23rd Thing

Well, I have enjoyed the '23 things' unlike many of my colleagues. I have enjoyed being forced to learn about some the the technologies and applications that I would not have otherwise bothered with. In my personal life I will continue to use the things that I was already using and most likely won't bother with those I wasn't. I think it is important to be in touch with what most of our user community are using and relate to and this process has been useful in that respect. I am in the fortunate position of having had time to complete each task, therefore I was able to get the most of out the learning experience without other pressures.
I really feel that there is scope for improvement with the services we offer to our user community using some of the what we have learnt about in 23 things, most notably the use of instant messaging to a librarian for remote users. More often than not patrons want help or an answer immediately.

Thing 22 Instant Messaging

My husband is very often overseas for work and we make heavy use of skype! I love the instant messaging but as I'm usually trying to study when I'm online at home I find myself caught up in conversation and not getting much study done at all. In my current position I have no need to use this kind of application at work but I can see the benefits of conducting a brief conversation with work colleagues without having to send emails back and forth or physically getting together to discuss something.
As far as utilising this technology within the library for users to speak to us, it would be great if this function were made available to enhance our services. The uni that I study through as a distance ed student has this 'ask a librarian' service available and when I was a brand newbie mature age external student, I found it very useful. Our libraries have been addressing needs of patrons with regard to library opening hours, online resources etc and this would definitely improve and enhance our service.

Thing 18

Well, I was a bit ahead of schedule before but now it has been weeks since I have looked at '23 things'. Completion date is drawing closer so now its time to get a wriggle on and finish. After looking at Encore, Ebscohost 2.0 etc it is all very interesting, how successful has the rollout of Encore been with the limitations that have been set? How successful would it be if we did allow students to utilise all of the functions that should be available? The only way we will know is if we do it! I think there is a lot of hype surrounding these new technologies and usercentred change but we have one foot in the old 'library controlled' camp and the other in the 'usercentred' camp. Maybe it is time to fully commit to 'usercentred' and put that other foot there. Of course, with all of these new technologies and applications and talk of usercentred change there is an assumption that ALL of our patrons know what this is all about. Working in a library is a career change for me and I'm at the bottom of the heap hierarchically speaking. This means that I am however in the fortunate position of being in the front line with patrons. There are many patrons wandering around without a clue how to actually access the resources that we have available and this includes the 'digital native' generation. Usercentred change MUST focus on user education otherwise we can rollout as much as we like but we will encounter reluctance from patrons unwilling to wade through new technologies and applications on their own.

Google Docs (Thing 14)

Only last week I had a group project in the form of a presentation with a report and essay. Google Docs would have been great to have used for that with the ability to choose collaborators to work with, and edit the document together instead of forwarding numerous versions back and forth. Maybe next time...

Google Scholar and Google Book Search (Thing 15)

I have to say that I can see why a lot of people would love Google book search, books are my passion and my vice. However, I am never happier than when I am am in a physical, as opposed to virtual, bookshop seeing, feeling and smelling those books. I am notorious for giving books as gifts and when I go searching for the perfect gift for someone else I find myself coming home with a few for myself too!!! I worked in a bookshop for many years and I think I spent my entire wage on books AND for me, deciding to become a librarian had a lot to do with being able to work with all those wonderful books!
Google Scholar - I'm a fan! I've been using this for a while and have recently found some great material for a presentation/report/essay I need to do, and which I really need to get cracking on!

iGoogle (Thing 16)

I personalised my iGoogle homepage, I now have new recipes pop up every day, quotes of the day, children's book of the day, and a cute little green frog that follows my mouse around the screen. I am starting to get a bit of information overload...

Google Maps (Thing 13)

I had a play around with Google maps and took a 'walk' around some of our local streets, interestingly must have been filmed at Christmas time as there are decorations up at the shopping area and outside some of the homes.
I also used this application to create a map for my husband from the hotel in Cairns where he is staying at the moment for work (hard life, hey??!!), to the fancy dress shop he needed to visit whilst he is there. I was able to highlight the way he needed to go to get there, detailing the distance between turns into different streets as well as the total distance and estimated time it would take by foot. Why the fancy dress shop you ask? We are going up for hols in a couple of weeks and have a friend's party to attend for which we are required to go as 'something from around the world' as she has recently returned to living in Oz after having spent a number of years living OS.
SOOO... my husband tells me he followed the directions and when he got there it was closed. Hmmm, fine excuse! I think it is just because he doesn't want to go as a bullfighter after all but unless he can think of something better he won't get out of it that easily!!!