Del.icio.us is a great way of accessing your bookmarks anywhere, anytime. But it's also a good way of sharing tags with people interested in the same subjects - like a Web 2.0 version of old-fashioned bibliographies. Looking at other people's tags lets you follow their readings and research, link to communities of interest and discover the websites they follow.
Del.icio.us enables a collaborative online reference experience which ensures its popularity with a wide range of libraries and librarians.
Check out my bookmarks at http://delicious.com/katherineahall.
I hadn't really looked at Technorati before, but I will be from now on. It's a great way of searching blogs with a targeted rather than scatter-gun approach. The advanced search features allows you to search by keyword, URL or tags. Fantastic!
I love the idea of LibraryThing, it's just that I don't actually buy all that many books myself. I usually borrow them from the library. Still, I suppose I could catalogue all the books that I've read - the library I'd have if I had more money (and space). I do love seeing what other people are reading. It's also a great idea for bookclubs to keep track of their books, authors and readers. I can see that embedding LibraryThing in library catalogues will become more and more popular and that many libraries will take it up.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
RSS Feeds
RSS feeds allow users to truly personalise their internet use.
I've selected a number of sites for my RSS reader, based on my personal and professional interests. I've chosen library, technology and broader arts sites, as well as book and movie reviews and news.
The work-related sites will keep me up to date with current trends and developments without me having to wade through masses of online information via numerous websites. The personal sites will keep me entertained and informed!
I think libraries would be wise to subscribe to a number of RSS feeds, both for the professional development of their staff through intranets, and to satisfy clients' information needs.
The following British Library blogs look interesting: http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digital_lives/
http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/breakingtherules/
as does this SLNSW (Mitchell Library) blog:
http://blog.sl.nsw.gov.au/heritage/.
These blogs all demonstrate the personal touch of the individual author and a specialist agenda within the broader context of the library from which they originate. All are friendly yet informative, informal yet quite structured and cogent. They each invite comment from a dedicated community of users.
I've selected a number of sites for my RSS reader, based on my personal and professional interests. I've chosen library, technology and broader arts sites, as well as book and movie reviews and news.
The work-related sites will keep me up to date with current trends and developments without me having to wade through masses of online information via numerous websites. The personal sites will keep me entertained and informed!
I think libraries would be wise to subscribe to a number of RSS feeds, both for the professional development of their staff through intranets, and to satisfy clients' information needs.
The following British Library blogs look interesting: http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/digital_lives/
http://britishlibrary.typepad.co.uk/breakingtherules/
as does this SLNSW (Mitchell Library) blog:
http://blog.sl.nsw.gov.au/heritage/.
These blogs all demonstrate the personal touch of the individual author and a specialist agenda within the broader context of the library from which they originate. All are friendly yet informative, informal yet quite structured and cogent. They each invite comment from a dedicated community of users.
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Social networking
Social networking applications like Facebook and Twitter would be great used in conjunction with major exhibitons such as Game On, or exhibitions which are collections-based and rely on a community of users / collectors to 'value-add' to the experience. Not sure if the TV program The Collectors has a Facebook or Twitter account, but if they don't, they should!
I like the idea of linking library catalogues to your Facebook page, as UQ has done. Perhaps SLQ should consider something similar in this Web 2.0 world where our social, professional and educational spheres seem to have well and truly converged, and where instant gratification rules!
Twitter is great for up-to-date information on the latest events and trends, and would therefore be useful for conferences and professional development. Perhaps Twitter will replace the traditional 'guest book' for comments on exhibitons and events.
I like the idea of linking library catalogues to your Facebook page, as UQ has done. Perhaps SLQ should consider something similar in this Web 2.0 world where our social, professional and educational spheres seem to have well and truly converged, and where instant gratification rules!
Twitter is great for up-to-date information on the latest events and trends, and would therefore be useful for conferences and professional development. Perhaps Twitter will replace the traditional 'guest book' for comments on exhibitons and events.
Monday, April 20, 2009
Wikis
Wikis are useful when a collaborative approach is required, or desirable - the more interactive and popular the wiki, the more accurate the information contained in it (the well-lit, well-travelled main roads as compared to the dodgy dark alleys - a useful analogy from Powerhouse web manager, Seb Chan).
In libraries, those main roads might be family history forums, conservation clinics and book clubs; the dark alleys funding and client behaviour policies. If a wiki is only as good as its contributors, then there are no dead-ends, only 'roads less travelled'.
In libraries, those main roads might be family history forums, conservation clinics and book clubs; the dark alleys funding and client behaviour policies. If a wiki is only as good as its contributors, then there are no dead-ends, only 'roads less travelled'.
Flickr Awards
The Flickr awards sytem can sometimes be controversial...
I love this photo because it shimmers and glows. The focus is at once on the minituae and the big picture; the organic and the synthetic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/3185081664/in/set-72157611950026978/
This is another thoughtful image from the same photographer:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritual_marketplace/3038654385/
I love this photo because it shimmers and glows. The focus is at once on the minituae and the big picture; the organic and the synthetic.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pagedooley/3185081664/in/set-72157611950026978/
This is another thoughtful image from the same photographer:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/spiritual_marketplace/3038654385/
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
New digital awards?
Perhaps two new digital awards could be introduced - a Digital Preservation Award (for digital surrogates) and a Digital Literature Award (for ‘born digital’ content) in order to further promote our lead role in the digital preservation of Queensland’s documentary heritage. These awards would highlight the twin focus areas of the Digital Preservation Strategy – the preservation of digital surrogates; and the capture of ‘born digital’ content.
The Digital Preservation Award would be awarded annually to a private sector, non-profit or cultural heritage organisation initiative addressing the long-term preservation of creative Queensland content in digital form. The award would focus on the preservation of digital surrogates including photographs, cartoons, motion pictures, sound recordings or video games created by or about Queensland and/or Queenslanders; and would include hosting of the successful recipient’s project within State Library’s Queensland Digital Library.
The Digital Literature Award would be awarded annually to a Queensland fiction, non-fiction or screen writer or poet employing digital technology in the production of his or her work.
The Digital Preservation Award would be awarded annually to a private sector, non-profit or cultural heritage organisation initiative addressing the long-term preservation of creative Queensland content in digital form. The award would focus on the preservation of digital surrogates including photographs, cartoons, motion pictures, sound recordings or video games created by or about Queensland and/or Queenslanders; and would include hosting of the successful recipient’s project within State Library’s Queensland Digital Library.
The Digital Literature Award would be awarded annually to a Queensland fiction, non-fiction or screen writer or poet employing digital technology in the production of his or her work.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Virtual residencies
Virtual residencies are becoming increasingly popular in today’s climate of multi-disciplinary projects, with their inherent technological challenges and complexities. In contrast to more traditional fellowships and residencies, a virtual residency can better accommodate the realities of contemporary networked practices. The work produced during a virtual residency is published, updated and offered up for comment on the web as a ‘work in progress’.
Virtual residencies commonly offer:
· a residency of at least 8 weeks duration;
· a resident’s fee;
· a pre-determined number of hours of technical support (45 hrs +);
· access to the host organisation’s equipment and resources;
· the opportunity to participate in group workshops; and
· a working space for the resident.
In return, the host organisation typically disseminates the resident’s project on its website, with a presentation following completion of the project. For remote participants, the presentation may take place online via streaming or a chat session. Virtual residencies generally incorporate a combination of 'real' visits and extended contact on line.
The Australia Council has recently introduced a Second Life Artist Residency (http://www.ozco.gov.au/grants/grants_new_media_arts/second_life_artist_residency/) which invites artists and writers to explore the possibilities of inter-disciplinary literary, music, art and digital visual media practices. The main objectives of the program are to provide opportunities for artists and writers to develop art that challenges and explores the aesthetic, social, political and cultural realities of Second Life; and encourage collaborations between artists and writers working across literature, music/sound art and digital visual media to develop high quality, experimental arts practices in Second Life.’
Virtual residencies commonly offer:
· a residency of at least 8 weeks duration;
· a resident’s fee;
· a pre-determined number of hours of technical support (45 hrs +);
· access to the host organisation’s equipment and resources;
· the opportunity to participate in group workshops; and
· a working space for the resident.
In return, the host organisation typically disseminates the resident’s project on its website, with a presentation following completion of the project. For remote participants, the presentation may take place online via streaming or a chat session. Virtual residencies generally incorporate a combination of 'real' visits and extended contact on line.
The Australia Council has recently introduced a Second Life Artist Residency (http://www.ozco.gov.au/grants/grants_new_media_arts/second_life_artist_residency/) which invites artists and writers to explore the possibilities of inter-disciplinary literary, music, art and digital visual media practices. The main objectives of the program are to provide opportunities for artists and writers to develop art that challenges and explores the aesthetic, social, political and cultural realities of Second Life; and encourage collaborations between artists and writers working across literature, music/sound art and digital visual media to develop high quality, experimental arts practices in Second Life.’
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