Wednesday, 20 November 2013

Monday, 11 November 2013

Exercise 16 - Comment on Teacher's blog

Teacher's blog about current awareness/trends/issues

Automated Book Delivery System and Virtual Browse
This YouTube clip is about the use of Robots (ABDS) and Virtual Browse in the Hunt Library, North Carolina University, USA.
The Hunt Library has 4 robots that travel up and down 18 metre long aisles retrieving and depositing books. There are 2 million books stacked in large bins that are electronically tagged and this uses up one ninth of the space of normal library shelving. Books most often used remain on the shelves, a total of 40,000.
Virtual browsing allows the user to look at a book online as if they were looking at it on a shelf. This is called a virtual book shelf.  Users can search for books online using their phone or ipad as they would do in a normal library.

Before watching these clips I didn't know of ABDS and Virtual Browse. As a student of Library studies it is important that I am aware of current trends and issues in the industry so that when I work in library/information services I will have the knowledge and terminology of what is available.
For libraries with large collections that are short on space the ABDS is a viable option. Using Virtual browsing is similar to using online databases in a normal library.

Filter Bubbles
A filter bubble is what has been tailored for you.  This is why two people googling the same subject will come up with different pages and links.  The presenter of this clip talks of the importance of users receiving  information that is valuable and gives them a sense of public life and not just 'junk food' pages and links.

I did know of filter bubbles before watching the clip and it would be great if we were not exposed to so much junk on the internet. It would save our time because we wouldn't have to read it, remove it and that would give us more time and energy to read and analyse the quality and important information on the net.

Annette Smith

Sunday, 10 November 2013

Exercise 14 - inviting others to comment on your blog

Others' comments

I have invited Noeleen Ellevsen, Robert Green, and Joanne Farrar to comment on my blog.

Exercise 13 - changing the arrangement of your blog

Changing the arrangement of my blog

I went into Layout, clicked on Template Designer and increased widths and decided to go back to the original width.
I decided to keep it simple. I prefer to work with a simple layout.





Exercise 12 - changing the colour of your blog

Changing the colour of my blog

Initially my blog background was one of the Travel templates.

I changed my blog to a Simple template with a blue background.  I chose this one because blue is a calming colour.




Exercise 11 - Recommendations

Recommendations for the use of Web 2.0 technology at Woollahra Library

For the new library in Double Bay I would recommend the use of more social networking to help librarians share information with patrons:-
Local Studies
-Historical photos with as much information added as possible, to be posted on the library's Flickr page.
-Woollahra library to set up a blog so interested members can contribute and collaborate with others, learn and share their information.  Some users may have ancestors who lived, worked, and served in the Woollahra area and may be able to contribute interesting and valuable information.

Children's Services 
RSS feeds are available for upcoming Library Events such as Storytimes, new Junior Fiction books and DVDs. 
-The parents of younger children could also be contacted via Facebook and Twitter.
-For those who miss Children's Library events, videos and podcasts could be made available to look at from the comfort of their home.

Teenage/Youth
This age bracket is all embracing of web 2.0 technology and well suited to using all kinds of technology.
-Blogs could be set up for teenagers and youth for discussions about books, current affairs that affect teenagers, health issues and so on. Blogs create conversations.
-A wiki site would be good for teenagers because there is no defined owner or leader, it allows structure to emerge according to the needs of the users.  Teenagers could work in collaboration with other teenagers to add, modify or delete content. The subject/s of the wiki site could be decided by the Library or a group of teenage members.
-Teens could join library facebook or twitter sites to add comments on what they are reading and watching.
-YouTube clips could be created by local youth/teenagers and be made available by a click of the mouse on the library website.  The creators could choose their topics and the staff at the library would view the clip before it is uploaded to ensure the content is suitable for users.
-The library could create podcasts that feature teens discussing their favourite games, books, interests.

Adult Fiction
-The library could use blogging to engage groups of readers to discuss their views on books, enhance their knowledge of new books on the market and share information.
-They could use aNobii which helps book lovers to share reviews and recommendations.
-To give a visual dimension to Adult Fiction, YouTube clips or podcasts could be created by library staff and include updates and summaries of new books, information about authors and events.

Information/Reference
Reference material needs to be updated regularly because it needs to be the most up to date information.
-RSS feeds are a good way of disseminating information for Reference material. 
-The library could also use Twitter and Facebook to notify users of updates.

Information about library events is delivered via podcasts, videos, YouTube, Flickr, and RSS feeds.
-All kinds of information about the library could be delivered via Facebook and Twitter.

Saturday, 2 November 2013

Exercise 15 - commenting on other blogs

Noeleen Ellevsen

Exercise 9 - community profile
I love the way Noeleen describes Warringah as the 'insular peninsula'.  The shire (Sutherland) is described as insular and now I know that Warringah is the same. It is interesting that many Tibetan refugees now live in the area and it's great that there are services provided for them.
Noeleen has used her wit to describe the incident at her son's school about the child who burst into tears because he was picked to be Tony Abbott!
Exercise 10 - evaluation
Your evaluation of Warringah Library's use of web 2.0 technology is good.
The situation is the same at Woollahra Library where they advertise YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter symbols on their website but they are just a link to Woollahra Council's accounts.  Customers cannot engage in dialogue with their library via 2.0 technologies.

Robert Green

Exercise 10 - evaluation
Bob's evaluation of Sutherland library shows that it is similar to Woollahra in that they do not have a lot of library 2.0 available, however the Sutherland Shire Council provides residents with eight (8) library branches within the 'shire'.
Exercise 11 - recommendations
Bob has brought up a very important issue regarding social media and children/teens. That is the protection of this group of young people from paedophiles and online bullying. Librarians must always be vigilant to protect their clients.

Jo Farrar

Exercise 10 - evauluation
Manly library Local Studies have a web log that allows readers to join in discussion regarding any topic in the area of history/family. This is a great way for interested parties to share and collaborate!
Children's Services - there are no web logs. Jo agrees with this so children are encouraged to go to the library to read and to interact with library, librarians and other children. Plenty of time for them to use social media and computers.  I agree with Jo.
Exercise 11 - recommendations
Jo has included some interesting information from the New York Public Library about what they offer clients. On their facebook page children can add a photo of themselves in their storybook character costume.  I clicked on the link to their Pinterest site and found headings such as  'What NYPL is Reading',  'Picture of the Day' and' Literary Greats'. The information is useful and current.


Annette Smith