Well this is it ! The last post to Struggling out of the gas age. It's been great working with you all and I've enjoyed the course and found it valuable. I am having to post this from home, however, because all social sites have been blocked by the Trust !! So much for our library blog ! Never mind, I hope we'll get it sorted sooner rather than later, before the enthusiasm wears thin.
On the home front I am freezing in our study, so will be quick ! I've been to TOHs ex father-in-law's funeral today which was sad, but he was 86 and had a lived a full life with a large family and so we were celebrating his life and taking forward with us all the good memories. It made me think of all the inventions and technological advances he must have seen in his life - he was born in 1921 and how in a couple of year's time our struggle with wikis and blogs will be lost in an avalanche of new sites and new tools to grapple with. I only hope I have George's energy to deal with it all !
.............and the kitten ? It's called Jinx. I hope it keeps away from the computer !!!!
Have a good weekend folks and if we don't catch up before, a Wiki Christmas and Bloggy New year to all.
Friday, 14 December 2007
3CsT3 Evaluation
1) How well does this course meet your expectations / learning objectives?
My expectations were quite low as I was not convinced I was going to get to grips with the course to start with and although the course objectives were very clear and straightforward I was a bit intimidated by it all. However………. The course exceeded all my expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed trying out the different resources and tools and enjoyed the challenge too. For my own learning objectives, which were at the very least to know what others were talking about, these have also been exceeded as I now feel confident enough to dive in and ‘have a go’.
2) What are the difficulties encountered in accessing the course materials on the Internet at your workplace which have NOT been reported before?
The main problem I found was not being able to explore the social networking sites as well as I would have liked. I was able to access them, but when I tried registering I never received a confirmation e-mail, so suspect that it was blocked. We also received this e-mail, Trustwide this week, which is unfortunate.
Dear Colleagues
Due to recently advertised security threats and identity fraud, the following two web sites will be banned with immediate affect:
You Tube
Face Book
These sites will be banned indefinitely while further investigate of these threats are identified.
This is being done to protect Trust staff, and we would like to thank you for your understanding and co operation in this matter.
Regards
ICT Services
3) Did you need to seek the permission of your trust IT before you accessed certain course materials on the Internet?
I didn’t need to seek permission, they were quite helpful if certain things like the Del.icio.us buttons needed to be put on the toolbar etc. Our IT were even interested in the course itself !
This is a revision to my original evaluation comment. All ‘social networking sites’ have been blocked by the Trust, and no exceptions are to be made. I can’ actually post anything on my blog, although I can still access it.
4) Do the readings meet the learning objectives of each topic?
I think the readings were quite adequate. It is interesting how quickly things move on, as reading around some of the areas, particularly Web 2.0 in general I found articles which were quite recent on the subject. Now we know about social bookmarking sites we can share all these !
5) What is the average amount of time you spent on the course each day?
It’s difficult to average it out as there were days when I did nothing as my training schedule was too busy, then I spent several whole afternoons catching up.
6) How do you find the interaction among participants of the course?
I thought it was a shame so many people dropped out as it left so few of us to interact ! Some of us interacted more than others and in the end there were about four of us who were quite prolific ! I enjoyed sharing ideas and reading the comments left by others, it was interesting to see how others looked at the same subject. I also enjoyed ‘meeting’ people I’d not come across before in person and look forward to working with them in the future.
7) Will you continue blogging and/or reading RSS after the course?
Most definitely ! We have a Blog planned for our library in the New Year and with the changes with NLH and the Core Content I shall be updating my users like mad in the Spring – bags of opportunity to introduce them to MyLibrary and RSS feeds etc. I may even set up one of my own !
Due to the Trust’s restriction of access to social networking sites, including blogging, I wonder if the Library Blog will get off the ground. I haven’t checked to see if I can still set up RSS feeds. This is very depressing as we were looking forward to our library blog.
Objectives Targets Deadlines
Get involved in getting the Library Blog up and running ? These will be decided at the next staff meeting, tbh on 19th December ? February, when the next Library Bulletin would be due ?
Look into getting an induction podcast set up to deliver via iPods, loaned from the library counter. This would be to catch individuals joining the Trust, or stragglers who missed the Trust Induction Read round subjectJan 31stExplore tools needed and find funding for iPodsJan 31stRecord podcast March 31st Podcast ready for 1st April 2008 ?
My expectations were quite low as I was not convinced I was going to get to grips with the course to start with and although the course objectives were very clear and straightforward I was a bit intimidated by it all. However………. The course exceeded all my expectations, I thoroughly enjoyed trying out the different resources and tools and enjoyed the challenge too. For my own learning objectives, which were at the very least to know what others were talking about, these have also been exceeded as I now feel confident enough to dive in and ‘have a go’.
2) What are the difficulties encountered in accessing the course materials on the Internet at your workplace which have NOT been reported before?
The main problem I found was not being able to explore the social networking sites as well as I would have liked. I was able to access them, but when I tried registering I never received a confirmation e-mail, so suspect that it was blocked. We also received this e-mail, Trustwide this week, which is unfortunate.
Dear Colleagues
Due to recently advertised security threats and identity fraud, the following two web sites will be banned with immediate affect:
You Tube
Face Book
These sites will be banned indefinitely while further investigate of these threats are identified.
This is being done to protect Trust staff, and we would like to thank you for your understanding and co operation in this matter.
Regards
ICT Services
3) Did you need to seek the permission of your trust IT before you accessed certain course materials on the Internet?
I didn’t need to seek permission, they were quite helpful if certain things like the Del.icio.us buttons needed to be put on the toolbar etc. Our IT were even interested in the course itself !
This is a revision to my original evaluation comment. All ‘social networking sites’ have been blocked by the Trust, and no exceptions are to be made. I can’ actually post anything on my blog, although I can still access it.
4) Do the readings meet the learning objectives of each topic?
I think the readings were quite adequate. It is interesting how quickly things move on, as reading around some of the areas, particularly Web 2.0 in general I found articles which were quite recent on the subject. Now we know about social bookmarking sites we can share all these !
5) What is the average amount of time you spent on the course each day?
It’s difficult to average it out as there were days when I did nothing as my training schedule was too busy, then I spent several whole afternoons catching up.
6) How do you find the interaction among participants of the course?
I thought it was a shame so many people dropped out as it left so few of us to interact ! Some of us interacted more than others and in the end there were about four of us who were quite prolific ! I enjoyed sharing ideas and reading the comments left by others, it was interesting to see how others looked at the same subject. I also enjoyed ‘meeting’ people I’d not come across before in person and look forward to working with them in the future.
7) Will you continue blogging and/or reading RSS after the course?
Most definitely ! We have a Blog planned for our library in the New Year and with the changes with NLH and the Core Content I shall be updating my users like mad in the Spring – bags of opportunity to introduce them to MyLibrary and RSS feeds etc. I may even set up one of my own !
Due to the Trust’s restriction of access to social networking sites, including blogging, I wonder if the Library Blog will get off the ground. I haven’t checked to see if I can still set up RSS feeds. This is very depressing as we were looking forward to our library blog.
Objectives Targets Deadlines
Get involved in getting the Library Blog up and running ? These will be decided at the next staff meeting, tbh on 19th December ? February, when the next Library Bulletin would be due ?
Look into getting an induction podcast set up to deliver via iPods, loaned from the library counter. This would be to catch individuals joining the Trust, or stragglers who missed the Trust Induction Read round subjectJan 31stExplore tools needed and find funding for iPodsJan 31stRecord podcast March 31st Podcast ready for 1st April 2008 ?
Friday, 7 December 2007
I need a duvet day !
Thank goodness it's Saturday tomorrow, I am in dire need of a duvet day ! We are preparing our Library Bulletin for publication next week and I, for my sins, do the preparing ! It has been particularly tricky this time with lots of interference from 'above' and has convinced Gwen and I, if we hadn't been convinced before, that a Library Blog is what's required. After all the hassle I've had, I need gin, chocolate and my duvet in that order !
However, I have finished all my assignments and commented on everyone else's so I feel a bit smug. I have put my Del.icio.us bookmarks in my portfolio but keep finding more things I want to share - social bookmarking can be very addictive ! so my 'at least ten' has become 'a lot more than ten' I hope Bertha is impressed ! reading through everyone's assignments I have been struck by how much we've all gained from this course and how knowledgable we all seem at the end of it. I suppose the proof of the pudding will be how many Blogs/Wikis and Podcasts spring up in the New Year.
The title of my Blog has always puzzled Bertha, but I feel that I have struggled out of the gas age and bypassed the electronic, nuclear and space ages to land firmly in the virtual age with a reasonable amount of confidence, which is very satisfying.
Meanwhile it has been a bit of an up and down week at home. We have lost a member of the older generation, a good friend and an elderly gerbil - these things always come in threes ! However TOH has been to France to get lots of nice wine and other goodies for Christmas and number 2 son has been given a kitten. It should be an interesting weekend !
Now what shall we call the kitten...................Wiki ????
However, I have finished all my assignments and commented on everyone else's so I feel a bit smug. I have put my Del.icio.us bookmarks in my portfolio but keep finding more things I want to share - social bookmarking can be very addictive ! so my 'at least ten' has become 'a lot more than ten' I hope Bertha is impressed ! reading through everyone's assignments I have been struck by how much we've all gained from this course and how knowledgable we all seem at the end of it. I suppose the proof of the pudding will be how many Blogs/Wikis and Podcasts spring up in the New Year.
The title of my Blog has always puzzled Bertha, but I feel that I have struggled out of the gas age and bypassed the electronic, nuclear and space ages to land firmly in the virtual age with a reasonable amount of confidence, which is very satisfying.
Meanwhile it has been a bit of an up and down week at home. We have lost a member of the older generation, a good friend and an elderly gerbil - these things always come in threes ! However TOH has been to France to get lots of nice wine and other goodies for Christmas and number 2 son has been given a kitten. It should be an interesting weekend !
Now what shall we call the kitten...................Wiki ????
Friday, 30 November 2007
Only one assignment left !
Well I know how I'll be spending my weekend ! I haven't yet started on my individual assignment although I have read most of what I'm going to use and have a few ideas in my head. I was terrified at the beginning of this course and am really pleased I stuck with it as there are so many useful things I've picked up and Gwen and I have loads of ideas we want to share with our colleagues in HEFT some of whom have already done 3Cs so are able to join in our enthusiasm. I managed to submit assignment 6 this afternoon, as a training session I had booked was cancelled and was able to think a bit more deeply about it than I've been able to with some of the others. Hopefully it will generate some comments.
The weekend beckons and apart from my assignment I am off to visit TOHs uncle tomorrow. He a smashing old boy who looks like a combination of Rolf Harris and Anthony Quinn ! He is nearly 80 and spends half his day on the computer. After his wife died a couple of years ago, I introduced him to the idea of compiling his family tree. He now has hundreds of names on it and is travelling all over the country finding new relatives and attending genealogy meetings and local history groups, it's given him a focus, which is great. I haven't yet convinced him to go onto Facebook, but there's still time !
Have a good weekend everyone.
The weekend beckons and apart from my assignment I am off to visit TOHs uncle tomorrow. He a smashing old boy who looks like a combination of Rolf Harris and Anthony Quinn ! He is nearly 80 and spends half his day on the computer. After his wife died a couple of years ago, I introduced him to the idea of compiling his family tree. He now has hundreds of names on it and is travelling all over the country finding new relatives and attending genealogy meetings and local history groups, it's given him a focus, which is great. I haven't yet convinced him to go onto Facebook, but there's still time !
Have a good weekend everyone.
Assignment 6
How will technological trends change the information environment and user behaviour
The information environment is constantly changing as technology advances and user behaviour along with it.
The information environment is constantly changing as technology advances and user behaviour along with it.
- Information arrives quickly via the internet, but users want it even faster and want it to be relevant.
- Information can be delivered anywhere and that is where users will want to access it, the library will be the last resort
- The form in which the information comes is now diverse, not just the written word. Users will expect to be able to read, look and listen to the information they require.
- Technology invites interaction and collaboration, sharing of information. Users want to be able to engage, create their own space and do what they want in it.
How libraries meet the challenge
- Provide news feeds, RSS and alerts so users don't have to go looking for information, it comes to them.
- Provide e-resources wherever possible so that information can be accessed from wherever the user has a connection to the internet. This can be as diverse as e-journals and e-books to blogs, wikis and interactive websites
- Libraries will need to think about how information via this new technology is delivered, users are often mobile and the hardware needs to be as well. MP3 players and iPODS may need to be bought alongside PCs.
- Librarians will need to be able to offer their users the ability to access social networking and social bookmarking sites which may mean negotiating with IT departments to remove firewalls.
What are the implications for information literacy ?
- The most important implication is the quality of the information which is received and the ability of the user to evaluate it.
- Because wikis are intended to be edited by anyone who can access them, there is the danger of information not being as accurate as it might be, this might be more of a problem for librarians than for users ! Librarians will need to decide what is authoratative and what doesn't need to be.
- There may be an assumption that everyone is able to use the new technology and the social software. Some users may not bother to use the library because they are wary of the new technology or feel threatened by it or even don't see the point of it.
How libraries meet the challenges
- Users need to be made aware of the quality of the information they find. Evaluating and appraising information will need to be built in to information skills training if it is not there already, even at a very basic level.
- The practice of tagging as opposed to cataloguing information may become a difficult thing for librarians to deal with. There should be room for both.
- Libraries will have to make sure that users can use the new technology. Information skills sessions may be run in conjunction with the IT department who may be better equipped to teach about social networking/bookmarking. Less experienced users should not be made to feel unwelcome and tailoring sessions to specialties and departments so they can see the relevance of it may help.
- Librarians may have to rethink budgets. Is it better to appoint another librarian or a piece of equipment ? They will certainly need to be constantly planning and running to stand still. Not joining in is not an option.
- There is a risk that all this shared information, blogging and editing wikis can lose all sense of privacy, librarians should be able to provide an option of complete anonymity when setting up social networking opportunities
- Ultimately librarians need to accept creativity, chill out and go with the flow !
Friday, 23 November 2007
The end of another week
Here we are again, another Friday afternoon and only four weeks left to Christmas !!! even less to the end of the course which I have enjoyed tremendously. I remember Bertha saying that it would be hard work and it certainly has been, but I have learned so much. I am now beginning to seriously consider employing some of the tools I have explored and can see much more clearly how Web 2.0 can be used in the library - and be fun too !!
On the home front I am having my youngest neice, hot from a Geography field trip, for a curry and bed tonight, her parents having gone off on a jolly ! I don't know what there is to watch on the telly tonight, but it will undoubtably be her choice (she's 17) I shall have to button my lip at the prospect of Hollyoaks etc but may be able to confound her by talking about Facebook and other things she won't think her 'barmy aunty' knows anything about ! it'll be nice having a girl in the house - may even get my toenails done !
Have a good weekend all !
On the home front I am having my youngest neice, hot from a Geography field trip, for a curry and bed tonight, her parents having gone off on a jolly ! I don't know what there is to watch on the telly tonight, but it will undoubtably be her choice (she's 17) I shall have to button my lip at the prospect of Hollyoaks etc but may be able to confound her by talking about Facebook and other things she won't think her 'barmy aunty' knows anything about ! it'll be nice having a girl in the house - may even get my toenails done !
Have a good weekend all !
Monday, 19 November 2007
Assignment 5 Mashups
I really enjoyed exploring mashups and used the list in Allan Cho’s article
http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/jchla/jchla28/c07-007.pdf to choose from. I began with Biowizard http://biowizard.com which uses NCBI Entrez as its application programming interface (API). Users are able to customize a personal profile, share research interests, upload articles from Pubmed to share and comment on other users’ choices. Photos can be uploaded and users can join groups and chat live with others.
I registered with Biowizard and submitted an article chosen from a Pubmed search on Clinical Librarians. This appeared in the New Submissions after a few seconds and is available for others to comment on or discuss, gaining votes as they do so. I then searched the site and retrieved it, so the system works ! I checked this morning to find 24 votes had been allocated to my submission, so there is more than a little interest in it.
Gwen likened this aspect of Biowizard to a ’virtual journal club’, which would be one use for it.
Try searching for my submitted article and give it some more votes !
I then had a look at HEALTHMAP http://healthmap.org I was really impressed with this ! There are many tools incorporated in HEALTHMAP, Google maps, Pubmed, WHO, Wikipedia, Centers for Disease control and prevention, it’s API is Googlemaps. The medical/public health sites mash with Googlemaps to show the prevalence of disease world-wide. Diseases are listed, most prevalent first (cholera!) you can click on a disease to load it onto the map. An information button links to Wikipedia, Pubmed, WHO etc for an explanation of that disease. You can check alerts by country, which are fed by Newspapers and news sites like BBC.
A look at the whole world with all the diseases loaded on could help with your choice of holiday destination ! The UK looks very dodgy, whereas France is clear – do we believe this !!!
http://pubs.nrc-cnrc.gc.ca/jchla/jchla28/c07-007.pdf to choose from. I began with Biowizard http://biowizard.com which uses NCBI Entrez as its application programming interface (API). Users are able to customize a personal profile, share research interests, upload articles from Pubmed to share and comment on other users’ choices. Photos can be uploaded and users can join groups and chat live with others.
I registered with Biowizard and submitted an article chosen from a Pubmed search on Clinical Librarians. This appeared in the New Submissions after a few seconds and is available for others to comment on or discuss, gaining votes as they do so. I then searched the site and retrieved it, so the system works ! I checked this morning to find 24 votes had been allocated to my submission, so there is more than a little interest in it.
Gwen likened this aspect of Biowizard to a ’virtual journal club’, which would be one use for it.
Try searching for my submitted article and give it some more votes !
I then had a look at HEALTHMAP http://healthmap.org I was really impressed with this ! There are many tools incorporated in HEALTHMAP, Google maps, Pubmed, WHO, Wikipedia, Centers for Disease control and prevention, it’s API is Googlemaps. The medical/public health sites mash with Googlemaps to show the prevalence of disease world-wide. Diseases are listed, most prevalent first (cholera!) you can click on a disease to load it onto the map. An information button links to Wikipedia, Pubmed, WHO etc for an explanation of that disease. You can check alerts by country, which are fed by Newspapers and news sites like BBC.
A look at the whole world with all the diseases loaded on could help with your choice of holiday destination ! The UK looks very dodgy, whereas France is clear – do we believe this !!!
Friday, 16 November 2007
How time flies
Well it's Friday again ! I can't believe how fast the time goes these days, must be something to do with being old !!!
I have been gently getting to grips with Mashups, reading around the subject and looking at a few things, so hopefully I can get on with the assignment next week. My group has completed our assignment and are very pleased to have got it out of the way. At work it's been busy again with training and this morning Gwen and I had a lovely session with 53 student nurses using the Kefalonia method. At home I appear to have lost number two son for a fortnight while he house-sits for his girlfriend's parents which will be nice and quiet but I shall miss the comings and goings. Off to the Golf Club dinner and dance tonight, that'll be fun, and back in time to see how much Children in Need has raised this year.
Have a good weekend one and all - we're nearly there !
I have been gently getting to grips with Mashups, reading around the subject and looking at a few things, so hopefully I can get on with the assignment next week. My group has completed our assignment and are very pleased to have got it out of the way. At work it's been busy again with training and this morning Gwen and I had a lovely session with 53 student nurses using the Kefalonia method. At home I appear to have lost number two son for a fortnight while he house-sits for his girlfriend's parents which will be nice and quiet but I shall miss the comings and goings. Off to the Golf Club dinner and dance tonight, that'll be fun, and back in time to see how much Children in Need has raised this year.
Have a good weekend one and all - we're nearly there !
Friday, 9 November 2007
TGI Friday
Well I've survived another hectic week, masses of training, meetings and an awayday ! and even managed to catch up with my 3CsT3 assignments. I feel particularly pleased with myself because my group has started on our group assignment - thanks to Sandra, and I can see the end of the tunnel !
I have also completed on the sale of my flat this week and am installed in my new home, a great relief to my colleagues who have heard me bleating on about it since April; and number one son is moving back to TGI Fridays in Sutton tomorrow from managing the restaurant on the Hagley Road, a move up the management ladder for him. All in all I think I deserve the champagne which we drank earlier in the week - spoils from our trip to France last month.
I hope everyone has a good weekend, think of me unpacking boxes !!!
I have also completed on the sale of my flat this week and am installed in my new home, a great relief to my colleagues who have heard me bleating on about it since April; and number one son is moving back to TGI Fridays in Sutton tomorrow from managing the restaurant on the Hagley Road, a move up the management ladder for him. All in all I think I deserve the champagne which we drank earlier in the week - spoils from our trip to France last month.
I hope everyone has a good weekend, think of me unpacking boxes !!!
Tuesday, 6 November 2007
Assignment 4: A health related wiki
While I was searching for inspiration, I came across David Rothman's list of medical wikis http://davidrothman.net/list-of-medical-wikis there was nothing on my theme of Epilepsy so i checked out another topic close to my heart (chest?) at the moment www.fluwikie.com but this turned out to be a bit like 'Protect and Survive' so in the end I decided to have a look at http://ebmlibrarian.wetpaint.com. I don't know how I've never come across this before !
As a trainer I found it really interesting with lots of links to useful things for me like training materials, handouts, exercises and scenarios, some of which linked back to CASP, but others were completely new to me. You are invited to add to the scenarios and other materials, which I haven't done yet, but intend to. I also intend to share exercises, it's a great resource for me, I've been looking for a new icebreakers and other exercises for ages.
As a librarian I found the look of the wiki more familiar than some I've encountered with links in a navigation box, rather than just a search facility making it easier to find your way around. At the moment you are invited to' check out the EBCP search engine created by Andrew Booth' (I should have known !)
I really like this wiki and intend using it frequently.
As a trainer I found it really interesting with lots of links to useful things for me like training materials, handouts, exercises and scenarios, some of which linked back to CASP, but others were completely new to me. You are invited to add to the scenarios and other materials, which I haven't done yet, but intend to. I also intend to share exercises, it's a great resource for me, I've been looking for a new icebreakers and other exercises for ages.
As a librarian I found the look of the wiki more familiar than some I've encountered with links in a navigation box, rather than just a search facility making it easier to find your way around. At the moment you are invited to' check out the EBCP search engine created by Andrew Booth' (I should have known !)
I really like this wiki and intend using it frequently.
Assignment 3
I have been exploring Connotea, http://www.connotea.org/ which I had never heard of before. I liked the look of the site to begin with as it’s not cluttered and the instructions are clear. I chose to continue with my theme of epilepsy and found searching easy. There were plenty of results from a good selection of clinical journals which were up to date and relevant. There are lists of subject and user tags so you can follow up a subject or someone with the same interest.
The tool is designed specifically for scientists and clinicians and the results of searching reflect that. Although most of the results I found were references from journals it will pick up web pages or blogs as well. This is useful for me as I would like to see entries from sufferers as well as clinicians. Because the tool is aimed at scientists and clinicians Connotea has extra features on some websites such as Pubmed and many journals, where it is able to recognise the page you are on and automatically collect the bibliographic information.
The community pages on Connotea are a Wiki www.connotea.org/wiki so registered users can read write and edit articles about the tool. These include FAQs, a problem page and requests.
I haven’t been able to delve too deeply into the site, as I haven’t had my registration confirmation e-mail back yet ! perhaps this will be my opportunity to use the Wiki !
Using bookmarking tools in libraries could be useful in a number of ways:
Specialist/outreach librarians would be able to collect and share resources with their users/specialty.
It would enable library staff to collect and share information for and between users eg student nurses for assignments
Library staff working in a PCT could share a range of information with library users and their clients, for instance patient information, sufferer’s blogs/ experiences etc
It might enable some library staff to share information on a specific aspect of their work, eg training trends, either within a trainers group or with the rest of the staff in their own library
The tool is designed specifically for scientists and clinicians and the results of searching reflect that. Although most of the results I found were references from journals it will pick up web pages or blogs as well. This is useful for me as I would like to see entries from sufferers as well as clinicians. Because the tool is aimed at scientists and clinicians Connotea has extra features on some websites such as Pubmed and many journals, where it is able to recognise the page you are on and automatically collect the bibliographic information.
The community pages on Connotea are a Wiki www.connotea.org/wiki so registered users can read write and edit articles about the tool. These include FAQs, a problem page and requests.
I haven’t been able to delve too deeply into the site, as I haven’t had my registration confirmation e-mail back yet ! perhaps this will be my opportunity to use the Wiki !
Using bookmarking tools in libraries could be useful in a number of ways:
Specialist/outreach librarians would be able to collect and share resources with their users/specialty.
It would enable library staff to collect and share information for and between users eg student nurses for assignments
Library staff working in a PCT could share a range of information with library users and their clients, for instance patient information, sufferer’s blogs/ experiences etc
It might enable some library staff to share information on a specific aspect of their work, eg training trends, either within a trainers group or with the rest of the staff in their own library
Tuesday, 23 October 2007
Catching up
I've taken rather longer than anticipated to get back to blogging after a week of champagne tasting followed by the busiest week at work I think I've ever had ! This week is not a lot better as it's half term and we have hardly any staff, but I may be able to catch up on my 3CsT3 by the end of the week, so watch this space !
Friday, 5 October 2007
Reflection
Well here I am at the end of a very manic week ! Having got my two assignments out of the way deliberately (I'm on leave next week ) I've been looking back at some of the readings and having a sneak preview at social bookmarking and dipping my toe into folksonomies. Somehow many of the puzzles of the first week or two seem to have solved themselves and I am feeling much more confident about blogs and blogging. It's good to share an office with someone else on the course as we can mull over ideas and air concerns together.
I shall be sampling champagne (how sad) next week, in France, so I won't miss you or 3CsT3 !but have a good week one and all I'll be back online on 15th.
I shall be sampling champagne (how sad) next week, in France, so I won't miss you or 3CsT3 !but have a good week one and all I'll be back online on 15th.
Wednesday, 26 September 2007
Del.icio.us - yet again
Has anyone else had problems with their Del.icio.us account ? Mine seems to have dropped off, not recognising my username or password. I've sent for help to set another password - haven't had a reply yet, but it's infuriating as I have been asked to find out about spinocerebellar ataxia for a friend who's partner has just been diagnosed with it and wanted to share my findings (now I can !!)
Tuesday, 25 September 2007
An example to us all
Wow !
I have just been onto the Shropshire and Telford libraries' blog http://sathlibraries.blogspot.com/ and I'm so impressed. It has all the requirements that I mentioned in my assignment of what a blog should look like and what it can do. I think we in HEFT (Gwen !) could be doing some serious thinking in the near future.
PS the wedding, on Friday, was a very happy occasion !
I have just been onto the Shropshire and Telford libraries' blog http://sathlibraries.blogspot.com/ and I'm so impressed. It has all the requirements that I mentioned in my assignment of what a blog should look like and what it can do. I think we in HEFT (Gwen !) could be doing some serious thinking in the near future.
PS the wedding, on Friday, was a very happy occasion !
Monday, 24 September 2007
Blogging Assignment 2
Here are my thoughts on the subject, I look forward to having some comments !
What makes a blog successful and appeal to me
I like a blog to be clear and uncluttered, easy to read and use, unlike the LIS News blog which has far too much information for me. http://www.lisnews.com. It looks messy and it’s difficult to find anything. I like Georgia State University Library news blog http://www.library.gsu.edu/news/index.asp which is clear and has subject blogs with feeds. A blog should be interactive and to invite discussion. It should be well edited or maintained so that it doesn’t get too much rubbish or ‘off topic’ comment contributing or get hogged by the same couple of contributors clearly having a personal conversation. I also like the University of Saskatchewan’s Engineering Library blog, http://library.usask.ca/engin which sits in the middle of their web home page.
What roles can blogs play in a library setting
An ideal platform for the marketing and promotion of library services
A host for RSS feeds for alerts to news, activities and events or new resources
Another way of advertising and updating information skills training courses or inductions
A way to engage with users inviting comments or suggestions or even a virtual library committee.
An outreach tool to try and reach new users or to support departments with specialist booklists or RSS feeds to tables of contents in relevant journals
It could be easier and less time consuming than setting up and maintaining a web site.
What does our library need to do to start blogging
The library would need to start by considering
the target audience – who would look at or contribute to a blog.
The scope of the blog would need to be thought about – what are we going to use it for or how do we want to be seen.
If the blog is to be used for marketing or promotion then there should be some consideration given to what events or activities are advertised.
IT issues need to be considered. Will the blog be on an existing website, will there be a problem with firewalls, will there be a need for passwords.
Some thought needs to be given to the features and functions of the blog. Will there be a need for archives, Should it be subdivided into categories, who will undertake the job of editor or writer as it needs to be snappy and inviting, what about the design of the blog, might it need to be in the same colourway as existing library publications
Might it be an idea to set up a pilot blog and see how it goes.
What makes a blog successful and appeal to me
I like a blog to be clear and uncluttered, easy to read and use, unlike the LIS News blog which has far too much information for me. http://www.lisnews.com. It looks messy and it’s difficult to find anything. I like Georgia State University Library news blog http://www.library.gsu.edu/news/index.asp which is clear and has subject blogs with feeds. A blog should be interactive and to invite discussion. It should be well edited or maintained so that it doesn’t get too much rubbish or ‘off topic’ comment contributing or get hogged by the same couple of contributors clearly having a personal conversation. I also like the University of Saskatchewan’s Engineering Library blog, http://library.usask.ca/engin which sits in the middle of their web home page.
What roles can blogs play in a library setting
An ideal platform for the marketing and promotion of library services
A host for RSS feeds for alerts to news, activities and events or new resources
Another way of advertising and updating information skills training courses or inductions
A way to engage with users inviting comments or suggestions or even a virtual library committee.
An outreach tool to try and reach new users or to support departments with specialist booklists or RSS feeds to tables of contents in relevant journals
It could be easier and less time consuming than setting up and maintaining a web site.
What does our library need to do to start blogging
The library would need to start by considering
the target audience – who would look at or contribute to a blog.
The scope of the blog would need to be thought about – what are we going to use it for or how do we want to be seen.
If the blog is to be used for marketing or promotion then there should be some consideration given to what events or activities are advertised.
IT issues need to be considered. Will the blog be on an existing website, will there be a problem with firewalls, will there be a need for passwords.
Some thought needs to be given to the features and functions of the blog. Will there be a need for archives, Should it be subdivided into categories, who will undertake the job of editor or writer as it needs to be snappy and inviting, what about the design of the blog, might it need to be in the same colourway as existing library publications
Might it be an idea to set up a pilot blog and see how it goes.
Friday, 21 September 2007
Facebook again
I did indeed contact my 'ex' re his use of Facebook and received this informative reply.
I too have the same reservations about Facebook for all the reasons you gave and also about the potential for people knowing more about me that I care to share! I’m still trying to sort out how you restrict the info that’s available, even to your ‘friends’.
Currently I feel like I have tracing device on Oli, Rols and Jane as they record tons of stuff (I even know when Jane washed the car!) and I can also get to see lots of stuff about their friends.
My thoughts on reasons for joining were:
Contacts with student officers - I’m still doing work with Students’ Unions and they all have profiles. I haven’t got around to contacting any yet but I see it as a way of maintaining a relationship with those I’ve worked with this summer. I also think that, properly positioned, there may be some marketing mileage in being seen as in touch with how students communicate!
Quite a few Students' Union General Managers are on the site so it’s a way of keeping in touch with them
One of the things that the site does is that every time you update your own pages it sends all your ‘friends’ a message that you’ve done so and they can easily see what you’ve added via one click (I guess this is the basis of the social networking!). So, if I put something on my page about designing a new training course they all get a notification
I’m doing a graduate recruitment project for a commercial client and I was thinking of using the network to spread the word that we are offering some free interview training to students in selected department of universities. I will need to establish some key contacts for this but I have a cunning plan!
I added ***** as a ‘friend’ and then got contacted by someone else who used to work with him and is now with another company so I’ve re-established a contact that I’m following up on
Hope that helps
I have sympathy with his point about filtering out the stuff you want seen from the stuff you don't. His work brings him in contact with people who regularly use Facebook - students and academic staff, and he has no firewall to prevent him from using it to the full. I tried to register earlier in the week, but received no confirmation e-mail, presumably because it was kicked off by our firewall. I am still excited by the amount of new tools there are out there to use, but wonder just how many will, in the end, be of any use to the library.
.....only time and 3CsT3 will tell! Well, I'm off to my best friend's wedding, i shall have a good weekend and hope you all do.
See you next week !
I too have the same reservations about Facebook for all the reasons you gave and also about the potential for people knowing more about me that I care to share! I’m still trying to sort out how you restrict the info that’s available, even to your ‘friends’.
Currently I feel like I have tracing device on Oli, Rols and Jane as they record tons of stuff (I even know when Jane washed the car!) and I can also get to see lots of stuff about their friends.
My thoughts on reasons for joining were:
Contacts with student officers - I’m still doing work with Students’ Unions and they all have profiles. I haven’t got around to contacting any yet but I see it as a way of maintaining a relationship with those I’ve worked with this summer. I also think that, properly positioned, there may be some marketing mileage in being seen as in touch with how students communicate!
Quite a few Students' Union General Managers are on the site so it’s a way of keeping in touch with them
One of the things that the site does is that every time you update your own pages it sends all your ‘friends’ a message that you’ve done so and they can easily see what you’ve added via one click (I guess this is the basis of the social networking!). So, if I put something on my page about designing a new training course they all get a notification
I’m doing a graduate recruitment project for a commercial client and I was thinking of using the network to spread the word that we are offering some free interview training to students in selected department of universities. I will need to establish some key contacts for this but I have a cunning plan!
I added ***** as a ‘friend’ and then got contacted by someone else who used to work with him and is now with another company so I’ve re-established a contact that I’m following up on
Hope that helps
I have sympathy with his point about filtering out the stuff you want seen from the stuff you don't. His work brings him in contact with people who regularly use Facebook - students and academic staff, and he has no firewall to prevent him from using it to the full. I tried to register earlier in the week, but received no confirmation e-mail, presumably because it was kicked off by our firewall. I am still excited by the amount of new tools there are out there to use, but wonder just how many will, in the end, be of any use to the library.
.....only time and 3CsT3 will tell! Well, I'm off to my best friend's wedding, i shall have a good weekend and hope you all do.
See you next week !
Thursday, 20 September 2007
Del.icio.us again
As you can see from the postings on the blog, it didn't quite work ! However, I think I can sort it now. Sorry to those who have no interest in Agatha Christie or the other stuff I put there for my own use, not for the course!!!
However, many thanks Lesley for your help, I suppose someone has to show themselves up at some point !
However, many thanks Lesley for your help, I suppose someone has to show themselves up at some point !
Del.icio.us
I'm a bit confused.
I have set up an account with Del.icio.us and have the correct buttons on my toolbar. I've found several things that look useful and have saved them to my Del.icio.us, but when i found something today which I wanted to post on the 3CsT3 Del.icio.us, I couldn't work out how to do it. I had a go, but nothing appeared, can anyone enlighten me ?
I have set up an account with Del.icio.us and have the correct buttons on my toolbar. I've found several things that look useful and have saved them to my Del.icio.us, but when i found something today which I wanted to post on the 3CsT3 Del.icio.us, I couldn't work out how to do it. I had a go, but nothing appeared, can anyone enlighten me ?
Wednesday, 19 September 2007
RSS Feeds for epilepsy
Inspired by my niece who has the condition, these feeds are for those suffering from epilepsy, their families or health professionals.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/rss/epilepsy.xml is a feed from
Medical News Today, the largest independent health and medical news website on the Internet. Drawing from sources such as JAMA, BMJ, Lancet ,it is updated with more than 60 articles every day, 7 days a week - more than any other health news site. The site is divided into 101 medical categories/specialities allowing you to browse only the news relevant you. Advanced news archive searches allow you to quickly find the articles you want. Epilepsy News has useful links and a video library.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/rss/mind_brain/epilepsy.xml is a feed from
Science Daily:Epilepsy News offering the facts and latest medical research on epilepsy and epileptic seizures. Information on the symptoms of epilepsy as well as the causes, treatment and medications for adult and childhood epilepsy and seizure disorders.
http://www.blackwell-synergy.com/action/showFeed?mi=50n5q&ai=12u&jc=epc&type=etoc&feed=rss is a feed from
Epilepsy Currents, the online journal of the American Epilepsy Society. The AES promotes research and education into the prevention, treatment and cure of epilepsy, aimed at clinicians, researchers and other healthcare professionals interested in siezure disorders.
Web 2.0
Well I had to laugh !
I'd finished a training session with a paediatric clinician yesterday afternoon and as he relaxed into his chair he said to me "What's all this web 2.0 stuff Sue ?" "Ask me after Christmas", I said, "I might have a handle on it by then " Then I showed him what we were all doing and the tools we were looking at on the course. As my son Roland would say - he was well impressed ! We chatted about podcasts and Facebook, he didn't know about RSS feeds so I said I could show him how to set it all up and find some useful feeds. Talk about good timing. As I said, I had to laugh!
I'd finished a training session with a paediatric clinician yesterday afternoon and as he relaxed into his chair he said to me "What's all this web 2.0 stuff Sue ?" "Ask me after Christmas", I said, "I might have a handle on it by then " Then I showed him what we were all doing and the tools we were looking at on the course. As my son Roland would say - he was well impressed ! We chatted about podcasts and Facebook, he didn't know about RSS feeds so I said I could show him how to set it all up and find some useful feeds. Talk about good timing. As I said, I had to laugh!
Monday, 17 September 2007
I spent some time chatting to my son Oliver yesterday about the value of Facebook as a work tool rather than just a social one. He told me his father, who is a management training consultant had run a workshop in London recently where everyone was talking about Facebook and what they had on there. Tony decided to put himself on as he felt it would give him more exposure. I think I might have to give him a ring and see how it's gone. I can certainly see some parallels here.......
Friday, 14 September 2007
RSS Feeds
Spent some time yesterday exploring Medworm and other sites suggested by Bertha, I found it interesting, not necessarily for answering the assignment but finding useful things for a training librarian in general ! So I put lots of things into del.icio.us - very good practice. I actually feel as if I'm beginning to get a feel for the course now.
Tuesday, 11 September 2007
conference call
yesterday's conference call helped a little to clear my foggy brain, but I must admit it still very misty in there ! However it was comforting to hear one or two contributors who seemed to need the same basic knowledge as me and I'm hoping that as we get started using all of these tools, the mist will lift completely ! You will be amused to know that I spent the whole night dreaming about setting up RSS feeds - now how sad is that ?
I've submitted a comment to Gwen's blog today, so I feel as if I'm on my way !
I've submitted a comment to Gwen's blog today, so I feel as if I'm on my way !
Tuesday, 4 September 2007
setting up stuff
Well I'm still trying to find the time to work my way through the 'setting up' tasks. I've got this far, but it's been a struggle ! Training sessions with 3rd year medical students is at the forefront of my week, but I'm hanging in there !
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