Thing #20 You Tube

I found an interesting video of an interview with author, Isabel Allende. It's about a new book, published in November 07. A great way to relate more closely with authors and hear directly what the themes and background are.

Downside of these videos is having to wait for 5 seconds or so every 8 seconds (approx) Someone said it works better if you run through once - didn't help when I tried it recently.

My problem at the moment is that I seem to have messed up the Edit HTML process.

Also, the 'embed' tag on You Tube screen wasn't quite as in instructions... so the above gobbledegook isn't as impressive as the actual video.....
Back to the drawing board again for another try.

It took a while - looking at terms and conditions, verifying google email information, and trying 'add a video to blog post icon' in blogger. Then, when I went in to view blog - voila - the video was there...Whew

Thing #19 - Web 2 awards list

Looked at several of these: some we've already seen. I think Biblio.com would be useful in the library situation - helping public or teachers locate used or out of print books.

I like the search, which can be limited to Aus/NZ. (Trouble is that there are many more NZ than Aus books) - Search can also be limited by price.

Another useful feature is the browse by category, such as Art Books, Graphic novels.

Thing #18 ....Zoho again

Here's a copied & pasted version of my Zoho document - no, I can't paste......hmmm.

Zoho Writer - Online Word Processor

Zoho Writer - Online Word Processor

Zoho Writer - Online Word Processor

Zoho Writer - Online Word Processor

Thing #18 Zoho writer

It was easy to register with Zoho and produce a 'word' document.
Then I struck a problem in exporting the document to my blog.
Tried 'export' and HTML - made a strange noise, but no leads for what to do next.

Also tried 'publish' and filled in details of my blog username - Zoho wasn't happy with those - I tried various combinations of blog title and URL, but to no avail.

I guess I'll go back and try, try again.

Thing#17 Wiki link and post

Successfully added a favourite holday spot & photo to the PBWiki.

Had problems adding a link to my blog.

After trying all possible combinations of...blog URL, 1 and 2 pipe characters between URL and blog title, square brackets around blog information each time...no luck. Tried just blog URL, as no other blogs linked had title...still no luck.

May get some help at work on Monday.

Thing #16 Wikis

Seems simple to use, which will help us get started.
So many different library applications of Wikis...
Staff manuals are a great possibility. The structure, with new link pages just a click away will make procedure manuals so neat as well as easy to access and update.
Until now we have written things down in a notebook.
I also like the ideas of book reviews - in categories for easy access - rather than sifting through all. I like the concept of staff and students adding comments on their reading. I noticed that one library had sponsorship from local businesses to provide prizes for contributors - I would certainly provide incentives like this to get a book review wiki going at our school library. I wonder whether vandalsim will be a problem at school...a disgrunted or mischievous student...still, we can revert to the previous entry if stuff is spoilt or deleted I guess.

Thing#15 Library 2.0

This is certainly a fact of life for the future.

I think e-Books will be fantastic...for fiction and non-fiction monographs - and magazine/nerwspapers - in selected sections.

I also think that global access to specific information will be well provided by a combination of Web 2.0 tools and search options...made user friendly for the more computer literate population.

How will libraries and librarians fit into this scene?....for a while, as the population gets up to speed....we shall be guides and interpreters at the local level.

Then, after maybe 15-20 years all literature and information will be accessed globally, online.

State libraries will 'catalogue' or tag local publications from their juristictions.

Quaint op shop/book/coffee shops will market the nostalgia of paper books. Wow.

Thing #14 Technorati

Finally found the Technorati page with types of searches. Learning 2.0 search -Mission accomplished:
Blog Posts - 11,879
Tags - 971
Blog Directory - 69
Don't quite get the difference.


I also explored Popular, searches and tags. I am surpprised that so many - the vast majority of blogs are so 'random'...by that I mean silly...and thrown together as an ego trip by millions of bored Americans (usually) with nothing better to do.

As a librarian, I find it difficult to imagine having time to trawl through the mire for any decent answers. I know this is negative, but I am still trying.

Tagging - Technorati & Del icio us Thing #13

This seems a good idea - especially given the tagging of websitews under topics - and solving the problem of running out of room for favourites - as well as needing them on 2 or more computers - home, work network ...and laptop.

I had problems in adding the two buttons to my home browser. The process went right through, after I did it on the home administrator's login - but still no sign of buttons after finishing the process. Will probably have the same problem with insufficient privilege (re administrator) at work. Thus, though I registered for Del icio us, I can't go any further on the optional exercise.

I think tagging, grouping and sharing webpages has lots of potential in our school situation - for teachers - and students working on specific units/topics.

Thing #12 ROLLYO ...Still not there

After more than an hour of agony - working through the unclear instructions for adding the searchroll to blogs, I thought I'd succeeded... Should have known better than to congratulate myself. The searches I checked weren't only in the specified encyclopedia websites - but the whole internet. Must have been a problem in selecting my original searchroll to copy. Gosh this can be frustrating. Bue for now.

ROLLYO - Encyclopedia Searchbox

Select Search Engine...encyclopedias etcSearch The Web

Powered by Rollyo

Thing #12 Rollyo

Not sure that I have the whole process sorted yet.

I've set up a search engine on 'Encyclopedias etc'. I was chuffed to see that there was a ready-made list of online encyclopedias & reference tools. That was easy....and potentially very quick and useful for searches...
It woked well for the experiment searches I did - eg an interesting assortment on Warragul.

I also thought Aardvark's Rollyo on quotes was a useful idea.

Here's the link, but I doubt that it will take you to the complete search page...I wonder how others could use it, without my login - or maybe you don't need to...
Maybe it's just for me???? I'll come back in after I post this & see how I go...

http://www.rollyo.com/index.html

Thing #11 Librarything

This looks like a useful tool - but I'm having a frustrating time linking my catalogue to this blog. I click on 'insert link', but no text box appears.....

Oh well....maybe later

Bty the way, the link to catalogue is: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/kayestammers

Week 5 fun & games

Play week 5 - generators

Hopefully a ribbon will appear.....

Newsfeeds : Thing #9

I like the idea of newsfeeds, as newspapers (especially Saturday's Age) are full of information the reader doesn't want. This way information on topics is collected & easily accessible....the way of the future, I think. I'm sure newsfeeds will also be useful for school applications - such as when a teacher is following a current topic with students.

I liked 'Topix' best, and found some great information on the Wonthaggi desalination issue. Searching for some other topics brought up heaps of irrelevant and overseas stuff - but the Wonthaggi search worked well.. now I can watch the feeds as they come in.
'Feedster' was out of action/under reconstruction.
'Technorati' didn't appeal to me - not so keen on only blogs.
'Google' searches didn't go so well.

The best bit was successfully adding a feed to Australian Library Journal, via Ebsco ANZ Reference Centre. Now full text articles are just a click away - though I think they disappear after a week. This is great!

(PS - I think I should have put in my public URL for Bloglines as part of Thing #8

It is http://www.bloglines.com/public/kayestammers@yahoo.com.au
(hopefully).....

Thing #8 Bloglines & RSS

There was a delay (my mistake) because my yahoo address was slightly different from the one I put in my registration - therefore no validation message - a good lesson to learn - check carefully.

I successfully subscribed to 4 of the library blogs, which will be interesting.

I'm keen to see these updates - and especially the newsfeeds... come in.
Have listened to the tutorial on newsfeeds - most annoying, as I get it in 4 second grabs - then wait 5 seconds until it starts again....broadband must be a bit patchy here..?...not a very technical diagnosis.

I can see this newsfeed idea replacing our newspapers ...and saving lots of trees.

Thing #7

My latest find in the world of technology/web resources is 'Facebook'. My cousin's daughter, (23) registered me as a friend. I was flattered, but wary, as I ventured in to create an album of recent photos of a family function. It was slow - but worked, finally. As with most of these new-fangled sites, it was confusing navigating by following my nose, but I sort of suceeded. I also had a play with Myspace and U-tube today.

At least I have a feel for how they work and the sort of information included. Not all that relevant for a fifty-something librarian...
They will, however be useful in the school context where I work. Teenagers will be extremely 'engaged'. There is lots of scope for writing and media activities. In the classroom situation I can see students teaching teachers about some procedures and features.

Photo header Thing #6 (Mashup)

My creation
Originally uploaded by kayestammers

This took ages - help isn't helpful in most cases. I did realise that I needed a URL for the header photo before it could be added to blog, but didn't twig that I had to send Blog Header Generator image back to Flickr...
I have my fingers crossed. Here goes.

Not so many rocks now - Thing #5

2007 assorted 006
Originally uploaded by kayestammers

At last, Flickr and Blogger seem to be talking to each other.
The internet is such a tangle of connections - amazing.

Running backwards (over rocks)

The jolly posting of photos is proving a challenge. Putting in the Flickr URL for my photo, I only managed to post a little sqare with a cross, which links to my Flickr photo....not having the actual photo in my post.
I'll probably be able to post a photo from my hard drive, for some sense of achievement - here goes.

Crawling....backwards

After setting up a Yahoo account...and a Flickr account..... and loading a photo onto Flickr.....which won't be available for 24 hours....I decided to use one already there - but I can't find the button 'above the photo'?? - which will let me add the photo to my post....

I'll experiment with copying and pasting.......

Off and running

Finally getting the hang of username, blog URL, sign off name, and where to go for editing...all quite confusing at first. It took ages to find a unique URL.

I like blogger.com - quite easy to use.

Thank goodness I have some extra time at present...I'm on hols ..... though I do seem to be easily distracted by friends who insist on coffee rendezvous, daughters who need help shopping in Melbourne and mothers who want several days at the beach. Tragic really, but what can I do?

Next challenge is the photos - and flickr