For those of us who are responsible for compiling PLEG data the whole point of this week's tasks is fairly obvious - statistics tell a story all their own which provides necessary background material (and often justification) to various projects, etc.
I count myself lucky, I guess, in that I feel comfortable with this scenario - I've used Survey Monkey to create evaluation forms for training I've presented to library staff, I've replied to other surveys which have been created using Survey Monkey, I've analysed Google Analytics data and been impressed with the picture it provides and the ease of use, I've gotten to the point where it's second nature to demand some sort of evaluation tool for every online service we provide. I use Google Alerts.
This is something of an odd week for me then in regards to some of the tasks we're being asked to complete - mmm, done that one, got that one, have two of those...... I like that though - makes me feel like I'm on the right track and that I have realised and accepted the importance, the cleverness, of evaluation tools - even on my blog.
I suppose I also like the idea that whilst I may not be learning anything terribly "new" to me and have very little to complete in regards to any of the suggested activities, there is still that sense of validation in my attitude to evaluation and the way I already use it within my work. This week has managed to make me feel good about me - thankyou.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
Nov 9 - Delicious
I found this week's focus on Delicious to be really helpful. I've explored Delicious a whole lot more as a result, linked it to my Twitter account, and generally had fun.
I'd really like to find tags and link all bookmarks using those particular tags to my Delicious account rather than find the url and then link them but it may just be the way I was approaching things today (being Friday).
I already had a rather simple tag cloud on my blog but now I've put the tagroll and linkroll and placed them all together under my tweets to see how they look. Once I decide which one I like best I may delete the others but in the meantime my blog is getting pretty crowded there along the side.
The instructions for the various activities this week were really straightforward and easy to follow - especially for someone who, though I've used Delicious a little bit, is not a regular user.
Wonder what we're up for next week? Can't wait!!
I'd really like to find tags and link all bookmarks using those particular tags to my Delicious account rather than find the url and then link them but it may just be the way I was approaching things today (being Friday).
I already had a rather simple tag cloud on my blog but now I've put the tagroll and linkroll and placed them all together under my tweets to see how they look. Once I decide which one I like best I may delete the others but in the meantime my blog is getting pretty crowded there along the side.
The instructions for the various activities this week were really straightforward and easy to follow - especially for someone who, though I've used Delicious a little bit, is not a regular user.
Wonder what we're up for next week? Can't wait!!
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Nov 2 - Twitter - explore
Played around with searching for 'library', 'librarian' and 'libraries' in Twitter - found 'librarian' to be the more interesting set of results (quite enjoyed the "effing librarian" and his rant about the future of libraries, am now considering buying a cafepress shirt with the words "effing right I'm a Librarian" printed across the front but not too sure I should wear it in front of my children). Curious to note that the "Wine Library' scored high up in the list in the "library" search. Generally found the 'library' and 'libraries' searches provided different results but also somewhat "boring" results - all had images (mostly logos) but there was little to inspire me to click on any of the entries - perhaps that's something libraries need to consider when they have Twitter accounts : how we look to the outside world, what will make someone new come be our friend and follow us??
Nov 2 - Twitter - discover
Yep, I skipped Explore and have gone straight for Discover (I'll get back to 'explore' a little later).
1. have had a Twitter account for a while - but it was fun to update my profile settings and change a few details about myself and also the background (bit of a theme at the moment). Oh yeah, I added my blog url in too.
2. agree that tweeting at 140 words or less can be a challenge but have found I can overcome the challenge by breaking down what I want to say into short chunks and do a couple of posts all at once. I enjoy the challenge of being concise though and admit to being a non-abbreviating poster too - perhaps once I started abbreviating I'll find it easier
3. now following a few people - Chrystie Hill, Ellen, ALIA, etc.
4. used the '#nswlearning2.1" tag into a post but noted that Twitter didn't seem to like the dot between the 2 and the 1 - I can search for the full tag but it doesn't hyperlink well from within the post itself - something to remember for future tweet tagging
5. linked my flickr account to Twitter - connectivity plus!
may go and explore now
1. have had a Twitter account for a while - but it was fun to update my profile settings and change a few details about myself and also the background (bit of a theme at the moment). Oh yeah, I added my blog url in too.
2. agree that tweeting at 140 words or less can be a challenge but have found I can overcome the challenge by breaking down what I want to say into short chunks and do a couple of posts all at once. I enjoy the challenge of being concise though and admit to being a non-abbreviating poster too - perhaps once I started abbreviating I'll find it easier
3. now following a few people - Chrystie Hill, Ellen, ALIA, etc.
4. used the '#nswlearning2.1" tag into a post but noted that Twitter didn't seem to like the dot between the 2 and the 1 - I can search for the full tag but it doesn't hyperlink well from within the post itself - something to remember for future tweet tagging
5. linked my flickr account to Twitter - connectivity plus!
may go and explore now
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Oct 20 - blog renewal
Explore
How much have I blogged since Learning 2.0? - not a lot of contribution to my own blogs but certainly a fair bit of contribution to others', including wikis, nings, etc
What do I like about blogging? - the immedicay, the colour & vibrancy, the reflection of myself
Have I found other blogs to read? - oh yeah, heaps. Some I follow, others I check in on every now and then. I have set up various rss feeds but I find I don't use that so often anymore, rather I hit on things on my way past and file them away for later
Do I comment on others' blogs? - yes and no. It really depends on the writer and the topic. Sometimes the best comment is silence.
Adventure
Okay, I found a 3rd party template to use. Tried one site but it wasn't easy, flicked through another, decided on Pyzam - love the images but found the manipulation of html a bit of a headache - I didn't want to lose all the widgets I had already created so I had to save my first template's html somewhere else and then work out where in the new lot of html to insert my widgets back in - and make it work. Took me a while but I got there in the end - thank goodness for the 'preview' button and 'clear edits'. I love the available images from Pyzam but had difficulty getting rid of unwanted text - in hindsight probably should not have done the editing in html at all as I'm hardly html savvy.
Still - does it look good to you??
I have to admit though that rejuvenating my blog has given me cause to continue to rejuvenate myself with the 2.1 experience.
How much have I blogged since Learning 2.0? - not a lot of contribution to my own blogs but certainly a fair bit of contribution to others', including wikis, nings, etc
What do I like about blogging? - the immedicay, the colour & vibrancy, the reflection of myself
Have I found other blogs to read? - oh yeah, heaps. Some I follow, others I check in on every now and then. I have set up various rss feeds but I find I don't use that so often anymore, rather I hit on things on my way past and file them away for later
Do I comment on others' blogs? - yes and no. It really depends on the writer and the topic. Sometimes the best comment is silence.
Adventure
Okay, I found a 3rd party template to use. Tried one site but it wasn't easy, flicked through another, decided on Pyzam - love the images but found the manipulation of html a bit of a headache - I didn't want to lose all the widgets I had already created so I had to save my first template's html somewhere else and then work out where in the new lot of html to insert my widgets back in - and make it work. Took me a while but I got there in the end - thank goodness for the 'preview' button and 'clear edits'. I love the available images from Pyzam but had difficulty getting rid of unwanted text - in hindsight probably should not have done the editing in html at all as I'm hardly html savvy.
Still - does it look good to you??
I have to admit though that rejuvenating my blog has given me cause to continue to rejuvenate myself with the 2.1 experience.
Learning 2.1 - back in the hot seat.
Well, well, well. Here we are again. It's great to see a new edition of the Learning 2.0 program begin and I'm quite excited about exploring Learning 2.1 - should be fun. Thanks and congratulations to Mylee & Ellen for pushing forward with this and for continuing to expose and explore the 2.? world.
I've completed the survey and noted the few areas i'm still a 'new user' so I'll try to make the effort to give those areas a bit more of a go when possible. Looking forward to it.
My contribution today (staff meeting in 6 minutes) is a new look for my blog ...... okay, I'm not too sure how long the pink is going to last but it's the least I can do for pink ribbon day yesterday (aside from the cupcakes and yummies we ate).
I've completed the survey and noted the few areas i'm still a 'new user' so I'll try to make the effort to give those areas a bit more of a go when possible. Looking forward to it.
My contribution today (staff meeting in 6 minutes) is a new look for my blog ...... okay, I'm not too sure how long the pink is going to last but it's the least I can do for pink ribbon day yesterday (aside from the cupcakes and yummies we ate).
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
The time and place of social networking in our lives
Over the last few weeks, if not months, I've struggled with finding time to get all that needs to be done at work (and home too I guess) done. These last 2 weeks I've found time from somehwere and it's been great to have that sense of achievement - of being able to contribute where I'd like to be contributing. Though I do sense the fog closing in soon.
The oft' cried complaint is that we simply have no time for things - we're busy getting the job done, using loads of social networking tools and other technologies to enhance our work flows and processes and yet we find that there's still more to do each day. Yesterday I found myslef scrambling to accept that 5 o'clock had come round, I simply wasn't ready for it - still so much left to do and the day had gone (still trying to work out where it went - think it may have gone fishing with the rest of my family out on the river.....). In this current clime we're being asked to do more with less, and less. New technologies help us achieve these results but we still need the time to get used to how they operate, else we look foolish (or worse). By taking the time out to write this blog post I delay getting another task completed. By attending an all-day meeting tomorrow I delay getting even more stuff done, yet I need to go to the meeting in order to achieve other outcomes. Just as I need to keep contributing to my blog in order to restore my skills and abilities. The benefit is there, it'll just take a little while to filter through as a benefit.
Perhaps that's what we forget most when spending precious moments using social networking tools, contributing to blogs and wikis and nings and so on - there is a benefit to this activity, it isn't necessarily immediate and whilst it may take a little while for that benefit to filter through, the act of contributing and collaborating with others on the journey is certainly felt and appreciated.
I look back and see that it's over 12 months since I last wrote in this space and yet here I am - I have written in other spaces and explored other avenues but it's certainly rewarding to come back and look over my journey and know it's been a worthwhile one.
The oft' cried complaint is that we simply have no time for things - we're busy getting the job done, using loads of social networking tools and other technologies to enhance our work flows and processes and yet we find that there's still more to do each day. Yesterday I found myslef scrambling to accept that 5 o'clock had come round, I simply wasn't ready for it - still so much left to do and the day had gone (still trying to work out where it went - think it may have gone fishing with the rest of my family out on the river.....). In this current clime we're being asked to do more with less, and less. New technologies help us achieve these results but we still need the time to get used to how they operate, else we look foolish (or worse). By taking the time out to write this blog post I delay getting another task completed. By attending an all-day meeting tomorrow I delay getting even more stuff done, yet I need to go to the meeting in order to achieve other outcomes. Just as I need to keep contributing to my blog in order to restore my skills and abilities. The benefit is there, it'll just take a little while to filter through as a benefit.
Perhaps that's what we forget most when spending precious moments using social networking tools, contributing to blogs and wikis and nings and so on - there is a benefit to this activity, it isn't necessarily immediate and whilst it may take a little while for that benefit to filter through, the act of contributing and collaborating with others on the journey is certainly felt and appreciated.
I look back and see that it's over 12 months since I last wrote in this space and yet here I am - I have written in other spaces and explored other avenues but it's certainly rewarding to come back and look over my journey and know it's been a worthwhile one.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Readers Advisory Meeting, Tamworth City Library, 29th July, 2008.
meeting opened 2pm
Present:
Ellen Forsyth (State Library), Nicole Don (Richmond Tweed), Surinder Kaur (Coffs Harbour), Linda Brenton (Coffs Harbour), Valerie Phillips (Cessnock), Kim Shepherd (Wingecarribee), Michelle Hudson (Kiama), Frances Riva (Ashfield), Philip Edney (Burwood), Helen Cowen (Wingecarribee - Bowral), Martin Mantle (Armidale), Wendy Millar (Central Northern - Tamworth), Kate Nalder (Central Northern - Tamworth), Howard Boyle (Southern Tablelands), Cathy Johnston (Clarence), Jenn Martin (Auburn - remote via GoogleDocs)
Apologies:
Charina Kofod (Holroyd), Virginia Ghezi (Camden), Jo Smith (Lake Macquarie), Merilyn Hills (Hornsby), Joan Ingram (Singleton), Ros Dorsman (Central West), Chantal Birt (Central West), Jasmine Vidler (Central West)
Agenda:
- Report on planning for Readers Week in September.
- Ideas inspired by Learning 2.0.
- Ideas for shared resources
- RA wiki, RA blog & RISG/RA Forum
- Slam the Boards! & RA
- Next chapter: public libraries in Australia and New Zealand for older generations, State Library of New South Wales 1-2 May 2009.
- Communication - reference e-list ; aliaREAD
Readers Week (Jenn Martin)
Mark the occasion at your library with some of the suggestions compiled by the NSW Readers Advisory Working Group, available from the Readers Advisory Wiki: http://readersadvisory.wetpaint.com/page/Readers+Week+-+September
Members of the public can get involved by making their own motivational reading posters, which can be displayed in libraries (or elsewhere!).
Called Reading Around Our Region, a flickr group has been set up to collect posters created by library users all over NSW.
We can encourage our customers to support and celebrate reading this September by making their own Motivational Reading Poster and sharing!
Basic Instructions:
1. Join the flickr group
2. Take a photo that expresses how you feel about reading
3. Create a poster featuring your image at Big Huge Labs by using their Motivator mashup for flickr
4. Add the poster to the flickr group pool and tag it with rwmot so that we can keep track of all the wonderful posters that everyone is creating
5. Check and see if your local library is running a competition for the best motivational Reading poster - there could be goodies and prestige in it for you!
The motivator poster generator is here: http://bighugelabs.com/flickr/motivator.phpThe Reading Around Our Region flickr group is here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/779314@N25/
And the instructions for the public on how to create their own poster are here: http://attachments.wetpaintserv.us/Ag6zaoJMr2LxgBjO%2BD%24KqQ%3D%3D96768
You can also post your photos of Readers Week events here: http://www.flickr.com/groups/537199@N21/All links relating to the NSW Readers Advisory Working Group can also be found here: http://delicious.com/librarycreature/nswreadersadvisoryworkinggroupHappy Reading!
Ideas inspired by Learning 2.0
http://nswpubliclibrarieslearning2.blogspot.com/
Comments from around the room indicated that not everyone had finished the Learning 2.0 program; Ellen that new participants were signing up each week so the program is continuing to be a dynamic learning ground for all things 2.0;Considering the range of 2.0 tools currently being used around the state it was clear that this training program has been extremely useful and productive.RA wiki, RA blog, RISG/RA Forum, Mashups (refer Readers Week), flickr, GoogleDocs (minutes being taken using Googledocs to allow participation by remote attendees), etc.......everyone asked to consider how they could/do apply Web 2.0 in their library/Librarian environment
Ideas for shared resources
Promoting resources you can access online - look at the RA wiki & blog for some useful urls (aliaREAD,etc), please suggest others;Martin (Armidale) suggested a humorous books list on the RA wiki, books that make you laugh, consideration for readers week list? - books that are upbeat, a feel good list;also websites and specialist booksellers - please feel free to add them to the wiki
RA wiki & RA / RISG Forum
RA blog (http://www.nsw-risg.org/rablog/)RA wiki (http://readersadvisory.wetpaint.com/)RISG/RA Forum (http://www.nsw-risg.org/forum/)These urls are also located on the RA wiki; try them out - different tools for different applications
Slam the Boards! & RA (Cathy Johnston)
Answer Boards and social searching is a Learning 2.0 Week 8 activity - http://nswpubliclibrarieslearning2.blogspot.com/ ; http://nswpubliclibrarieslearning21.blogspot.com/2008/03/week-8-answer-boards-and-social.html ;
This is not just a reference tool - eg. Yahoo Answers - Arts & Humantities - Books and Authors - http://answers.yahoo.com/dir/;_ylt=AhGTa5DQIMwR1xn4Ir0RjLiExQt.;_ylv=3?link=list&sid=396545299
It makes a great practice tool
It makes a great training training tool
Join the Answer Boards Librarians - http://answerboards.wetpaint.com/page/Participating+Librarians
Ask a question
Answer a question - using our tools (eg. NoveList, etc)
Pick a 'best answer'
Get a 'best answer'
Next chapter: public libraries in Australia and New Zealand for older generations, State Library of New South Wales 1-2 May 2009. (Ellen Forsyth)
The call for papers is out now (closes 26 September - http://www.auslib.com.au/pdfs/Callforpapers2009.pdf).
It would be great to have a couple of RA papers on the program.
There are three groups of older folk - leading edge baby boomers (55 - 60 something), well aged (fit aged) and frail aged. There are RA services for all of these groups.
This could also be an opportunity to look at starting some research around RA services for older folk.
Points to consider when it comes to our Seniors clientele - reduced numbers of LP books (delay in best sellers/new releases being available in alternative formats - fiction & non-fiction); TB's - listening for the narrator rather than the story/author; pressures from increased populations in various areas (balancing collections to meet this demand whilst also continuing to service existing clients, ie. making sure YA doesn't miss out due to increased demands from increased seniors); keeping technologies up with the demand (Navigators).
Research? - existing bookgroups; ageing populations (ie, north coast retirement 'hot spots' - eg. Yamba/Iluka);
The language of ageing; careful terminology - what is seniors? (baby boomers, fit aged, frail aged); targetet/specific services (eg. housebound), accidental services (eg. reading groups where it just so happens that the attendees fall within the 'seniors' framework); social isolation;
Strategies; balancing need/demand/local dynamics - retirement villages, nursing homes, frail-aged-staying-at-home;
Assumptions - 'good book, well written', Granny (aged 90) might not want Catherine Cookson, she may prefer Darren Shan ......... remember the basic principles of RA, it's all about what the customer wants, not what you think they need
Communication
Reference e-list; aliaREAD; Ellen will send out instructions again to PLN e-list on joining the various e-lists; anyone can join aliaREAD - go to ALIA site (check link on RA wiki), digest/individual posts availableIt is important that all staff have the availability of these e-lists; a reminder to ensure that staff receiving one (eg. reference) know to make that list available to others who may not be on the list; these lists are our primary points of communication for upcoming events, seminars, Readers Week, feedback, etc - please spread the word
What are you reading right now?
(the fun bit!!)
TS Eliot; JK Rowling / Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows; Loani Prior/Wild Tea CosiesDavid Sedaris/Naked; Richard North Patterson/Conviction; Oscar Wilde/The Picture of Dorian GrayMax Lucado/Finding Your Sweet Spot; Irene Nemirovsky/Suite FrancaisJohn Wyndham/Chocky; Orson SCott Card/Enders Game; John Mrasden/CheckersCatherine Jinks/A Gentleman's Garden; Elizabeth Gilbert/Eat, Pray, Love; Caroline Hamilton/ConsumedKim Edwards/The Memory Keeper's Daughter; Jodi Picoult/Change of HeartDorothy Dunnet/Niccolo RisingSusan Vreeland/Girl in Hyacinth BlueSuperannuation; selection of Australian fictionKathryn Fox/Without Consent; Maria V. Schneider/Poison StudyNational Geographic, June issue; Marcus Zusak/The Book Thief; Nino Cullotta/They're a Weird MobDream time and meditation; Steve Light/I am Happy - touch & feel picture book of feelingsNick Hornby/A Long Way Down; iphone for Dummies; Sebastian Faulks/Devil May CareConnie Willis/The Doomsday BookTerry Jones/Barbarians; Patrick Rothfuss/The Name of the WindCormac McCarthy/The Road; Margaret Atwood/Oryx and Crake
Meeting closed 4pm
Date and venue for next meeting yet to be determined.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
kids and reptiles mosaic
In exploring options for the upcoming Readers Week 2008 I put together this mashup of my favourite reptiles and of course my favourite children....... now, applying that to Reading????
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