Sending generic emails

I admit, I send generic emails to people when I feel the pressures of time, but I have to say that the email I received from the public library was a bit of a surprise...

We’ve noticed you haven’t used your library card for a while and wanted to remind you of some of the free services and materials we have:

 

• Graphic novels – there are some great new titles available www.wcl.govt.nz/graphicnovels
• EBooks and eAudio for you via eLibrary

            www.wcl.govt.nz/downloads

• Naxos – listen to streaming audio of more than 276,000 tracks from over 19,000 CDs www.wcl.govt.nz/popular/classicalm2.html

• Mills and Boon books – we have a lovely new collection of Mills and Boon romances at a branch near you wcl.govt.nz/millsandboon

 

Please visit our website (www.wcl.govt.nz) or drop in to any branch.

 

Questions or comments are welcome – let us know what you think about library services.

 

Please respond if you no longer wish to receive emails from us.

I couldn't help but reply and let them know that Mills and Boon is not appropriate for the younger visitors to the library. I know a number of children with both a library card and an email address likely in the library database that I wouldn't want to see turn up at the library asking for directions to the new Mills and Boon collection. 

Organising for Software Freedom Day 2011

 

For Software Freedom Day this year in Auckland we are excited to have Orion Health sponsoring us again. They are providing us the use of Orion Cafe on Saturday 17 September from 10 – 4 so if you are in Auckland come along. Other cities around New Zealand are also participating in this international event. See http://softwarefreedomday.org.nz/ for details.

Software Freedom Day (SFD) is a worldwide celebration of Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). Software Freedom Day 2011 is officially Saturday 17th September, but in New Zealand we're spreading our celebrations over the week or so around that date. Check out the website to find out what's happening near you.

The principles behind FOSS are underpinned by the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve he software. You can read more about the four freedoms on the GNU website.

Our goal in this celebration is to educate the worldwide public about the benefits of using high quality FOSS in education, in government, at home, and in business - in short, everywhere!

With only a few days until Moodlemoot 2011 I thought I would write a bit about what to expect (in addition to a good time).

Guest International Keynote Speakers:

• Martin Dougiamas - a man who needs no introduction in the Moodle community; Martin will be presenting remotely on "Where 2.0 now?"
• Gavin Henrick of Remote-Learner in Canada and Enovation Solutions in Ireland - Gavin will be sharing his experiences with us in his keynote "Moodle from multiple perspectives"

There will be a great range of presentations throughout the conference, including technical sessions like Dan Marsden's talk on "Crot and Turnitin: plagiarism detection tools" and school sessions like "Moodle and Teaching as Inquiry" with Mark Osborne.
Perhaps the best bit on the programme - "Open Space" - time for 'user generated' discussion - it's led by you! and the conversation can go anywhere.

As usual, we will have workshops running the day before the two day conference.

• Mobile Moodle workshop with Thom Cochrane and Vickel Narayan
• Beginning Moodle Administration with Teresa Gibbison
• Moodle foundation - essentials for newer users with Miriam Laidlaw
• Using Moodle in NZ schools with Anton Coltham and Jacqui Land

The conference dinner, a not to be missed experience, will be held at "The Floating Pavilion" at the Viaduct.

If you haven't already registered this is really the last chance, so go to the online registration form here now. I look forward to seeing you there!

Barcamp

It's time to register for Barcamp.


The fifth annual Barcamp Auckland unconference will be held on the 16th July at Botany Downs Secondary College.

http://bca.geek.nz/

What you need to know:

Define "Barcamp": Sort of like a conference, but not. AKA "unconference" because instead of having a schedule of presentations set by the organisers, at a Barcamp the attendees organise the schedule and it's generally more discussion the presentation. Basically, at a barcamp everyone should be participating in the conversation.

You can submit talk topics under the broad categories of - "HTML5", Native OS eg. iOS, Android, WP7, Mac, Windows, Design/UI, Productivity/Getting Things Done, or miscellaneous. 

The guy behind the Auckland Barcamp is Ludwig Wendzich.

Who goes? You will find developers, hackers, sys admins, makers, teachers, technologists, users, all sorts.

The awesome sponsors who make these possible: 

• InternetNZ, platinum sponsor
• Shift and Microsoft, gold sponsors
• Webstock, Pixelfusion and Valentine Addis, silver sponsors

What is different about Barcamp Auckland this year?
There will be a panel discussing the future of NZ's internet (thinking NetHui anyone?) including

• Clare Curran (Labour MP)
• Gareth Hughes (Green MP)
• Paul Brislen (TUANZ CEO)
• Tim Mullins (IP Lawyer)
• David Farrar (IT Political Commentator)
• Vikram Kumar (InternetNZ)
• Lance Wiggs (Moderator from InternetNZ)

iMoot 2011

Nearing the end of day 1 of the iMoot 2011 and I have enjoyed watching some of the sessions from the comfort of my couch.

There is a bit of something for everyone in the conference programme this year. Today I have listened to Julian talking about his passion for Moodle, even calling it “married to Moodle”. I have heard Sue Dark talking about Totara, catering to corporate Moodle users. I have heard Tomaz talking about Mount Orange School, the demo site, which is a great way for people to try out Moodle 2 and for getting tips on course design. Miriam talked on Moodle and Second Life, and the Moodlebites talk from Stuart helping those who need to do staff development for Moodle 1.9 and newly available for Moodle 2.0 (in English and Spanish!).

If I could handle staying awake until 1.30am I would attend Shane’s talk about the history of Moodle; luckily I can replay the session at a more NZ friendly time.

Anyway, three more exciting days to go, and I think/hope I am all ready for my presentations. :-/