Ref Rap
Tech Set - Part 2Vol. 5
Wikis for libraries by Lauren Pressley
Most of us probably know what a ‘Wiki’ is by now, but may not know how, or why, you might need one. Lauren Pressley defines wikis as “nothing more than easy-to-edit Web sites.” Wikipedia is the most well known of these sites but you may have used many others wiki-based sites without knowing it. In this book she explains how to establish an effective wiki; from planning to creation and implementation. There are explanations of the different types of wikis, what software you may need, how to market it and how to assess the wiki’s usefulness.
Vol. 6
Technology training in libraries by Sarah Houghton-Jan
As Librarians it is important that we keep up to date with new technology that is emerging every day. When our customers ask how technology works; whether it is downloading e-books, how to follow us on twitter or how to search our newest database, staff need to know how it works themselves before they can pass on the knowledge. This book explains how to create effective training programs both in terms of addressing different learning styles and being cost effective. One interesting idea is having a technology petting zoo!
Vol. 7
Social networking primer for libraries by Cliff Landis
As with other new technology that librarians have had to learn about, social networking is quickly encroaching on the way we have done things in the past. These sites and tools are another way for the library to find new users and to keep current ones. This book is a great guide to the basics of social networking and how it can be used to our advantage.
Vol. 8
Library camps and unconferences by Steve Lawson
What is an unconference you might ask? You might also wonder what librarians are getting together and talking about books by the campfire looking up at the stars? Not that sort of camp. Going to a professional library conference sounds great career wise but sitting down for an afternoon with a good book sounds like it would be much more fun. In fact if you asked most conference attendees they would probably say the best part of their experience was the informal chats they had in the hallway or at lunch. Introducing the ‘Library Camp’ or ‘Unconference’! These events attempt to provide an informal forum for sharing and learning with no fixed agenda. This book provides the ideas to run one of these types of events yourself; showing the host how to provide just enough structure so attendees now where they need to be but also still creating an environment that encourages freedom.
“I recently attended an Unconference, which was a great learning experience. This book is an excellent resource covering everything we would need if we wanted to host one of these fun events ourselves.” Monique Akauola Co-ordinator Reader Services
Vol. 9
Gaming in libraries by Kelly Nicole Czarnecki
Gaming sometimes gets a bad reputation but it can be a positive social activity bringing together people both inside the library and online. While we have had the playstations in our libraries for a while, we have only now just begun to experiment a bit with gaming in our libraries. We have started wii nights and board game afternoons at several of our branches and some staff have been to seminars looking at what other libraries are doing. This book could help those interested in making gaming a permanent part of our library’s life. The author provides practical tools and ideas for implementation of gaming events, not just for children but for all ages. It includes a basic introduction to the different types of gaming programs available, pricing and marketing ideas; whether you decide on a monthly or one off event.
Vol. 10
Effective blogging for libraries by Connie Crosby
By now most of you should have had some experience with a blog; whether it be creating your own or even just reading the library blog. You may have thought about contributing to a blog but are not sure how to go about it. Connie Crosby gives you the know-how to do so not just techniques for creating a great blog but also strategies for dealing with things like negative feedback. Blogging is easy to do but if you want to make your blog interesting to more than just yourself then this book is for you! From choosing a template to measuring the success of your blog, the reader is taken through all the best practices and shown some of the pitfalls to ensure their blog will reach their target audience. Because this book is specific to libraries it is a really handy reference for those of us working in this industry.
That’s all from the Tech Set; hopefully one or more of these volumes will help you at some stage while we all try to understand this thing called ‘Technology’!
Google+
All you social media fiends out there may be interested in this article which outlines library uptake of Google+ with links to how to do it, from the gurus David Lee King and Joe Murphy.I understand that we need to be in the places where people interact, but I'm wondering if eventually, it will get to organisations just having a central core of information which then can be used to populate the many and various social media sites which we need to be a part of.
The encyclopedia of Australian Science
It's well worth having a quick look at this online resource.The encyclopedia of Australian science has excellent biographies of more than you will need, in Australia's science community, including links to any publications listed in Trove. The 'find organizations' search option allows for following up on companies and goverment agencies including name changes. Try the Browse tab and go to the bottom for links to fabulous exhibitons highlighting some of the wonders of our scientific heritage.
If you want to read more about this very interesting resource then ask the Corporate Librarian for this article;
Sutherland, Denise. "The encylopedia of Australian Science", Online Currents, Vol. 25 Iss.4 2011 pg. 178
NYR November, 2011 Newsletter
November, 2011.Adult Summer Reading Club
Theme: Amazing reads
This year, along with the very successful kids and teens summer reading club, we are starting an Adults summer reading club to encourage adults to read more over summer. There is no need to register, for each book read the customer simply fills in a slip and puts it into the voting box. (which is being shared with the teens summer reading club). One book = one entry. Check it out on the Library webpage here. Terms and conditions of this promotion can be found from a link on this page.
Prizes:
Weekly prizes: Goody bags valued at $15.00-$20.00.
There will be weekly prize draws (inclusive of all branch entries) held at Sutherland Library each Monday. Please send the entries for each week up to Sutherland Library on Fridays via internal mail: Attention Monique. The goody bags include a book, mug, Twinings tea, chocolate, a bookmark and a candle.
Major prize: Sony e-reader.
The major prize draw will be held, and the winner announced, at Sutherland Library during the Summer reading club kids presentation.
The summer reading club starts on 12 December for all participants. Promotional materials will be send out to the branches before this date. Please try to cross promote all three of these summer reading clubs to help make this a success!
The reference team have been compiling lists of their top ten amazing reads. A different list of books will be featured weekly on the readers page on the website throughout December and January, to offer some ideas to customers of Amazing reads to try.
Our Story
Please encourage customers to vote for their favourite book from the short listed six titles for NSW, and if you haven't already, cast a vote yourself!
Display ideas
December is the month to: I know its not a December display, but... on 28th November is Red planet day. This would be a topical display as both Russia (along with China) and the U.S are undertakng missions to explore our closest neighbour, Mars! You can find a list of both fiction and non fiction titles featuring Mars, the planet (not the chocolate bar or in reference to men and women and their relationships, although you can also find books on these topics if interested).
3 December: Boardies Day: This is an annual fundraising initiative of the Surf Life Saving Foundation, who encourages all Australians to wear their boardshorts or other beach-themed attire to work or school and make a donation to help their volunteer surf lifesavers. Put up a display of books about surfing and surf lifesaving.
5-11 December: Coastcare week
Coastcare Week occurs in the first week of December each year, and recognises the work done by the 60,000 Coastcare volunteers in over 2,000 groups across Australia. With over 85% of Australians living within 50km of our Coastline, Coastcare Week also highlights the environmental issues impacting on our coastal and marine environments.
25 December: Christmas: Now's the time to get out your collections of Christmas books for display, or show off the library's collection of cook books, Christmas decorating ideas, or Christmas fiction to help everyone get in to the festive spirit.
Whats on:
Gail Jones Book Group Convention
When: 10.30am -12.00pm on 29 November
Where: Sutherland Library Southern lounge.
Cost: Free
This event is exclusively for book groups, including interested book groups in the community, who are not library supported.
Diane Armstrong Author Talk
When: 6:30PM, -7:30PM, 6 Dec 2011.
Where: Cronulla Library
Cost:Free
Sydney Author Diane Armstrong will be giving a talk about her latest novel ‘Empire Day’, the engrossing story of the residents of Wattle Street, Bondi Junction in 1948.
Copies of ‘Empire Day’ will be available for sale and signing on the night.
Cronulla Open Book group
"Never booked out" Open Book group held at Cronulla Library the 1st Monday of the month at 2pm. Currently reading "The elegance of the hedgehog" by Muriel Barberry. Tell everyone about it, and for the latest ionformation pertaining to this group, including the current read and discussion questions, check out the "Never booked out "webpage on the library website.
The Christmas Party
Get your dancing shoes ready for a night of Christmas fun, with music, dancing and food.
When: Friday 16 December at 6.30pm til 11.00pm.
Where: Cronulla Library.
See you there!
What are you reading?
Happy Birthday to December born Angus, Stephanie, Becky, Linda, Tara, Ruth, Karen and Amber. With so many December birthdays to celebrate, it will be belated birthday wishes and "What are you reading" posts, for many of you, giving you more time to read some amazing books to tell the world about! If you will be on holidays ( relaxing and reading of course), when you are due for your interview, please tell Monique and have the interview questions sent out early so you don't miss out on celebrating your reading!
Angus(posting 16 December)Stephanie(posting 23 December)
Becky (posting 30 December)
Linda (posting 6 January)
Tara (posting 13 January)
Ruth (posting 20 January)
Karen (posting 27 January)
Amber (posting 2 February)
Library 2.011 Conference 3rd November
The Slow Death of the Reference Collection - Dave Tyckoson, Associate Dean
CO-PRESENTER(S): Danica Sheridan
LANGUAGE: English
RECORDING LINK (will be available after the session and the recording has processed):
In summary
Factors affecting collection use :
difficulty to access
lack of awareness of it's usefulness
competition from the web
Wikipedia
But there are Ref Ebooks:
again customers are not aware
The authentification process is a barrier
they are just duplicates of print equivelants - not interactive nor dynamically linked to other web content
To evaluate;
use studies (we have done this twice)
identify what is used
weed the outdated and old looking
this makes the new stuff more obvious and the whole more relevant looking.
update the areas that remain useful - buy in the areas that people are using
Promote:
create displays
make finding materials easier - shelf labels law, social science, physics etc. -
empowering users to browse
highlight resources on the webpage - Spotlights
Interfile with circulation and/or Circulate them including multivolumes - short loan 3 days?!
speaker only lost 3 items in 3 years
Future of Reference Collections;
much smaller
circulating
electronic and print
responsive to community needs
I'm currently listening to
Being a library and information professional in the age of Twitter, iPhones and Facebook.
PRESENTER: Professor Helen Partridge
This is very interesting and will be worth listening to later. I can't summarise this one quickly, way too much info coming in.
RECORDING LINK (will be available after the session and the recording has processed):
She's saying some very interesting stuff about needing to get away from being perfect, and just getting in there and doing it where the customers are.
Cheers Jacinta
NSW.net eResources Seminar 2011
Last week I attended and spoke at this seminar. It was organised by NSW.net for libraries to get together and talk about what's new in digital resources. It included a couple of speakers who talked about the various NSW.net provided resources, but was not limited to them. The discussions were wide ranging and covered such topics as eBooks, databases, federated search and discovery layers and website design (including mobile).To a flavour of the day I captured the twitter stream from the day using Storify. An online tool that lets you curate content from the social web into a linear storyline. If the embedded stream below doesn't work you can view it on the Storify website under the title NSW.net eResources Seminar.
Martin
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