It's said that the brain needs stimulation particularly in mature years. Learning new skills is just part of the challenges facing women once they reach menopausal age. Computer illiteracy is a serious problem as more companies use the internet to convey information to the public. Many of our library users are computer illiterate, with many having had email addresses set up by family members so they can keep in touch. Often they never progress past the basic email, and need help to use the internet for anything else. Friends and library patrons are often amazed when you can find the answer to tricky questions quickly using the net.
In this course I hope to learn more about internet sites so I can show others what the internet offers, and how they can keep in touch with family and friends and find information quickly. I often accessed blogs, without realising what they were until now. Yes it seems an odd statement to make, but how often do you click on a link to someone's web page only to find it is, in reality, a blog.
Within the library enviroment, blogs could be used for many purposes - on line book clubs for out of town readers, new books, local history or just to let people know about the collection. The list is limited only by the librarian's imagination.
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Some great ideas for using blogs in the library environment.
ReplyDeleteMy pet hate with any web pages is the use of the black or dark navy blue backgrounds which make it difficult to read for some people including myself. I usually change the page quickly. It seems to take more concentration to read these pages.
ReplyDeleteAnother pet hate I have of some of the my space pages, and probably other web pages I haven't seen yet, is the use of a picture graphic as a background, then more pics scattered around the page on top of this background and the many different coloured writing which you have to try to distinguish between the pics. Very confusing and extremely difficult to read, but the owner of the page probably thinks it looks good.
Anyway I am enjoying the first exercise and look forward to increasing my knowledge and expertise in this area. The kids today have it over the baby boomers generation when it comes to IT and anything we can do to keep up with them is great.
Hello Marg
ReplyDeleteYes, we (the baby boomers) may take a little more time to pick up and use the latest technology, but as you have shown, we are ready to embrace those technologies which can enhance our lives. Good on you for having a go!
Hi Snow bunny
ReplyDeleteBaby boomers rule! these young ones think they know it all. It surprises them when we show that we aren't the old fuddy duddies they think we are. I love the look on their faces, when one of them comes to me and says, "Miss (what a complement at my age)the computer won't work and I didn't do anything to it" and you fix it up for them. Looks are priceless.
discover an interesting image that you want to write about in your blog. Be sure to include either a link to the image or a copy of the image itself in your blog posting. For the latter, you can either use Blogger's photo upload tool or Flickr's blogging tool
ReplyDeletethis is interesting but the above comments weren't supposed to be there. it was a guide for my exercise. ah well we all make mistakes when we are learning!
ReplyDeleteI note from our course notes that you should always get the person's permission prior to posting their photo on the internet photo site. Imagine the surprise of one of our clients who, when I showed him several pics of his pigs, himself and his home area placed on Flicka by a backpacker who was visiting Cooktown. http://www.flickr.com.search/?q=cooktown&m=tags&page=30 photo no P3070512 is just one pic.
ReplyDeleteAs far as getting the right link for this, I must be missing the plot because, when I look up the "How do I post pictures" in blogger, a really good set of instructions appear. But where to find the same screen or anything that resembles it to get the photo over here is just not happening. Mary help?? I can save the pics to the computer by right clicking them and saving, but to get them here, I am lost.
A few sentences were left out of the previous blog. The client didn't know about the photos being on the net. After his initial shock, he was pleased that I could get them onto a disc for him to print out, as he had lost most of his pics and several pigs had passed on.
ReplyDeleteHowever, there are many other pics of people in Cooktown on the net, without their permission.
It worries me as a domestic violence survivor. Some women and families need to relocate without their violent partener finding them. If their pic appears on a web site, without their knowledge, who knows what can happen.
This was the adventure part of the assisnment. Check this out - last year for the Children's Book Week, we used the theme of the teddy bears picnic and Fuel Your Mind. We got my teddy bear collection and several more little preloved teddies from the local Op Shop. Kindy dhildren played with them during the morning visit, which included story telling, games and munchies. slql2td09 - Cooktown Library
ReplyDeletehttp://www.flickr.com/photos/kai0831/2354270295/
ReplyDeleteHi Mary I think I have it licked now. Can you check this to see if it is a pic of a man and three pigs.
Wikis are a great way of putting info relating to a particular subject etc in the one place. It is easy for the inexperienced used to find information. I notice that students often use Wikipedia instead of the old fashioned encyclopedia we have on the shelf. I checked out several sites and liked the following -
ReplyDelete1. Wookieepedia - The name sounds interesting, almost wacky. In reality it is a web site for Star Wars fans.
2. For all the scrabble fanatics - my friend and I laughed when we Googled Scrabblepedia. It really exists. Scrabblepedia is an online dictionary focused on: 1. The game Scrabble and 2. The website Quadplex on which you can play Scrabble with other users. The information on Scrabblepedia is available for everyone. To be able to edit and add articles, you need to login with an active Quadplex membership.
3.Slq library 2.0: Emerging Media and New Technology Wiki - what I liked about this wiki, apart from being our state library was the ease at finding when and what courses were on. It was easy to navigate around and the information was displayed in a format easy on the eye (some are just too cluttered).
Wikis can be used within the library for many reasons. Students use them for locating information for assignments. I personally like the idea of using them for the book clubs, general information, etc. Like blogs the uses are unlimited - only limited by the Librarian's technophobia - fear or dislike of advanced technology or complex devices, especially computers.
ReplyDeleteHaving an online Book Club through Myspace or a similar social network would be an interesting concept especially for those readers confined to their homes. Members would not only be local library users, but anyone could join from all around the world.
ReplyDeleteSocial networks would enable libraries to share ideas, display photographs etc. One would have to be discrete about displaying photographs of people.
The only downfall I can really see is the amount of personal information that can be inadvertently shared on these networks, and the fact that someone you don't know can access your profile. It does have a good side to it as you can contact other users who have similar interests. My family tree is on the net and many members of the family contact each other through Facebook. We have never met, but we have been able to complete the tree back to 1560 via the contacts made in Facebook. Current personal information is restricted to essential info, but earlier dates and names [prior to 1900] are listed.
RSS and newsreaders - Google Reader and Bloglines - How easy it is to use Google Reader for specific subject searches. Most times I got what I wanted quickly and in the first page. Bloglines is interesting and will be a useful tool with the regular updates from my selected sites. I chose some recommended by Mary, some relating to my favourite hobbies - genealogy and crochet / craft.
ReplyDeleteThese two sites will be used in my library for the library funnies which we regularly display for the enjoyment of our customers, and hopefully for a Quote of the day board which has been suggested. The uses of both in training new staff with OPAL training will be good for new staff.
I added the SLQ and ANL blogs to keep up with with was happening.
I can see bloglines replacing the "daily individual community email" in time to come. Library blogs would be a great easy way to communicate with customers and staff especially from other libraries about the coming events, new books, training etc.
The fact that you can get updates on your fav sites regularly, must reduce the amount of mail in an email in box. The downside of both these sites, is that you need to access both sites to initially add the blog addresses to your feeds, but once this is done, it is an easy and fast method of delivering updated information on a regular basis.
To check out what I have put in my Blogline click on the Blogline button below.
ReplyDelete