Week 13 Refreshing your blog

Apart from an assignment I have just completed requiring a blog format submission, I have regrettably not done any blogging since completing the original course. I find it hard to make the time to blog and the fact that when I get time I'm a blank slate on what to post, that doesn't help much!

However it has been fun today re-editing my blog, adding widgets and updating information, it's a bit like catching up with an old friend, you wonder why you left it so long to catch up and always declare to never leave it so long again!!

Reference Excellence 2009 - welcome to the Ref-Ex wiki

The slides from my recent presentation at the Reference Seminar are also available on Slideshare (helpful, 'cause the accompanying notes are listed there as well).

Reference Excellence 2009

View more presentations from CatyJ.

Reference Excellence is an online training tool using a wiki as the delivery tool. The Ref-Ex project has been a long time coming (since 2004) but it's now finally up and running. Covering modules from introductory reference through to reference interview skills and legislation and policy the aim of Ref-Ex is to expand across all areas of reference and information services (readers advisory, local studies, and so on) providing core training for public library staff across NSW.
Take a look and start your own professional development today!

Reference Excellence

Week #12 Wrap up; social networks and catch up

There are so many application and uses for social networking in any kind of setting wether it be for work or play. One way social networking could be used in libraries is to have a under 5's childrens face book page where we can notify parents of program dates and invite them to sessions being held. Photo's could be posted by parents of their children enjoying library activities and parents could chat about literacy and other issues. My brain is going overboard with possibilities and as i am an 3 times a day social networking user!!!

Week #11 Online applications and tools

Online applications and tools I believe are where the future is headed for most work places where collaborative sharing is essential. Currently we are using Tada List to co ordinate school holiday programs, storytimes and even planning for book week next year. We have found this very useful as we very rarely have the same hours of the circulation desk as each other so we can just go online and check where things are up to.

Week #10 - Mashups

I love it! Not only is it great fun and anyone can use it, but it has so many applications it endless. This would be extremely useful in the library environment such as a map highlighting the locations of branches attached to a regional headquarters. Also to show accommodation if hosting events or conferences. It would also be a great way to present thing on the children's page of the website to further engage target audiences.

Week #9 - Podcasts and Audio

In my opinion the usefulness of podcast in the library would be very much in the same way YouTube works. To be totally honest i don't see how they are different. In the case of using them on the library website or for staffing purposes i would be more inclined to use YouTube footage links rather than podcast as more user are familiar with YouTube. As well podcast are only available for short periods of time and there is no garuntee they will be there when you need them.

Week #8 – Answer boards and social searching

Maybe I'm not grasping the over all concept of this week but i have been over it a few times, i really don't like this idea and defiantly don't see a role for such an informal 'thing' in libraries. Not when there are reference services provided with in the libraray and sites like Ask Now http://www.questionpoint.org/crs/servlet/org.oclc.home.TFSRedirect?virtcategory=10014
provided to the public where they are guaranteed a qualified librarian is attempting to answer their question.
However after using Yahoo!7 Answers I can see how this would be useful for people who would feel that the question they have is too silly or unimportant to ask a librarian for example "who sang and what are the words to the song in the new Arnotts add??"