# 7 - Blog about technology

“Library 2.0…it’s not primarily about machines and software: it’s about using the best tools and ideas to provide the best possible service to our users”

[A presentation by Marylaine Block for the British Colombia Library Association , April 19, 2007 ]

The Learning 2.0 program is all about teaching you how to use web 2.o tools, and some of these tools you may may find useful to help deliver services in the library.

For Exercise #7 simply blog about anything technology related. Yes, it can be anything that relates to technology!You just need to share a few thoughts.

Perhaps you might like to talk about 'Creating Content' , or a technology you now rely on to perform everyday tasks. Try for at least 100-150 words. We have all come along way using technology in a very short time. Can you remember learning to use a computer and a mouse (!!!) and having to send an email instead of faxing a memo? Imagine now having to cope without these technologies

# 6 - More Flickr Fun

Like many web 2.0 sites, Flickr has encouraged other people to build their own online applications using images found on the site. Through the use of APIs (application programming interfaces), many people have created third party tools and mashups* that use Flickr images. Here is just a sampling of a few …

• Mappr - allows you to take Flickr images and paste them on a map


• Flickr Color Pickr - lets you find public photos in Flickr that match a specific color.


• Montagr – create a photo mosaic from photos found on Flickr.

Discover more mashups, web apps, and Flickr tools. An interesting site showcasing mashups is the Mash Up Awards .

Discovery exercise:

Your discovery exercise for this “thing” is to:

1. Explore some of the fun Flickr mashups and 3rd party tools that are out there.


2. Create a blog post about one that intrigues you.

Suggested tools to use are FD Toys’ Trading Card Maker.

And there’s a ton of librarians out there that have created their own Librarian Trading Card.

So have some fun discovering and exploring some neat little apps.

And if you're up to the challenge while you’re at it, why not create a trading card of your own. :)

* Mashup Note: Wikipedia offers some great articles that explain mashups. Basically they are hybrid web applications that take features from one application (like Flickr) and mash it up with another (like a map). In this example, you get Mappr (http://mappr.com/).

The image above was created by txt2pics

# 5 - Discover Flickr

# 5 Discover Flickr

Listen to this Podcast--> http://www.odeo.com/episodes/1460333-Flickr-Fun

Photo sharing websites have been around since the 90s, but it took a small startup site called Flickr to catapult the idea of “sharing” into a full blown online community. Within the past couple of years Flickr has become the fastest growing photo sharing site on the web and is known as one of the first websites to use keyword “tags” to create associations and connections between photos and users of the site.

For this discovery exercise, you are asked to take a good look at Flickr and discover what this site has to offer. Find out how tags work, what groups are, and all the neat things that people and other libraries (list also here) are using Flickr for.

Discovery Resources:

• Flickr Learn More tour (6 steps)
• Mediamazine Flickr Tutorials
• Flickr Services (3rd party applications & mashups)
• and let’s not forget to look at some other libraries on Flickr.

Discovery Exercise:

In this discovery exercise, you have two options…

1. Take a good look around Flickr and discover an interesting image that you want to blog about. Be sure to include either a link to the image or you can use Flickr's blogging tool to add the image in your post.
2. If you have access to a digital camera you might like to create a flickr account and upload a picture to flickr. If you want to do this but don't have access to any digital images let Dale know, she will loan you some of hers.

To upload a photo

First save your photo to your computer (or USB).

• Go to the flickr website at http://www.flickr.com/
• Create and account/sign in.
• Click on upload photos.
• Click on browse and locate where you have saved your photo (you can upload more than one photo at once).
• You can add tags describing your photo at the bottom of the page.
• Click upload to complete the process.

Something else to look at:

You might also like to take a look at the Picture Australia website
Click on the flickr icon on the front page and you will be led to a display of images the National Library have used from flickr.This is part of the National Library's vision of building a comprehensive pictorial record of Australian history. You may also like to view the media release from the National Library about this collaborative project.
Other photosharing and photography websites include www.snap.com, www.fotolia.com, www. slide.com, and www.dumpr.net.

PS: A quick word about photo posting etiquette - When posting identifiable photos of other people (especially minors) is it advisable to get the person's permission before posting their photo in a publicly accessible place like Flickr.Never upload pictures that weren't taken by you (unless you have the photographer's consent) and always give credit when you include photos taken by someone else in your blog.

Don't forget to label this post on your blog #5 flickr and talk about what you have learned doing this activity.

Week Two - Creating your Blog

Now the active participation starts!

Are YOU ready to get stuck into 'Thing #3 ?

#3 Grab yourself a blog in 3 steps

Now that you’ve done some exploring around this website and understand how this program will work, it’s time to setup your very own personal blog.

Your blog is where you will be recording your thoughts, discoveries and exercises for the 23 Things program.

For this exercise 'Setting up your blog' we are using Blogger*, a popular free online blog hosting service that is extremely easy to use. However, there are other bogging sites such as Myspace, Livejournal, Facebook, Immortalspace and Wordpress.Please feel free to use whichever site you prefer.

Creating a blog using Blogger takes just three steps:

1. Go to the Blogger home page. Set up an email account if you don't already have one: you can use any existing email account you wish, your personal or staff one, or you can set up a Yahoo, or Gmail account.

2. Name your blog (view screenshot)

3. Select your template. (view screenshot)
Once you’ve created your blog here are two important things to know:
To add posts:The maintenance interface that you will use to add posts, edit or change the set-up of your blog is accessed online at http://www.blogger.com/ . Make sure you write down your login and password.

To view your blog:Your blog address is http://(xxxx).blogspot.com, (xxxx=is the unique identifier/name you entered in Step 2, i.e http://maryslearning.blogspot.com). Be sure to also write down your blog address.

A couple of useful Tips!

Again, you can use any email address to set up a Blog in Blogger. It is not necessary to set up a Gmail account to create a Blog (you can use your staff email). Write down the details from your 'Create Account' or print out this page. This may help you to remember your login and password.

#4 Register your Blog

When registering your Blog:

Cut and paste the url (address), of the blog YOU have created (this can be found in the address bar on the page from which you are viewing your blog), into the Puke Ariki 23 Things Registration Form.
As you address each exercise please make this the title of your post. eg. #4 Register your Blog
For more information -there is an excellent tutorial about creating a blog

Once you have registered your Blog it will be listed in the blogroll on the right hand side of the Puke Ariki 23 Things Blog. This is a good way to gain inspiration and support each other via the comments section in the individual blogs.A great site of general interest is Blogger's Help page, with handy tips for new members.

As you progress through the Puke Ariki 23 Things programme it will be evident that certain things from the original programme do not apply to us. Suggested changes will be a valuable part of your feedback.

Learning 2.0 - discovering web 2.0 technologies through PLAY!

Week One - Introduction to Lifelong Learning

#1 Discovery has never been so much fun ...

Learning 2.0 is an online learning program to learn more about emerging technologies on the web that are changing the way people, society and libraries access information and communicate with each other.Over the course of the next nine weeks, this website will highlight “23Things” with Discovery Exercises to help you become familiar with blogging, RSS news feeds, tagging, wikis, podcasting, online applications, and video and image hosting sites.



To familiarize yourself with this project, be sure to read theWelcome to the Learning 2.0 progam and also ourLearning 2.0 FAQs page.These FAQs should answer most of your questions about this program.If you don't see your question answered just add it as a comment at the bottom of the page so we can address it.Now listen to the podcast about the program


#2 Lifelong Learning


The Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners provides you with a refresher on what it means to be a lifelong learner.

• Habit 1 – Begin with the end in mind


• Habit 2 – Accept responsibility for your own learning


• Habit 3 – View problems as challenges


• Habit 4 – Have confidence in yourself as a competent, effective learner


• Habit 5 – Create your own learning toolbox


• Habit 6 – Use technology to your advantage


• Habit 7 – Teach and mentor others


• Habit 7 ½ – PLAY!Have fun! It's never too late to become a lifelong learner.

Discovery Exercise:

• Follow this link for a podcast about the Seven and 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners and your first discovery exercise.


• If you would like to see and print out your Learning 2.0 Contract you can do so here.


• Read the Wikipedia definition of Library 2.0 and see how Learning 2.0 impacts upon Library services. Some good resources are also listed on the Wikipedia page.


• A useful link to a site on Life Long Learning and Library 2.0: Library Instruction Wiki