Create a blog post about your findings. What did you find interesting? What types of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki?
Interesting?
I found one of the university wikkis to be interesting in terms of the way if joins related information in a different way - a wikki will be aimed at a particular user or interest and has a specific focus, but within which a lot of ground is covered because it allows multiple viewpoints and interpretations, and is not static. The main difference between a wikki and a uni website is that input is up to the person adding, and not filtered in any way.
I enjoyed the worldcat wikki - as a reader being able to read reviews from negative to positive rather than just being given one view, and limited to published, very liberating - the same would apply to a library wikki giving access to readers to comment on works in their collections and the library itself.
A problem I found a few times was that links didn't go anywhere - one to Teaching Writing with Technology led to a message saying the URL couldn't be found - so cluttering could be a problem, tidying up links would need to be built in.
The wikki that was for people who use wikkis was good - being able to select different wikkis from a list and compare them was both informative and a useful tool.
Library applications?
- feedback into the collection via comments from users, reviews, suggestions
- subject areas - leading to items in the collection, all formats, websites, databases - the application to subject guides would be exciting
- links to areas outside the library which would be of interest/concern to users? - putting the library in a larger context, not just the university? - and allowing academic and student input - not sure how this would work but it would be a very alive, democratic place which would appeal to students - obviously this would need further development to avoid problems with vandalism, inaccuracy.
Friday, July 25, 2008
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Week 4
Adventure - (remember this is an OPTIONAL activity)
Add a news feed to your own blog.
Sign in to your blog
Go to layout
Click on ‘add a page element’
Add a ‘feed’ to your blog (eg an ABC news feed)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DailyWritingTips
Problem - Layout does not have an 'add a page element' ....
Add a news feed to your own blog.
Sign in to your blog
Go to layout
Click on ‘add a page element’
Add a ‘feed’ to your blog (eg an ABC news feed)
http://feeds.feedburner.com/DailyWritingTips
Problem - Layout does not have an 'add a page element' ....
Week 4
Explore: - In your blog, create an entry that reflects on what you searched for and what you found. If you are stuck, you can use these questions to help start you out:
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
- it makes it easier to keep up with updates in sites that cover issues where keeping an eye on what is happening is important, and it allows focus in that I was able to pick a no. of different places for specific areas of interest - this may be obvious to an internet native, but to an immigrant like me this is still empowering - though there is always the risk of getting carried away and getting information overload. I think self-discipline would be important.
It is another way of keeping up with the news, quickly, but given a choice I would still prefer sit with a newspaper and a cup of tea in the sun ....
What sites did you select for your RSS reader?
Library sites, a writing site, ABC TV guide, and a daily quote site - as well as the Powerhouse site.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work?
To keep up with new information resources, sources and practices, because it is still constantly changing and it is vital we keep up with our students and academic staff - this seems an efficient way to do it.
RSS feeds from book suppliers, publishers, sites to do with new publications could be valuable, especially when it is possible to specify particular subject areas.
RSS feeds from others working in the same area as I am is a means of accessing others solutions to shared problems and successes - thinking here of things like customer service issues, insufficient resources and time and strategies for dealing with that.
On a personal level - my desire to somehow link my love of writing to my job will be helped, I hope, by the link to a site aimed at writers and readers - this is more a personal career application than specifically library orientated.
How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
In our library an opportunity for library users to have an RSS feed from our library blog, when/if we do it, would mean new library information would reach those who elected to take it up more quickly. This would be letting people know about changing opening hours, reading lists requests, changes to library procedures/policies (or reminders of old ones), research skills training programs, new books in the library - lots of things.
Did you find any good examples of other library blogs?
Everywhere.
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
- it makes it easier to keep up with updates in sites that cover issues where keeping an eye on what is happening is important, and it allows focus in that I was able to pick a no. of different places for specific areas of interest - this may be obvious to an internet native, but to an immigrant like me this is still empowering - though there is always the risk of getting carried away and getting information overload. I think self-discipline would be important.
It is another way of keeping up with the news, quickly, but given a choice I would still prefer sit with a newspaper and a cup of tea in the sun ....
What sites did you select for your RSS reader?
Library sites, a writing site, ABC TV guide, and a daily quote site - as well as the Powerhouse site.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work?
To keep up with new information resources, sources and practices, because it is still constantly changing and it is vital we keep up with our students and academic staff - this seems an efficient way to do it.
RSS feeds from book suppliers, publishers, sites to do with new publications could be valuable, especially when it is possible to specify particular subject areas.
RSS feeds from others working in the same area as I am is a means of accessing others solutions to shared problems and successes - thinking here of things like customer service issues, insufficient resources and time and strategies for dealing with that.
On a personal level - my desire to somehow link my love of writing to my job will be helped, I hope, by the link to a site aimed at writers and readers - this is more a personal career application than specifically library orientated.
How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
In our library an opportunity for library users to have an RSS feed from our library blog, when/if we do it, would mean new library information would reach those who elected to take it up more quickly. This would be letting people know about changing opening hours, reading lists requests, changes to library procedures/policies (or reminders of old ones), research skills training programs, new books in the library - lots of things.
Did you find any good examples of other library blogs?
Everywhere.
My overall impression is that it takes a while to learn how to do it but what you get in the end is worth it - and once it is set up and going that things get easier. I think this is an exciting tool - and being able to add images adds substantially to what can be accomplished with a library blog in terms of range of information, how good a page can be made to look, and how it can add further value to text.
I haven't added tags to my photos yet - because I am not sure about the uni ones.
I haven't added tags to my photos yet - because I am not sure about the uni ones.
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Fixing/editing a post
To fix spelling mistakes etc. have to open a new post, and click on edit - I am putting this here because i keep forgetting where it is.
secret step
the extra bit of information is that some sites don't seem to allow the images to be uploaded - which is probably the authors choice. Clicking on Embed should have at least three or four lines to copy - if its just one, it's not enough!
Copy photo
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27088621@N00/546496796/
Another test - the solution to this was in one of the many, many help pages I looked through - the secret is to go into your own account at Flickr, find a photo, bring up the main versionof it, and click on the Share this photo tab on the right - an option will come up to go to an email, or embed - select, and enter into your new posting - now to see if it works for me ...
Another test - the solution to this was in one of the many, many help pages I looked through - the secret is to go into your own account at Flickr, find a photo, bring up the main versionof it, and click on the Share this photo tab on the right - an option will come up to go to an email, or embed - select, and enter into your new posting - now to see if it works for me ...
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