RSS feeds

Our week 4 assignment was to explore RSS feeds, open a Bloglines account, subscribe to some feeds and then blog about our experience. I enjoyed subscribing to a few feeds (8)--probably more than I should have chosen, but I can weed those down and choose new ones as time goes on.

I liked looking at the Bloglines 200 most popular feeds--although the list was too long to preview more than a few in one sitting. I thought having the ability to preview them, without subscribing, was a nice feature, too. I think having all these feeds come to one site is nice and would be a good way to keep up on various topics.

I think if a person remembers to keep-up with checking their Bloglines account, it could be a very handy and enjoyable tool. I am sure it can become quite bogged down if you are more lazy/too busy to keep up with it. It could become like some of the old listservs like pubyac that would fill up your inbox with a zillion msgs. if you didn't check or delete them on a regular basis.

For my personal life RSS feeds will be nice to find new quotes, learn a word of the day, keep up with new gadgets or just get a laugh from the daily Dilbert comic strip. Professionally I see using RSS feeds to keep up with authors, book reviews, interesting websites, etc.

I think libraries having the option of an RSS subscription for patrons will become more prevelant as more patron become aware of and are comfortable using it. The library can use an RSS to announce upcoming events, do staff book reviews, or publish Bib.lists on various topics or genres etc.

Library Blogs

I like the Library Blog at the Burbank Library. (burbanklibrary.blogspot.com)
It is a good example of how a library can use a blog to promote it's services and materials. The book and audiobook reviews labeled "What we're reading" and "What we're listening to" are very interesting and eye-catching. The recommended titles have pictures of the bookcovers and they all link to the library's iBistro catalog. Another nice feature is the list of Library Links. There you will find everything from the catalog to Story Time Snapshot. As a former children's librarian I liked seeing what they were doing in their Story Times. A children's librarian could gather some great programming ideas here.

Also take a look at the Burbank Library Wiki and the LittleWiki (for kids). On the LittleWiki I especially liked the link for 34 ways to lace your shoes

MAIN Library from Summit Blvd.

MAIN Library from Summit Blvd.
Originally uploaded by libraryzim

This is a picture of the Main Library. I uploaded it from Flickr. I found the picture in the Branch Pictures file. This is where I worked for 5 years in SYS, when we were in the basement.

Out of the time warp!

I successfully figured out how to change the time of my postings to match the correct time zone. How exciting!

Blocked from Blogging!

Well, It is nice to be able to Blog again. Mine was blocked since yesterday afternoon, but is now up and running again. That was fast. Now I will see about doing some more customizing and working more on my layout.

That's all for now...

Blogging in Libraries, hmmmm....

Well, for today's entry we are to discuss some ideas of how blogging can be used in Libraries, hmmmmmm....

• One use could be to keep staff informed of: training opportunities, recent events, time saving ideas, customer service tips, etc.
• Designated staff could write and post book reviews, as well as post staff's reading recommendations, or even their dvd picks.
• Perhaps patrons could blog about books they really enjoyed, this could be monitored so that inappropriate posts could be removed.
• Perhaps a blog could be used for a library book discussion group?
• A YS librarian might use it to keep in touch with teens in their branch, and keep teens informed on upcomming YA programming as well as reader's advisory, and posting of newly received book titles, CD's, Graphic novels, or dvd's

I may think of more ideas as the day or week goes on, but that is a start.

Blog Beginnings

Well, here is my blog. I had to edit my first post, as after I published it I saw that we were given a topic to write about.

Then I started re-writing my 1st post and I saved it in drafts, but couldn't add to it later on in the day, I could only see how to publish it and it was not complete. I then deleted the draft, and here I go again...

I like the idea of being a Lifelong Learner. The #1 habit is so important as it makes you think about what you really want to accomplish, how far do you see yourself going with your new skill or interest? I think that being very specific about the outcome you desire will help you begin to know better how much work it will entail, as well as the time it will take to accomplish that goal. My goal during 23 things is to try these new technologies, get more familiar with them, and then use them for personal use as well as being able to share my experience using these tools with patrons. I think this program is a good opportunity to try some new technology and the idea of various assignments to complete as well as the chance at prizes keeps you moving onward.

The other 7 habits were well explained and helpful. I already feel that I have benefited from habit #3 "View problems as challenges"-- I now know how to edit my blog, save a draft, delete a draft and publish my blog. The few problems I encountered were really learning experiences and I tried to view them as such.

I guess the most difficult part for me will be a bit of a fear of the unknown, and finding time each week to keep up with our assignments---but so far it is turning out well-paced and fun. More later.