Nombre Trois: RSS

Several years ago I discovered craft blogs. I would add them to my favorites, and regularly go through them one by one. One craft blog would link to other craft blogs and I eventually had a list of about 30 or so that I regularly checked on. It was sort of time consuming, and my list was tied to one particular computer.

Enter Bloglines. I was able to add most of the rss feeds of these blogs that I read to a bloglines account. The web based account allowed me to check these blogs from anywhere. Now I know Elizabeth might give me flack about this, but really reading these blogs had a major impact on my life. There were other young quilters out there! I became inspired by them and really learned so much. I don't think about it really in those terms on a daily basis, but it is true.

I've only ever used bloglines, so for this thing, I tried out the Google Reader. I think I like Bloglines better, but maybe that is becasue I am just used to it. I added some of my fellow employee's blogs, and some book blogs using the discover feature that were new to me.

So how do we incorporate this technology in the library other than as a way to keep up with library, book, movie and music blogs? Our catalog already has rss feeds for some items (though I've subscribed to these, and then unsubscribed as it is a lot to wade through) and I would like to move in the direction of a using blogs for updated content in the future (think YA especially) and we could then use rss as a way to update other social networking utilities and connect with our patrons or potential online patrons.

Nombre Deux: We are the Web

Why am I doing the 23 things? I have done most, if not all of the 23 thigns on the list already. But I am a librarian, so I also know the value of continually trying to learn new things. I also have done the 23 things previously in a personal context. I am constantly using web 2.0 technologies to communicate with my friends, join social networks, contribute content to the web, communicate, share and connect. But what I haven't done is use these technologies really as a major part of my job, or on a greater scale of librarianship.

One thing I thought was interesting from the Blyberg article is he talks about a personnel shift in libraries from librarians to coders. But my question is why can't these people be the same thing? And I am not just talking about basic web design either. Most recent graduates of library schools have the skills to take some of these web2.0 technologies and adapt them to library services, and think about them from not only a technology perspective, but also keep in mind the principles of a library.

And I like the idea that not only do W2/L2 have the possibility to connect easily with other libraries, but also with the community. MCPL is a library that prides itself on community connections, with surveys, focus groups and such. Using W2 technologies seems like a natural step in continuing this connection in another type of space. I think of teens in this aspect, but I don't think it has to be limited to any age group.

I look forward to thinking about how to make this work for our patrons and staff and not only to do it as an exercise in technology for technology's sake.

Nombre Un

My main goal is to work on/update a possible new YA blog.

But I also would like to work on the 23 things, so I will keep track here, but some of the activity might be on the other page as well.