Finale

I really enjoyed this when I finally made the time to complete it all.  I would love to have the time and resources to implement more of these ideas into our Library services, however I am quite proud about how many we already use or are considering.

Geocaching

This was perhaps the only term that I had never really encountered before and had no idea what it was about.  I could not have even guessed and didn't know such a thing existed.  Maybe this is because I don't own a device that would permit me to participate.  I think this is possibly our biggest barrier in using this for our Library as I would say generally in a country town there are less people using a GPS than in a large city and I am not too sure how many of our patrons or potential patrons would have appropriate devices.  I also think the more of these in close proximity (rather than hundreds of kilometers apart) would work best to keep people engaged.  I really like this idea but will have to think about how and if we could incorporate this within our Library.  Maybe we could create a facebook poll to find out how many of our patrons would participate in this sort of activity.

Podcasting

We could use podcasting in our Library for our Writers festival and also for our Oral History program.  I think that these will be implemented once we find a way to make it work for us.  I had not previously listened/watched a podcast although I had heard a lot about it and we have been discussing using them within our Library.  I was amazed at how engaged I became when listening/watching some of the suggested podcasts.  I had not realised the value of having regular Podcasts that people can subscribe to.  I think to maximise the potential of podcasts there needs to be some sort of regular content uploaded.  Perhaps oral history mornings uploaded once a month rather than authors at our festival uploaded once a year would work better. 

On-line Video

I embeded a video of a plane crashing at the Abrolhos Islands that my Father-in law took.  I thought it was a great example as he is not a very technological person and I don't think he even knows how to get onto youtube.  He took the video with his new video camera, a friend saved it to a USB, another friend e-mailed it and then another person uploaded it to youtube.  We heard from someone else that they had seen is on youtube.  I think this demonstrates how a video can travel even without the awareness of the person who captured the footage.

We have used youtube in our Library to publish footage of our Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival author presentations, particularly chefs.  We have thought about using it for storytime and rhymetime so that patrons unable to make it to these sessions could virtually join in.  The issue of having all participants permission could possibly be a bit of a hicccup if we ever decide to trial this.  I think it would also be a great way to extend the wonderful oral history program we run to include video.

Social Networking

I have been using Facebook for a while and really enjoy seeing what friends are up to, especially momentous occasions of those people I don't see very often and would other wise miss out on.  We use Facebook at the Library to promote up and coming events, particularly Junior activities as I think alot of young mums are on facebook.  We are only just starting to think of ways to get our patrons to interact with our facebook page more often.
I am still not too sure about twitter.  I think it is more applicable if you have a mobile device that supports Twitter.  It is difficult to remember to use these forms of Social media to reach patrons if it is not somethimg you are personally using all the time.  I was nicely surprised when I subscribed to our Library Twitter and saw the amount of recent tweets....On ya Em!!

Delicious Library Thing

I think the delicious tool bar is great for being able to access personal bookmarks from any computer but particularly effective for a group using the same bookmarks.  The delicious toolbar is great in our Library but as with a lot of these technologies it requires the time and knowledge for someone to set it up and maintain it.  I think it can become a bit of a balancing act to implement and maintain new technologies while still offering traditional Library services. 
I really like Library Thing (although at the moment it doesn't look too good on my blog).  I think if you are maintaining a Library blog this would be a great addition and also would be good on a website to show new books.  But once again it is probably a bit of a time issue.  I think it would be great for bookclubs too.

Wiki's

I like using a Wiki for the staff within our workplace.  It is a great tool when ideas are sought from all staff or there is an ongoing list.  I am not too sure about using this tool for patrons to interact with our Library.  I think it could work well but would require alot of work from staff to keep it well maintained and information correct and up to date.  Without constant supervision of a public Wiki site I think we could open ourselves up to unwanted comments and perhaps misinformation.  I hadn't thought of using a Wiki out of work, with a group of friends as shown in the demonstration but I think it is a great idea....might even use it to plan next family Christmas!!!

RSS Feeds

Okay so the penny has finally dropped and now I understand RSS feeds.  I have seen them being used on I-Phones and Blackberries but as I don't use these I had not really found out anything about it.  Now I know I can see how good an idea this is.  I love the idea of recieving these updates without having to go to all the web pages.  I subscribed to our Geraldton Regional Library (although sadly there is but one feed!), the suggested West Australian Newspaper and Unshelved, also I subscribed to our local ABC radio and Orange County Library in America.  I have been looking at their website a bit lately and thought I would try them out!  I am not sure how many of our Library patrons at this stage would subscribe to our feeds but as terchnology conitues to evolve I am sure it will become another part of the services we offer at our Library. 

Flickr

I thought I would have a look at images of the Abrolhos Islands and was amazed to find some gorgeous photographs from Norman Jorgensen.  He must have taken these on his trip for our Big Sky Readers and Writers Festival.  His photos are just amazing and I particularly loved one of an old and lonely looking chair:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/32654663@N02/6146823170/in/photostream/
as it tells such a story.  At first glance it looks more like something from a farm but once you look closer and realise the wood below it is a jetty.  I love the way the plastic container (and even the empty beer bottles!) contrast with the old chain, rusted corrugated island and tired looking chair on the weather worn jetty.

I think this photo shows an interesting way we could keep a photographic journal using Flickr to shows us how our visiting authors view and interact with our region.  I think this would be particularly interesting as we have such a diverse selection of authors each year who are sure to take photos of different subjects and from different view points.  It would also help to promote our festival to prospective guests.

The beginning

Hope I learn alot more about ALL the new forms of communicating and marketing to our Library patrons.  I can see the potential possibilities and it is just investing time (haha) rather than money to reach out and involve people in the Library.  I think as long as people are involved and participating, they are natuarally Lifelong learners. 

Not really much of a blogger....so far!  Love the movie Julie and Julia...that is probably my biggest exposure to blogging!!! I can definitely see its advantages in exposing the possibilities of Public Libraries to a newer and more tech-savy generation.  It is a good marketing strategy and it is FREE.  It could have applications for specific audiences such as Storytime mums, showing the craft activites, story and rhymes we have done as well as giving them the opportunity to interact outside of the Library.

I think it is important to keep our use of various media current.