Week 16 - Discovery

It is amazing how many things are available on the net.

I only looked at a few (I could easily spend weeks browsing and exploring) but was impressed with most of them.

The Vufind is a great tool for libraries, particularly small libraries. At a previous position, our library was to small for most of the general management software packages but this would have been perfect.

I wasn't so sure about the Go2web20.net. I found the screen full of icons to be more distracting than useful.

Regardless, it is nice to know that these things exist.

As with the other participants, may I thank Leslie and Lynette for all of their work in setting up and running an interesting and informative session.

Now back to playing!

Flowcharts & Mindmaps - Week 15

Aren't these great tools! I really wish that I had a use for them at the moment but as soon as I get something I am really going to use them to the max.

I had a look at all of the pages - Gliffy and Flowchart.com for the flowcharts (obviously!) and Bubbl.us and MindMeister for the Mindmaps.

All of them create really clear and easy to understand depictions that look really professional.

It was surprising how the different layouts between Bubbl.us and MindMeiser made the information appear so different.

Brilliant tools.

Newsletters - Week 14

Newsletters are something that I don't really need at the moment but it is good to know that things such as LetterPop are available if and when I need them.

My sister should be sending out a newsletter so I think that she will find this a really useful tool. The drop and drag element was really easy to use and it was really fast to mock up a good looking product.

E-books - Week 13

I have had a few encounters with eBooks but prefer the real thing if I have an option. I find reading at the computer is more tiring than finding somewhere cosy with the traditional book.

There is also the problem that if you are using an eBook through a library you may not be able to read it if someone else is using it. Same problem I suppose as with a paper book but it just feels more annoying.

Audio books though look as if they might have a few more advantages. My partner and I do a lot of travelling and it would be great to be able to download a book to listen to while driving.

Browsing through the sites provided turned up quite a few that I wouldn't mind listening to. I could be using this sooner rather than later.

Youtube - Week 12

Youtube is a really enjoyable and dangerous thing. It is way to easy to loose all track of time.

Some of my favourite clips include the Cat Herders, the Pandas and the Bike Safe ad. Here are the Cats.

Podcasts - Week 11

I have used podcasts in a number of ways. When I was studying by distance last year, all of my lectures came as podcasts. Very handy in that I didn't have to be in class to hear the lecture and I could also hear it at a time and place of my choosing.

I am also addicted to StarStuff on NewsRadio. Since it went off the air recently, the only way to listen to the show is to download the podcast.

Rollyo - Week 10

This I like.

I can put all of my bookmarks into Rollyo and use it for searching. I can split them up into subject areas and really make a difference when I try to remember which is the best site to use for each query.

I am going to get a lot of use out of Rollyo.