Monday 21 February 2011

Pink sky at night - bloggers delight

Had quite a good play around with Diigo today (he didn't mind) and apart from a few quibbles, mostly I'm sorry to say with the instructions, I think it's a very good tool and I will get a lot out of it. I like the highlighting and post it function and that my home favs and work will merge creating a big mess.
I cannot get the tags to function as I would like and recommend sorting them out as much as possible before importing them, just in case they become widowed (ahh).
I really don't want to create an account with Zotero or Endnote Web, so I have just looked at them for now. I don't think they will help me day to day although if I was studying then it all sounds very useful, the video for Zotero looked impressive, but that's marketing for you.

Camping at Hadrians Wall (we set it on fire to keep warm)

Tuesday 15 February 2011

Rose tinted glasses

I'm definitely going to run out of pink related colours any minute... now. The past few weeks following the programme has by turns been interesting, frustrating (I'm not technical) and exciting! I will miss it when it's done and dusted. For me it's a case of use it or loose it, so I am persevering with Twitter, even though it should be 'intuitive' to use.  I have also enjoyed doing the blogs, after an initial embarrassment about it. I need more time to investigate what I can do with the technology and just get to know the functionality better to gain confidence, when that happens - who knows where it could lead? We are already doodling meetings within the team, so that's been helpful and I will look into using FireFox as a browser, but maybe at home instead.
I don't know how this will help in my everyday work but the main thing for me is the confidence to try out the new technology - with support, enjoy it and find the application for it as I go along.

Monday 14 February 2011

Rosy cheeks

I have a Facebook account but I deactivated it due to the amount of time involved managing it and having unwanted contact, although now I would just happily delete everyone I didn't like! I have been looking at some libraries today on Facebook. I was very interested (as a Brummie) about the plans for the new main library in Birmingham. It's a great way to get younger people involved and to have a certain amount of ownership of the project when it opens. It's free publicity and gives a personality in a way to a public building.
I also had a look at our own page which had lots of current info but it would be nice to see short videos and more photos- perhaps of the refurbishment.
I think it's good to have a Facebook page for a library, you can easily promote services, visiting authors, future plans, book choices, awards - everything! However, if like me you don't put the time and effort into looking after you 'face' you will be deleted from your audience and like any website if it's boring, out of date or badly constructed no-one will want to visit you.

Friday 11 February 2011

I won't give it a Raspberry

Well, today I logged into my Twitter account @henhewit so please Tweet me when you have half a minute so I can practise. I already had an account but was ignorant at the time in what I could do with it and why, so it's very nice to have found out more. Suzanne has given me some very useful help and feedback so thanks a million to her. I'm Tweeting away to fellow 23 thingers now after adding a handy gadget to the iGoogle page.
I did fall out with iGoogle after a week as I was getting a little distracted with the hamster and stuff but we're friends again now- happy days!
I have followed the other advice about Tweeting and just added it to my blog. My enthusiasm was waning a little for the 23 things, but I've perked up again now, I think the rest week was a good idea.
Apologies for the labels thing I have put it all right now.
I will blog again about thing 12 because I have run out of time..