Exercise 11 (er...out of numerical order) Recommendations

It's hard to qualify the following examples of 2.0 technology as world's best practice; however in each case I was struck by a facet of the "new" that seemed appealing and useful.  One that I would encourage my library to implement...

Local Studies:  Click on the link to see the manner in which the New York Public Library has used 2.0 technology in a vivid way. Note the tabs for twitter and facebook...to encourage interaction (social networking) amongst its clients. 

Childrens:  The State of Colorado Libraries has an impressive childrens services blog.  It presents a whole host of activities in a quite logical and structured manner.  Each link can be previewed by means of "CLICK snapshots"

Teenage/Youth:  This is a photo of the exterior of the central Los Angeles Public Library.  Very Hollywood.  Very Metro-Goldwyn-Maya/Twentieth Century Fox... 

The teen web section of the library just screams delinquency high energy fun, with its buzzy graphic design, downloadable music and games.  Check out the games that were specially formulated for the 2009 Summer Reading Club.

Adult Fiction:  the Melbourne Public Library has a book club  http://www.melbourne.lib.ia.us/use-the-library/bookclub2/bookclub
as well as this tab  http://www.melbourne.lib.ia.us/books-reading  Now that's what I call interaction between library management and the members.

Information/Reference:  The British Library (which I visited a few times when I lived in London) has this impressive suite of  options for the information seeker who is accessing the Libray from the outside. As it says, "We will get back to you with  a response to your enquiry within five working days".

Exercise 15 Commenting on other blogs

I commented on Angus's blog (the addition of the gadgets in the arrangement exercise) and Kevin's blog (the amusing Finnish Library Association video)

(The joys of free speech)

Exercise 14 Inviting people onto my blog

I've invited four people to join my blog:..

Kevin, Angus, Danielle and David Mc

(I hope they post some amusing comments)

Exercise 13 Changing the arrangement of my blog

I made some very modest changes as I was happy with the blog as it was.


I rearranged the order of the tabs on the right-hand side. 

Exercise 12 Changing the colour of my blog

I decided to be bold in terms of colour and used Darrell Lea as a role model...a lovely liquorice-black background, a violet crumble colour for the text etc etc.  Life is just a box of chocolates!!

Exercise 10 Evaluation

I might not have made it clear in my last post, that the Paddington library does not have its own website.  Therefore, all 2.O technology has to be accessed from the mother ship ie Woollahra Library.

I was quite surprised when I checked the library's website...there is an awful lot on offer.


Just look at the websites and links that are available in the children's section...to take one example

Kids sites

To help you with your homework

• YourTutor (free online tutoring)
• ipl2 For Kids (list of good websites for kids)
• Fun brain
• Greek Mythology
• Web Gallery
• National Gallery of Art Washington
• Australian Musuem
• Yahoo! Kids StudyZone

Fun and games

• Brigade Kids (NSW Fire Service)
• Dr Seuss
• Ebb and Flow
• ABC Kids 
• PBS Kids
• Bob the builder
• National Geographic Kids
• Discovery Kids
• Yahoo Kids games
• Storynory Free audio stories for kids.
• Play at Powerhouse

Children's book sites

• Dave Pilkey
• Fergus the Ferry (J.W. Noble)

Health and wellness

• BAM! Body & Mind

Being safe on the net

• Find info about being safe on the net at Cybersmart Kids and SafeKids.

The library also offers...  

E-notices 

Flickr

Twitter

YouTube

Videos and podcasts

Alerts / RSS

 

 

Exercise 9 Community Profiles

My local library is the Paddington Library which occupies a ground floor area of the Paddington Town Hall.

Now.  The library is administered by Woollahra Council and is a sub branch of a network of libraries scattered around the eastern suburbs. Here's a link to the council and the library


http://www.woollahra.nsw.gov.au/library/library_locations/paddington_library

(Confusingly,  the City of Sydney Council also lays claim over Paddington Library but it's easier to pretend that this isn't so. To all intents and purposes the library is run by Woollahra Council)

Look at this photo!

You'd never guess that there is a library inside...it's because the building is heritage-listed and nothing from the 20th or 21st century must detract from its Victorian splendour.

Any examination of the community profile should take note that Paddington-Woollahra area is a so-called prestige suburb; in other words the houses are very expensive.  Just last week it was announced that Toni Collette has bought into the street next to mine. Two terraces (recently renovated) joined together as one.  Poor Toni shelled out $6 million for this ppty.  So no doubt she will be forced to do another series of the "United States of Tara" in order to pay the mortgage.  

(Er...just in case anyone gets the wrong idea...I rent my place...half of a terrace)

The Paddington Library's most avid customers belong to two main groups: the very young and seniors.  I've always had the feeling that most residents in Paddington would rather buy a book than borrow one.  

But maybe I'll bump into Toni in the library one day!!