2 sleeps to go!

Only 2 sleeps to one8nine; the first NSW LT UnConference.

I hope to be able to blog from the venue so if you can’t/couldn’t get to ACU North Sydney you should be able to follow (a bit) of the day on this blog.

So looking forward to a great day of interaction, networking and information sharing!

Roll on to the one8nine UnConference!!

 

Rob!

Full again!

All positions for the first NSW LT UnConference have been filled.

Thankyou for your interest and enthusiasm.

Two Spots Available!

Two late withdrawals has meant there are two spots available this Saturday for the one8nine UnConference.

Register today at one8nineunconference@gmail.com

Rob!

Videos from Mash Oop North (UK)

Here’s the link to some of the presentations at Mash Oop North held at Huddersfield University:

http://mashlib09.wordpress.com/2009/07/23/mash-oop-north-videos/

 

Rob!

Topics up for discussion/workshop

Topics up for discussion/workshop at one8nine UnConference:

 

Koha (http://www.koha.org)

Google Docs

Applying Web 2.0 to Libraries & Utilisation of Web 2.0 in Libraries

Legal and ethical issues surrounding Web 2.0

Social Media and Web 2.0 – Facebook & Libraries

Virtual Libraries – audiobook downloads

Flickr & Social Networks and Education

Web 2.0/ Library 2.0 – how do we embrace without losing traditional culture of Libraries

Web 3.0

Google Analytics

Community involvement/participation in Libraries

Small Libraries and Web 2.0 eg Facebook, Scribd etc

New technologies

RDA Resource Description and Access (http://www.rda-jsc.org/index.html)

Highlights from the ALA Chicago Conference

 

And a special showing of the Book Cart Drill Teams Championships from ALA Conference

 

and probably more!!

Plus coffee, tea, cakes and lunch and …

 

And not forgetting our Opening Address by Amy Luscombe from Banarra on Sustainability.

 

It’s going to be a great day of information sharing, collaboration and knowledge and fun!

 

Rob!

And here’s one from me…

After asking you all to tell us about your Library i feel it only fair and proper I tell you about mine… So this is from Rob Thomson:

1) Tell us a bit about your library:

I work in the BlueScope Steel Research Knowledge Management Service at Port Kembla. We changed our name from ‘the Library’ to KMS about 18 months ago and saw a rise in usage and awareness across the whole of BlueScope Steel. Suddenly we were seen as more than ‘just a Library’ even though we were doing what we had already been doing previously. We are located at BlueScope Steel Research but serve the whole of BlueScope Steel across Australia, Asia and the US. As the only steel library in Australia I am therefore the only steel library technician in Australia!

2) What’s new and cool in your library?

We have recently switched to using SharePoint and that has meant changing our webpages across to the SharePoint format. Not that that is actually ‘cool’!  but it gave us the opportunity to improve the look and feel of the website.

3) Do you think libraries and librarians/library technicians should adopt a cautious approach to new technologies, or should they be rolling up their sleeves and embracing it fully?

I think it is imperative that Libraries remain at the forefront of new technologies but need to ensure that any new technology enhances their presentation of information and knowledge or improves the delivery of services. Providing it meets those criteria they should grab it with both hands and run with it.

4) Have you got a favourite Web 2.0 application?

I do use Facebook but mainly to keep in touch with my kids and nephews and nieces. I like Flickr but haven’t got around to opening an account. I also blog and I love last.fm and I really love Google Reader.

5) Favourite beverage?

Guinness  – long black coffee – or black tea (note a theme developing here!?). I also like Dr Pepper, Coke Zero, A&W root beer – and ginger beer!

My Library

Narelle Nolan comes from Wyong Shire Council Library. Here’s her views:

Tell us a bit about your library:  Public Library service on the Central Coast NSW with six branches.  Celebrating 50 years service in 2009 with the first library opening in Toukley.  Two branches have council services attached, four are dedicated library outlets.

What’s new and cool in your library?: Playaways are relatively new. Online databases for family history, homework and general interest have been around for sometime but I think they are cool.  We have photographs from Local Studies online but not flickr.  Patrons can add a review to our OPAC-not quite Web 2 yet. I would like to say that we have blogs, wikis,facebook,etc. but we are still working on convincing keyplayers.

Library Techs/Librarians need to embrace Web 3 fully.  There is so much marketing potential with Web 3.

Favourite Web 2 application is blogs.

Tea, glorious, tea, anywhere, anytime!

Three from One

Prashanti Nimmagadda, Crystal Choi and Amelia Carlin all work together at the University of Sydney:

1) Tell us a bit about your library:

I work at the Nursing Library which is one of several libraries at the University of Sydney. The Library supports the Nursing and Midwifery Faculty in such areas as teaching, research and improving information skills of staff and students.

2) What’s new and cool in your library?

We have podcasts and interactive learning tools to help patrons with such tasks as utilising subject specific databases and library facilities.

3) Do you think libraries and librarians/library technicians should adopt a cautious approach to new technologies, or should they be rolling up their sleeves and embracing it fully?

I think we need to be cautious as we need to guide our patrons in this forever changing and chaotic world of new technologies. At the same time, trying new technologies and attempting to keep up with all the changes is also important. So perhaps a balance between the two is most feasible.

4) Have you got a favourite Web 2.0 application?

I like delicious and flickr as well as the convenience of Wikipedia.

5) Favourite beverage?

Water all the way!

Thanks!

Me and my Library

This is from Hiba Kanj who works at Al-Faisal College Library:

1) Tell us a bit about your library:

The Library recently moved into a new part of the school and houses primary, high school and teachers resources. A completely new library with heaps of potential however major setback such that we are still cataloguing resources, rearranging the collection continuously and finding space to involve both the primary and high school.

2) What’s new and cool in your library?

Widescreen LCD TV with Foxtel!

3) Do you think libraries and librarians/library technicians should adopt a cautious approach to new technologies, or should they be rolling up their sleeves and embracing it fully?

Depending on your clients, I think that libraries should be cautious about what type of new technologies they incorporate into libraries. I believe at the core of libraries is not the medium but the information imparted to the clients. On the other hand, I think librarians and library technicians alike should be skilled up and embracing all sorts of different technologies for the simple reason that library staff should be able to understand and draw out information from any source.

4) Have you got a favourite Web 2.0 application?

DeviantArt

5) Favourite beverage?

Chai Latte

Another “About Me”

This one is from Michelle Liu:

Tell us a bit about your library:

I work in the AV Language Library at the University of Sydney.  The library is a closed-access reserve collection which aims to serve the needs of our students who wish to study a foreign language.

The Library is unique in the sense that it is primarily an audio-visual library that makes significant use of digital technologies for language practice.  Students use the 33 computers in the library’s Self-study room to work on their listening and pronunciation skills with the Language Player software, a state-of-the-art program that has many capabilities not available with traditional tapes and tape players.  Students can also record, playback, and communicate with other students, their teacher, or work in groups, and can also compare their pronunciation to native speakers via the Student track feature.

2) What’s new and cool in your library?

A series of ‘Learn Language Now!’ Software, available from the computers in the Self study room.   Students can listen and practice the language of their choice by taking basic vocabulary quizzes.  Grammar, vocabulary, reading, listening, pronunciation skills, and more are emphasized through the use of native language texts, videos, and stories that immerse the user in the foreign language and provide opportunities for language investigation, skill-building and role play.

3) Do you think libraries and librarians/library technicians should adopt a cautious approach to new technologies, or should they be rolling up their sleeves and embracing it fully?

It is important that we don’t shy away from new technologies, but rather, look at them as a means of providing information to the ‘Google’ generation.  We need to be efficient in delivering content, in promoting the library, and in engaging users – and if new technologies help us in doing so, then we should embrace them whole-heartedly!

4) Have you got a favourite Web 2.0 application?

I like Facebook, as it’s a good way to communicate with my students.  I get queries from students in my Inbox, as well as on my wall quite often.

I also use Facebook to ‘push’ information in my blog to students through an application known as Networked Blogs.  Information in my blog include articles on study skills, language resources from my Del.icio.us bookmarks, and new resources available in the library.   If you’d like to be my friend on Facebook, please click here!

5) Favourite beverage?

It would have to be hot chocolate with marshmallows! Yum!