Yahoo I've finished!!

Well I really didn't think I would complete this and found by just doing a bit at a time and having a bit of time to think the exercises over, I managed it. I am really pleased as I would have never learnt so much 'web stuff' as I am not that interested in computers. I found it quite hard going as I did the exercises at home and didn't have anyone at hand to discuss things with. I feel I may have learnt a bit more if I had discussed things a bit. It was a valuable journey and with my children growing up will have a bit more of an idea of what is available on the web. I feel a little more up with the times in the area of technology!!

Social networking

I think it is a good way to reach young people with Library information, what's going on etc that may not use the library already. Great idea for study support groups/ reading groups. I am showing my age as can't really get too excited about it. 

My Space and Facebook

Good to learn about these as had heard of them but didn't really know much about them. I wouldn't use them but can see why people do. They would be great for support groups, event organising etc and for people with a keen interest who want to correspond with other like minded people. Not for me though as prefer the old fashioned way of talking to people face to face but never say never!!

ebooks

I searched for "Pride and Predjudice" on the Project Gutenburg website and was very easy to do. Found there was text and audio formats. The whole idea is great and the availability and ease of searching for information/books incredible.  Although, call me old fashioned, but nothing beats having a 'proper' book in your hand!    

podcasts

Great idea and I set up an RSS feed to "the Great Reads Radio Show"which would be great to listen to if I had the time. Also liked www.bigpod.co.nz where I listened to "Hot Science with Kim Hill". 

All really interesting stuff but I would never make time to use them unless I was studying or helping my kids research stuff.

Youtube

I enjoyed looking at Salsa dancing videos as love dancing and want to get along to a Salsa class with my husband. We have done some latin and ballroom classes but no Salsa as yet so watch out when my foot is better. In the meantime I could brush up on the moves on Youtube couldn't I. As for using it in the library, we are trying to get people more active aren't we - there would be lots of videos to generate movement amongst our patrons!!

web 2.0

I enjoyed looking at the "Revolution Health"site and thought the amount of information was amazing and very up to date. Enjoyed looking at the "symptom checker" and again so much information. Didn't like all the advertising though. Could be useful in the library for all those hypochondriacs out there!!

Zoho Writer

Enjoyed this site and was impressed how easy it was to format documents with all the icons so easily accessible. I would use this site again.

Rollyo

http://www.rollyo.com/china.girl/

Was easy to register and set up my searchrolls. Took the easy way out and selected suggested websites. Don't think I would use this unless I regularly looked at the same websites and needed quick recall of them.

Library Thing

Found this really easy to join up and also add names of books. Like the idea of getting book recommendations too. I tried to tag some of my books under subjects cycling and travel but didn't work. I like easy websites like this.  http://www.librarything.com/catalog/china.girl

Image Generators

Quite enjoyed this one - played around making some Christmas cards and was impressed how easy it was to do. See http://www.electricdecember.org/02/content/06/present.htm

Sandbox wiki

I enjoyed this one and found it so easy to use. The easiest yet.

wikis

I found this quite interesting. Impressed with the library wikis that showed new books in the system and was so easy to browse around the subject headings for people who are not exactly sure what they are looking for. A community group wiki for our library would be great as we get lots of queries regarding this and don't have enough information to always help people.

web 2.0/library 2.0

Tried to read and take in all the information on this but have a fuzzy brain today due to interrupted sleep last night due to sick kids. Anyway, what these advances mean to me is that I will always have something new to learn during my career at the library which is great for the brain cells.

Technorati

Didn't enjoy this one. Got a bit confused but found different search results for blog posts, tags and in the blog directory which I had trouble finding. Just want to move on. Have had sick kids so has slowed progress!!

Del.icio.us

Think this would be very useful for students and people with a keen interest in a hobby etc. Also is good to be able to see what sites other people have found by looking at other people tags. Can't see how to access the comments that are added.  Anyway another exercise completed!!!

ex 7 RSS

I managed to set myself up with a bloglines account okay and then choosing some "bloglines quick picks" was easy. Spent quite a lot of time trying to copy another RSS feed but eventually set up a feed from TVNZ top stories. Still need more practice but need to get cracking as I'm way behind!!

ex 6

I'm not up with all the latest technology but still find email great. I'm really bad at keeping in contact by writing letters so emailing my overseas friends is perfect for me. Also being able to email photos from our digital camera is great (actually my husband does that for me). I'm such a technophobe but that is why I'm doing this course! 

I was very interested in 'Trip Planner"as is great the way you can check out what people thought of the places they visited and stayed. Also good to see some photos and that you can access such recent information too.

Finally have been able to carry on with my blogging. Problems with my computer and a sore foot not to helpful. I enjoyed looking at places I have visited in my travels on flickr and even found a picture of someone's fine bone china tea cup sets. See francescabrown. Wow I  have managed to copy the link!!

Phew!! I've got this far. The only problem with calling my blog "Chinamania"is that I have to talk about my china collection and I don't have enough to talk about for 10 weeks. Maybe I could digress to yummy recipes to put ON my china!