RSS Feeds

Wow!! How obscure was this for the baby boomer...I bravely thought that I could understand this but it is like jumping off the precipice...shades of reading Peter Straub's novels come back to haunt me again!

Anyway...I have subcribed to the food and art bloglines and got an instant gratification. However...I couldn't find the OPAL training blog to subscribe to it in time to complete this exercise adequately.

So now, whenever I am in need of comfort food I will find recipes to devour and images of art to stimulate my love of the visual. The alerts will be of interest I am sure, but I probably should have searched for new job postings and RSS feeds in Scotland, which is one of my dreams for the future. Ooops! Did I say that!

The use of RSS feeds in a library setting would be particularly useful. Especially where there is a need to monitor digital collection use and feedback. A simpler way to link to updates on subject content instead of having to troll through endless web sites for relevant content. A great tool for studying too I would think! That is another thing I should be doing...

Social Networking

For several reasons I have found myself totally out of time to really explore all the aspects of social networking services that are freely available, but I will attempt to respond in short.
The advantage in using this medium in real time is clearly visible...

• there is the global ability to share written content and visual content immediately,
• discussion can happen universally, bringing links and new networks to the table in a blink of course,
• the ability for libraries to market their best wares and advertise their services can have a profound affect on the way we continue to provide service and respond to client feedback via social networking products on-line,
• the digital possiblities means that there a fewer boundaries on a libraries content and adds enhancement to the relevance of specific collections and content to a world- wide audience.

I personally preferred the "quietness" of the ning site a great portal to join in a social network world. The content was neatly arranged and easy to navigate without all the fuss and imagery that goes with the earlier favoured social networking sites.

I can see the real benefits of joining twitter in order to get an abbreviated update of events, news and social content quickly. I love the fact that I can listen to the ABC radio daily on the drive to and from work and tune in to twitter comments posted on the ABC site each day. YES...with limited uploads on my personal home computer, I still rely on the old fashioned delivery of information via radio as well. Being a baby boomer means that I am a little slow to move towards the new information delivery systems, except where they are important to me in my work place of course! Needless to say it is a problem for me to record and remember all my passwords. But SKYPE is great isn't it...

Queensland "Becoming Queensland" from a historical perspective

Anyone travelling to Queensland for a holiday might be interested in checking out the latest content posted by the State Library of Queensland. The virtual exhibition Becoming Queensland highlights some of the specific collections held by the John Oxley library demonstrating early settlement in Queensland over a hundred years ago. Queensland is celebrating its 150th anniversary in 2009 with many events throughout the State and this virtual exhibition is a perfect way to showcase and highlight aspects of early Queensland content globally.

I suggest that the exhibition would be a valuable learning resource for students learning about early Queensland history with an array of visual materials that compliment themes. Two of my favourite images relate to Queensland style. Take the time to read the content and comments by staff of the Heritage collections unit and the Historian in residence - Professor Anna Haebich who curated the Becoming Queensland exhibition as part of the John Oxley 75th celebrations in 2009. There is a lot of wonderful content, images and technologies in order to view the material.

The first image I have inserted is detail of the illustration of Great Barrier Reef corals by William Saville-Kent and the second is an early photograph of the famous Queensland verandah. The image is from the John Oxley collection of photographs and is titled

"Verandah at the Hollow, near Mackay, Queensland, ca. 1875"

The value of wikis globally and locally!

Past work experiences have not encouraged me to use wikis beyond checking wikipedia for a simple explanation to assist students searching for a short answer response to a school assignment. As part of the Licence2test drive course work, the examples available highlight the organisational value a wiki can bring to the workplace. I appreciate the phrase:-

• "communities of interest", to describe those organisations that have developed a wiki to share common knowledge and information;


• with a view to inviting and encouraging ongoing collaborative input and content;


• and as a means of posting documentation, images, experiences and/or policy information in one central location for internal or external use.

Here is an amazing example of one of the new technologies introduced to staff on the slq Library 2.0 wiki. (State Library of Queensland) welcoming visitors to Emerging media and new technology sessions. Below is an example of a tag cloud that you can create yourself.

This wiki is a fairly recent addition to cyberspace and used to document technologies introduced to slq library staff each month. The content is a valuable means of sharing knowledge in a library context. Have a look at the wiki if you have a chance.

Sharing mosaic images and links

I am currently adding some new images and links to my blog that relate to my personal interest on the topic of mosaics. There are some great examples of mosaics posted on the web if you are looking, but one in particular of a brooch housed in the Victoria and Albert Museum, London. Belonging to the Gilbert collection, this Florentine mosaic is exquisite. It would have been wonderful to attend the gallery talk session and view other examples of micromosaics. If you are interested also, the museum has uploaded an image of one brooch from the collection, showing the fine detail. I must attribute my interest in mosaics to my grandfather who visited Florence in the 1960's when I was just a girl. His special gift to me was a Florentine mosaic bracelet, which was so delicate and precious that it broke into two pieces on the first occasion I wore it. Although it is still in two pieces I treasure it. Perhaps I should add an image of it in one of my future posts.

More interesting bits and pieces...

Ramson posted these wonderful images onto Flickr, granting permission for me to share them with you. The first image is the glass mosaic entrance to the Rhizotron in Kew Gardens and the second is an image of the classic wall and floor mosaics inside the Holburn Bars building. Thankyou for sharing your wonderful mosaic images with us . Both venues will be on my next places to visit in the future Ramson!

Mosaic wonders

When travelling overseas recently I was able to view many fine examples of Roman mosaics in the city of Bath, England and again in the Victoria and Albert museum. I was personally amazed and surprised by their timelessness and decided to have a go at completing a piece for myself in memory of my travelling experience. Although mine was a small piece constructed during my leisure time, it still took me four months to complete, highlighting my new appreciation for the artisans who worked on the murals and decorative panels of the past. I was keen to replicate the ageless quality of the technique and although my work was not as artistic, I was pleased with the overall effect. Enjoy!

Wonderful musical event!

I recently attended the musical production Chicago, showing in Brisbane, Queensland. I wanted to share my enjoyment of the production with anyone interested and encourage all those considering 'if they should go', to get your ticket immediately. The cast demonstrated a wonderful acting ability and stage presence, the choreography was just amazing and extremely energetic and the leading cast had the most superb voices to match their parts. The orchestra and their integrated presence on stage added a new dimension to the overall production, which was a pleasant addition to the musical theme. Perhaps it was supported by the new theatre refurbishment experience, but it was a most wonderful evening and one I would highly recommend to anyone who might like to taste musical theatre at its best.