Tuesday, April 22, 2008
Mashups: Marrickville Library Google Maps
View Larger Map
Mashups are useful tools for business including libraries. The combination of google map features, videos, audios and information allows us to create library location maps and local history building tours etc. It also can be used to highlight events and promote library services.
http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/features/londoninmaps/exhibition.html
allows people to explore the city's history at different periods from past to present by simply clicking the map marker.
http://www.libraries411.com/glibrarymaps.php?lat=34.040511&lng=-118.180628&dls=6295&dsp=4&dtype=BRcovers all of its branches. A display window with a search option will pop up to show details of certain locations and directions.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
Friday, April 18, 2008
Podcasts and Audio
Podcast/vodcast features such as storytelling author talks, book discussions, library news, interviews, library programs, and library tours
are of great use to libraries. Patrons can get updates through RSS and can then listen or view them whenever they desire. I believe storytelling podcasts have become very popular because they can be listened to repeatedly at home or on a portable mp3 by our patrons.
Podcasts allow children all over the world to listen to stories being read, not just the limited local children groups who can attend story time in person.
We can show patrons how to use and subscribe to podcasts through RSS. They can also download mp3s to listen to on the move.
Library events for instance, author talks and book reviews can be recorded on library's webpage so that patrons can listen later to programs they have missed. Using podcasts for introductory library programs or book reviews gives patrons a more user-friendly alternative in comparison to the past where everything was only available in blocks of text.
The link below is my favourite storytelling.
http://www.storycove.com/tale_of_two_frogs
are of great use to libraries. Patrons can get updates through RSS and can then listen or view them whenever they desire. I believe storytelling podcasts have become very popular because they can be listened to repeatedly at home or on a portable mp3 by our patrons.
Podcasts allow children all over the world to listen to stories being read, not just the limited local children groups who can attend story time in person.
We can show patrons how to use and subscribe to podcasts through RSS. They can also download mp3s to listen to on the move.
Library events for instance, author talks and book reviews can be recorded on library's webpage so that patrons can listen later to programs they have missed. Using podcasts for introductory library programs or book reviews gives patrons a more user-friendly alternative in comparison to the past where everything was only available in blocks of text.
The link below is my favourite storytelling.
http://www.storycove.com/tale_of_two_frogs
Friday, April 11, 2008
Answer boards and social searching
Having checked out the Yahoo and wiki answer sites I’ve seen how informative and useful they can be. Sites like these are great because posters can choose to be anonymous which is encouraging for people who wish to share their knowledge or ask questions but don’t want to reveal their identities. Answer boards are another form of outreach for our library services. They promote reference services more readily. The answer is beneficial for anyone who has the same or similar questions around the world. Often answers will refer to a hard copy as well as an online resource. It can also serve as a network, allowing librarians and others professional in the field to build up skills and share knowledge. Such sites as Yahoo!7 Answers and WikiAnswers are very simple to use as they classify by categories, different languages and show quality answers which have rating and comment on them. Customers can then use the ratings systems to determine which answers are more reliable. Patrons can give feedback on the services we offer at the library via email, surveys online or by phone.
Similar to “Slamming the boards”, my library has an online service called 'ask a librarian', this service provides information relating to books and other material held by the Marrickville Library Service. We also have an information desk where questions can be asked in person. Feedback can be given online as well.
http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/library/webresources/askalibrarian.htm
http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/getinvolved/yourfeedback.htmI also posted two questions on Yahoo!7 Answers.
Similar to “Slamming the boards”, my library has an online service called 'ask a librarian', this service provides information relating to books and other material held by the Marrickville Library Service. We also have an information desk where questions can be asked in person. Feedback can be given online as well.
http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/library/webresources/askalibrarian.htm
http://www.marrickville.nsw.gov.au/getinvolved/yourfeedback.htmI also posted two questions on Yahoo!7 Answers.
Thursday, April 10, 2008
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
LibraryThing My Library Catalogue
It is fascinating and quick to create my library catalogue, the features include a link to view book details, an alternative display, ratings column, a shared column, a powerEdit feature to edit several books at the same time etc.
Delicious (Week 7) 
I have set up my own delicious account which includes my favourite sites and all the sites that I regularly visit. There is a link to this in my blog.
I think delicious is a very convenient site for creating a collection of bookmarks which can be easily accessed anywhere by just saving it only once on the site. This is a great improvement in comparison to the past where I had to save my bookmarks repeatedly on different computers by copying the URL to my email and then pasting it on separate computers.
Tagging makes searching for information much easier. Social bookmarking is a great tool to use in the library, because the sites selected have been evaluated by many visitors including professionals in the field so that the information is more reliable. It can help to provide quality information to patrons for their research as well as add to the library’s collections. It also gives many students the opportunity to access electronic versions of the same information simultaneously.
Cleveland Public Library’s recommended bookmarks page is a good example. It makes it easier for patrons to browse through the bookmarks and gain access to related sites quickly.
Technorati
I searched "bookmobile" by keyword and the advanced search feature, and both had similar results. However with the tag search feature less results were made available.
When I entered the keyword "nswpln2008" there were no results for post, blogs and videos but there were for photos. The tag search for this term had the same result.
I think delicious is a very convenient site for creating a collection of bookmarks which can be easily accessed anywhere by just saving it only once on the site. This is a great improvement in comparison to the past where I had to save my bookmarks repeatedly on different computers by copying the URL to my email and then pasting it on separate computers.
Tagging makes searching for information much easier. Social bookmarking is a great tool to use in the library, because the sites selected have been evaluated by many visitors including professionals in the field so that the information is more reliable. It can help to provide quality information to patrons for their research as well as add to the library’s collections. It also gives many students the opportunity to access electronic versions of the same information simultaneously.
Cleveland Public Library’s recommended bookmarks page is a good example. It makes it easier for patrons to browse through the bookmarks and gain access to related sites quickly.
Technorati
I searched "bookmobile" by keyword and the advanced search feature, and both had similar results. However with the tag search feature less results were made available.
When I entered the keyword "nswpln2008" there were no results for post, blogs and videos but there were for photos. The tag search for this term had the same result.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Youtube and Google video
After browsing through the Youtube and Google video sites I’ve found that there are many different uses for sharing videos on such public sites. Some of these include their use as:
- Guides to using library services
-Orientation and training procedures in an efficient and effective way
-Promotional material e.g. exhibitions, library events, book reviews, and author talks etc. Advertising using YouTube and Google video is affordable, effective and readily available for the international community.
The presentation of “Mosman's built heritage Mosman between the wars” is an example of an excellent and informative video.
All of these features are essential for the library environment. It is an affordable tool for promotion, education, passing information on, advertising etc. for both the community and library staff.
- Guides to using library services
-Orientation and training procedures in an efficient and effective way
-Promotional material e.g. exhibitions, library events, book reviews, and author talks etc. Advertising using YouTube and Google video is affordable, effective and readily available for the international community.
The presentation of “Mosman's built heritage Mosman between the wars” is an example of an excellent and informative video.
All of these features are essential for the library environment. It is an affordable tool for promotion, education, passing information on, advertising etc. for both the community and library staff.
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