tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-68368239536246261342024-02-08T10:06:39.264-08:00PygmalionpostsBigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-60171166770854581242010-02-25T21:52:00.001-08:002010-02-25T21:52:34.330-08:008.05 a.m<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/441852326/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/197/441852326_c6050f41bc_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/phill_dvsn/441852326/">8.05 a.m</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/phill_dvsn/">phill.d</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>This one I found when i searched 'Ivanhoe' in Flickr. Haven't foun where the clock is, yet. Those guys had short skirts!</p>BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-6267995841267358462010-02-25T21:44:00.000-08:002010-02-25T21:45:24.602-08:00Still Week 5Hm. I tried to subscribe to imageshack with my gmail account. But o message came back in gmail from them.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-23321225982296883132010-01-24T22:58:00.000-08:002010-01-24T23:01:56.719-08:00Week # 5Library Thing is great. I should have been using it ages ago. For someone like me who borrows more books that I buy, I can never remeber enough about a book to go back to it whne I want to know the good ones I've read. There's a ripper for librarians I will blog about next time - remember the story but not the name. I'd love to read it again - the old story. Anyway, I'll be using Library Thing some more.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-43596542205226003382010-01-21T21:56:00.000-08:002010-01-21T22:02:29.378-08:00Week # 4 Second lIfeSecond Life took a while to load so not much time to blog. I wondered, if I created an event on SL, I could count all the visitors on stats for my branch. I also realised I could create in SL tthe game I have buzzing around in my head if I spent the time learnnig the skills to 'build', like 'The companion' that Frigg Ragu created.<br />It's a bit like the battle between VHS and Beta though - how many virtula worls do we need to create a library in B4 we get into the right one?<br />There's a novel - probably many - but one I've read, about an an avatar that can change events in the 'real' world. I'll try and get its name for the next post. Library's closing 0 GTG.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-76262688565740249652009-12-17T21:52:00.000-08:002009-12-17T21:54:47.196-08:00YPRL week #3 found itThere's my week 2 post all along. Oh dear, what the girls call a man-look. You look and look and its in front of you.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-33160682790954998822009-12-17T21:45:00.000-08:002009-12-17T21:52:23.190-08:00YPRL Week #3Well, that's funny. I can't find my last post. (That'd be a good name for a bugle call.)Pity. It was quite detailed. Anyway, Today I signed up on iGoogle. I chose a theme with a froggy in a boat and got a teahouse instead. I added Aust. weather radar which is a very grainy repro of the bom.site and a tree frog gadget which, at present, is blank. Not having much luck with frogs. I do like the books feeds and I thing the technology one might be useful, too. I wonder in my own mind if the social add-ons have been overtaken by Facebook. I won't write more now in case this post is lost, too.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-31163400646095871172009-12-16T21:19:00.000-08:002009-12-16T22:12:41.797-08:00YPRL week # 2I started my Google browse by hunting for a little program my friend told me about, which he used to make a 3D scale drwing of the stage set for a play we did at the local theatre group. Its called Google Sketchup. I didn't wait for it to download - took too long. <br />I've added a couple of planning sheets to GoogleDocs for fun. I couldn't find out how to edit them, but I'll share them with another CL when I do.<br />I searched Ivanhoe Library on Google Maps. After adding 'Victoria' ( I didn't know there was an Ivanhoe in NSW - have twin libraries) I found that Google Maps thinks we are in Ivanhoe East on Lower Heidelberg Road. So I reported a problem to them. Oops, that's Media. Ishould have told Suzanne.<br />I check Google Books for a relatively unknown, but documented, figure in history called Wiiliam of Rubroeck. He's there - in some cases you can read the entire text. (Ispent a bit too long browsing, It's a trap)The last time I was looking for him I found a translation of the book he wrote for King Louis of France. I forget which Louis. I think it was the saint because he led a crusade. It just goes to show that I should have written down my sources, same as for book research. I can't find William's book now. I'll have to start again.<br />I tried out the Translate function on Google with the text of a notice that I have had translated by a native speaker already. The first attempt interpreted the English too literally to make sense. Adjusting the English a bit brought the French to clumsy but understandable version of what I meant. I put in a simpler text and asked for a French, then a Chinese translation. The French didn't seem to deal with basic differences in word order in he languages. The Chinese showed me that the system has Chinese characters available, but Lu wasn't heare to check if it was any good. I maust ask her tomorrow.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-73562913346785811622009-12-14T20:15:00.000-08:002009-12-14T20:20:39.734-08:00# 1 YPRL week oneWell, that was easy. I can use the blog from my last attempt at 23 things. I s'pose I'd better add a photo or something. Make up a whole new librarian that belongs to this century. But later - sorry - it's teatime now and then I have a desk roster.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-73850932040753819272009-12-13T22:12:00.000-08:002009-12-13T22:19:44.868-08:00New startI'm starting the 23 things all over again with new library service. That'll bring a 20th cent. librarian running fast into the 21st. I need to log in wireless laptops and lots of stuff my boys can do already. I think the tasks are different now. Soon it's internet radio. Next its make your own video.<br /><br />Me - I'm still looking for a tutorial on online job applications. 'Cos that's the main thing people ask us about when we're on roving reference. (That's not the title, but it's got a nice ring to it.)BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-23679543611992990532008-09-29T15:06:00.000-07:002008-09-29T15:36:48.865-07:00L2 unconference #1If you don' close libraries for a day a week like they did in the old days ( and some still do), how can you get the use of a lovely big <span class="blsp-spelling-corrected" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">space</span> like <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Thomastown</span> library for a one-day conference?<br />This one started curiously paper-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">wise</span> for a meeting on <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">technology</span> and games. The get-to know-you <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">warm</span>-up was making paper planes. Well, my group made a plane. The distance <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">winners</span> were the group that screwed up their paper in a ball and threw it. And here I must raise the question : Why, when my group with only one male in it was asked to choose a 'pilot', did about half the members immediately look at him and one actually pointed? He didn't seem displeased to accept. And why, when all dozen or so pilots came to the front to throw their paper flying creations, were only one or two <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">female</span> in a conference with a gender balance of probably just <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">over</span> half male?<br /><br />It's called an <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">unconference</span> partly 'cos there's no set program. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">There's</span> a <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_10">whiteboard</span> with a grid, and four events with invited presenters. <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_11">WE're</span> all gathered around the edge of quite a large meeting room, no furniture in the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_12">miggle</span>, and several giant pads of post-it note are laid in the center, and we're all in<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_13">vited</span> to write in a topic we would like to have <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_14">dicussed</span>, with the proviso that if we put in a topic we have to be prepared to lead the discussion if its chosen. So far so good.<br />Then the sheets are stuck up on the windows, the facilitator reads <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_15">each</span> suggested topic out to an audience most of whom have lost <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_16">interest</span> while waiting, and we're asked to choose which topics might fit together i themes for discussion. Few <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_17">contributed</span> to this. Most <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_18">could'nt</span> see the sheets, some couldn't hear the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_19">facilitator</span> on her portable <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_20">speaker</span>.<br /><br />For me, all <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_21">taht was</span> show-democracy that didn't work an took too long. Why not canvass opinions electronically in the weeks prior the the event? People like e who don't check blogs and register really late <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_22">gon't</span> get a say. So what?<br /><br /><strong>Games in libraries</strong><br /><strong></strong><br />First <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_23">session</span> I went to was led by a guy from Charlotte-<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_24">Mecklenburg</span> library (<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_25">CMPLS</span>) in the USA. (More later. Stop for spellcheck. My boss is <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_26">readin</span> this<br /><br />in subsequent posts I'll tell what happened in the ones I went toBigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-15760929182528245092007-12-03T17:31:00.000-08:002007-12-03T17:37:54.119-08:00#5 FlickrThis was an exercise in learning from my son (16 1/2). I got confused with the steps to enable this blog on Flickr until he showed me how to create tabs in Explorer - so simple but I didn't know. So I could keep the instructions on one screen while I followed the steps on another. He was very patient. So far it's all steps and little fun. I'll have to find time to go back and make more posts to enjoy it.<br /><br />BigAlBigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-71325627737297269342007-12-03T17:05:00.001-08:002007-12-03T17:05:08.247-08:00State Library of Victoria : North-Westerly View IX<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdra/1721303720/" title="photo sharing"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2402/1721303720_8bea37f020_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: solid 2px #000000;" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: 0.9em; margin-top: 0px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pdra/1721303720/">North-Westerly View IX</a> <br />Originally uploaded by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/pdra/">サンドラ</a></span><br clear="all" /><p>I like this photo because it gives an opposing vision to the corner of a library sticking out of the footpath opposite Melbourne Central station. Don't get me wrong - I love that sculpture because it sends a powerful message we should never forget. The Pompeii exhibition next year wil reinforce that.<br />But this one shows the State Library's new dome standing proudly in its place among the commercial hub of thge city. The view of the suburbs reminds us of the number of people potentially touched y the library. And the sunset and open sky makes me think of endless possibilities.<br />Big Al</p>BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-33849384736383026742007-12-03T16:52:00.001-08:002007-12-03T16:52:24.236-08:00FlickrThis is a test post from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/r/testpost"><img alt="flickr" src="http://www.flickr.com/images/flickr_logo_blog.gif" width="41" height="18" border="0" align="absmiddle" /></a>, a fancy photo sharing thing.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-4497956835671310962007-10-23T17:37:00.000-07:002007-10-23T17:49:59.545-07:0039 steps cont'dSo, the lady at the copier knows exactly what type of copy she needs but hasn't quite the English to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">explain</span> it, and two library staff twice her tiny height who are assuming that because of her age and her accent she does not know what the new copier can do. My colleague is so used to training that she treats everyone as a trainee (she used the phrase "Good girl" to a sixteen year-old who agreed that, yes, she did know her PIN number), And I'm the new staff member who finally sees that, although I don't know the new machine, if we take it slowly and listen the lady will show us what she wants.<br /><br />The lady got her copy, eventually. She politely thanked me when I was very little help. There's a few things you could draw from this encounter, but for now it's enough to say that going through the checklist of our assumptions might be just as important as going through the instruction in the user manual.BigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6836823953624626134.post-1882120632349467762007-10-23T03:01:00.000-07:002007-10-23T03:31:04.908-07:0039 stepsOurs is one of many public libraries which have installed copying and printing activated by membership card in the same way as unis and many schools. So instead of putting coins directly in the photocopier box you scan your card and deposit coins in a separate box on the wall, then scan your card agin at the copier/printer, select your print job, and print.<br /><br />It's not quite 39 steps but there's more than the three steps the training advertised. WE're all carfully taking the public through their paces learning the new system. Many people patiently learn it, accepting that it takes twice as long to make a photocopy for no extra advantage to them, and that they must type in a 14 digit membership number to obtain a hard-copy print from the web. Some people, mostly elderly males, walk out angrily saying ' This is too complicated'<br /><br />My colleague, a very efficient circulation supervisor, and I wer helping an elderlt Chines lady to make a coloulr copy with the new system. She had used it once before, but our minds were so much in the groove (there's an outdated metaphor. What's the CD update - in the pits? Flasgdrive - in the circuit? MP3 - in the download?) of training people in copy cards that it tok a while to see that the lady did not want help with that, but with how to use the copier touch screen to make a copy that was in colour, reducing a double-page A3 sized spread to A4.<br /><br />Closing bell's gone. To be continuedBigAlhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16026827360927490281noreply@blogger.com0