Videos - Wolfmother Does Wuthering Heights

Ok, so strictly speaking it is not a video, just audio, but it was on YouTube and it was just too good not to add, so I hope you all enjoy... Feeling a little nostalgic with Kate Bush.
So loads of opportunities to use videos in Libraries for promotions, training, promote collections etc. I already use the Common craft videos for our Internet Lesson to give an overall picture of the Internet to students. Much better than listening to me and gives the lesson a visual element.

So easily to be distracted by these things

Enough Library 2.0 learning, must go back to the Coal Face.

Adios!

Videos

More Google than you can poke a stick at!!

igoogle has been on my browser for a while, but I do not have it setup as my home page, so it something I go to every now and then. Apart from adding all the fun gadgets - beach report, moon phases, hamster and suduko I love the artwork I can change at the top. For ages I have had Non Stop Big Rope and then Leunig. Now I have Reg Mobassa. Keeps me entertained as they change through the day.
I set up the calender and added SMS reminders to come to my phone. So theoretically I shouldn't miss my Chiro appointment tonight or the work Christmas party on Friday. :-)
I had a look at the Google books and frankly was blown away by what was available. All those magazines as well. I searched on permaculture and found some useful articles and I can see it would be very worth while for people undertaking some research.
I can spend some more time cruising the books as it would be very useful for some clients, although I am not sure about the reading on screen aspect.

Web Browsers

I have been stuck On IE for sometime. It can be difficult to move away from the comfort zone and security of what you know. Like changing banks, even though you know it will save you money who stay with the one you have been with for 100 years.

I had tried Safari before, but it was annoying me as I didn't have the patience to add all the bits, and pieces I had in place on IE. I liked some of features especially the displaying of screenshots of websites I had previously visited. Visually, it made it very easy to decided which webpages you wanted to return to. I guess in the end Safari was not for me.

So I tried Mozilla and this is much closer to IE in look, feel and functionality but with the bonus of being supposedly more secure and faster. It was much easier for me to transfer across and most of my "stuff" came with it. I will keep trialling to see whether I will stick with it.

Podcasts

I am a podcast child and love, love love podcasts.. I learnt to run 5K's by using a podcast in my early 40's. So podcasts can improve you body as well as your mind.
I am an avid user of podcasts and download a lot of Radio National programmes as I am unable to get Radio National reception. (Living in a regional black hole) Anyway the convenience of listening to programmes when I want is a huge bonus. I also download At the Movies, Tuesday Night Book Club and Compass and watch on my 2 inch screen at my leisure. Bucking the trend of oversize Plasmas and LCD's. Oh yes, must mention the wonderful Meditation podcasts available - great for not sleeping at night and managing the stress of running a busy public library.

I think podcasts have great potential for training and informing staff and customers in libraries. I think libraries should be vodcasting programs, reviews and training that is delivered in the libraries. Out out library we are currently restricted by Council policies.... but one day...maybe.

Link Not Linking

Picture this! Bashing head on key board! WHY? My link is not linking.
Some days I dispise technology. I am off to have a G&T.
That will help!!

MashUps

Well now isn't ths fun. Smashing technology together to create something new, shiney and wonderful. I have just spent a significant amount of time learning the google "My Maps" and it seemed so easy on the video.. Well actually it is, just got to master the basics and your away. So I have thoughtfully created my morning walking map. If you are up at sparrows you may of course join me, however this is not a daily ritual. On my map I have noted some of the highlights, most of which revolve around the location coffee shops. Most importantly I have noted the location of the library, so no excuses for not finding us.
Here is the link.

Social Bookmarking

This is meant to make me more organised right? I have been using
del.icio.us for a while and found it is great for sharing favourite websites, especially between home and work. On the downside, I was never a "natural" cataloguer and my "tagging" has blown out of control and I need some serious "weeding" of tags. I understand all those rules about subject headings and the importance of consistency. :-) I have found the deletion process /reorganisation process for tags a bit tiresome so my tag list has loads of duplications and typos. Still it is a great tool, especially when you spend your day tracking from one computer to another and you can take your bookmarks with you!

As for Technocrati, yup interesting to see what is popular in the world of blogs, but do I really care. The bookmobile search yielded varying results, but nothing stood out and grabbed me. I checked out the most popular books ( damn it, it is the Readers Advisory in me) and found the list very interesting. Mostly non fiction - managing credit, the credit crunch and debt, sport and business with a couple of historical regency fiction thrown in for good measure. (No doubt to keep the ladies happy!)

Finally Librarything. Mmm why would I want to catalogue my books, they are all on the library catalogue anyway. Small wee joke, for me. Must admit I have absolutely no desire to share my very small and ancient home library. Most of my books were destroyed in the Great Termite Feast of 1998, and since then collecting books has just not been my thing. I can see how it is useful in the eternal quest of "what would your recommend?" " I am looking for a good book" etc.



I have come to the conclusion I am not a very web 2.0 social person. Mmm might be a reflection of me, more that Web 2.0. Well back to the real wold, dogs are very anxious and need feeding.

RSS Feeds - Information Rich Time Poor

Every week I am adding more and more techno gadgets/skills to my life, but I seem to be having less life. This can not be good for the single girl. On the up side I am better informed and I am now linked to a whole bunch of information that is being pushed to me on my requests. How lazy can I be, I don't have go looking for info any more it just comes to me.

Rss Feeds can be a great time saver in that respect as you are getting what you want to know about. However, the downside is that you need time to look a the feeds. I have had a bloglines account for ages, and when I am vigilent in checking it works quiet well. However, I do have a tendancy to forget about - go off on holidays etc and then when you remember to go back you have 100's of feeds to read through!! AAAAArgh.
So my RSS Feed Tips
- only subscribe to the feeds you really want to know about
- don's subscribe to feeds with loads of photo contents, takes to long load if you forget to check
- check your feeds regularly.
Thats it for me.!

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Social Networking - watch my life disappear.

Ok, so finally I was compelled to set up a facebook! Wammo to people from the past connect with me in 30 seconds. Scary! Still really good to catch up so of course the social network is great in this respect. It just does my head in how much time I can waste though, the old I wonder what that video is, oh, who sent me that message, must comment on your photos. Before you know it, it is way past your bed time and you just know you have a big day at the library tomorrow! :-)

I have looked at a few library sights and even joined a few groups, but as yet to see real value. Seems to be on the whole a lot of mindless conversations. (oops did I say that). Maybe I just haven't found the right ones. I did think about joining the "Library folk at the Pub' but unfortunately that would involve 1000km drive to catch up.

I can see how it might be useful in bringing library groups together with a common interest and think exploring this might be useful for the future. Will have to wait and see. I feel a bit of a Luddite as everyone else is so enamoured with social networking. At the very minimun I can think about social networking classes for the masses. Might read some other blogs for inspiration.

Recent Meals at the Library

Here are some more photos of our Sandwich Maker in Action.
This was Singaporean Chicken with Noodles, or it may been Pork. Neverless, our trusty sandwich maker is instrumental in creating a world class meal for some lucky library worker. There may have been some (not much I am sure) preparation at home.

The final dish! Mmm Mmm. Can I have some of that please!

Wiki World

I have spent the last hour exploring the wonderful world of wikis, and to my horror have missed lunch! How did this happen.

Visited some interesting wikis and visited the came across the "AquaBrowser Library"at Queens Library. Had a good look around and found the word clouds an interesting addition to our traditional catalogs. It was kind of fun to see the links that were being made, although I am not really sure how useful they are.

Also visited the "Library Success Best Practise Wiki" which is hugely informative an provides some great info for library workers. I had visited this wiki about 12 months ago when it was in skeleton format, so it seems people have been very busy adding the content. I was also very impressed with the use of the wiki for the staff manual. Even included where the vacuum was stored and how to change the bag! Now that is good use of technology. We always have 1001 little niggly procedures, like where is the vacuum, how do I clean the sensors on the returns bin, where is the router for resetting the public PCs etc. We can put them all in one place and update as necessary. Very useful. Time for a very late lunch, must away stomach rumbling - On today's menu open chicken sandwich on organic toasted brown bread with walnuts and avocado and the standard Neil Perry dressing. I am having a bit of a walnut obsession at the moment.

Useful Sign

I am thinking this might be a very useful sign for the children's are especially during school holidays.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/guyphipps/3260388811/

More Library Culinary Delights Soon

They have been extremely busy cooking extravagant meals in the library kitchen on the trusty sandwich maker. Sounds bit like the Oz Women's Weekly Kitchen. No doubt we will be bringing out a range of cookbooks very soon! Unfortunately, I am too busy to post. Don' t be alarmed I have the photos, just a little time poor this week.
Some highlights soon to be shared on the blog -
Pork and Veggie Stir Fry
Chicken Omlette
Prawn/noodle, smelt so good at the time.

Have a good lunch!

Sandwich maker in Action

The versatility of the sandwich maker is never ending. Here we see an egg being prepared.




There was some kitchen conversation as to whether to
a) flip the egg
b) flip the sandwich maker
c) close the lid.




Today we chose the option of flipping the egg, unfortunately this was followed up closing the lid which led to some unwanted seepage.









However, once the egg was cooked, chopped and added to the



"Feta & Walnut Salad with Warm Egg" topped with dressing of choice it was pretty good! Eat your heart out library landers & Maggie Beer!
Sweet!

This is the sandwich maker in question! Looks pretty ordinary and bog standard, but wait till you see it in action.

The creativity of the sandwich maker!

Hi There,

This blog is about lunch at work. All libary staff love to share food and eat and are renowed for their morning teas. No matter what library you go there is always a reason to share food! By the time lunch comes around I am usually famished so I am looking for something interesting to eat. Sitting on my rear end for a good portion of the day eliminates the good stuff like pasta and potatos and rice and bread, so have to think of something healthy to eat. Now you may find it hard to believe that a sandwich maker can be healthy. However, in our library the sandwich maker is the centre piece of the kitchen and a weekly culinary adventure! I am going to share with you the secrets of fabo lunch at the Library using the sandwich maker. This blog is inspired by my creative colleagues.
Also being a fan of work/life balance taking time to get to know your sandwich maker means time out from the daily damands of public library life! Stay tuned!