Delicious

I have been using Delicious quite a lot in recent months as a handy reference tool for my job. Every time I handle a reference query and find a particular good website (making sure I've checked authenticity, currency, accuracy and such) I add it to my delicious page and tag it. I have also created tag bundles that put together web resources on the same topic. I have found it really useful, much more so than 'Favorites' on IE as I'm able to assign several tags and also write a short description highlighting the main resources on the website. I have also given out the address so other staff at the library can access it and add to it. I think it's a great tool.

I don't use any of the other tools - I probably should explore them more - but love it as a really handy reference resource. If you want to check it out, click here.

I've added the tagroll text here so it will be interesting to see if it works?!?!

Twitter

This is Week 2 and it's Twitter Week. I have set up a Twitter account - http://twitter.com/caparoza - but must admit that I doubt it will get much use. I am following a couple of libraries, but I'm not sure that it's very useful for me. Most of my friends do not have Twitter accounts, so I really have no need to use this tool.

I think for libraries it can be a great tool, Mosman are doing a great job with theirs.

Now I have a e-mail (both work and private), a Twitter account, a blog and have a Google Reader page set up - there just seem to be so many places to check. I'm sure that there must be a way to combine all of these so I'm able to look in just one spot to see what's happening in all of these??!??!

Well, it's been nearly a year to the day since I last updated this blog! I have in the meantime though created another blog, but this was for one of my subjects in my information studies course that I'm following at Charles Sturt University. I enjoyed having the opportunity to use this technology more.

I haven't really thought about adding to my blog for a number of reasons. Firstly I don't have as much time as I like to play around with social software, but I suppose more importantly I don't have the personal desire. For me these tools are more useful in the context of the library where I work and how we can exploit them to reach more of our users.

I don't really read many other blogs either, although I do look at some of the library based blogs, such as LibraryCrunch and I have never made a comment on anyone's blog - although do enjoy reading comments from others.

Looking forward to revisiting these technologies again and discovering new ones.

Week 12

What an adventure it has been !! I have found this course incredibly useful and it has opened the doors to so many tools and possibilities which are available online.

I am looking forward to trying to implement some of these tools at my library and I hope that many more of my colleagues will have the chance to follow this course in the future.

Thanks to all those at the State Library who have worked hard to make this happen - it is very much appreciated.

Week 11

These online tools are fantastic and I was unaware of the majority of them.

These tools could provide very useful at our library service, where we are spread over a wide geographical area with over 11 branches. It would be useful for collaborating on documents and presentations without having to send endless e-mails with attachments.

These are all such useful tools and it's essential that we find the time and enthusiasm to use them.

I am always amazed that I can actually complete these tasks - I always think that they sound too difficult, but then they actually are relatively simple.

Mash-ups are a great tool for libraries. As several people have already mentioned they would be a useful tool for local studies to have maps showing places of historical interest and would also be useful for tourist information.

WEEK 9

I loved the podcasts and before this module had no real knowledge of what they were.

They could be used in the library for library tours, story time and author visits for those who can't make it to the main branch. They would equally be great for staff at remote branches to keep in touch, rather than just through e-mails and telephone calls.

All these tools that we've been introduced to have real potential for the library.