Exerise 16 - Comment on teachers blog (Blog 1 - "geriatric father")
I am writing the ideas for this post here before editing with etiquette. I was a geriatric father although I didn't see my wife that way. Things I noticed were that nothing works the way people say. All children under 12 or more are constantly supervised at home (by who?) Children are disciplined - but they strike right back - you don't have as much money for spending on everything as the world expects - at least your children are wonderfully gifted - ready to drive a car before the first driving lesson.

Sent as is to comment on teacher's blog "geriatric father"

Exercise 15 - Commenting on other blogs.

I commented on Sharon Luhr's blog showing Charlie Brown's view of library lost book notices. I commented I always like to see Peanuts but the strip further enforces my view there may be a sinister side to librarians. The Nancy pearl doll is a little eery at times.

I commented on Kyunga Cho's podcast on the Mari Nawi boats and people.

Mari Nawi is an exciting podcast as it shows the original inhabitants of the harbour I have travelled around and in for so many years. I am sure most people have never seen these boats.  We need to know more about what happened to the local natives after the time pictured.

Exercise 14 - Inviting Authors

I have invited 5 members of current blog classes to my blog. Sharon Luhr, Kyunga Cho and Nili Chen have accepted. I am still waiting for Linda Tu and Lin Zhang to accept.

Sharon Luhr commented on my "John Oxley Library" blog, and Kyunga Cho commented on my podcast. She also mentioned she would like to see my typed links to sites activated. So I found the link sign on the tool bar and activated all my links to pictures and podcast.

Exercise 13 - Rearranging my blog

1. I put a banner at the top of my blog. I chose a long narrow picture which I could crop to the required length in Paint. I wrote a heading on the banner using Paint as the blog software seemed to squeeze the picture and writing into corners.

2. I filled in the "List" gadjet to make a navigation bar under the banner. I put links to libraries I commonly used as well as Blacktown Library. This library had by far the best picture of a library on its home page. I used gadjet to put this picture on the right, below the navigation bar.

3. I put in a search box so they items not mentioned in the "Labels" could also be searched for and also located if they exist.

4. I reduced the blog width by 0.5cm to allow more of the bamboo forest background to be seen.

5. I first decreased the width of the right side column. The picture became very small and some of the writing double up. So I increased the width of the column instead and the picture became even larger.

Exercise 12 - Changing the background and theme colour of the blog.

1. I changed the background of the blog to a green bamboo, which turned out to be a beautiful forest of bamboo.

2. To match I changed the theme colour to dark green. I'm glad the general writing colour has not changed as I prefer black or dark blue writing for the majority.

Exercise 11
Exercise 11- Extend 2.0 technology in Gordon Library.

Observing Gordon Library I can see that much advancement in technology is moving but always not at the fastest pace. After commenting on some very advanced libraries, I will comment on Gordon's possible advancements.

 Looking for the most advanced libraries, showed many such as New York, Washington and Chicago showed little outward sign of much available technology. However Seattle Public Library (http://www.spl.org) and London Public Library (londonpubliclibrary.ca) show a lot of changes to there computer interface and community programs. Seattle is stronger in the organising of study assistance and language help especially for children . London Library is stronger in the software area allowing clients to tag comments and encouraging them to respond to organised classes and also in the access of many databases This organised communication could often be much more effective in routine areas than Facebook type sites in organising classes and purchasing suitable material. Facebook type sites would be better for discovering unexpected interests etc.

 I could see great improvement in services installing their levels of service as follows to Gordon Library.
                       ( Ideas for Gordon Library from Seattle Library)
                        Online Tutorials for schoolchildren every day from
                        1pm to10pm.English,Science,Maths & Social Studies.
                        Dial a story             
                        Online resources and tests for study in holidays.
                        Chat on line 24/7 365 days (including Spanish- maybe Chinese
                         in Aust.)
                        Databases : Britannica etc (4)                           (Children)
                                           Homework help (6)
                                           Young children (4)


                         Language programmes: English, French, German , Italian , Spanish  (Youths)
                         School support department
                         Support for parents and cares for their children's study
                         Teens forum
                         Podcast for teens
                         Esl lesson for 6 foreign languages
                         (Ideas for Gordon Libary from London PublicLibrary)
                        100 databases (e.g.Infotrac News Stand)      (Youths/)Adults)
                         Meetings organised through the computer
                        Clients may comment, tag, review, or add to their bag in activities on
                        the computer.
                        Advanced search facilities on their catalogues
                        Language and ESL classes dtabases
Gordon has a few information/reference databases (such Australian. Bureau
 of Statistics) but could find many more to be useful. Adult fiction (novels)
 is catered for by a few databases and  fares better than other areas. Reading
 involvement could be increased in electronic reviews. The library has a small
reading club which appears more for a small social activity, not that this is not important.
 The library send an electronic newsletter to members every month.
It also has a Facebook membership, to communicate with members and the public
 in general. Local studies is a more traditional area and the library has always
maintained a strong interest in the Kuringai municipality history.

I can see more could be done in using technology in other areas such as video conferencing for people isolated from each other.

Exercise 10  - Gordon Library -  2.0 Technologies

Exercise 10, Gordon Library - Head of Kuringai Municipal Library
The website for Kuringai Library shows influence from 2.0 technologies. However the extent in each particular electronic media is limited to a few applications considered the most desired. Some areas would offer a better service to students if extensiveley expanded.
Facebook: (Adults/teenagers) The library uses Facebook to encourage two way communication with library clients.
Electronic newsletter: The library sends an electronic newsletter to all member's of the library.

Ask a Librarian: (For children)This is an e-form which takes 2 days for a reply. However Year 4 to 12 students have  free online tutoring
Free online tutoring: (For children) Year 4 to 12 students have  free online tutoring. School students seem to be a priority. This is available Mon-Fr- 4pm-8pm for Maths, English and Science. Study skills are also included. The library employs a professional tutor on contract.
Book Reviews: (For all ages)Sometimes one sentence provided by a professional. However some books have long reviews attached. Library clients can add their own reviews/comments)
Catalogue:   (Mainly for youth/adult) Uses quick search - may be sufficient on most occasions, but not all. Clients can enter their own review as well as reading other people's. Directory:
Resources:   (Youth/Adult)Only a few databases: Australian Bureau of Statistics
                     looks interesting. But we know there are many similar
                     databases including ones with worldwide data. Other databases
                     are mainly  for novel information: Australian Crime Fiction Database.
                     Australian Poetry Library Spydus password is required for "ABC
                     World" geographical database and a few others with  literary reviews.

                 Other Services still in traditional form
Book Club: This is the answer to Clarence River's book review forum. However it is
                    a meeting of members for discussions. It covers a more intimate social
                     need and seems a good promotion.
Events:         Often talks
JP:               Which library branch offers one and when. A most useful service when
                    the need arises.
Local Interests: Local history and biography documents are kept at Gordon.
                     This would be similar to Brisbane State Libraries Collection.
                      but much smaller , I would expect.

Appearance. Gordon library has a big area for students to study and more
                    computer access. Multimedia: The affect of multimedia appears
                     mainly to have reduced the librarians' work,
                     and given patrons better access to information they
                     used before. Many patrons have not yet used the newest electronic
                     technologies and don't realise the local libraries have
                     lagged behind in offering all services now available

Why is Gordon Library slow to take up the latest 2.0 technology
While many middle and higher income earners live on the North Shore, many appear happy to send their children to private schools to give them an advantage over the rest of the community. In addition councils are run by many with an interest in real estate or financial concerns. One of their solutions is to turn Turramurra branch library into a car park. The North shore libraries generally don't ask for qualifications for library assistants. I expect this keeps wages. This in turn means library staff are not up to date with the latest 2.0 Technology.


               

Exercise 9 - Kuringai Municipality

http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/html/7-home-page.asp



Location.
Kuringai is a north shore area between Chatswood and Hornsby, consisting  of Gordon, Lindfield, Killara, Pymbl, St Ives and Turramurra. As executives are promoted in their jobs in Sydney they often move to the north shore, and then continue to move to the most exclusive suburbs if their promotions continue. It is a very safe area to live in.

Nationality Distribution 
 Kuringai Municipality has more than  one third of its citizens born overseas. One third of its citizens moved from overseas in the last five years. Eighty percent of its citizens speak English at home, and 7% speak Chinese.

Occupations
The main occupations (10% each ) are Health care, Finance, Insurance, Education and Retail.

Educational Facilities
Their are many famous high schools, but little in the way of universities, only UTS kuringai campus

Library

http://www.kmc.nsw.gov.au/www/html/64-library.asp

Kuringai Municipality has its central library at Gordon with sub-branches at  Lindfield, Killara, St Ives and Turramurra.

Exerice 8 - Robots - Automated Delivery System, Hunt Library

This automated storage system may be similar to Macquarie University's Library system. An electronic tag must be attached to each book. The video talks about "serendipity" - finding a book in the wrong location, which was just what you wanted , but you never knew existed. Now a person can sit on a bus with their laptop and see a display (apparently cover pictures included) of the books which should be near any suitable reference they find. Whether the computer driven system will find a new way to lose books or their access through keywords , we have to wonder.

UTS University Library is digging a big hole in the ground in Ultimo to install a similar automated system. As with outsourcing cataloging, they must feel the reduction in costs will justify any difficulties that arise.


(Filter Bubbles
The second video item, Eli Pariser: beware online "filter bubbles" appears to be more sinister. Search routines shaping what people find. Maybe the answer would be some kind of unfiltered search, but users would need to be much more clever with keywords, or else would need a new kind of software to help.)

 Exercise 7, Podcast - State Library, R.H. Mathews,

http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/podcasts/events/martin_thomas_nba.html

Martin Thomas of the State Library gives a 40 minute talk on R.H. Mathews work and childhood experience, explaining how a man without university training, and one who says his first real friends were aboriginal children, published 2200 pages in respected journals around the world and became Australia's first academic anthropologist. Martin has been sifting through Mathews documents in the library.

Its a little unnerving listening with no pictures, and after missing the name of Mathews first Journal publication I had to wait 30 minutes to hear it again. However remembering the days before television, serials and documentaries on the radio were often quite exciting. There appear to be 2 hours of question time at the end.

Mathews came from a small town outside Goulburn. He saw surveyors having a good profession and the opportunity of travelling,  a romantic experience. He left home at 18 and then working as a surveyor he joined the Royal Society of NSW and visited their reading room. 20 years later he published a journal with the society about a sacred and mythical aboriginal site near Singleton. The society sent their publications to similar societies all over the world. Mathews continued to publish about other sites including one near Coolangatta (in the Shoalhaven region) in other journals around the world. Aboriginal people went to the sites and told him about the ceremonies and legends. Many of the sites are now overgrown and difficult to find.

A very interesting 40 minute talk. It is well structured as after a few minutes one has the main points and is waiting for the details to be filled in.

Exercise 6- Social Bookmarking - Library Book Review Sites

The Tasmanian State Library's reviews on the story of a mass killer were an extreme example of reviewing, since many would like to follow the crowd , reading a most pleasurable experience. However Stonnington library has reviews such as that for Oscar and Lucinda which I almost read for my Blog- 20 Literature presentation. Reviewers tell of their difficulty reading the book. But some admit that their are new and unusual ideas. maybe we could use such experience to rewrite a plot with a different ending. We can use new ideas in many ways. Only one or two people are neaded to develop ideas in a new direction. More than one can develop much faster.
Since a little print in electronic format is of negligible expense, and lots of good ideas can arise from an enormous amount of generally uneventful writing, I agree with the reviewer system, and would encourage it.

Exercise 5 - Libraries with a social networking site .

These sites allow libraries to disseminate information which could only be previously given to a limited number of clients by fliers or a poster.

While Facebook is dangerous for inexperienced or immature users, as readers can take advantage of the physically or financially, the library can use it properly by controlling which information flows in and out.

The library can find more ideas about how the public will receive their activities and projects. They can plan for a much better result on some occasions.   

Exercise 4 - Nancy Pearl Interview

I see so many dolls and clips of Nancy Pearl its good to see what she thinks as a person. This relaxed interview shows some of her life story and what interests and excites her.

Exercise 3 - Dublin City Public Libraries Photostream

The Dublin City Libraries have sets of photos on different topics. One is
documents which includes are handwritten record of the weather from 1716 to 1734. Unfortunately you have to go to the library to see past the first page.

The libraries photostream is at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dublincitypubliclibraries/

Dublin Library                                              







                                                                           .... inside

 and the weather  document years (1716 to 1734) at

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dublincitypubliclibraries/2057038824/in/photostream/

I have picked the most interesting pictures from the upper level of many categories. Other pictures include inside and outside of library buildings, community scenes, social events and activities and many other documents.

Exercise 2 - John Oxley Library Blog (Brisbane State Library)

http://blogs.slq.qld.gov.au/jol/

The John Oxley Library blog gives several articles each week for several areas. These articles change each week. One is usually from the Local History Section often more than 100 years ago, giving a detailed biography and also some interesting and unusual event in detail. Last week, from the 25th to 30th October, all 3 articles were historical. Actually , I find their historical articles the most interesting.

Today's article (30/10) was the biographical one. It was about Sir Arthur Hodgson who bought 67,200 acres on the Darling Downs in 1840. In 1842 he married the daughter of the NSW Chief justice. She was a trained artist. They had 11 children. They produced premium wool. In 1868 Sir Arthur became a member of the Queensland Assembly. Then in1869 he became Colonial Secretary in the Lilley ministry. Soon after he returned to England with his wife. A collection of medals, pictures and accounts were bought at auction in Somerset England recently. A video shows the shipment being opened at the John Oxley, Library.

The article on 29th October was about the Tindale geological Collection. Fron 1920 to 1974 Norman Tindale mapped aboriginal tribes and their languages in Australia. This was exciting to learn. Due to the movement of tribes during the second world war, this distribution changed dramatically.

The article on 25th October was about the gas fire near Roma in 1908. It burned for 45 days and was extenguished by a special steel chamber built in Brisbane. Tourists from as far as New Zealand, paid 1 pound each to travel by train to see the fire. This story is more exciting than many engineering documentaries on "Discovery" on Foxtel.

The historical stories on the blog all capture exciting and interesting information. i found earlier local information blog entries more factual and often not very interesting.

Excercise 1 - Library 2.0
Library 2.0 is the  adaption by modern libraries of Web 2.0 to a new environment  where library members can help shape and contribute to the services and news created by each library. It can extend the activities of libraries as a centre for social development. Web 2.0 includes internet based activities such as Facebook, Myspace, YouTube,  Twitter and blogging.
Library can use blogs or Flickr to involve many members in creative discussions online and share images about all topics including the most current and also local topics. These techniques can be integrated using RSS to allow a more complete service or activity envisaged by the library. Some libraries such as Hennepin County combine with myspace to create their own active website. Some libraries integrate with their book selections and social and even teaching activities by allowing members to tag suggestions when using catalogues and enrolling in classes and events.