Social networking

On a personal level this is the one area we've looked at in all the library 2.0 training that leaves me cold. I can understand the attraction of Facebook etc if you are geographically isolated but it eludes me why people near each other would choose to spend hours on the computer rather than visiting or even talking on the phone. I must be getting old!!!!!
However, I can see that if we want IT savvy people to engage with libraries, then we have to meet them where they are. Some of the library, museum and art gallery sites on Facebook, Bebo and My Space are quite good and I can see that they really promote these services well, plus allowing people the chance to give feedback or just talk to staff etc. It would take a commitment of resources (especially staff time) to set these sites up and maintain them. The key is keeping them current, interesting and eye catching or they actually work to the detriment of the organisation. I would be reluctant to take this on in our library unless the process is properly resourced and budgeted for each year. That way we know that someone will be working on it constantly and we will always present a good image. If we can do that, then these applications have great potential for us and keep us more relevant in an increasingly technological world.
Note: Second Life, Avatars etc - I am definitely the wrong person to comment on these. I try hard to understand the attraction but have to admit I've failed miserably. Good luck to those of you addicted to this pastime. I'm sure you enjoy yourselves immensely. I'm quite happy with my social contact person to person and I get great enjoyment from a good book!
This is the end of the library 2.0 training for me. I've found the program to be excellent. I was nervous at the start but have found it all extremely informative, well structured and enjoyable, except for the immense stress involved in actually choosing what to put on this blog. Congrats to the State Library for offering it. I feel I am more comfortable with some of these new technologies than my own children (who are in their early 20s) so a big thank you for allowing me the chance to develop this knowledge. Please don't remove these links from your website for a while. If I can't remember what something is called or where to go to find it, I just get onto the library 2.0 website and it is all set out for me. Au revoir!

Google Docs etc

I can see that these online applications can be very useful if I am working with people outside Council - in Council we have the T drive! I'm working with different community groups on an early literacy program, including grant applications, and it would be handy to have the document stored on Google Docs or Zoho for us all to work on.
Knowing about the availability of online word processing, spreadsheets, powerpoint etc will help provide a better service to our customers. So many of them come in wanting to use Word, save their docs to the hard drive and then get angry when they lose it all at the end of their session and the computer reboots. This way I can advise them to save them online and it doesn't matter which computer they are at they can access it. I know they could also save it to a disk, CD or memory stick, but this is a good alternative.
Google Docs is very easy to use.

Mashups

Interesting concept and I can see how it could be very useful. I've seen a commercial version in Mapping Country - where they use information from Council on a BM map to show Aboriginal sites etc. It would be interesting to get the postcodes and country locations of the many tourists we have coming in asking to use the Internet. Putting them on a map may be an easy technique for showing counsellors why we need the latest in IT to keep our customers happy!
I read the comments on mashups and was interested in PamL's where she says that apparently most mashups breach copyright. Something to think about before we dive in!
I tried creating a mosaic of my travel photos but could get it to work. I checked the Flickr address and it seemed ok. I'm hoping someone in blogsworld can help!!!
In the end I went for the easy mashup and did the map. It includes my last holiday and planned destinations for my holiday in '09. I'd love to end up with all Europe in the 'red'.

Podcasts

This is one of the training sessions that really spiked my enthusiasm. I've always wanted to listen to podcasts of 2BL radio shows that I've missed but never got round to doing anything about it. Now that I've found them and can see what's available, I can't wait to get my Ipod back from my daughter and start downloading!!!
The other great thing is the Online Education Database in the Adventure section. What a wonderful resource - free online classes from Stanford, UC Berkeley, MIT, Harvard, UCLA, the list goes on. I've found heaps of topics I'd like to listen to, now I've just got to find the time.
How we could use podcasting in our Library? It could be a great tool for 'How to' on our catalogue and homepage eg how to make a reservation, how to get an ILL, how to do a list of DVDs etc. It's an easy way for people to get the information they want, quickly. We could use them for local studies, family history, searching on the Internet etc. I'm not quite sure how you actually make a podcast - I'm assuming a microphone, software and willing staff member are crucial ingredients!
Well, I'm off to listen to: String Theory, Black Holes and the Laws of Nature from Harvard - and I won't have a HECS debt at the end of it!