Blog for creative artists

Creative artists can benefit from tips, interviews and features on blogs.
The blog listed above, Creative Artists Blog, does this and more.
The blog creator regularly features designs found on Print on Demand (POD)
 sites such as Cafepress, zazzle, and Redbubble.
The blog also includes links to reviews of these POD sites, and other sites with tips for creative artists.
Art lovers and shoppers also come across this blog, so having an image or interview there may well  bring you benefits.

Another tip is whenever possible, embed a slideshow of your work in your sites, as if you earn referrals with your POD seller, you can earn money from people buying after you refer them to products, even if that product is not your own. This is possible at zazzle, for instance, and it may be that blog owners who are in this program are earning money from featuring other people's products on their blog, often working by shopper themes to generate customer interest. This benefits them as well as the owner of the image.
An example of a zazzle flash panel appears below:

Canvas Prints

Make a personalized gift at Zazzle.

Blogs for librarians

Ok, if you are a librarian, you may be looking for ways to network with other librarians and view their blogs.
Blog central for Australian library blogs is here.
You can quickly access blogs that you may want to follow, and list your own library blog as well.
Worth a look! Link, follow and embed Powerpoints, and share ideas.

Good Powerpoint presentation design

More and more people use Powerpoints these days, to educate, to sell things, to entertain, or to be a personal portfolio. Here's a great slideshow on good Powerpoint design that keeps your viewer interested and sells your message.

Good PowerPoint Design - for business presenters

View more presentations from Alexander Osterwalder

Music online

Library clients who are musicians often search high and low for music information, including scores.

Music students often want information about composers and periods of music
Other music lovers are interested in getting access to audio playlists and videos to watch and listen to.

State Library of Queensland offers a number of online databases, including an excellent music resource called Music Online, which any member of a public library in Queensland can use.

http://www.slq.qld.gov.au/find/articles/music

Onsite access at your public library or State Library   Onsite access is easy - visit your local Queensland public library or the State Library of Queensland and connect using one of the onsite computers. 

Offsite accessTo access these databases away from the library - from any computer connected to the internet (eg home or office) - you must be a Queensland resident and: 

• own a State Library e-services card (apply for an e-services card allowing 5 days to receive your card);
  OR
• be a member of a Queensland public library with a QPL account (register for a QPL account - immediate access after email verification) 

Music Online database covers all periods and styles of music from Medieval to new composers, jazz to opera to folk songs to classical to world music, with audio playlists you can create or listen to playlists created by others.

You can search the database for recordings, scores, clips or song titles, music of a time period, musical instrument, composer and by keywords. Keep searches simple and specific. For example, to find a Washboard band, you only need to enter: washboard.

Some examples? How about these albums:
      Live at the Monterey Festival performed by JEFFERSON AIRPLANE
or  Night in Tunisia performed by Charlie Parker (Alto Saxophone)
or  Lord of  the Rings by Johan de Meij (Composer). Performed by United States Marine Band
or  La Vie en Rose by Edith Piaf
or  Japan - Ugetsufu - Shakuhachi , Koto (Japan- "Music of Rain and of the Moon") performed by Sagawara, Kuniyoshi; Izumiyama et al.

  Discover Music Online's free classical music downloads and free world music downloads!



Full music scores are available for download and printing off for personal use and study purposes.
You can print any score once you have viewed the score. The PDF will open up in Adobe in your browser window. To print all or sections of the score, click on the `print' icon, where you can select how many pages of the score to print.

• Can I perform from these scores?

Scores printed from Classical Scores Library are to be used for individual use only (study, notation, etc). You are not allowed to perform from the printed version of the PDF.

• Can I project the scores for classroom study?

Yes, you are allowed to project any of the PDFs for classroom instruction.

RSS (Really Simple Syndication) is a popular way to keep updated on what is new with a web site without having to continually visit the site. RSS feeds contain headlines and links to web pages which contain additional information. In the case of Alexander Street Press databases, the RSS feed will deliver new and featured titles recently added to the product. If you are waiting for a specific author to be added to the product, for example, the RSS feed will deliver that alert to you.

A What's New page on the database also lists the newest additions.

Google art project

Last week’s launch of the Google Art Project offers an alternative way to view some of the world’s most famous artworks, in greater detail and with a better view than you would often achieve when viewing these works in person.

The Google Art Project allows you to virtually visit 17 of the world’s top galleries and museums and view 7,000 megapixel versions of 1061 artworks. Galleries and museums include The Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC, Museo Reina Sofia in Madrid, The National Gallery in London, The Palace of Versailles in France, The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, The State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg and The Uffizi Gallery in Florence. This video shows some of the preparation that went into the project.
Two videos that tell you more about the project can be found here .


Of course, no matter how impressive, technology can never replace the experience of viewing a work in the flesh and some commentators wonder what sort of implications this kind of project will have on people’s need to visit galleries or museums in future. These articles feature some interesting views on the project:

1. The Work of Art in the Age of Google
2. Behind The Scenes At The Google Art Project
3. The Problem With Google’s Art Project
4. Google Art Project: the 7 billion pixel masterpieces (slideshow)

QR codes - find the code, follow the link, and find out

QR code stickers direct mobile phone users to content that may interest them.
Libraries are starting to use them to provide information, link to the library catalogue, book reviews, maps, event notifications etc.
QR codes can be quickly generated using goo.gl
Put in a link, click shorten link, add qr to the link then hit enter to generate your own QR code.

If these directions are a little unclear, see the explanation video here. 

Here's 2 codes to try out....

2CoolTools: Typing Tutorial

Having never formally learnt typing, I am sometimes a bit dyslexic and hit the keys in the wrong order or my hands wander so I hit the key next to the one I wanted. Perhaps you would be interested like me in a free typing tutorial?

2CoolTools: Typing Tutorial