Commenting on other blogs

I've commented on Tim Edison's Blog: 

Keep in mind the use of blog etiquette, here are the comments I posted: 

Comment on the evaluation of Web 2.0 technologies at Manly Library
"I agreed with your views on Manly's Facebook page, Instagram and Flickr account.  These Web 2.0 applications can be better used if more thoughts to be done.  However, it's good that Manly Library does create several blogs to suit different group of its library users. Would you mind to include the links to those blogs?  (I am not very good in locating things on web).  Thanks a lot." 

Comment on change the colour of your blog
"Love your idea of using the "watermark" background.  It looks professional and definitely makes me think of literature and library.  You've been well-thought of the blog design, the use of colour, the font characters etc.  I enjoy reading it. Well done." 

Change colour to my blog

Steps:

• Click the template tab on the left side and Customise. 
• Choose Picture Window as the Theme. Click the Background tab on the left side and choose the preferred image.  Choose the colour for the title bar. 
• Click "Apply to the Blog" on the top right corner.

I've changed my background from a road photo to a flowery crafty pattern. 
I chose the flowery crafty pattern, because I don't want the blog look too serious, but at the same time maintain the neatness and being professional. 

Previous: 

Now: 

Recommendations

As I observed, here are some of the suggestions for Randwick City Library in regarding to better use of the Web 2.0 technology.

On Facebook: 

• Randwick Library can do a better work in updating the upcoming library events.  Its users can check "what's on" in all the library branches.  At the moment, this section of the Facebook is not updated at all.  
• To attract people to "like" the Facebook page, there must be constant updating news and events, as well as relevant information for its users. 
• Taking New York Public Library Facebook example: https://www.facebook.com/pg/nypl/events/?ref=page_internal, library events in the upcoming two months are listed and its users can register for the events through the links provided. 

On Photo stream channel: 

• Randwick Library can consider to use Instagram/ Flickr as an alternate photo stream for its users/ followers.  
• Randwick Library can put up events photos in order to promote library image, as well as promote literature. 
• Taking Christchurch City Libraries Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/christchurchcitylibraries/albums, Christchurch Libraries have put up a lot of library event photos to share, including Roald Dahl Day, Storylines Festival 2016 etc. This helps the library to promote literature and engage with its community. 

Suggestions for particular areas: 

For Children: 

• make use of the Facebook page by posting upcoming library events for kids, so the parents and library users can know "what's on" and register for the events. 
• If Randwick Library create a photo stream in Instagram, the library can have an album for the kids to share their photos relating to stories/ literature.  Interesting photos, such as library book clubs, inspiring photos with latest literature collection etc, will attract children and parents to follow on the photo stream channel. 
• Another option is creating a children's blog introducing the new collection in the library, encouraging kids to review and comment. 
• Christchurch Libraries posted a lot of library events photos on its Flickr, like promoting Roald Dahl books on Roald Dahl Day, Andy Griffiths visit to the library to promote "13 storey treehouse series" etc. https://www.flickr.com/photos/christchurchcitylibraries/albums
• Yarra Plenty Regional Library has created a kids' blog to promote library events available for children: http://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/blogs/category/kids-blog/

For Local Studies: 

• Randwick Library can create a blog for local history, which can be posted with council events related to local studies, historic photo collections etc. 
• Yarra Plenty Regional Library has created a blog for local history (http://www.yprl.vic.gov.au/blogs/category/local-history-blogs/) which contains a lot of local historic information to enhance local studies. 

For Information/ Reference: 

• make use of the Facebook page to include useful library information, like location of different branches etc. At the moment, it only include the Bowen Library branch on its profile page. Facebook can be a useful platform to deliver the latest library news and information for its library users. 
• Calgary Public Library has posted an updating construction news to their new library on its Facebook, so the community can "witness" the construction process and be part of it.   https://www.facebook.com/calgarylibrary

The use of 2.0 Technology in Randwick City Library

Randwick City Library uses the following Web 2.0 for its library services:

1. Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/RandwickCityLibrary

• contains relevant profile information of Randwick City Library, including its branches, opening hours, contact details etc.  
• able to conduct search in library catalogue. 
• Photo & videos sharing. 
• Users can share their thoughts about the Library in the Review section. 
• Major library events are posted.   

2. Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLlEbgDAs23L18ZdvujuYqNA_3GtLsO3vT

• Youtube videos for Randwick City Library are placed as a part of Randwick Council.  
• The content of the Youtube videos are mainly for information use, for example introducing the use of technology and computer in the library, how to become a new member of the library etc.  

3. Pinterest: https://au.pinterest.com/randwicklibrary/

• Randwick City Library has "pinned" a collection of images which might be interested by its library users and followers. 
• A wide range of photos/ images is included, for example, historic photos of local areas, library/ librarian life, book lovers, or crafty images etc.  

For Local Studies in Randwick

• Due to copyright issue, materials for local studies are mostly available for in-house reading only.  Not available on the Internet.
• However, Randwick City Library has pinned some of the local historical photos in its Pinterest page, which might be useful for local studies. In the section of "Randwick: Past and Present", there are number of local historical photos for its followers to conduct research in local studies.
• Other than Pinterest, it seems nothing much has done on the Web 2.0 for local studies. 

For Children

• There are several Youtube video introducing the children and the toys collection in the library and how to make most use of them.  (Video for kids world: https://youtu.be/pJUgoFD0J90, & Video for Toy collection: https://youtu.be/A2O3E9JikMg)
• Facebook page also contains a number of updated information of library events for kids, as well as event photo sharing. 
• The Library catalogue does not linked to social bookmarking site.  Library users cannot leave reviews on the library catalogue. 

For Information/ Reference

• Randwick Library Information and News are usually sent out as emails. Library users are encouraged to subscribe to e-News, which will be email out regularly. 
• There are several Youtube videos introducing the Library services with useful advice and information for the Library users.  
• Facebook page also posts a number of the library information, news, events and the latest collections.

My Local Government Area is Randwick LGA, NSW. It covers a number of eastern suburbs in Sydney, including Kensington, Coogee, Randwick, Kingsford, Maroubra, Malabar, La Perouse etc. 

According to the 2011 ABS Census, a total of 128,989 population resided in the area, of which 15.1% aged under 15 years old and 13.1% aged 65 years or above. Of the total of 30,540 families in the area, 11,046 families (36.2%) have children under 15 of age. 

In addition, there is substantial number of population who is born overseas, given only 58.4% born in Australia, and hence, it is not surprising that 32.7% of the population speaks other languages than English at home. Of the population who speaks other languages, Chinese languages (which includes Cantonese, Mandarin etc.) obtains the largest group of 11,290 (29.1%), followed by Greek 4,948 (12.8%) and Southeast Asian Austronesian Languages (including Filipino, Indonesian and Tagalog etc.) 3,547 (9.2%).

URL for Rankwick Council website for library service: http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au


URL for Randwick City Library: http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/library

Randwick City Council area image: 
Source from: Randwick City Council Precinct Map (http://www.randwick.nsw.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0008/25919/Precincts-map-updated-24112014.pdf)

About Podcast in the libraries

Podcasts are commonly used to broadcast audios / videos on the Internet. A podcast represents an episodic series of digital media files (which can be audio or visual format), which user can set up and allow automatically downloaded via web syndication to local computer or portable media devices, such as iPod etc. Most of the podcasts are free to download. 

Podcasts are widely used in libraries and universities to 'broadcast' lectures, talks or interviews etc. on the web, so their users can have access to the audio/ video files on the web, without physically going to the libraries. 

National Library of Australia hosts a number of lectures, events and conferences on various topics, using Podcasts for its library users. 

National Library of Australia website: http://www.nla.gov.au

An example : Thomas Keneally's lecture on "Gutenberg Fights on: A Survival Story" for the 2014 Ray Mathew Lecture.  
URL: http://www.nla.gov.au/news/thomas-keneally-gutenburg-fights-on

Summary of Thomas Keneally's lecture 

Thomas Keneally, a well-beloved awarded writer, is invited to present his experience in writing, publishing and researching at the special event of the 2014 Ray Mathew Lecture. Thomas shares his journey of being a writer in Australia.  He began to write because he was a social outcast and his journey of writing since then was not easy at all. Over his 50 years of writing and publishing life, he observed the impacts of TVs and eBooks etc.  Hence, he encouraged the Australian readers and writers to continue and contribute to Australian literature culture for the current and future age to come. 

A little bit about me

Pui Shan is my Chinese name and you are welcome to call me Susana.  I am a mother of two lovely boys, who are 7 & 9 years old.  It has been always busy as a full-time mum.  24-7 with no annual leave. 

When my younger son starts school two years ago, I have been helping out in the school library as a parent volunteer.  I found it interesting to do all sorts of library related works, such as sorting out the collections, assisting the kids to find the right books, being inspired by the amazing books in the library.  

To extend my knowledge in the library profession, I decided to take a Library course at TAFE and hopefully to be a librarian in the future.