Wednesday, December 17, 2008

And So the End is Here

A rewarding experience, even if sometimes painful. Of course, 23 Things is just the first step. Hopefully I can select & use some of the technologies for further exploration & use while they are still fresh in my mind. And I guess I need to do this before the next generation of technologies is overwhelming me.

One last quote from Poe:

Man's real life is happy, chiefly because he is ever expecting that it soon will be so.

Chelsea

Online Applications



http://docs.google.com/Presentation?docid=dcf3qrvx_2cfrs62cv&hl=en

This was fun! Except the original photos were too large & had to be cropped, and that all takes time, so gave up on creating a slideshow. Lots of use for this at work & at home.

Chelsea

Mashups & Pelicans

A big thank you to Andy & from Pelican & Seabird Rescue Inc.

Chelsea

Podcasts

Authors could use podcasts to promote their latest book, along with a RSS feed.

I would define, in brief, the poetry of words as the rhythmical creation of Beauty.

Edgar Allan Poe



 Chelsea

Slamming the Boards

All that information out there on the Web! And have you noticed how many people can't find that info? Seems to me that "slamming the boards" would help. It can run along side "Ask a Librarian".

I have no faith in human perfectability. I think that human exertion will have no appreciable effect upon humanity. Man is now only more active - not more happy - nor more wise, than he was 6000 years ago.


Edgar Allan Poe



Chelsea

Monday, December 15, 2008

LibraryThing

Have you ever read a great book and wanted to share & discuss it with others? LibraryThing is the place for you. For instance, The Well/Jolley - after reading it I was left with the feeling I had missed something, I was intrigued, disappointed it was finished, & wanted to talk about it. At the moment there are only 3 reviews on LibraryThing, a bit disappointing, but hopefully, in the future most books will be reviewed by many readers. 

The most recent book I have read, "Marley & Me" has attracted plenty of fans.

http://www.johngroganbooks.com/blog/index.html

Chelsea

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Videos Everywhere

It seems there is a video about everything! And who would have the time to watch even .0001% of them!

Perhaps we could have a video on eLibCat with all the information that can currently be found in the handouts for new customers. At the point of joining the library we tend to overload customers with information.

We could also share our promotional activities across the library service via video on the Wiki.


It is by no means an irrational fancy that, in a future existence, we shall look upon what we think our present existence, as a dream.
Edgar Allan Poe

Chelsea



Monday, November 10, 2008

Wikipedia and Poe

A quick Internet search via Google for information about Edgar Allan Poe leads you to Wikipedia. Here you will find all the information, references and links you need to get an overview of the life and works of Poe - an excellent example of the power of Wikis.



But, as the examples in "23 Things" show, & our Wetpaint Wiki, a Wiki doesn't have to be as big as Wikipedia, nor does it have to be open to all and sundry.



So look happier than Edgar does in this image.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

RSS

I searched for feeds available on the Courier Mail site, simply because of the local content. I was surprised at the variety of feeds available. 

When I am taking a particular interest in a subject, I would appreciate the simplicity of RSS feeds to keep up to date. Perhaps weather alerts would be of interest now that we are entering the storm & cyclone season.

"In one case out of a hundred a point is excessively discussed because it is obscure; in the ninety-nine remaining it is obscure because it is excessively discussed." (Edgar Allan Poe)


Chelsea

Sunday, October 5, 2008

Money, Money, Money

The following verse is widely thought to be
the work of Edgar Allan Poe.
Any tips on increasing your money are welcome at the moment!




I'll tell you a plan for gaining wealth,
Better than banking, trade or leases -
Take a bank note and fold it up,
And then you will find your money in creases!
This wonderful plan, without danger or loss,
Keeps your cash in your hands, where nothing can trouble it;
And every time that you fold it across,
'Tis as plain as the light of day that you double it!

Sunday, September 28, 2008

The Raven

"Deep into that darkness peering, long I stood there, wondering, fearing, doubting, dreaming . . ."

This quote from Edgar Allan Poe's "The Raven (http://www.online-literature.com/poe/335/) is proabably a fairly accurate description of my entry to the world of Web 2.0 technologies. That sound of "some one gently rapping" (Poe, The Raven) was me trying to work out where to start.

"23 Things" provides the answer in logical step-by-step lessons. Thank you. What I learn will not only demystify these technologies for myself, but give me the confidence to help our patrons go beyond mere googling and email.

Poe saw the raven as a messenger, but the only feedback he received was the word "Nevermore" - there was no meaningful interaction. Web 2.0 technologies, however, provide the opportunity for meaningful feedback, communication and interaction.

Chelsea

PS I'm doing this at home on a Mac (Safari) which Bloggerhelp tells me doesn't support links to other sites.