RSS feeds & Newsreaders

In order to implement the usage of RSS feeds, an account is required with a newsreader site. You then connect the reader site to websites that you want updates from. All updated information from these sites is sent to your reader account, therefore you only need to look in one site for these updates. Most sites that have a URL address are accessible to subscribe to.

One benefit of libraries giving client’s access to RSS feeds is the ease of gathering vast quantities of current information on any topic or interest imaginable.

Another benefit for the library as a receiver of RSS feeds, is up to date circulation of relevant information which is sent from other library websites and networks. One such site, Librarian.net, recently posted an article ‘To every reader their …ebook?’ giving a link to ‘May a library lend e-book readers?’ (Hirtle, 2010). This article discusses the position libraries find themselves in relation to the legalities of loaning ebooks and therefore is important information for all libraries.

Librarian.net (2010, June 23rd). To every reaer their ... ebooks? Retrieved 27th June 2010, from http://www.librarian.net/

Hirtle, Peter (2010, June 20th). May a library lend e-book readers? Retrieved 27th June 2010, from http://blog.librarylaw.com/librarylaw/2010/06/may-a-library-lend-e-book-readers.html

Totem

Totem
Originally uploaded by George

Hooray!!!! A picture has loaded!! I am very frustrated, I have been at this for three hours. Flickr has not been as easy to work with as YouTube. The expressions on this totem reflect mine. I have been jumping around in and out of different sites, chasing my tail. Once I had set up a blog link with flickr it became so much easier.

My firewall prevented uploading of word clouds although I think they look great. Unfortunatly word clouds was the begining of my flickr experience (not a great start). Had this experience been a personal journey I believe I would have packed it in before now. Patience maybe a virtue but it is one of the virtues that I'm still working on.

Podcasts, Video & Downloadable audio

I still do not claim to be a expert in this area, however I am definitely much more open minded. 'Give a little knowledge and all the fear fades away'. I refer to Tutorials on YouTube, lectures on podcasts and instantaneously burrowing a book no matter the library hours and thats only the academic benefits. There is also social enjoyment from sharing a funny video with a friend, listening to/viewing a missed favourite show on a podcast and downloading a book to take on holiday. (Although I'm still out on the book you can turn off and put in you pocket)!

I now see how the use of these tools in a library can be benifical to all.

Video Sharing & Podcasts

Wikipedia list more than 65 video sharing websites. Many of these sites give a variety of service, Blip.tv for example will pay you for the content of your video, where as Motionbox is a personal and secure broadcast site to be used by family and friends. While watching your videos your family and friends are not going to be exposed to material from other users.

Utilising google search, you discover a huge support network, for those unsure of where to go for information and what to do with video sharing and podcasts. Podcast Tools (Housley. S) http://www.rss-specifications.com/podcast-tools.htm list a few directories for finding podcasts. I also found a site where you can learn to speak Spanish at Go 2 web 20 .net http://www.go2web20.net/#tag:podcast .

The number of different types of directories are as varied as the community, there is something out there to interest everyone. We just need to be a little adventurous and have a look.

Probably the Funniest Cat Video You'll Ever See

Both my girls (11 & 13) ran quickly into the study, it was quite obvious to them, that I was on youtube. Eager to show me their favourites, we spent a pleasant afternoon looking at many videos. This is my youngest favourite. I would like to say that no animal or human was hurt during the filming, however I think that would be an untruth.

Information Literacy

Identifying, locating and evaluating information, an ever increasing challenge for most of us in a time when society is rapidly expanding in the areas of telecommunication, computer networks, chat rooms, mobile phones and so on. Information is now at the touch of a button, twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. We now feel a need to gather this information, and be in contact around the clock. But what of the consequences, from things such as misinformation, inappropriate photos and messages, sent without thought of consequence.

Without information literacy education, what relevance or concern is being given to the accuracy or suitability of the information we receive in any area of life. As the information highway continues to expand, is society capable of keeping up or are we starting to demonstrate a lack of these skills and an inability to deal with the pressure of instant transference of information.

I believe the skill to identify, locate and evaluate information now needs to be taught from a very young age, not waiting for secondary or tertiary education just because guidelines need to be taught for referencing and copyright. Not only do we need to instill Information literacy skills early, but, regretfully, we need to instill suspicion regarding the source and accuracy of information that is being sent to us constantly. Genuine, accurate and truthful information makes us stronger and more knowledgeable, but is the volume and accessibility making it harder for us to evaluate accuracy and suitability?

Schools are now beginning to educate students about information literacy and as demonstrated below, young students can and do evaluate search engines. This is a recommendation given by students from grades four and five

‘Many students recommended using KidsClick! or Yahooligans before trying Metacrawler. With Metacrawler, they wrote, too many sites may be listed, and many sites are written at an adult reading level. Some students suggested starting a search with the search engine that is likely to list the fewest number of sites’(Cooper, 2002)

Educators around the world are dealing with this issue not only in academic education but also social.

‘re-envision literacy from alternate and multiple perspectives’(Hamilton, 2010)

Cooper. M (2002, June2). Coping with information overload: Selecting the best search engine [web blog post]. Retrieved June 13, 2010 from
http://www.big6.com/2002/06/03/coping-with-information-overload-selecting-the-best-search-engine/

Hamilton. B (2010, April). Reading and writing the world: Schools libraries as sponsors of transliteracy [web blog post]. Retrieved June 13, 2010 from
http://infolitlib20.blogspot.com/2010/04/reading-and-writing-wotrld-school.html

A tentative start

Hi All

I sat down down today and viewed a few of your blogs. Fantastic job guys, some of the blogs are looking great.

I'm still feeling a little intimidated so I'm off to read the learner's guide, that i have printed out. Nothing quite like the feel of paper in my hands to ground me.

Talk soon