Monday, May 25, 2009

RSS

I just added 5 new RSSs. One of my choices was a Volkswagen TDI blog. TDI are the diesel powered variants of Volkswagen's cars. My Volkswagen Golf is the first diesel car I've ever owned, and I am alway interested in leaning more about how they operate compared to conventional petrol engined cars.

Following this RSS would be a good way to see what other owners have to say on the topic.

If anyone else is interested in hearing my thoughts on this kind of car feel free to blog me.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Social networking

Social networking looks like an interesting way for people who share interests to communicate with each other. The ALIA Symposium "beyond the hype" site was an interesting example of this. People from the library world who attended the symposium continued to discuss the issues raised through the Ning site they set up.

Such networking has other potential benefits. Specialist librarians for example, could connect with individuals in the community with an interest in their speciality. The profile of the library and thus the use of its resources to contribute to the collective knowledge is one way of broadening the library's reference services.

It was also interesting to see how different people in some of these networking sites identified themselves. Some were quite open providing an image of themselves, their full names and the area they lived. Others were more circumspect. Personnally I value my privacy so if I were become part of such a network I would be inclined to use a psuedonymn and an illustration rather than a photograph of myself.

Monday, May 4, 2009

Wikis



It was interesting looking at the various Wikis available and contemplating the uses they can be put to in libraries. The most interesting one I found was the book lover's Wiki from Princeton Public Library ( http://booklovers.pbworks.com/Princeton%20Public%20Library ). People writing their own reviews and posting them for others to read is an interesting alternative to the traditional book reviews found in magazines and newspapers.



Bryon's books created by Valatinians

(http://www.flickr.com/photos/neunzehn/)

The use of such a Wiki for public libraries would be a good way for people bemused by the hundreds of book jackets confronting them, to more easily select the ones they would like to read. No more slow inspection of the covers and reading the blurbs on the inside. All people need to do is read what others thought of the books they read. The more positive the reviews the more likely people will be to select a title. And as for the poor harried librarian, he/she will be spared from that question so often asked "what would you recommend for me to read?".