Twitter - an introduction

Well, I've tried really hard - read all the info and looked into several of the twitter accounts - and I still don't really get it! It was interesting having a nosey at different Twitter sites - seeing who has a Twitter account and what they twitter on about ... but apart from satisfying the curiosity factor I can't see what's the big attraction. There must be something I'm missing - so I started a Twitter account myself thinking I might have to actually be a participant rather than an observer to get a handle on it... so, watch this space.

I was interested in the site for Grabaseat. It seemed very popular with over 10,000 following - so I suppose people use it to catch the latest best deals. I also went into Jodi Picoult (because I read her books). Her site seemed to be mostly self promotion with some family bits and pieces.

Creative Commons

I found a photo of this butterfly on Flickr. The Creative Commons licence is: Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic licence which means I can:

• Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
• Remix — to adapt the work

On the condition that I attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).

The Creative Commons licence on the Get With it!!! programme is: Attribution-Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand licence which means I can:

• Share — to copy, distribute and transmit the work
• Remix — to adapt the work

On the condition that I:

• attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor (but not in any way that suggests that they endorse you or your use of the work).
• Do not use this work for commercial purposes.

Really useful to know how to find if there is a licence on an image I may want to use. Tended not to as I was never sure - now I know how to find out.

OpenID

I like the idea of having just one username and password to access several web accounts. I didn't know about OpenID before now so will look for the OpenID icon and if the service is available I'll go ahead and use the security details from this Google account from now on. Anything for an easier life!!

Online Privacy and Security

Even though alot of what was covered in Online Privacy and Security is common sense we don't always stop to think about it so it is important to be reminded every now and again. The two videos were very good and I particularly liked the McAfee and Netsafe sites. We could refer library patrons to them - people using the internet, children doing projects on cyber bullying, concerned parents, etc. I also thought the privacy tips for people who use Facebook to be really good (in the additional reading section) - Grouping your friends into family, friends, acquaintances etc. with appropriate privacy settings for each group was something I hadn't thought of - mind you I don't have a Facebook account but I will pass that info on to my children.

My advice to a patron opening up a pharos or My Info account would be to use something that is easy for them to remember - the password is only a means for them to access the account and is not protecting their personal or financial information. For our website - I'd suggest they signed up with a pseudonym if they did not want their name displayed if they left a comment.

I'm back again ready for another challenge in Cyberspace

It's been a while since I've been to back to this blog and in the meantime I'm sure the blogging world has increased a hundredfold - so I'm sure I haven't been missed!

Anyway I'm here to start my next challenge - the Get with it!!! - more Web 2.0 Technologies .... learning programme being run by North Shore Libraries. I think I've come a long way since the 23Things programme in 2008 and now appreciate the benefits of working on and with the Web alot more. I haven't become a blogger in my everyday life - but for an on-line programme such as this can definitely see how it is a wonderful tool to enable and enhance learning - so here I am, back again, ready to blog my way through the programme.

One of the things I really appreciate now is how this blog has become a record of my learning journey. I've got a real buzz out of revisiting some of the posts from last year - a great reminder and, I can see in some cases, will serve as a reference point.

Am I Still Lost in Cyberspace ??

(Click on Play - only takes 5 seconds)

Well the fog is starting to clear! And what a relief - it's so great to know that I have actually got to the end of these 23 Things and I feel so much more knowledgeable and confident with Web 2.0 technology.

I have enjoyed most of the exercises - even learning about tools and applications that I may never use again - it's good to know they are there and know what others are talking about. I would like to investigate Flickr further (and set up an account) and Wikis. I'm sure I'll make use of image generators, and the on line productivity tools. I'll also go back to Library Thing and some of the Geneology sites.

While I didn't particularly enjoy RSS Feeds and Podcasts so much, I was pleased I was able to do the exercise (with some help and reading the instructions). I did learn more about them and how to search and read the screen on the web - so the learning wasn't wasted!

This programme pushed me out of my comfort zone and made me do things I wouldn't have tried otherwise. I found out that if I tried and sometimes persisted I was able to do it - up until now anything to do with new technology I just asked my children - now I know that I can do it myself!!

Thanks to the Team for all their help and encouragement and to the other Participants for the inspiration and welcome distraction their blogs provided.

OVER AND OUT

Social Networking and Libraries

Some interesting comments in the articles in this exercise. I looked at some of the Library My Space sites and while the medium doesn't appeal to me personally I appreciate that the young ones are using these sites and that they appeal to them.

Is there a place for social networking sites in libraries? I think the answer has to be Yes .... this is the communication tool young people are using today! It offers another way of reaching out to the community, taking the library to those who may never come in, and giving patrons a voice in their library.

But (and there is a big BUT) it has to be done well and be well maintained. It needs to be relevant to libraries - offering a one stop shop for book reviews (both library and patron reviews), author information, librarian's tips on study topics, information on library events, link to the library catalogue, forum for patrons to have their say on library matters, etc.