Just when you think you know Google, you discover that there is more!
Google Translate
http://www.translate.google.com
Explore
I had a go at translating the NLA website into French. It was very simple to do so. This feature of Google would be very useful for non-english speaking/reading library clients! They would be able to access any online information including the library catalogue in their own language!
Google Books
http://books.google.com
Books online for free! Where a book is out of copyright or permission has been given, you are able to read these books for free, anywhere, anytime!
Explore
I searched Google Books and found Alice in Wonderland in full view mode. I was able to read each page clearly as well as the illustrations.
i-Google
Personalisation of your Google home page could not be easier! This would be useful for libraries as added features like calendars advertising library events could be added.
Google Calendar
Explore
This free online calendar would be useful for library staff to keep track of important dates and be able to share them with colleagues.
Google Maps
I created a Google Map and have embedded it previously onto this blog. It shows the location of my two local libraries.
Showing posts with label google. Show all posts
Showing posts with label google. Show all posts
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Test Drive # 4 - Web Browsers
Web Browsers allow us to surf the net and two of the most common browsers are Internet Explorer (IE) and Mozilla Firefox.
I have nearly always used IE, (otherwise Firefox) but learned after watching Brian Tong from CNET comparing browsers, that Firefox wins over on speed, security and customisation features.
Discover:
When looking at a comparison of Firefox and Google Chrome specifically, Firefox not only wins over in terms of choices of customisation features, but also in the respect that it is Open Source. Users of Firefox have input into its development and in this way are constantly improving Firefox, more thoroughly than Google's developers can. Google Chrome impressed me though with its feature of "Incognito Mode" which ensures pages that you are viewing will not be stored in your brwsing history, which is great for public computer use.
Explore:
"Fashion Your Firefox" recommends Add Ons based on your interests and it is the way to customise your version of Firefox.
I particularly liked the "Read It Later" Add On which allows you to save pages of interest to read later on without bookmarking them. This would be useful as a librarian, because this job involves a lot of web surfing and not every page can be read when you have an impatient client with you.
The "Cooliris" Add On sounds interesting too as it allows extremely fast searching of images. It gives you a 3D wall of images from You Tube, Flickr, Facebook and your own computer and makes searching faster by allowing images to be viewed simultaneously without the need to click from page to page.
Adventure:
The Add Ons from Firefox that would be useful for my library include those discussed above, but also "Categorize". This add on was updated on November 13, 2009. It basically simplifies everyday browsing using groups for regularly visited bookmarks and an enhanced search bar.
I found the "Reference Desk Collection" group of add ons a great idea for Librarians. Having ready reference tools, currency converter, translator and highlighter on your browser, would save time as opposed to looking up these sites on your list of bookmarks.
I have nearly always used IE, (otherwise Firefox) but learned after watching Brian Tong from CNET comparing browsers, that Firefox wins over on speed, security and customisation features.
Discover:
When looking at a comparison of Firefox and Google Chrome specifically, Firefox not only wins over in terms of choices of customisation features, but also in the respect that it is Open Source. Users of Firefox have input into its development and in this way are constantly improving Firefox, more thoroughly than Google's developers can. Google Chrome impressed me though with its feature of "Incognito Mode" which ensures pages that you are viewing will not be stored in your brwsing history, which is great for public computer use.
Explore:
"Fashion Your Firefox" recommends Add Ons based on your interests and it is the way to customise your version of Firefox.
I particularly liked the "Read It Later" Add On which allows you to save pages of interest to read later on without bookmarking them. This would be useful as a librarian, because this job involves a lot of web surfing and not every page can be read when you have an impatient client with you.
The "Cooliris" Add On sounds interesting too as it allows extremely fast searching of images. It gives you a 3D wall of images from You Tube, Flickr, Facebook and your own computer and makes searching faster by allowing images to be viewed simultaneously without the need to click from page to page.
Adventure:
The Add Ons from Firefox that would be useful for my library include those discussed above, but also "Categorize". This add on was updated on November 13, 2009. It basically simplifies everyday browsing using groups for regularly visited bookmarks and an enhanced search bar.
I found the "Reference Desk Collection" group of add ons a great idea for Librarians. Having ready reference tools, currency converter, translator and highlighter on your browser, would save time as opposed to looking up these sites on your list of bookmarks.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Test Drive #2 - Mashups
After watching the video of David Berlind from ZDNet explaining Mashups, I learned that they are the combination of different web applications to create a new one.
A practical example is adding a Google map to a library web site showing the location of the library, as SLQ have done. The idea of using a Google map mashup to show locations of all library branches or cemetaries for local history clients are great ideas and would make it easier for clients to access this information.
Explore: As suggested I searched http://www.suburbview.com/ for my postcode (4702) and found several different properties with links to other real estate sites containing further information about the individual properties.
After browsing the winners of the Mashup Awards found here: http://mashupawards.com/winners/, I discovered that many of the winners' mashups involved combining something with Twitter. The one I enjoyed the most was http://www.twonvert.com.
This practical site facilitates the conversion of your twitter message into SMS abbreviations, so you have more room to say more!
Adventure: I took the plunge and added a Google map to this blog. I chose a map that shows the locations my two local libraries. Enjoy!
A practical example is adding a Google map to a library web site showing the location of the library, as SLQ have done. The idea of using a Google map mashup to show locations of all library branches or cemetaries for local history clients are great ideas and would make it easier for clients to access this information.
Explore: As suggested I searched http://www.suburbview.com/ for my postcode (4702) and found several different properties with links to other real estate sites containing further information about the individual properties.
After browsing the winners of the Mashup Awards found here: http://mashupawards.com/winners/, I discovered that many of the winners' mashups involved combining something with Twitter. The one I enjoyed the most was http://www.twonvert.com.
This practical site facilitates the conversion of your twitter message into SMS abbreviations, so you have more room to say more!
Adventure: I took the plunge and added a Google map to this blog. I chose a map that shows the locations my two local libraries. Enjoy!
Friday, May 29, 2009
Test Drive #6 - Folksonomies & Tagging
What an odd word... "Folksonomies". It means "an unstructured categorization scheme". Seen in light of web 2.0 and tags, it becomes a valuable way to make notable websites easier to find when needed again in the future.
After watching the Commoncraft video, it became clear that bookmarking sites like http://delicious.com/ can avoid the hassle of different "Favourites" lists saved across several different computers, by all being accessible from one place on the net, from any computer. This would save a great deal of trouble and avoid such possible problems as individual computer failure causing the loss of precious bookmarks.
Therefore, I saw an immediate benefit for my personal bookmarks and joined Del.icio.us! Here is the link to my page: http://delicious.com/Cyberspace_Librarian.
This kind of bookmarking of sites would be extremely useful for librarians when answering reference enquiries. From my own perspective as a Reference Librarian in a public library, I investigated this example. Take a client enquiry about a particular topic like the "Australian Gold Rush" for a primary school student assignment. The resulting search of Del.icio.us got 36 hits and most were government sites, considered reliable for assessment citation. A comparison search on Google gave 116000 hits of varying relevance. I think the real benefit here for librarians is that the Del.icio.us sites are recommended by others who are non-biased, unlike Google who are profit driven.
Libraries using bookmarking sites would benefit not only the library staff and patrons, but the wider online community with the sharing of the sites kept there.
After watching the Commoncraft video, it became clear that bookmarking sites like http://delicious.com/ can avoid the hassle of different "Favourites" lists saved across several different computers, by all being accessible from one place on the net, from any computer. This would save a great deal of trouble and avoid such possible problems as individual computer failure causing the loss of precious bookmarks.
Therefore, I saw an immediate benefit for my personal bookmarks and joined Del.icio.us! Here is the link to my page: http://delicious.com/Cyberspace_Librarian.
This kind of bookmarking of sites would be extremely useful for librarians when answering reference enquiries. From my own perspective as a Reference Librarian in a public library, I investigated this example. Take a client enquiry about a particular topic like the "Australian Gold Rush" for a primary school student assignment. The resulting search of Del.icio.us got 36 hits and most were government sites, considered reliable for assessment citation. A comparison search on Google gave 116000 hits of varying relevance. I think the real benefit here for librarians is that the Del.icio.us sites are recommended by others who are non-biased, unlike Google who are profit driven.
Libraries using bookmarking sites would benefit not only the library staff and patrons, but the wider online community with the sharing of the sites kept there.
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