The final word.

I would like to add a last, seperate entry just to say that I will now finalise the course by completing the feedback survey and revisiting the self assessment (which appears to be part of the feedback survey).

Despite the fact that I am having a bit of a career change I would still very much like to recieve a certificate (if you I consider that I have passed and qualify for one).

My personal email is chris.brimble@gmail.com
My personal mobile is 0412 801 645

I will be working at PITIC (Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission) www.pitic.org.au.

Wish me luck.

Week 12: Wrap up; social networks and catch up

*cue fanfare*
LAST ONE!!

Social Networks

Networking is very important in Libraries. It is important to build up a list of contacts in order to share ideas. When working on our HSC website, instead of going from scratch I looked at other Library websites and found content already created. I contacted those responsible for their web content and asked for permission to copy and modify. I was not knocked back. This would most likely have been a different story in a competitive, private industry. Just one of the benefits of working in Libraries.

Which brings me to the reason why I've been really churning out the blogs. I have been offered a job in the Pacific Islands Trade and Investment Commission, Sydney, and I have accepted. This means that I will no longer be working in public libraries.

I still really wanted to finish this fantastic and rewarding learning program though, and have made it a priority.

I will be using my facebook account to keep up with the library colleagues I have who are savvy enough to have an account. I haven't looked at my myspace account for ages, it doesn't seem as popular anymore.

I was surprised to see the map from LeMonde showed that in the Asia Pacific region Facebook is so unpopular that it didn't even register on the bar graph! If I'd been made to guess I would have placed it in first position. Very interesting. And bebo is number one in Europe! I thought that was just for pre-teens... I'm getting old.

Interesting to read how other Libraries are using social networking. Such as embedding videos and using widgets. I would probably think that Blogs would be better suited perhaps. Just MHO.

Applying a new social media framework from Forrester to the cultural sector

This artical which Seb Chan spotted Is exactly the sort of thing we need to know about. I can see that these tools have a way to go before becoming mainstream, however it certainly is exciting to be aware of of the future at such an early stage.

Second Life

I made an account in Second Life pretty soon after it went online. My laptop couldn't handle the graphics and my net connection was unbearably similar to the three toed mammal that features in the seven deadly sins.

It is good that Libraries are getting in there though. The online world will continue to grow in virtual size and complexity. And popularity.

The online world I'm waiting for is Playstation Home. This will be similar to Second Life in many aspects only, in my opinion, a billion times better. I hope they don't let me down.

To finish.

Once again, thank you very much to the NSWPLN team (Ellen, Mylee [who also taught me how to do story-time!], Kathleen A, Leanne, Oriana, Shauna and Victoria) for their initiative, forward thinking and hard work.

I have been encouraging everyone here at Lane Cove Library to get stuck in and I know that my managers are also very interested in getting the staff involved. I believe this is very important. My colleagues and friends need to upskill themselves as much as possible otherwise they will, if they are unlucky, simply lose their jobs to a more competitive private industry who will select your books, catalogue them, process them, and eveything else while qualified librarians end up either quitting or shelving from 9-5 every weekday. And that's only up until someone invents a shelving robot.

The message is clear, learn about the future
or
become a robotics engineer.

Week 11: Online applications and tools

I may have mentioned before my being a big fan of google creations. Google Documents is no exception. For this week I have shared a document I created on Google Docs a while ago. "Here's one I prepared earlier!"

It is the itinerary I was planning for my friend's Bucks. Enjoy! (We did.)

Currently the Library and council uses Trim for its records and documents management. Far more powerful than Google Docs. However I think that this type of free program would be perfect for a small company that has little funds but still needs to share documents and store them securely.

Week 10: Mashups

I love mashed potato. But that's neither here nor there.

Check out this list of cool Mashups...

I sent the link of Big Huge Labs to my wife because of her interest in image editing. Specifically FREE editing programs!

Explore

For some reason, (must be IT restrictions,) I can't view Keir Clarke's Star Viewer - but I have looked at the Google Earth program recently and found it difficult to make sense of the night sky as seen through Google-vision. The Southern Cross, for example, just didn't look quite right. So for navigational reasons, if Keir Clarke managed to improve on Google Sky then it sounds good and I'll have to remember to look when I'm at home.

I'm impressed with the Google Maps API and will incorporate it into my wife's Photography website when we finally get it up and running.

Libraries should have their locations mapped out using this on their websites.

I will now, as instructed, add to my blog something created using Big Huge Labs. Below is an image from my wife's flickr page, converted into a calendar. This is from when we met, 15 years ago.

Lane Cove Library Staff

Here's a short video I made with the help of my most valued colleagues. I promised in earlier weeks to embed a youtube video - I just wanted to wait until I had a good one to embed!

So here it is. Produced specifically for Learning 2.0!




You are listening to Ben Lee's "We're all in this together."

Week 9: Podcasts and Audio

Another easy one for me - (Sorry, my wife keeps telling me not to be such a show off.)

I have iTunes and subscribe to about 25 podcasts. They include radio shows, television shows, information podcasts, etc.

I love my iTunes and my iPod. The iPod Nano 3rd Gen has become my number one gadget over the last few months (and that, for me, is saying a LOT).

It would be interesting to have a library podcast. Perhaps Local History could put together a collection of Oral Histories, and release them over the net as podcasts.

I'll suggest that to our LH Librarian.

Then I'll duck.

Week 8: Answer boards and social searching

Slamming the Boards gets five thumbs up from me (yes, I have that many.)

I believe it is a fantastic way to help alter the perception the public has of us Librarians.

Even though it may be an information seeker in California asking the question, and you may be based in Sydney, being paid by rate payers of your LGA, but if everyone around the world does a little bit here and there - just imagine what the effect would be.

I think this could be very powerful.

And I loved the Tag Line/Signature at the end of one posting librarian "LIBRARIANS, ask us - we answer!"

There is no excuse for us Librarians not to get into Slam the Boards. Even if you only answer one question per month. It won't take up much time and you will reap the Karma later on down the track when communities start valuing our profession more and more. It equates to job security and maybe even a pay rate aligned with the rest of the professional industry.

Imagine that...