Done and dusted.....!

Well, the library and Information Services course at TAFE is all done. Can't believe that 18 months went so fast - most of the time! Now, it's just a matter of forging our way in the library world and working out where we all want to end up. Good luck to all my classmates - I wish you all the best in your future in libraries (if you ever read my blog!). Maybe we will all meet again at the Graduation next year!?

Getting friendly with Facebook

Facebook - thumbs up or..........not???

Well I finally succumbed and signed up for Facebook. My 'friends' consist mainly of family and some contacts  from primary school days - nice to catch up with them! So far I wouldn't say I'm a convert or hooked. It's certainly nice to look at people's photos and hear their news, but already, I find annoying the inane 'stuff' that people put up for others 'interest'. I'm calling myself a 'Facebook fuddy-duddy!'My children tell me no-one will look at my wall if I don't put anything interesting up there so I finally added a profile picture - woohoo!

Podcasts

A Podcast is an MP3 or other audio file delivered off a website via an RSS feed. The term Podcast is derived from the terms "iPod" and "broadcast". It is attributed to the original creators of podcasting who used iPods to listen to their RSS broadcasts.

Podcasting for Libraries............

For the library that works hard to produce audio content such as recordings of programs or library tours, podcasting can be an effective means of making that content more widely available.

Something I found interesting was the concept of Podcast Novels...........

Podcast novels

A podcast novel (also known as a serialized audiobook or podcast audiobook) is a literary format that combines the concepts of a podcast and an audiobook. Like a traditional novel, a podcast novel is a work of long literary fiction, however this form of novel is recorded into episodes that are delivered online over a period of time and in the end available as a complete work for download. The episodes may be delivered automatically via RSS, through a web site, blog, or other syndication method. These files are either listened to directly on a user's computer or loaded onto a portable media device to be listened to later.
The types of novels that are podcasted vary from new works from new authors that have never been printed, to well established authors that have been around for years, to classic works of literature that have been in print for over a century. In the same style as an audiobook, podcast novels may be elaborately narrated with separate voice actors for each character and sound effects, similar to a radio play. Other podcast novels have a single narrator reading the text of the story with little or no sound effects.
Podcast novels are distributed over the Internet, commonly on a weblog. Podcast novels are released in episodes on a regular schedule (e.g. once a week) or irregularly as each episode is released when completed, and can either be downloaded manually from a website or blog, be delivered automatically via RSS, or other method of syndication. Ultimately, a serialized podcast novel becomes a completed audiobook.
Podcast novelists use giving away a free podcast version of their book as a form of promotion. Some novelists have even secured publishing contracts to have their novels printed.Podcast novelists have commented that podcasting their novels lets them build audiences even if they cannot get a publisher to buy their books. These audiences then make it easier to secure a printing deal with a publisher at a later date. These podcast novelists also claim the exposure that releasing a free podcast gains them makes up for the fact that they are giving away their work for free.

Facts about Facebook..................

• Facebook is a social networking service and website launched in February 2004, operated and privately owned by Facebook Inc.

•  As of February 2012, Facebook has more than 845 million active users.

• Users must register before using the site, after which they may create a personal profile, add other users as friends, and exchange messages, including automatic notifications when they update their profile.

• Additionally, users may join common-interest user groups, organized by workplace, school or college, or other characteristics, and categorize their friends into lists such as "People From Work" or "Close Friends".

• The name of the service stems from the colloquial name for the book given to students at the start of the academic year by some university administrations in the United States to help students get to know each other.

• Facebook allows any users who declare themselves to be at least 13 years old to become registered users of the site.

Facebook, fabulous or not??

I must be one of the few people who does not have a Facebook account! Partly because I haven't got around to it, and partly because I would be unlikely to put anything much up on there as it's a bit 'personal' for me, even though I know you only share what you want.

I spend a lot of time trying to control the amount of time my children spend on Facebook - needless to say they love it - and just can't imagine having the time to keep it up to date. I can see that it is a great way for them to connect to friends and find out what is going on, but am also a bit saddened by the fact that they very rarely pick up the phone and have 'real' conversations with their friends. It's becoming a bit of a lost art.

I can see that, when I'm not so busy,it could be a great way for me to re-connect with old friends and I might just do that!!

Facebook connects people from all over the world!

Personally............

Wiki for the family!

Last year for our Webpage Design subject at TAFE, I designed a website which served the purpose of communicating with my family about the family christmas for 2011. It was attractive, informative and well received by everyone - they all thought I was sooooo clever! However, it was not at all interactive (other than the phone calls and emails we received exclaiming about how nice it was etc.) The website also cost $$ to get up on the web.

Now that I know about Wikis, I can see that a Wiki would be a better way of getting the information out there and enabling family members to comment and add things. For example, the most important menu for Christmas lunch/dinner could be added to and who is bringing what sorted out so easily.

Last year, despite the brilliant information on the Christmas website, we were still getting phone calls asking us questions about things that were clearly outlined already. A Wiki would enable people to give feedback, ask questions and interact with the whole family group, saving a lot of time.