Finding Feeds

Finding feeds is easy. Finding feeds worth reading, harder. The easiest and most efficient way to find feeds is to located the rss button or feed subscription links on a website that you already visit. It is easier to have your websites come to you via a reader than to visit numerous websites each day checking for new information. If you are searching for feeds on a given topic and don't know where to go, I would recommend searching for feeds within google reader. It is an easy way to find the most popular feeds on a subject. As a secnodary source, I would recommend Bloglines. Their enhanced search feature allows you to search for feeds or posts. Technorati is not a qualiative directory. A search here reminds you how much crap the world is blogging. However, it is usual for searching for specific bits of news or searching a specific blog. I started using Google Reader about six months ago and it is useful for keeping up on library news. I recommend being selective about what you read. More is not better. These tools can save time but oversubscribing is counterproductive.

RSS part 2

I find the new items feeds and upcoming program feeds useful. This is great and easy via rss. I don't understand some of the rss feeds included in the catalog. I would limit these to ones that would be useful to someone while searching the catalog, such as the NY Times bestseller list, book review, movie feeds etc. I also would include the subscription info for the feeds in the catalog as well. I really have no idea how many of our patrons actually utilize rss feeds. Those that do will find this a good service. Implementation of a general news rss might be good.

RSS

A couple of uplifting pieces found through my google reader account:

http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/user%2F09077373774872556250%2Flabel%2FLibrary

http://www.google.com/reader/view/#stream/user%2F09077373774872556250%2Fstate%2Fcom.google%2Fstarred

Flickr

The Explore geographic regions feature of Flickr is fun. Simply enter Explore, enter a place name and browse others travel photos.

Here is a picture of the local county park:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22759125@N00/2862248100

Some of the pictures are quite good, like this aerial photo of Baku, Azerbaijan:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/35606607@N00/170264223

You Tube

Colossal waste of time or useful Information resource?

I visit You Tube. What do I visit for. Basically, I visit for a taste of nostalgia. Those old music videos that I loved and thought I'd never see again are found here. Commercials and other blasts from the past can be found as well. I have viewed obscure music documentaries that someone bothered to upload in full. Concert bootlegs. Opera snippets. Does this make it a useful resources? Don't forget about the advertising both overt and covert. It does have some uses. For example, if you happened to miss President Obama's inaugural address, you can just watch it later on You Tube:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8m4xb4swNQ4&feature=related

If you know what you are looking for? A quick search and you will find out if what you seek can be found here and it is worth checking. Are you going to browse for something useful? Get out your shovel.

For library's it is a pretty easy way to embed video footage of programs or informative videos such as tours or welcome messages into their websites.