Twitter & Yammer

Have been using Yammer for some months now and find it to be a valuable source of information. Have had some very useful ideas and links that I have passed onto TAFE staff.
I must admit there are days when I don't link in because I am too busy, involved in other activities and just don't think about it. Also, because it doesn't play a major role in my work practices I have to remember to do it, in amongst my other tasks. Maybe it's just a matter of my headset, and that this will gradually change in time.
Certainly a great source of unusual information at times, and some instant online help/advice when needed. It is a useful communication tool for staff, much quicker than emails. A quick way to get library information/messages out into the wider TAFE community, or to respond with a library perspective to messages put up.

Library Thing

Have added some titles and done some exploring on the site. Great fun and quite interesting. Can see it's value for people really interested in sharing discussions and ideas about books and authors. We supply books for several reading groups and I can see this as an add on to their face to face discussions, not sure how they would cope with the techology though. Could start a library online discussion group, maybe targeting young mothers or teenagers.

Image generators

Found this one a while ago and used it to send my grandsons a more interesting birthday message.
Fill in a short birthday message in the text box and check out the preview. a bit of fun.

http://www.imagechef.com/ic/make.jsp?tid=Baking+Cake

There is so much out there to explore and some of it could be very useful for marketing/promoting our services and doing it with a bit of flair and fun.

My podcast

Hope this works - had fun making it.

http://workspace.office.live.com/?wa=wsignin1.0#dunnestephen/LEARN Network/Wellbeing.mp3

YouTube et al

Checked out YouTube and found this mashup of a symphony composed for the Internet and it's amazing. A very real example of international cooperation using current technologies on a grand scale.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oC4FAyg64OI&feature=channel

Applying this concept just think how exciting it would be to provide an international flavour to our services for both us and our clients. Not sure how it could be done but some brainstorming, workshops even a LEARN meeting segment could generate some ideas worth exploring.

I know that our Horticulture lecturer was putting some links to YouTube for Aquacponic and Hydroponic videos in the program Moodle for students to view.

Also found Torvill and Dean's beautiful ice dance that won them the gold in the 1984 Olymips - a joy to watch again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8obUdxnTlc
Had fun exploring the site and it's quite easy to navigate.

Library 2.0 & Web 2.0

Like a couple of other 23 Thingers, yesterday I was a bit daunted with the readings for this. However after 100 km round trip from and to work, and another look at it now I have to say that I am blown away by the possibilities of what this could mean for our services BUT there are a lot of 'ifs' that go with it.
The cultural changes needed to embrace these new ways of delivering/providing our services will take time to learn/train, may need encouragement for some to see the potential for their benefits, and require support from peers and also those who hold the purse strings. I'm sure we are all aware, it's the putting it into sustained action that we have to work on....and how to do that is the question.
I know some are too daunted by enormity of this new vista and don't want to go there but I think some of that comes from knowing, or feeling, there just isn't the 'time' to explore and get to know it at their own pace, certainly in the work place. I know I have felt very pressured at times with this project as i am behind and I want to get it finished but it has to be in and amongst the other things that are going on for me each day in my work space.
OOps, reading back over this sounds a bit like a soapbox delivery...it's not, just some reflections as a response to the readings.
I am really enthused by the possibilities of how these concepts and technologies can engage our communities and enhance our services and am looking forward to where we go with them.

Del.icio.us

Was thinking back over my exploration for this activity while driving home last night and had a thought....could we better manage our USS lists on Del.icio.us? With appropriate tagging they could be accessed from anywhere and we would be bringing another one of our practices into the Web 2.0 environment. A link to the site could be added to all program Moodle and Janison sites and it may encourage input from staff and students who, I'm sure, would have sites that they value as course/information resources.
Just a thought....interested in any comments.