I was involved with something very close to instant messaging a couple of years ago when I did the Internet-based Family History course offered by CAVAL. There was a time set each week for typed chat between the tutor and students enrolled in the course (usually two or three went on line).
Instant messaging as a means of delivering reference information as demonstrated by the University of North Carolina Library would be a useful addition to the suite of services offered by a large institution, and in tune with today's 'instant' society. It has advantages over the phoned or emailed enquiry in that the interaction allows immediate clarification of the client's requirements if required.
I know that Skype is a service used by several people in the local community who have family overseas. A very effective and economical alternative to phoning.
And today's political debate is an interesting example of a tweitter discussion!
Thank you for the course, Ellen and Mylee and associates.
I hate giving up on the course but because I don't use the Web 2.0 and 2.1 tools I am finding it increasingly hard to bluff my way through. And it isn't really being very honest anyway. For people who have embraced Web 2.0 this would have been an excellent follow-up and extension exercise.
Maybe I'll try and get back to mash-ups one day as that it the only week I really haven't done anything about but for the moment .. back to the circulation desk and sorting out the housebound books ....
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
On the Wild Side ....
Everyone who interacts with the Internet will have been subject to scams and phishing attempts. I won't open emails or attachments unless I know the sender (too bad about the useful things I miss...) and have anti-virus software and various firewalls as installed by my computer technician.
I had a message appear on my screen one day saying that my computer was under virus attack and I should download a protective package. Thankfully I remembered about never opening something I hadn't asked for or knew the provenance of and consulted the technician. I got a lecture about how all such messages were avenues to virus infection and I should just ignore them, but at least I hadn't clicked on the attachment and so no harm resulted. It was just after I had downloaded a poem from a site for a client and the suggestion is that that left my computer vulnerable. But it is hard - the poem was the answer to a legitimate reference enquiry.
I had a message appear on my screen one day saying that my computer was under virus attack and I should download a protective package. Thankfully I remembered about never opening something I hadn't asked for or knew the provenance of and consulted the technician. I got a lecture about how all such messages were avenues to virus infection and I should just ignore them, but at least I hadn't clicked on the attachment and so no harm resulted. It was just after I had downloaded a poem from a site for a client and the suggestion is that that left my computer vulnerable. But it is hard - the poem was the answer to a legitimate reference enquiry.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
GoogleDocs is good medicine ....
I proffer this as evidence that I did create a form in GoogleDocs
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFhFVjY4UVp5Rl8wVG81VWdGbzctTHc6MA
I was one of those who thought GoogleDocs had great possibilities, not least because of being part of a Regional library in an earlier life. However the one time I was invited to particpate in creating a document via GoogleDocs it didn't work for me. But I still think in theory it is a great application!!
I had a look at the "list of 100 great Google doc tips" and thought the editing tips the most useful. Being able to make changes at the same time and sharing without emailing is at the heart of what makes GoogleDocs really useful. The ability to view various versions over time and if necessary choose "revert to this one" is very practical. And I rather thought I read somewhere that it was possible to colour-code alterations from individuals which would allow one to identify who was making the 'strongest' contributions and who was perhaps altering the underlying philosophy or didn't quite understand the intention of the document. And if I did imagine this it would be a useful refinement ....
http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform?formkey=dFhFVjY4UVp5Rl8wVG81VWdGbzctTHc6MA
I was one of those who thought GoogleDocs had great possibilities, not least because of being part of a Regional library in an earlier life. However the one time I was invited to particpate in creating a document via GoogleDocs it didn't work for me. But I still think in theory it is a great application!!
I had a look at the "list of 100 great Google doc tips" and thought the editing tips the most useful. Being able to make changes at the same time and sharing without emailing is at the heart of what makes GoogleDocs really useful. The ability to view various versions over time and if necessary choose "revert to this one" is very practical. And I rather thought I read somewhere that it was possible to colour-code alterations from individuals which would allow one to identify who was making the 'strongest' contributions and who was perhaps altering the underlying philosophy or didn't quite understand the intention of the document. And if I did imagine this it would be a useful refinement ....
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
IGoogle, IDo!
I did try to print my screen to show off my IGoogle page but despite doing my best to follow the Internet Centre Manager's instructions nothing happened so back to the verbal approach .... the Tea house theme for the background, plus ABC News, BBC News, a ToDo window and the Sydney Weather Radar (I would have liked to find something closer to home but haven't managed it thus far .....). Actually it looked OK and had the sorts of things that I would find useful when coupled with some of the defaults.
If I was someone who used the Internet a lot, particularly the social uses, the IGoogle would be very useful at the personal level. I don't know that it has as much application in professional usage but the plethora of sources and services available as part of Web 2.0/1 makes such a management tool almost essential for anyone who is asignificant Internet user. As the notes say it is like a private web page. Professionally the widgets would not be appropriate and the social contacts would be much more streamlined so not the same need for a management aid.
I looked briefly at the others mentioned but thought that iGoogle with its blending of social and informational resources would be my choice. Shareoholic looked very useful for managing social links.
If I was someone who used the Internet a lot, particularly the social uses, the IGoogle would be very useful at the personal level. I don't know that it has as much application in professional usage but the plethora of sources and services available as part of Web 2.0/1 makes such a management tool almost essential for anyone who is asignificant Internet user. As the notes say it is like a private web page. Professionally the widgets would not be appropriate and the social contacts would be much more streamlined so not the same need for a management aid.
I looked briefly at the others mentioned but thought that iGoogle with its blending of social and informational resources would be my choice. Shareoholic looked very useful for managing social links.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Doodling sans pencil ......
http://www.doodle.com/summary.html?pollId=fxgpn7ywrvsa8kh2">
This is my proof that I did try and set up a Doodle and embed it in my blog and was ready to send an invitation to nswpln@gmail.com. Maybe I will try again later .....
Doodle seemed to me to be a close relative of Google Docs when as an online group one worked out a mutually agreeable document whereas here the group works out a mutually agreeable set of meeting dates. It would be very useful in a large and/or dispersed organisation (e.g. multi-site library).
Google calendar looked very useful and I liked the way that you can have different calendars for different target audiences. Automatic reminders and offline access are a bonus.
I looked at Eventbrite etc. Anyvite seemed to be more directed to the private user and to offer assistance with designing your invitation with various pro formas although you could share your completed invitation and receive RSVPs, etc. Eventful and Eventbrite are more for the big event and more an announcement forum than for creation of invitations/notices. There are also clearer options for bookings and payments. Eventful seemed more used for arts-related events while Eventbrite was more general - even more commercial - in orientation. Eventbrite offered 198 events near Sydney, sorted by location, category and date (today/this week/this month). Eventful didn't show any Sydney events but there were a number from Melbourne.
Of the three Anyvite would be most useful to this library, but is unlikely to be used.
This is my proof that I did try and set up a Doodle and embed it in my blog and was ready to send an invitation to nswpln@gmail.com. Maybe I will try again later .....
Doodle seemed to me to be a close relative of Google Docs when as an online group one worked out a mutually agreeable document whereas here the group works out a mutually agreeable set of meeting dates. It would be very useful in a large and/or dispersed organisation (e.g. multi-site library).
Google calendar looked very useful and I liked the way that you can have different calendars for different target audiences. Automatic reminders and offline access are a bonus.
I looked at Eventbrite etc. Anyvite seemed to be more directed to the private user and to offer assistance with designing your invitation with various pro formas although you could share your completed invitation and receive RSVPs, etc. Eventful and Eventbrite are more for the big event and more an announcement forum than for creation of invitations/notices. There are also clearer options for bookings and payments. Eventful seemed more used for arts-related events while Eventbrite was more general - even more commercial - in orientation. Eventbrite offered 198 events near Sydney, sorted by location, category and date (today/this week/this month). Eventful didn't show any Sydney events but there were a number from Melbourne.
Of the three Anyvite would be most useful to this library, but is unlikely to be used.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
A(nother) Productivity Report .....
As I don't actually use RSS it may be a little difficult to bluff my way through this week's unit .... I did set up the requuired five feeds last year and at least some of them worked.
The filtering of RSS feeds is a logical next step in the battle to survive the information explosion. RSS feeds themselves were an attempt to do this and putting in filters is the next step in sifting out what might be of use - a sieving of the sieve ...... With the emphasis on social networking which characterizes the Web these days, the sharing of RSS feeds along with everything else makes sense. If a set of sites/information is useful to you then it should be useful to others sharing your interests or professional milieu. And if you share your set with others and have the option on theirs in return, then it is more efficient all round.
I had a look at most of the suggested sites. FeedRinse (what an appropriate name!) seemed the best option in that it allowed different types of filters to be set (whereas FeedSift-filters just used keywords) and the home page had lots of information for the starting user.
I think my own computer probably send me enough reminders and Spreed made my eyes sore - I thought it verged on the gimmicky.
The flexibility of having RSS feeds sent to different destinations also makes sense. For instance Twitter seems to have largely replaced the traditional email for some users so RSS to Twitter would be more useful for them.
I checked for Google alerts today and there were another dozen, mainly to do with Weddin Shire. Somehow I need to establish "Grenfell Public Library" as a string because I got a couple of alerts with the words separated by other terms and hence not relevant.
The filtering of RSS feeds is a logical next step in the battle to survive the information explosion. RSS feeds themselves were an attempt to do this and putting in filters is the next step in sifting out what might be of use - a sieving of the sieve ...... With the emphasis on social networking which characterizes the Web these days, the sharing of RSS feeds along with everything else makes sense. If a set of sites/information is useful to you then it should be useful to others sharing your interests or professional milieu. And if you share your set with others and have the option on theirs in return, then it is more efficient all round.
I had a look at most of the suggested sites. FeedRinse (what an appropriate name!) seemed the best option in that it allowed different types of filters to be set (whereas FeedSift-filters just used keywords) and the home page had lots of information for the starting user.
I think my own computer probably send me enough reminders and Spreed made my eyes sore - I thought it verged on the gimmicky.
The flexibility of having RSS feeds sent to different destinations also makes sense. For instance Twitter seems to have largely replaced the traditional email for some users so RSS to Twitter would be more useful for them.
I checked for Google alerts today and there were another dozen, mainly to do with Weddin Shire. Somehow I need to establish "Grenfell Public Library" as a string because I got a couple of alerts with the words separated by other terms and hence not relevant.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Of slideshows, screencasting and digital storytelling.
As someone who has never put together a Powerpoint presentation it's all out of my league but it was interesting to look at the examples. I'm certainly not up to the Adventure!!
I rather liked the Culture Shock stories - a chance to be really creative rather than just dashing off a quick thought to inform someone or sell something, principally one's self , which seems to be what much of the Web is about.
I tried a couple of searches on Slideshare and feel that there is some good information out there. For example searching on "libraries" brought up such useful items as "Non Technical Introduction to CrossRef for Libraries (139 views, 18 downloads) and "Branding for Public Libraries (57 views, 9 downloads). I also experimented with "Alaska" and "Christmas". If slideshows are actually created for a presentation then they will have been put together with some care to meet the requirements of a specific audience and so the content may be of higher quality than some Web resources.
And of course being able to acess a presentation on the Web when you missed the original presentation would be very convenient - and cost-effective for funding authorities as a tempting substitute for sending delegates ...!! The animated versions are more powerful and the "Searching for Articles" from Academic Research would be a very useful piece for those requiring that information.
Slideshows are to the other elements on the Web as CDROMs or cassettes, etc are to books - another format. They become useful when they can be searched by search engines just as the alternate formats in a library are useful when they can be located by the catalogue. Can they contribute to RSS feeds or some other alerting service? - that would add to their usefulness.
By the way, there has been one Google Alert for "Weddin Shire" (the lead story in the local newspaper).
I rather liked the Culture Shock stories - a chance to be really creative rather than just dashing off a quick thought to inform someone or sell something, principally one's self , which seems to be what much of the Web is about.
I tried a couple of searches on Slideshare and feel that there is some good information out there. For example searching on "libraries" brought up such useful items as "Non Technical Introduction to CrossRef for Libraries (139 views, 18 downloads) and "Branding for Public Libraries (57 views, 9 downloads). I also experimented with "Alaska" and "Christmas". If slideshows are actually created for a presentation then they will have been put together with some care to meet the requirements of a specific audience and so the content may be of higher quality than some Web resources.
And of course being able to acess a presentation on the Web when you missed the original presentation would be very convenient - and cost-effective for funding authorities as a tempting substitute for sending delegates ...!! The animated versions are more powerful and the "Searching for Articles" from Academic Research would be a very useful piece for those requiring that information.
Slideshows are to the other elements on the Web as CDROMs or cassettes, etc are to books - another format. They become useful when they can be searched by search engines just as the alternate formats in a library are useful when they can be located by the catalogue. Can they contribute to RSS feeds or some other alerting service? - that would add to their usefulness.
By the way, there has been one Google Alert for "Weddin Shire" (the lead story in the local newspaper).
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