Thursday 26 May 2011
Wednesday 11 May 2011
Video online
Week 6 of the State Library's Web2.0 program has proved extremely valuable to me and I think my public library should utilise this technology to its fullest extent. I searched bothYoutube and Google Video for libraries using online video as way to promote the library and its services. An American Collegelibrary had one titled Library welcome and it was both entertaining and informative. it struck methat one needs to have a balance between serious content and a certain light manner in delivery so that patrons are not alienated but engaged with library staff in a user friendly sense. This is particulalry around library promotional videos. Harper College's Tour of the Library was both jovial and informative atthe same time so students would see some value in the library and the staff came across as cheerful and welcoming. I think this approach would work well with the public library i work for atpresent. The Otis Library Tour highlighted features of the collectionse.g. videos and artists' works as well as key services. The length was about right 5 to 10 minutes so patrons wouldn't get bored with the presentation.
Public libraries should use video to promote exhibitions, talks by guest speakers the way Mosman public library does, book reviews, how to use databases, promotion of services such as Childrens or local studies, and even inhouse staff welcomes to new staff by senior management.
Public libraries should use video to promote exhibitions, talks by guest speakers the way Mosman public library does, book reviews, how to use databases, promotion of services such as Childrens or local studies, and even inhouse staff welcomes to new staff by senior management.
Tuesday 10 May 2011
Wikis
Wikis are excellent tools to both collaboratively share information on an ongoing basis and toeither make it public or restricted to the participants. Its ease of use and semi-structured formatting makes it an ideal tool for both web tech savvy and less technologically-inclined participants.
It is ideally suited to support numerous library practices and services given its ease of use and interactive nature. The SJCPL subject guides are an excellent example of how to put up content for users and to group the contentwithin a particular subject guide by topic e.g in the business subject guide there isthe topic "how to start and run a small business". The ability to insert links to other sites enhances the content of these guides. Publicl ibraries could use the tool to create their own subject guides.
The Wisconsin Heritage page had a Collection Development Policy in Wiki format; again public libraries could put upthier public policies using a Wiki.
The Mint Museum used a wiki to highlight their collections and exhibitions and libraries could do the same around their special collections like Local History or Children's materials and insert images to further promotethe content. Library events could be promoted with wikis as the Mint Museum promotes it s services and activities to the public. Patrons can add their comments around the content or the current activities giving valuable feedback to library staff for either future acquisitions or planning of future activities for patrons.
The Library Success wiki is really fantastic and affords librarians from around the world the opportunity to come together to exchange professional ideas, tips, etc. around a host of library issues and activities including leadership training, management, technologies, services, etc. and the numerous links to other pertinent websites enhances the wiki's overall strength in supporting professional development amongst staff.
In my previous position at an academiclibrary I set up an internal staff wiki for my team toshare information and experiences around the new library service that i was implementing. It aided staff development and was an excellent record keeper of staff knowledge and practices around the new service. We were able toput in links and pdfs from other sites that built up our knowledge library. The team owned it and took great pride in its maintenance and ongoing development.
It is ideally suited to support numerous library practices and services given its ease of use and interactive nature. The SJCPL subject guides are an excellent example of how to put up content for users and to group the contentwithin a particular subject guide by topic e.g in the business subject guide there isthe topic "how to start and run a small business". The ability to insert links to other sites enhances the content of these guides. Publicl ibraries could use the tool to create their own subject guides.
The Wisconsin Heritage page had a Collection Development Policy in Wiki format; again public libraries could put upthier public policies using a Wiki.
The Mint Museum used a wiki to highlight their collections and exhibitions and libraries could do the same around their special collections like Local History or Children's materials and insert images to further promotethe content. Library events could be promoted with wikis as the Mint Museum promotes it s services and activities to the public. Patrons can add their comments around the content or the current activities giving valuable feedback to library staff for either future acquisitions or planning of future activities for patrons.
The Library Success wiki is really fantastic and affords librarians from around the world the opportunity to come together to exchange professional ideas, tips, etc. around a host of library issues and activities including leadership training, management, technologies, services, etc. and the numerous links to other pertinent websites enhances the wiki's overall strength in supporting professional development amongst staff.
In my previous position at an academiclibrary I set up an internal staff wiki for my team toshare information and experiences around the new library service that i was implementing. It aided staff development and was an excellent record keeper of staff knowledge and practices around the new service. We were able toput in links and pdfs from other sites that built up our knowledge library. The team owned it and took great pride in its maintenance and ongoing development.
Monday 25 April 2011
Genealogy & History News
http://www.gouldgenealogy.com/
This is an Australian History site with an RSS feed that delivers articles on all aspects of Australian history and genealogy.
This is an Australian History site with an RSS feed that delivers articles on all aspects of Australian history and genealogy.
RSS Feeds
RSS Feeds are an excellent way to save time on searching the web and instead have information sent directly to your desktop. Instead of going to Favourites and clicking on each site, the site comes to you via its feeds. I set up a number of feeds including ABC News Top Stories; Powerhouse Museum Photo of the Day; Bette Davis News; Flight Centre; Genealogy & History News; Historic Houses Trust News; Librarybytes.
RSS Feeds are applicable to libraries and should be linked to the catologue to generate feeds of newly acquired and catalogued content; to library newsletters to send the latest information & activities to patrons; linked to New Books Blogs so that the library can feed the discussions direct to users, etc.
I'll certainly use them now instead of just book marking my favourite sites as I have done previously. I think I'll save time by so doing and it eliminates having to search the site to find the latest content.
RSS feeds could also belinked to library subject guides so that as new content is added to the guides the patron is informed accordingly.
RSS Feeds are applicable to libraries and should be linked to the catologue to generate feeds of newly acquired and catalogued content; to library newsletters to send the latest information & activities to patrons; linked to New Books Blogs so that the library can feed the discussions direct to users, etc.
I'll certainly use them now instead of just book marking my favourite sites as I have done previously. I think I'll save time by so doing and it eliminates having to search the site to find the latest content.
RSS feeds could also belinked to library subject guides so that as new content is added to the guides the patron is informed accordingly.
Sunday 24 April 2011
Surry Hills Public Library
Surry Hills Public Library
The new Surry Hills Public Library was opened in 2009 and has proved to be a great hit with the local community. It's brilliant interior design coupled with great lighting and excellent collection for its small size has led to a considerable increase in patronage when compared with the old library that preceded it. The staff are friendly and helpful while there are excellent internet facilities and wireless for those with their own laptops. The library puts on regular musical events as well as author readings and children's reading sessions. It's a great place to engage with content or to just chill out in the soft lounge chairs.
The new Surry Hills Public Library was opened in 2009 and has proved to be a great hit with the local community. It's brilliant interior design coupled with great lighting and excellent collection for its small size has led to a considerable increase in patronage when compared with the old library that preceded it. The staff are friendly and helpful while there are excellent internet facilities and wireless for those with their own laptops. The library puts on regular musical events as well as author readings and children's reading sessions. It's a great place to engage with content or to just chill out in the soft lounge chairs.
Lifelong learning
Lifelong learning is particularly important for me since I have been retired from the workforce for nearly a year and a half. I'm now returning on a permanent part-time basis. Hence my need to both reacquaint and update my knowledge and skills around the latest 2.0 web technologies. Since I am a librarian these technologies will assume an ever-growing importance in the life of libraries and their staff. Professional lifelong learning is important for people of all ages and given that the government wants its citizens to keep on working and not to retire too early on, then keeping abreast of technological change together with the latest developments and discipline-knowledge within one's profession is an ongoing skill essential to the performance outcomes of mature-aged workers.
Thsi Web 2.0 program affords me the opportunity to keep abreast of technological change and to see how I can apply them to enhancing the delivery of both content and services to our public library patrons; thereby enhancing both their overall level of satisfaction with library services and the relevant information they require delivered more seamlessly to their desktops.
I think a New Book discussion blog would be ideal for the library I work in since it would afford the patrons the opportunity to exchange ideas on the books they are reading, promote the library's collection amongst patrons and by patrons and give feedback on collection development to library staff.
At a previous university library where I worked several years ago, we used an internal staff blog to elicit comment from staff on library restructures and library organisational models as a way of both obtaining feedback to the managment library restructure committee of which I was a member and a means to communicate committee members ideas to staff on their postings. It considerably increased staff participation in the restructuring process and as well as their awareness of issues involved with organisational restructuring. It also disseminated ideas around various library models for future consideration.
Thsi Web 2.0 program affords me the opportunity to keep abreast of technological change and to see how I can apply them to enhancing the delivery of both content and services to our public library patrons; thereby enhancing both their overall level of satisfaction with library services and the relevant information they require delivered more seamlessly to their desktops.
I think a New Book discussion blog would be ideal for the library I work in since it would afford the patrons the opportunity to exchange ideas on the books they are reading, promote the library's collection amongst patrons and by patrons and give feedback on collection development to library staff.
At a previous university library where I worked several years ago, we used an internal staff blog to elicit comment from staff on library restructures and library organisational models as a way of both obtaining feedback to the managment library restructure committee of which I was a member and a means to communicate committee members ideas to staff on their postings. It considerably increased staff participation in the restructuring process and as well as their awareness of issues involved with organisational restructuring. It also disseminated ideas around various library models for future consideration.
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