Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Social Networking in the Library


My Space & Facebook would be a great way of promoting library events, services & materials and just the library itself. It is free to set up, except for  the staff time that it takes. This staff time would be no longer than the time it would take to create flyers or brochures or ads. My Space in particular is extremely popular with our local teens. I know that the local Youth Centre has a MySpace page, if the library was to have one too the Youth Centre could be added as a friend there by networking with the teens who choose to look at the Youth Centre MySpace page.
Facebook seems to have appeal to a more mature audience.  The library could reach a wider audience by having both sites.
To keep them interesting they would need to be constantly updated, comments read and replied to, friends added on demand. Recent photos posted.
This would surely create extra interest on the library and invite new comers into the library.

Google Docs & Other Freebie Online Applications & Tools.

I have suggested to friends that they use Google Docs to store their resumes and other documents necessary for job hunting while traveling overseas. They don't get lost or damaged in transit or take up space in luggage. They can be added to as the need arises.
 USB's & CDs & Disks could well have a limited life.

A travel diary could also be kept on Google Docs.

Zamzar. Cool name, even cooler idea. Could be put to great use in the printing industry for receiving & delivering files from clients with little idea on how to send files.

I was unable to view the presentation on Thumbstacks. Also couldn't get the demonstration on slideshow to view, but read the transcript.

Friday, May 2, 2008

Podcasts

Most of the podcasts I came across were free of charge. Great. 

The Tim Fisher Railway series from the ABC would be most popular in our local library with borrowers. They could listen at the library on the internet with headphones, or library staff could explain how to access the podcasts at home if the users have internet at home.

I listened to several different podcasts from children's stories to academics.

They were all very easy to find and download.