Podcasts is very much like online video or radio and you can get audience's attention by engaging them to watch or listen the files. I like the subject options offered by ABC and you can choose the subject or area of interest. Very easy for me to browse and check out the art or lifestyle files. I think it is because I think like a librarian!
I love to get the RSS for new update in case there is some interesting one out there. However, Some podcasts are very long and boring. I would not like to download them on my PC/ipod to waste my memory. I think if you want to use this function in the Library it has to be something interesting and enjoyable. I don't mind to listen to an interview of Paul Brunton but I don't want to listen to a promotion of a library service. I don't mind to listen to a chapter of Harry Potter but I don't want to listen to the new stationary you can get from the Library. I don't mind to watch a celebrity chef to cook but I don't want to listen to the lending policy of the Library.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Answer Boards
It was quite fun to see how librarians can slam the boards and get recognized for the high quality work. I think it is a good way to show all the online users that getting information is more that what you can find on Google and asking around and let the blind leading the blind! So many times I have came aross with some new generation of clients who think google is the whole world of information! They think the only reason they cannot find what they want is they haven't searhed Google properly!
It is good to see librarians being pro-active out there and there is definitely a role for us in the knowledge market. I think we need to have a look of our current services and may be re-package them with the Web 2 technology. A lot of people out there still think library is just a repository of books but we now offer a lot of very exciting services. Web 2 'look' and design can help the new generation to feel comfortable with us and it can also introduce and promote libraries' new image.
Answer Boards can be used for client to comment and share view on our exhibitions, new books or any new acquisition eg. new database. I think it would be a bit 'risky' to use the function for comment on services and facilities as it can create more issue for us. We can also use the Answer Boards to answer some very common and popular reference queries that we got all the times.
It is good to see librarians being pro-active out there and there is definitely a role for us in the knowledge market. I think we need to have a look of our current services and may be re-package them with the Web 2 technology. A lot of people out there still think library is just a repository of books but we now offer a lot of very exciting services. Web 2 'look' and design can help the new generation to feel comfortable with us and it can also introduce and promote libraries' new image.
Answer Boards can be used for client to comment and share view on our exhibitions, new books or any new acquisition eg. new database. I think it would be a bit 'risky' to use the function for comment on services and facilities as it can create more issue for us. We can also use the Answer Boards to answer some very common and popular reference queries that we got all the times.
Monday, June 9, 2008
Social bookmarking
I had a look and done some searches on del.icio.us and found it very easy to use and fun to read. It is just like bookmarks/favorites but you can share it with anyone in anywhere. I think it can be used as a function of Intranet for staff with 'common interest' or as a quick finder for reference tools/phone no/policies etc.. It can also be used as Internet links for reference/library services and facilities queries for staff and clients. One thing I like (and could be a problem) is that you can use any tag name as the subject heading. It is more user friendly and easier to search for clients and some staff. The RSS Feed is great too as I get notified when there is a new update. They works very well together.
There is a lot of potential of using this tool in libraries. The question is how are we going to agree on the tag names (except using the LCSH)? We have been quite rigid in how we set up our records and indexing and the bookmarking will probably need to set up with 'formal' and informal' tag names. Another issue of using bookmarking is the number of tag that you can set up. It can be quite frustrating when there are a lot of tag names to go through and still cannot find what you want! The approach of bookmarking from Cleveland Library and Sutherland Library are very different. Cleveland Library uses a traditional library approach while Sutherland Library gives you pages of tag names to choose. I think I would prefer something in between.
There is a lot of potential of using this tool in libraries. The question is how are we going to agree on the tag names (except using the LCSH)? We have been quite rigid in how we set up our records and indexing and the bookmarking will probably need to set up with 'formal' and informal' tag names. Another issue of using bookmarking is the number of tag that you can set up. It can be quite frustrating when there are a lot of tag names to go through and still cannot find what you want! The approach of bookmarking from Cleveland Library and Sutherland Library are very different. Cleveland Library uses a traditional library approach while Sutherland Library gives you pages of tag names to choose. I think I would prefer something in between.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
We all stand together
Nice music from Paul McCartney with very creative frog cartoon. Enjoy!
I think cartoon is the way to go for storytelling and young audience.
High school students is one of our major client group and we do have a good collection of HSC materials and some special services for them. However, from time to time, some students do not behave appropriately in the Library and disrupt other clients. May be we can use cartoon as an information tool to tell them how to behave in the State Reference Library?! I think it will work if the cartoon can make them laugh! Trim definitely can play a role in it.
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