Mashups

Mashups is a new feature I learned through this course. It's amazing what mashups can do by combining features of one application and mashing it up with another. I was checking out the Public Library Finder and thought it to be a good idea for locating libraries. We can also create maps of this sought and embed them on our library website, pinpointing the locations of all our branches and also having extra features such as getting directions from here to there, to your local library! And these are maps to scale, so distances could also be measured accurately.

London: a life in Google maps was also very informative, featuring a virtual exhibition of maps through history covering different timelines. On these lines, it would be good if our libraries can make use of this feature by mashing up the Local studies pictures with Google maps and creating our very own history of the local area in maps.

I also explored Keir Clarkes' Star viewer and navigated through sky maps, galaxy images and the interactive galaxy map where I saw the the new images issued by NASA to celebrate the 18th anniversary of the Hubble Telescope. All these images were possible due to the web technologies of Google maps. Under Virtual Tourism I also checked the Australian landmarks such as the Harbour Bridge, Sydney Opera House, Uluru, Great Barrier Reef etc. under maps, satellite and hybrid and tried out the other features such as zooming, panning and videos.

For my discovery I created this calendar.

This is a calendar I created using Big Huge labs. I linked my Flickr account onto Big Huge labs and uploaded a picture from my Fickr account. I noticed some very interesting 'artwork' one could create using Big Huge labs. You can come up with calendars such as above, you can create maps, jigsaws, pocket albums, movie posters, mosaics, wall paper, bead art, galleries, billboards and oh so many more! At a later time I would like to try my hand at creating some of these. In libraries, calendars would be a good way of promoting our services and programs. Apart from the printing costs, it is a cheap and easy way that can be produced in-house and you can highlight 12 areas of your library each year. I also think, jigsaws, billboards and movie posters (which can be changed to book covers) could also be made use of in libraries for advertising good books and promoting activities, special events etc. You could be very creative and use some of the features in Big Huge lab to make your library displays look unique, you could use mashups in library brochures or any other promotional material.

Week 9 with Podcasts and Audio

According to the introductory video, Podcasts mean Personal On Demand casting. How cool is that? As the word suggests, Podcasting can be done by anyone on a variety of topics and can be subscribed and downloaded to your computer or MP3 player.

In the OCLS podcasts I took note of Meet the Author, the kids podstory and the Teen podcasts -especially the upcoming Teen Tech week program. The Denver public library podcasts were aimed at kids and contained stories, nursery rhymes and songs. Download these onto your MP3 player and let the kids listen to them in the car! The Libvibe was also interesting giving us library news ranging from the state of libraries to a library visitor being arrested to National library Week.

In the British Library podcasts I was intrigued by the entries of Neil Gaiman on the Ramayana, Graham Greene, Evelyn Waugh, Healing through medicine and faith... to name a few. The ABC website was more into current topics as I noticed the podcast on PM, News and current affairs. I checked on subjects and noticed the variety of the Audios there - Sciences, Weather, the Arts, Indigenous Community and even lifestyle.

In the Library Success Wiki I chose the Pierce County Library System and liked their idea of book reviews podcasts - a way to promote your collection and would be good for your book club. There was also a section on general advice on how to podcast, which I thought was good reading for anyone who was seriously thinking of embarking on podcasting.

When you consider what's already out there, our libraries could make good use of podcasting. Something like a library orientation/tour promoting our programs and services, podcasts of author talks, book launches, oral history recordings, past HSC talks or even for libraries that are lucky to have large spaces with library foyers, could make use of these podcasts via a multi-media screen.

It's easier said than done. Libraries should take into consideration staff time, training, script writing and equipment, for staff to be involved in producing these podcasts. If you are hoping to do a podcast on your library services and programs, it should be done professionally so as to further promote your libraries.

Check out Murdoch University Library, Western Australia, podcasts.

http://wwwlib.murdoch.edu.au/about/podcasts/

YouTube for libraries

It was interesting to check the videos on You tube & Google videos which was the exercise for Week 6. I particularly liked the Qand ANJ:Now your library is open late night too! This video was a brilliant marketing strategy. I also liked guides to using library services. This video promoted the use of the Reference area, research assistance, databases and other reference services. Mosman library under Google videos had their guest speakers' presentations on videos posted. A really good idea - even if you missed out on these presentations on the day, they are there for you to watch.

It would be a good promotional tool for libraries if we can publicise our programs and events via video. Seeing is believing they say! Videos of Guests authors, oral histories, book launches, promoting our youth programs like the HSC lectures or even promoting our Databses and navigating through on how to get started on them could be made into a video and posted on You tube. More and more people are now into this web technology and there is a good audience out there who would be interested in seeing such stuff. Not only can we raise the profile of our library this way, our library can be heard and seen on the world wide web!

Here's a short video on why you should fall in love with libraries!