Tuesday April 27, 2010
Digital volunteers do amazing things
Rose Holley was a big hit at Mosman Library last week and we’re pleased to make available a video of the presentation. If you’re interested in libraries, local histories, web 2.0, crowdsourcing or innovation, it’s all here! Listen out for stories of million dollar cheques and visits from Google.
The talk energised locals in the crowd, some of whom are now looking at open web communities as an avenue for sharing their local history knowledge and research. One participant said “Amazing night! I feel like I’ve been on a trip to the 23rd century, my head is spinning.”
All sites mentioned by Rose are listed below.
Friday April 23, 2010
Stories told!
Eileen Dougan, Trish Levido & Margaret Evans at the oral history interview workshop
“Stories to Tell…” the National Trust Heritage Festival at Mosman Library is now over for another year.
Deviating from our usual festival exhibition program we tried something different – a series of workshops focusing on the story of ‘everyman’. The workshops included how to prepare for and do an oral history; how to write the family story in such a way that the reader can not put it down; and the seminar on publishing provided excellent hints on how to get that book onto the market.
The feedback from those attending has been fantastic with some going to all sessions. All stressed how inspired they were to get started immediately. Some who already had a mother, aunt or grandfather lined up for an interview felt they were now able to do the interview, while others who had already heard about the family skeleton were ready to tell their story. A few who had their document ready to go to press now have the confidence to find that publisher or even be the publisher.
While all most sessions were run by experienced professionals the demonstration of an oral history interview was led by two of Mosman Library’s oral history interviewers, Trish and Zoe. Trish started the session by relating some of her personal observations and then invited the audience to participate by interviewing the person next to them for 5 minutes. The room was buzzing with voices and laughter and after the group talked about how they felt and Trish and Zoe were able to provide advice on handling certain situations. The interview was great and as Trish and Zoe hadn’t prepared a script it was spontaneous.
For our final workshop, The Making of Our Digital Nation, we were pleased to have Rose Holley, Manager – Trove at the National Library of Australia, talk about digital projects like Australian Newspapers. She talked about a range of projects that anyone can volunteer their time to help preserve our extensive cultural and social heritage and to share their knowledge. We hope to make a video recording of the talk available soon.
Monday April 12, 2010
Working for the National Library in your pyjamas
What good is the internet? You might as well ask what good is speech? Or writing? All allow us to communicate and collaborate. The internet makes this possible in real time in spaces that are physically distant. Our tribe or team can be scattered around the world, but work together. In fact, the quantity and diversity of talent available makes the work not just possible, but better.
Last month Liam Wyatt talked about how hundreds of thousands of volunteers have created a free encyclopedia of 10 million articles in 250 languages in less than 10 years.
In 2008, the National Library of Australia looked to volunteers to help them digitise out of copyright Australian newspapers – an immense task. By November 2009, more than 6,000 volunteers had corrected 7 million lines in 318,000 articles, adding tags and comments along the way.
In January, the top six text correctors (pictured, from left: Maurie and Lyn Mulcahy, Ann Manley, Fay Walker, John Hall and Julie Hempenstall) were presented with special Australia Day awards. You can learn what interests them – “I’m into murders and executions, and family notices”; “war crimes and Japanese war trials, although at the moment she’s focusing on plane crashes”; “shipping” – in this Canberra Times profile (PDF).
Rose Holley was manager of the Australian Newspapers Digitisation Program. She now manages the new Trove discovery service from the NLA. She recently published Crowdsourcing: How and Why Should Libraries Do It?, a paper that analyses successful projects and issues a challenge to libraries: Do we have the courage, and dare we give users something greater than power — freedom?
Join Rose Holley at Mosman Library on Thursday 22 February at 6pm for what promises to be a fascinating talk – The Making of Our Digital Nation. RSVP on 9978 4090 or book your place online.
Tuesday March 30, 2010
Stories to tell... The Making of Our Nation
The theme of this year’s statewide National Trust Heritage Festival is an opportunity to recognise the impact of individuals in shaping their community.
Mosman Library is offering free workshops to learn about documenting ‘everyman’s life.’
We have two oral history workshops for those wishing to learn or re-learn interviewing techniques. Memory Man, Bob Mitchell and Rosie Block, Curator of Oral History at the State Library of NSW will show how to achieve a satisfying interview.
Carol Baxter presents Writing Interesting Family Histories with advice on reworking your family research and oral histories into exciting narratives and at the same time release your creative writing spirit.
Geoff Bartlett will talk about Self Publishing for Work or Pleasure, discussing the pros and cons of self publishing, advice on book editing and layout, obtaining printing quotes, marketing and distribution.
In Stories to Tell: The Making of Our Digital Nation learn about the many opportunities to be a ‘digital volunteer’ for history and heritage on the web.
A special treat is the demonstration of an oral history intervew by two of the Library’s oral history interviewers.
For dates and times check out the Library’s events and as our workshops are popular it is essential to book on 9978 4091 or email d.braye@mosman.nsw.gov.au to ensure a place in the workshop of your choice.
Monday March 22, 2010
Everything you wanted to know about Wikipedia but were too afraid to ask
Our thanks to Liam Wyatt for a fantastic talk at Mosman Library last Thursday. We had quite a diverse crowd, twenty-strong, with some keen discussion on copyright and Creative Commons. Liam has kindly made the slide set available:
Monday March 15, 2010
Liam Wyatt at Mosman Library
Liam Wyatt by Beatrice Murch (blmurch) CC BY 2.0
This week we’re kicking off a monthly series of talks on digital culture with an exploration of Wikipedia aimed at readers and potential contributors.
We’re fortunate to have Liam Wyatt lead the session.
Liam is a historian, podcaster and museophile. He is the Vice President of Wikimedia Australia and last year convened the GLAM-WIKI conference. He was formerly the Multimedia Coordinator at the Dictionary of Sydney. He won the UNSW University Medal in History 2009. And just last week he received a singular honour from the British Museum.
In June 2010 we’re piloting a project with the creation of the role of “volunteer Wikipedian in residence”. Australian Wikipedian Liam Wyatt will be with us for around five weeks. We’ve provided access to one of the broadest-ranging cultural collections in the world. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, is the most consulted and largest compendium of knowledge ever compiled. By harnessing the expertise of the British Museum and the reach of Wikipedia, this project aims [to] bring mutual benefit to both organisations.
You can read more on Liam’s blog.
Join us on Thursday for Everything you wanted to know about Wikipedia but were too afraid to ask.
RSVP for the session online or phone 9978 4099.
Friday February 19, 2010
Mosman to 2030: a valuable information resource
For information on Mosman’s demographics (current composition and future trends) visit Mosman Council’s website and check out the Community Profile, the Atlas and Forecast.
This is an excellent resource for students, researchers, community groups, Council, the business community, and the community in general as it provides information on current population and future trends and answers questions such as How many people live here? Who are we? What do we do? How do we live?
The Forecast section, which predicts changes in Mosman’s demographics up to 2031 in table, graph and map format, has recently been upgraded and enhanced with some useful new features:
- A ‘Data mapping’ tab which allows for the creation of thematic maps, including number, percentage and change in number, for any of the datasets, for any year of the forecast period
- A new home page giving an instant snapshot along with detailed contextual ‘role and function’ text
- Thumbnail maps on each page showing the location of each selected area to provide additional spatial context
- Information for ‘males’, ‘females’ and ‘persons’ available instantly for each dataset
- More extensive summary and key results information
- Summary of the major components of population change represented on one page for easier analysis.
The information in the Forecasts is underpinned by:
- The Community Profile which includes results from the 2006, 2001, 1996, and 1991 Censuses of Population and Housing, presented in table and graph format with commentary. It enables detailed analysis of the changes to the Mosman community over a 20 year period.
- The Atlas which presents the above information as interactive maps. Based on data from the 2001 and 2006 Censuses, each map is prepared using Census Collector Districts providing the finest level of detail to help identify spatial patterns and trends in the area.
Thursday February 11, 2010
It's like the internet, only 3D
Update, 16 February – We had more than 200 messages left online and in the Library, and 5kg of chocolate walked out the door. Thanks to everyone who made the week special!
What do people love about Mosman Library? It’s the books (audio books, music CDs and DVD movies also get a mention); the children’s library; the friendly and helpful staff; and the place itself – dry when it’s raining, cool when it’s hot, an ‘oasis of calm’!
A week of celebrating libraries in general and Mosman Library in particular climaxes on Sunday 14 February, the date formerly known as Valentine’s Day but now claimed for Library Lovers across Australia.
At the circulation desk we’re offering ‘choc for comment’ – and the choccys are going fast! – plus there’s a Library Lovers web page where you can leave your personal note electronically.
Rowan said he loves Mosman Library because “it is a bit like the internet only 3D.”
Go on, show us some love.
Library Lovers Day is a combined advocacy event organised by the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA) and Public Libraries Australia (PLA).
Monday January 4, 2010
Plain language guides to the law
Mosman Library is part of a statewide initiative of the Law and Justice Foundation of NSW and the State Library of NSW that provides free access to legal information for the community. In our reference section you have access to a regularly updated collection of plain language books about the law.
Now some of the most well used and useful Tool Kit titles have been put on the Find Legal Answers website in full text:
- Defend yourself: facing a charge in court
A practical guide to defending a criminal charge in court which covers arrest and questioning, bail, dealing with lawyers, court procedure, how to plead, hearings and trials, preparation, evidence, proof, examination in court, sentencing, and appeals. - Guilty your honour: representing yourself in NSW when charged with drink driving
A practical guide to defending a drink driving charge. Examines the offence and penalties, whether to plead guilty, whether to get a lawyer, how to prepare for court, and what happens on the day of court. - Guide to wills and estates
A practical guide to the creation of wills, changing, revoking, or challenging a will, rights of creditors and beneficiaries to a will, probate and intestacy, and legal fees.
Having these books online is a great step, as it allows you easy access to some fantastic legal resources.
Monday January 4, 2010
Teen blog hits refresh
We took the opportunity of a new year (is it a new decade?) to give the Wired 4 Teens blog a refresh.
And it really did need to update its look… the site is 5 years old this month!
Eve, then our dynamic customer services librarian, kicked off the blog with a post on February 3rd, 2005. Amy followed Eve as host on the site, and now Darren is coordinating teen activities and resources.
Teens are invited to participate in the space – you can post a review online, discuss a post in the comments box or just RSVP for an event or suggest a book, CD or DVD for the library collection.
Darren is also calling for digital artworks – we’ll soon be adding a widescreen showcase to the blog home page that will feature e-art from local teens.