E-books and Audiobooks

I am not convinced that ebooks are realy the way to go for fiction. Reading on the PC screen or any screen is tiring and not really friendly. Non fiction I can see a place for. I noticed Library Elf on the Friedbeef webpage and the Best Places to get E-books webpage. It was interesting to find the History of Tasmania by John West in the Project Gutenberg catalog.
Audiobooks - these are fantastic for Home Library patrons especially those with sight impairment. I have been involved with using the Vision Australia Service for an 82 year old sight impaired patron who is the carer for her 90 year old husband who has Alzheimers. The audiobooks that she receives through this service has made an enormous difference to her life.

Second Life

This is amazing. It could provide another avenue to promote new technologies and to reach an audience that we have missed before. Virtual training in second life is a possibility as well as virtual tours of the library? In the virtual Marriott Library you can watch movies, read safari books online, listen to various styles of music in the music room. Great idea but can we do this? How cost effective will it be?

Youtube

I enjoyed Youtube very much. So many videos of so many subjects. I like the Librarian 2.0 manifesto. My favourite is the Reading Rainbow "At the library" though. Youtube could easily be adapted for library use.

Podcasts

I tried to have a look at Yahoo: what is a podcast tutorial but got an error message and then I tried to have a look at Podcast.net and got another error message. So third time lucky I went to podcastalley.com and had a look at the myriad of available podcasts. Great to be able to hear so many podcasts but I am starting to reach overload. I think podcasting slt training courses would be something to focus on as well as any events that come up.

Rollyo

I liked rollyo. Great idea to reduce the rubbish you get in any google search. Easy to set up your own rollyo which I did.

Wikis

Wikis could be a useful tool for libraries. Great for collaboration between clients and libraries and quickly update reviews, book lists and library information.
I like the Yarra Plenty readers advisor and readers development wiki. Also could be used for the information related to introduction of a new lms. Quick updates on discovery of any short cuts that people find.

Library 2.0

I understand the concept of Library 2.0 and the possibility of using the various technologies to deliver services to library users and to share information and ideas and concepts with others in the profession. A good tool for those in the organisation who are spread throughout the state. It adds another dimension to the relevance of the libray to our users and to ourselves.