#23 What I have learned and where to from here

Well, if this was a sample of what "lifelong learning" can be, I think I'm hooked! Not only did I learn about numerous potential tools for the future, I saw great networking develop, not only within my own library but with colleagues in other libraries as well. One of my first impressions was to do with the benefits of attending conferences and it feels now like I have just returned from one of the most successful ones ever!
Of the 23 things the ones I enjoyed the most and will certainly look into further were:

• Blogs & Wikis - I want to find out how to create sub-blogs for different topics within my blog, and I want to explore other blogs and wikis to see where the action is. At the micro-level, a reference wiki will certainly aid in communicating information between members of my team and to the rest of the library staff. A few of my colleagues are already getting some up and running;
  
• Rollyo search engines - this was such a neat way to pull together a number of related sites. I can see using these for delivering current awareness information on a number of subjects to our council research officers;
• RSS feeds - I still have to do a bit of brain re-wiring to change my methods of receiving news, ditto for social bookmarking which also has exciting possibilities for not only providing information to our users but for them to provide information to us and others. This is a much more effective approach than we have used until now.
• LibraryThing - isn't it a magnificent site! It's wonderful to see so many people drawn together to exchange ideas using the love of books as the good oil. I will enjoy searching for other dedicated sites like this where people's enthusiasm keeps everyone on the ball.

But now it's time to take a break and catch up on some lost sleep!
Congratulations to everyone who made this course possible. What a leap into learning it has been. Very 21st Century, too!
Thank You!!

#12 RollYo search for Grey Power

Now isn't this the tool I've been needing for so long! What a great way to focus searching to the most reliable sources.
Since ALL of us are growing older (not just us Baby Boomers) the question of how we want to live our lives in 10, 20 or 30 years from now is one that most city governments grapple with on a daily basis. Working for a municipal library, I have often had queries from our council staff about access, design, strategic planning and policy research for our ageing population. There is a lot of excellent research taking place and some wonderful internet resources like Ageline, DocuTicker, Intute and Australian Policy Online that help connect us to it. I have grouped my favourite resources together into a search engine I've named Grey Power and added the search box to the sidebar. Give it a try with this search example: technology "older people" to give you an idea of the range of excellent ideas at work in the world.