I'm still at a loss as to when that will be.
I like the idea of MashUps - not just of images but also of information and see the value of resources like LibWorm which take a search query and correlate rss fed data to answer it. That said, the query requires a degree of sophistication to get the right set of results (like any online search really). It's a flip from my stanadrd rss feeds which direct my searching and querying simply by the nature of the ebb and flow of information as I read through them. Obviously I'm more of an organic thinker (stream-of-consciousness) than structured.
On an RA note I'm curious about the rise of Literary mashups and the blending of established classic pieces of literature (biography/history) and obscure (and perhaps confronting) genres into mainstream (though fairly oddball) fiction - beyond the realms of Jasper Fforde and into the world of the bizarre with titles such as "Abraham Lincoln, vampire hunter" and "Mr Darcy, vampyre" - otherwise known as Literary monster mashups (as a subgenre no less!).
I like the idea of MashUps - not just of images but also of information and see the value of resources like LibWorm which take a search query and correlate rss fed data to answer it. That said, the query requires a degree of sophistication to get the right set of results (like any online search really). It's a flip from my stanadrd rss feeds which direct my searching and querying simply by the nature of the ebb and flow of information as I read through them. Obviously I'm more of an organic thinker (stream-of-consciousness) than structured.
On an RA note I'm curious about the rise of Literary mashups and the blending of established classic pieces of literature (biography/history) and obscure (and perhaps confronting) genres into mainstream (though fairly oddball) fiction - beyond the realms of Jasper Fforde and into the world of the bizarre with titles such as "Abraham Lincoln, vampire hunter" and "Mr Darcy, vampyre" - otherwise known as Literary monster mashups (as a subgenre no less!).
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Monday, March 1, 2010
Library of the future in plain English
Amongst my RSS feeds was this gem - thanks to Hey Jude - http://heyjude.wordpress.com/2010/02/23/library-of-the-future-in-plain-english/.
Friday, February 5, 2010
RA ponderings
Yesterday's RA meeting at Armidale brought with it its fair share of technical hiccups and travel dramas for some. Various topics of discussion were discovered and Ellen ran through some social tools and their uses for RA which was useful for many. Among the topics of discussion was one on the question of strategic ideas for RA work. Now it stands that those present at the meeting would by necessity petrhaps have the support of their managers and co-workers for their RA work, why else would they have been there if not for that support? But it also stands that there were some present who lacked that support and were only present because the meeting was hosted reasonably nearby and made it viable to attend......
The question was posed - what strategic ideas does anyone have for situations where non-RA library staff (including managers) do not value RA work and regard the efforts undertaken by RA staff as nonessential, especially in light of the Rewarding Reading training which states that providing RA is 'core business' in the provision of public library service: how do RA staff ensure that RA planning becomes part opf the strategic plans of the library?
It's a good question and one which challenged many there as they struggled to accept the difference between adhoc RA and strategic RA. Perhaps we may be able to bring more to a later meeting which will also consider this issue - once we get over the comprehension issue of what makes adhoc RA different to strategically planned RA
The question was posed - what strategic ideas does anyone have for situations where non-RA library staff (including managers) do not value RA work and regard the efforts undertaken by RA staff as nonessential, especially in light of the Rewarding Reading training which states that providing RA is 'core business' in the provision of public library service: how do RA staff ensure that RA planning becomes part opf the strategic plans of the library?
It's a good question and one which challenged many there as they struggled to accept the difference between adhoc RA and strategic RA. Perhaps we may be able to bring more to a later meeting which will also consider this issue - once we get over the comprehension issue of what makes adhoc RA different to strategically planned RA
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Social Media Revolution !?!
A friend posted this to Facebook -
"Social Media Revolution: Is social media a fad?
Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? This video details out social media facts and figures that are hard to ignore. This video is produced by the author of Socialnomics. "
"Social Media Revolution: Is social media a fad?
Or is it the biggest shift since the Industrial Revolution? This video details out social media facts and figures that are hard to ignore. This video is produced by the author of Socialnomics. "
Friday, January 29, 2010
January 25 - Instant Communication
Try some IM tools - what did I like?
I first started tweeting (occasionally) following Chrystie Hill's visit to the CPLA Conference at Tamworth in 2008. Along the side of my blog you can see where I've already linked to my Twitter page.
Lately I've probably been a little more active - though I do tend to lurk just a little and get a real laugh out of the many tweets from friends and others that I'm following. I like Twitter (personally) because for me it has that nice mix of personal touches and Library related info (like the ALIA tweets).
As an aside though, I noticed at a recent seminar/conference that sometimes the use of a mobile phone for Tweeting whilst in the auditorium can interefere with the sound system .......
I'm also on Facebook and when I've been lucky enough to be on there at the same time as another friend we have had a nice catch-up. The same has occured with a few of the Nings I'm on - though given that most of my frinds here are in the US it's often a little trickier to get us all together in the one IM space. Facebook for me is probably more about friends but I do have a few Library related organisations that I follow - A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette being just one (okay that one's mainly for the laughs).
Work (Clarence Regional Library) actually bought webcams for all our branches and 3 for HQ staff (lucky me). We subscribed to skype (free) and set up usernames, etc which reflected our Library Positions rather than our names/personalities (I'm 'Information Services Librarian'). As a Regional Library we're pretty far flung and often branch staff simply can't all come together in one space/place (for various reasons including lack of staff, insufficient training budgets, etc) so we invested in some webcams so that we could still get together without having to get in a car and drive for 2 hours. It's worked out great except that by only having a free subscription to Skype we can only video conference between 2 webcams at a time. If we link in a 3rd or 4th (or more) camera/attendee we lose visual and are left with teleconferencing only. For me it's a little bit of a bug but at HQ we work around it by piling staff into one office for a chat with another branch. For more than 2 particpants we resort to teleconferences (and now we've got our new phones and new headsets that should be a lot better - people won't be telling me they can't hear me anymore!!). A big drawback of the webcams though has been that because the mike is on the webcam and sits on top of the monitor (obviously so it can take a lovely reversed image of you) it tends to pick up some of the external office noises a bit which can make conversations a little difficult when you're in a meeting and there's crazy laughter in the background.
Would IM tools be useful in a library?
For us here at HQ obviously these IM tools are useful - webcams, Skype, especially. But I do see an advantage to have IM capabilities for Reference staff - many are the stories of Reference staff being in seminars/conferences and using IM to answer queries from their library's patrons whilst there. I'm a big believer in not being seated at the Reference Desk to answer questions - so many come in through internal LMS modules (eg, Spydus Request module), over the Internet, via email, phone, walking 'round the library, etc. The point to these particular IM tools is being available and accessible and where the user is - not hiding in a library building and demanding the user comes to you - face it, it's just not gonna work! It's the same principle as Slam the Boards - answering Reference queries where the question is being asked and highlighting public libraries while you're at it.
Let's face it, those who are IT savvy are online and asking questions, they're not walking down the road to their local library and they often don't even know where their nearest library is. Not to mention those LGA's who seem to think that having a public library is a waste of rate-payers money. If we cannot meet our community where that community is then we fail to engage fully with our communities. This is why Kevin Rudd Tweets, this is why Barack Obama had a brilliant blog which engaged with America. It's more than clever marketing, it's recognising that if I'm out there in an IM world I'm more inclined to come across someone who wants my help now and whose only access to me (for them) is via one of these many tools and then I can start a relationship with them which leads to them using and accessing my library and perhaps coming back again and again and again.
The challenge for Public Libraries and Local Councils (and their IT departments) in particular is to realise and accept that enabling libraries to go online and use IM tools is fundamental to improving service, engaging with communities, and acknowledging that the local library is an integral element in a community's identity.
I first started tweeting (occasionally) following Chrystie Hill's visit to the CPLA Conference at Tamworth in 2008. Along the side of my blog you can see where I've already linked to my Twitter page.
Lately I've probably been a little more active - though I do tend to lurk just a little and get a real laugh out of the many tweets from friends and others that I'm following. I like Twitter (personally) because for me it has that nice mix of personal touches and Library related info (like the ALIA tweets).
As an aside though, I noticed at a recent seminar/conference that sometimes the use of a mobile phone for Tweeting whilst in the auditorium can interefere with the sound system .......
I'm also on Facebook and when I've been lucky enough to be on there at the same time as another friend we have had a nice catch-up. The same has occured with a few of the Nings I'm on - though given that most of my frinds here are in the US it's often a little trickier to get us all together in the one IM space. Facebook for me is probably more about friends but I do have a few Library related organisations that I follow - A Librarian's Guide to Etiquette being just one (okay that one's mainly for the laughs).
Work (Clarence Regional Library) actually bought webcams for all our branches and 3 for HQ staff (lucky me). We subscribed to skype (free) and set up usernames, etc which reflected our Library Positions rather than our names/personalities (I'm 'Information Services Librarian'). As a Regional Library we're pretty far flung and often branch staff simply can't all come together in one space/place (for various reasons including lack of staff, insufficient training budgets, etc) so we invested in some webcams so that we could still get together without having to get in a car and drive for 2 hours. It's worked out great except that by only having a free subscription to Skype we can only video conference between 2 webcams at a time. If we link in a 3rd or 4th (or more) camera/attendee we lose visual and are left with teleconferencing only. For me it's a little bit of a bug but at HQ we work around it by piling staff into one office for a chat with another branch. For more than 2 particpants we resort to teleconferences (and now we've got our new phones and new headsets that should be a lot better - people won't be telling me they can't hear me anymore!!). A big drawback of the webcams though has been that because the mike is on the webcam and sits on top of the monitor (obviously so it can take a lovely reversed image of you) it tends to pick up some of the external office noises a bit which can make conversations a little difficult when you're in a meeting and there's crazy laughter in the background.
Would IM tools be useful in a library?
For us here at HQ obviously these IM tools are useful - webcams, Skype, especially. But I do see an advantage to have IM capabilities for Reference staff - many are the stories of Reference staff being in seminars/conferences and using IM to answer queries from their library's patrons whilst there. I'm a big believer in not being seated at the Reference Desk to answer questions - so many come in through internal LMS modules (eg, Spydus Request module), over the Internet, via email, phone, walking 'round the library, etc. The point to these particular IM tools is being available and accessible and where the user is - not hiding in a library building and demanding the user comes to you - face it, it's just not gonna work! It's the same principle as Slam the Boards - answering Reference queries where the question is being asked and highlighting public libraries while you're at it.
Let's face it, those who are IT savvy are online and asking questions, they're not walking down the road to their local library and they often don't even know where their nearest library is. Not to mention those LGA's who seem to think that having a public library is a waste of rate-payers money. If we cannot meet our community where that community is then we fail to engage fully with our communities. This is why Kevin Rudd Tweets, this is why Barack Obama had a brilliant blog which engaged with America. It's more than clever marketing, it's recognising that if I'm out there in an IM world I'm more inclined to come across someone who wants my help now and whose only access to me (for them) is via one of these many tools and then I can start a relationship with them which leads to them using and accessing my library and perhaps coming back again and again and again.
The challenge for Public Libraries and Local Councils (and their IT departments) in particular is to realise and accept that enabling libraries to go online and use IM tools is fundamental to improving service, engaging with communities, and acknowledging that the local library is an integral element in a community's identity.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
January 18 - more with GoogleDocs
I love GoogleDocs.
I checked out the 100 tips and found the ones relating to Presentations to be the most helpful. Points 64 - syncing with Office, 66 - using Googledocs from my Mobile, and 74 - staging the revelation of bullet points in a presentation - were the ones which I found most useful.
One of the chief criticisms I've had of using GoogleDocs is that sometimes it just won't do what Office products can do ..... obviously changes since its inception mean that now it quite often can and the capability for fuller integration with Office products is great.
At a time when I moved from Tamworth to Grafton I found GoogleDocs to be a complete life saver in so far as it enabled me to continue to be involved in state-wide activities despite my increased remoteness from activity points - planning for a conference, seminar, meeting, etc; writing collaborative presentations/documents; preparing my own presentations which could then be shared for comment/editing before finalisation; minutes for meetings.
I love GoogleDocs.
I checked out the 100 tips and found the ones relating to Presentations to be the most helpful. Points 64 - syncing with Office, 66 - using Googledocs from my Mobile, and 74 - staging the revelation of bullet points in a presentation - were the ones which I found most useful.
One of the chief criticisms I've had of using GoogleDocs is that sometimes it just won't do what Office products can do ..... obviously changes since its inception mean that now it quite often can and the capability for fuller integration with Office products is great.
At a time when I moved from Tamworth to Grafton I found GoogleDocs to be a complete life saver in so far as it enabled me to continue to be involved in state-wide activities despite my increased remoteness from activity points - planning for a conference, seminar, meeting, etc; writing collaborative presentations/documents; preparing my own presentations which could then be shared for comment/editing before finalisation; minutes for meetings.
I love GoogleDocs.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Getting organised with iGoogle
I finally worked out the easiest way of adding a screen shot of my iGoogle page to my blog - knew my coffee-fueled brain would eventually work it out (and yes it was simple). It would be so nice if 'cut & paste' would work but then again, having to think about what it is I'm trying to do as well as looking at the ways others have achieved the same result is also a worthwhile exercise.
So what did I do? I took a screen shot of my iGoogle page and pasted it into a powerpoint document. After I'd shrunk it to a respectable size I then right-clicked on the page/image and saved the picture into the MyPictures folder on my pc. From here I then uploaded the image from my pc into this blog post. Quite simple really but I guess having to come at it from a side angle can be a little disconcerting sometimes especially when I was un
able to simply right-click on my iGoogle page and save it as an image initially. A little round-about but heh, it worked.This second screen shot shows a few of the gadgets I've added reduced to show what I've managed to add to it. I'm a bit dubious now as to whether it actually will do everything I'd like it to do so I may just turn around and explore some of the other options out there.
Later I'm planning to add a Delicious gadget as well as one or two others. I'd like to be able to add straight web-links but I'm yet to work how to do that.
This has been a fun week - it's nice to do something that broadens the brain!!
January 11 - Getting organised
Had fun with iGoogle - the sheer scope of available themes made it hard to choose just one but fun to search for and flick through what was there. I'm sure I'll be back to change my theme againa and again and again. I re-set my Googlemap to default to South Grafton and selected Coffs for my weather section (even though it's always a few degrees cooler there than here at Grafton). I've got a clock, news, and my gmail.
Next I'll just have to work out how to go about adding-in links to my various blogs, etc. Overall, I quite like this application. I can see some changes a'happening!
I checked out Ping and decided that were I far more active on Facebook, Twitter , etc then something like that or any of the 7 ways of managing social networks would be really useful - depending on what I actually wanted to do. What delays me using such tools is that generally I have a different group of friends on the various applications I use and aside from updating profile info (like an email address) across them all I doubt I'd atually want to post the same thing to the all. My use of Facebook is different to my use of Twitter. I have a different range of friends on each and I guess a different use for each. Facebook is more of my 'fun' application, whereas I use Twitter more for Library stuff - I kind of like it that way. Perhaps if my use of my various applications changed then I might make use of these other tools - it's nice to know they're there at least.
I'm not too sure about 43 marks, but I do like All My Favs. I think it's primarily the visual aspect that makes the first relatively unappealing and the other much more appealing.
At this point I'd add a screen shot of my iGoogle page but I'm having troubles with that - perhaps I simply haven't had enough coffee yet. I also have a distinct feeling that the answer is extremely obvious and simple. I know it will come to me...... soon....... maybe.........
When I work it out I'll post it to this blog.
Now I'm off to boil the kettle and pour myself another cup of coffe - I'm bound to be bouncing off the walls by this afternoon!
Next I'll just have to work out how to go about adding-in links to my various blogs, etc. Overall, I quite like this application. I can see some changes a'happening!
I checked out Ping and decided that were I far more active on Facebook, Twitter , etc then something like that or any of the 7 ways of managing social networks would be really useful - depending on what I actually wanted to do. What delays me using such tools is that generally I have a different group of friends on the various applications I use and aside from updating profile info (like an email address) across them all I doubt I'd atually want to post the same thing to the all. My use of Facebook is different to my use of Twitter. I have a different range of friends on each and I guess a different use for each. Facebook is more of my 'fun' application, whereas I use Twitter more for Library stuff - I kind of like it that way. Perhaps if my use of my various applications changed then I might make use of these other tools - it's nice to know they're there at least.
I'm not too sure about 43 marks, but I do like All My Favs. I think it's primarily the visual aspect that makes the first relatively unappealing and the other much more appealing.
At this point I'd add a screen shot of my iGoogle page but I'm having troubles with that - perhaps I simply haven't had enough coffee yet. I also have a distinct feeling that the answer is extremely obvious and simple. I know it will come to me...... soon....... maybe.........
When I work it out I'll post it to this blog.
Now I'm off to boil the kettle and pour myself another cup of coffe - I'm bound to be bouncing off the walls by this afternoon!
Thursday, January 7, 2010
Dec 14 - Event Management
I've been on the receiving end of Doodle (for setting up times for teleconferences), Google Calendar (not so much though as it requires me to use Google Calendar as my regular diary and I tend to use my Outlook calendar instead, perhaps if I was doing a lot more stuff from home I may use it differently), and Eventbrite (eg, the next Readers Advisory seminar, Murder in the Metcalfe, is using Eventbrite to 'sell' tickets).
I like Doodle and Eventbrite as they tend to suit the relevant purpose. Doodle is quick and easy to use (both in setting up and replying to) and you can easily see what dates/times other attendees have selected; the same can be said for Eventbrite, though it has the advantage of also being able to provide agenda details etc.. That, and Eventbrite allows for better event planning based on the number of tickets 'sold'. You know from the outset how many seats are available and can quickly determine if an event needs to be promoted a bit more or if you need to remind people that tickets are going fast so be quick! The fact that respondents can log back in to their booking and make changes is great as is the planning usefulness of obtaining respondents' email addresses.
Within our team here at HQ we make good use of our HQ Outlook calendar to schedule meetings, events, etc. The advantage here is that once I set up an event in the HQ Outlook calendar I can invite myself or various others who also share this calendar to an event/meeting and the info automatically dumps in to my/their calendar - pretty much the same principle as Google Calendar.
(I still live with my desk diary open beside me every day and rarely go to meetings without it, but then again, I'm also a chronic note-taker)
I like Doodle and Eventbrite as they tend to suit the relevant purpose. Doodle is quick and easy to use (both in setting up and replying to) and you can easily see what dates/times other attendees have selected; the same can be said for Eventbrite, though it has the advantage of also being able to provide agenda details etc.. That, and Eventbrite allows for better event planning based on the number of tickets 'sold'. You know from the outset how many seats are available and can quickly determine if an event needs to be promoted a bit more or if you need to remind people that tickets are going fast so be quick! The fact that respondents can log back in to their booking and make changes is great as is the planning usefulness of obtaining respondents' email addresses.
Within our team here at HQ we make good use of our HQ Outlook calendar to schedule meetings, events, etc. The advantage here is that once I set up an event in the HQ Outlook calendar I can invite myself or various others who also share this calendar to an event/meeting and the info automatically dumps in to my/their calendar - pretty much the same principle as Google Calendar.
(I still live with my desk diary open beside me every day and rarely go to meetings without it, but then again, I'm also a chronic note-taker)
Dec 7 - Productivity: more ways with RSS
I answered the various questions relating to this week's activity by commenting on the Learning 2.1 blog.
Overall I appreciate the broad usefulness of RSS feeds and know that depending on my work demands I may or may not use them often.
For me RSS feeds are a useful reference resource that I know is working away in the background collating information from sites I find intersting and helpful. Because I don't check my feeds all that often it can require a bit of trolling to find what I'm looking for but I do have them roughly organised and I do review them every 6 months or so - getting rid of old ones I no longer want and re-organising the ones that are left.
I use GoogleReader and as it works fine for want I want and have had no reason to try any of the others that are there but I may do should I need a little more finesse to my feeds and my use of them.
Overall I appreciate the broad usefulness of RSS feeds and know that depending on my work demands I may or may not use them often.
For me RSS feeds are a useful reference resource that I know is working away in the background collating information from sites I find intersting and helpful. Because I don't check my feeds all that often it can require a bit of trolling to find what I'm looking for but I do have them roughly organised and I do review them every 6 months or so - getting rid of old ones I no longer want and re-organising the ones that are left.
I use GoogleReader and as it works fine for want I want and have had no reason to try any of the others that are there but I may do should I need a little more finesse to my feeds and my use of them.
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