23things

RSS is the next topic in 23 Things.  I have used RSS for quite sometime, and I love it.  It's an amazing resource that saves me so much time.  I'm not sure how we ever did without it!

I follow dozens of feeds in my RSS feeder.  I use both Google Reader and a simple RSS Live Bookmarks reader.  I think I like the Live Bookmarks reader better, though Google Reader has far more options.  Of course, I have objections to Google for various reasons, so I may just convert my Google feeds to Live Bookmarks.

I have some news feeds from some rather remote locations around the world, and I find myself frustrated and annoyed at those that aren't set up for RSS subscription.  Just set it up, already!  Make life easier for all of us!

Up next... social networking!

Yes, I've been absent for awhile, but two cross-country moves and caring for a dying parent will do that to you.

Onward to Flickr!

I have a Flickr account.  I created it in August 2006, but I have yet to upload a single photo.  I think I created it to view photos from a friend.  I use Photobucket as my online photo repository, though I think Flickr is equally as good.  I haven't done a detailed comparative analysis of the two, however, so I may migrate when I do.

But I'm a little concerned about Flickr.

According to the wiki, "CNET reported that Yahoo was on the verge of a major layoff affecting 10%-20% of its workforce. Flickr was specifically named as a target for these layoffs."

Flickr is so popular, I'm a bit surprised they're cutting it back.  What will that mean to users?  Will it have any effect on them at all?  What will happen when Flickr no longer exists?  I think this is something that people don't consider.  Will these online repositories exist in the years to come?  I don't think it is realistic to assume that they will.  We live in the midst of constant change, which makes me hesitate to invest a great deal of time (or data) into such places (but not to the point of not investing at all).  I think we face the same problem with Google Books.  Google won't always exist, and the libraries that are investing in Google's proprietary book scanning service are doing no one but Google a favor.  But that's a post for another time.

I do think photo sharing sites can be of great use in libraries.  This article is a good indication of that (though see below for caveat).

Well... I've uploaded my first photo to Flickr, but since DW isn't one of the blogging services supported by Flickr, I can't link the accounts.  But I understand the concept.  It makes things easier for certain.

My favorite Flickr capability is the geotagging.  That's just cool.  I traveled to Florence, Italy, and took oodles of pictures that I could geotag down to the street corner (and I may do that just for fun).  And I joined a Flickr group for libraries.

I'm supposed to discuss some ways that "you can use Flickr or other photo-sharing site both professionally and personally?"  But according to the article above, Flickr is to be used only in a personal capacity, not a professional one, and Flickr has blocked accounts that violated these terms.  Of course, the article above also gives tips on how to deceive Flickr into believing that you have a personal account when in fact it is a professional account, so I can't say I'm too impressed with that.  I'd recommend that a library use something other than Flickr (or any other service that specifically prohibits its use in a professional manner).  I don't think it speaks well to SLA's character that they recommend articles that tell you how to circumvent restrictions.  Perhaps I'm being silly or picky, but it's the little things that matter.

Up next: Mashups!

I have not used technorati before.  My personal blog is, well, personal, and I've always kept it under the strictest security the host allowed.  Here at Dreamwidth, it's pretty strict (unlike Blogger, where I used to be).  For this blog, I won't keep it secure, of course.

On the SLA post for Week 3, it says, "Click on the "Rising Posts and Stories" tab, then choose "Blogs" from the drop-down menu. How do the results differ from choosing "Blogs and News" from the drop-down menu?"

I can't seem to find a tab that reads "Rising Posts and Stories" on Technorati.  They've probably changed their website since the SLA post (or I'm just totally blind).

I guess I'll just have to explore the site on my own and figure it out.

I like the blog directory, though where would libraries fit into this? Under science?  Living?

Where is the advanced search function? How do you search by tags?  I can't seem to find a URL search or search by authority, either.  Hmmm...this website is not very usable.  It lists popular tags, but you can't search by them.  I did do a generic search for SLA under the blog search, and it pulled up many.  I'd rather have the control to search by tags, however.

I've blogged and used other Web2.0 technologies in my personal life for years, but after taking a seminar in special libraries this summer at UMD as part of my coursework, I decided I wanted to participate in SLA's 23 Things, and have finally gotten around to signing up for it.

I'm excited!!!