It's not the number of reps I do, it's the quality #blogjune #1

I'm back!!  Yes it's that time of year again where I commit to writing something on my blog for all of June.

To get me motivated this time, I'm using some daily mantra's I'm stealing from Women's Fitness magazine, the first being: It's not the number of reps I do, it's the quality.

While that quote is related to working out, it can also be related to many other things, basically it's not the quantity it's the quality!  We only get one life so let's make sure it's a quality one!!!

It can also relate back to libraries - it's not how many books/items you have in the collection, it's the quality of what you have!  It's not the size of the library, it's the quality of what's inside!

Recently, well about 2 weeks ago, I was lucky enough to attend the Public Libraries NSW Association North East Zone meeting at Nundle, NSW.

Nundle recently had a new library built.  Nundle Library is part of Central Northern Regional Library service.  Like a few small libraries I've visited in recent years (Guyra comes to mind), it is built within the council administration building.  This allows the library to be open even when library staff are not available.  You see, Nundle library has a self check out kiosk that can be used when library staff are not working.  And if they need any assistance, council customer service staff are trained in the basics to assist.  Now isn't this a great idea for those smaller council areas that don't have the financial resources to have long opening hours!

I shared some photos of Nundle library on my facebook page (note only my friends can see them but if you aren't my friend, send me a request).

Nundle is a beautiful town just North of Tamworth, NSW.  I love driving out this way because the landscape is beautiful and while the drive is long (approximately 4 hours), it is no way boring.  Driving through Dorrigo, Uralla, and Armidale is never boring.  I am so thankful that my job allows me to see such places.

While at Nundle library, Central Northern Regional Library staff gave us a brief demonstration of a 3D Printer.  They have purchased a small one which they plan on taking around to all of their branches and providing library users with demonstrations and hands on experience with this relatively new technology.

I am still in mixed minds over whether this technology would be embraced in my library's communities, and it was interesting as some of the councillor's that accompany the library staff who attend these meetings also asked whether it really is the library's place to spend huge amounts on technology when it could be spent on more relevant resources.

I suppose this rings true with libraries constantly battling for extra funds, but does technology like 3D printers open the door for some money making opportunities???

The other fun thing that happened at Nundle, was some fellow librarians participated in geocaching.  Now fellow #blogjune (well I hope he is this year), Andrew at Geocaching Librarian, has composed a number of posts about geocaching so I was familiar with it.  But I had to laugh while I was out running in the early morning cold, I noted that some fellow librarians taking a lot of interest in an old piece of machinery by the river that runs through Nundle.  Later I asked if they were trying to work out what the machinery was and they said that they were in fact looking for a geocaching item.

After a hearty breakfast they continued on their hunt for the various geocaching items left around Nundle.  This may be something I look into further and make it a family activity.

#blogjune Post 2 - ANZ 23 Mobile Things: Thing 4: Maps and Checking In

I have to admit that I really haven't jumped into Thing 4 with great enthusiasm.  I'm like that with most things, I'll dip my toe in and if it doesn't interest me or provide me with a useful tool, then I'll move on.

Now with Maps and Checking In, I have played around with Foursquare, but honestly, living where I live there are really not heaps of places to check in as such. 

I added our libraries to Foursquare, but really, do people want to know that I checked in to my library every week day?  And then I checked in at our local beach and then at Woolworths??  I mean, I honestly don't go to many places so it lost it's appeal.  Even when I was in the city - either Brisbane or Sydney - I forgot to check in because it really didn't excite me!

However, I do know that some libraries have successfully used it as a tool for promotion and competition.  But looking at my community and how they use phones, and I would make a rough guess at saying perhaps 40% have smart phones/mobile devices, the rest have regular mobile phones or lap tops or nothing.  So offering some sort of program where users could check in, probably wouldn't be that popular.

I have used the Google Maps app to look for directions, but find Navigator or the navigation tool on my phone much more useful - like a GPS on my phone.  Although, due to a delay in response time while driving through Tamworth, it did get me lost looking for South Tamworth Library!!

Now I still don't know a lot about Geocaching but I have heard our Council IT staff member talking about doing some geocaching around our town.  I must have a longer conversation with him, but find I get lost in the jargon he uses.

So as you can see, I'm not really enthused by maps and checking in, but I think I will expect that some things on the 23 Mobile Things program will excite me and others won't.  But really it's all about learning about what is out there for mobile devices and having a bit of a play around.

Now off to read other #blogjune participants posts!