YouTube and the Library

YouTube seems to be filled with videos that can be divided up into the good, the bad and the ugly. I had my doubts about YouTube but I can see it has it benefits. YouTube can be used to promote your Library (or organisation). YouTube can be used to promote new initiatives within the organisation. For example UniSA Library has used it to promote the Law Library. Features from YouTube that could be used on the Library website include a link to streamed videos. Videos could also be used to promote other library services such as specific databases and opening hours, but the list is endless.
At a time when Iran is putting limits on what the media is reporting this social technology is being used to show what the current situation is.

I thought this video might put a smile on your face.

Web 2.0 Awards

I have had a trawl throgh the long list of nominees for the Web 2.0 Awards. These are a list of my contenders and why (remembering that they may be used in a Library setting):
dabble db: This would be useful when creating group reports or projects.
EditGrid and Zoho : Allows the user to work collaboratively on a spreadsheet. Zoho also allows you to do reports, word applications, chat, wiki, virtual office and project management.
Pageflakes: I love the interface for this. Pageflakes allows you to check your email, the weather, news, upcoming events and also your social networking through Twitter and Facebook. The page can be customized to suit your needs. This wins my award. This is the ultimate homepage. There was a similar site called Goowy but the link did not work.

This one is not for the Library list but it would also be good to catch up with the programmes I have missed from the BBC through BBC iPlayer.

Wikis

I had my doubts about wikis but now I am sold. The main problem I have is that anybody can edit them but this may actually be an advantage. Wikis would be especially useful for subject guides, annotating the catalog and for either a staff project or staff intranet.
A wiki for a subject guide would allow staff and students to to edit and recommend useful links. A useful one to look at on subject guides is SJCPL Subject Guides. The wiki is well layed out.
Patrons could post synopses and reviews of books if a wiki link was included in the catalog. I could not find an example of one though.
I tried in vain to find edit and include my favourite blog (my own!!!!!!) in sandbox but no luck. I will not give in to it.

Del.icio.us

Well I started out doing Technorati and tags. I ended up changing my mind and playing with Del.icio.us instead. Del.icio.us is a social bookmarking manager, which allows you to bookmark web pages and also add tags to categorize the bookmarks.
At first I thought it was a bit over rated, but once you get into it I liked it. I really like the explore function, which allows you to search what other users have tagged and what websites they have bookmarked.
The ability to find your favourite websites (and even tagged) on any computer has got to be a positive. If you would like to have a look at my Del.icio.us attempt then here it is. I hope to add more to the measly total of 7 tags.

Another one to look at...

It's funny when you are doing the 23Things that you begin to think about the social technologies more and more. If you have not already done so you may want to have a look at the current InCite edition. There are a number of articles in Webb's Web and also professional development and social technologies. One to definitely look at would be Blog launch lets you have your say about librarian 2.0. This looks at the changing skill and knowledge requirements of LIS professionals in Australia and the adoption of web 2.0 based services and technologies in libraries in Australia.

Week 5: Play week

I enjoyed using the online Image Generator. I preferred using the Generator Blog (which allows you to manipulate image and graphics), but also liked the Warholizer in FD Toys. I did not use Letter James.

I have set up my own LibraryThing account and I have started to add books. This allows you to create an online catalog of your own. A widget has been added to display titles from my catalog. I did not like the search facility on LibraryThing. For example, when you type in an author, such as Ian Banks, it does not bring up relevant hits. This would be good for students/staff to use so they can remember what they have borrowed or used for assignments.

I briefly looked at Rollyo (which allows you to create your own search tool). The free photos link did not work. This is the one I wanted to use.

Week 5: Play Week

I don't know in what context you could possibly want to use what looks like a lego man for the library, but I had fun putting it together. This was completed using MiniMizer (see post below).

Week 5: Play Week

And another thing I was playing on: http://www.reasonablyclever.com/mm2/mini2.swf

Week 5: Play Week

Pizap: free online photo editor. Have a look at this one and work out who it is: http://www.pizap.com/gallery_display_page.php?imagename=pizap.com0.172326679807156321243840897076.jpg

Week 5: PLay Week

Side view generator. See what Library comes up with: http://en.genzu.net/sokumen/