I have made two comments on David Pringle's blog here and here.
I also made two comments on Danielle Klumanta's blog here and here.
Thursday, 24 November 2011
Exercise 14. Add authors
Exercise 13. Page arrangement
I was fairly happy already with the initial page layout so I didn't add or change many aspects of it. The first gadget I added was a gadget to show how many people have visited my blog at the bottom of the page. The second gadget was a search box at the top right hand corner to make it easy to navigate through my blog via searching. I also made the blog archive gadget wider so that the labels didn't look so cramped on the side.
Exercise 12. Colour and design
As is probably very obvious i have altered some aspects of my blog in order to personalise it. I started out by adding a dark background image of 'dark wood' to give it a more sombre and cozy feel. I then decided to change the text to white and background of the post section to black to fit the newer darker theme. The white text especially comes up nicely on the dark background. I also made the links yellow to help them stand out in the new theme.
Exercise 11. Recommendations
I don't know which libraries in the world have the 'best practises' to try and emulate or how using separate categories such as 'adult fiction' or 'reference' is really applicable to 2.0 technologies so I'm going to go ahead and just tell you the first steps I'd take in making the Warringah Library Service 2.0 friendly.
The first recommendation I'd give to the Warringah Library Services would be to create a Facebook page. This is one of the first major steps in embracing 2.0 technology. Having a Facebook page gives you access to a huge market in terms of advertising. Not only is it a large untapped resource but it also costs next to nothing except for a small time investment. As well as the advertising and larger chance to reach new customers it also lets you keep in touch with your clients and allows them to provide instant feedback about their experiences. The librarians can also use it as a portal for promoting events and activities or upcoming releases to their clients creating a much higher level of interaction between the clients and the library community.
Once a Facebook page has been created you can then start to add social media buttons to your website in order to promote your Facebook page. This lets people know that you have a Facebook page and helps to show potential clients that you're abreast of the times, making them more likely to partake of your services.
Likewise with the Facebook page they could also create a twitter account for people to follow. It is a very popular technology and an easy way to get quick instant messages out to the people who are interested in them.
The first recommendation I'd give to the Warringah Library Services would be to create a Facebook page. This is one of the first major steps in embracing 2.0 technology. Having a Facebook page gives you access to a huge market in terms of advertising. Not only is it a large untapped resource but it also costs next to nothing except for a small time investment. As well as the advertising and larger chance to reach new customers it also lets you keep in touch with your clients and allows them to provide instant feedback about their experiences. The librarians can also use it as a portal for promoting events and activities or upcoming releases to their clients creating a much higher level of interaction between the clients and the library community.
Once a Facebook page has been created you can then start to add social media buttons to your website in order to promote your Facebook page. This lets people know that you have a Facebook page and helps to show potential clients that you're abreast of the times, making them more likely to partake of your services.
Likewise with the Facebook page they could also create a twitter account for people to follow. It is a very popular technology and an easy way to get quick instant messages out to the people who are interested in them.
Exercise 10. Evaluation
The Warringah Library service offers the use of some 2.0 technologies but doesn't utilise them for every part of their service.
The Local Area section of the library offers access to pictures of the area, an index of street names and an oral history project. Other fields that they can assist you with are
The children's area is a bit more interactive as it starts using the web to intergrate systems of learning and reading and educational games via the library website. While this might not be true 2.0 technology it is a step in the right direction to keeping abreast of the times.
The youth section of the library is starting to integrate their web services very closely with other services they provide such as Get Your Game On, HSC Help, Ask A Librarian, Online Resources, eBooks, A place to meet. Perhaps. Because of the target audience (which can be assumed is more tech savvy) the library seems to be utilising 2.0 technologies more so in this area than others.
The Adult fiction and reference sections allow users to add reviews online of the books they've used. They can also add tags they think are appropriate to the book and you can also just add a comment under 'community discussion' if they want to quickly discuss the book. This is a great use of 2.0 technologies as it is getting the users involved not only with the books but also with each other and the service provider.
The Local Area section of the library offers access to pictures of the area, an index of street names and an oral history project. Other fields that they can assist you with are
- Aboriginal history
- Social history
- Geography and geology
- Built and natural environment
- Contemporary environmental and social issues
- Books
- Reports and environmental studies
- Maps and plans
- Photographs
- Local newspapers
- Oral histories
- Newspaper clippings file
The children's area is a bit more interactive as it starts using the web to intergrate systems of learning and reading and educational games via the library website. While this might not be true 2.0 technology it is a step in the right direction to keeping abreast of the times.
The youth section of the library is starting to integrate their web services very closely with other services they provide such as Get Your Game On, HSC Help, Ask A Librarian, Online Resources, eBooks, A place to meet. Perhaps. Because of the target audience (which can be assumed is more tech savvy) the library seems to be utilising 2.0 technologies more so in this area than others.
The Adult fiction and reference sections allow users to add reviews online of the books they've used. They can also add tags they think are appropriate to the book and you can also just add a comment under 'community discussion' if they want to quickly discuss the book. This is a great use of 2.0 technologies as it is getting the users involved not only with the books but also with each other and the service provider.
Exercise 9. Community profiles
The Warringah Council area includes the suburbs and rural localities of Allambie Heights, Beacon Hill, Belrose, Brookvale, Collaroy, Cottage Point, Cromer, Curl Curl, Davidson, Dee Why, Duffys Forest, Forestville, Frenchs Forest, Freshwater, Ingleside (part), Killarney Heights, Manly Vale, Narrabeen, Narraweena, North Balgowlah, North Curl Curl, North Manly, Oxford Falls, Queenscliff, Terrey Hills and Wheeler Heights.
Warringah Council is a mainly residential area, with some smaller rural areas (mainly in the north). There are also substantial industrial and commercial areas. Warringah encompasses a total land area of 153 square kilometres and has a population of ca. 145,000.
Warringah Council Site
Warringah Library Service
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