These Things Are...

Monday musings...

2011-10-31T10:15:00.002Z

I hadn't planned on publishing anymore posts, but as I was watching the film the boat that rocked on TV last night it certainly brought back memories of when I was a 10/11 year old surreptitiously listening to Radio Caroline and Radio Luxembourg very late at night in my bedroom, I could only get a really clear reception late at night and as my Mum didn't allow me to listen to the radio after 9pm I used to hide my little transistor under my pillow whenever I would hear anybody coming up the stairs, That's when I learned to love rock music, listening to the radio in the dead of night turned down real low (no earphones in them days!) ariel fully extended and pointed every which way to get the best reception, and of course sneaking into my brothers bedroom and listening to their albums when they weren't around!! The first 45 I bought with my birthday/christmas money was I'm a believer by the Monkees, I was probably about eight or nine at the time, a couple of years on the very first album I bought with my with my own hard earned cash was billion dollar babies by Alice Cooper, see how I had progressed! I think my Mum actually left the room when she first heard Alice Cooper, reading over the lyrics of some of the songs I'm surprised she didn't smash the thing!!!and when I begged pleaded and cried to go to his concert, she stood her ground and absolutely refused to let me go, as it was he was banned anyway!! We had a fantastic album and single collection between my two older brothers and me, but when one of my brothers started smoking he sold them all for cigarettes!!! but I still have that first single (somewhere) and the first album (currently on top of my wardrobe) that I bought, but unfortunately I no longer have a turntable to play them on... well, at the moment anyway.

Hot Myspace Generators

2011-10-16T19:24:00.000+01:00

The last few things...finally!

2011-10-15T19:44:00.004+01:00

I have been working on this post for the last few days now...finding it very difficult to wrap up the last few things! So here we go...

Thing 18 Ebooks.

There are lot of statistics relating to ebook purchase/usage out there, but on the home front, it can be difficult to persuade the students to use them, we can tell them the advantages, but still some people like to have the physical copy and until we stop having both formats available I don't think that's not going to change too soon!

On a personal note I bought an online book about 3 or 4 years ago and never actually read it! It's still sitting in a folder on my desktop somewhere, I have tried to open it a couple to times recently, but I no longer have the correct programme, I also tried to save it onto a memory card so that I could try opening it up at home on my laptop - but no go. I think it was probably licensed for a certain period of time and then died away! Obviously wasn't a good read!

Thing 19 iTunes University.

I checked this out and it is overwhelming how much is on there, too much, I can't decide what to download/listen to. As a tool I think it is amazing, again there would have to be a lot more liaising with academic staff etc. Just think, lecturers could record their lectures for students to view/listen to whenever they wanted and then use the lecture time to discuss and debate the lecture topic!

Google Books.
I have used Google books as a resource more than once, say if we don't hold something in the library, you can often check out the index or chapter titles to see if it is something worth using for your research - and then you can order it via inter library loan. Amazon is also quite handy for checking index/chapter titles as well! Check out Googles ebook store

Thing 20 Cloud Computing.
When we first looked at this I really couldn't get my head around it! Now I've done a bit of reading around it I understand it a lot better, and it actually makes a lot of sense! I used Google Docs for some of my assignments for college, it was really handy to be able to open it up where ever and whenever I wanted, save and go, it never really occurred to me to wonder where it was being saved, but now I know. Again my concern would be be around the safety and security of your information, can it be guaranteed up in the clouds?

Thing 21 Google Maps.
I haven't really used Google Maps much, I never really go anywhere different (aaahhhh!!!), but my daughter was heading of to Barcelona recently and Google Maps and Streetview really came into its own, having never been there before she was able to use various building as landmarks on Streetview to know where to go, and what directions to take to get back to their hotel. I think being able to upload your own photographs is quite cool as well.

Thing 22 Image Generators
I really did Smurf myself but pretty much decided that nobody else need to hear the result! So I did a morphy picture thingy instead - see the widget to the right.

Thing 23 Scribblar.
Alrighty then, scrabbled around in scribblar until I was all scribbled out! I can see this being very useful to a group of users that are not located as geographically close to each other as we are here in the library!

Reading recommendations

2011-10-12T08:00:00.007+01:00

I need help, there, I'm not afraid to say it, but I really do need some help with what I am reading at the moment, or rather with the type of books I am reading.

First of all there was The Resurrectionists by Michael Collins, set in the depths of a harsh Michigan winter, a tale of murder, distrust, revenge and sons paying for their fathers' sins.

Next came We have to talk about Kevin, by Lionel Shiver, I AM NOT GOING TO TALK ABOUT KEVIN, all I am going to say is, that, I think I have been trying to finish this book for about a year now, again it is a story of death, murder and a very, very 'odd' mother!! I read a review of this book that said it was 'a comfort and a revelation' well so far I have found it neither. I'm just going to wait for the film to be released instead.

So up next is Stephen Kings' Full Dark, No Stars, five short stories dealing with death, murder, revenge, and how evil the human spirit can become.

I am currently reading a book by Joanne Harris, I absolutely loved Five Quarters of the Orange, so I thought I would give blueeyedboy a go, now I don't know if any of you have read this book, but there is a definite pattern emerging in my reading...death, murder, revenge, mad fathers, bad mothers, evil sociopathic sons...

So I need something more cheerful to read, something to brighten my day a little...maybe a nice gentle love story perhaps, or something really, really funny.

A Tale of PIN OVERLOAD

2011-10-01T17:00:00.053+01:00

Dublin Bus have a brilliant new service for all us hard working bus hopping people, RTPI (Real Time Passenger Information). The iphone and web app are only available at the moment, but for all you 'droid users out there, the Android app will be out in late November.

Anyways, every bus stop now has it's own unique four digit number and by entering this number you will get real time info on when the next bus is due at your stop! I've tried it and it works really well (the buses are fitted with some gizmo that registers when they are passing a stop). There were a few glitches in the first couple of days, but I have to say I am quite impressed by it.

The only trouble is though...now I am suffering from PIN OVERLOAD - let me tell you how I know this to be true.

The other day I was checking my Dublin City Library account - I entered my PIN, or rather I entered A PIN, obviously not the right one, tried again, and again and then gave up. Turns out I was using a combination of the digits in my year of birth!

So then I thought I should check when my books were due back on my work account and once again I tried various combinations of four particular numbers to no avail and gave up. Turns out these four digits in the right order sets the alarm in work!

The next day I was at the ATM trying to retrieve some of my hard earned money when it struck - PIN OVERLOAD. I was standing there desperately trying to remember which four digit number to use, and the queue behind was starting to build up, and oh the pressure of queues!!! You just become so aware of the people behind you - the throat clearing (just to let you know that they are there) - the foot shuffling (to indicated the level on impatience) - and then, the turning round and loudly complaining to the stranger behind (the last resort of queuer!).

Anyway, as you know if you enter your number incorrectly three times your card will be swallowed up, and then you have to go through all sorts of hoo-haa to get it back, so I was under extreme pressure, kinda like when you use the self-service machine in the supermarket and it tells you to take your change and thanks you for shopping there, when you are still busily trying to stuff everything in your bag. It's a machine for *****sake why do we feel the need to hurry up when it talks to us! It's like 'I took your money now get out!'

So, I'm not sure how long I was standing there going through the different combinations in my head (at least I thought it was in my head) when a youngish guy behind me in the queue leaned over my shoulder and asked was I alright, and could I speak English as he didn't understand what I was saying. It was then that I realised I had been muttering the numbers out loud, he then said 'you know you seem to be talking in code, is there any way I can help you?' I was horrified to realise that not only had I been muttering all my PINs out loud but that I had also been trying to retrieve my cash with the my bus stop number! That's when I abandoned all hope of getting any money out and decided that I really didn't need to eat, and headed off home to lie down!

So friends and colleagues, if you come across me helplessly wandering around the library muttering random bursts of four digit numbers, or if you find me at the ATM mumbling in code and quoting the bus timetables, treat me kindly, take me gently by the hand and find a nice comfy chair for me, perhaps even, make me a nice hot cup of tea (milk and two sugars please), and stay with me until this moment of PIN OVERLOAD passes.

New Blogger Layouts

2011-09-29T19:54:00.002+01:00

Just thought I would try on a new 'coat' for the winter - do you like? Still a bit glitchy and you may need to update your browser for them to display properly. I really like the Flipcard option, check them out and see what you think!

Google+

2011-09-28T10:48:00.001+01:00

I am liking Google+ more and more, and I have persuaded three family members to switch over!!! The thing I really like about the mobile Google+ is that anyone can post anything and over the last couple of days there have been some spectacular photographs of Dublin posted up - any plusser can comment as well. At the moment this 'Nearby' option is only available on the mobile version of Google+, but if you post a photo or comment and someone comments on it you are notified by email, its really great to get a conversation going with complete strangers! The only drawback is that you can't completely hide your location - but I'm sure Google are working on that!

Social Networks?

2011-09-27T12:15:00.003+01:00

Am I the only one who is getting seriously fed up with Facebook and all the updates and changes and am I the only one who thinks Facebook is getting seriously creepy as well? I thought I was being very careful about who could read and access my posts...it appears I was wrong...beware 'Friends of Friends' who are not (and you don't want them to be or you would have accepted their invite) your friends.
I have been playing around with Google+ and so far I like it...if only I could get more people to switch over perhaps then I would be able to stop talking to myself...

Tweet Tweet....

2011-09-19T20:39:00.000+01:00

Salman Rushdie is now on Twitter and is busy tweeting a short story 140 characters at a time - he is also publishing it on his Tumblr thingy.

Tuesday musings...

2011-09-13T18:30:00.000+01:00

I am trying hard at the moment to catch up on the last few 'things' and I am finding it very difficult. It's not because I don't like the topics because I do and they are all very interesting and relevant. I think perhaps, it's because I just don't want it all to end!!!!

Anyway this morning on the bus on the way into work, I realised that I have my best ideas on the bus on the way into work and I also decided that I have the very worst memory ever because I can never remember what my best bus ideas are once I get into work!

So, I thought I would kill two birds with one stone and try using Google Docs on my phone to jot down my best bus ideas before they slipped out of brain, never to inspire me again. So out come the glasses, as I can no longer see clearly without them, and while sometimes it gives me a very pleasant feeling when everything is fuzzy round the edges, sitting on the bus and trying to type into my phone is not one of those times.

This was not one of my better bus ideas! First of all I had to contend with the speed freak of a bus driver, who insisted on some occasions hitting the speed bumps at about 90mph, and on other occasions trying to avoid the speed bumps at all costs and drive in the teeny, tiny, teeny, little dips between them!

So, between flying up every time we hit the bumps and swerving left and right to avoid the bumps I couldn't even see the key pad to type, because not only would my specs not stay on, I needed both hands to hang on for dear life!

I then decided that this little experiment had failed miserably and that I would do it the old fashioned way - with pen and paper. Now the pen was no problem at all, in fact I think I might have a pen problem, because I have about twenty(ish) of them in my bag! I wonder is there a word for that? I can just see everyone madly googling 'pen fetish' now to see if there is. I have pens of all different colours, ink as well as casings, I have fat ones and thin ones, I have cheap ones and expensive ones, I have ones that I have found and ones that I have bought and some that I came by... hhmm... shall we say nefariously? My favourite pen at the moment has purple ink, yes, I definitely have a pen problem!

The paper was a different story. I didn't have a scrap of paper in my bag on which to write down my very best bus ideas, can you believe that? No old gas/electricity/phone bill in my bag, because I am madly saving the planet one bill at a time, and as I have gone all paperless, that also means no grotty old envelops either!

It transpires that the only paper I had in my bag was the paper notes in my purse and I won't be using them to jot down my very best bus ideas, mainly, because I have lots and lots and lots of ideas and very little cash!

All this means of course is that I have to buy myself a nice little hard back notebook, so that I can write down my very best bus ideas while I am on the bus, but you know what that also means? I will also have to buy myself a nice little pen to go with the nice little hard back notebook, can't have one without the other now can I?

Beam me up Scotty...

2011-09-08T09:00:00.052+01:00

It all began 45 years ago today and we have a lot to thank it for... mobile phones ...the iPad...and what about the Medical Tricorder...even NASA thanked them for their inspiration in a tweet today!

That's right Star Trek: The Original Series (TOS) is celebrating its 45th Anniversary today!!

poster courtesy NBC/CBS

The original show only ran for three seasons, and I loved it...from the shaky sets, to the obviously fake rocks, to the even more obviously fake aliens, to the theme tune...ah the memories, but I can't really call myself a Trekkie/Trekker. I don't remember every episode, I don't go to conventions dressed up as my favourite character (as far as you know) and I can't recite dialogue word for word and I definitely don't know a word of Klingon!!

All I know is that it inspired in a me a love of Science Fiction TV which has stayed with me all these years...I've watched all the Star Trek incarnations, I even enjoyed Voyager and Enterprise, I was never sure about the theme song though (sung by Russell Watson!!). I've seen all the movies...and avidly look forward to the next one!

Of all the Captains, which is my favourite one? Well, that would be telling wouldn't it?
LLAP

this and that

2011-09-03T18:43:00.000+01:00

I'm liking the new blogger interface. Everything Googlely ties in together nicely as I've also switched to the new gmail interface as well, all very Google+ which I'm also liking - though I haven't used it very much yet!

Oh and has anybody else noticed that QR codes are cropping up everywhere now?

WOW and WOW

2011-08-26T10:23:00.006+01:00

This is my WOW picture of the day! This is not just one shot, it is multiple shots digitally stitched together...again WOW!

Aurora Borealis

Photo courtesy of Juan Carlos Casado/TWAN. Juan Carlos is the coordinator of the tierra y estrellas /starry earth project

Space the Final Frontier

2011-08-25T14:28:00.002+01:00

As it is coming up to the 45th anniversary of Star Trek TOS, and as I haven't checked out the NASA website since the final Space Shuttle landing, I thought I would go a bit spacey again today, this video of Hurricane Irene is amazing, it was taken from the ISS.

And here is something taken from NASAs image of the day series, this was captured by the Hubble Telescope, I think it is just spectacular!

A Tale of Three Galaxies

Tuesday morning musings...

2011-08-23T13:05:00.022+01:00

First of all, let me tell you I have discovered the beauty of a Google Calendar!

Second of all, let me tell you this morning I realised that summer is well and truly over.

It wasn't the chill in the air as I was waiting at the bus stop, though, it was chilly.

It wasn't the leaves starting to fall off the trees, though, they are falling.

It was the sight of a very nervous 11/12/13year old (roughly) boy heading off to his first day in secondary school in his brand new uniform. The trousers were about six inches too long and and he desperately needed a belt to help keep them up. The sleeves of the jumper were also about six inches too long and he had a hard time locating his hands when trying to grip the hand rail going up the stairs. His bag was too big and heavy and his shoes and hair were just so, so, shiny.

Obviously the uniform was bought to last until he leaves school!!

I'll give the shiny new uniform and shoes a couple of weeks...

But you know what the first sighting of the school uniform means...no more pleasant, quiet, comfortable, quick journeys into work.

The TRAFFIC is back aaaaarrrrrggggghhhhh!!!!!!

Just another normal Friday...

2011-08-19T12:42:00.024+01:00

Today started off like any other Friday, I woke up eager to get into work, as usual, had brekkie, as usual, did all the normal ablutions, as usual, and headed off for the bus, as usual. Those readers who know me, know I have to get two buses into work, it's not that I live that far away, it's just that there is no direct bus service from my A to my B.

Anyway that's by the by, this morning on my second bus journey I saw a rare sight indeed. Something I haven't seen for a long time, if fact I can't remember the last time I saw a thing like this on the Northside of Dublin (I can't speak for the Southside as I rarely venture over that way myself).

At first I wasn't sure of what I was seeing, this rare creature alighted from a packed and heaving 41A bus and hovered around the bus-stop, kinda nervous like, maybe this rarely seen bearded sight was self-conscious, as it was clearly out of it's natural habitat.

The 41A was full, so I decided that as I was actually early for work this morning, I would wait for the next bus and so I saw what happened next. The bearded rarely seen sight then hopped into a little blue car that had pulled up at the bus-stop and drove off in it. At this stage I wasn't really paying that much attention because I had taken up 'my waiting for the bus' stance and zoned out. I only come of out of this fugue when another bus approaches which happened to be the 41C. It was half empty which always indicates to me that it is going to be a nice pleasant journey into work, but, boy, was I wrong!

I love the summers in Dublin, it's not because of the weather, or the people, or even the place, its because of the TRAFFIC. There is always much less traffic in town in the summer and my two-bus-taking-journey-into-work usually only takes about 20 minutes, in comparison to 60-90 minutes at any other time of the (school) year!

This morning was no exception, the bus sped along and quickly caught up with the aforementioned 41A, and lo and behold, there was the little blue car trailing along behind it. Now as the traffic was almost non-existent the little blue car had plenty of opportunity to over take the bus (and get out of the bus lane) and be on its merry way, but it didn't, so my curiosity was piqued and I started paying attention and imagining all sorts of scenarios!

We journeyed over the bridge and down the slip road, where my bus pulled up short of the bus-stop to pick up 'a running for the bus person'. As we pulled away a ghostly voice came over the bus radio praising the driver for stopping and picking up this person, the voice said "that makes all difference to someone, stopping like that and picking them up, especially if they are on their way to work, you did a great job there, well done, you have given people a great impression of Dublin Bus and the service we provide." I kid you not! This may not be word for word, but you get the gist of it. This is a rare thing in itself, a Dublin bus driver being praised for anything! He was very surprised and even started smiling!!!

But who made that observation, especially so quickly? I thought it must have been one of the drivers of either the bus in front (41A) or the one behind (16), so maybe it was meant sarcastically! Then I thought, maybe it came from the little blue car, I mean, the people in the little blue car of course (it did have rather a big aerial). See, I told you I started imagining all sorts of stuff.

Well, anyway we journeyed on to the second next stop (there were no people to pick up at the next stop) and I noticed that the little blue car had finally overtaken the bus, but had now pulled over (again in the bus lane) in front of the heaving full 41A. To my astonishment, three of the rarely seen sights emerged from the little blue car and approached the two buses at the stop.

The first bearded rarely seen sight had a quick look inside the 41A, (oops sorry forgot to say that there were now two bearded rarely seen sights, the third rarely seen sight was not bearded, but was in fact quite attractive). Anyhow, they had a quick peek into the heaving 41A and then made their way onto my 41C bus, which was now quite full, but not yet heaving; and I started getting nervous. I thought, oh! this is not good, not good at all, three of them together, at once, on the same bus, be afraid, be very afraid!

So, you ask, what are these rarely seen sights that I am talking about, why would three of them together put me in a state of nervousness and apprehension, well...I mean to say...have you not guessed yet?

They were a variety of the rarely seen and even lesser known.

DUBLIN BUS TICKET INSPECTORS, AND THEY ARE NOW HUNTING IN PACKS!!!

That's right folks, three ticket inspectors got on the bus this morning and proceeded to check everyones tickets, and for the first time ever, the guy actually looked at my ID, and then me, and then nodded in acknowledgment that it was indeed actually me. Some poor unsuspecting girl behind me had her ticket confiscated because she wasn't carrying her Dublin Bus ID, and therefore could not possibly have been her, and the non-bearded (quite attractive) inspector was quite happily giving out pink fine slips to beat the band!!

So be warned!!

Oh, and by the way, I was right, the ghostly voice did come from the little blue car...please don't ask me how I know.

Smart phones and Things

2011-08-18T14:20:00.012+01:00

Ok, as those of you that regularly read my blog know, I recently acquired a smart phone, and I am in awe of all it can do, or rather all that I can do with it! Mind you, I'm still learning how to use it but...maybe, someday, I will be able to do something like this with my phone.

There are no un-creepy pics of this guy!

I'm playing catch-up at the moment, so I will get back to you on Things 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23...oh! that's a lot of Things, I must get reading...time to put Stephen down I think!!!!!

Be the change you want to see

2011-08-10T18:14:00.000+01:00

This is a really good post from Meredith Farkas on the blog Information Wants to be Free, check it out and see what you think.

Stand By Me. A Classic.

2011-08-09T11:10:00.006+01:00

The movie Stand By Me is twenty five years old this year (actually it was released 25years ago yesterday 8th August) and can now be considered a classic. I loved this movie when it came out and still do! Everything about it reminds me of my own childhood, the hot summers, the lazy days, the music...

I grew up in the country and yes, of course, looking back the summers were longer and hotter; we used to burst the tar bubbles on the road with our bare feet! (it drove my Mum mad trying to scrub it off), it never rained, and life was just so uncomplicated.

I remember packing my jam sarnies in a bag, loading my cat into the basket on my bike and heading off into the woods for adventures, didn't find any dead bodies, though, there was a murder committed not far from where we lived! I'd be gone all day and trail home very dirty, very tired, usually missing my shoes, my cardigan, and/or the cat!

Wil Wheaton (Gordie Lechance) did a radio interview recently about the movie, and also check out Wils' blog where he writes very movingly about the movie and its young stars, and how life, in this case, has imitated art.

Wil has gone to become a writer, much like his character Gordie; River Phoenix died when he was 23 (his character Chris Chambers also died young); Corey Feldmen (Teddy Duchamp) has fought his own demons; and here's Jerry O'Connell (Vern) talking about the movie, how many of you realised that this is guy that played Vern?

You probably all know that the film was based a Stephen King short story called The Body, I'm not gone on some of Stephen Kings newer stuff, but I have always enjoyed his short stories. All this came about because I am reading Full Dark, No Stars.

Last post.

2011-07-29T09:00:00.002+01:00

Well, it's not really my last post ever, just the last one for a couple of weeks____________(insert: boo hoo, or hooray, as appropriate!).

I was going to wax lyrical about ebooks and itunesU, cloud computing and Google maps, but then I decided it was too much like hard work on my last day in the office, so I thought... no, let's have something funny instead.

So here is Oatmeal elucidating on the 'state of the web Summer 2011'.

Presentation heaven!

2011-07-28T10:17:00.001+01:00

NGC 6188 and NGC 6164
Image Credit & Copyright: Marco Lorenzi (Glittering Lights)

Fed up with boring old PowerPoint presentations, well have a look at Prezi. This is a great way to spice up your presentations, and it's free. Check out some of the sample presentations and see what you can do...I especially liked the Astronomy Masterclass, which is so massive I only got up to Session 3 last night! There are some really good library presentations as well.

so funny...Adam 'Gollum' Savage sings Sinatra

2011-07-22T20:15:00.001+01:00

If you are a fan of the Mythbusters on tv, here is Adam Savage as you have never seen him before, unless of course you have seen his rendition of 'I will survive' so, so funny!

The end of the beginning...

2011-07-22T14:22:00.001+01:00

Courtesy of NASA

Podcasts, videos and the library

2011-07-22T13:24:00.001+01:00

Wow! these things have certainly ramped up a notch or two in the second phase haven't they?

When I read that we were moving into podcasting and videos I have to say a certain amount of panic set in! I hadn't really got into the habit of listening to podcasts, mainly because I had a very old fashioned mobile phone (far, far, from smart let me tell you!) and it was such a palaver to link up the phone to the pc/laptop then download and save it, all to listen to a podcast on the bus on the way home, when I could have just listened to it on the laptop in the first place and had a nap on the bus!

I now have a brand spanking new, sparkling, does absolutely everything, smart phone, in fact it's so new I haven't figured out how to do 99.9% of what it can do!!! So I'm still not listening to podcasts, but I will be as soon as I read the 250 page user manual and figure out how.

Now that I have recorded, edited and published my first podcast the panic is subsiding, in fact I quite enjoyed it and I have had a good response from everyone that tuned in, so much so that I have published a second one!

The first was just for testing the waters (sorry newkid) and was a bit of fun, nothing really to do with library podcasting. The second podcast is more, I suppose, what we could be doing here in the library, like short podcasts linking events etc in the college to what resources we have in the library for example the end of year art exhibition, or the Seamus Heaney lectures. Or we could just highlight the resources we have in context to certain modules taught, for example the English department run a book to film module, we could highlight the relevant journals, ebooks, DVDs etc that would be of use. We could also do short interviews with visiting celebs (!) lecturers, and possibly our international visitors, we had lecturers from the Zambia visit the library recently. Each library department could do regular podcasts on their particular area of expertise. When we host our own exhibitions here in the library we could do a short podcast giving information and background history. These are just a few ideas of the top of my head, the possiblities are endless really!

I agree with pitseleh, in that all staff should be actively involved in library podcasting/videoing, not necessarily in front of the mic or camera, but through creative input, planning, script writing, the behind the scenes kind of stuff, it should be a team effort.

I've gone on and on a bit here about podcasting so I will leave my thoughts on library videos for the next gripping installment, besides I have 250 page user manual to read!

Booky blogs and unconventional bookshops

2011-07-20T09:00:00.005+01:00

Alrighty then, following on from my welter of blogs yesterday (ahem... note to boss not in work hours, just scheduled the posts to appear that way!!!). I found this lovely piece about unconventional bookshops, the secret bookstore and the book barge are listed here as well, but check out the rest, especially the Japanese children's bookstore and the book mill, some really beautiful photographs of all the stores.

Unbound

2011-07-19T14:56:00.005+01:00

I've come across another great booky idea, yes that's right I've gone all booky and spacey this week! Now that I have done the podcast and video thing I can relax and enjoy my stuff!

When I was young or even possibly a young teenager (don't want to give too much away here otherwise you will all be trying to guess my age!) I loved Monty Pythons Flying Circus, we only had one TV (aah!!) in our house and my parents hated the programme, hated it, hated it, hated it (yep; that's how much they hated it) and of course in them days (the good old ones) there were no recording devices, so it was a battle of wills as to whether I would get to see it or not, mostly I would win as I'm the baby of the family and the only girl, I pretty much always got my own way!

Photo courtesy of filmbuff online

Anyway, I've got into following a few of the Pythons on Twitter, and Terry Jones has a new book coming out and this is how it is being published. Unbound is a website that brings the authors and readers together to decide what is published, a novel idea don't you think? (see what I did there!).

What happens is the author puts his/her idea out there and we 'the people' decide if it is worth reading and pledge our support if we think it is (you can read the ins and outs of pledging support on the website, its free to sign up if you want to pledge). Anyhow, Terry Jones' book idea has received its full quota of support and will be published both in hardback and electronically, the book is a series of stories about good machines turning bad, turning evil even, it's titled Evil Machines (watch out, your mobile phone is stalking you!) and sounds like a ripping good yarn!

Oh yes! more Pythonesque news, the surviving Pythons (apart from Eric Idle who hasn't been persuaded yet) are making a new animated film based on Graham Chapman's memoirs A Liars Autobiography, do you think they will have a part for the dead parrot or what about the lumberjack...cue singing the lumberjack song in my head...at least I hope that was in my head?????

Space: The Final Frontier - part 2

2011-07-19T13:00:00.002+01:00

Atlantis

The space shuttle Atlantis successfully undocked from the space station this morning and it is on it's way home for the final landing on Thursday. This picture was taken from the space station shortly after undocking, isn't it amazing!

John Glen 1962

And on the same note, John Glen celebrated his 90th birthday yesterday. In February 1962 he became the first American to orbit the earth, 10 months after the USSR's Yuri Gagarin became the first man in Space in April 1961. We've come a long way since then...

Juno

Or should I say we're going a long way, the next unmanned launch is scheduled for August and is heading for Jupiter!

Floating bookshop

2011-07-19T10:12:00.001+01:00

Last week Pitseleh showed us a secret bookshop in Manhattan, definitely the first place I will visit if I ever get to New York (big sigh!). I came across this article in last weeks Guardian about a floating bookshop navigating Britians' canals, what a brilliant idea, can you imagine just sailing along the canals in the Book Barge, stopping here and there to sell or swap books! With the growing demise of not only the independent bookshop, booksellers are coming up with increasingly imaginative enterprises to keep the book alive and well!

My first YouTube video.

2011-07-17T20:00:00.016+01:00

This took a couple of hours to complete, if you think the voice sounds a bit strange it is because it's a text to voice programme, which means you type in your dialogue and it converts it to sound, very neat! Uploading the video to You Tube was no problem, but I had a wee problem locating it once it was up there! I eventually found it, so here it is in all its glory!!

Podcasting

2011-07-10T21:23:00.011+01:00

I have uploaded my very first podcast, entitled 'Behind the Issue Desk' though I'm not sure how good it is, but I've done it!!!

This 'thing' was definitely more time consuming and technical than the earlier ones. It took me several attempts to actually record it without everybody cracking up with laughter. In the end I waited until I had the house to myself so that I didn't have an audience to distract me!

After finally composing myself enough to make a presentable recording, I exported it as an MP3, and this is where I became a bit unstuck because I couldn't figure out how to upload it to the blog, but I did a quick search and found the help I needed. You are never on your own on the Internet there is always a forum or a blog out there to help you.

All I can say is I need to work from a script, ad libbing is not an option for me, I either forgot what I wanted to say or rambled completely off the point! Also, keep your sentences short, otherwise you will forget to breathe and then you sound like some deviant heavy breather!

Although the podcast took some time and effort I still enjoyed it, I like learning new things, but I would need a lot more practice and I would definitely need to play around with the editing software before I would feel confident enough to create a podcast on a more regular basis.

I used a free hosting site called Podbean to publish it (another password for the little blue book) and have added my production to the side bar, take a listen, have a laugh and let me know what you think, but be kind after all this is my first attempt.

Oh, and one more thing, if you do decide to listen to it, please do it quietly or better still use headphones! If I hear myself around the office I will be mortified!

Library Day in the Life Project

2011-07-06T16:23:00.007+01:00

I came across this project late last year and thought that it would be something that I could do this year, so I filed it away somewhere in the back of my brain. I must've signed up for a reminder about it too - because I just received it!

Of course this was before the 23ThingsSPD was even a twinkling in Suzannes' eye, and I know that we have just received the first of the last things to do, but I still think it might be good to participate. Anyway, check it out, and then you all can decide for yourselves. Most of us are quite able to blog now, and we have signed up to various wikis and things, so there is nothing new or strange to stress over.

Branding

2011-07-05T21:30:00.018+01:00

Just in case you didn't know that Google own Blogger...

By the way Google+ I'm still waiting for my invite...

Space: The Final Frontier.

2011-07-03T22:09:00.033+01:00

Where to next?

The countdown to the final space shuttle mission has started. It's hard to believe that it is thirty years since Columbia, the first space shuttle was launched on 12th April 1981. I remember being glued to the TV watching it, much the same as when I was glued to the TV as a child for the Apollo 11 moon landings in 1969 - amazing! The launch of the shuttle Atlantis on the 8th July 2011 is a historic event and the end of an era.

I regularly check out the NASA website, and watch the live stream from the space station, which is oddly compelling. It blows my mind to think that this is all happening while I'm checking in journals and issuing books!

At the time of writing this, I am watching a live broadcast via NASA TV, absolutely fascinating.

Just imagine being a librarian in the NASA Headquarters Library!

The downside is that people are losing their jobs - contracts are not being renewed after Atlantis touches down and house prices in the Kennedy Space Centre area have fallen.

to Kindle or not to Kindle

2011-07-01T13:57:00.000+01:00

I have toyed with the idea of buying a Kindle/ebook reader recently, I even went so far as to check out the specs and prices of various makes of readers, tablets and the iPad; though, I have to say, after seeing the South Park episode 'Human CentiPAD' I have kinda gone off the idea of an iPad. If you've seen this episode you'll know what I'm talking about, if you haven't seen it...then...well...ALWAYS READ THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS BEFORE YOU TICK THE BOX, that's all I'm saying...

Anyways, what I really wanted to tell you is that I came across a KindleApp that you can download for your PC/Laptop on Amazon which is quite nifty. So you don't need a Kindle to buy the Kindle edition of your favourite reads, it also gives you the option to move your ebooks between different devices, so what you download at home, you can bring into work with you to read (in your tea/coffee/lunch breaks of course!).

Don't worry I haven't crossed over to the dark side and bought an ebook yet! I have downloaded a couple of 'samples' which is the Kindle version of the 'look inside' option, just as an experiment you understand, just to see what the dark side is like...

There's a rift in the space-time continuum - we're all doomed!

2011-06-30T12:21:00.001+01:00

'You know, going back in time, changing history... that's cheating'. James T. Kirk

Kirk v Kirk

ps William Shatner (James T. Kirk the elder) is 80 years old!
pps There will be another Star Trek movie and it will be directed by J.J Abrams.

...and the winner is...

2011-06-29T10:44:00.004+01:00

Google+ v Facebook

and

How Google+ compares to Facebook

2011-06-27T19:51:00.000+01:00

Happy Birthday Sonic!

2011-06-23T09:50:00.005+01:00

I'm not that big into computer games - though there are a couple I occasionally try to conquer, mostly simple platform stuff, but when I saw this article it brought up a wave of nostalgia. The Sega Mega Drive was the first games console my son ever had and Sonic the Hedgehog was the first of many, many, many games, bought, traded or swapped over the years. In fact I think he has owned nearly every console that has been manufactured since then, the Wii is currently hiding behind my sofa, the Dreamcast is still residing under my bed - I think it still works, though the Mega Drive died a long time ago (but I still haven't the heart to consign it to the recycle bin!). When I think of the many Christmases and birthdays I spent hunting for games, pounding the streets and visiting every outlet for that one must-have game - oh the stress of it! Now every time I go to visit my son he has a new gadget to show me - the most recent acquisition is some kind of Tablet. Over the years I have learned lots of techie stuff from him (through osmosis mostly), and it all started with the little blue hedgehog who is 20 years old today.

BTW the last line of this article is an absolute killer !!!!

Clarence Clemons. Goodbye Big Man.

2011-06-19T19:05:00.006+01:00

For all you coffee lovers out there...

2011-06-17T12:26:00.002+01:00

15 things worth knowing about coffee

Sign up here...

2011-06-17T08:00:00.009+01:00

Anyone want to take part in a world wide online library conference? Library 2.011 Worldwide Virtual Conference will take place in early November. The organisers would like to encourage international participation and are also looking for ideas for presentations, check it out, it might be interesting.

'We Have Serious Librarians'

2011-06-16T10:09:00.002+01:00

The Emperor of E Block gave me the hard copy of this cartoon a wee while ago and I have been trying to locate the online version since then, so that everyone could have a laugh...so go on have a giggle...you know you want to!

Stephan Pastis 2011. Available on GoComics.com

Keeping up with Google

2011-06-15T10:16:00.001+01:00

me stressing out!

Blink and something changes or improves, depending on which way you look at it...Google are adding voice and image searching to Google Chrome, Phew! I don't think I can keep up with all this!

The Paleozoic Internet

2011-06-14T20:58:00.000+01:00

If you enjoyed the 'Secret History of Social Networking' podcasts a couple of weeks ago on the 23Things@SPD blog, you may enjoy these as well. The first,'The Paleozoic Internet' is about the effort and difficulty of archiving the net. The second podcast is with the same archivist, who is now putting together a physical library as well as a virtual one 'An Internet Archivist Recommits to Books'. You can listen, download or read the transcripts of both of these articles/podcasts.

There's an app for everything...

2011-06-08T11:03:00.002+01:00

I don't have a smart phone (yet) so apps are still foreign territory to me, but Tesco's new trolley sat-nav app sounds like fun, especially if you're shopping in one of their really big stores, like the new one in Balbriggan.

The future is in the iclouds.

2011-06-07T08:00:00.004+01:00

The 23things@spd blog reported a couple of weeks ago about Google laptops for web based applications, now Apple have revealed their future is also in the icloud. Cloud computing is something I am still trying to get my head around!!!

Summer songs

2011-06-03T11:50:00.001+01:00

Newkid got the ball rolling yesterday with a sunny summer song from the Kinks - so here is one on my favs, this brings back great memories of long hot summer days, family holidays, and of lying on the front lawn listening to my brothers' record player blaring out of the bedroom window - happy days!

The power of technology...

2011-06-03T09:07:00.000+01:00

I came across this story during the week, but I wasn't sure whether it was real or not, you know how these things go viral...anyway have a read and see what you think.

New button

2011-06-02T08:00:00.001+01:00

Did anybody notice when this appeared on their posts? Check the share buttons at the bottom of your posts - was this always there, or have I only just noticed it?

Pitseleh this is the 'like' button you were looking for.

Google Privacy and Apple Clouds - techy stuff

2011-06-01T15:33:00.005+01:00

                                              Google and Privacy who'ed have thought it!
                                                     and
     Apple are heading for the clouds!
           and
                Twitter are flying the nest!

Are you a shusher????

2011-05-26T15:15:00.004+01:00

Library Etiquette from a student at the University of Birmingham, 'I'm going to shush them good and proper...' , love it!

2011-05-24T22:08:00.006+01:00

Courtesty of Pencilweb Illustration

Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly.

Langston Hughes (1902-1967)

Born in Joplin, Missouri.

One for Dewey Daze.

2011-05-21T16:40:00.001+01:00

http://www.onlymotivational.com/

2011-05-20T19:29:00.003+01:00

http://www.onlymotivational.com/

The Sky's the Limit

2011-05-19T09:22:00.004+01:00

Our next 'Library on Tour' destination perhaps???

University of Chicago Library

I have read a couple of articles about this new library, but this one has lots of photos! I'm not sure what to think, is this the way to go with libraries? However it is a beautiful building. Story and photos courtesy of the Chicago Sun Times.

Blues Baby

2011-05-17T21:10:00.005+01:00

House as you have never heard him before...wonderful long piano intro.

...on copyright.

2011-05-16T08:00:00.004+01:00

All change?
The whole area of Copyright and Digital Rights Management is such a minefield, Richard Bruton was in the news last week announcing a major review of Irish Copyright Law, quite a few blogs reported on it, but they mostly say the same thing as Business World.

There is also a copyright case going to trial today in the USA involving Cambridge University Press and Georgia State University's e-reserve practices, see Publisher Weekly and American Association of Law Libraries

Friday/Thing 13, unlucky for some!

2011-05-14T10:23:00.003+01:00

I did actually compose a post about Copyright and Creative Commons (CC), but Blogger seem to have lost it somewhere in the virtual world. Blogger tweeted that they were restoring all the posts that they temporarily removed - but I'm still waiting, so I will try and put it all together again.

Copyright is one of those murky areas that is confusing and massively open to interpretation/misinterpretation, all you can really do (unless you really know your copyright stuff) is play it safe and always err of the side of caution.

Copyright is an automatic protection, so once you have put pen to paper, post to blog, music to tape, your rights are protected, you do not have to apply for a licence. Applying a CC licence to your work does not change this. It is not a case of choosing a traditional Copyright licence, or choosing a CC licence.

I feel it is important to point out that CC does not replace Copyright Law, it tries to allow individual authors/creators to give certain permissions of use. Instead of telling you what you can't do, CC tries to tell you what you can do. CC are trying to work within the Copyright law to make it easier for authors to share their work and for the users to use it - see I told you it was all very confusing!!

Having said all that, I think anything that actually clarifies what you can use and how you can use it in the online world is badly needed, in theory everything on the web is protected by copyright, even if you cannot find an author/creator/designer of an image/page/website - they are protected, and you cannot assume that it is alright to copy, print or re-use without consent. Just because there is a print button on the page do not assume you have the right to print (murky and murkier I know!).

Check out CC's draft Irish licence here.

Google-Blogger-Crash

2011-05-13T18:57:00.004+01:00

Dear Google,
I want the absolutely inspirational post that I composed about Creative Commons and Copyright back now. It was posted on Thursday 12th May. I want it back because it was extraordinarily well written, awesome, incredible, insightful etc...and mainly because I can't remember what I wrote!!!!!

The beginning of the end...of the first 13 things

2011-05-12T09:00:00.001+01:00

This post was lost in virtual space and has only just re-appeared (Sunday 15th May).

Since signing up to LibraryThing I have decided to set myself a summer project and catalogue all of my books at home. I have added a few books already and actually written a couple of reviews, which I have never done before so they may not be very good! I have set up links to both Facebook and Twitter as well, nothing too complicated all in all. I'm sure I have more than 200 books at home, which is the limit for free access, but at $25 for life, it doesn't seem that expensive.
I'm sure there is a way to add DVD's and CD's as well, but trying that out is for a rainy day!

Library Anywhere looks great, but will it work with Talis Prism? LibraryThing also openly publish their Library Anywhere prices which is highly unusual in the library world!

Articles of interest - or not...

2011-05-11T09:06:00.032+01:00

Just came across this interesting little article in my google reader list.

Publishers Navigate The 'Open Road' Of E-Books

and

User beware - always verify your information!

As some of you may know, especially if you have paid attention while reading my blog, or are following me on Twitter I am quite partial to all things Spacey, the Star Trek (in all its incarnations!), Babylon5, Battlestar Galactica kind that is, and I just couldn't resist this headline:

German TV: 'Star Trek' terrorists killed bin Laden

Catch up time.

2011-05-09T20:54:00.001+01:00

So glad to have some time to catch up, I think I hit the 23Things wall last week and came to a dead stop! Will get back to you on LibraryThing and Creative Commons when I've recovered.

Friday Fun

2011-05-06T19:00:00.011+01:00

We have all felt like this at some point...go on admit it! Warning: Contains flashing images.

Facebook, privacy and all that...

2011-05-05T20:43:00.004+01:00

Check out this short article - read the comments, they are really interesting!

Week 6 in the BBL

2011-05-04T20:53:00.003+01:00

Let's hope LibraryThing organises my books better than I do, the shelves are stacked two books deep at least!!! Oh and the pile beside the bed, and in the spare room...

I'm so ashamed...

Is there any hope for me?

Friday Fun

2011-04-30T08:00:00.004+01:00

Ok, I know it's not Friday but, well this is just a snippet of one of the funniest South Park episodes ever...entitled 'You have Zero Friends' I couldn't upload it in work because my flash player needed to be upgraded!!! (by the way the new series of South Park starts on Friday). Have a good weekend everyone.

Journals, Journals Everywhere!

2011-04-29T15:56:00.001+01:00

This is a fantastic resource, Journals TOCs has the largest collection of Table of Contents (TOCs) anywhere, including a large number of Open Access journals - check it out, registration is free.

Twitter

2011-04-29T09:59:00.010+01:00

Twitter

Setting up my Twitter account was easy and I had a quick scout around it, on a personal level I don't think it is something I will get into on a regular basis. I added a couple of names to follow, Charlie Sheen seems to be the man of the moment, and William Shatner (because I'm a closet Trekkie!!).

You can click on my link on the right of the page. My account is private for the moment so you will have to be confirmed as a follower before you can access my account and check out my Twitterings!!!

There are lots of free 'follow me' buttons to choose from, just add a new HTML page element to your blog - copy and paste the code and away you go. I tried to use this cute image, but it was too big and I couldn't find the code for it to make it smaller.

Again, I think the potential is here to do good things for the library; some libraries take the queries from Twitter and Facebook and add them to a reference page on their Wikis, this then enables all users to find quick accurate solutions to their questions. 'Banking' queries in this way gives all staff, especially evening staff that may not have access to staff email another avenue to locate new or changed library information.

I also found an updated list of Libraries that use Twitter that may be of interest, unfortunately they are all American, but at least they will give us some ideas on how we might utilise this application.

Week 5 in the BBL

2011-04-28T09:32:00.000+01:00

Wow! Week 5 and Social Networking already.

So, on to Facebook and Twitter.

I have a Facebook account already, I keep it strictly to family only. I am absolutely sure that I do not use Facebook to its full potential and for now that's the way I like it! I find the instant messaging very handy, but you can IM in gmail and other applications as well. We mainly share family photos, videos and events through Facebook, uploading and sharing is uncomplicated and you can download, save and print the pics you like. I find the ads extremely irritating but there seems to be no way to eliminate them from a personal account, I know you can hide ads that you don't like, but then you go into a whole new realm of Facebook trying to find out why you don't like the ad, so it is easier just to ignore them!!

Facebook is very touchy about obviously false names so it took a while to find an abbreviation of the Anonymous Librarian that it would accept, so please welcome Ann Lib to the world of Facebook!

I like the Glucksman Library (UL) Facebook, and their Twitter, their posts are concise, with regular updates giving clear information.

Personally I think Facebook would be a great way to market the library, to highlight the services we offer, and to advertise up and coming events and exhibitions, the key is to get the balance right between what we want to say and how we say it.

Comic Life

2011-04-21T16:24:00.003+01:00

I downloaded the Windows version, no username or password needed! It's quite a nifty programme, you can use photographs or images or mix it up a bit. I put together a simple little picture postcard montage of some pics I took last winter, it's hard to believe this was only a couple of months ago!!!. It took me a while to figure out how to save and then export the image in a format that blogger would accept, but I eventually worked it out! I had put together a montage of books covers, but then I realised there may be a copyright issue - so enjoy the snow!

Week 4 in the BBL

2011-04-19T09:00:00.006+01:00

Well! here we are week 4 already, and on to Things 8 and 9 - Wikis. I've read a bit about Wikis and how to use them, it looks a bit more intense than setting up the blog, look at Wikipedia for example! I've registered as a member of the 23ThingsSPD Wiki which was pretty easy, and I've created a new page with some text and a couple of links to other library training Wikis. It's great that you can preview the page before you save it and that you can go back and edit the page once it is saved. I only had a quick look around but I couldn't find a spell check??? I think there is a lot we could do with this...but I will have to play around with it a bit more...
I'm loving the Common Craft videos, they are simple, clear and to the point - just what you need when all this is so new to you.

My story so far...

2011-04-18T16:23:00.020+01:00

I've opened ssooo many accounts in the last couple of weeks, my little blue book has become a life saver, I can't go anywhere without it! For the most part I've used my gmail account and variations of my gmail password in an effort to keep it all in check, but for some reason I couldn't sign up to Delicious with my gmail account, even though it gave me the option to, so now I have a ymail account as well.

I've become a blogging convert. I've learnt how to set up a blog, edit and delete posts. How to add links, images and video. I've also figured out how to time release a post, so that it is published on a certain date - not bad for someone who knew very little about the workings of a blog a couple of weeks ago!

Time is moving on quickly though, and I haven't gone back to any of the social bookmarking sites that I set up, but I will when I have more time... we could use it as a way of sharing articles and information to do with the library without clogging up the email. I use Firefox at home and found that using Diggo was much simpler with Firefox shortcuts, you can capture a page, or you can mark it to read later - great stuff when you come across info that will be good for your studies! Subscribing to Google Reader and various RSS feeds was doddle, probably because they weren't new to me!

Creating the comic strip has been great fun, there is so much you can do with Bitstrip and it is all free!!! You can create you own scenes and characters - down to their hair and clothes, you can share your scenes and characters or you can keep them all to yourself. I had to create the 'library' scene from scratch because there wasn't one, my dialogue and humour are a bit hit and miss but I'm working on it!!

So, I've created clouds, tags, bookmarks, blogs, links, a comic strip and lots of other stuff, I've even copied and pasted some HTML into my blog template to show an animated tag cloud of my blog labels - phew that was a bit scary (saved my template first just in case I messed everything up). The more labels and tags you use the better the cloud.

Here comes the Wiki...

Friday Fun: Cutest baby ever!

2011-04-15T16:28:00.018+01:00

Rembrandt-Homer by DeviantArt

Words of wisdom to live by:
"Three little sentences will get you through life. Number one: Cover for me. Number two: Oh, good idea, boss. Number three: It was like that when I got here"
Homer Jay Simpson.

RSS feeds...last words

2011-04-14T22:36:00.007+01:00

Feeds are pretty much everywhere nowadays, nearly every site you access has them - even the comic strip of the adventures of the Anonymous Librarian has an RSS feed.

It seems to me that everything is being geared towards you owning that one piece of mobile technology - whether it be an ipad, smartphone etc. to keep us instantly updated, mind you I'm not sure whether that's such a good thing!

Librarians: Masters of the info universe

2011-04-13T14:55:00.001+01:00

Did you know FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover was a librarian? Check out this CNN article, all library users should heed the advice at the end of the article!

Taking things a bit too far perhaps???!!!!

2011-04-12T15:56:00.000+01:00

Pittsburg woman arrested after talking on phone in college library - San Jose Mercury News

Week 3 in the BBL

2011-04-12T12:09:00.000+01:00

Week 3 already!

RSS feeds, they are what they say they are! Simple to set up, simple to use. I signed up to Google Reader a long time ago, and subscribe to a large number of feeds already, some professionally and some personally. You can add the 'Next' button to your bookmarks toolbar so you have instant access to all your subscribed feeds. Google Reader also allows you to bundle your subscriptions, label the bundle and also add a 'Next (bundle label)' to your bookmarks toolbar. I find this so handy, click the button and instant updated info!

Public Library Closures - UK

2011-04-12T08:46:00.002+01:00

I have just read an article in yesterdays Guardian that made me want to (I'm sorry I can't say it here - I'm way too polite!). Feel free to comment!

Wordle, wordle, wordle

2011-04-08T16:09:00.022+01:00

Wordle Tag Cloud

I just love Wordle! It was great fun playing around with it! Creating the cloud was very easy, copying and pasting the URL also easy.
Tried Tagul as well, this programme is a bit more complicated, but just as much fun!

Something to aspire too!

2011-04-07T18:24:00.002+01:00

Winner of the Oxygen Student Media Awards (Smedias) - Best Blog Award Great, simple name for this blog!

Delicious...aaahhh

2011-04-07T12:02:00.004+01:00

I've had another look around Delicious and I must admit it is starting to grow on me, the advantages of having all my fav sites bookmarked in one place, outweigh the 'clunkiness'. My wandering tags and bookmarks seem to have found their way home aswell! It's not a very pretty site, a bit harsh and busy on the eye, but you can't have everything.

If you would like to check out my bookmarks, go to the Delicious SPD page. I tagged an interesting article about the New York Public Library and also another article about Library 3.0!!!!

Still working on the clouds...

Sunny Clouds courtesy of www.freeimages.co.uk

Week 2 in the BBL

2011-04-06T10:24:00.003+01:00

Delicious...hhmmmmm!!

Signed up to Delicious, bookmarked a few sites, applied a few tags all fairly straightforward, but I don't think I like it. It feels a bit 'clunky' and while I can see an application for its use in a library environment, as a free spirited catalogue/subject portal perhaps, I know I won't use it much at home.

Tags: lamb;lost;found;hhmm;delicious

I followed the instructions to share my bookmarks with twentythreethingsspd, but they seem to have wandered off somewhere, hopefully they will turn up if not I will try it again later.

I will check out a few more social bookmarking sites and report back.

Librarians Do Gaga

2011-04-01T11:40:00.002+01:00

These 'Things' Are...getting serious.

2011-03-31T12:06:00.002+01:00

Time to settle down and behave seriously, now that the first flush of excitement at being a novice blogger has passed.

I am not a huge follower of blogs, I would just dip in and out of them, the only blog I would read on a regular basis is our own library blog. I can see the benefit of having current information available in one place. As to how we could apply a blog to 'behind the scences' I'm not sure, is it possible to have private group blog, that staff could use to put forward ideas, suggestions etc. for discussion? Would you would feel more comfortable about doing it anonymously, rather than around the table at a staff meeting, what do people think?

Not so seriously, I have become a follower and a followee (I know it's not a proper word, but it will do), bit strange really and the responsibility of it is overwhelming! What do I say to keep my followers following.Oh the pressure. I have also posted a couple of comments on various blogs, so come on, somebody give me a comment on mine.

I have now completed my 1,2&3 Things

Did you know?

2011-03-30T12:12:00.000+01:00

62.15% of all statistics are meaningless.

These 'Things' Are...not quite so scary!

2011-03-29T15:58:00.003+01:00

Now that I have posted my first post, it's not so scary.
I've had a good browse around my iGoogle homepage, added a few bits and pieces to make it more homely. I can see the benefit of having all your 'web stuff' to hand, though I do have an incredibly long favourites list!! I never delete anything from it. Played around with the blog a little bit, deleted a post or two to see how to do it. So far, so good.

Week 1 in the BBL

2011-03-29T13:48:00.002+01:00

Hurray! I am now officially a blogger.

Now what do I say? Where is the spell check? Found it.
OK my thoughts so far...
I have set up a gmail account before so that was fairly straightforward, got a bit of a fright when I thought the whole world could see my igoogle homepage- then realised I was still logged in. Setting up the blog wasn't as hard as I thought it would be. My advice is to keep it simple (until we've had more practice).