Podcasting

Just as many of us like to read things of interest, so do many like to listen, which is where podcastings can be a boon.

I must admit I've alway liked listening to the radio, sometimes preferring it over television, so the ability to podcast, with its record now and play later ability, makes it appealing. I can see many others appreciating it as I do.

But my initail try out of podcasting was not totally succesful. Some sites on the internet were easy to find podcasts, but when I tried finding some very specific things of interest, then it became more difficult. I found some interesting websites, but finding the podcast within them wasn't always easy. No doubt though, experience will improve my ability to find these.

Mashups

I can see the potential of mashups using tools like Googlemaps. They are an extension of past methods of creating new documents and applications by amalgating various online tools, but in a more sophisticated way.

From my own personal perspective I can see it being useful in creating such things as maps linked to photographs and descriptions of places I've been to and would like others to know about. Adding a bit of music or dialogue could make it even more interesting. The potential is unlimited.

Before I can create anything that ambitious I will need a lot of practice first.

Google docs

Google docs is certainly helpful for people who cannot afford or are not interested in having their own software appications like Word or Excel. Though the functionality is less it is still sufficient for people who are only interested in creating simple documents.

A small library with limited resources and strong community network may find Google docs and similar programmes useful. Without the necessity for expensive software, that is probalby more sophisticated than needed, they can create and use simple spreadsheets, wordprocessing doucment etc, that can be shared around with ease.

As with all network applications it can allow a library, particularly those that operate in small communities, to engage more with the community.

Library thing

I found Library thing a very interesting website. People can go in and add their favourite books and see what others say about them. From a library point of view this is a good way to communicate to readers what books the library has and give them some advice.

Delicious account

Setting up delicious took a bit longer than expected, but once done it was not difficult to follow.

It has some interesting possibilities in libraries. The subject approach, that the use of tags allows, is a good way to arrange those resources frequently used in the workplace. Instead of having to use bookmarks with possibly hundreds of websites attached, the tags used in Delicious categories them in a similar fashion to the way the catalogue organises the collection by subject headings. It would be of particular interest in online reference services such as LRA, where certain frequently asked questions arise.

RSS

I just added 5 new RSSs. One of my choices was a Volkswagen TDI blog. TDI are the diesel powered variants of Volkswagen's cars. My Volkswagen Golf is the first diesel car I've ever owned, and I am alway interested in leaning more about how they operate compared to conventional petrol engined cars.

Following this RSS would be a good way to see what other owners have to say on the topic.

If anyone else is interested in hearing my thoughts on this kind of car feel free to blog me.

Social networking

Social networking looks like an interesting way for people who share interests to communicate with each other. The ALIA Symposium "beyond the hype" site was an interesting example of this. People from the library world who attended the symposium continued to discuss the issues raised through the Ning site they set up.

Such networking has other potential benefits. Specialist librarians for example, could connect with individuals in the community with an interest in their speciality. The profile of the library and thus the use of its resources to contribute to the collective knowledge is one way of broadening the library's reference services.

It was also interesting to see how different people in some of these networking sites identified themselves. Some were quite open providing an image of themselves, their full names and the area they lived. Others were more circumspect. Personnally I value my privacy so if I were become part of such a network I would be inclined to use a psuedonymn and an illustration rather than a photograph of myself.