Feedster- The page would not work for me.
Topix.net- I thought it was interesting how you could go to the source of one of the news stories you liked or thought was interesting and subscribe to their feed. At least, I think that's how it works. Also, it's cool that you can change your location and get oodles of feeds related to that location (...yes I just used the word oodles...). I've lived several places and like to keep up on news for all of them.
Syndic8.com- I guess I'm lazy, but, right way, this site turned me off because it wasn't really obvious how to get to the feeds or list of feed sources. And once I did figure it out, sort of, it involved way too many lists and way too much clicking. There was a lot of small print that could not be enlarged with my browser settings or anything like that. Plus I don't think my browser liked their use of php too much. It tried to access some of the lists and then just died. And what does DMOZ stand for (am I embarrassing myself by even asking)? I guess I need clear explanations and big print or big cartoonish icons to gain and keep my interest and attention. Sigh...and I thought I was above that. : ) I did find it an interesting coincidence that one of the random news feeds (or is it newsfeeds?) listed was from Huntington, WV, where I lived for a while.
Technorati- I think this site has some potential, and I will probably be returning to it. The advanced search is cool. I searched in all blogs for posts that contained the exact phrase "children's librarian." I made a mental note to look more closely at the blog rolls (or is it blogrolls?) of some of the folks whose blogs came up during my search. I might find some fun stuff to read. Do I want to find and add my blog? I don't know. It's kinda boring right now. Maybe I can get some ideas for posts from some of the other children's librarians' blogs (that's a mouthful) I just found.
7.18.2008
JPL 2.0 Thing #8 : RSS
What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
It is really convenient to be able to get all of the news, gossip, info., etc., that you want in one place, especially if you have a lot of sites that you like to keep up with regularly. It beats taking the time to go to each of the sites. Plus, you will know pretty quickly whether a site has been updated or not when you get the feed. You won't end up going to a site only to find out there is nothing new on it.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?
To really keep on top of things as a children's librarian, you have to keep up with new developments in the field, what other libraries and librarians are doing, and book reviews--amongst other things--and it is hard to find the time to always go to multiple web sites to access this information. Again, having it all in one place--and without ads and other junk to wade through--is very convenient.
How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
Well, if a library has a blog, staff can recommend that internet users subscribe to the feed. That way, patrons can stay up to date on what's happening at their local branch, get notices of new materials that have arrived, etc. Plus, libraries within certain regions could subscribe to one another's feeds--granted they all actually had feeds--to keep up on events happening in the area (just for general knowledge and to prevent overlap). It would increase inter-library-system awareness and cooperation.
It is really convenient to be able to get all of the news, gossip, info., etc., that you want in one place, especially if you have a lot of sites that you like to keep up with regularly. It beats taking the time to go to each of the sites. Plus, you will know pretty quickly whether a site has been updated or not when you get the feed. You won't end up going to a site only to find out there is nothing new on it.
How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?
To really keep on top of things as a children's librarian, you have to keep up with new developments in the field, what other libraries and librarians are doing, and book reviews--amongst other things--and it is hard to find the time to always go to multiple web sites to access this information. Again, having it all in one place--and without ads and other junk to wade through--is very convenient.
How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
Well, if a library has a blog, staff can recommend that internet users subscribe to the feed. That way, patrons can stay up to date on what's happening at their local branch, get notices of new materials that have arrived, etc. Plus, libraries within certain regions could subscribe to one another's feeds--granted they all actually had feeds--to keep up on events happening in the area (just for general knowledge and to prevent overlap). It would increase inter-library-system awareness and cooperation.
7.09.2008
JPL 2.0 Post About Technology
This is a looonnnnggg post, but if you are diligent and read to the end, you will see that it IS library related. : P
In one of my undergraduate creative writing courses, one of my assignments was to write a poem about technology. At least, if I remember right, that's what the assignment was. My topic of choice was cell phones, and I can't post the poem here because it wasn't so nice.
I have had a love-hate relationship with cell phones since my dad made me tote around a "bag phone" (an early model that would only work when plugged into the car's cigarette lighter and was pretty much the size of a standard office phone...conveniently mounted into a zippered and padded nylon bag) while I was in high school, so he and my mom could keep tabs on me. I think the convenience of a cell phone, especially in emergencies, is awesome, and I don't mind being able to call home while I'm at the grocery store to make sure I'm not forgetting something or if I get separated from someone in a crowd. Plus, I love using them to call my family long distance. I don't even have a land-line anymore.
I do think, however, that cell phones have blurred the line between formal and informal situations, between respect for others and the need to hear some juicy gossip. Long, long ago (in the early 1990s), a person's purse or pocket would never ring during an important meeting or a job interview. (This happened to me! I forgot to turn my phone off before I went in!!! I was embarrassed, though a lot of folks wouldn't be.) You would never have to hear someone shout "I'm at the library" into a receiver in the middle of studying or be blinded by the backlight on the screen of the person next to you who is text messaging during a movie. You could go out to dinner in a restaurant and not have to hear strange, computerized versions of classical music, rap songs, and TV themes blasting out of people's purses and pockets every few seconds. People didn't cut you off in traffic because they were too busy talking about who-knows-what to pay attention. (Back then, they just did it for pure meanness). You could even go to the public bathroom in peace. (Why do people take calls while they are using the toilet??? Weird!) You get the picture....
It all just seems weird to me. We complain so much about wanting privacy, yet we always carry around this device that lets people reach us any time, anywhere. Now, if someone doesn't answer the phone, we don't simply say, "Oh, maybe he/she's not at home or near the phone. He'll/she'll call me back later." A cell-phone carrying person is usually never far from it, so we begin having these sneaking feelings of paranoia and insecurity when they don't answer. Are they screening our calls? Is something wrong with them? We call them several times to make sure. (You KNOW you have done this. Don't lie!)
Sooooo....having been on this end of the situation, we usually feel compelled, when on the other end, to constantly be vigilant of our phones. No longer can we just call someone back when we get home. We don't want to offend them by not answering, and if we can't answer, we must call them ASAP! Even if we are in the library or the movies....or PRESCHOOL STORYTIME! (Yes, horror of horrors! Now we have gotten to the core of my frustration.)
Sigh. Moms, can't you put off answering that call for thirty to forty-five minutes...or maybe, just maybe, can you step outside of the room??
Hrmmm.... I wonder what would happen if I started taking calls in the middle of reading a story?
In one of my undergraduate creative writing courses, one of my assignments was to write a poem about technology. At least, if I remember right, that's what the assignment was. My topic of choice was cell phones, and I can't post the poem here because it wasn't so nice.
I have had a love-hate relationship with cell phones since my dad made me tote around a "bag phone" (an early model that would only work when plugged into the car's cigarette lighter and was pretty much the size of a standard office phone...conveniently mounted into a zippered and padded nylon bag) while I was in high school, so he and my mom could keep tabs on me. I think the convenience of a cell phone, especially in emergencies, is awesome, and I don't mind being able to call home while I'm at the grocery store to make sure I'm not forgetting something or if I get separated from someone in a crowd. Plus, I love using them to call my family long distance. I don't even have a land-line anymore.
I do think, however, that cell phones have blurred the line between formal and informal situations, between respect for others and the need to hear some juicy gossip. Long, long ago (in the early 1990s), a person's purse or pocket would never ring during an important meeting or a job interview. (This happened to me! I forgot to turn my phone off before I went in!!! I was embarrassed, though a lot of folks wouldn't be.) You would never have to hear someone shout "I'm at the library" into a receiver in the middle of studying or be blinded by the backlight on the screen of the person next to you who is text messaging during a movie. You could go out to dinner in a restaurant and not have to hear strange, computerized versions of classical music, rap songs, and TV themes blasting out of people's purses and pockets every few seconds. People didn't cut you off in traffic because they were too busy talking about who-knows-what to pay attention. (Back then, they just did it for pure meanness). You could even go to the public bathroom in peace. (Why do people take calls while they are using the toilet??? Weird!) You get the picture....
It all just seems weird to me. We complain so much about wanting privacy, yet we always carry around this device that lets people reach us any time, anywhere. Now, if someone doesn't answer the phone, we don't simply say, "Oh, maybe he/she's not at home or near the phone. He'll/she'll call me back later." A cell-phone carrying person is usually never far from it, so we begin having these sneaking feelings of paranoia and insecurity when they don't answer. Are they screening our calls? Is something wrong with them? We call them several times to make sure. (You KNOW you have done this. Don't lie!)
Sooooo....having been on this end of the situation, we usually feel compelled, when on the other end, to constantly be vigilant of our phones. No longer can we just call someone back when we get home. We don't want to offend them by not answering, and if we can't answer, we must call them ASAP! Even if we are in the library or the movies....or PRESCHOOL STORYTIME! (Yes, horror of horrors! Now we have gotten to the core of my frustration.)
Sigh. Moms, can't you put off answering that call for thirty to forty-five minutes...or maybe, just maybe, can you step outside of the room??
Hrmmm.... I wonder what would happen if I started taking calls in the middle of reading a story?
7.03.2008
JPL 2.0 and Flickr Tools
First, I tried Big Huge Labs' jigsaw creator (one of fd's flickr toys) on this not so great image of fall foliage I took when I still lived farther north. This could be fun, especially for making your own jigsaws for kids.
I also thought "Spell with Flickr" was cool, so I played around with it for a little bit. I am amazed that so many people have taken so many pictures of so many letters and numbers. I couldn't get punctuation to work though, so we have no "." in "2.0." : (
I also thought "Spell with Flickr" was cool, so I played around with it for a little bit. I am amazed that so many people have taken so many pictures of so many letters and numbers. I couldn't get punctuation to work though, so we have no "." in "2.0." : (
Sickeningly Cute Kitten
I tested my new free Flickr account by uploading images of three kittens I fostered last summer, soooo....since I had kittens on the brain, I searched for "kitten" on Flickr. This was one of the results.
It is very cute. In fact, it is almost too cute....
It is very cute. In fact, it is almost too cute....
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