I've caught up.....

I named my blog Katch up because I felt I started a little way behind as I was on holiday when everyone else got off the start line......actually, I found that to be an advantage as there was usually someone to ask when I couldn't understand something or make it work. Thanks to all who helped along the way, sometimes it was just a case of talking about it that helped it to click into place.....it was always good to know that others had been there before me and I will take great pleasure in helping those who are still toiling towards the finish. For me I'm happy to say that I made it before MIDNIGHT!!!!!! but only just.
Phine

The end is nigh....

I would have to say that this learning journey has been a bit of a struggle for an over 50 like me who really prefers the outdoor life and has avoided having new age technologies in the home. But I like to think that I have an open mind and I was really keen to have a go at this Web 2.0 learning program. Somedays I just seemed to be fluffing about in the dark or going round in circles not making much headway and then discovered that others were having similar difficulties which made me feel not quite so inadequate. I have had quite a bit of help from friends and colleagues and occasionally I would have a break through which gave me immense satisfaction.
My children think I'm a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to technology but having persisted through this Web 2.0 experience it wouldn't surprise me if there are a few "things" out there on the web that I could probably teach them now.
A little knowledge is a dangerous thing.......!!!
Phine

Books by any other name....

I Have listened to audiobooks on CD or audiocassette every day as I travel to and from work and I have just had a whole new world opened up for me. Recently after some car trouble I have had to sacrifice my new CD player that also played MP3 format but now I think I might have to upgrade my limited technology to accommodate my opened mind......bring on the eAudiobooks!http://audiobooksforfree.com/ is a great place to visit and sample before you download.
Phine

Peas in a pod

As I near the end of this program I feel that I have listened to enough podcasts to last me a lifetime! No, that's not fair....the podcasts have been a useful part of this learning process and after struggling around some of the podcast directory sites I get the feel that they are a fantastic tool for the music world....but generally that's not my scene. I see that one of my colleagues found good childrens stories so that seems like a good possibility for the library scene. Downloading podcasts to listen to seems to be jammimng my computer tonight so I will have to move on and play another day!
Phine

Round in circles or the angry librarian

I can really identify with this........

Tools or toys

After cruising through a number of the Web 2.0 Award sites i settled on a fun one
Guess-the-google

and very nearly got stuck here all night.

As well as the game of 'guess the tag' there was also a facility for creating montages using a 'Tag'

the possibilities for wasting time were endless!!!

Am not sure if it has applicable uses in a library setting, maybe just a window for momentary escape: but don't count on getting back to work anytime soon..........

http://grant.robinson.name/projects/guess-the-google/

Online word

This is a great discovery! Escape from Microsoft, how wizard!!!!

Definitely more to explore in this "thing" but developing confidence will ennable me to do so when I'm not trying to meet this deadline!
Phine

Sand in my eyes

Reading other's comments was fun, some are just simply clever (which is where I got the title of this post from), perhaps it should be washing the sand out of my eyes! The more I play the more I understand.........just like real kids!
Phine

Everyone's an authority

Well just about anything can go in a wiki it seems........but who can tell if it is authoritative source? I liked the idea of booklists that some of the library examples used with readers being able to add their comments or review remarks. Globalized opinions.
Phine

The gateway to learning

Vision & Values from the State Library of Victoria

Vision
Victorians will have ready access to a comprehensive collection of Victorian documentary material and to worldwide information resources to enrich their cultural, educational, social and economic lives.

Values
The Library's work in achieving this vision is informed by the following values:
Innovation: We recognise and embrace new technologies, ideas and opportunities to improve, grow and develop as individuals and as industry leaders in a challenging environment.
Collaboration: We work together and with partners, sharing knowledge and resources to advance universal access to information.
Engagement: We work to understand, connect and meet the needs and expectations of our communities in the most appropriate ways.
Excellence: We provide an outstanding service at all times in a professional and ethical manner.
Respect: We strive to create an open and caring community by valuing and supporting individuals, and acknowledging the strength of diversityVision & Values

In general terms it has always been my belief that libraries grow and respond to the needs of the communities they are serving. In order to do that they are constantly re-inventing themselves. It appears to me that many of the elements of Web 2.0 that I have been learning about in this program reflect all the idealogies of embracing new technologies, sharing knowledge, meeting the needs of our communities as well as helping to improve the educational possibilities of all comers.

By keeping pace in the Web 2.0 world libraries still provide the gateway for all to pass through in their own time and at their own pace along the pathway of lifelong learning.

Phine

Tracking other people's

As I have beeen learning about this blogging stuff, I have been thinking there must be millions out there doing this and how can I hook into someone else's blog without blundering about endlessly.........GUESS WHAT? TECHNORATI have done it for me! Ocassionally in my line of work I have come across the odd author blogg and thought it would be good to track that and NOW I CAN!!! without doing any of the work. YAY!
Phine

My favourites from anywhere

I'm starting to get excited about Del.icio.us.....as I have said I only have access to the internet through work as we are not connected at home and while I have access to my work computer which is individualized or set up the way I want it means I am all at sea when I sit down at someone else's work-station. Having my account set up in Del.icio.us means that I can have all my favourite sites at my fingertips whereever I am which I can see will save a lot of dithering around in the future. (It also means that I can become very adept at using 'other peoples' and I may NEVER have to buy my own!!)
Phine

Book trends

I stumbled across Library Thing in the past when someone suggested I could catalogue all my mountains of books at home. It is easy to use now that I have had a chance to play with it and also useful to see what other people read! www.librarything.com/catalog.php

Seeing the light

http://www.ezsmiley.com/create.php

What can I say....???

When the lion feeds

Just between you and me I have spent far too much time on these two exercises so at this stage have played in 'Bloglines' and added a few 'feeds' for the purpose of the exercise as well as adding further 'feed' sites to my "favourites" with a promise to myself to explore more at a later stage. Truth be known I'm probably inclined to put more effort into avoiding information overflow than I am in pursuing an increasing amount of incoming data. I only have access to the internet in the work place: part of this is a conscious decision so that when I go home at the end of the day I know I'll take time out from the rest of the world and partly the decision is dictated by the not so speedy connections to the world wide web in our part of rural Victoria.
It's good to know how to manage, target and streamline incoming info but I haven't got a pressing need to do so at present and am happy with tapping into search when required rather than being overwhelmed by constant flow.
Phine

To advance technologically or not?

When I was young (and I realize that this will date me in the eyes of the young) my mother used to have an old (it was realitively new to her) Stampco washing machine. All this machine did was 'wash' as in agitate the clothes; it had to be filled from the tap, although I think it did have a pump for emptying the water. It also had a 'ringer' through which every item of clothing or sheets or towels had to be fed (by hand) into a rinsing trough and then you could swing the 'ringer' around so that it was positioned between the two rinsing troughs and feed all the articles through the ringer a second time for the final rinse. The ringer was swung a third time so that the clothes could be rung a third time into the clothes basket to be taken out to the line to dry. This process was repeated several times, washing all the cleanest items first, finishing with heavily soiled work clothes last, using the same water with a top up with hotter water at the end. My mother persevered with this method of washing for some years after more modern automatic machines came on the market because, being in the country on tank saved water, she did not think that we would have enough water to run an automatic machine. I marvell at her wisdom. While she would put one day aside to get through this task the rest of the week was totally free from laundry jobs.
Today I can shove clothes in the washing machine every morning and have them ready to hang out before I go to work. They are there waiting for me at the end of the day (whether I like it or not!) to bring in and put away. (I refuse to use a drier, some of my mother's perseverance there I suspect!) I also live in the country, so to accommodate the extra water usage we put in an extra water tank but some summers we still come pretty close to running out of water.
While the technology of washing machines has advanced tenfold to make life easier or allow more time for leisure, it's my opinion that technological advances do not allow more leisure time but only speed up activity so that you do more because you can. Essentially technological advancements in many fields only change the workflow not necessarily the work load.
Phine.

Top shot librarian

Not having any photos of my own to play with I have borrowed from a friend - I hope she won't mind - as you can see it's not really identifiable so that should be OK. I really wanted to try one of these extra photo fun things, and have previously looked at Montagr which blew me away but today when I was ready to post the internet is slow and not coping with BIG jobs, so here's a trading card instead!
Phine

My friend Flicker or the 'gift horse'

I have had a lot of trouble getting this week's comments posted because once I started looking at Flickr I couldn't decide on a photo to post because there are so o o o many to choose from but as you can see 'you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth!' so perverse as I am I have chosen an image in order to do just that!
Phine

Week 2 in week 5

At last I have arrived having only had an appetiser of the program in Week 1 before I went on leave! hence the name "Catch up" or as is the way of the world which insists on brutalising the English language, "Katch up" or did I get that from Monty Python, if you can't say your Cs try putting in a K!! any way I bet the Americans think I've transposed an 'a' for a 'e', mispelling ketchup.....that's a pay back for their mispellings of my favourite colours.
Phine