Web conference

I am shocked to see that it has been more than 3 weeks since I last blogged! How time flies!
I have just participated in my first web training conference, hosted by SLQ. It was less than successful. I really needed a headphone/mic set. I only had headphones, which were dicey and kept fading in and out unless I held onto the cord. There was provision to text if you had no mic, but not being experienced with IM and having to hold onto the headphones with one hand, it was all a bit much to handle in mid-afternoon!
Also, because the screen size is diminished it wasn't always easy to follow the facilitator's cursor around the screen. However, the training did broaden my knowledge of Library PressDisplay. Things, as always, can only improve with better equipment and more experience!

Delicious

I have been using delicious for a while, and for me it has been one of the most useful web 2.0 tools. If you move around the libraries using different desks, you don't have to save your favourites on each computer - they are all together in one place. I also use it to park useful websites I discover while doing reference queries. Tagging them then makes it easy to find all saved sites on a similar topic.

I like the fact that you can have private and public bookmarks. I have made sites like online banking private, and they are then easily accessible when you are travelling, for example.

I had a look at Digg - didn't do much for me, so I haven't signed up.

Blog reading list

I have belatedly realized I can set up a reading list of blogs I wish to follow on my blog dashboard. I am giving it a go - I think it might suit me better than doing it by RSS feeds. We'll see how it goes! It will depend on me accessing my blog regularly though!!

More mashups

More fun with mashups. I agree with Warren - Mosaic Maker is great

Mashups

I have really enjoyed checking out the links in the mashups activity, and have managed to produce a slideshow of some of the photos I have on Flickr. See the bottom of this blog for the results!

Flickr

Have had fun playing with Flickr this afternoon. To see the results go to http://www.flickr.com/photos/dawden/

Twitter

I have been twittering (tweeting?) this week. I have to admit I started with a pretty negative attitude - I have no interest in the mundane details of other peoples lives!
I was shocked to discover that anyone finding or following me was able to see who I am following. No opportunity for secret vices here! For someone who values their personal space highly, I feel this is opening the door for others to invade it!
From a professional point of view, I can see that this can keep you in touch with the leaders in any particular field.
I started following the Townsville Bulletin. They seem to post their most prominent headlines, so, as I read the paper every morning, I have given that up. However, when I go away on holidays I might start again - seems an easy way to keep up with what's happening in town.
From the library's point of view, this could be used to alert the Twitter community about current activities and programs.
I am still not convinced that Twitter is useful for me in a personal sense.