Category: INF506

Reflection: A journey across the ‘social networking’ sea…

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“Social Media Keyboard” by Shahid Abdullah is marked with CC0 1.0

Before embarking on this journey across the choppy ‘social networking’ sea, on board the INF506 vessel, I was somewhat anxious of delving into unknown territories and unchartered waters! Despite previously being an avid user of a few social media platforms (a long while ago… what seems like a past life!), I felt completely and utterly out of my depth as I explored the unit outline and outcomes to be achieved. In the same token, I was quite intrigued by the possible applications of skills and knowledge to be gained through this course within an information organisation, particularly a school library. Continue reading →

Extended response: Impacts of social media – from privacy to priva-see!

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The topic of social media and privacy, unlike others that come and go, remains an “ever-important issue for internet users around the world” (Valentine, 2020). Thus, it has significant implications on one of the fundamental roles of information organisations and information specialists – protecting patron privacy. As libraries begin to embrace Web 2.0 technologies and social media to serve and connect with patrons, unique concerns arise regarding protection of patron privacy (Cotter & Sasso, 2016).  Social networking adopted by libraries promotes the open sharing of information, which is often personal information. “Thus, embracing Library 2.0 potentially threatens the traditional ethics of librarianship, where protecting patron privacy and intellectual freedom has been held paramount” (Zimmer, 2014). Continue reading →

OLJ 18: To infinity and beyond…

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Whilst libraries and librarians are increasingly embracing technological developments and advancements, there remains a struggle in fully implementing these cutting-edge technologies for learning. Nonetheless, the potential for future directions within library services is incredibly vast and until recent years seemed like something out of a science fiction novel! Continue reading →

OLJ 16: Real news is good news

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“Fake News – Computer Screen Reading Fake News” by mikemacmarketing is licensed under CC BY 2.0

In a socially networked society that is littered with ‘fake news’, misinformation and disinformation, authentic information is often hard to find. Although the terms have varied meanings (essentially, non-intentional versus intentional projection and spreading of false information (Iosifidis & Nicoli, 2019; Komendantova, 2021)), they are still closely related in resulting the same outcome – providing false information to the user/client/patron. Continue reading →

OLJ Task 11: A whole new (virtual) world

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“Virtual Reality Demo” by National Institutes of Health (NIH) is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0

Virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) technology is steadily increasing in popularity and adoption within a variety of settings. There are a number of VR/AR tools and devices available with varying levels of advancement and pricing. Some of these include HTC VIVE, the Oculus Rift by Facebook, and Google Cardboard that are used with apps such as Tiltbrush by Google and Google Earth  (Frost et al., 2020). Both VR and AR technologies offer an immersive experience, through a combination of video and computer-generated imaging (Craig & Georgieva, 2018), allowing users to be transported to a whole new world! The implications for adopting such technologies within information agency settings are incredibly vast, with immeasurable potential uses, particularly in educational settings. Continue reading →

OLJ Task 6: Library 2.0… A pocket full of books

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The term ‘Library 2.0’ has been around for over a decade. With the emergence of new

“Digital Book” by jbracken is licensed under CC BY 2.0

technologies and social networking sites, information professions were faced with new challenges in maintaining client engagement and connecting with users. Successful libraries and information agencies have adapted accordingly through time to keep up with the changing technological and information landscape, providing users with information and services previously offered but through new and creative ways. Continue reading →

OLJ Task 1: SHAPE-SHIFTING.. A Social Media Superpower

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For many users, social media is a diverse experience. Each individual, although possessing a single identity, may develop different methods of presenting themselves to their various audiences across the various platforms. In the exploratory research study report ‘Shape shifting across social media’, Davidson and Joinson (2021) discuss a human sociality key trait as the ability to adapt and change our behaviour in response to external and internal factors. Such factors extend even to online contexts as users behave differently as they move between private and social spheres. Continue reading →