Week 4: RSS & Newsreaders (to be continued)

#8 Make life 'really simple' with RSS & newsreader
I have had some experience with RSS, so felt pretty confident setting up my Bloglines account and adding feeds. My public Bloglines URL is as follows: http://www.bloglines.com/public/VirgoBlue

Previously I have used RSS feeds to receive updates on professional development topics, events and employment opportunities. However, eventually I returned to my comfort zone, using my home email account as my 'one stop shop' for receiving e-news and the like. However, I am aware that a key advantage of using RSS over email subscriptions is that you're not likely to have anything bounce because you've reached a capacity limit.

In regards to the public library arena, an advantage of RSS and newsreaders as information disseminating technology is that subscribers are opting into the service, providing us (The Library) with an interested audience. While the City of Greater Dandenong Libraries does not, at present, offer information via RSS, the options are endless. For example, the library could notify patrons of upcoming events & programs, new books & subscriptions, reviews, end user education, general library news, and possibly in the future, Reservation & Overdue Notices? In a broader sense, why not highlight to the same community group other local events and services offered by our Local Council, which may suit their needs?

Anyway, I've been thinking about the last question posed for this task: Why make your RSS feeds public? To be honest, I thought it was a trick question! The only answer I could think of was if someone had similar interests to me then they maybe interested in the feeds I'm reviewing? So, I then thought of an interest group scenario and wondered if by sharing feeds (access to information) there is an assumption that everyone in that interest group has the ability to receive the same up-to-the-minute information and therefore discussions and comments (and social networking) is more interactive. Just a thought.

#9 Finding Feeds...comments coming soon!

Technorati tags Bloglines RSS feeds

Week 3: Photos & Images continued...

1. 10/365: Taking the show on the road, 2. Sunday Morning, 3. Old and New School - Education Library, 4. The Circle is Complete, 5. Darcy Proposes, 6. iPod on Jane Austen's Guide to Dating, 7. Talk Like a Pirate Day, 8. Providence Athenaeum: Research Desk, 9. Providence Athenaeum: Research Desk, 10. Tales Of A Librarian

#6 more Flickr fun
I've finally finished playing with various Flickr mashups and 3rd party applications. I loved the look of the mosaic images, hence the example shown in this post, which is a selection of my flickr favourites presented in a mosaic. (all images acknowledged above)

Side Note about blog Templates - With the limitations of my template, and given that I do not have a sound knowledge of html code (yet!), placing my mosaic image where I really wanted it was not possible.

#7 Blog about technology
I thought I'd highlight the various technologies my family and I use (and take for granted) when we travel. First step, the planning, generally I look for inspiration on locations or accommodation via the Internet. Sometimes I'll have an idea from a travel show, otherwise I look for some terrific deals on various web sites. Then once we've agreed on a time, location and destination, I confirm bookings online and often pay a deposit remotely by credit card. Most of the aforementioned can be done at anytime of the day or night - what an advantage!

Closer to the time of our departure, (and because we pretty much always have driving holidays) I'll check out Google maps for our travel route, destination time frame and the location of amenities along the way. Before packing I sometimes do a quick check on the weather conditions on the Bureau of Meteorology site. We also tidy up any bills with online banking and stop off at a local ATM for some extra cash.

We always ensure our mobiles are charged and our rechargers are packed. While travelling we often use texting to let family or friends know we're safe. The laptop is also loaded into the car as it is our family's portable DVD, music and games console. Plus, we never leave without our digital camera - a truly fabulous and money saving piece of technology - no more dodgy holiday snaps that have to be printed and paid for! However, in the future, instead of emailing a selection of holiday images to family and friends when we return home, we'll post them on flickr and invite those interested to take a look.

Technorati tags Flickr mashup

Week 3: Photos and Images (to be continued)

Libra,
originally uploaded by ☀Benjamin.

#5 Discover Flickr

While exploring flickr, this is the photo I found most interesting and decided to blog. I love black and white photos, plus I think it linked perfectly with libraries and my 'zodiac sign' blog title and screen name!

I have explored, established an account, upload and organised photos in flickr over a couple of hours, so I'm feeling pretty confident about this application. It was certainly interesting to see what images others are willing to share. In using flickr, I have decided not to make photos of my family public, but rather use this application as a means of providing family and friends with a window into our 'still' lives.

In regards to library services and promotion, I think photos could be taken at various library events (with appropriate permissions of course) and flickr could help liven up library blogs. Which brings forth an interesting question: Would it be useful to continue to photographically track changes in library environs and post them on flickr and Picture Australia as appropriate?

Before I continue to the next task, I thought I'd make some comments about adding images from flickr to Blogger. Before the hints on how to add images were posted on the Learning 2.0 Blog, I added the above Libra image via a link (Blog this) from the flickr picture into Blogger rather than by saving to, and inserting the image from, my pc. I'm assuming this is not necessarily incorrect rather it's a management issue for me. That is, I'll need to be aware that by linking this image from flickr to Blogger if it's taken off flickr I'll have no image in my blog.

Anyway, to cover my bases, I've posted another image from flickr with the save and add image process. I chose this image of hand made books (posted in flickr by wiccked & titled Library Books) because of its simplicity.

I will be looking at mashups and the like next. Therefore, this post is to be continued...

Technorati tag Flickr

Week 1 & 2: Learning habits & Blogging

My Learning 2.0 Contract
After contemplating the 7 and half habits of life long learners I have devised my Learning 2.0 training plan and decided to log it here to reflect upon while striving to achieve my ultimate goal; learning as much as I can.

My goal is to learn and play with as many new 'things' as possible, to improve my frame of reference of web 2.0/library 2.0 technologies and demonstrate to myself how these technologies may influence delivery of library services in the future. I will endeavour to build my confidence by taking advantage of learning new technologies and reinforcing my learning through lots of play and discussion with others!

#2 Lifelong Learning
When reviewing the habits of life long learning, I believe my initial weakness will be habit 4: confidence; not in learning new technologies, but rather learning in an effective time frame. While I have confidence in learning new things, sometimes I get caught up in every little detail and waste time. This I will endeavour to control. In terms of strengths, I believe I have good skills in teaching and mentoring others (habit 7) and will be happy to share my training journey through my blog, via comments and hints and via many discussions I'm sure. I have already been demonstrating (showing off) my blog to my family.

#3 Establishing my Blog...how exciting to try something new. I know I spent too much time previewing templates and changing the look and feel of my blog, but I had terrific fun setting it up. I'll try to stay mysterious for the time being and see if anyone can guess who I am? I have included a few clues already!

Technorati tags Learning 2.0 blogging lifelong learning