Podcasting

Podcasting is a very handy tool. If like me you are busy, let's face it who isn't? I often miss a tv program and then remember a few days later that I missed out.



Podcasting is a very handy way to listen to or watch a program if it is available as a podcast. By subscribing to it to your reader, you can listen to your program at a time and place that suits you. Radio and tv programs are available to watch and make for efficient time management.



I listened to Andrew Denton's Enough Rope with hunky William McInnes - he is very easy on the eye and worth watching more than once! Yes, podcasting is for me and maybe for you too!

Thing 22 - Skye, Meebo, Google Talk

The way we can now communicate is rapidly changing. We now have instant messaging, Meebo, Skype, Google Talk and others. I prefer to use Gmail chat personally. Instant messaging is a popular way for people to communicate when online in real time.

This can be an useful way for people to communicate with Library Staff particularly if requiring assistance with reference enquiries from outside the library.

Skype is a cost-effective or low cost way of communicating with others via a broadband connection. This is particularly handy with friends and relatives overseas - saves a lot of money on costly overseas calls and connections. If you don't mind listening to echoes down the line and experiencing some dropping out, the cost savings can be handy. New VOIP phones are now available and this can assist in the situation.

Libraries can benefit by having this service when communicating with students and staff offshore by using SKYPE technology. Once you have created a Skype account you can keep your contacts in a handy address book attached to your account. Many users create usernames to identify themselves afterall this is a global communication systems. There are many millions of Skype users globally testifying to the cost savings that can be made. In this day and age, everyone is wanting to save a dollar or two!

Ciao for now


Happy Skyping

Sir Max on the VU Library Wiki Pet's Page.

I had fun today cropping, resizing and posting a picture of my beloved (Sir) Max aka Puccini on the VU Library Wiki. This is a fun interactive way of getting acquainted with the use of Wiki's.

There has been much debate about the authoritative content of Wiki's such as Wikipedia. It can be a handy communication tool within organisations providing casual comments that may help with the day to day running of an organisation.

Here is the excerpt from my entry:

Sir Max Martin aka Puccini

My name is (Sir) Max Martin and I am the faithful and spoilt pooch of Virginia M. My favourite pastime is body-surfing at beach. I also play golf at Royal Westgate Golf Course. I am a Millenium pooch which makes me eight years old. I earn my keep by undertaking daily doggy duties - I perform the most fabulous tricks. My favourite time of the day is when I look forward to my mistress coming everyday so I can greet her with full love and devotion!

Until next time - happy blogging folks!

Delicious Art Deco

I had a play on the Delicious Site today. After creating an account and looking around, I decided to investigate what other websites other Art Decophiles have bookedmarked.

It was interesting and fascinating to see that there were links to other blogs and websites about all things Art Deco. Hats, hairstyles, fashions, travel posters, architectural styles including commercial and domestic buildings to name a few. I like this tool and I think I will use it particularly as I am known to use up to three computers in one day! A very good way of keeping my bookmarks all in one place. Hee Hee Hee!!!

Have a taste and see ... Delicious!

IGOOGLE - UGOOGLE!

Well fellow 23thingers, I have had fun playing with IGoogle. Despite it being very Americanised, I have added handy gadgets like Petrol Watch, Google Maps, Joke of the Day, Famous Saying of the Day, Days countingdown to my birthday and recipes, films and books.

I was impressed with the mashup of the Petrol Watch and Google Maps, however, there was a warning that as this was not owned by Google, your particulars could be accessed by a third party. So be careful by not putting down any address or personal particulars that could identify you.

I removed some gadgets as I am not really into Wikipedia and much of the American hype. I hope to explore later when time permits to find and add more local/Australian content. Handy to have many of these things in the one place!

I also changed my IGoogle homepage so that it was personalised with footprints in the sand - beach-combing one of my favourite pastimes - weather permitting of course. Did I mention weather, I also customised my Igoogle page so that it shows Melbourne's weather - that is Melbourne Australia not Melbourne Florida, USA!

That's all folks till next time!

Encore & Library 2.0

I was fortunate enough to have a play around with Encore when it was first introduced. I loved the colours, the interaction, the "did you mean" feature and the relevancy and ranking of words and related topics. They say that a picture says a thousand words and this is true ofEncore. Having the book covers shown is also very handy. I loved the feel and layout of it and have shown many students these features.

The tagging effect is also a feature that will encourage users to participate and we as the Information Professionals need to balance the need for participation and privacy inorder to feel comfortable with all that Library 2.0 offers. I am looking forward to when Encore becomes fully operational - I understand that there is a logistical problem at the moment and hopefully this will be resolved soon.

Letting our students know how relevant our collection is to their needs is one way of getting them to participate and for all of us to embrace Library 2.0. It really is the way of the future.

Now, for the Encore!

Google Scholar & Google Book Galore!

I am impressed with Google Scholar. I have used Google Scholar before when researching or trying to find scholarly or peer-reviewed articles during my post-graduate studies. If you refine your search you will often find articles that you may not have found in your catalogue or just surfing the web. I know that it has helped me in locating items for students at the Service desk that would have otherwise required an Interlibrary loan.

I wasn't really phased with Google Books due to the copyright restrictions, though it is often useful to look through the Table of Contents to ensure if the book is the right one for your research purposes. Amazon.com does a similar thing so this is not an unique attribute.

Google on baby!

Cheers