Hi everyone,

I have just started a Google group for discussion of games and gaming in libararies.

Everything from Monopoly to World of Warcraft is fair game. We are also interested in new ways to use ICT, social networking and the way young people use technology.

You can join here:

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/lib-gaming-uk?hl=en

Carl Cross.

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I'd certainly agree with the people from NSW about the potential for a research project. What would be really exciting would be to use a common framework to do some research involving a few libraries involved in similar web 2.0 activities in the UK too...

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Hi Nick,

from a look at your homepage concept, I'd suggest taking a step back in the process. You should think about which tasks your site helps with and what problems it solves for the target audience. Come up with some personas, imaginary users, and what their needs might be, or better yet ask some real library users what their common problems are.

When you have those things defined, go back to your interface and think of how each of the page elements feed into those tasks, and pare out anything not directly related to it. It's very easy to start along the lines of "web 2.0 sites must have X", rather than "this web services must have X"

I'd also suggest taking a look at existing services like http://www.revish.com/ or the Facebook bookshelf.

-Matt

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I've added information under the Web2.0 heading about a proposed development to the public library website in Newcastle upon Tyne. Please take a look and let me know what you think!

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Hi Andrew Thanks for adding a page about Newcastle Libraries. Looks interesting - I like your demolition video. I should have said at the conference, if I can set up a wetpaint wiki, absolutely anyone can do it! It really is easy!
Sarah

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I found much here to think about and on return to our library had a go at setting up a trial wiki (still only locked down and private while we play around a bit!) and yes, it was extremely easy to do and might be something we could look at running in our school.

On a negative note, I would have wished to be able to hear the majority of the speakers! Was there a reason that the microphone was not used? Both myself and a colleague missed a great deal of what was said in spite of saying 'no' in response to the calls 'can you hear me at the back?' made by several speakers. This was great pity as it spoiled what was otherwise an informative event.

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I have used forums on our Virtual Learning Environment and they can be a wonderful way of geting student;s to participate and discuss. Is there and advantage in using a wiki over a forum?

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We have come to work this morning to find ourselves embroiled in this debate at a very practical level. On Friday evening wikipedia was blocked to users in our college because of its ability to be edited by anyone. Teachers who prepared lessons last week for this morning have found that aspects of their preparation is now defunct. Interestingly I had taught grade 5 & 6 about this aspect of wikipedia last week, warning them about digital footprints and appropriate use of the internet. Blocking sites for such reasons removes the educational opportunity for reinforcing current computer use policies and warning of the difficulties of web 2.0. Other blocked sites include social networking such as MySpace and Facebook and Google images. Some of these blocks are administered externally by the provider or school system. Others at school level (e.g. the wikipedia one). Schools and school administrations need to come to grips with the positives of web 2.0 authoring tools and make sure that policy addresses those who infringe. It is a classic case of the minority affecting the education of the majority.

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