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...

Week 7: Tagging, folksonomies, del.icio.us and LibraryThing

This is the first week where I have run into some troubles. And in fact that is an understatement. I have been pulling my hair out over this. I must say this is not a 15 minute lesson! Not for my slow brain anyway.

This week's lesson calls for an RSS feed from my newly created del.icio.us account into this blog. And I just can't seem to do it.

After I successfully put up the feed of my dear wife's flickr pics (see right column) I had the idea that really simple syndication was living up to its name. I now think it must stand for Rather Silly Sindication.

So either the problem lies with me or there are restrictions on this PC that stop the process from completing itself. I'm not sure. I even tried getting the rss from Sutherland Library's del.icio.us account and failed. So it can't be because of how I set up my de.icio.us

The only avenue left to me is to "try this at home". Which is difficult when you have a 2 year old to chase after.

At this point I am admitting defeat. I won't be beaten for long though, this I vow. I really need to understand this technology. It will be part of my next job role.

An opinion on del.icio.us

I had no idea it existed and I'm really glad it is part of Learning 2.0 because I can see great value in it, especially for libraries and staff who want to share thier (newly) organised bookmarks. I feel inspired to start making a professional account right now.

I seem to be getting into the meat of learning 2.0 now and am starting to learn some good things I previously lacked knowledge of.

Week 6: Videos online

Week 6 is a quick one for me. I have been embedding videos into blogs for a little while now. In fact, here is a link to my video blog.

If I get a chance I will bring my video camera to work and get a quick shot of those staff game enough to go on my Learning 2.0 Blog then I'll post it into this week's entry.

Thoughts on video embedding for libraries.

Sadly, our council (like many others) has blocked us from viewing youtube. {Stop the press! After emailing the IT person at council about this issue and explaining why I needed youtube, and all the merits of this learning program, I now have access to youtube! This is very encouraging and I'm pleased that council is showing this enlightened way of thinking.}

However, I think that video content could be extremely useful for a library blog. We could have videos demonstrating the use of online databases, or giving a quick tour around our library, or showing travel directions, or even a word from the Manager... The possibilities are quite endless and if we did embed video onto our website I really think it would look good and bring us closer to the cutting edge.

Week 5 - Wikis

Best thing about this week by a long shot is Wookieepedia Now that's MY kind of wiki :)

Also the full Library Success: A best practices wiki I'm actually putting this link here for myself. It'd probably just get lost in my favourites.

Editing pbwiki "NSWLEARNING2"

As instructed I have added a page to the Learning 2.0 wiki. Specifically I have added Community Information Librarian. I have no idea why the link I created, on the home page, is underlined in red. :S (BTW that's an emoticon that means "worried.") I'm :S because red and underlined normally means error. But then I saw the same thing all over pbwiki's style guide page which, if true, would be rather ironic. Perhaps its just because I was the author of the link or the page it links to. Hmm. Well, at least I'm learning something new.

What types of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki?

I think the example given, the library procedures, is a good one - with limitations. Good because everyone always seems to think of things to add to the library procedures manual and so scribbles it in using a pen and terrible writing (so a wiki would be more organised and neat. Bad because everyone seems to think of things...

You get it.

And finally, for this week's bonus points, I have edited the Wikipedia article on Lane Cove and added a link to our Library's website. Not Earth shattering. But definately felt cool to have contributed.

(Image source : Revenge of the Sith: The Visual Dictionary)

Week 4 - RSS

For week four I have added an RSS feed from my wife's flickr page. It will show links to the latest five of her masterpieces.

It can be found in the right column of this page just under "About me"

I love this technology.

For my current role I sometimes have the opporunity to plan and run events. It'd be fantastic if I could somehow get every person in the area who has come to past events to subscribe to a Lane Cove Library Blog (not yet in existence). Then I would write articles on upcoming events. This would be a very good way of targeting the right people and letting them know instantly, cost free, of what is coming up.

It would certainly beat wlking the streets posting half a rainforest into letter boxes. (Which I've done more than once.)

Week 3 - Sharing photos

This beautiful photo was taken by my very talented wife. She is studying photography and will very soon be doing a photoshoot for the up and coming band, Jo's Army. Plus she will be in training as a wedding photographer in Melbourne next month.

The photo I've put on this post is from her flickr site "Serendipity Corner". If you're a fan of great photography please have a look at her Latest Photos

My Library

This is my library.

The Author

This is me.

Week 2 - Introduction to Blogs

Here are my answers to the questions posed in week 2:

What do you hope to learn from the program?

I hope to learn something I didn’t know before, fairly simple I know, but I've always been interested in new technology and so I know a lot of this already. But I have a completely open mind - so I’m ready and raring to learn!

What do you think about Lifelong Learning?

It is a valuable concept which enriches individual lives, enriches the community, and even helps put off the onset of dementia. All rather positive.

What other blogs have you been interested in?

Not many, I don't have very much time now that I'm a Dad. But I have couple of personal ones that I contribute to when I get the opportunity.

Can you see a use for blogs inside the Library?

Its exponential. As more people become aware of the value of blogs, more people create their own blog and tell others who then also become aware, and on it goes. I think library blogs will become more popular as more people start looking for the blog link when they log onto their library’s website.

I can see a problem when an author, writing for his or her library, needs to have their posts reviewed by management before publishing. I can't see Blogger working that way. More traditional web content publishing software, such as Adobe Contribute, has these review functions built in.

How about blogging for a client audience?

If this was a blog for our borrowers, instead of talking about the Learning 2.0 program, I would be writing up an artical about how the library move is going. As you can see from the picture in this post we're trying to let the public know as much as possible.