VALA 2010

I was lucky enough to go for a 1/2 day this year thanks to Health Libraries Inc. I went down on the train on Wednesday morning and did the Trade Exhibition (brilliant) then did sessions in the afternoon. Notes from the sessions I attended:

Developing Trove: by Warwick Cathro & Susan Collier

Trove, as in treasure trove
For the public and end user
Streamlined and integrated
Interactive, adding tags/reviews etc.
Looking at adding RSS feeds
Journals should come online in the second half of the year

Libraries at the network level: by Roy Tennant

API - method for one software application to communicate with another (ie. using book images in your catalogue from Amazon/Library Thing)

Linked data - naming things and stating relationships; expose data; link your data to other data.

Cloud computing - a style of computing in which dynamically scalable and often visualised resources are provided as a service over the internet

Open source software:
Cons - no control; network space; connectivity/speed
Pros - no need to store; pay as go; no big upfront fees

Xerses: Worldcat(books), Metalib (journals)

Problem - the data needs to be continued and accessible in the future

WOW - very full on, a bit overwhelming and most went right over my head!

The Louvre DNP: by Stephanie Orlic

Using multi-lingual system
Using tagging/reviews/leaving impressions
Touch screen/Audio/PDA user guides?RFID tickets/3D design
Interactive, enlarge/zoom/step into painting
Deconstructing/reconstructing layer by layer - going beyond the naked eye

Top trends panel: user generated content

How to check user content. Is it authoritative? Should we use the info/tag?
Could treat them as "letters to the editor" rather than sensing them.
But still need a degree of control. ie. user must identify themselves.
Leave it as a comment.
Cannot "fact check" everything.
Users will then discuss amongst themselves and the authoritative answer will emerge.
However, moderation is required to an extent.
Don't look at barriers to including user content. Make it easier.
As long as the original library data cannot be changed and the user data is clearly highlighted then all is good.
Tags make this more accessible rather than using LCSH/DDC which can be outdated. This data can be used with synonym lists to make content more relevant/accessible.
Librarians make mistakes as they aren't necessarily subject specialists in the field they are cataloging.
You can track "search terms" with some systems then see what it is your users click through to.
Users only tag if it delivers something back to them.
LCSH/DDc is the seed/structure. Users can go from this starting point.


All in all a great (exhausting day).

Book: Friday Night Knitting Club

Summary: Juggling the demands of her yarn shop and single-handedly raising a teenage daughter has made Georgia Walker grateful for her Friday Night Knitting Club. Her friends are happy to escape their lives too, even for just a few hours. But when Georgia's ex suddenly reappears, demanding a role in their daughter's life, her whole world is shattered.

Luckily, Georgia's friends are there, sharing their own tales of intimacy, heartbreak, and miracle making. And when the unthinkable happens, these women will discover that what they've created isn't just a knitting club: it's a sisterhood.

I really enjoyed this read. Can't believe the ending though. Big shock! I mean this wasn't a wonderful piece of literature or anything but still a lovely story. Looking forward to the second in the series to see how everything turns out!

Books: The Tomorrow Series, 4 books

OMG - how could I never has read these before? I started them because they are Dan's favourites and they are absolutely brilliant! Am having a break after the first 4 and will go back and finish the last 3 soon. Just fantastic books. John Marsden rocks!

Book: Remember Me

Summary: When twenty-eight-year-old Lexi Smart wakes up in a London hospital, she’s in for a big surprise. Her teeth are perfect. Her body is toned. Her handbag is Vuitton. Having survived a car accident—in a Mercedes no less—Lexi has lost a big chunk of her memory, three years to be exact, and she’s about to find out just how much things have changed. Somehow Lexi went from a twenty-five-year-old working girl to a corporate big shot with a sleek new loft, a personal assistant, a carb-free diet, and a set of glamorous new friends. And who is this gorgeous husband—who also happens to be a multimillionaire? With her mind still stuck three years in reverse, Lexi greets this brave new world determined to be the person she…well, seems to be. That is, until an adorably disheveled architect drops the biggest bombshell of all. Suddenly Lexi is scrambling to catch her balance. Her new life, it turns out, comes complete with secrets, schemes, and intrigue. How on earth did all this happen? Will she ever remember? And what will happen when she does?


Ah, Kinsella at her best. Such a light easy read. Really enjoying her stuff. She is fast becoming one of my favourite chick lit authors.

2010....

2010 promises to be a massive year. Tomorrow I go back to work full time whilst my little boy stays at home with his dad for the next 6 months. On top of that my husband and I are both going back to Uni, he will work part-time too. I will also look after my friend's child for one day on the weekend. Then, there are the usual activities of life. Catching up with family, friends etc. Playing sport, taking Adam to Mother's Group, Storytime, Swim lessons etc. And that is just the beginning!! So I am sure 2010 will be fantastic and more. Stay tuned!

Uni: Organisational Behaviour

The 2nd semester of 2009 also saw me back at Uni doing my MBA. Just one subject though. Organisational behaviour. And I passed with flying colours. A Distinction. Yeah for me! 5 subjects down, 7 to go...

Books 2009, a year in review

WOW! I read 52 books. I am so proud of myself. Didn't think I'd get there in the end but good on me! I can't say 2010 will be the same. I think I will be lucky to read half that amount. Anyway, a quick overview of what I read:

Teenage, 7 books
Chick Lit, 14 books (4 of which were Aussie outback ones)
Crime, 6 books
General Fiction, 11 books
Non-fiction, 14 books

Hmm, any surprises? Not really. However one current disappointment. Bookgroup consists of 11 books for the year of which I only read 10. I have the December book to read still. Here's hoping I'll get there....

Books: Gossip Girl (books 5,6,7,8,9)

My final book bender of the year. Books 5 -9 of the Gossip Girl series. Complete and utter teenage trash which I just love! GG follows the lives of the teen elite in New York's upper east side as the finish the last year of school before heading off to college. I just love them. I read the first four years ago and now only two more to go.... bliss!

Book: Perfect Match

It was time for another Jodi Picoult and this one did not disappoint. Brilliant ending which I did not see coming! Perfect Match is the sad story about a young boy who was sexually abused. His mother, a District Attorney, shot the alleged killer in court. However, a bizarre DNA thing discovered that the Priest she killed wasn't actually the murderer. Anyway, it is quite complex but like all her books there is a major ethical dilemma, and the court case behind it. I just loved this one. Really recommend it!

Victorian Library Tech Group Xmas Dinner

Staying on the dinner theme, I headed down by myself a week later for the LT Dinner in Chapel St at the Temperence Hotel. I couldn't get Kim to come as she had to work so this time it was just me. Once again, lovely to chat to everyone as it was about 18 months since my last LT event appearance. Hopefully I will be back to some more events in 2010!

Health Libraries Inc Dinner

In late Novemeber I headed to Melbourne for the annual HLI Dinner, this time with Michelle. It is great to have another library person up here just to travel up and down that highway with. Plus I was a passenger this time which I love (nice car too!) Anyway, this year Stephen Due of Geelong was awarded the Life Membership and he has done so much for the Health Library Industry since I started that it was most deserving. Again it was also just great to catch up with everyone from the health library world (especially the lovely Laura) (you too Margaret but I saw you not too long ago). I will be back in the loop next year but it was just nice to touch base considering I hadn't seen the majority of them in over a year! Nice food too!!

Ballarat Library Industry dinner

In early November the library folk of Ballarat gathered once again for dinner. This time it was at the University of Ballarat Tafe restaurant called Prospects (I think). The food was amazing. What a brilliant 3 course meal for only $30. I never thought it would be so good but it was by far one of the best meals I have had in town (service a bit rusty though). Anyway, the food was not only good but so was the company. As I have been out of the loop for the majority of the year it was awesome just to catch up with everyone (mainly from my own work) just to see how everything and everyone was going!

Books: The Shopaholic Series (all 5 of them)!

Save Karyn reminded me of the Shopaholic books which I had yet to read. So I picked up the first one and couldn't put them down. I had number 2 also so read that, then texted my book nerd friends to see if they had number 3. I managed to get book 5 from Michelle (cheers babe) but was forced to go out and buy books 3 and 4 (Bookmooch would have been too slow). I raced through them loving them to bits!

The main character Becky Bloomwood is a financial journalist who is absolutely crap with her money and has massive amounts of debt (which no one knows about). All she does is shop - for clothes, shoes, handbags, makeup etc. Anyway, the first book sees her become a TV Financial journalist and she ends up with handsome PR mogul Luke Brandon. The second book sees her follow Luke to New York but the TV shows find out about all her debts and she loses her job but ends up as a personal shopper at Barneys. The third book sees her get married to Luke (twice - long story), the fourth sees her reunited with a sister she didn't know existed (but one who hates shops, consumerism etc.) and the fifth sees her pregnant and shopping for baby things. Apparently there is a sixth book underway.

I mean these are not the best written book ever, but they were awesome for escapism. Chick lit at its best. I love Becky even though at times I loathed her! Loved them. A great book bender!!

Book: Save Karyn

I really enjoyed reading this book and it actually sent me on a book bender (see next post). Anyway, true story, she had $25,000 in credit card debt and set up a website asking for donations. She details the bumpy road that got here there in the first place and how she got out of it. Just a great little read. Highly recommend it!

Book: Lucy Zeezou's Goal

Synopsis: Lucy's family is famous for two things in Italy: soccer and fashion. Her pushy mother wants her to model for the family's fashion label. Even worse, Lucy's father - captain of Milan's premier soccer team - agrees. But Lucy has been leading a double life, playing soccer on the side when she isn't modeling. When she and her mother move from Milan to Sydney to be closer to her grandparents, Lucy has the chance to come clean about who she really is and what she really wants to do with her life.

A teenage novel about a girl playing soccer. Loved it, although it was fairly simple and the team always won and outcomes were always in Lucy's favour. The author probably tried to pack to much in but it was a lovely easy read. Good for teenage girls.

Book: Cattleman's Daughter

Ah, my favourite Aussie author is back. I loved this book. Raced through it so quickly. Synopsis:

Born on the rugged Dargo High Plains and raised by her cattleman father, Emily Flanaghan has lost her way in life. Locked in an unhappy marriage in the suburbs, Emily misses the high country with a fierce ache. To make matters worse, her heritage is under threat. A government bill to evict the mountain cattlemen is about to be passed, and the Flanaghans could be banned from the mountains their family has looked after for generations.
When a terrible accident brings Emily to the brink of death, she realises she must return to the high country to seek a way forward in life; healing herself, her daughters and her land. Along the way, she finds herself falling in love with a man who works for the government - the traditional opposition of the cattlemen - new Parks ranger, Luke Bradshaw. But just as she sees that the land and Luke are the keys to regaining her life, Emily faces losing them both in the greatest challenge of all . . .
Set in the beautiful snowgum country of the Victorian Alps, The Cattleman's Daughter is a haunting and unforgettable tale of love, self-discovery and forgiveness.

LOVED IT!!! HURRY UP AND RELEASE THE NEXT ONE!

Book & Bookgroup: In my Skin

I really enjoyed this book for a few reasons. Firstly, it discussed a heroin addict and as I know one personally, it helped me understand them more. Secondly, the fact that she turned to prostitution was interesting as I had never really read a first hand account about it. It would be interesting to read an account from one who chose to sell themselves for other reasons, not just in order to get the money for the drugs. Thirdly, I enjoyed this because it was based in Melbourne, a place I grew up in. I always find that better as when they discuss areas you can really picture them. So all in all I enjoyed the book. HOWEVER, the ending was crap! This book was written not long after she got over her addiction but as we all know, the addiction will last a life time. I would love to see what she is up to now. It just all ended a little to nicely for me - worth the read though! We are yet to have bookgroup to discuss the book yet so not sure how the others will feel...

Book & Bookgroup: The Secret River

This is a wonderful book about a family transported from England to the new colony of New South Wales in the early 1800's. It is brilliantly written by Kate Grenville based on research into her own family history. Well worth reading to get an insight in early Australian history and the relationships between the new settlers and the indigenous population. Everyone at bookgroup loved it too. As my Australian history is a bit rusty it just really helped me think about what it would have been like, way back then. Though Grenville doesn't necessarily take sides, before even beginning the book the dedication reads "to the aboriginal people - past, present and future" which did make me feel that I had been preached to even though she gave both sides of the story. All in all though, it was just brilliant! A top read.

Book & Bookgroup: Notes from a Small Island

I have read other works of Bill Bryson and whilst I enjoyed this one, it wasn't one of his best. Bookgroup also had a split reaction. As someone else said: Bryson has a keen eye for the amusing and unusual details of British life and culture and he writes some very witty and memorable lines. I enjoyed much of this but at times it seemed he was stretching his idea a bit and the book became repetitive.

Book: Irish Girls are Back in Town

Generally speaking I don't do short stories, but the Irish and chick lit are awesome! There were some fantastic little stories in here but also some pretty crap ones. And, those crap ones tended to be by the better known authors! But, I still enjoyed it as I could pick this book up on and off without having to remember what I had already read.