That's it kid, it's over

I would like to thank God, Mariah Carey, and the SLNSW Learning 2.0 team - this has been a fantastic and fun filled learning experience.
Now, somebody hand me a tissue box, baby wipes, johnson & johnson (cause it's important to smell good...)

Let's Get Together and Love One Another

Ok, so I'm still waiting for Prime Minister Rudd to add me to his MySpace page. How can anyone turn down Casanova? hmm...
When it comes to social networking, one thing is for sure: our library clients use it and use it good. Like the American Library Association, it would be fantastic to create our own library myspace or facebook page as a way of bringing people together. I'm sure they'd be happy chatting amongst themselves, finding out what networks they can join within and outside the library, as well as telling us what they want us to do for them.

So you wanna Zoho

Zoho v Google Docs. Not alot of difference in my opinion. Both offer the opportunity to share material online.
Imagine writing and sharing meeting minutes, creative writing exercises, library procedures, and events planning...it's possible. One of the biggest advantages of using these online applications and tools is the fact that you can use them on any computer with an internet connection anywhere.
Goodbye paperclip!

Making Mash

I haven't had this much fun since I was sixteen. Mashups are great for promoting services/activities in the library as well as being excellent motivational tools!

Image taken from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mjp3000/409126594/

By the way, the Keir Clarke Star Viewer seems to be on strike. But no matter, big fun can be had on Big Huge Labs

If you have a minute, check out this local events browser: http://local.yahooapis.com/eb/
We use an events calender in our library, but we could certainly consider using a more interactive tool such as this one.

Podcasts staring Cheshire Public Library

Cheshire Public Library demostrate how effective podcasting is: http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/Bfgf
In my library, podcasts could be used to:
1.Transmit talks/lectures
2.Encourage social activities/networks such as book clubs, friends of the library
3.Share book reviews
4.Advertise library services such as book sales. And if that isn't enough, there are always poetry recitals!

See, I'm not just a devious little seducer.

Answer Me

Us librarians are coming out of hiding. Not that we were in hiding, but that seems to be the perception. Hiding behind a desk...
Slam The Boards is fantastic idea as it does get us 'out there' - out in the world, not just in our local communities. A library, my library, your library, could have its own Answer Board where patrons/users log on to ask questions (anytime they want) and have them answered by us skilled and talented folk.
Jumped on to Yahoo Answer Boards and answered a music question (not my speciality, but there weren't any interesting questions on how to charm someone in a crowded room...only boring questons that feature love and the zodiac...What has the world come to?) I'm not sure if I answered correctly, so I'll have to sit back, eat cheese, and wait.

LibraryThing

Oh, I'm in love. LibraryThing is amazing. I intend to expand my library, take over the world. But for now, here are a few titles to browse:

Technorati: telling you all about it

Frisking around Technorati's popular page, I discover that Carla Bruni (or more accurately 'Bruni') is the twelfth most popular search. Up the ladder is 'Viagra' and not far behind is nswpln2008. Here's a funky little clip of Sarkozy in action.
We'll I guess it would be nice, if I could really speak French...

del.icio.us (nothing to dread)

del.icio.us. is almost as good as eating too much ice cream without having to wipe the bit that dribbles with your sleeve. A cupboard full of bookmarks that don't have to be cleaned. I won't have to use the Count's computer to surf his regularly browsed websites. The possibilities are endless for us big Ls - del.icio.us is certainly time saving too.

Me on YouTube

Why stop when you're having fun? Here's me on YouTube:

Trolley around HarperCollege Library

The HarperCollege video is a great example of the way humor can be used to generate interest in a library service.



Maybe we could hire George Michael to act as our library guardian angel. Hey, if it works for Eli Stone, it'll work for me and my library.

Wicked Wikis

Obligatory WIki Photo
Originally uploaded by cogdogblog

Wikis equal endless creation. An opportunity to collaborate with others on a project - planning events, sharing ideas, writing exercises, sending messages like: meet me here, it's much better than being over there...

Losing My RSS

Jim Morrison_The King Lizard
Originally uploaded by nanitas2727

Fed myself RSS feeds five times, then lost them. If you find my feeds, keep them.

Finally found my way, after a glass of wine and a couple of curses, and a pause to check if Bettina was outside, but she wasn't. Fed myself The Rolling Stone Music News and felt better when I discovered that Light My Fire was voted number 35 on the Rolling Stone 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Purring, or should that be pouring, another glass of wine...

Tori in Sydney7
Originally uploaded by maria.el

and she just smiled.

Flickr For a Librarian

Tori in Sydney6
Originally uploaded by maria.el

I found a librarian. The musicial kind. (She wears wigs too) and her name is Tori Amos. I said, "Tori, my dear, I don't want to take up all of your time, but I have to ask one question before I sail off to Venice" (the books are stacked, the shelves waiting). Now, I don't usually choke, but I almost did, when I asked:
Why don't librarians look like you?

Flicking Through Flickr

I have a feeling I have been here before.
Run down these very stairs screaming "Stella" or "Caterina" or someone or other. I might have been wearing jeans at the time. I may have stopped to catch my breath, to ponder this lovely Arabic proverb written by a person who did not leave his or her name. It goes like this:
He who lends a book is an idiot. He who returns the book is more of an idiot

The above photo - of the grand stairs of the New York Public Library - was taken by one T.SC, photographer & architect. See: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tscarlisle/281889866/

Learning Late

It has taken one hundred years to get started, but here I am, right in the thick of it. Methinks learning should never have numbers after it. Afterall, if one can seduce, write a memoir, file books for a Count who spends most of his time slurping pea soup; then one can do anything. And anything includes creating a brilliant blog.

Blog.
The word rhymes with...oh dear, I was about to slide down a tunnel called don't-go-there.

Beginning something, focusing on the brand new, brings fear. But why should that be? Let this be a ride, a discovery, and let's hope Butler Bradley appears any minute now to offer me a sponge cake stuffed with cream while I type and consider the importance of trying.

There is no time to cling to curtains, old furniture that smells good, or what could have been. It's time to water the keyboard, to wiggle (oh, wiggle is such a shitty little word) the mouse, to wake up the senses.

I am writing My Life to laugh at myself, and I am succeeding - Giacomo Casanova