Exercise 16 Commenting on your teachers blog

Hi Gary, 
I have made a comment on exercise 5 social networking on your blog.

Exercise 15 Commenting on other blogs

I have made comments on both Sharon Luhr & Michelle Cheng's blogs.

SharonLuhr Online MonitorBlog Gary
These are two comments I wrote on Sharon's blog:

Exercise 1 Web 2.0:

Diane Gelder13 October 2012 14:13

Once again I am going to agree with both you (and Michelle). A hard copy of a book can not be beaten but unfortunately we as individuals because we have a passion for libraries and information services have to go with the flow of modern technology e.g Library Web 2.0. We have to embrace the technology offered, use it and share it around. I was reluctant a few years ago when the library I was working at asked all staff to work through the stages of web 2.0 but by the end of it I had to admit it was the way of the future. Overall it was interesting, informative and empowering. A little bit of knowledge goes a long way and being with liked minded people helps to expand your world. 

Interesting home library Sharon. Reading your blog overall has made me smile. I love the added extras, the daily calendar and cheeky quotes. A pleasure to read.

Exercise 2 Blogs:

Diane Gelder13 October 2012 13:57

I agree with you Sharon (and Michelle) The Librarian in Black appealed to me the most as well. It was witty but informative. She intrigued me and made me want to find out more about her and her views. 

The other two blogs are more academic and set out appropriately.

michellechengonlinemonitorbloggary
These are two comments I wrote on Michelles' blog:

Exercise 8 Community awareness post:

Diane Gelder12 October 2012 21:18

I enjoyed reading your opinion Michelle on the filter bubble YouTube clip. Your last paragraph poses a good argument. I agree with you. It is a libraries responsibility to offer ALL material (if possible) to its users, it is not their place to filter what information they think their community wants or needs.

Exercise 11 Recommendations:

Diane Gelder12 October 2012 22:31

Impressive list of recommendations Michelle considering Ryde Library makes good use of Web 2.0 applications already. 
You have done some extensive research.
I particularly like the way you have added links to the text, looks good, didn't think to do that. Professional touch.

Overall, your blog looks very clean, neat and is user friendly especially with use of the sidebar.

Exercise 14 Inviting people to be authors on your blog

I invited classmates Sharon Luhr and Michelle Cheng to my blog.
Fortunately both classmates accepted my invitations.  

Luckily, Sharon initiated the invitation process making it easier for the rest of the class to follow suit and be ready to start exercise 14.

Thanks Sharon (& Gary)

Exercise 13 Change the arrangement of your blog

As requested for this exercise I have changed the arrangement of my blog:
I moved the blog archive below the contributors.  There is not too much more I can do without it looking out of proportion and hard to follow.  I like to keep things simple, too many changes will make it look complicated and messy.

I added the gadget of "fish".  I Goggled what a gadget was, looked through the list and thought the fish looked cool.  As the description said if you put play with your mouse the fish will gather round looking for food (or new pieces of information waiting to be added).  
The fish look silly on my blog but the idea is quirky.  I should go back and pick a different template (background) and the fish would look better but I still prefer the bookshelf.

Exercise 12 Changing the colour of your blog

When I set up my blog initially, I chose the background type of "simple" with the bookshelf.  I liked it the best.  The simple background gives a subtle back drop, not too busy to take away from the words on the blog page.

I tried a few different background types for this exercise but have remained with my first chose, the simple bookshelf, it is still the one I like the most.  I also went through the colour chart to change the colour of the blog but remained with the beige colours, the other brighter colours did not match the bookshelf.  The black font on the beige background makes the words stand out not wishy washy with the other colours.  

Exercise 11 Recommendations

My local library, Mona Vale Library as I mentioned in exercise 10 does not use any 2.0 technologies aside from being included in the Pittwater Council Facebook and Twitter pages.
I found both these websites give an excellent presentation on all aspects of why a library should engage in 2.0 technologies.

http://www.slideshare.net/ellyssa/social-networking-libraries-best-practices-challenges

http://www.slainte.org.uk/files/pdf/web2/Web2GuidelinesFinal.pdf

The use of this technology can "sell the library" by promoting and extending the library services, sharing information and engaging with users and colleagues.  Libraries must keep pace with online developments in order to ensure a responsive service for the future.  They should portray a progressive and modern image. 

Mona Vale would benefit from 2.0 technology in the below service areas:

Local studies - a photostream is an excellent idea for local history and archival records as seen on this library's home page.  A pictorial history adds interest.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cambridgepubliclibrary/sets/

Children's - Facebook is a great way to communicate with library users and colleagues.      
When I lived in country Victoria, I worked for the Mt Beauty Library, branch of the High Country Library Cooperation. I think their Facebook page is lively, inviting and informative.  Great way to find out what activities are on during the school holidays and story time and nursery rhyme sessions.  I realise Facebook covers the library's news in general but I found most parents and children would comment on how they found out about the libraries children's activities on Facebook.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/High-Country-Library/164582596151


Teenage/youth - this blog is well suited for teenagers, appealing to look at and great for displaying what is the latest trend in books, movies, gaming etc.

http://cclcquicksand.blogspot.com.au

Adult fiction - Library thing would be such a bonus on a library's website.  I found the Moonee Ponds library used Library Thing.  Fantastic!
http://catalogue.mvcc.vic.gov.au/ipac20/ipac.jsp?index=ISBNEX&term=0590660543

Information/reference - the use of Twitter in the Maryland Library is a great idea.  It is a "ask us now" tweet.  What a great facility for library users to ask questions on information they need (reference questions), stats and general customer comments. 
http://twitter.com/askusnow

Exercise 10 Evaluation

The Mona Vale library does not use any 2.0 technologies although the Pittwater Council, which maintains the library has a Facebook and Twitter page.   Events and news for the library appear on these pages. 

Both social network pages were not obvious.  I had to search each and every item appearing on the home page.  They appear under newsletter/want to know more/follow on tweeter/follow on face book.

I can’t see why the library doesn't have it’s own Facebook or Twitter accounts, it can’t be budgetary reasons because there are no costs involved.  I can only think it is a board decision not to have these social networks as stand alone pages for the library.

Another reason for no 2.0 technologies might be because there are many links attached to all of the service areas.  These links provide information sites and databases, maybe the library/council thinks this is providing sufficient information.

My third reason is “RefTracker” this is a facility under “Using the library” Ask a librarian – comments & feedback, a reference question, ILL request, local studies request, new book request.  Maybe the library/council think social network pages are not needed when library users can access information and help at this point.