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

Firesheep, Blacksheep and botnets

Firesheep became a problem recently for people who use wireless internet in cafes, libraries etc. because it meant someone else nearby could download this free software to snoop on your activities.
This was quickly followed by another application called Blacksheep, which says it can detect snooping to alert you to the fact.
To understand how BlackSheep works, we first need to understand the details of FireSheep. FireSheep listens to the HTTP traffic on port 80. When it identifies a transaction to a known site (Facebook, Google, Yahoo!, etc.), it looks for specific cookie values which are then used to identify a specific user.

When FireSheep identifies a user session, it then makes a request to the same site using the user's cookie values in order to retrieve user information such as their name, picture, etc. This active network activity is however visible to others on the local network.

BlackSheep detects the active connection made by Firesheep. It does this by making HTTP requests to random sites handled by FireSheep every 5 minutes (configurable) with fake values. BlackSheep then listens to all HTTP requests on the network to detect if somebody else is using the same fake values.
Zscaler has recommended users logout of the social service they are using as soon as an alert is raised and stop using the network.

All this should make the average user wary of doing confidential things in wireless internet situations. There are smarter hackers out there than the person who downloads Firesheep.

As for the idea that your computer may have been captured and be secretly used as part of a zombie computer army or botnet, please follow this link to McAfee to find out more.....

Here are some tips to help keep you bot-free:

• Never click on a link or download in a spam email or instant message from someone you don’t know
• Use comprehensive security software, like McAfee Total Protection™ software, to protect you from viruses, spam, and other Internet threats, and keep the software up-to-date
• Set your operating system and browser to automatically apply updates
• Turn your computer off when you are not using it—when you are disconnected from the Internet cybercriminals can't access your machine

Are you already part of a botnet?? Well, there is advice at the above link about that too.
Some major ISPs have already begun malware disinfection programs. Australia's recently launched voluntary anti-zombie code for ISPs was held up as a good model for achieving relatively low levels of infections. General levels of education were also an important factor.
Don't get paranoid, just get SAFE!

Cbyer safety

Libraries play an important role in providing internet access and advice to children, their parents, and other library users. To help library staff in this role, the Australian Government ACMA has developed a range of resources about how to manage risks so that  library users have safe and positive experiences online.

Developed by the Australian Communications and Media Authority, Cybersmart is part of the Australian Government’s cybersafety program.
Developed in conjunction with the Australian Library and Information Association and Australian public libraries these resources aim to complement existing policies in libraries and provide additional resources and support to library staff.
The Cybersmart Guide for Library Staff provides information, support and tools to effectively promote internet safety in Australian public libraries—especially for children.
This guide is complemented by a cyber rules poster for young internet users and a series of online cybersafety videos. Information for families, including the Cybersmart Guide for Families is also available.
Safer Internet Day, an international event marked on 8 February 2011, will focus on the theme ‘It’s more than a game, it’s your life’. The event aims to help children and young people learn essential skills about safe social networking.
To help raise awareness of cybersafety issues with library users, library staff may like to use some of the free Cybersmart resources, including the issue-specific downloadable brochures, below, which are designed for parents and their children. These can also be ordered as hard copies. You can order these free resources online or by telephoning the Cybersafety Contact Centre on 1800 880 176.
Please allow 10 working days for delivery.
The following valuable resources may be useful for raising Cybersafety issues with your library users.

• Socialising on the internet (PDF 1.2 Mb)
• Dealing with offensive content (PDF 1.2Mb)
• Mobile phone safety (PDF 1.3 Mb)
• Say no to cyberbullying (PDF 1.4Mb)
• Social networking-A guide for adults (PDF 1.2Mb)
• Cybersafety Resources brochure (PDF 678Kb)
• ‘It’s more than a game, it’s your life’ Safer Internet Day poster (PDF 394kb)

Animation sites and story book sites

Making your own mini animations is getting much easier these days, thanks to sites like www.voki.com which do all the hard work for you,  making it quick, easy and fun.

Here's an example of a cartoon character that you can personalise with a supplied or uploaded background, add your own voice or type text which is turned into voice, and then publish.

Another site which allows you to make an extended dialogue between 2 characters is xtranormal.com which adds your text to a movie, complete with characters that gesture and different camera angles.

Then there are quick ways to produce digital story books.

Batalugu [http://batalugu.com/] is a new free (beta) site that is great for creating digital books. The easy to use on-line tools will take you on a step by step journey as you write, rhyme, illustrate, design and print your book. This user friendly site has lots of options to choose from such as: themes, page layout, and is ideal for digital storytelling. The book you create can be shared online with everyone.

Another one is Storyjumper, which will print and sell you the resulting picturebook.