Final thoughts

I can see all of these technologies being used in our libraries, but not necessarily in the near future.

Some of them could be implemented quite quickly with minimum  fuss - Flickr, Twitter, Delicious.

Others would need a bit more work - Wikis, LibraryThing,  online videos, podcasts.

They all require a committment from management to dedicating staff hours to these technologies.

I'd love to see all of the technologies we covered in this program implemented in our libraries.
I'd love to see iPads in each of our libraries, with staff roving the floor and answering customer queries on the spot.
I'd love to be using Wikis, videos and podcasts with the Teacher Librarian to better connect with the students.
I'd love us all to have Twitter and Facebook active on a PC all the time, to respond to customer comments and queries within minutes, not days, not weeks.
I'd love us to be connecting with the community with videos and podcasts.

These technologies take time - we can't just assume that because it is "technology" that it is easy and quick and can be an "add on" to what staff are already doing. If it is important to the future of libraries - and I believe it is - then we should be making the time now to implement them.

We are all about information - and these technologies are how our customers are beginning to expect they can get it.

We don't have to force every staff member to get involved. But when we find staff that are enthusiastic we need to give them the time and tools to get this happening!

Gutenberg Press, by Andrew Plumb, 1 April 2006, on Flickr

Geocaching

High tech treasure hunting - SO COOL!
I can't believe I have never done this before!!

Geocaching could be used to give our bored teenage customers something to do other than harrass library staff! We're always saying they need to go outside and use up some of their energy - this would be perfect!!

They all have bikes or scooters, and mobile phones, and I'm sure that one of them must have a GPS enabled one. I see them all over Ellenbrook and The Vines so they are already getting around the place.

I'm sure there are other customers who would enjoy this too.

So should Libraries be getting involved in this kind of thing? I say, Why not?
It's another way of getting out into the community, connecting with the things that interest our customers, and possibly attracting new customers.

Video didn't quite kill the radio star...

... just forced them to change their approach.

Podcasts - radio when you want it.
I'm not saying we should get rid of radio, but I love that Podcasting has allowed me to listen to something on my terms, when I want it.

Or if I have heard something really inspiring, to have the option to listen again.

I do this a lot with ABC content.

In our libraries we could record visiting speakers or a tour of the library or directions or instructions on how to do things, like setting up a gmail account - a great alternative to written instructions.

We could also work with other libraries and pool our podcasts - so that library users get even more value.

Video killed the radio star

I like YouTube, I use it for all kinds of things, from finding out how to do something on my computer, to watching funny cat videos, to following YouTube channels like Mike Wesch and NLA.

I'd love our libraries to have a You Tube channel - we could use it for training videos, information about how to use the library, to promote events, to record and show events like Library Lovers - imagine that as a whole new way of reaching our housebound customers and the digital natives?

Not to mention the potential of just seeming a whole lot more interesting than the pearl wearing shushing librarian!!!

So here is my pick - this years' NLA Christmas video.



The demise of my faithful iBook G4

In memory of the good times we have shared.

Flickr, by Chris Beach, April 14, 2005

I knocked one too many cups of coffee onto it.



This is why I need that iPad!!!

Twitter #2

Got twitter on my iphone so that i can keep up the 5 days of tweeting on my day off and weekend.

= dedication.

follow me @kittylibrary

Facebook - let's try again

I already have a facebook account so I have used that and friended Midland Swan, posted on their wall and sent a personal message.

I use Facebook to communicate with my family, to share photos, to play games like Farmville.

I think it's great that our library has a facebook page.

We get quite a few customers coming into the library to use the computers and sign up for Facebook - often someone has told them about it but they don't really know what it is. Just the other day I had a customer ask me what the difference was between using her wall to write a message and writing a "facebook email" meaning using the inbox/private messaging. I think there is some danger here for new users in regards to privacy and just the fact that they could reveal something personal unwillingly by not understanding the public public nature of Facebook.