I cannot work out how to get options such as Layout available again on this blog. Perhaps something involving settings and permissions, but I don't know. Therefore this is the "last post" on this particular blog and I've started a new one - imaginatively entitled "Beth explores Web 2.0 technology - Part 2".
Childish, I know, but I feel like my pet blog has died! I must 'get a life'! :-)
Wednesday, 8 May 2013
Monday, 6 May 2013
Difficulty with blogger
Suddenly unable to access the Template and Layout options on the dashboard for this particular blog. Only allows me Posts and Settings as options.
A complete mystery to me as to why. Have even created a new blog (as yet empty of any posts) in case I was accidentally looking in the wrong place. I can access them on this new blog so am perplexed.
Should I abandon this blog and just start posting in the new one? Guess I will have to. Seems a great shame when I've put so much effort into this one. Temporarily very discouraged. The highs and lows of blogging, I guess.
A complete mystery to me as to why. Have even created a new blog (as yet empty of any posts) in case I was accidentally looking in the wrong place. I can access them on this new blog so am perplexed.
Should I abandon this blog and just start posting in the new one? Guess I will have to. Seems a great shame when I've put so much effort into this one. Temporarily very discouraged. The highs and lows of blogging, I guess.
Sunday, 5 May 2013
Saved Search Alert from a database - Ebsco's LISTA
Saved Search Alert - Open a BPC database (for example Ebsco's LISTA)
- Register (or sign in) for a personalised account (this sits within the BPC subscription)
- Run a search on a topic of interest.
- Refine your search (for example by country, author, publication or subject)
- Create an alert
The initial search gave 4236 results. I refined the search by publication date, moving from a start date of 2001 to 2010. This reduced the results to 1396 results.
By amazing coincidence the 2nd 'hit' that appeared was to the article that had attracted me to follow the Journal of Web Librarianship - "The Structure of the Biblioblogosphere: An Examination of the Linking Practices of Institutional and Personal Library Blogs" using Zetoc!
The alert appears as a link in this blog in the post below.
Subscribing to another blog
Have you subscribed to the BPC Library 2.0 Blog yet?
The answer to the question above is yes! Whenever the blog is updated I receive an email notification. This is very useful for keeping up to date with all my colleagues.
The answer to the question above is yes! Whenever the blog is updated I receive an email notification. This is very useful for keeping up to date with all my colleagues.
Following a blog
I thought it would be helpful to follow a blog by CILIP president and Web 2.0 consultant, Phil Bradley as it is relevant to both my work in a college library and my keen interest in gaining more IT knowledge and skills.
I found his blog by doing a simple Google search using the phrase "blogs for complete beginners in web 2.0" which is currently what I am! His name was recommended too by a colleague as someone to follow on Twitter. The blog has, to me, a very attractive title:
I found his blog by doing a simple Google search using the phrase "blogs for complete beginners in web 2.0" which is currently what I am! His name was recommended too by a colleague as someone to follow on Twitter. The blog has, to me, a very attractive title:
I want to. How to do the things you want to do. Including many Web 2.0 applications.
It is easy to navigate and I can understand the content. It also happens to be in my favourite colour - blue!RSS Feeds - Table of Contents email alert
I need to create a Table of Contents email alert for my favourite journal or subject area. Current Awareness providers in this field include Zetoc and JournalTOCs.
Am trying out Zetoc. After signing in, I'm given the opportunity to follow up to 300 journals.
I have a look at the latest table of contents for the Journal of Web Librarianship. This journal includes an article that sounds interesting: "The Structure of the Biblioblogosphere: An Examination of the Linking Practices of Institutional and Personal Library Blogs". Therefore I decide to follow it. I will be its 93rd follower on Zetoc.
Am trying out Zetoc. After signing in, I'm given the opportunity to follow up to 300 journals.
I have a look at the latest table of contents for the Journal of Web Librarianship. This journal includes an article that sounds interesting: "The Structure of the Biblioblogosphere: An Examination of the Linking Practices of Institutional and Personal Library Blogs". Therefore I decide to follow it. I will be its 93rd follower on Zetoc.
Saturday, 4 May 2013
Archiving - the power of Blogger
Was wondering how to go about the task of archiving older (date wise) blog posts in here, but have suddenly realised it's done automatically by Blogger. Wow! What a clever animal! My brain cells are grateful but feel a bit lazy. They won't have to work it out. The caption at the very bottom of the blog says "Powered by Blogger". How true!
Thursday, 2 May 2013
A "vanity search" on Google
Have been challenged to carry out a "vanity search" on Google.
Believe it or not this is the first time I've done such a thing, perhaps believing there would be nothing to find. Happily there is virtually nothing! The only mention of myself I could find was a vague reference to the electoral roll records of 2002 with my incomplete (says Bournemouth and gives the first half of the postcode) and now incorrect address.
Although I set up a Facebook account some time ago, I've never actually used it. Part of my reticence is the belief that no one would be interested in my life. Understandably people are generally far more concerned about their own! However, I'm not against giving it a go in the future if circumstances change. It's a good way of staying in contact with family and friends.
Nor do I think there is anything wrong with having a strong online presence. If I wanted to further my career, of if I became a pop star or published author, for example, I'd want to have a very strong online presence for self-promotion.
Actress Sheridan Smith, in Woman magazine (1st April 2013, pg 11) says "I get a lot of young girls writing to me, asking how to get into acting. That's why I'm on Twitter, I like to chat to fans..."
Believe it or not this is the first time I've done such a thing, perhaps believing there would be nothing to find. Happily there is virtually nothing! The only mention of myself I could find was a vague reference to the electoral roll records of 2002 with my incomplete (says Bournemouth and gives the first half of the postcode) and now incorrect address.
Although I set up a Facebook account some time ago, I've never actually used it. Part of my reticence is the belief that no one would be interested in my life. Understandably people are generally far more concerned about their own! However, I'm not against giving it a go in the future if circumstances change. It's a good way of staying in contact with family and friends.
Nor do I think there is anything wrong with having a strong online presence. If I wanted to further my career, of if I became a pop star or published author, for example, I'd want to have a very strong online presence for self-promotion.
Actress Sheridan Smith, in Woman magazine (1st April 2013, pg 11) says "I get a lot of young girls writing to me, asking how to get into acting. That's why I'm on Twitter, I like to chat to fans..."
Wednesday, 1 May 2013
RSS feeds and feed readers
Experiment with embedding RSS feeds in your blog. Consider news services or event feeds ("What's on") for dynamic updates. If you prefer, set up a feed reader as a one-stop-place for all your information.
Above is the challenge I am faced with. As I posted previously, I have embedded the BBC News feed into this blog as you can see. So far, so good! I don't think I realised that a feed reader was a different type of animal! I somehow thought that a feed reader would enable me to read all my chosen feeds in one 'window' in my blog. I think now that it is a totally different place for me to go on the web, although I could be wrong!
I had a go at using Feedly which I did manage to sign up for, but then got stuck. So I tried Bloglines instead and have created my own web page. It seems to be along the same lines as this blog - in that there is a dashboard you can tinker around in, then a private page for personal use. Have decided against going on to create a public page. Don't see the purpose of doing that at the moment, but it's an option perhaps for the future.
Above is the challenge I am faced with. As I posted previously, I have embedded the BBC News feed into this blog as you can see. So far, so good! I don't think I realised that a feed reader was a different type of animal! I somehow thought that a feed reader would enable me to read all my chosen feeds in one 'window' in my blog. I think now that it is a totally different place for me to go on the web, although I could be wrong!
I had a go at using Feedly which I did manage to sign up for, but then got stuck. So I tried Bloglines instead and have created my own web page. It seems to be along the same lines as this blog - in that there is a dashboard you can tinker around in, then a private page for personal use. Have decided against going on to create a public page. Don't see the purpose of doing that at the moment, but it's an option perhaps for the future.
Saturday, 27 April 2013
Accessibility issues
Last November whilst listening to BBC Radio 4's In Touch (a programme broadcasting news, views and information for people who are blind or partially
sighted) I heard discussions about talking bank machines and accessible online games.
I wonder how accessible my blog is to the visually impaired?
How does it sound if using a screen reader?
I guess that the BBC News RSS feed might be an unwelcome and confusing addition if the blog was read out. Should it be removed? Given that the primary purpose of this particular blog is to engage with and reflect on my experiences with Web 2.0 technology, I conclude that the RSS feed can stay. Lucky RSS feed! :-)
Does my website meet the needs of those with dyslexia, autism etc?
The National Autistic Society website gives some ideas on how I can improve the blog. For example, trying to limit the number of navigation links in any section to seven avoids overwhelming someone with an autism spectrum disorder with information.
These are are just some of many challenging and interesting design issues I need to work on when constructing this blog!
I wonder how accessible my blog is to the visually impaired?
How does it sound if using a screen reader?
I guess that the BBC News RSS feed might be an unwelcome and confusing addition if the blog was read out. Should it be removed? Given that the primary purpose of this particular blog is to engage with and reflect on my experiences with Web 2.0 technology, I conclude that the RSS feed can stay. Lucky RSS feed! :-)
Does my website meet the needs of those with dyslexia, autism etc?
The National Autistic Society website gives some ideas on how I can improve the blog. For example, trying to limit the number of navigation links in any section to seven avoids overwhelming someone with an autism spectrum disorder with information.
These are are just some of many challenging and interesting design issues I need to work on when constructing this blog!
Friday, 26 April 2013
Weekend fun!
Am writing this on Friday evening, so thought I'd lighten the tone of the blog with a few jokes:
A man walks into a library and asks for a book on tides. The librarian says "I'm sorry sir, that's just gone out!"
How many librarians does it take to change a lightbulb?
Usually 645.5 but sometimes 808.882
I just found out we have a local library. They kept that quiet.
A man walks into a library and asks for a book on tides. The librarian says "I'm sorry sir, that's just gone out!"
How many librarians does it take to change a lightbulb?
Usually 645.5 but sometimes 808.882
I just found out we have a local library. They kept that quiet.
Thursday, 18 April 2013
Beginning RSS Feeds and Twitter
Have successfully signed up to the BBC News RSS feed as an experiment. RSS stands for Really Simple Syndication and will allow me to see when new
content has been added. I can get the latest headlines in one place, as soon as
they are published, without having to visit the BBC's website directly.
I thought of adding an aggregate feedreader to this blog sometime in the future. Looking into Google Reader revealed that it would be retired on 1st July 2013. An interesting discovery, and a reminder that technology is ever evolving. Google has just acquired Wavii according to the BBC technology news of 28th April, but checking Wavii's website shows that they will not be continuing with their app either. Looks like I will need to continue my research....
Have also signed up to Twitter, following CILIP and Bournemouth and Poole College Sports.
Twitter is a microblogging service. Users make short updates called Tweets. They are 140 characters or less. More about Twitter when I have investigated it further.....
I thought of adding an aggregate feedreader to this blog sometime in the future. Looking into Google Reader revealed that it would be retired on 1st July 2013. An interesting discovery, and a reminder that technology is ever evolving. Google has just acquired Wavii according to the BBC technology news of 28th April, but checking Wavii's website shows that they will not be continuing with their app either. Looks like I will need to continue my research....
Have also signed up to Twitter, following CILIP and Bournemouth and Poole College Sports.
Twitter is a microblogging service. Users make short updates called Tweets. They are 140 characters or less. More about Twitter when I have investigated it further.....
Thursday, 11 April 2013
What I hope to achieve
I am hoping to achieve a very simple, 'workman like' blog to give me experience of using this very useful Web 2.0 tool.
A blog is a shortened form of the words "web log" - an online diary.
It is like a living organism that needs care and nurture if it is to survive, so I aim to post fairly regularly - at least weekly - to keep it alive!
A blog is a shortened form of the words "web log" - an online diary.
It is like a living organism that needs care and nurture if it is to survive, so I aim to post fairly regularly - at least weekly - to keep it alive!
Wednesday, 10 April 2013
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