A round up of the 23 Things program and process:
I've loved how everyone has got into doing the tasks - alright the movie tickets were a stroke of inspiration but it worked - and then people found it was quite enjoyable!
I've loved how it has levelled everyone's knowledge about internet applications, social networking, second life, etc. It's improved skills and helped grow individual's confidence in learning and acquiring new skills.
It's been a great opportunity to play with things in a work context.
I love scanning the horizon but time pressure is frustrating. I admire the work and detail that some people have been able to inject into their blog posts. Whereas my meagre efforts look pretty lean...
I've loved finding out about people's interests, and am so impressed by my colleagues creativity.
Thanks, it's been great!
Feb 14, 2008
Second life and libraries
Really can't see the point... what makes libraries in a virtual world better/more interesting/sexier that reality. And if it is better than reality is that because it is all an illusion? One's imagination always IS better/more interesting/sexier.
I think my personality is much more grounded in interactions with real people. I know it is a useful levelling space for people with disabilities or maybe those who find real life social interaction difficult for a variety of reasons. That's great for them but I'm not sure Second Life is a place I want to spend my professional, or personal, time.
I think my personality is much more grounded in interactions with real people. I know it is a useful levelling space for people with disabilities or maybe those who find real life social interaction difficult for a variety of reasons. That's great for them but I'm not sure Second Life is a place I want to spend my professional, or personal, time.
You tube
Saw a handycam video of someone's vacation in Amsterdam. They were obviously impressed with the new Amsterdam Public Library. Looks lovely and shiny and new! Even a performance space for musicians to play. Even though it is obviously pretty shaky camera work the application of You Tube allows us to look at new spaces and buildings that we would not be able to readily visit. (how's the staff development budget looking??)
Library 2.0
So much written and spoken about this topic - and almost too complex to craft a sensible response in this venue. Aspects like making the "next generation" library catalogue iterations easier for users to discover library resources I see as really positive. Although, unfortunately, not quite "there" yet...
Placement of libraries into Facebook and MySpace I have reservations about - as in are we going to look too "try hard" - the nerdy kid playing at cool. Although after hearing Micheal Geitz's presentation at VALA who would think that 20,000 people would join to defend copyright in Canada - just from a Facebook presence.
As with any "movement" there will be people polarised into simplistic for and against camps, and then there will be the great spectrum of those feeling in between. I'm one of the in-between-ers. It's about scanning the horizon to check what we might want to pick up, and what to leave. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. But it is about being aware of what is happening in the world and talking about the possibilities.
Placement of libraries into Facebook and MySpace I have reservations about - as in are we going to look too "try hard" - the nerdy kid playing at cool. Although after hearing Micheal Geitz's presentation at VALA who would think that 20,000 people would join to defend copyright in Canada - just from a Facebook presence.
As with any "movement" there will be people polarised into simplistic for and against camps, and then there will be the great spectrum of those feeling in between. I'm one of the in-between-ers. It's about scanning the horizon to check what we might want to pick up, and what to leave. It doesn't have to be all or nothing. But it is about being aware of what is happening in the world and talking about the possibilities.
del.icio.us
I always like to see what other people are interested in - often finding out things that I never knew existed! Liked the Lifehack.org tab. Liked the idea that it connected up a whole range of webpages, flikr photos, etc Good place to get info or to find out more about a particular topic - amazing range of content.
iGoogle personalised page
This task was great fun because it put together elements of my "favourites" list and made it into one page so I won't have to do multiple clicks to get to the currency converter, for example. I think I'll make it my default webpage.
I've got ABC and BBC news stories, word of the day, weather, google maps, calendar, currency converter. I might change the BBC news to Science top stories - already get that on email but might be better to get through iGoogle and loose the email clutter.
It was nice to be able to add the themes to add colour. I chose the "tea house" theme. Very restful.
I've got ABC and BBC news stories, word of the day, weather, google maps, calendar, currency converter. I might change the BBC news to Science top stories - already get that on email but might be better to get through iGoogle and loose the email clutter.
It was nice to be able to add the themes to add colour. I chose the "tea house" theme. Very restful.
Google Book search
Book Search really appeals to the historian in me. When I did work on early modern european history I was particularly interested in cultural practices. For example, what did it mean to be a "gentleman". And there were a lot of advice manuals telling men how to achieve this state - and we're talking 17th century - so self improvement books are not a new phenomena!
So, how does this relate to Book search? Well, by having access to primary textual material that may have only been available in limited numbers of library collections. I did a search on housekeeping and brought back works on American housekeeping from mid 1800's. Ease of access to this material saves an enormous amount of time and provides richer understandings because more material is available to be used. Really positive application of web resources.
So, how does this relate to Book search? Well, by having access to primary textual material that may have only been available in limited numbers of library collections. I did a search on housekeeping and brought back works on American housekeeping from mid 1800's. Ease of access to this material saves an enormous amount of time and provides richer understandings because more material is available to be used. Really positive application of web resources.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)