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Task # 17 PBwiki

Well, been there, edited that ... can't work the brackets or the link button (blonde moment!) but putting the address in without either of the above seems to work fine! I would like to know where a decent wiki exists out there for Melbourne restaurants as I would use it, I visit the breakfast blog to find brunch recommendations, but a wiki would be better suited i think. will search. Like a true librarian, though, I'd comment that the PB site is a complete mess and really needs someone to sit down and organise it! (no, I am not volunteering)!!

Task # 16 wikis

Ooo, the SJCPL wiki is lovely - and two amazing things about it - a) it was edited recently (nothing worse than a site that's dusty and out of date) and b) the crafts page has been accessed 49,125 times! Impressive. Someone clearly cares about that section. In some ways a shame that only the librarians can edit their wikis though, as surely the point is collaboration with users in this regard...
I luuurrrv the book lovers wiki. not a lot of content, but a clever idea to integrate a competition with a wiki and then into the library catalogue - very 2.0! also lurv the library success wiki though am terribly disappointed that the Home Library Services wiki is EMPTY (shame, fellow outreachers! i will add to this once i have something to boast of ... ) crazy, as I was scanning the web looking for just this sort of information only yesterday. i have hereby added to my del.icio.us and will use it i'm sure. much better than a forum.
so applications - I will use it myself to look for ideas (one passed on already, thank you to the library success wiki) and i can see applications for reference, subject area guides, competitions, events (e.g. run event on a topic and encourage participants, local business etc. to add to the wiki)... great section

Task # 15 Library 2.0 - It's many things to many people. What does it mean to you?

I was fascinated by Dr Wendy Schultz' vision of Library 2.0 (to 4.0!). It always concerns me, however, that so many base all of their assumptions on the notion that everyone has access to technology. It may surprise many that there are still a whole lot of people out there who don't own a computer or have access to the Internet. In an area such as Dandenong (which has the dubious distinction of topping the SEIFA index of social disadvantage (see ) this is a real and valid concern.
I quite firmly believe that in today's world a computer and net connection are no longer up the top of Maslow's hierarchy but somewhere nearer the bottom - basic fundamental human needs. You need access to a PC to study, for most jobs and services (ever called a government department asking for a form?) And let's not forget that there are a lot of people out there with minimal literacy - how are these people to cope in an online world?
Those of us who live online can barely remember living any other way, but we need to remember that not everyone has this privilege and the that Libraries need to be sure that we are not marginalising some of our members by moving services from the physical to the virtual. So how do we balance this?
The simplest way would seem to provide access in Libraries themselves. Simplest response - how far do you go? To provide a PC for every person who needs one, whenever they need one, in Greater Dandenong alone would likely require a stadium filled with PCs. Which clearly doesn't cut it. In the last census, 31.5% of Victorians stated that they did not have an Internet connection at home. In Greater Dandenong, if I am reading the data correctly, this goes up to 45%. Appreciating also the validity (or lack thereof) of a written census tool for individuals with low literacy ... the real figure is likely even higher. Incredible.
Frankly I firmly believe that this needs to be shunted from Local Government to Federal - bring on the days when concession-card holders can get free PCs, individuals can access as much literacy support as they need and all public housing has cable pre-wired. And that would be just the start...
But back to the topic at hand!! I don't wish to sound like a technophobe or defeatist, anyone who knows me should be able to refute that (or anyone who has read this blog!) I believe that while we move toward Library 4.0 we need to do two things: first, advocate for our users - high speed broadband is a wonderful thing, but what about those who don't have connection at all? and second ensure that we truly uphold the principles of Library 2.0 as a USER-FOCUSED construct and remember that not everyone lives online - yet. If we offer virtual services they need to add value rather than representing a service shift biased toward e-patrons, creating increased isolation and marginalisation of a vast user community.
OK, enough diatribe! Bring on Library 4.0 - for ALL of our users.
Cheers
Donna

Valid excuses for not keeping up to date with blog!

Hello all
anyone reading this blog might be forgiven for thinking i'm incredibly slack - not to mention ungrateful! for not doing anything related to this blog for quite some time - however i do have a completely valid excuse! I am currently taking the longest period of sick leave i've ever taken in my life, owing to a few small dramas with my achilles tendon (think severed - yuch) and some associated complications - fun fun fun. very grateful and thrilled to have won a prize though, thank you Learning 2.0! Entirely unexpected and nice news to get in a hospital bed when you're feeling a tad self-pitying. Now that i am allowed to sit with my foot lower that my heart, I can get moving on finishing this, as many of my clever colleagues have done.