Week 12: Wrap up; social networks and catch up

Finally It's time to say goodbye to 2.0 learning program. Usually I have alot to say in conclusion but today I have nothing really to "cough up." I guess learning is not too bad. At first I have many questions about this but now I have a saying: " Children are not the only ones who study but there are adults in the world who are as stubborn as mules but if we all learn will achieve. " I fell good that FINALLY I've finished. There is now nothing really to say except for Farewell and I hope you like my blog.

Week 11: Online applications and tools

I an no good at these things but I have to admit that spreadsheets are quick and easy to do plus they keep you organized and they can always be edited so you don't have remember things once they have passed. Since being faraway from other librarians who aren't in the library I work in, this program is great for communicating to ONLY librarians throughout the region. You can restrict it to only open by your commands and save them as a draft. This just like Window Messenger but only exclusive for librarians. Okay, okay technology might be smarter than us nut it would not hurt to communicate the old fashioned way and get a cup of coffee wouldn't it?

Week 10: Mashups

Okay, at first I didn't even know what was a mashup so I'm starting at scratch. I think this mashup thing is quite impressive even though I'm no expert at this. I've tried to upload my favourite picture and turn it into a 260 piece jigsaw puzzle. that would be a good present for my daughter. Or maybe a badge....... Anyway, I like the idea of maybe the map of Sydney overlayed with informations and more pictures. It then can turn into a great guide book to tourists. This lay out can be done into a library environment and maybe would perk the library up a little. This can be used for catalogs in libraries or signs and poster. Useful huh?

Week 9: Podcasts and Audio

In my opinion podcasts would save alot of money since it acts just like an Apple iPod or MP3. You can listen to it online. I enjoy listening some of the music on the British Library website. Personally I think the podcast software,introduced by Mozilla Firefox is useful-you don't have to rush out and buy the latest DVD or CD since you can watch or hear online.(The only thing is, you have to what a while before it is online!) Though I found the Yahoo podcast search a little tricky it was worth the effort.

Week 8: Answer boards and social searching

At the moment people have to come here to the library to ask a simple question or inquire a loans book then come all the way back home. But have no fear, with Answer Boards Librarian Wiki you can simply type your dilemma in and hey presto! Your question would be answered. Wouldn't it save alot of time? On the other hand, some people ask similar or the same questions. They might not be the first to "put hands up" but they can see the questions that had been answered, thus his/her problem is solved.

Week 7: Tagging, folksonomies, del.icio.us and LibraryThing

Got my invite key now and I'm off to explore..............
Del.icio.us is a website that transfers websites in a blink of an eye. The libraries have cleverly mastered some links, well tags, for environmental issues or just info from the library. The number of people shown on the websites are useful so you can look at the hottest websites and the juiciest news. Please look at my website: http://del.icio.us/billyjzhang

Okay, at first I didn't not realize the difference between the advance and normal search of "bookmobile" but then I found out that there were two more searches in the Advance search then the normal. Anyway, as I was looking up "nswpln2008" I found out that there were no options to choose from. After a few more frustrating tries I saw message about not being able to find anything from another stressed librarian. Finally I figured out my foolish mistake. There were four tabs and I only tried one! So one by one I tried them. Eventually I found out that there were several pictures but nothing else. How embarrassing! I wonder what would my daughter would do if she knew....


The Library Thing is a good book searcher through my process of adding some books. There are good searchers like the Amazon or the Library of Congress. I had fun adding several books although a few were not known to the engine.

Week 5: Wikis

Wikipedia is a large collection of knowledge. But in the library the usage of this format is different. Like the St Joseph County library website was cleverly mimicked in the "Wiki" style which I personally find quite amusing. I also think the security of these websites are quite secure- since you need a password and user name + you have to be a member of this library, not just any old person scanning through this page. l love the hyper links, since they take you the selected site you want QUICKLY. But what I most find concerning is that Wiki can be edited by anyone who has a account.This "anyone" can be good or bad. I edited a few pages. It got me thinking about this website. Personally I think it is a good starting point. This website should be encouraged in the library (even if it has small mistakes) for high scholars, adults in College etc. This website is great for a main picture of the subject, and maybe a little of the details. What I love the most about Wiki in the clear pictures they provide us. They range from big to small and all of them are clear when enlarged!

Just like a pizza shop

Week 4: RSS

RSS is a family of formats used to publish frequently updated contents such as entries, news and headlines. Just like a big pizza shop. You can pre-order the pizza on the Internet and have it delivered to you in a blink of an eye. It would be quite convenient for everyone. Say, if you were going to a meeting to Melbourne and could not check the Daily telegraph website- but with RSS have no fear! Everyday the carefully selected choices that you personally picked would be sent to your inbox for you to read. It would save up a lot of time opening and closing tabs and windows. That would be like choosing the crust of the pizza and the size. Personally I think it would be great in convenient in my own needs. The libraries could have this format too.(That would be great help for many people.) Now, talking about pizza has made me hungry.........

Week 2: Introduction to blogs

We are in a state where technology is exceeding steadily and for us - hard to catch up. Nowadays people rely heavily on internet, blogs, emails etc. to deal with brain twisting problems that occur in our daily lives like obstacles in a race. The information on the websites are the main challenge to our mission and they are hard to conquer. Even for libraries such as us are struggling to persuade people to come to the library to borrow books. Although we know,our stacks of books are well behind the amount of information provided by the computers we do try. Not only we deal with book processing we also edit the information we publish out on our website to ensure the exact meaning and not mincing words to impress people. But I have to confess living without Google would be absolutely pointless. Because of our surroundings people have using computers more than books. so as librarians we need to keep up and do things the modern ways. Life is worthwhile if you learn new things!

Ratatouille - Week 6: Videos online