I think these tools are potentially of great advantage to the library environment, as people are keen to keep track of personal reading information. Instead of manually writing down about the books we have read, plan to read or are interested in locating to read when available, we can utilise social bookmarking tools. Eventually people will rely on social bookmarking because of its versatility and portability. Our own personal catalogue of books, films, games, genre, whatever our interests may be can be located in a few clicks. Review of material is an easy task with sites such as Shelfari, and the information is readily available for other people with "like" interests. Social networking has a very positive outcome for libraries in this respect. We can learn and build upon our interests and be aware very quickly of new innovations, reader material, films etc. instead of painstakingly googling with ineffective searches.

Using RSS Feeds has to be an easy way to chanel desired information to your account. In an ideal world we would like to be able to have time to manually request, sort, read and review press releases, book reviews, and news items. In busy modern times utilising RSS feeds to access and gather little interesting snippets of information has to be the way to move with the times. How do we find out the latest book releases, movie news, or a CD fresh off the press? An RSS feed of course. Using RSS feeds is the optimum method to keep yourself updated and informed - particularly for your job!

Social Networking for Libraries a new link to the Populace.
Its an everchanging world where people communicate with a brief twitter and the news is out there to thousands at the touch of a few keys on an I-phone! Libraries need to keep abreast with the latest communication techniques - after all, MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter etc are the latest information technology tools to the masses. Whether it be Marketing or Social Networking for clients, libraries need to keep pace with the latest method of communication!

Wikiworld!

Well Wonderful Wikis!!! What a very democratic way for everyone to put forward their ideas, whether it be in the workplace, a club or social network. Having a running input or commentary makes a fluid vessel for ideas! Constant updating of procedures for a work environment, or running discussion for planning or work group committees must find Wikis an exciting new application.
Wikis have a whole host of applications with plenty of chances for success at many levels of discussions, whether it be a Local History site at the Montana Library, or within a company or business whether work practices and procedures may change or evolve on a daily basis.
Welcome Wikis!
The information is available for perusal by many blog visitors - a powerful tool for knowledge and ideas! I give it the Big Tick!!

Flickr is awesome!! I hope to add some great photos and articles from my travels to Japan next month. We will be travelling to Kyoto, staying for 3 nights, and day-tripping to Nara. I believe this is the original site of the original Imperial palace, and that during the second World War the Americans were ordered not to bomb this area because of its heritage value. Deer wander through the area, and for the tourist Nara has tremendous visitor appeal. Perhaps I will have a photo blog showing myself in front of this temple!! Stay tuned.

A Leap in Learning!

Blogging!! Its new to me. I have now learned something new. Its a young concept, its exciting and the challenge is to make this blog exciting enough for the people around me. Its got to be exciting enough to entice the young ones - i.e. the late teens of the family!
The real challenge is to continually 'blog' items of an interesting subject. Perhaps this is a healthy change from obsessing with how to spend the 'stimulation package' budget, e.g. what item/thing/trip etc.
The danger of having new knowledge as a mature age person, is that it is probably already old hat for the younger generation. For someone like myself who has just mastered the art of Skype and talking to family halfway around the world on video phone, and then bragging how conversations with people seem to be in the living room!
I can now badger my parents with more knowledge of new technology!!