Doodle meeting scheduler

This was just bough to my attention as we are trying to organise a meeting where everyone can make it. It's pretty cool.

http://www.doodle.ch/main.html

How does Doodle work?
Create a poll.
Forward the link to the poll to the participants.
Follow online what the participants vote for.

Just another one of those technologies that is meant to make life easier for us all!! But, I must admit - very simple to participate, not sure about setting it up though.

This weekend...

Yeah - 5pm is almost upon me and that means it's the weekend!! And a well deserved one I think.

Not that I am doing a great deal (except another bloody assignment). But I am hoping that there is a special DVD waiting for me in my mailbox when I get home. I never watched Grey's Anatomy when it was on TV, but I borrowed the first series a few weeks ago from the library and devoured it in a weekend!! The second series is three times as long but I am hoping I can watch an episode as a reward for writing a bit of my essay, then maybe another bit of writing, another episode etc.

I also have to run around and do all those things I don't get to do during the week like buying father's day presents, getting photos developed and framed for my mum to take back home to the UK next week, shopping, going to the gym, reading my book, sleeping, eating, cooking, gardening etc. There are only so many hours in each day though - and never enough of them.

ETL525: First assignment down

I have just handed in my first assignment for ETL525 - Knowledge Management. It wasn't too hard actually but it was worth 40% so hopefully it gets the "Pass" it deserves!! You had to find three definitions of KM (harder than you thought - plus you couldn't use the examples the lecturer gave you), then analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each and state why you chose that definition. Then you had to compare the three definitions. For the second half of the assignment you had to discuss tacit knowledge (the knowledge inside peoples heads) and if it can be managed within organisations, and your own view on tacit knowledge. Anyway, that one is done and dusted now - two weeks early!! The other one was due the same time so I picked the KM one as it was shorter and easier!! Now I just have to do a million other things!! Ahhh, life never stops.

Book: Citizen Girl

I have just finished reading the above book. Let me tell you - definitely not worth picking it up (I have now added my copy to Bookmooch - just to get rid of it). The main character is called "Girl" and the main male character "Guy". How original!! It got really bad reviews on Amazon which I am a little pleased about. You know when you read something and think that you were meant to have enjoyed it? I mean I couldn't even relate to the main character considering she didn't have a name. It was just so vague. However, there was something in it that kept me going to the end. Not quite sure what it was though. It was just so unrealistic and maybe that's what kept me going. 2/5 stars

flickr II

I have just been fiddling on flickr and thanks to Trevor's blog I see that you can add a flickr badge. So now you will notice permanent photos on my blog that come out of my flickr collection. I must admit that not all the photos are mine. Some are from other people's cameras and I uploaded them into my account (credit to Shannon, Jill, Tania). But how cool is it. Very simple too. Well at least I can say I learnt something new today!!

flickr

Ok - so I am sure everyone has a flickr account. I do too - just thought I share it. I have added more photos from ALIA's 70th birthday party to it to. This is where I tend to put all my "library related" photos so you can see me at NLS2006, River of Opportunities IV, TOT, ALIA's 70th etc. My photos can be found at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/70335716@N00/


Check out me, Jill and Trevor stiking a pose on Monday night!! You will notice Tania is missing (she's a bit to classy to act like a fool!!)

ALIA's 70th Birthday

On Monday (Agust 20th 2007), ALIA turned 70. The Victorian NGG had this massive event at the SLV to celebrate. There was cake and prizes and lots of chances to mingle with those from across various sectors of the industry.

Plus, the wonderful NLS4 committee (aka me, Tan, Trev and Jill - the Victorians), launched the NLS4 website. Jill has done such a marvellous job on it and we are so proud of her. (Jill you rock!!). Check it out - you won't be disappointed.

I won a free.... book, bok, bok, boook!!

The following arrived in my inbox yesterday:

Congratulations! For your library joke submitted to the VicSpecials Newsletter you have won a copy of The World is Flat, by Thomas Friedman.

So I thought I better tell you my joke (that I got from the internet to get the free book!!)

A chicken walks into the library. It goes up to the circulation desk and says: "book, bok, bok, boook". The librarian hands the chicken a book. It tucks it under his wing and runs out. A while later, the chicken runs back in, throws the first book into the return bin and goes back to the librarian saying: "book, bok, bok, bok, boook". Again the librarian gives it a book, and the chicken runs out. The librarian shakes her head.

Within a few minutes, the chicken is back, returns the book and starts all over again: "boook, book, bok bok boook". The librarian gives him yet a third book, but this time as the chicken is running out the door, she follows it. The chicken runs down the street, through the park and down to the riverbank. There, sitting on a lily pad is a big, green frog. The chicken holds up the book and shows it to the frog, saying: "Book, bok, bok, boook". The frog blinks, and croaks: "read-it, read-it, read-it".

Cheesy I know but a free book for me!!

Sterotypes: Male librarians

http://www.penny-arcade.com/comic/2007/08/03

Here is a great cartoon to emphasize what it was I was discussing yesterday.

Image: we are not alone

On Friday I did a literature search for one of our nurses and found the topic oddly familiar. Her topic was "Nursing as a profession: images and stereotypes". I mean in libraries we are constantly reminded of the ssshhhhing image, pearl, twin sets, glasses, females etc. I suppose I had never thought to look at other professions. Surprisingly there was a lot of literature in relation to nursing. Things like females only, heaps on the nursing uniform, wearing white, Florence Nightingale etc. and tons on how TV shows portray nurses. Shows like ER and Grey's are apparently no good. (But boy do I love those shows!!). I just found it interesting to note that we are not alone!!

Alice Pung: Unpolished Gem

On Saturday I popped across to Daylesford (20 minutes) for their Words in Winter festival. The local public library (part of Central Highland Regional Library Corporation) had a guest speaker: Alice Pung. Alice is only 26 and this was her first novel. She did the usual spiel of why she wrote this and drew upon other novels, then gave us a background into her own life. This was followed by a reading and then lots and lots of questions. Boy did she speak well. Even though I haven't read the book it certainly inspired me to read it. (Plus I was really good and resisted buying a copy on the spot!!) I just really enjoy listening to authors talk. I love hearing about how they work, what their inspirations are, how long it took, the research involved, the reception received etc. Writing a novel is one of those things I would love to do, but feel that I never could.

Sometimes I think we are so lucky to have such talent in Australia and to be given the chance to see and hear this talent speak in such local and comfortable surrounds. Unfortunately the Words in Winter folk don't have a website (I have suggested this for next year) but I really recommend going to some of their events. Daylesford is such a lovely place to visit too. If you do go visiting I recommend the extra 3kms drive to Hepburn for a stop at the Chowder House for lunch. Boy can those boys cook!!

INF513 - First assignment down!!

Well - what a relief. The first assignment is down for the semester. Only 4 more to go!! I mean I can't really complain or anything because it was only 500 words, (of which mine was considerably less), but never the less it is finished. I am studying two subjects this semester. ETL525 Knowledge Management and INF513 Research Methods in Information Studies.

ETL525 has two assignments where you have to define KM and tacit knowledge and then discuss KM in your own workplace. Should be interesting. I have got through one reading so far so am trying to get my head around all the new jargon.

INF513 has three assignments. The first one (today's) in which I had to pick a area to research in LIM using "qualitative" methodologies. The second assignment then extends on these. So I picked the use of PDA's in medical libraries and hypothetically used mine as an example. We don't actually have to carry out the research or anything yet so that's ok. Not sure what the third assignment in on. Case studies or Action research or something.

Anyway, I really enjoy studying at CSU as it gives me the flexibility I need living in the country. However I can't wait for the semester to be over and it hasn't even really begun yet!!

Technotes: Newsletter of the Victorian ALIA Library Technician's Group

The newest edition of Technotes (which I help compile) is now available online:

http://www.alia.org.au/groups/libtvic/technotes/

It only took me about 4 more weeks to compile than expected!!