Assignment+4+-+3+OLJ+Entries


 * OLJ Task 1. – Building Academic Library 2.0 **

Meredith Farkas, in Building Academic Library 2.0, (YouTube, 2007) acknowledges the following principles as valuable to a library or information agency embracing the 2.0 ethos:

1. Build a learning culture, not just a technology culture;

2. Utilise open communication to ‘go to the user and meet their needs’;

3. Create the potential for collaboration, publication, participation, through the use of Web 2.0;

4. Whilst remaining aware of emerging technology, ‘avoid techno lust’, by finding the right tool;

5. Value Web 2.0 as an asset to the library and use it to highlight existing resources.

These principles can be applied to Goolgowi Public School’s (GPS) library, which like many other schools libraries chooses to adopt the following time worn approach. Each class is given two scheduled days in the library, the first day is used by the librarian to both read to the students and to complete craft and activities relevant to the reading. The second day is a basic technology skills lesson that doesn’t incorporate Web 2.0. The TL at GPS needs to recognise the importance of lifelong learning, collaboratively teaching and learning which is Farkas’ first principle.

Through conducting surveys, questionnaires, forums and meetings, GPS can determine the student’s skills in the use of Web 2.0. This will establish their needs and wants in combining Web 2.0 with their education, which is Farkas’ second principle. Once users’ needs are determined, the process of finding and applying appropriate tools to meet those needs can be mapped out.

Introducing a Web 2.0 tool such as Edmodo to GPS would enable the school to form a healthy balance between their online and offline worlds. This would address the third principle and combat the issues associated with the schools small size and remoteness, providing an opportunity for collaboration, communication and publication within the classroom, school and beyond. When selecting and implementing a Web 2.0 tool, the school should apply the fourth principle and ensure it meets users’ needs whilst being affordable and compatible with existing hardware. In this regard Edmodo would be a most suitable Web 2.0 tool.

Despite being a small and remote school, GPS has established an extensive library collection and by applying the final principle, GPS could further use Web 2.0 tools to highlight and update their collection. Edmodo features RSS feed and library features which could be used to source and collate new resources.


 * OLJ Task 2 - A to Z of Libraries of the Future. **

Goolgowi Public School (GPS) is an ideal test case to which the A to Z list can be applied as they lack collaboration, fail to use Web 2.0 tools and adopt many time worn approaches. In order to move into the 21st century they would need to implement a vast majority of the list, however the following 5 measures are an ideal starting point;

//"B- Blog, does your library have a blog. This is a great way for you to offer value and content for your library and it has become the standard for libraries to have one." //


 * Blogging could be used as an information and feedback device in the library at GPS to both inform users of the daily events and available content. BlogEd is a Web 2.0 tool that is a safe and secure blog environment which would encourage a more collaborative and communicative culture.

//"C- Collaborative- In the future libraries will collaborate a lot more with outside enmities such as bookstores, schools, businesses and other organizations." //


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Collaboration is a key concept in the 21st century library. GPS’s remote location means that collaboration with outside entities is essential. This can be achieved through the use of Web 2.0 tools such as Edmodo, Books and Book Raps (coincide with a well-established accelerated literacy program), Google Docs or Moodles. Implementing any of the above mentioned tools would encourage internal collaboration and communication as well as with other schools, staff and students.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">"J-Joomla- an open source web design program that can make editing your library website and adding in social networking features much easier." //


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">At the commencement of 2010 there was no web page for the school or library. Both would be great sources of information, communication and collaboration within and outside the school. Many schools choose to combine their website with their blog.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">“P-Podcasting- this is a great way to share interviews and valuable audio tips with your library’s audience”. //


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Podcasting is an educational and instructional tool that can be produced by the teacher, or the student which enables them to take ownership of their learning. Library in a Minute (2010) podcasts are a simple and succinct way library features can be introduced to the public. This concept could be adapted at GPS to outline events, new resources, ways the library can be used, research techniques etc.

//<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">"F-Facebook, having a presence on Facebook with a fan page or a group is a must. Facebook is so popular now that it is expected". //


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Schools with a Facebook page increases their exposure and encourage communication and collaboration. The NSW Department of Education and Training provides a site known as Edmodo which is an education based, secure micro blogging site which is similar to Facebook. A tool such as this would be beneficial to such a remote school as it would encourage publication, sharing, communication and collaboration of staff and students at the school and beyond the school.


 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">OLJ Task 3 – Did you know 4.0. **

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">The five shifts or trends selected from Did you know 4.0 (2009) that can impact on how individuals behave as digital citizens include;

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">1. By 2020 mobile devices will be the world’s primary connection tool to the internet and will be cheaper, smaller and more powerful.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">2. The rapid decline in traditional forms of advertising e.g. paper, radio, TV and magazine and a rapid increase in digital advertising.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">3. Increased contribution and publication in Wikipedia.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">4. Increased communication online for example American teenagers currently text over 2000 messages a month.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">5. Increased usage of social networking sites for political, social, medical, job related and entertainment reasons. There are 250 million unique visitors to sites like my space, YouTube and Facebook each month.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">The above mentioned changes reflect an increase in the usage of digital media. People are utilizing these tools for a variety of reasons such as social communication, political freedom of speech, publication via sites such as Wikipedia and for work related projects like advertising. The continual improvement in the size, price and power of digital devices makes them more readily available to all individuals. Schools are an ideal place to implement the use of a variety of digital devices and Web 2.0 tools and to teach the appropriate values relating to their usage. Safety, security, etiquette, plagiarism and copyright should all be addressed in the classroom and outlined in an information policy.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Web 2.0 consists of a range of powerful tools, therefore teachers and schools have a duty of care to ensure that they are used in an appropriate manner. This is supported by Kroski (2009, p.1) who indicates that “while the wild popularity of these apps has opened up a world of opportunity for developing brands and building communities, the social and extremely public nature of these services also brings potential hazards”. Also Wittenberg (2007, p.1) outlines the importance of the teacher as a guide in the process of correct usage, acknowledging that our students clearly want to explore the content and tools, however they need guidance in selecting and evaluating the information that they find.

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">== References == <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif';">Farkas, M. (2007, January 23rd). Youtube, UC Berkley Events (Executive Producer) //Building Academic Library 2.0//. Academic Library 2.0 Distance Learning Librarian Norwich University, Northfield Retrieved from [] = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">Kroski, E. (2009). Should Your Library Have a Social Media Policy? In //School Library Journal.// Retrieved 15th December 2010 from <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt;">[] = The Library Channel ASU (Executive Producer). (2010, December 6th). //The Library in a Minute.// Youtube retrieved from []

<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;">Wittenberg, K. (2007). //Credibility of content and the future of research, learning, and publishing in the digital environment.// The Journal of Electronic Publishing, 10(1). Available @http://quod.lib.umich.edu/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=jep;cc=jep;rgn=main;view=text;idno=3336451.0010.101 <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%; line-height: normal; margin: 0cm 0cm 10pt;"> = <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">xplanevisualthinking (Executive Producer). (2009, December 20th) //Did You Know 4.0//. Youtube retrieved from []  = = <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">(2010, 22nd January, <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">). <span style="color: windowtext; font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">A to Z of Social Networking for Libraries <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'; font-size: 11pt; font-weight: normal;">in //Social Networking Librarian Exploring Social Networking and Technologies In Libraries// on the // Social Networking for Libraries // blog. Retrieved on 20th November 2010 from [] =