Google Docs

Online Productivity Tools & Google Docs

I created a small document on Google Docs and have allowed it to be shared with the State Library Learning 2.0 program. Google Docs is useful for travellers who might have problems downloading and accessing word files. It is particularly pertinent at the State Library on the Reading room computers where Microsoft Word is not available but clients can still create documents using an online productivity tool like Google Docs.

In my work I can't see that Google Docs would have many advantages over Microsoft Word, however, for collaborative projects it might help in editing. For example, it allows editors to see changes made and is somewhat easier than constantly emailing attachments.

http://docs.google.com/?pli=1#all

Mash-ups

I can see the advantages of using mashups to combine different types of media like audio, photographic and video. A mashup allows for different ways of approaching a topic and therefore incorporates many learning forms in the one space. The British Library's use of Google Maps to create their own historical timeline was a good example of how mash-ups allow for knowledge to be charted and stored online in a variety of formats ie. through interactive maps as well as words and pictures. I'm not sure how the State Library could use mash-ups to enhance its collection but perhaps the combination of picture and audio would make for a new approach to oral history and allow input from clients as well.

Below is an exmaple of a mash-up in mosaic form which illustrates our value of "Honesty and Integrity"

http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/events/podcasts.htm

Podcasts

I regularly podcast ABC Radio National programs and have certainly benefited from the access they provide. With podcasts you can access the audio information you require at a time and place that suits you. In completing the exercise for this week I chose to listen to part of Sunnyvale Public Library's podcast of the League of Women's voters speeches given prior to the November election. It demonstrates the importance of podcasts in documenting and archiving audio information.

Podcasts can be used by libraries to broadcast events and talks, meaning that patrons who cannot make a particular event can "catch up" online. The State Library, for instance, makes use of this technology to archive author talks. Similarly, Eastern Regional Libraries in Victoria provides podcasts of their weekly radio show on the library's website, combining more than one type of media in the same place and enhancing the library's ability to "reach out" to different communities.

http://www.erl.vic.gov.au/events/podcasts.htm

Answer boards

I can see the advantage of answer boards in creating online knowledge networks and encouraging "social searching". However, similar to Wikipedia, I think there might be problems with accuracy given that anyone can post an answer without having to verify the information they provide. I find answer boards a bit annoying as they often pop up in response to questions where I am looking for a more reputable source. This said, I did post a question regarding a movie release date on "Yahoo Answers".

Perhaps one advantage of using answer boards at the State Library might be if members were able to answer each other's research questions through social searching. This would tap into the knowledge possessed by many of our professional research clients and those with specialised interests. It would be a good way of creating user communities and might even free some of our librarians' workload. librarians!

LibraryThing & Technorati

I discovered LibraryThing awhile ago through the Learning 2.0 program offered at the State Library of Victoria. I think it's a great tool for introducing the notion of cataloguing to the lay person. LibraryThing provides a social networking element as you can view the libraries of others who share your reading interests. The site will also recommend reads to you, making it personally responsive. I like LibraryThing because it focuses on the importance of books and reading in our lives.

I have set up a technorati account, however, I find that many of the sites encourage rapid input of new information, require regular attention and have the potential to cause information overload (even if it is in an organised format!)

Tagging, folksonomies and del.icio.us

The following is a link to my del.icio.us account
http://delicious.com/Mia3.
In the public library we used to use del.icio.us on the Reference Desk to keep up to date with information on frequently used sites. I can see how del.icio.us is a useful method for categorising and making sense of large volumes of updated information.

Video Online

For this week's exercise I searched YouTube and Google Video for "State Library" and came up with some interesting results, including a number of videos combining dance and the state library! I liked how Sacremento State Library were using online video to provide virtual tours of the building and introduce potential users or eye-spies to the services offered at the library. I think this is a good way of heightening the library's profile and welcoming people to the space. It would certainly make the first visit less daunting and less confusing so perhaps this is something that we could use here as well. Similarly I also enjoyed taking a tour of the Russian State Library online, however, the footage kept stopping and starting, indicating that one of the drawbacks of online video can be poor quality. I am embedding the video from Sacremento as an example of how State Library's have used this technology in a professional manner.

RSS Feeds

RSS feeds could be useful for librarians who rely on blogs for insights into the library world and to get an idea of how other libraries are using Web 2.0 tools. I can see how condensing information from blogs (like those attached to news sites) into one "storage" area is an effective form of information management. However, I think there is potential for information overload - it is still necessary to sort through all the feeds and pick out what is useful to you.

RSS feeds might be a good way to keep library users up to speed with developments to a library's website. This would be particularly pertinent to the State Library as the homepage is constantly changing. I noted that many university libraries are using RSS feeds to keep users informed of developments like adding new books to the collection.

Flickr values

I have finally located two images which illustrate the State Library's value:"Innovation and Ideas". I thought the concept of an "Innovation Depot" like the one pictured was an obscure, though effective, name for a research facility! The picture is taken from "briantmurphy" on flickr. The ideas brochures are fairly self-explanatory but notable is the use of colour to reflect the vibrancy of this value. The second picture is from "Shaun.numb" on flickr. The images I chose help to portray our value of "Innovation and Ideas" as one that looks at moving forward and embracing change.

Wiki Fun

I like the idea of the wiki as a group knowledge repository and I can see how it is beneficial for organising knowledge projects with many contributors. One person can edit and add to another’s entry with relative ease. Like the article says, it’s phenomenal how quickly wikis have been recognised as a valid source of knowledge and information management.

I have been particularly impressed with “Wikinorthia”, a local studies wiki of the northern suburbs of Melbourne. It has well organised categories, a good search function, simple but effective layout and includes lots of historic photographs. It's a good way of channelling local history knowledge into one forum. Today I found an article documenting the life of a local family who included a previous 1879 Melbourne Cup winner. Very appropriate given it’s Melbourne Cup Day today!

http://www.wikinorthia.net.au/index.php/Cracknell_family_of_Panton_Hill

I have also contributed to Wikipedia, adding to an entry on actress, Julianne Moore. As the information was in table format I had to work with html code. This was difficult and not altogether successful but my addition was still published. It was a worthwhile experience in creating and sharing knowledge with an “invisible” community of users.