The myspace.com wrap-up

How would I describe myspace? Well, the closest thing I can think of that behaves the same would be a black hole. Now please don't misinterpret this to mean that I think myspace is evil or a source of destruction that has been set upon our society. I simple mean that myspace IS a swirling end of the line depository for all information on the internet. A force so strong that no one or thing can escape its pull, after all even libraries are now on myspace!

Seriously though, it seems myspace has become a central part of many young persons lives as well as a growing number of adults. Social networking online is here to stay so it seems only natural (OK not really natural for most of us but it does at least make sense) that our library system will be better able to meet the needs of our patrons if we can connect with them the same way they connect with their friends and other interests.

More RSS madness...

Well, the second part of RSS tomfoolery wasn't all that difficult but I also did not find it all that useful. I felt that I would have better luck finding RSS feeds to subscribe to by searching for and visiting websites related to my interests then checking for a feed link rather than using a feed search tool. Using Feedster and looking for a blog or feed related to the New York Public Library I found blogs on hair removal and using Syndic8.com for the same search I was directed to a feed for Lounge Light Fashion Week, while that was an impressive leap of subject matter I cannot say it impressed me in a good way. Topix search was better while Google's was the best, shocking I know.

That's all for now folks...

RSS and me!

RSS feeds are another of the many communication tools we can utilize on a daily basis, another avenue for us to stay current with one another and our interests. That sounds all well and good, lots of useful bits of information delivered to our virtual doorstep everyday, but I certainly can foresee a downside to all this.

The Not So Useful Bits:
Starting out I had no shortage of websites with feeds to subscribe too, after all I spend a "healthy" portion of my spare time reading a variety of content online. But if I were to go through and fill out a feeds list with every website I visit for movie news, upcoming books, graphic novels and comics, political news and economy updates, history factoids and words of the day, the latest thing NASA is working on, updates on when I can place an order for that flying car being developed by Terrafugia...well I think you get the picture without me going on forever that I'd be hit upside the head with more updates than the spam I find in my junk mail folder. May I enjoy browsing these websites over the course of the week and don't really need up to the minute information on them all, is that so wrong?

The Useful Bits:
There is a way to deal with all those incoming updates that threaten to bury us all and structure that long list of website into something useful. FOLDERS! After adding seven different feeds to my account on Bloglines I found myself already feeling the need to start placing my various feeds into folders based on their respective subject matter. Now rather than a hap hazard list of websites I have an orderly set of headings that I can browse by.

Also in theory I could see RSS feeds being useful for KCLS, if tech and event updates were posted on a staff/system blog, rather than sent en mass via email, staff could monitor whats new via RSS feeds. Our patrons as well could receive updates about upcoming events or new materials added to the catalog that fall under a subject/author feed they have subscribed to.

The Wrap Up:
With careful selection of feeds and then distributing them into folders or as I like to think of them, subject channels, you will have created a personalized news service that's all yours. Of course you may also enjoy visiting all those various websites and seeing what all they have to offer, and that is OK too. I doubt that I will be condensing my web browsing down to one long RSS feed list anytime soon but may well continue to use feed readers to monitor updates from some select sources.

Darksteel Buccaneer (Mash-Ups MTG style)

Darksteel Buccaneer, originally uploaded by hilderbrant.

Well looking through the various "mash-up" apps that were available I was reminded of the "good old days" back in mid '90s when Magic the Gathering was first really catching on by the "Trading Card Maker." So I decided to post a reminder of the old card gaming ways with a play on one of my favorite cards.

Color me flickr!

this risk game lasted 8 1/2 hours!, originally uploaded by hilderbrant.

Fun and useful all wrapped up as a stylish web 2.0 application you say, well with that description alone I'm nearly sold but once my pictures were uploaded and I could direct family and friends to them I was hooked (of course I've been familiar with flickr for a while now, but hey review never hurts right?). Here is a photo of a LOTR Risk game that took over 8 1/2 hours to complete played the last Labor Day holiday.

So far so good...

It seems everyone I've talked to is up to speed on Learning 2.0 and having a good time. I am looking forward to seeing how much we all learn about and from one another as Learning 2.o marches on.