Back on the bandwagon: online networks

Bookbandit is back on the shiny, widget-strewn internet highway that is 23 Things and this week's "thing" is Online Networks. This is another area in which I'm a bit of a novice, as I don't really do much networking in the real world, let alone the virtual one. I'm still fairly cagey about exactly what information I share on the internet, and with whom, so the concept doesn't really agree with me. However, for the purposes of 23 Things, I am exploring the issue in a little more detail.

'LinkedIn' is probably the online network with which most of us are familiar and, indeed, have used. I know several colleagues who use it but I have not joined up myself. Again, I think this is mostly down to that nebulous feeling of anxiety about "stuff about me going on the internet" but also because I believe it's primarily used as a professional networking tool, and I suppose I've never thought of myself as having been a 'professional' within LIS because I'm not a qualified librarian. This may also be no more than a convenient excuse for the information-internet fear I mentioned earlier.

Whilst searching for LISNPN, missing out a key letter along the way, I discovered the 'Long Island Sports Photo Network' which was in itself fairly interesting but not quite what I was after. Putting the necessary 'N' back in, I reached the 'LIS New Professionals Network' which is a friendly-looking site for, unsurprisingly, new library and information professionals. There is a blog, an RSS feed and downloadable how-to guides, including one for podcasting, one of our upcoming "things." As far as weighing up the potential advantages / disadvantages of online networking for our LRC go, I would think that one big advantage would be the ability to share information immediately across all of our sites (presuming, of course, that the network is up and running! ha).

Library 2.0 is yet another example of an online network, even shinier than its predecessors. It's also bristling with widgets, which, as you are all probably aware by now, I do enjoy, but it does feel like they might have gone a little overboard, even for me. The other area it's definitely a little heavy on is buzzwords. Now, I understand the need for "moving libraries forward into the digital age", for being a part of a "learning revolution age", etc, BUT, if people continue to throw the word "cybrarian" around, I will not be held responsible for my actions. Stop.it. Yes you.

"Cybrarian"-induced eye twitching aside In spite of, shall we say, some artistic difference of opinion, I can see the advantages of our LRC creating an online network:

• the ability to share information across all of our sites simultaneously (good for students + staff)
• possibly being able to connect with other members of staff within the college? This could be useful in terms of scheduling and/or planning information skills sessions
• It would be another opportunity for the LRC to have a bigger digital 'role'/impact on learning

Vis-a-vis disadvantages, I return to my old favourite theme of privacy/protection of data on the internet. I do feel, though, that we wouldn't necessarily be sharing sensitive information and so it probably wouldn't count as a 'disadvantage' in the first place. However, another potential stumbling block would be technology, or, shall we say, the relatively regular failure of it: online networking is excellent until you can't get online.

I think I'd better finish here before I start arguing for the merits of quills and steam power. Until my next post, I leave you with a gem of a quote regarding Mondays ... things can only improve ;)

.@JamesSACorey Monday's failure gives Tuesday the chance to step into the light and be the day we all deserve.
— Joe Abercrombie (@LordGrimdark) April 8, 2014

Infographic-tastic

I was trawling GoodReads recently, updating my progress in the 2014 Reading Challenge, when I came across some fun infographics I wanted to share with you all.

First up we have the "Top 10 most read books in the world":

I can't decide whether I'm happy to see a young adult novel series that has been so widely read as to appear in this list, or simply to be horrified that it's appearing alongside books like The Diary of Anne Frank and The Bible? Answers on a postcard please.

It's nice to see Lord of the Rings at #4, too. From my own experience in the world of bookselling, I found that Fantasy (and Science Fiction) tended to be viewed with some derision as genres, but I think this is beginning to change. We probably have George R. R. Martin to thank for that. By the way, George, could you please hurry up and finish The Winds of Winter, please.


Next I discovered "The Benefits of Reading Books", which reads like many a conversation I have had with my peers trying to argue the same, mostly, without success:

I always enjoy a Chinese proverb and this one is no exception, though I wonder what sort of garden could be found in the books you usually find on or around my shelves/floor/desk/handbag; possibly some sort of post-modern steampunk dystopian science-fiction garden, that you might not necessarily want to go into.

I would definitely agree that reading reduces stress and can put you in a better mood. I find there is nothing better than the ability to escape into a book, forgetting everything that might be winding you up in the real world for a few minutes - or indeed, hours - and the sense of calmness you can feel as a result. Having said this, it probably does depend upon exactly what you are reading: I've finished some books in a state of upset due either to the fact that I've come to the end, or indeed that the end has come to one or more of the characters I've spent the last few hundred pages getting to know.

My last offering is "Unpacking Reading Habits" - I think some of the connections here are a bit tenuous, but it's good for a laugh!
I do think it's true that I pick up speed towards the end of a book, though I don't think that I am more likely to read fiction at 12am (I am usually asleep). Would be interested to know if anyone else has different experiences / reading patterns, though.

It's nice to see some infographics being done for reading, and books. I think one of the benefits of e-readers and online reading in general is that more people are reading now than before, be it in the form of a blog, a newspaper or the faithful fiction title. It's also useful, particularly in HE (but also for some students in FE) to have such a wide range of databases and journals available online, though it does take something away from the experience of going to the library, hunting down the books you need and retiring to a cosy corner to read them. But then I am rather old fashioned.

Until the next post, where I might even produce something with a slightly less tenuous connection to work ... happy Friday!

World Book Night 2014 & Reading Challenge

If you're getting a sense of deja vu, it's because I did in fact write about World Book Night 2013, almost a whole year ago. I'm not going to make any grand claims to having been 'blogging for a year', though, since this corner of the web has been mostly stagnating away to itself since the arrival of the Autumn term. Still, it's a milestone of sorts, I think!

We have an interesting selection of titles for WBN14, including the excellent Rivers of London by Ben Aaronovich. I can't recommend this series enough, though I would caution you that it's still in progress, so if you race through the latest book (Broken Homes) and are then anguishing in wait for the next, don't come back and blame me ;)

There are also four 'quick reads' titles, which is nice to see in a mainstream event. Having been book-mad from a very early age, I've always taken it somewhat for granted that reading is an enjoyable experience. Having worked in education for a few years now, I've realised that it is quite intimidating, and difficult, for some to approach. Hopefully it might encourage those who are more wary of reading to have a go.

If you fancy having a look at the full range, follow the link below:

http://www.worldbooknight.org/books/2014-book-list

I've also taken on the 2014 Reading Challenge on Goodreads, quoting 50 books this year. I would have guessed this to be about my average yearly quota for books but I'm not sure if I actually read this many, or if I even go over 50 - it will be interesting to see, and report back! Have included a widget below - largely because it's simply too long since I've typed 'widget' - to track my progress.

2014 Reading Challenge

Oncemore has read 5 books toward a goal of 50 books.

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5 of 50 (10%)

view books

Off to order the WBN14 titles we don't already have in stock. Until next time, folks, happy reading!