Library 2.0

It means we have to be smarter and faster. Problem is the speed of getting the computers to work/download!!! A constant complaint by our users/clients - whatever you want to call them. It means being able to use the computer seamlessly. Well, that's the plan, I guess. It would be good to integrate the multiple catalogues and be able to use them seamlessly - but the added problem is ensuring that people really get what they want - not rubbish. Although - I suspect that serendipitous discoveries will not occur as much. It is the picking up of a book and just browsing sometimes you get those Eureka moments and chance discoveries. I guess I'm a Luddite at heart! The future is what we want to make of it and how we do it. I would want a single search engine to assist sometimes, but some of those databases are absolute cows to search correctly so I would be very intrigued on how they may be incorporated??? Or will they - if they could be it would make a life for our users much better.

the optional audio book thing

I've looked at the World ebook fair site - not bad and at least I know it exists! Some interesting titles - I was surprised by the range. I don't think I can read an ebook as I find reading a screen really taxing at times. I read all the time at home and whilst using public transport, but I use that primitive device called a book! Much better than electronic - saves batteries and the planet! I'm not using batteries that cause acid to leach into the soil....that's my logic. I know that producing a book causes untold problems - I enjoy them and will keep enjoying them until I can't! So there!!!!!

No. 16 Podcasts

I can see the benefit of this, but I am not going to add an RSS feed for anything as I consider it junk mail in a different format. It's a means of allowing library users who cannot attend functions to download it as a podcast onto their podthing. I don't possess such a beast, and will probably never own such a beastly thing. I find with permanent hearing loss, even it is with one ear, that I cannot listen very long on anything with headsets - my sole listening ear is just too taxed, and I have the volume set very low to preserve hearing I've got. Not interested in this one at all but I can see the real benefit of this one. I will not be downloading - not an area I'm interested in and anything I've download - theoretically - so far hasn't done a thing......I think I'm jinxed (or the machines know I'm not really interested)?

You Tube

I've just tried to upload a video. Didn't work - wonder why. I don't like the technology and it doesn't like me! You Tube stuff does get sent to me via friends, usually cat related, wonder why? But I find I am not really interested in ploughing around and looking. I have more important things to do with my valuable time. Sorry - I tried and I looked. Not bothering with this one again.

Want comments on how it relates to libraries - like how????? It appears to be everybody's really awful home movies to quite clever things. The thing is to locate it takes forever - or takes forever to download (or not load as the case maybe). I'm sorry but I absolutely have no interest in doing anything on this as it has no appeal or interest - I don't even possess the technology to do this anyway so why do anything???????

web 17 is actually 14 - oops!

I found I'd listed too far down. Haven't even got there yet - it was the Web 2.0 Awards List that I looked at. Life is too difficult sometimes!!!!

Checked out the Web 2.0 thing on 17?

Well I looked at the list and decided on biblio.com - I do like it and I've used it in the past. Especially to get my mother's very difficult request of early Georgette Heyer's when she discovered that she'd apparently missed a few! I like it, and it's relatively simple to get around. I also like the fact they support groups in South America.

Technology related blog - as instructed!

This exercise is to write about technology in your blog. This is going to be a stretch - I haven't had time to even play? properly as time this last couple of weeks will and has been very tight. I've read about some of the new technologies coming - paperless text - the "paper" for want of a word is one that stores the image of text on a film thingo and it stores it for about 24 hours - if I'd had the week I've had I probably would have never seen it!!! It's supposed to replace paper - but if it only lasts a certain time is it worth it? It would be very good for temporary things. Just reading "Splendour of Letters" by Basbanes - interesting proposition on how some books/papers were only meant to be kept temporarily - but have become a permanent record by the nature of the content - what to do with a chalkboard of a list of firemen who went to the World Trade Centre and only 4 came back - it is now preserved because of what it represented. How did they preserve it - they encased it in plastic, now it is an object. Will libraries be able to collect this "temporary technology" for notes written by artists/authors/ etc. A challenge - especially as the whole premise is to disappear. What thoughts for a Sunday!!!