Saturday, August 30, 2008

Library Thing

This has been an interesting and fun exercise. Could spend a lot of pleasant time on this site looking up different authors. It is great to be able to see the book covers as this can help if you are wondering if you have read a book before or not!I have spent time clicking on lots on this site and really like it. If I had time I would be completing a catalogue of all my books. For libraries this site would be excellent for patrons to use - to add books they have read and look up different authors for something new.
I have added 6 books today.
http://www.librarything.com/catalog/lizziealbert

Friday, August 29, 2008

Image Generators

I did have fun with this exercise, but also frustration as it took soooooo long! I was trying to do this for nearly 2 hours yesterday but the internet was so slow and I didn't get finished. Today, hopefully, success! Somehow I got my design from being in Glowtext yesterday, onto a flag today! Do I feel better - will I sleep tonight? It has tried my patience!

http://makesweet.com/mixer/wdeJDSxMAL

Thursday, August 28, 2008

Sandbox wiki

Someone told me that this would be easy. Well, once again the demo videos didn't work for me.
It is a website that lets people share ideas and views on whatever they are interested in. I searched for cruises and got lots of results. Would love to take up the option on one! Tried to see the wetpaint video 'New In Town', but it didn't work properly. Heard about 6 words and then it stopped - then another 6 words and stop. Gave up on that.
With more time to spare I would probably get around this site okay. It does seem relatively easy to navigate.

Monday, August 25, 2008

Wikis

So, firstly, Wiki is a Hawaiian word and means quickly. Oh to be in Hawaii and not here trying to fathom out these exercises!
Wikis are good in that all info can be edited, changed or rewritten by users or members of the site. When new information is found on a subject, it can be added straight away.( Unlike a book which has several processes to go through before being republished.) If a person has knowledge on a subject they can add an entry about it. If there is already an entry but more information is known, it can be edited in. A big disadvantage is that someone can edit out things they don't agree with. Nothing is checked on, so really, this site is not a good one for students who need accurate and up to date information. There are so many other, reliable websites to look at.
I went into book lovers wiki and thought it good. Being able to see a certain genre straight away was a handy thing. However, information about a book to be read for relaxation, is not as important as being able to get true information for assignments.
So, in summing up - Wikis are interesting for pooling information, but not to be taken too seriously.

Web 2.0 and Library 2.0

I watched the video, which showed how much and how fast things are changing in the world of technology. Also read 'away from the Icebergs' and the 'OCLS newsletter'. What does it mean to me? Well, it is all quite mind boggling. I am aware that libraries are run so differently from 10 years ago, when life was so simple and one just borrowed one book at a time! Technology is a major part of libraries now and this fact is something that will grow as years go past.Patrons are already using access to collections and databases on line as they can do this without leaving home. However, libraries are and will remain very important to the community. Books are here to stay. Having access to up to date information via websites will be an important part of life but certainly not as cosy as curling up in a favourite chair with a great book.Some of you will no doubt be in the digital age with your new toys, but I don't possess one digital item and they are just not on my list of must haves in life. I prefer contact with real people and real books, not machines. The rest of my life will not be wasted in front of a computer screen, in isolation!
Last words on this - well, I agree that libraries will be able to serve many patrons with all the info they have now and everything that they will be able to access as it comes on line.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

Technorati

This has been quite a frustrating experience. The help video wouldn't play, so not a good start!
So many times trying to do a keyword search for 'learning 2.0' and getting "error when running your search". Finally got 9.864 results, which reduced to 900.
I explored popular blog. There were too many results to wade through. 627.847 for Environment!
In Blog Directory I came across the TMZ.com - official site for the latest entertainment news etc. Clicked into celebrity tag and there were 2411 blogs about celebrity gossip. Learnt that Brad Pitt had a day out with his Mum and Zahara. Also that Catherine Zeta Jones was is South Wales for her Grandmother's funeral.
Choosing the tv programme 'CSI Miami', I got 5573 results in directory which reduced to 499 in posts and then 34 in blogs.
This is a very busy site and I would have liked a pilot with me the whole time I was in it! Not a site I will use. Too time-consuming.

Monday, August 18, 2008

Del.icio.us

After spending some time looking at this site, I can see that some people will like it.
For library use, tags would be good for patrons to quickly find books of whichever genre they like to read. Sometimes patrons prefer books with a certain type of character or set in a particular country. Perhaps these would be easy to find if they were tagged.
The social bookmarking idea will no doubt go down well with some people, like teachers or members of certain clubs.
Being able to access the bookmarks from anywhere will no doubt be appreciated by some individuals.
However, I still think this sort of thing is for someone who has all day to sit at a computer. Very time consuming. Me - I have other things to do in my day. I have my few trusted sites which I use on the computer for research, and won't be using this at all.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

RSS Feeds

This took a little while to understand, but hopefully I now have a handle on it!
I don't think I will ever use this but I will know what it is all about should someone start talking about it to me! Library patrons could find it good as they could get lists of new books available and find out what events are to be held in the libraries.

Monday, August 11, 2008

Technology

When we got our first computer I thought that I would be using it for typing ordinary letters, as corrections are easier to do than on a typewriter! However, after a very short time I was able to send emails, and then attach photos. I still find it amazing, that what I write is almost immediately on the other side of the world! Some people do their shopping and banking on the internet, but I'm not into that just yet. The online information available is second to none and I find Google Earth absolutely amazing.
http://earth.google.com/

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Postcard Browser

Searching through Flicker applications I came across the Postcard Browser. By putting the word cat in the search box, lots of photos came up. I loved looking at all the different characters. There are some really cool cats in there.
http://www.airtightinteractive.com/projects/flickr_postcard_browser/

Monday, August 4, 2008

Flowers from Flickr

I chose this lovely photo because sunflowers give off happy, sunny feelings. It would be super to have this many of them in my own garden! Click on the site to see for yourself.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/claudio_ar/2077867996/

Sunday, August 3, 2008

First Thoughts

The day has come to experience a blog site. I started out very puzzled and wondered how long it would take for my brain to get on track! However, with some patient tutoring I now feel that I will be able to cope with the exercises ahead. This is one journey that will start at a slow speed and hopefully, eventually, move a little faster!