#23 Is this really the end? Or just the beginning...?

Reflecting on my Learning 2.0 journey,I do believe I have achieved my goals which I set in Week 1, i.e. to discover as much as possible about Web 2.0 technologies freely available on the Internet; to prepare me for my role of supporting my library community in its use of the same tools; and increasing my confidence in approaching the technological demands of the future. I thought my main obstacle would be adjusting to learning in an online setting having previously been used to more formal styles of learning. However, Lynette & Leslie's tips for success, emails, blog comments and words of encouragement along with podcasts & YouTube videos made for a nurturing learning environment and helped me make the necessary mindset changes.
My favourite discoveries were podcasts, knowing that I can listen on the web or on my iPod; YouTube, even though I found the exercise one of the most dificult because I didn't realize that the embedded code was so long; and Library Thing which will enable me to catalogue my home library. In terms of useful library applications, I see a future for Wikis in so far as they will make us an online hub for our local community allowing users to create, edit and share information in a collaborative space. Just because I am now more aware of the role which Web 2.0 technologies can play in making libraries more user-centric, I don't intend ignoring the needs of a large proportion of our community who choose not to begin their own web journey.
One of the main unexpected outcomes of my Learning 2.0 experience was its addictiveness, once begun. Hopefully, that will carry me into the future...

Thanks to SLV and to Lynette Lewis and Leslie Sharples.

#22 Audiobooks (or "the end is in sight")

It is no surprise that downloadable eAudiobooks are becoming so popular in libraries. The main advantages to libraries are not having to worry about wear and tear on physical tape or disc components; the convenience to the MP3 owner/library user; and the flexibility offered by various subscription services such as Netlib and Overdrive. Netlib ofers access to more than 4,700 titles with new titles added every month.
World ebook fair site is a free downloadable eAudiobook site which allows users access to public domain literary works including classical poems, Shakespeare's sonnets and historical children's ebooks.
There is also an opportunity to volunteer to help produce ebooks by proof-reading one page a day.
Geelong Regional Library is currently considering the introduction of eAudiobooks as a means of expanding our services to meet the needs and interests of our changing communities.

#21 Podcasts, Smodcasts

I can only reiterate how helpful I have found Helen Blower's introductory podcasts for each of the learning criteria in Learning 2.0. Odeo, as a free hosting service, has become my best friend since embarking on this online learning experience. Although I already own an iPod, I hadn't made the connection between iTunes and podcasts, until now.
I also found the Yahoo tutorial very useful and am very excited to learn that next time I sync my iPod, my chosen podcats will be dowloaded automatically to my iPod for listening on the go. Imagine my horror to discover that Yahoo is closing down their podcast site on 31 October, 2007. I liked the fact that Yahoo has the most popular tags on their front page to make it easy to choose descriptors. However, I did find the main category search terms very broad so that when I chose arts I retrieved podcasts varying from martial arts to author talks. The majority of podcasts appeared to be American in origin.
A narrower search of authors and Melbourne was more effective in narrowing down the results to some gems including Alice Pung, Michael Panckridge and Tara Moss.
I was amused that using the acronym SLV instead of the complete descriptor State Library of Victoria gave 179 results, the first page of podcasts relating to the series Sex, lies and videos.
My favourite podcast was triple J's series: Triple j's Hack: literary love which is a podcast from State library of Victoria, at a literary event, in February, 2007. This event was attended by hundreds of people who participated in text appeal speed dating.
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/hack/notes/
I can see applications for podcasting within our library home page, for example, news broadcasts in various languages; author talks; book reviews; and conference proceedings.

#20 You too can YouTube

I am a becoming a huge fan of YouTube. For many of the required tasks within Learning 2.0, I have benefited from watching and listening to YouTube instructive videos. This suited my preference for learning via combined auidio and visual cues.
I especially like the TV promo features of YouTube and was very excited to discover promos and interviews for the new ABC series, The Librarians. I chose The Librarians Interview as an example of a very professional and extremely funny YouTube video. It has a five star rating and has already had 1,005 views.
Other features of the site which I liked, and which could also be applied to library websites, are: Your account; Favourites; Help Center; Copyright Notices; Privacy Policy.

#19 Discovering Web 2.0 Tools

The winner of the Web 2.0 Award 2007 in the books category, lulu.com, is a very easy to navigate self-publishing online tool. It offers many useful features allowing creative types to publish words, art or music for either fun or profit, conecting with potential buyers in more than 80 countries as well as connecting with the "largest" online writing community. The site, which averages 500,000 visits per week offers a live help or chat centre. A click of the publishing tab, within a very easy to use menu, gives endless options for the individual creators, non-profit groups or businesses looking for innovative publishing solutions. A digital media service can help you publish your own video, ebook, CD or DVD, or prepare a multimedia presentation.
Kids Creations has all sorts of tools and programs to help young budding authors and illustrators to create their own stories, poems, cartoons etc.
I'm sure lulu.com would be a very useful tool for library staff to promote to their users, many of whom have already shared their creative dreams.

#18 Web-based applications

If only we had known to inform our Internet users of the availability of Zoho Writer so that they could create word processing documents on our library PCs which, up until now, have lacked the appropriate desktop applications.  I have had fun changing the skin of my Zoho Writer template to dark purple  and the time zone to GMT + 10.00 Canberra, Melborne, Sydney. I also checked out the FAQ to get some tips on posting my blog.  I'm sure there are heaps of other features still to be discovered.  I'll definitely be recommending this web-based wod-processing tool to library users, including family and friends.

#16 What's in a Wiki?

I must confess that this discovery exercise has provided me with my first Wiki experience. Once again, I have had to overcome my initial reaction to tools such as Wikis which, at first glance, seem so disorganised, subjective and uncontrolled and acknowledge that there is a place for Wikis in the library environment. Several of the library Wikis which demonstrated the innovative ways libraries are using Wikis included:
Library instruction Wiki which is a forum for sharing resources such as handouts, tutorials etc and includes templates for consistent formatting of potential resources for this site.
The Library Tehcnology Training Wiki contained some very useful documents, resources and instructions on how to make Wikis and online suveys.
Web-based library projects which could benefit from a collaborative approach include:
Subject Guides, Genre Lists, New Titles Lists and Book Reviews. All of the above need frequent updating and would benefit from tapping into the interests and passions of our users. Given that Wikis are quick to build and easy to edit, any new information can be quickly added to the collective knowledge base.
The idea of a community Wiki, making us an online hub or one-stop shop for our local community also has special appeal.
I found the Youtube video Wikis in plain English very easy to follow