Weeks 7 & 8

I created my RSS reader using GoogleReader. It was very easy and I immediately started adding feeds. I choose some news feeds, emerging tech feeds and library/librarian feeds.

I have to be careful, however, because each feed has the potential to lead to other feeds equally as compelling. I could spend all day keeping up on the feeds, and not get anything done IRL if I'm not careful. For me, this is an excellent way to keep up on web 2.0 technologies.

I'm finding that I usually don't read the entire articles, just enough to get the idea of the thingys.I really like the librarian's blogs. I'm finding that they make me think about what I'm doing in my library and how I could improve it for our students. I go out of my way to read all of them, even if I don't think they apply to what I am doing right now. I like being up-to-date on what other libraries are doing.

Thing #6

All I can say is WOW! These libraries are doing some awesome things with web 2.0 technology. Some blogging, lots of RSS feeds and tons of podcasting. What impressed me most were the podcasts at the Seattle PL. They had author readings that lasted nearly an hour, teen poetry slam readings, and even professional librarian podcasts from an IFLA conference. This is one website I will go back to and listen to the casts. It opened up my mind about podcasts somewhat, because these were truly useful ones. I could imagine going to work listening to these author readings instead of my usual audiobooks.

Other things that impressed me were:

• Denver PL's podcasts of picture books. I wondered how they worked out the copyright issues, though.
• Denver PL's website's ability to download ebooks, audiobooks and movies from the patrons' home computers.
• PLCMC's over 40 RSS feeds for their various programs. I tried the teen one for a few days and was very impressed.
• Paying fines online at the PLCMC's website was also amazing. I know it's not strictly Web 2.0, but what a great service. Actually, I loved this library system's whole website. Everything that was popular was on the homepage and easy to find and use. Way to serve your patrons!

What did not impress me was the Ann Arbor District Library website based entirely on a blog. While I really liked the director's blog talking about programs and other library news, I'm not sure that it should have been the focus of the homepage.