Social Networking...

The library can definitely benefit, as are other organisations like the British Library, to keep patrons up to date and to encourage library use. After all, these days statistics are what libraries need to show the purse holders they need more staff, facilities and of course, books! It can also help connect our local residents - they can get to know each other, forms interest groups and clubs, etc.

The world is our oyster...

Google Docs (Rock!)

Google is amazing. I think that Google Docs will come in very handy for me, especially for my writing. I will be able to log into any computer anywhere, and write. And it will help keep me organised.

At work it will benefit me in terms of editing protocols or procedures, and running them by other staff members involved. The possibilities are endless.

Mashups!

Europe

Make yours @ BigHugeLabs.com

This is where I'm going in July!

I think that our library can use Mashups for mapping our library branches just like the "Public Library Finder" for the US. There are many other things that libraries can use Mashups for - e.g. flickr photo collections from staff members...

Podcasting...

I have added the British Library & ABC Podcasts pages to my delicious account... so now I have some podcast tags;)

I think that our library can use podcasts for latest library updates, news, activities, new books & other material, even recording children's story time sessions, author talks, etc. Even for what's on in our the council area.

Answer Boards -

I just visited the http://answerboards.wetpaint.com/?t=anon - the Librarian's Slam Board - and found the idea quite interesting.

I have actually commented on books on Amazon.com, so I am familiar with the social searching features...

del.icio.us

It took me a little while to set up a del.icio.us account, because del.icio.us was so fussy about the username and password. That aside, I found it quite easy to use, and can imagine this will be a handy tool to have on hand, wherever I may be...

Here's my del.icio.us account page:

http://del.icio.us/MissSonja

I find the whole del.icio.us idea quite interesting, and can see that it can be quite useful for libraries in that it can help guide library users to carefully selected webpages, which is quite helpful considering the many many millions of pages that pop up from one google search alone.

The fact that bookmarks can be accessed from anywhere is an added bonus!

Monty Pythons...meets Fallen Art...

Being a huge fan of the Monty Pythons made the You Tube session especially enjoyable - I certainly did not expect to see The Holy Grail in lego, but then again, should I really be too surprised? Video access on the internet is a true blessing.

I found some of the You Tube videos quite interesting, but I'm not sure about what we can do for our library... which aspect of it would we use You Tube for? We recently got large screens installed in our library, and we are currently using them to highlight new items in our collection. Perhaps a You Tube video with a tour of our modest collection would be handy for new borrowers, and as a refresher for those unfamiliar with all our functions? You Tube could also be used for Story Time, somehow... perhaps when a live reader is unavailable, for one reason or another... I'm sure there are many many uses for You Tube at the library.

Now, as for a particularly funny You Tube video, here's the link to a favourite, called "Fallen Art":



Enjoy!