Are we there yet Ringo?

Almost finished, phew. I'm still trying to chat with colleagues via Google Talk, but thought I'd post initial impressions of the program and my favourites.
IMHO, the program is extremely relevant to Librarians and anyone really working with students. I've even noticed that I can better communicate (in brief monosyllabic speech of course) with no. 1 son who's 12+ He uses a few gadgets I'm now familiar with so that's a bonus! Some applications I don't think I will spend too much time on but the following I really enjoyed and found useful:

Blogs - interesting and a little self-indulgent but fun. Flick - I already used it before the program and think it is great, especially when travelling or if relatives etc are OS. Facebook - not keen but can see the value in interacting socially with colleagues. Google Maps - useful as more and more maps are now online. You Tube - what more need be said - one of the top sites on the Web and can be used for teaching purposes rather than just idiotic "look at me" videos. Google Talk and the other products seem really useful and I'll use them with mates. I get the feeling there are a lot of applications on the Web such as Meebo that are now consolidating or mashing together various applications to make it easier to access 'stuff' All in all a fun activity.

Library Services should utilise some of the social networking applications both to keep us using the tools and developing our skills and become exemplars in the use of the technology.

Google Talk

I quite like the concept of IM and am trying it out with son of-sonofringo. IM could be very useful for instant messages to Library staff or discrete groups instead of the backwards and forwarding of emails. Bring it on!

Podcasts

An interesting and relevant Podcast from the ABC is Career Path. Worth a listen (and they are only up to 10 minutes in duration).

New take on social networking!

I just love this YouTube video as it contains everything that is good about material on YouTube: it's short, funny and smart. I know it's not about libraries or information retrieval but I like it. Nuff said!!

ncludr

The awesomest Social Networking site, ever!

Adventures in WikiWikiLand

I've just posted Dash the Dog onto the VU Wikibrary page (and she looks nice too!). That worked well.
However, trying to edit MM's birdie, I pixellated the crap out of it. Now that didn't work so well. It just goes to show how anyone can stuff up a Wiki post. What's the old saying: a little knowledge is dangerous.
The good thing is MM can re-post her image and all's well.

Digital Natives

According to the lead article from Education Review's Technology Guide (supplement to Campus Review, Tuesday 30 Sept. 2008), "This year's crop of Year 12 students was born at the same time as the first web browser" Hell, I remember starting to use MSWindows in the late eighties and thinking it was 'grouse'. Then again, I started filing into a library card catalogue so I've seen a few changes in my working life. Where to next?

Library 2.0

Let's start by looking at the principles of Library 2.0 (from Wikipedia) :

1. Browser + Web 2.0 Applications + Connectivity = Full-featured OPAC (It's a real pity we haven't rolled out Encore as the users, I suspect, would find it fresh and easy to use - I've left all of our Thin Clients on the Encore page to see what the students do. Interestingly, the few that have tried it find it very useful once they realise they are searching the VU catalogue).

2. Harness the library user in both design and implementation of services (Have we really attempted this yet?).

3. Library users should be able to craft and modify library provided services (Now this is interesting - the question is what services? PC bookings for example?).

4. Harvest and integrate ideas and products from peripheral fields into library service models (This sounds spot on but what)

5. Continue to examine and improve services and be willing to replace them at any time with newer and better services (It seems to me VU is very good at doing this - we are a New School of Thought!!).

Delicious things!

I've just played around with Delicious (www.delicious.com). I really like it and found I can easily add bookmarks. Not so hot - I'm not sure I can use phrases as Tags. Instead, I've created a larger Tag (eg: digitialcameras) - must be the German in me - for www.dpreview.com.

IMGP5857

IMGP5857
Originally uploaded by Photography by Frank R. Reardon

Great photo Frank. I also have a Pentax K10D with the standard 18-50 Sigma lens. I've put a few photos on Flickr - search for sonofringo.
Cheers
Ringo

Roll up, roll up to the slideshow

As you can see I've added my Flickr images. Cool hey. More to follow!
Ringo

Tunnel Creek

Tunnel Creek
Originally uploaded by Sonofringo

This is a photo I took in 2001 of Tunnel Creek in far northern Western Australia (near Derby). A very beautiful but eerie and mystical place. For more photos on Flickr.com, just search for sonofringo.

RSS - Love It

I've set up some RSS feeds in iGoogle. This keeps me informed of what's what but how do I link it from here?

Smash my Face(book)!!!

What an apparent waste of time F@@ebook is turning out to be. Most of the applications do not add value to me or are in any way appear useful to me and my (real) world. As for online friends, who cares - I'd rather spend face-to-face time with my mates, friends, family than interactions on F@@ebook - can you have a beer with online friends?. I've discussed this with a colleague tonight - is it a generational thing - I'm not sure.

As for real applications to real situations, let's cast a critical eye over the VU site. Should we really be here and is it educational? Mmmm, lots of social stuff - another time waster perhaps or another way to approach students?

As for Library applications, at least one can be in the 'space' that students are in, real or online. Putting information (catalogue, new material) out there is not a bad idea - again it's how you do it and what value our students get out of it. Do they look at hard information or are they more interested in the social networking possibilities?

As for MySpace, I'm not sure I want another social site to waste my time on! Perhaps I should get a second opinion from my 16 year old!

Gotta go and feed the dog!

Part II

After reading comments etc. in Thoughts on privacy and libraries and social networks on the blog on http://distlib.blogs.com/distlib/2006/05/thoughts_on_pri.html, it is a question of push don't ram information for students on social networks such as MySpace and Facebook!

That iGoogle Thingy

I quite like iGoogle but there's a lot of add ons that don't seem relevant. At least the gadgets I like can be grouped.