Overall, RSS feeds make it easier to access information from the web that you access frequently. I subscribed to local news, the weather, and several professional sites. Now I just have to remember to check my Bloglines account! I am planning to recommend this to my husband since he is a news junkie and is constantly checking multiple news websites.
I think RSS can be used in libraries if the library has a blog that is updated on a regular basis. Patrons could subscribe to the library feeds and be alerted to news about library programming, book reviews and library happenings.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Favorite Web 2.0 Technology - Week 3 Web 2.0 Exploration
Here are some of my favorite Web 2.0 technologies:
Pandora Radio from the Music Genome Project (http://www.pandora.com/) : This awesome site allows you to create your own radio station. You just input all of your favorite music and it plays back music it thinks you will like. I have discovered so many groups that I didn't know existed! It also has detailed histories of artists and gives information about the albums and songs. Lots of fun and very addictive!
Library Thing (http://www.librarything.com/) : This sight allows you to catalog your own library. I am using it to create a list of the books I have read. It also allows you to tag your books, write comments and shows the book covers of most titles. You can also join in conversations with other members, view the libraries of other members with similar reading tastes and get reading recommendations.
YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/) : Although I haven't used this site much, I see a lot of potential uses, especially for training. My 13-year-old son uses it to share skateboarding videos with other skateboarders. He takes videos of himself and asks other YouTube users to critique his tricks and offer suggestions for improvement. He has gotten a lot of feedback from other skateboarders. This is one tool that I plan to explore further.
Pandora Radio from the Music Genome Project (http://www.pandora.com/) : This awesome site allows you to create your own radio station. You just input all of your favorite music and it plays back music it thinks you will like. I have discovered so many groups that I didn't know existed! It also has detailed histories of artists and gives information about the albums and songs. Lots of fun and very addictive!
Library Thing (http://www.librarything.com/) : This sight allows you to catalog your own library. I am using it to create a list of the books I have read. It also allows you to tag your books, write comments and shows the book covers of most titles. You can also join in conversations with other members, view the libraries of other members with similar reading tastes and get reading recommendations.
YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/) : Although I haven't used this site much, I see a lot of potential uses, especially for training. My 13-year-old son uses it to share skateboarding videos with other skateboarders. He takes videos of himself and asks other YouTube users to critique his tricks and offer suggestions for improvement. He has gotten a lot of feedback from other skateboarders. This is one tool that I plan to explore further.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Charlotte (Flickr)
This is a picture of Charlotte, a spider that made my patio her home. Every night as soon as it would get dark she would spin her web. It was amazing to watch! Every morning the web would be gone and we wouldn't see her until evening. She did this every evening for two or three months. She is gone now and I'm hoping she just moved on to a better location, since I became rather attached to this fascinating spider!
DSC01720, originally uploaded by aarthay.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Blogging in Libraries - Week 2 Web 2.0 Exploration
As a librarian, I see many applications for blogs, especially in the public library setting. Here are a few of my ideas:
*Book reviews
*Book discussion forums
*Library news topics
*Library program announcements
*Community forum to discuss current topics
*Children's/teen blogs to discuss programs, books, homework topics
Blogs are an easy way to update the content of a library's website and the constantly changing information will keep patrons coming back to the website to check what is new.
*Book reviews
*Book discussion forums
*Library news topics
*Library program announcements
*Community forum to discuss current topics
*Children's/teen blogs to discuss programs, books, homework topics
Blogs are an easy way to update the content of a library's website and the constantly changing information will keep patrons coming back to the website to check what is new.
Seven 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners - Week 2 Web 2.0 Exploration
As part of week one's "23 Things" assignment, I watched the online tutorial, "Seven 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners" from The Public Library of Charlotte Mecklenburg County. This tutorial stressed the importance of learning throughout your life and tips on how to make that happen.
Whether or not we are conscious of it, we are constantly learning every day. When we read a newspaper, check the weather, or learn how to use the latest gadget, we are learning. Some learning is just more structured and purposeful than others. It is sometimes important to set goals in order to accomplish what one sets out to learn, especially things that take a long time to learn. The tutorial stressed that learning goals need to be set and suggested using a "learning contract".
In addition to learning Web 2.0 in the work environment, I have a couple of personal things that I would like to learn. In the past, I have had trouble following through with my learning intentions. I really would love to be fluent in Spanish. I have bought CDs, books and computer programs. However, I have never gotten much beyond "hola"! I am also in the process of learning how to sail. I keep trying to read the books that my husband gives me, but I just never seem to have the time to get through them!
Time is the biggest obstacle that I run into when taking on a long time learning project. This will be especially true for the Web 2.0 project. I will be assisting in opening the Hagen Ranch Road Branch during the same time period as the Web 2.0 project. Setting goals and having a set time frame will definitely help me stay on track. Hopefully, after completing the Web 2.0 project, I will be able to transfer some of the skills I learned and finally get on my way to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker and a competent sailor!
Whether or not we are conscious of it, we are constantly learning every day. When we read a newspaper, check the weather, or learn how to use the latest gadget, we are learning. Some learning is just more structured and purposeful than others. It is sometimes important to set goals in order to accomplish what one sets out to learn, especially things that take a long time to learn. The tutorial stressed that learning goals need to be set and suggested using a "learning contract".
In addition to learning Web 2.0 in the work environment, I have a couple of personal things that I would like to learn. In the past, I have had trouble following through with my learning intentions. I really would love to be fluent in Spanish. I have bought CDs, books and computer programs. However, I have never gotten much beyond "hola"! I am also in the process of learning how to sail. I keep trying to read the books that my husband gives me, but I just never seem to have the time to get through them!
Time is the biggest obstacle that I run into when taking on a long time learning project. This will be especially true for the Web 2.0 project. I will be assisting in opening the Hagen Ranch Road Branch during the same time period as the Web 2.0 project. Setting goals and having a set time frame will definitely help me stay on track. Hopefully, after completing the Web 2.0 project, I will be able to transfer some of the skills I learned and finally get on my way to becoming a fluent Spanish speaker and a competent sailor!
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