Saturday, February 12, 2011

 The BookMyne™ app, created by SirsiDynix, allows Apple iPod, iPad and iPhone users to access library accounts. BookMyne™ allows users to locate books in their local library. When browsing a bookstore the Barcode scanning application allows you to scan a barcode and use that to search the library catalogue. Patrons can find participating libraries with a GPS-enabled map and instantly search the catalogue, access your library account, place holds and renew items.

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Ebooks via the library's Overdrive service continue to be popular with patrons and more books have been added and shared by the participating libraries and more will be added in the future. A clear benefit of Ebooks is that patrons can access them remotely and move them to mobile devices allowing mobility, however some issues have arisen including the accessibility patrons have depending on the compatibility of the PC and mobile device they use.


Friday, December 3, 2010

Ashfield Library provides access to "Yourtutor". This free service connects Ashfield library members who are currently students at primary and high school to tutors who provide guidance and coaching in the main school subjects. Schools and libraries use yourtutor because it allows remote, safe and high level help to students. It include file transfer and chat so students can ask questions and get immediate answers from tutors.

Friday, February 6, 2009

Ashfield Library provides patrons with the opportunity to write a book review and post it inside the library catalogue. This service connects Ashfield library patrons with both library staff and other patrons with the only constraints being that reviews are moderated for language and appropriateness.


Saturday, January 24, 2009

Ashfield Library joins with other Australian libraries in support of making 2012 the National Year of Reading. Our ongoing aim is to connect our community to our services and to other things that are already happening around books and reading. Libraries promote literacy and support a range of beneficial programs and events that take place in Australia. The international year of Reading is a key program we support.

Saturday, January 17, 2009

Mashup

I have managed to create a calender and use my own photo to frame it. There may be a range of uses that mashups like this could be used for. Photos taken of events maybe edited into a mashup for a blog and this may create interest and colour to a blog. A calender like this might be able to be populated with an events timetable and the photo might illustrate particular library events.

Podcasts

Podcasts are a great way to listen to radio programs. ABC Radio National lists many of their radio shows which can be subscribed to or downlowded. The best thing about podcasts are that you can listen to past programs you may have missed, and combined with RSS, you can monitor and download all programs that interest you. Recordings made by individuls who want to create audio information on an issue that interests them. One example I really like is "New Ausie Tech Heads" which you can subscribe to in iTunes or via the "thesecrethub" webpage. This podcast is a discussion about a wide range of technology related issues, however the program hosts talk about issues such as copyright and the development of technology products, and can be quite amusing. There are so many podcasts and vodcasts that special Search Engines, such as Podscope, have been created to search for then, and Google and Yahoo have this facility as well.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

YouTube and Google Video

Online video has flourished around the Internet and really provides some fantastic opportunities to discover and view resources. One recent example was a dicussion about a film called, "Who killed the electric car". This was discussed on a televison interview and It is available on Google Video . While the quality could be improved, the information is there. Technology, including digital camera technology may provide us with more data and information than ever before in history. I have embedded a film here from TED.

Tuesday, January 13, 2009

Del.icio.us

I have added a bookmark to Del.icio.us today and quite like browsing through the bookmarks. Libraries maybe able to use this took to improve website search on behalf of patrons. While searching the web with key words provides access, a auxillory search useing Del.icio.us may uncover a wider range of websites and therefore enhance the web browsing staff undertake on behalf of their patrons. This website has features I have yet to fully exploit, however it quickly turns up websites which are new and often following the most popular links directs you to very interesting sites. Sharing bookmarks for websites is a very common activity and this takes the sharing out to a much wider scale allowing people unknown and divided by the tyrany of distance to share common and useful resources.

LibraryThing

LibraryThing is a great website for booklovers and is interesting for Libraries. LibraryThing can be integrated into Library OPAC's and this option may permit a degree of social networking and connection among users of LibraryThing. Within LibraryThing, allows users to create an account and to catalogue their books so that other users of the website can view the catalogue entries and see reviews of friends and like minded users. libraryThing has a social aspect to it.