Videos Online

This You Tube video about Lester Public Library is simple yet endearing. It's great to get the public involved (in this case by being interviewed and giving their personal views on what they like about their library). Another way of getting the public involved is by producing their own videos on the library. A competition would encourage entries.

More Google

Google Translate would be useful for ESL library members while they are getting used to using English as well as library members who are learning a foreign language. This is what Licence 2 Drive Part B #5 More Google looks like in French. The translation isn't perfect but it is still useful.

I found a full-text copy of Hamlet on Google Books. Shakespearean plays are easy to find - this would be useful for students. However, more recent full-view books are not as easy to find.

i-Google allows you customise your Google page which makes it a bit more fun and personal.

Book clubs based in libraries could use Google Calendars for meeting dates.

Google Maps looks so easy to use. It would be great for planning the itinerary for an upcoming overseas trip, for example. As for library applications, it would be good for showing library branch locations and mobile library stops.

Web browsers

I like Firefox the best for all the reasons shown in Brian Tong's What is the best web browser? (mainly because it is faster than Internet Explorer) and Cooliris is a great Firefox add-on for displaying photos and videos.

Podcasts & audio

I like the ABC's streaming and podcasts. As I don't have unlimited downloads on my plan, I tend to check for my favorite programs once every couple of weeks or so and stream ones that appeal to me rather than choose programs to download on a regular basis.
It is also good to be aware of some of the other dedicated podcast search engines and directories available which I will explore further when I have more time.
I sometimes check SLQ's podcasts for events that I may have missed. I sometimes check other state libraries' podcasts as well for library related events to keep up with current developments.

Mashups

Mapping mashups look pretty useful and could be applied in many library situations e.g. locations of mobile library stops. I wasn't aware of the real estate mashup SuburbView before - what an easy way to see what's going on in your local area. The day they took the photos for Google Maps in our street was just after the wheelie bins had been emptied so everything looks a bit messy. You could probably use this site if you were doing an informaton literacy session on searching online for real estate.

Out of all the mashups I looked at on the MashUp Awards site, I like twonvert the best even though I don't twitter yet. It allows you to convert text into sms shorthand. I went to the site and converted some text- it would be pretty useful.

Online applications and tools

It's really interesting to see so many new 2.0 tools coming out that make it so easy to add content to the web and share this content. Some that I hadn't heard of before and that I will use from now on are Zamzar that allows you to convert file formats without needing to download software, Picnik for photo editing which is simple and intuitive to use and Ta-da List for a place to keep all your lists.

Some free webconferencing apps worth looking at are DimDim and Yugma. Doodle would be a useful tool for scheduling meetings.

Slideshare is great. While searching for library 2.0 there I came across this presentation by Mylee Joseph from Public Library Services which looks at ways libraries are using 2.0 tools http://www.slideshare.net/PublicLibraryServices/libraries-and-collaboration-with-local-government-nsw-public-sphere-2009 It is quite good.

Folksonomies & Tagging

I think that delicious would be useful for reference. In the delicious account that I created for this 191session isdtref , I have started to add some useful reference sites including AskNow's delicious site from nla which I think is excellent. I like that way that the site that I have just created can be accessed from any computer and can be shared e.g. in this case the reference team would have access to the password and could add and edit sites as required. Tag clouds are great.

When I searched for bookmobile in keyword in Technorati I got 191 hits and in advanced phrase search 188 hits so keyword probably picks up bookmobiles as well.

I already have a personal Library Thing account so I didn't create a new one for this exercise. I really like it as I often forget the title or author of good books that I have read. I rate them and add the image of the exact cover of the book that I have read if it is available as it makes it easier to find. I had a look at Shelfari - it looks good too but I'm happy to stick with Library Thing.

RSS Feeds

RSS feeds are good for keeping up to date with areas of interest - information comes to you in the one place saving you time. I selected the following sites for my Feed:- OPAL Training Blog, Photo of the day (for something light), ABS 4 Libraries, John Oxley Library Blog and Hi Tech by Gadget Girl (Jennifer Dudley who is The Courier-Mail's technology editor).

I can see how we could use RSS Feeds at work in our staff team blog for professional development to keep up to date with library issues and new technologies.

Yarra Plenty Library has a few blogs including a Local History blog and a genealogy blog. Their genealogy blog is very good and it incorporates many useful links on the side. National Library of New Zealand has a great blog called Create Readers Blog. It is a children's and YA literature blog with an empasis on motivating and engaging young readers.

Social Networking in Libraries

I can see how libraries can use social networking to promote library activities and collections. The following are some good examples:
National Library of New Zealand uses Twitter as does Hennepin County Library .
Many libraries use Facebook for this purpose too e.g. Charlotte & Mecklenburg County .

Mashable is a great website that allows you to keep up with the latest social media developments.

Wikis

I really liked the Mint Wiki from the Mint Museum, Nth Carolina. It clearly states what the wiki is for and has a lot of carefully selected info and links on each exhibition. It is one of the few wikis I have seen that is current e.g. it has information on upcoming exhibitions.
As for a wiki with library content, I like Possible Next Generation Catalogs. State Library of Tasmania's catalog is worth looking at. The catalog makes a suggestion if spelling is incorrect like Google and Amazons do and is really user friendly.
I couldn't work out how to access the Wisconsin Heritage wiki.
I think that wikis are great for the library to set up for book clubs - for posting reviews, putting up links to all things book-related, even showing members how to create their own wiki.

Smiley face moon

I found this photo on Flickr. I can remember being out on the verandah just looking up at the sky and discovering this for myself - I only became aware of media coverage on this event later on. I was quite excited and actually took a photo myself. This photo was taken in Brisbane on 1 December 2008 when Venus, Jupiter and the crescent moon looked for all the world like a smiley face. Check out Smiley face moon on Flickr along with other great photos of Brisbane by this photgrapher.

Ready to begin exploring

Learning is a continuous process and as a boomer I am constantly amazed at how much there is still out there that I want to explore. I have eclectic tastes and am always curious to know more so I suppose I am a lifelong learner. As for Library 2.0, I am mainly a spectator in that I read blogs, watch videos and listen to podcasts that relate to this field. Sometimes I post to a work-related blog and post comments to what others have posted. I have a Library Thing account where I keep track of my favourite books (I am an avid reader - both fiction and non-fiction although mainly non-fiction) and I also have a de.li.cious account where I have some of my favourite websites tagged. I am keen to participate in this programme as I would like to move more from being
a spectator to being a more active participant - I'd like to be more connected. I know I still have alot to learn. This is the first blog that I have created.