Phase Two Week Five

The final two things!
This week is a lot about having fun with the applications.

Thing 22 Explore some image generators 
Image Generators are a great way to explore your creativity online.
Create a personal logo or graphic to represent your online identity.

Chose from the great variety available online. Some examples include:
Smurf Yourself (Are we there yet Papa Smurf?)
Make a mosaic from an image at Image Mosaic Generator
Jelly Muffin has a variety of image generators including 'cartoonize yourself', 'For Dummies' mock book covers, and a personalised tombstone generator (!).


Thing 23 Explore Scribblar  a free interactive whiteboard application. 
First take a look at the Scribblar Demo, you need to register to see this demo.
Consider how Scribblar could be used in the context of the Cregan Library staff.
Liaise with others in the group and use Scribblar to conduct some form of meeting or discussion with a colleague/s.

Extra Activity 1: Explore the text generator application Cooltext

Extra Activity 2: Video Project 
Explore iMovie and Garage Band on the library Macs following on from last week's overview of video production. Post any questions about the applications to your blog.

Phase Two: Week 4

Thing 20: Read about Cloud Computing.

The Library of Congress and the New York Public Library have teamed up to test the viability of cloud technology for long-term digital preservation through the DuraCloud Project. This Irish Times article on cloud computing in Ireland may also be of interest. Also check out this article on techsoup for libraries on the relevance of Cloud computing to libraries.


What do you see as the benefits/challenges of cloud computing? How do you think the Cregan Library could use cloud computing? Add your thoughts to your 23 Things blog.

Thing 21: Explore Google maps.
Locate the Cregan Library on Google maps. Find a place you would like to be right now (apart from work of course!) and embed the map into your blog. 


Extra Activity 1: Read about Google Docs and consider how Google docs could be used in the Cregan Library. 


Extra Activity 2 (Video Project): This week there will be a workshop on video production to get you started with your video project - 2.30pm at the Cregan Library (45mins - 60 mins approx.) This workshop will cover basics of making a video including storyboarding, audio recording, adding titles/graphics/effects, editing, camera shots. 

Phase Two: Week Three

Thing 18: Read about E-books in relation to Information Services
E-book publishers to gain access to 15,000 libraries
Irish e-book distribution company ePub Direct plans to offer access to libraries for publishers' e-book titles. The move will give publishers access to 15,000 library outlets in 13 countries, 70 of which are based in the UK and Ireland....read full story here.


Digital literacy strong in Irish youths - Irish Times article by Eoin Burke Kennedy.


Challenges and Opportunities of E-Books - Article by John Cox, Deputy Librarian, NUI, Galway

E-book uptake in Academic Libraries in Ireland An Overview Survey Report 2010 Maud Conry, James Hardiman Library, National University of Ireland, Galway.

Thing 19: Read about iTunes University and explore some recordings from Universities using this application.

What is iTunes University (iTunes U)?
iTunes University is an application that allows Higher Education Institutions make available audio and video content to view or download. A user must have iTunes installed on their computer to access iTunes U. You can can subscribe to iTunes U via iTunes and download new content on the subject that the user has selected. iTunes can be downloaded from the Apple site at: http://www.apple.com/itunes/download/. 


iTunes U allows a user to listen or view content on their computer or on the move by downloading the content to a mobile device such as an iPod. An institution can make iTunes U content available only to students and staff or to the world at large via the iTunes Store. With an internal iTunes University site, user access is controlled through password protection. A public iTunes U site distributes material for free on iTunes U. Yale, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge and Trinity College Dublin all have public iTunes sites.  You could also create a public and a private iTune U site, like Stanford. Read more about iTunes U.

Oxford University has millions of downloads available on its iTunes U site including public lectures, teaching material and interviews with leading academics - and all this material is available free of charge! Other institutions also use iTunes U including the New York Public Library and 

Extra Activity 1: Explore Google books.

Read about Google books on Wikipedia and read about Google Books Library Project.

Read about Google's recent agreement with publishers in relation to Google books and check out the Google Books blog. Also read about Google's book deal with the British Library.

Phase Two: Week 2

Week Two: Wednesday 13th July - Tuesday 19th July 
Theme: Video Hosting 


Thing 16: Read about and explore YouTube and Vimeo 

YouTube was founded in February 2005, as a free web-based service that would allow people to watch and share their videos. Since October 2006, YouTube has operated as a subsidiary of Google. YouTube has been involved in some copyright battles in particular with Viacom and has also been criticised for hosting videos with an offensive content eg. a video of the Hillsboro disaster and anti-Semitic Nazi videos.

Vimeo was actually founded in 2004, so was ahead of YouTube. Vimeo does not allow commercial videos, gaming videos, pornography, or anything not created by the user to be hosted on the site. Vimeo's 'Video School' section might be useful for developing skills around video production for the library video project. You can browse videos on both hosting sites without signing up. 


There are other video hosting sites, check out these suggestions from Squidoo.


Most of you have already used YouTube to search for videos and uploaded/embedded videos into your blogs. If you have used YouTube for your blog, write a little about your experience of using YouTube in your blog this week. If you have not yet used YouTube to find a video, search YouTube for videos relating to libraries and embed this video in your blog. 






Thing 17: Upload a short video to YouTube or Vimeo 


Creating a Video clip 
The easiest way to create a video clip for uploading is to use a digital camera of course. However if you don't have access to a camera you can be creative and use some online applications to create a video using stills photos and some music. See applications such as Masher, Animoto and YouTube's Go Animate tool.


If you have a webcam,  you can also record directly from the webcam to YouTube.


Uploading the video
Once you have created or recorded your video clip you are ready to upload. 
To upload to Vimeo or YouTube you need to create and account. 
Watch these videos:
How to upload a video to YouTube  
How to upload to Vimeo.




Extra Activity 1: Explore the application Bubbl.us which allows you to create a 'mind map' online. Check out the mind map created in relation to the 23 Things Programme below as an example of how to use Bubbl.us. 

Extra Activity 2 (Video Project): Use the free online application Celtx to draft a storyboard for your library video idea. Please note that the Celtx basic package only is free of charge.

Phase two - week one

Hi all

Welcome back! I hope you are all set for the next 10 'Things'. A full list is available here.

Thing 14: Read about podcasts and explore how libraries are using podcasts.

What is a podcast?
A podcast is a series of audio or video files that are published in episodes and can be downloaded for use on a media player of your choice. Podcasts are often delivered through RSS feeds.
Read more on Wikipedia and watch the Common Craft video on podcasting.
Explore some podcasts, a useful directory or portal is Podcast Alley or for Irish podcasts check out Podcasting Ireland or Podacast.com's Irish section.

Thing 15: Explore how libraries and colleges are using podcasts and post an idea for a podcast for the Cregan Library to your blog.
Explore how libraries and colleges are using podcasting:
UCD 's Scolarcast
South Dublin Libraries
New York Public Library
Oxford
JFK Library, Boston
For more examples, check out the Library Success Wiki list of library podcasts in the U.S.

Extra Activity 1: Create your own short podcast using Audacity and publish to your blog.
To create a podcast you will need to download Audacity, a free podcasting software available online.
Your podcast should be between 1 and 5 minutes long. Choose from the following topics:

• What I like/dislike about podcasts
• Film/book/music/tv review
• Libraries and podcasting

First take a look at this tutorial on podcasting by the University of Oxford.


Extra Activity 2 (Video Project): Post an idea for a video for the Cregan Library to your blog or to the main blog.
The idea can be very simple e.g. a virtual tour of the library to add to the website or to use on induction days for students and staff. Check out some of the library themed videos which appeared on the blogs during phase one for inspiration.

Overdue Charles Darwin book returned to library 122 years late

.

Thanks to the Anonymous Librarian for highlighting this article. 

Poster created by Jaime Morrison 2005,
 based on poster by by Bob Peaks, 1978

The Origin of the Species is now available in audio book for free on librivox.  LibriVox is an interesting online resource offereing free audiobooks of books in the public domain. Volunteers record chapters of books in and publish the recordings back to the site.  The recordings vary in quality and you might need to browse the site for a voice that you are comfortable with, but I think it's a great resource all the same.

Dandycat - a book for you perhaps!

The Meowmorphosis

Facebook hire former Clinton press secretary!

Interesting piece of news about Facebook from StumbleUpon

Reminder: Tea Party Tuesday June 7th 10.45am

Put the kettle on!

Hi all
Just to remind you to come for tea to the main canteen tomorrow Tuesday, June 7th at 10.45am in the main canteen.
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Suzanne

Everyone's a critic

The greatest critics ever!

23 Things participants with an interest in film and book reviews - check out the article by Mick Heaney in Irish Times Saturday June 4th which explores the changing face of  the critic,  influenced by the advent of social media. 

Useful blogger.com troubleshooting blog

Hi all

There have been some issues with blogger.com for many of you over the last while, particularly the meltdown around May 11th/12th. I have found this real blogger status blog quite useful in solving small issues or at least getting some information about what is happening.

Shelving

Photo from http://www.artyouknow.com/

Experimental bookshelves by David Garcia Design studio (Denmark) . Read more on the Art You Know website.

Let children under 13 use Facebook - Mark Zucherberg

Mark Zucherberg, founder of Facebook, has condoned children under 13 using the Web 2.0 application  as a learning tool. What do you think?

Is Féidir linn!

Photo Copyright Associated Press

Barack's presidential campaign famously used Facebook to garner support from voters. Check out Barack's current Facebook page.
http://www.facebook.com/barackobama

Save our libraries campaign UK

Anonymous Librarian highlighted the proposed library closures some weeks ago. Check out this excellent video response to this proposal. It takes the form of a direct message to a councillor in Somerset and was put together by some authors, Big Issue founder John Bird and local residents and the National Save Our Libraries campaign. Clever campaigning! Check out the video bar for more videos by save our libraries campaigners!

The Secret History of Social Networking

Photo copyright BBC Radio 4

BBC radio 4 are currently broadcasting a series exploring the history of social networking, stretching way back before the arrival of the Internet. The series is available on the BBC Radio 4 player @ http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00y5jgf

Google launch laptop for Web-based applications

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-13362111

Twitter in the news...

Twitter is under scrutiny this week in relation to privacy issues and 'celebrities' -  BBC report.

Week 6: Library Thing and Creative Commons

Thing 12: Explore Library Thing and set up your own Library Thing account.


What is Library Thing?
Library Thing is an online application which allows you to create your own online catologue of books. It connects you to people who have similiar 'libraries' or reading tastes. Once you have set up your own library, you can ask for recommendations which will reflect the books in your 'library' by simply clicking on the recommendations tab. Users also post book reviews to the site - check out some recent reviews.
You can also see you books on a virtual shelf - just a bit of fun really!
Check out the very small Library Thing page for 23 Things SPD to give you an idea of what the application looks like.

Read this introduction to Library Thing.
Set up your own Library Thing account and add some of your favourite books to your virtual library and customise your home page. Check out the Library Thing ideas blog.
Read also about Library Anywhere and how libraries are using this application to create 'mobile' libraries.

graphic from creative www.commons.org

Thing 13: Read about Creative Commons
What exactly is Creative Commons?
Creative Commons is a new development in the field of copyright which enables the creator of a piece of work (music, writing etc.) to allow sharing of their work under certain circumstances. The Creative Commons  organisation has developed a set of licences which authors can use to tell the world how they are allowed to use their work.



Watch these videos about Creative Commons: - Video 1, Video 2, Video 3.
Read about Creative Commons in Wikipedia.
Read more about Creative Commons.
Check out the Creative Commons Wiki and blog.
Now that you are a blogger, you may be interested in reading about creative commons licensing for bloggers.

What do you think about the concept of creative commons? What do you think are the opportunities for this type of copyrighting? What do you see as the challenges? Write your thoughts in your blog.

Week 5 Social Networking

Week 5: April 26th - 29th, 2011 
Theme: Social Networking


Thing 10 Read about Social Networking 
So what is Social Networking?Social networking is an umbrella term referring to Web 2.0 applications in general, where these applications support collaboration and communication online. The focus for this week will be on social networking sites Facebook and Twitter.

Watch the Common Craft videos on Social Networking and Twitter.

Read about Facebook and Twitter  on Wikipedia.

Take a look at this video from Socialnomics and write a blog post discussing how the message made you feel about social media.  Do you agree that 'Social media is not a fad, it is a fundamental shift in the way we communicate."

It has been widely acknowledged that social media and networking contributed to recent events in Egypt and throughout the middle east.  Check out this New York Times article on the topic and also    comments from Twitter CEO, Dick Costolo on these claims. An Egyptian newborn was recently named 'Facebook',  in recognition of the contribution that social media made to recent events in the country.  Check the story out via Socialnomics.

Even the Pope is engaged with social networking.

Social Networking a has developed its own rules and standards. Check out this article on Social Media Etiquette.

Thing 11: Exploring Facebook
Check out the Cregan Library Facebook page and post a message to the page.  If you do not have a Facebook account,  you will need to set up an account to access the library page.  Guidelines on how to set up an account on Facebook FAQs.  Please note that this page is viewable only to the 23 Things participant group at the moment. It is not viewable by the general public.

Consider how you might use the Facebook page to communicate with library users and post a message about this to the page or write about it in your blog.

 

Helpful Facebook Terminology

Friending/Adding: Finding people you want to connect with on your network. You send a message to the person asking to be 'friends' and that person chooses to accept the request or not.
Status Updates: Where you describe what you’re doing, thinking, reading, feeling, or anything else you want to share with your network.
Facebook Groups: Groups you join eg. with shared interests - a library group. 

Pages: On Facebook, businesses and organisations create a profile & share events and information.
News Feed: A listing of your friends information, displayed in a running list. As people update their statuses, play a new game, share new pictures or videos you’ll see that information displayed in your news feed. The information comes to you. You don’t have to go to it.
Privacy Settings: The settings and preferences that you configure to determine how much information gets shared with others.
Chat/Messages/Comments: The power of online communities comes in the interaction your friends can have with you and your other friends through chatting, messages (like e-mail), and commenting.
Wall: The Wall is the center of your profile for adding new things, like photos, videos, notes and other  content. The Publisher at the top of your Wall allows you to update your status and share content through many different kinds of Wall posts. You can also add content to your friends’ Walls by using the Publisher box that appears at the top of their profiles.


Extra Activity
What is the relevance of social networking to libraries?  Library users are communicating through these networks and so it makes sense to learn something about how they work. Check out some library Facebook and twitter pages and comment in your blog on what you found interesting about the various uses of Facebook.

Facebook pages.
Jerwood Library, Trinity Hall, Cambridge
UCD Library
TCD Library
Glucksman Library, University of Limerick
National Library of Ireland
Tallaght Library

Twitter pages:
Twitter at Glucksman, UL
DCU Library
Bodleian Library, Oxford
Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt





Picture by Jade Gordan - Stock Xchng

Week 4 Wikis

Thing 8: Read about Wikis and explore Wikipedia.
What is a Wiki?The term 'Wiki' was first coined by Ward Cunningham and it originates from the Haiwaiian word 'wiki wiki' meaning quick. Wikis are web-based application which allow people to edit content on a chosen topic online. Wikis are an easy tool for organising content and sharing ideas.
Read and watch more about Wikis below.
Take a look at Wikis in Plain English from Common Craft http://www.commoncraft.com/
7 Things you should know about Wikis
Check out the wiki leaks site @ Wiki leaks
Wikis Vs Blogs - A fictional debate between JFK and Richard Nixon on the propriety of using blogs vs. wikis.


Thing 9: Explore how libraries are using Wikis. Check out the 23 Things @ SPD Wiki and make a contribution to the Wiki.
Check out some library related Wikis.
Library Wikis is a wiki for sharing about how libraries are using wikis
Library Best Practices Wiki
National Library of Australia Wiki
Check out the http://twentythreethingsspd.wikispaces.com/ and make a contribution to the wiki. To do this you will first have to set up a wikipsaces account. You will have received an invitation by email to become a member today.
Don't forget to blog about your thoughts and experiences with Wikis.



Extra Activity (optional)
Check out some Wikis that are of interest to you personally.
See below links to wiki indexes.
Wiki Index
List of Wikis


Play Activitiy (optional)
Following from last week's exercise on comic strips, take a look at Comic Life. Comic life is available on a free trial basis for 30 days. Play around with the Comic Life application and blog about your experience. Check out the Comic Life Wiki for ideas.
If you created a comic strip last week, compare your experience of Comic Life with your experience of bitstrip last week.

Some library themed videos to enjoy

If you missed the original old spice advert - watch it here.
Check out the blog about making the library video

The Haunted Librarian

Week 3 RSS Feeds

Week 3: April 11th- 15th 2011 

Theme: RSS Feeds 



Thing 6: Read about RSS Feeds
What is an RSS?

Really Simple Syndication does what it says on the tin, it is simply 'Really Simple Syndication'. RSS Feeds allow you to connect with websites that you use or are interested in and receive automatic updates when new content is added to the site. To receive RSS Feeds you must sign up to an aggregator or RSS reader eg. Google Reader.  Once you have signed up for an RSS reader you can subscribe to an RSS Feed. Look out for the RSS logo as you browse the web. When you see the icon this means the site or blog has an RSS Feed.


So why use RSS Feeds?
Simple! Subscribing to an RSS Feed saves you time! Once you have signed up to an RSS feed you will receive automatic updates when the site/blog adds new content. For a library, RSS Feeds allow the organisation to provide a steady stream of up-to-date information from various websites.

Read more about RSS Feeds on Wikipedia. 
Watch this common craft video on RSS feeds - created by Common Craft details at www.commoncraft.com.


Thing 7: Set up a Google Reader Account and and subscribe to at least 3 RSS Feeds
First watch this video on how to set up a Google reader account

Alternatively, sign up for another RSS reader. This Wikipedia entry comparing various various RSS readers or 'aggregators' will be useful in helping you decide. 

Extra Activity (Optional): Explore how libraries are using RSS Feeds.
Take a look at this blog entry from Newcastle Library which discusses how libraries can use RSS Feeds. Consider how the Cregan Library could use RSS feeds and post your thoughts to your 23 Things blog. 


Play Activity: Make a comic strip about RSS Feeds
Make a comic strip on your experience of RSS Feeds, using Pixton or Bitstrip.
See the sample strip 'The Anonymous Librarian' created in Bitstrip and posted to the 23 Things blog These things are.... last week.

See also a sample from Pixton 

Week 2 Social Bookmarking

Thing 4  Read about Social Bookmarking

What is Social Bookmarking?

Social Bookmarking is an informal method of categorising using labels called 'tags' that allow users to associate keywords with online content (webpages, pictures etc.). Social Bookmarking is not like library subject cataloging, which follows a strict set of guidelines. Social bookmarking is completely unstructured and allows you to create labels for data in any way you want. For instance, if you are exploring the term 'Web 2.0' you might feel as a participant of this programme that the term '23 Things' has more meaning for you.

How is Delicious different to bookmarking on my own PC?

Using a Delicious account allows you to access your favourite sites from any computer. You can also send bookmarks to friends or colleagues that you feel might interest them and you can check out their bookmarks too. Delicious focuses a lot on the community aspect of bookmarking and offers many opportunities for sharing bookmarks with others. For example, you can check out bookmarks in an area of interest to you - Library 2.0, Blogging etc. 

Some relevant terms

Taxonomy - refers to a structured method of categorisation (like a library catalogue). Read more on Wikipedia.
Folksonomy - refers to an unstructured method of categorisation which has developed from Social Bookmarking. Folksonomies develop from the tags or categories that users have applied. Read more on Wikipedia.

Still confused? This video about Social bookmarking created by Common Craft might help.

Thing 5: Explore Delicious, set up an account and share bookmarks with 23 Things participants 
Part 1: Set up a Delicious Account
Delicious is a free online social bookmarking application, please set up an account. Get started with Delicious.
Remember! Ensure you record your username and password in your 23 Things diary.

Part 2: Add some bookmarks to your Delicious Account.
Use your Delicious account to save some webpages and add tags based on your own meaning. For example, as you are currently participating in the 23 Things Programme and this relates to the world of Web 2.0, sites about Web 2.0 might be tagged as 23 Things.

Don't forget to blog about your experience! 

Extra Activities (Optional)

1. Exlplore the 23 Things SPD Delicious account. Check out the Delicious page created for this programme.

2. Sharing on Delicious.

Share your bookmarks with your fellow 23 Things participants by 'sharing' with the Delicious account 'twentythreethingsspd'. You can share with your bookmarks with others who have a Delicious account directly from the Delicious website. You can also share with others via twitter or email. For this exercise you will share bookmarks via Delicious.

To share a bookmark to the 23 Things Delicious account:

(i) Click the 'Share' link on your toolbar and select Delicious.

(ii)Enter 'twentythreethingsspd' in the address bar. 

Add a message in the message field stating what type of bookmarks you are sharing and add your blog name to identify your contribution. 

3. Use the subscribe tool to check out the bookmarks which are available under a particular topic eg. 'blogging'.

4. Check out another social bookmarking site Diigo. Compare your experience of this application with that of Delicious. Which application did you prefer using and why? Which was easier to use? Playtime! This week - Tag Clouds.Time to have a little fun with Web 2.0. Tag clouds are images generated from text or direct from a URL. You can make a tag cloud of your 23 Things blog. Read more are at Wikipedia. Make a tag cloud of your blog at one of the following sites: Wordle or Tagul.

Tag cloud of 23 Things @ SPD blog below. See also 23 Things @ SPD cloud at http://tagul.com/preview?id=23557@1

Don't forget to blog about your experience! 

23 Things Programme: Week 1

Welcome to the 23 Things Programme blog!
The first part of the programme will run from 28th March to May 6th 2011 and is open to all Cregan Library staff. During this time you are invitied to explore the first "13 Things" - discovery exercises designed to help you explore the world of Web 2.0 applications. The exercises will be grouped into weekly blocks and each week will address a specific theme. Additional exercises will also be included for each theme. These exercises are entirely optional and are designed to support the continued exploration of the relevant theme. This week the theme is 'Getting Started' and involves 3 exercises listed below.

Thing 1: Read about the 23 Things programme
Read the following pages from the 23 Things @ SPD blog.

• Getting Started
• FAQs 
• The first 13 Things

Thing 2: Set up a Google account and create an iGoogle page

Part 1: Set up a google account

You will need a google account to use some of the applications in the 23 Things programme. Please set up a Google account and keep a note of your username and password. If you already have a Google account, you may wish to set up a separate account for the 23 Things Programme. First watch this video about how to set up your account. You can also follow these guidelines from Google on setting up an account.

Part 2: Create an iGoogle Page

Learn more about iGoogle. There are endless gadgets available for your iGoogle page. The sample page below includes a currency convertor, spanish word a day, weather forecast, Irish Times home page, quote of the day etc. Click on the image to enlarge.

Thing 3: Find out about blogs, set up your own 23 Things blog and publish your first blog posting.

New to blogging?

Some of you will be new to the concept of blogging, if you are new to blogging please take a look at the Wikipedia entry for blogs. This video create by Common Craft may also be useful Blogging in Plain English created by Common Craft www.commoncraft.com.

Creating your 23 Things blog

If you are new to blogging, we recommend using Blogger to set up your own 23 Things blog. Blogger is a free online blog hosting service which is easy to use. This tutorial will help you get started: Blogger.com tutorial. You can select who you would like to view your blog, however as part of this programme you mus allow access by the 23 Things main blog. Find out more here about privacy settings and permissions.

Checklist for Getting Started with Blogger
There are only 4 short steps to getting started with your blog on Blogger.
1. Set up an account.
If you have already set up your google account as in Thing no. 2, you can sign in using this username and password.
2. Name your blog.
Blogger will check to see if your chosen blog name is available, just click on the link 'check availability'. Make a note in your 23 Things diary of your blog name.
3. Decide on a template.
If this is your first blog, it is probably best to set up a simple blog to start with. You can explore the various features and gadgets as you progress through the programme.
4. Post a message to your blog.
Post a message about your experience this week. Write about how you feel about 23 Things, are you excited? Are you concerned? Is there anything you would like to learn about.

Useful Tips
If you are comfortable with blogging, please feel free to use whichever service you prefer. Remember you can blog under a screen name, anonymously, or as yourself.

Congratulations you have completed week one of the 23 Things Programme! 

Don't forget to add an entry to your blog telling us about your experience so far. If you are eager to learn more, there are some extra activities available below.

Extra Activities (optional)
The 23 Things Programme has been offered at 300 libraries worldwide. Take a look at some of these blogs to learn about other participants' experiences.

23 Things at University of Limerick.
The original 23 Things Programme at the Public Library of Mecklenberg and Charlotte

Good luck with the exercises and please email 23things@spd.dcu.ie if you need assistance.