My hillbilly feral title is Cornelius Johnno Chassis-Engineblock.
Take The Hillbilly Ferals Name Generator today!
Created with Rum and Monkey's Name Generator Generator.
So I finally got in to this and an account set up. The site duns a bit slow I think (at least from work), but I like the concept. Here is the link to my catalog http://www.librarything.com/catalog/librarycyber . This is something I might consider keeping up, I am not sure really. I read, but not voraciously like my partner, some my reading list is quite restricted. I am waiting on the new Michael Bassett book, so I did a currency check to see if it was on Library Thing. Alas, it is not.....
Well I have skipped to # 8, as LibraryThing is not currently available. So I have "Rolled" my own search http://www.rollyo.com/librarianboy/travel_search/ and it is on travel as I am about to go overseas. I was not initially sure of the value of Rollyo myself. Google seems to do a pretty good job providing what I need when searching. Rollyo almost feels like something that would have been good 10 years ago when I was first using the web heavily. However, it does return good results on my travel search and search a lot of sites I have been using when researching my trip. I have spent hours finding them, so this would have saved me some time :-)
I added a widget that uses RSS to show the most recent searches on Technorati
So I thought I would write down my first impressions on the 3 sites listed (Topix, Syndic8 and Technorati).
Topix - Ok so I like the look of this. An immediately pleasing site to look at. This is probably because it looks smooth and like a media site. Apparently a drunken Swede tried to row home from Denmark...... I did a search, information seemed a little overwhelming, so refined it to a blog only search and found the blog of the Public Library Association and subscribed to it.
Syndic8 - Man who designed this? It looks like rubbish. Maybe that is the point as only hiddeous blogs can be serious ones that are concerned with content not design.... Hmm now it is having trouble loading and as I am a now person that really puts me off. Ok I am in again and did a search. I don't like the results screen either, so I am giving this one the big thumbs down.
Technorati - Another smooth looking design. Possibly a bit too corporate looking... Stop the press, I followed this link http://www.joystiq.com/2008/07/01/ohio-library-now-loaning-video-games/ and discovered that the Ohio Library is now loaning video games... I am not sure what is more noteworthy, the fact that this is news worthy or the fact that they call them video games and not computer games.... Maybe it is only Pong?!!
So, I am going to give Technorati my vote, as I actually found something related to my search and I liked the interface and general user experience
Ahh the humble RSS. Little known is the fact that I am an RSS pioneer, embracing the technology two years ago while working for Auckland City as part of their website team. It was I who instituted the RSS feeds on their website with the District Plan and bylaw updates, Council news and AK@Play newsletters.
I think the important thing to remember with RSS is that it fits a particular purpose. At its most basic it is just another means of receiving information which can come in an email. However, for web purposes it is immesely useful as you can access multiple information streams at the same time. Also, you can set your website up to receive the RSS feeds and automatically populate with new information.
So how could we use them in libraries? Well for a start ACL are looking at making New Books lists an RSS feed. Currently we have a swish new system which puts all our New Books online as webpages, but this may be an option for the future as well. What about library events? Subscribe to our feed and be able to see what is on where @ Manukau Libraries. Maybe Library news? I think the possibilities are endless!!
Yay for RSS I cry.
Blogging can be quite fun. The main challenge is finding enough to say, or thinking that you are interesting enough to have something to say. Knowing why you are blogging is important as this gives you a framework around which to post and can keep the creative juices flowing. Many people blog on topics which interest them, such as politics, entertainment, law or current events. For some people a blog is a journal, much the same as a diary once was, but in a far more public form. Of course, you can always keep your blog private if that is what you desire.
Of course it is brilliant you can type in different colours. It really is.....
Hey
This is my first post in this blog. Seems quite easy to use.