Embedding a Video

In the spirit of the season, I have embedded Jose Feliciano’s Christmas Classic, Feliz Navidad. Enjoy! You may also get a chuckle out of Jib Jab’s, He’s Barack Obama! He’s Come to Save the Day! I know I did. Have a clickfest on anything Jib Jab and you are sure to get a laugh.

There has been some interesting blogging about the use of video by libraries. Along with Hairy Harry and others I do think we could be using this media to spice up our websites. A blast of Feliz Navidad or a video tutorial on Blogging or Flickr or a home made video on one of our summer holiday activities could add humour and interest. There is a YouTube video on just about any topic and it may be possible to work them into whatever marketing theme a library is working with. Hmmmm, can’t wait for our next Marketing Group Meeting.

Facebook and Twitter

I've added Midland Swan as a friend using my Facebook alias just to confuse me and everyone else. I made a facebook page earlier this year because one of our IT staff wanted to bring some staff dinosaurs into the 21st century and get into Facebook and Twitter so that we could all better participate in the library's commitment to Web 2.0 services. I created the page and it has been dormant since. This is the second time I have used it and I don't really think that I will become a great user unless it's to update pictures of the adorable Archie (our hairy son). I think it's mostly because I don't like the world knowing my business, not that I'm a sleeper for Al -Qaeda or anything. I just really like my privacy. I know there are privacy settings and all but it still feels uncomfortably out there. As far as work is concerned, I understand the need for Cockburn Libraries to be out where people are communicating and Facebook is a good way to market a product. Every band or movie star seems to have a facebook page so as a marketing tool it clearly has its uses. Luckily, thanks to Lawley we do have a really good Facebook presence.

I'm now off to become a Twit, Twitterer, Twitster, Twitee, Twitmeister, Tweeter...

I have Tweeted. My Twitter name is kim@cockburn. I have tried to change my name twice to The Renovator for symmetry's sake, but don't seem to have mastered that black art as yet. I now follow a bunch of people and have unsuccessfully tried to leave a tweet on #waweb20. Persistence is a virtue, right? ...Persistence might be a virtue but it's also a time waster. Giving up on this one for now. Maybe someone could enlighten me. What the heck am I doing wrong? In reply to SwanLibraries "anyone seen this site: http://wthashtag.com/Waweb20

Yes I have, but what do you do with it and how do you post on it? I see GozzieHoon and Lawley and cccrumber is there too. I'm a member but don't know how to post. Woe is me.

I tweeted about our "What does Christmas Spirit mean to you?" activity and competition at Coobellup Library, whereby children and adults are encouraged to decorate a Christmas ornament for our Christmas Tree and write what Christmas Spirit means to them on the back of the ornament. While the majority of people have entered into the true spirit of the season, some jaded kiddies clearly just aren't feeling it. As experienced library staff, I am sure you can imagine some of the comments we have had on the back of our Christmas ornaments!

What do I think of Twitter? Again not for me on a personal level but yes it is clearly a powerful marketing and information/entertainment tool in the right hands. Just don't tell me what you've had for breakfast. I don't care.

Step 5 - Furniture, Fittings, Graphic Artwork + Delicious and Library Thing

Delicious is a great way to keep all your bookmarks together. The next time my PC explodes or the boys and girls in IT decide its time to update our leasing agreement, I won't loose all my really useful bookmarks as I have popped them all into Delicious. Its a good way for a library renovator to keep track of all the suppliers they have used and want to use again and its a great tool for sharing information about good suppliers and hopefully finding new ones. If its inspiration you need, it is good for that too. I found the DOK Library Concept Centre in all its coolness via a Delicious search on public library renovation. I covet those music pods in a big way.

Well I have created an account on Library Thing and added some fav books. As for making them appear in the form of a Widget...not sure about that... oh wait there it is on the right. It's magic!

Step 4 - Find a Wiki

Lots of obsessive compulsives out there. Remember that TV Show, Mastermind? The contestants now all have Wikis. But seriously, there is a lot of interesting stuff to be found in Wikis. Here are a few of my favourites. Read at your own risk as the quality varies, much like this blog.

http://wikileaks.org/

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Twin_Peaks

http://www.bobdylanwiki.com/

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Blackadder

http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/The_Lord_of_the_Rings

And, best of all a wiki for renovators

http://www.xlk.org.uk/wiki/index.php?title=Renovating_our_ground_floor

Yes! I can post a pic from Flickr.

I thought I would take a break from renovations to sort out how to post a pic from Flicker. Finally with the kind help of Wendy, I can do it! Here are some that made me smile.


Nothing relaxes like a Lab. Courtesy of Susana.


Nothing sounds as good as BB King's guitar. Thank you Donald Gibson .


And nothing tastes as good as a chocolate brownie. Thanks for the pic, Terri Tu.

That was fun.

Renovator signing off!

Step 3 - The Plan

You will need a plan. Actually you will need lots of plans. Flowcharts of the steps you need to take to get the job done are a good idea. That way you can see exactly where you went wrong.http://www.flickr.com/photos/rpinal/3129305814/

In what sequence do you pack up the library? This needs a plan of epic proportions.
Where are you storing all those books, dvds, pcs etc...?
What happens to your exchanges?
What happens to all the books on loan that will need to be returned?
How will you supply reserved items?
Where are the staff going to work?
Where do we put the shelves, books, dvds, chairs, fridge etc when it all comes back from storage?
What sort of "look" is the library having when everything moves back in?
Who is moving everything back in?

Whilst taking a break from all the planning, RSS Feeds are a good way to fill what little down time you have. Have a look a the BBC feed on the right for some up to date information on what's going on in the world. Life goes on outside your little renovation box you know. You might also need some inspiration. Try the Designing Libraries feed on the right for lots of great pics of what you would like your library to look like - if only you had the money.


Renovator signing off!

Step 2 - Devise a catchphrase

The builder assured us that, "Of course we can build around you. We just put a wall here and a new entry there and et voila the library stays open and we get on with the important building type stuff." This is when the catchphrase comes in handy, for as we all know, "plans" don't always work out as, well... planned.

Thus it came to pass that..."It will all be worth it in the end"... became our catchphrase of choice.

This phrase came in handy to cover a multitude of challenges.

The builder fails to mention that staff and customers will have no toilet while " the library remains open and we build around you" Hmmmm, I suppose we can walk 200 metres in the rain to the Sports Hall. It will all be worth it in the end.

The builder builds a nice wall to protect the library from dust, banging, crashing, falling and we suddenly realise that the light switches, air con, and security panels are behind the new wall with no library access. But, you know, it will all be worth it in the end.

We discover the nice wall to protect the library from dust, banging, crashing, falling is not water proof. We have water seeping in to form puddles on the carpet. Gee, lucky it's all going to be worth it in the end!

The air con has to be disconnected to progress the building works - all through summer. Not to worry! It will all be worth it in the end!

In case you were wondering this how hot it was in the library during the renovation.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/pockafwye/192210727/

It continues to rain and puddles continue to form on the carpet. The air con is still not working and it's 38 celsius outside. Staff swear they have seen mosquitoes this big http://www.flickr.com/photos/viamoi/3788240701/ breeding in the puddles near the Internet desk. Don't worry team, IT WILL ALL BE WORTH IT IN THE END.

I hoped to insert lovely piccies in the body of the text to show just how well I know how to use Web 2.0 technology. Unfortunately I can't get the piccies to appear in the body of the text so I have had to drop in some links. Ho hum. I'm sure I will figure it out when I have more time.

Renovator signing off!

Don't forget to take some time to smell the roses

http://www.flickr.com/photos/24329670@N03/2457695730/

Renovating a Library Step 1

Accept that the road will be long, with intermittent unsealed sections filled with pot holes and the occassional roo. Don't worry unduly though, as these challenges can be overcome with a good yoga class and a glass of wine... or two. Be aware that yelling and throwing things is not considered to be a good stress management stragegy. Sure it brings some short term blood pressure lowering benefits, but it's best to resist the temptation.

Packing commences.

The circ desk gets some temporary modifications.

Of course everything will fit into the temporarily downsized building!

It's too late to back out now.