Finding Feeds

This was an interesting exercise...especially when I found a youtube video of people dancing in the library. All I did was search Sachem Public Library on Technorati. Crazy.

Blogger search is useful, and I also liked Topix. The biggest glitch I had was searching in vain for rss feeds on mainpages of news websites, rather than on the pages for specific topics. For example, I wanted the NPR feed, but the button was unavailable until I was in a specific program, like "Fresh Air." Am I making any sense????

RSS Feeds

When will RSS feeds come to advertising? I didn't realize how many commercial websites I check up on to find out about specials and deals. But when I looked to syndicate them, alas, there was no RSS/XML/syndicate button. That would save me more time than linking to news sites. I generally just visit the NYTimes for that info.

I had trouble finding a working RSS button for my favorite football team, the Washington Redskins. I thought it could be because it is the off-season, but news still happens then, too. I was going back and forth from their ESPN, NFL, and Sports Illustrated home pages, without luck. Only one page had an RSS button, and Bloglines couldn't pick up their feed. However, the Mets RSS was simple to find...MLB.com.

How can libraries take advantage of RSS? I think a good reference librarian would set up her bloglines to show top library, local and world news in order to keep up with the information flow...which is the real trick, isn't it?

Here is my public Bloglines URL:
http://www.bloglines.com/public/3saladinos

Anything About Technology

If it weren't for the fast pace of technology I would not be here (in hyperspace with you) today. Three years ago I started taking courses towards earning my Masters of Library Science. I attend classes online and I will never have to step foot on campus in order to earn my degree. (That's good, because it is in Connecticut!) I have had classmates from Connecticut, Long Island, Washington State, Japan, and Spain. (And that was just last semester.)

So here are my thoughts about technology...having been removed from the academic environment for over ten years when I decided to go back to school, I was unprepared for the culture shock of working with technology in every aspect of schoolwork. I spent 11 hours on the computer for my first "day" of class, and then I spent another hour crying in the shower afterwards because it was all too overwhelming. It was a new language, a new world, and a fast pace I was unused to. But having come from retail...and vowing to NEVER return to the whirling vortex of the black hole of life that is retail ... I returned to the computer, read slowly, and inched my way forward.

I started off examining pictures of a motherboard and a sound card, and I moved towards researching my papers online through WilsonWeb and Ebsco, and playing around with Publisher and Access. Eventually I was comfortable importing pictures, exporting music, and designing CD labels for party favors.

And my first question to my first teacher online was: What is a blog?

Create a Card

Create a Card, originally uploaded by lauralibrarian523.

I like playing around with these Flikr mashups. But may I have two more hours a day please???????

Magazine Cover

My creation, originally uploaded by lauralibrarian523.

We created McHenry Cove near the pool where wiffle balls become home runs. It is named in honor of McCovey Cove, over the right field fence in San Francisco, where major league baseballs become home runs.

Can I come in please???

Can I come in please???, originally uploaded by lauralibrarian523.

Here is Henry in his favorite pose of let me in...let me out...let me back in...

Meet Henry

Meet my dog, Henry. At thirteen years old he has life figured out. Either he's sleeping or he's happy about whatever is going on. You can literally hear him think, "Cool, what are we doing now?" as he bounds into the middle of the action. Go, Henry!

Hello

Wow - this is a great opportunity to learn about things I would otherwise overlook. Why must we be forced to do something for our own good? It should come naturally. But the point is that I am glad someone in the library world is giving me this opportunity and pointing me in this direction!

Regarding the Seven and a Half Habits, the hardest for me is viewing problems as challenges (number three.) I am the type of person who fears a crisis and recently reading Hatchet by Gary Paulsen has helped me gain insight into coping with problems. It's really a matter of not psyching yourself out!! If you can maintain self-control and a positive attitude, then the world is your oyster.

The easiest habit for me to develop is accepting resposibility for my own learning (number two.)

I look forward to taking the 23 steps!
So long for now....