My Library Blogs/Feeds: Week 4 / Thing 9

The library-related blogs I signed up for are:

caffeinatedlibrarian.blogspot.com/ ( The Caffeinated Librarian--very very funny blog!)
http://lii.org (the Librarian's Internet Index: New this Week)
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/library/feed/msgs.xml?ggroup=library (Library Google Group)
-- I haven't explored this one a lot, but it seems like a networking place for international librarians).
http://www.merlin.lib.md.us (MD's Merlin)
http://plablog.org/feed/ (official blog of the Public Library Association)
http://www.theshiftedlibrarian.com (the Shifted Librarian)
--I haven't explored this one a lot, but I found a hilarious essay on "Why You Should Fall to Your Knees and Worship a Librarian". ( http://librarianavengers.org/?page_id=3 )
and http://www.unshelved.com (the very funny Unshelved library comic strip).
--I discovered this comic about a year ago and I love the characters Mel & Dewey the most.

Merlin & his Feeds: Week 4 / Thing 9

When I explored Merlin I found a lot of interesting links on online training, library blogs, and avatars. I'm definitely going to come back to start using the online training. It's good to know this site exists and is regularly updated.

In addition, I actually created 2 new pictures of myself--one on meez.com and another at yahoo.com. I'm hoping to post them to this blog soon.
http://www.meez.com/allnewtechie
(Note: It seems like the yahoo.com avatar can only be viewed within yahoo.com)

Regarding the feed websites--going backwards--I had the most success with technorati.com because came up with good results for my searches, in particular on politics. I also liked how it had a large paragraph list of topics on the right side for me to click. I found a great video demonstration of how the iPhone works here and learned there were 106 results for iPhone videos.

I think syndic8.com is the worst--none of my search topics even came up with results. I liked how topix.com makes you look via your town and then saves your town for next time you open their website. I found a good article in the Washington Post about DC libraries using topix.com. I know where to go if I want gossip on any place I visit.

Feedster.com was okay--it gave basic results for the topics I searched for.

My RSS Adventure: Week 4 / Thing 8

I’ve been working with this RSS exercise for about a week. First I explored a few of the tutorials, then I set up my own account. Then I was off!

I never knew this feature existed, but I can see how it can be useful to many people. If you can get the latest news on special topics sent right away to one website—what a timesaver. The Bloglines site was a little confusing in how one can search for RSSs. But in the end I signed up for about 20 feeds—it was a lot of fun to explore all the topics out there. At least now I’ll know what that little orange/white box means.

I signed up for RSSs on food, news, libraries, money, and technology. I don’t see how libraries as a whole can take advantages of RSS, but definitely individual librarians can use it as a tool to keep updated on issues.

A Cheaper IPhone: Week 3 / Thing 7

I read a technology article at cnn.com about Apple creating a cheaper iPhone that would be based on its iPod Nano music player. It may be priced $300 or less. Apple filed a patent July 5 to create a multi-functional device with a scroll-wheel device, like the Nano. Analysts predict that betwen 30-40 million(?) of these devices could be sold. The article also notes that Apple will probably come out with a new iPod soon that has touchscreen features like the iPhone.

When the iPhone came out last month, I really wanted to buy one because I love Macs and it had everything I don't have--a cell phone, camera, web access, iPod, etc. If they launch this cheaper IPhone soon, I think I would buy one.

Sidebar: This article was at cnn.com at their Little Addictions/Personal Technology page. I liked this site; I'm going to return to it often to learn more about all the gadgets and software I want to have. They even have a RSS for iPhone at this site. Sweet!

How I Got into these Things: Week 1 / Thing 1

I blurrily remember reading a librarian writing that PGCMLS would be participating in a cutting-edge, new program for Web learning. Then I promptly forgot about it and ignored the listing in Management Update.

But then I heard two librarians talking about it and did more research about what I'd really have to do.

This program was perfect because I had been hearing/reading about so many Web technolgies, but I had no cause to use them. Now I can.

The Flickr Specials: Week 3 / Thing 6

All the Flickr’s tools are fascinating! Looking at all the tools is unbelievable—you could create special posters, CDs, art, calendars—it’s endless. I’m going to use some of these tools when I want to do something special with a photo.

The Color Pickr was also fascinating. I had to check out photos with my favorite color turquoise; there were a lot of ocean/water photos. I really like this feature—it could be a real stress reliever to browse photos by color.

The Mappr was interesting—although it took a long time for them to load. This feature would be interesting to study if you’re traveling to specific location or taking a road trip via a certain route. It'll whet your appetite about what you might see.

And the Librarian’s Trading Cards—that was fun—I especially liked one librarian’s purple M&M picture and her funny caption. Maybe when I get a photo of myself I'll make a card for myself. I’ll have to think of a really funny caption.

My Flickr Tour: Week 3 / Thing 5

Flickr is a very exciting technology. I especially love that it is amazingly free! I could see how friends and families would use this website to share photos and make comments. I also love that you can buy little photobooks of your creations. I found great photos of swans and of cats. It does seem like Flickr has a large community of people who take art-type nature photos; but I like those too. When I get a digital camera, I'll at least try this website.