Google Docs

Google Docs is something that interested me when I initally did the training. I did attempt to use it with a group project but either the members didn't want to use it or it was blocked by IT at Councils.

I have had another look at Google Docs and could see myself using it in everyday life. With using a computer at home and a netbook for when I am not there. I am keeping files on a USB that I could be keeping on Google Docs.

I especially like that I can access Google Docs and work offline. Sometimes I don't always have Internet access or don't want it open. I like that I can colour code files especially as I would have multiple folders for work, uni (broken into subjects) etc. I can sync it with work I have already done in Office. It will also help with Block Quotes in university assignments.

Bring on me using Google Docs.

Event Management

Doodle is a good tool to use if you are trying to organise a meeting with people outside of the organisation. Gives options of date and time which is a great advantage rather than having to send emails back and forth about availability can enter into this and it does the work for you. Great time saver!!

Google calendar is a good tool to use with family, friends and work colleagues. Being able to see other peoples calendars has advantages. Can see when people are available when trying to set up events by looking in one place and not having to send endless emails for availability.

Event brite looks like a good site for setting up events espeically if there is a price attached to them. Would look great in advertising to bookonline and not have to wait for library to be open to make bookings.

Screencasts

Screencasts are a great way to teach customers simple things like reserving a book, signing onto databases from home, how to print a document etc. Time consuming to set up but would be of great benefit for customers and in the end timesaving for staff members.

Slideshare is a great way to see presentations that you have not had the opportunity to see or to refresh memory on something you have seen and forgot.

Nings

We have started to use a Ning in our Learning 2.0 committee. We have looked at Mosman Readers and found it to be an effective, well used and community based Ning.

I would think that Nings need to be promoted well to the customers to get the benefits out of them.

We have problems in our Committee that some staff have taken to it well and adopted it in their working day, while others are reluctant to use it and others are slowly learning it.

I think that for the best use it needs to revolve around a particular subject like Mosman Readers. It could be aimed at the book clubs that are run by the library and used as a tool for the customers to have discussions before and after the meetings. Suggest books to other members.

Evaluation

I have used survey monkey for personal and professional reasons. It is a product that is so easy to set up and get information back from. Don't know how we did surveys without it.

Google alerts is also a great product that we use at work. Provides information that we don't always know is out there.

Evaluation tools can be used to search twitter, youtube, flickr etc to find out what people are saying about you. Something that libraries years ago dreamed about but never had.

These tools are all easy to use and manipulate data out of. Are great to show what people think of you but never tell the libraries.

Delicious

I must admit that I did subscribe to Delicious and I got all excited about it saved all my favourites from my home computer all ready to be accessed from where ever I am and yet I rarely go into it.

With the new subscriptions that I have learnt about I would use it a lot more. I can see how this information could be more beneficial to me and would make me open delicious a lot more to see the new and interesting sites coming in. I could very addicted to this just like I am with Twitter.

Twitter

Twitter is one of my many web 2.0 fascinations. I don't go a couple of hours without checking my Twitter account. I will say that even though I checked my Twitter quiet regularily I am not a regular poster. I will reply to people but posting doesn't happen as often as I should.

I have twitter open while I am studying so that any new tweets that come through I get an alert using TweetDeck. Suppose to be studying yet I can always manage a few seconds to catch up on what is happening in the world.

I find twitter to be useful for somethings like getting the most up-to-date information on things like news. Alerting me to events happening in advance. Sometimes it is just nonsense information that I could probably live without and picture links that I don't necessarily need to see.

Would I delete my Twitter account? No way I like nonsense at times and the alerts and news is a great service.

Libraries who are using seem to use it as an alert service that customers who are aware of it can benefit from it. Customers who are savvy are then retweeting messages they think are important and the information is reaching more people than Libraries realise. Councils are know taking on the same role as libraries using Twitter.

Twitter is also a great way to find out if the customers are talking about us. Finding the feedback that some customers would never provide face-to-face.