FACEBOOK RETHINK

I have just come off Facebook after "chatting" to my sister in Scotland and can't believe how good it is.  In my previous blog entry on Facebook I was a bit sceptical about the whole thing and was quite sure that I wouldn't use it, but am now beginning to have a rethink!  It really is quite amazing and, as long as you're careful about privacy, it is a wonderful bit of technology.  Thank you Web 2.0 Training!

HIP HIP HOORAY - I'VE FINISHED!

At long last I've managed to finish the Web 2.0 Basic Training Course and what a relief! I have to be totally honest here and say that I found it all a bit of information overload, very time-consuming and a real chore! This may be due to the fact that I did the entire course from home in my own time (only working part-time, most of which is on desk, and not having my own designated computer, I felt it would just be easier). Also, I have to admit to spending way more than 1 hour on each lesson, just trying to absorb the material. Some parts of it I really struggled with, others I sailed through. I really am a technophobe - I must be one of the few people who doesn't even use a mobile 'phone! A couple of months down the line, will I remember what I've learned? I'm not so sure.

On a more positive note, I did appreciate the opportunity to learn a bit more about what fantastic technology is out there. Working in a public library, I guess we really need to embrace all things that make accessing information easier, if not for ourselves, then definitely for the public. I'm definitely more knowledgeable about the terminology at least. Much of the course I wouldn't personally use. Facebooking and Twitter are not for me, much rather spend my time constructively, but I did like LibraryThing and hope to continue using this.

What will now become of my Blog?. Well, I guess like Miss Haversham's wedding feast in Dickens' "Great Expectations", it will sit somewhere in cyberspace gathering dust and cobwebs!

WEEK 10 - GEOCACHING

Finally, something that gets us away from the computer and out into the sunshine - a definite thumbs up from me. I had never come across Geocaching before but think it's a wonderful idea, especially for inquisitive children with lots of energy to burn, good for adults too. It was nice to learn of something that families could do together, instead of parents sitting in one room whilst the children zone out on a computer in the other. Getting people to interact and chat to each other, instead of facebooking, has to be a good thing. Off to Switzerland in July, perhaps I'll seek out a geocache!

Not quite sure how we would implement geocaching in our library, but I do agree with my colleague, wellidclare, that it would be an excellent way for Mandurah City Council to promote and encourage tourists into the Peel Region.

WEEK 9 - PODCASTS

Back again - realised only recently that the Web 2.0 course should have been completed by 8th May! that means that I'm already 3 days late. Still, I don't think I'm the only one dragging her/his heels! Where does the time go?

Just finished reading all about Podcasts and was most impressed. It was certainly new to me, I had never even heard of the term - that's how far behind the times I am! Perhaps Mandurah City Council should listen to the Scientific American podcast on mosquitoes. Did you know that if we can figure out a way to make them (the mosquitoes that is, not the councillors) have trouble digesting a hot meal (i.e. our blood!) then they'll produce fewer eggs which, in turn, means fewer mozzies (great for mozzie infested Mandurah). Mandurah scientists - don your thinking caps!

Podcasting would be great for our library. We could have podcasts of author talks, allowing people who are unable to attend in person to listen/view the talk from home at a time that suits them. Also podcasts of all the activities available at the library, from Rhymetime and storytime to school holiday activities and lots more besides. I know, I know, I said the same thing in my previous blog on online videos.

I'm no Don Burke, but I do really enjoy gardening and had a look at the Gardening Australia podcast. Whilst I'm not sure if I would subscribe, I would certainly log on should I miss an episode on television.

Week 9 of the course complete - hallelujah! Only one more lesson to go and then I'm done.

WEEK 8 ONLINE VIDEO

I have to admit to not knowing much about YouTube, although husband and son use it quite a bit, mainly to watch nonsense.  From time to time they will call on me to come and watch something funny, but that is the extent of my use of it.  I think our library could use online video quite effectively to promote upcoming events at the library.  It would be great to film children's storytime (not sure if the children's librarian thinks of herself as a movie star though!) and the writer's who come to give talks at the library. Filming the annual Christmas party for our housebound readers would also be a good idea, allowing viewers the opportunity of seeing just how much the library does. It's not all just about issuing and returning books!

Being the proud mother that I am, I have chosen to embed a video clip of my son, a budding David Beckham, at least he'd like to think so. He's the cool dude in the No.9 shirt.

TWITTER

   Now, I can finish blogging about Week 7 of the course!.  I fully intended to post a blog about Twitter the day after my last blog on Facebook, but alas life, and computer problems, got in the way. Here now, so what can I say about Twitter?  Having read the article about the earthquake, I can appreciate that a networking tool like Twitter can be hugely beneficial to those trying to get in touch with loved ones when all other means of communication are down (this is assuming they have their 'phone with them and,  who, apart from me,  doesn't nowadays?). However, using it on a day to day basis wouldn't be for me - I lead a very ordinary life (no sex scandals, no double life), so don't really think I'd have anything interesting to say.  Who cares if I spent the morning deadheading the roses, or cleaning the bathroom  or going to woolies for the shopping? Did I say I lead an ordinary life? maybe boring would be more appropriate.  There is also the time factor - would I be bothered starting up my computer to add a tweet?  I don't think so.  Still for the purposes of this course I shall do my best to say something for 5 days in a row.

In summary, I think it's okay for the rich and famous, but not for me.  Did you know that Lady Gaga has 9.5 million followers and Justin Bieber 9 million - it's a strange old world we live in.  Moving onto Week 8 of the course ......

P.S.  Almost forgot, I'm known on Twitter as CiaransMum1.

I'VE GOT MY FACE ON FACEBOOK!

I'm  now half way through Week 7 of the Web 2.0 course and have just managed to open a Facebook page.  I have to admit that I was very very reluctant to jump on the Facebook bandwagon, but was informed by a work colleague that it was part of the course and I had to!  Call me an old fashioned gal, but I would much rather chat to a person face to face or even pick up the telephone.  Being an immigrant to Australia from Scotland I guess I can understand the attraction of Facebook for keeping in touch with family and friends, but, like I say, I would much rather pick up the 'phone, hear the person's voice and have a good old chin wag that way.  Not quite sure how we would use it in a library setting.  My main concern about Facebook is the privacy issue and the fact that your information is out there, floating around in cyberspace.  I even contemplated joining with the fake moniker, Morag MacTavish, but thought I was maybe being a bit paranoid!  Then, of course, there are all those horrible stories of bullying on line. What if someone asks to be your friend and you don't want to reciprocate? - it seems a bit mean to ignore or delete their request.  I don't like to hurt people's feelings.  Also, it's just one more thing, in a busy day, to check (it takes me all my time to remember to check my emails!). 


However, having said all that, I had no sooner opened my Facebook account, when I experienced a flicker of excitement when I noticed I had 2 friend requests and a message!  Will I use Facebook after this course has finished?  I don't think so but, then again, stranger things have happened!.    

TAGGING, DELICIOUS & LIBRARYTHING

Well, today is Good Friday, husband and son have gone to Church and I'm sitting here in front of the computer!!  I really wish I had gone with them as I could certainly do with some divine intervention to help me get my head around Week 6 of the Web 2.0 training course!  Firstly, I have to agree with my colleague, wellidclare, that the course seems to be getting more confusing as the weeks go by - and here was me thinking, nae hoping, that a great big light would go on and I would be much more computer literate by now, but alas no!.  I have struggled big time with Delicious, although I did manage to set up a Delicious account.  Whether or not I'll be able to access it again at a later date is another story.  There just seemed to be such a lot of information to take in and I'm not sure if I would use it personally.


As for LibraryThing, well this I did "get" and think it's a terrific idea and, being an avid reader, is something I would definitely use.  How fantastic to build up my own library of books I've read and enjoyed and to be able to read the reviews on them.  It would also be a great idea for Book Clubs.  I've added a few books that sprung to mind (how easy it is to forget what you have already read) and now that I know how to do this I hope to add to it on a regular basis.

I have easily been sitting in front of this screen for about 2 hours, there are some cadbury chocolate eggs in the fridge and I now intend to treat myself (to hang with weightwatchers!).  I need some kind of reward for getting, i.e. struggling through, Week 6 of the course.  Dare I Say, I anticipate Week 7 of the course with a measure of trepidation!!

An Introduction to Wikis

Following the tutorial on RSS feeds I found this one surprisingly easy to understand and what a good idea.  I think wikis could definitely be used in a library setting and to great effect.  It would be particularly good for Job Instruction Guides, where staff who share a specific task could get together and come up with the most efffective procedure.  Coordinating events is another area where a wiki could be a real Godsend.   Previously I had absolutely no idea where the term "wikipedia" came from (hadn't even thought about it) - now I do!  Having a bit of trouble signing up for wiki wetpaint - maybe my computer's too tired or perhaps I am.  Will try again a bit later.

On a  more depressing note, I have just opened my Gmail Reader account and can't seem to find the five web sites I subscribed to earlier!  Perhaps they're hiding? Hells Bells - back to the drawing board....

Grrrr Just completed RSS Feeds!

Well, after having had a crisis of conscience about not doing my "homework", I decided this morning to tackle RSS feeds and, at least, get Week 4 of the training course under my belt!  Not being a person who enjoys sitting in front of the computer (much rather be in the garden or, dare I say it, doing the ironing! or even chatting - nooo way I hear you all gasp!), I found it all a bit confusing and hard to get to grips with.  However, for those amongst us who just love their computers and can't get through the day without checking their favourite websites, I can definitely see the attraction of using RSS feeds - it would certainly make things quicker and easier with the information coming directly to you without you having to seek it out.

As I say, I don't spend much time surfing the net, but there are a few websites I quite like to check out now and again and have now, hopefully, successfully subscribed to them.  One is Victorian artist, Gail McCormack (http://www.gailmccormack.com.au/) who paints beautifully realistic roses and another a blogspot of an English girl (http://www.abeachcottage.com/.) who, after emigrating to Australia, details her day to day life doing up an old beachside cottage somewhere in Sydney - nothing very highbrow I'm afraid.

One thing I did find quite annoying, and this could be just me, is that I had to keep flicking between screens when I was following the RSS tutorial.  I'd be in Google Reader and forget what button I had to press and then have to flick to the tutorial to check (I did this quite a few times - maybe my brain cells are starting to diminish and I'm getting a bit slow!).  Anyway, Week 4 done and dusted.  It  has taken me a couple of hours (not sure if I should admit to that) and I'm now in need of some lunch.  Hopefully,as the weeks progress, I'll get more comfortable with all things technical.

Dolphin playing in Mandurah Estuary

Teenage son home from school and, fingers crossed, I should now be able to post a blog (and include a link) about my beautiful home town of Mandurah.

Mandurah, despite a huge increase in population in recent years, is a beautiful spot just 1 hrs drive south of Perth.  One of the many highlights of the region is the frequent sighting of bottle nosed dolphins in the estuary.  The following link is a great shot of a dolphin frolicking in the water http://www.flickr.com/photos/alinedownunder/3496012470/  Visitors to the Peel Region can take a boat trip around the canal homes and, with luck, be followed by a pod of dolphins.  Strolling along the beautiful foreshore, or having a coffee at one of the cafes, is often a great way of spotting dolphins.  Any visitors I've had from Scotland just love it.  Sunshine, beautiful scenery, wild life - what more could a body ask for? 

Thanks to 'alinedownunder' for the link to flickr.

Flickr Dramas

Hi,
Just finished reading Week 3 of the Web 2.0 course and it all seems simple enough, until I tried to include an image from Flickr on this web post.  Has anyone else had any difficulties, or is it just me?.  I had no problems attaching a photo from my computer (see previous post) but, despite several attempts, have had no luck downloading a picture from the web.  I can feel a headache coming on - time for a break I think!.  Teenage son will be home soon, I'll ask him.  Just as I thought I was getting the hang of things.........

New to the blogging world

Hi there everyone,
I've made it this far with this blogging malarky and just wanted to make sure that it was working okay.  I must be one of the most computer illiterate people around, so feel justifiably proud of myself! After reading through week 3 of the Web 2.0 Basics Training I've even managed to attach a photograph! (Its only taken me about 1 hour, lol - I'm even using some cool teenage speak here!) .  It feels very strange putting a picture of myself out there in cyberspace, but at least no-one can sue me for using their image.  I'm finding it all quite amazing actually, if a little confusing.  Not quite sure yet how it will all fit into working in a library but am looking forward to continuing on with the course.  I really need to drag myself into the 21st Century and become more familiar with all the wonderful technology out there.