Week 4: RSS Feeds (part 2)

So I tried out some of the news feed search tools, and can report back that Technorati is best in my opinion. I couldn’t get the Feedster page to open, so that was out, and Syndic8.com was just too ugly to look at! Topix.net was all right, but Technorati just seems to offer a cleaner interface with more options.

Actually, I was also pretty happy with the Google Reader Discover page, although I have been avoiding it up until now for a reason. As i suspected, I did not escape without subscribing to yet another blog – thanks a lot!

 

Week 4: RSS Feeds

What I like about RSS and newsreaders is the content delivery aspect – it comes to me, I don’t have to go to it. Also, it’s such a useful way to take a break from my work while still feeling productive! I started using feeds for work, but once I had a reader set up, I found myself adding so many personal interest feeds that they are now equal in number to my work-related ones.

I really like the new books feeds, except that I wish there were a way to drill down more narrowly. For instance, I would like to get a list of the new psychology books but not the new philosophy books. I’m guessing I can set that up individually, but I haven’t looked into it and am not sure if it would be worth the effort. I also think it’s a good idea to have a library news blog, like “What’s New,” but the blogs I follow most closely are those that post brief bits of news, links, etc. every day (or at least several times a week). I understand that we might run out of things to say, but I’d enjoy seeing more frequent posts on the library blog. Maybe if we had a team of contributers?

Hmm, I’m not coming up with any bright ideas right now for new and creative ways to incorporate RSS feeds into our library services, but it is Friday afternoon and I’m sleepy! I’ll have to come back to this one later…

 

Week 3: Photos & Images (and whether or not it’s ok to play)

First of all, Tag Galaxy is awesome!

My task for this post is to write about “anything technology related.” The first thing that springs to mind is a discussion that I had yesterday with a friend in the IT field (usability). I had mentioned to him the Technology Petting Zoo that we had recently, and he made the following controversial statement: “Oh, that is so typical of academia. You get paid to sit around playing video games. It’s all a bunch of ‘fluff’ that doesn’t actually result in a useful product or service” (I’m actually paraphrasing here). So my response was that “play” is in fact a very effective way to learn, and that the more we know and understand about popular technologies, the more we will know about the products that shape our users expectations. Furthermore, awareness of these tools allows us to make savvy choices in adopting new technologies that will make our work more efficient and effective. I don’t think my friend was convinced, but I was interested to see this argument, which I’ve come across many times in the blogosphere and professional publications, popping up in my own discussions.

Anyway, I’d love to hear others’ thoughts!

 

Week 2: Blogging

Let me just say that comments make a big difference (in reminding you that someone might actually be reading your blog)! Thanks to my colleagues who took the time to share their responses. Actually, I could have posted this as a comment as well, but I wanted to have something to write for Week 2, just so I could have a post for each week.

 

Week 1: Lifelong Learning

I think it’s a given that most people working in libraries are devoted lifelong learners. I have more trouble thinking of our students in this way. In my work with students as a reference/instruction librarian, I am most often helping them to develop skills for research tasks that are external requirements rather than self-directed, interest-driven learning. I suppose this will come in time, after they have completed the tasks and requirements necessary to earn their degrees, but it would be nice to see it more often within the context of their university experience.

It might be interesting to offer a “research after college” class for graduating seniors that focuses on information resources outside of academic libraries. However, I don’t have the impression it would be heavily attended! Seniors have more important concerns, like finding a job.

 

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