Happy feet

Libraries Australia Forum 2008

Libraries Australia Forum 2008 Agenda

Communicating University Research Identity
(and Framing University History)
Simon Porter: eScholarship Research Centre


UniMelb Find an Expert

Google Docs & iGoogle

I have started using Google docs for the Library's Infoservices review - the group is still finding our way though we can see benefits of all adding content toshared document(s) and storing them in one place. Though I am keeping the notes from meetings on common drive too. One proble with Google Docs is not being able to create a folder to share...a little pop up told me that this is coming.

Sue then showed us iGoogle and it is fun!I've wanted an iGoogle page for ages but never got around to spending the 30 secs it takes to set one up! I've added I've added the Library's gadget (two clicks!); also a range of other gadgets including LibraryThing with book covers (very pretty). I think I will use my iGoogle page - like all these applications you can create something quite appealing with the templates and themes provided.

Zotero deserves lots of STARS

I set up Zotero during the 23 Things session - it is easy to use and I think I will use it to save documents etc. I just must remember to use it soon so it becomes a familiar tool.

I'm back in 2008 with Thing 7 Firefox extensions

I'm picking up new 23 Things activities starting with Thing 7 - Firefox extensions

Aaron's presentation was very clear and it all seemed straight forward during the session last Friday, however once I tried to add extensions and themes it was a different story. Fortunately Aaron was on hand to help me during my evening desk shift - I learn so much more easily if I'm being shown a task. I have now added quite a few themes, an extension and the neat 23 Things toolbar. I've actually now returned to the firefox default theme which looks better than the others I selected. Probably need to explore extensions a bit more, though I did manage to add an extension for Delicious (which I had lost when upgrading to Firefox 3.0.3 - lesson her - don't just accept upgrades. I have missed having Delicious and hadn't realised how used I had become to tagging things).

Thanks Kathryn

Final post is a BIG THANKS to Kathryn Greenhill our enthusiastic mentor who has let us join and share her journey. Rather than demonstrating and telling us Kathryn created a framework (based on Helene Blowers "23 Things')and then devised activities so we could use and explore each of the applications. Then to create pages on our blogs that we have enjoyed doing - most of us are pretty proud of our blogs. Across the LIbrary staff the depth of understanding of social software has rocketed. What will we do with this knowledge? Use Twitter and Googledocs and wikis and blogs to enhance communication? Has it shifted peoples' mindsets so we will not be so wary of new applications and ways of operating? It's really up to us what we do with the knowledge and way of operating (not forgetting those still to embark on this journey - mentoring roles?)
Murdoch University Library is indeed fortunate to have our Kathryn.

My 23 Things Experience

I was determined to work through all 'Things'. At the outset I was concerned about finding sufficient time to do this and it has proved difficult. It's meant that every activity has been done in a rush but it's been do it like this or not at all. On the positive I have worked through every application and have developed base level competency in each tool I intent to return to many, use more and develop further competence.
I didn't blog much earlier on - didn't get into blogging, however because I had many posts to catch up on I have blogged a lot recently and to my surprise am getting into it (I would never have anticipated this happening. I'm no longer so inhibited about putting down my thoughts. Maybe it became easier to blog when I realised that no one was reading it anyway (everyone is either too busy or too into their own activities to want to). One thing I didn't do was to read others'blogs - at the outset I intended to engage with others' 23 Thing journeys but with no time even to complete my own activities there was no way that I could look at other peoples blogs. The few times I did I couldn't craft a satisfactory comment ('looks great; didn't seem adequate)This was ashame - I plan to read them now. So the whole social interaction didn't really happen through blogs, thouguh I did spend time talking with colleagues and looking at some of their applications/creations.
What will I use - definitely Google reader and RSS; Googledocs; Del.icio.us; my fledgling wiki; flickr/picasa, imersed images.
I must get broadband (at home). Dialup is not a goer with these applications. To really become familiar with these and the ongoing 'Things' I need to be able to 'play' and practice out of work time. What surprised me most was how creative working with most of the applications are. I really enjoyed adding images and dialogue and felt proud of my (amateurish) finished products.