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.