Thing #8 - Learn about RSS feeds and setup your own Bloglines newsreader account.

I think it might be easier to setup your own Bloglines newsreader account, and then learn about RSS feeds while experiencing them. It was pretty easy to get things set up, but a lot harder trying to learn what it was without having done it.

In any case, I do rather like having a Bloglines account, and RSS is pretty neat. I don't really read blogs much, nor news online, though, so it's not simplifying my life that much. However, it is quite useful for keeping track of other 23 things blogs, so that's fairly helpful.

When SCPL introduced RSS for tracking new items to the collection, I set up a live bookmark for J Fiction. However, I had forgotten about it for many months, and only now, that we are doing 23 things, have I returned to checking it.

There's probably all sorts of neat things that the library could do with RSS, but I'm not feeling tremendously visionary. All I can say is that I'm less ignorant than before, so that's something.

Addendum to #6 & #7

Delivr Digital Postcards:
http://www.delivr.net/


Enemybook:
http://www.enemybook.info/

Thing #7 - Anything Technology Related that Interests You

Now here's a mashup I can really enjoy. It's for Facebook and it's called Enemybook:

"Enemybook is an antisocial utility that disconnects you

to the so-called friends around you.

Enemybook is a Facebook app that allows you to manage your enemies as well as your friends. With Enemybook you can add people as facebook enemies, specify why they are your enemies, notify your enemies, see who lists you as an enemy, and even become friends with the enemies of your enemies. Ever wanted to "enemy" somebody instead of friend them? Finally you can. This app remedies the one-sided perspective of Facebook.

Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer...

Get Enemybook! (facebook account required)"

Excellent, excellent....

Thing #6 - Discover some Flickr Mashups

Mashups are very cool! What a great opportunity for creative new things. The one I really liked was Delivr Digital Postcards. Much like an e-card, but cooler, I think. The photos are really great. I have used it several times since finding it.

Thing #5 - Explore Flickr

Flickr has lots and lots of pictures of squirrels, and this I like. I was practically beside myself over the squirrel pics, but ultimately the excitement faded. After all, I would much rather spend my time out looking for squirrels in real life, instead of taking pictures of them, posting them on Flickr, and looking at other people's posts.

Work-wise, I was not initially too inspired. There are lots of great ideas about how the library can reach out to people using Flickr (see http://jessicatwopointoh.blogspot.com/ for a fine example), but they seemed a world away from my daily library existence. How could I incorporate Flickr into my duties in the circulation department? Then it came to me! Take pictures of the various damaged items that come in, post them on Flickr, and include the URL on the damage notice we send the patron. It would save a little time for the patron; they could view the damage from the comfort of home. It could also serve as sort of a cautionary gallery for the world at large. And perhaps a sort of morbid hobby for those involved in the damages trade. We could try to outdo each other, a la "my patrons are more negligent than your patrons".

I am freshly inspired, and plan to get right on this as soon as I dig myself out from the current pile of filthy, warped, underlined, highlighted, sticky, burned, and torn items that await me.