This week in the wonderful world of Web 2.0 we're discovering the joy that is the feed aggregator. Feed aggregators supposedly simplify your life by allowing you to keep up with all your favorite blogs in one place. I'm already familiar with this technology because I signed up with Newzcrawler two years ago. Yes, I paid $20 for the service. And, yes, I could only access my feeds on my computer. So, no, I don't recommend this service unless you are some sort of feed junkie. The truth is I bought it for the ticker tape feature that scrolled the latest headlines across the bottom of my computer. It made me feel like a stock broker.
I quickly learned the danger of the feed aggregator because a little balloon would pop up when I read a blog saying that it found a new RSS feed and wouldn't I like to add it to my already growing list? Why, yes. Yes, I would. Before I knew it I had 200 different blogs I was supposed to be reading. Information overload.
This time I'm using Bloglines as my aggregator. You can click on my blogroll under "favorite links". It's free and I can access it from any computer. I plan to keep my list fairly simple this time. My advice is to pick a few blogs that are written by professionals you trust and forget the rest.
J
P.S. You might also want to check out Google Reader, another aggregator which allows you to easily share blog posts with your friends.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Fun with Flickr
4 posts in and I think I've made some breach in blogging etiquette by not providing an introductory post. I believe all blogs should state a specific purpose about what the blogger is trying to communicate - whether it's about one's profession, one's politics, or one's terrier named Sir Barks-a-lot.
So brief introduction because I like to keep all things simple: My name is Jayme and I'm a librarian. I think the title "librarian" sums up a lot about me - my vocation, my interests, and my personality. Just imagine your typical bookworm and you'll have a good idea of who I am. The only question it doesn't answer is why I'm here (wherever "here" is). I'm here because the library where I work has found a fun and easy way to train us on new Web technology. Last week it was setting up our blogger account; this week it's having fun with Flickr. I already have a Flickr account, but now I can post my pictures to my blog. As you can see from this picture, I can also upload photos from my Mac Photo Booth using the cool Flickr API, Flickrbooth.
We're going to be learning a lot over the next few weeks, but the technology that excites me the most is learning about podcasts. I've heard (and seen - is it still a podcast if you've seen it?) a lot of great podcasts from SirsiDynix Institute, Library of Congress, and many other places. I think it's a great way to reach potential customers and educate them what the library has to offer. Hopefully it's a technology we can incorporate at PBCLS.
J
P.S. You may have noticed the slide show I've posted. Be sure to check out the Flickr account for the Library of Congress.
So brief introduction because I like to keep all things simple: My name is Jayme and I'm a librarian. I think the title "librarian" sums up a lot about me - my vocation, my interests, and my personality. Just imagine your typical bookworm and you'll have a good idea of who I am. The only question it doesn't answer is why I'm here (wherever "here" is). I'm here because the library where I work has found a fun and easy way to train us on new Web technology. Last week it was setting up our blogger account; this week it's having fun with Flickr. I already have a Flickr account, but now I can post my pictures to my blog. As you can see from this picture, I can also upload photos from my Mac Photo Booth using the cool Flickr API, Flickrbooth.
We're going to be learning a lot over the next few weeks, but the technology that excites me the most is learning about podcasts. I've heard (and seen - is it still a podcast if you've seen it?) a lot of great podcasts from SirsiDynix Institute, Library of Congress, and many other places. I think it's a great way to reach potential customers and educate them what the library has to offer. Hopefully it's a technology we can incorporate at PBCLS.
J
P.S. You may have noticed the slide show I've posted. Be sure to check out the Flickr account for the Library of Congress.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Rings of Brogard
I'm just testing to see if this whole Flickr/Blogger relationship can actually work out. I visited the Rings of Brogard last summer in Scotland. I loved it, but I didn't get to see one stinkin' heeland coo the entire time I was there.
Monday, May 12, 2008
"You got blog in my library"..."You got library in my blog"
A blog is a tool, and like any other tool, it is only effective in the hands of those who know how to use it. Yes, a blog is an easy way to inform patrons about upcoming events, new books, or changes in the library system. But the blog needs to be dynamic in order to be successful, and in order to be dynamic there has to be a two-way communication between the customers and their library.
A good example of a library blog is the My Bookspace page created by the Hennepin County Library. They took a page from the successful Amazon business model (p.s. I love you, Jeff Bezos) and created a space where customers can publish a list of their favorite books and other customers can comment on these lists. When a dialog is developed with the customer, they begin to feel invested in the library as an institution. If the blog does not allow for this type of interaction, it becomes just another way to advertise events and those who maintain the blog become bored.
A good example of a library blog is the My Bookspace page created by the Hennepin County Library. They took a page from the successful Amazon business model (p.s. I love you, Jeff Bezos) and created a space where customers can publish a list of their favorite books and other customers can comment on these lists. When a dialog is developed with the customer, they begin to feel invested in the library as an institution. If the blog does not allow for this type of interaction, it becomes just another way to advertise events and those who maintain the blog become bored.
Why not round it up to an even '8'?
I was asked this week to comment on the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners, a presentation by the Public Library of Charlotte & Mecklenberg County. While I appreciate their effort to get their customers to think outside the box when it comes to learning, I found their presentation to be a bit oversimplified. Of course there are many different skills to learn and many different ways to learn them. We all know that.
The one item I did appreciate, and the one habit I will have the most difficult with, is Habit 1, "Begin with the end in mind". This is especially true when learning about technology since it evolves so quickly; just as you have learned a new program its upgrade comes out on the market the next day. It's important not to become overwhelmed by all that is out there and to focus on one skill to learn. Hopefully, that is what we can accomplish with the 23 things program.
The one item I did appreciate, and the one habit I will have the most difficult with, is Habit 1, "Begin with the end in mind". This is especially true when learning about technology since it evolves so quickly; just as you have learned a new program its upgrade comes out on the market the next day. It's important not to become overwhelmed by all that is out there and to focus on one skill to learn. Hopefully, that is what we can accomplish with the 23 things program.
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