RSS

OK, I am several weeks behind. Maybe it is too late to catch up. Maybe it is too crazy to even try but I'm going to give it a try.

Creating a Bloglines account was quite simple, especially since I apparently already had one. I don't remember setting one up but when I tried to create it they informed me there was already an account with my email address. So I requested my password and it arrived within a matter of seconds.

I have been using Feeds option in IE to keep up with the dozen or so blogs I try to keep tabs on. On a couple of occassions when I've used a computer at another location, I've wished I had those feeds available. Bloglines will be a great way to have access anywhere.

The main reason I like feeds is that it helps me remember all the sites I am interested in. The other thing is that I don't have to waste my time visiting sites that don't update very often.

About half of the blogs I keep up with are done by friends or family. What a great way to keep up with their busy lives and it's a great way to share pics. The other half are either library related, book related, knitting related, or some combination of all three.

Instant Messaging

I've had some experience with Instant Messenger. A few years ago I used Yahoo Messenger to keep in touch with family on occassion but after a while I started getting inappropriate messages from strangers and that soured me on the whole thing.

Setting up the AOL Express account went smoothly. I found three co-workers online and started messaging them right away. I found that trying to carry on three conversations at once was a bit much :) but it was a fun experience.

I don't really see this replacing other means of communication at work. A phone call or an email works just as well. Plus I go back and forth from my desk to the stacks to the front desk so much that if someone were expecting an immediate response through IM they might be disappointed.

Blue 2.0

The creation of this blog is the first step on my Blue 2.0 journey. Blue 2.0 is a program set up and run by the Employee Development Committee at the University of Kentucky Libraries. This 12 week program will help library employees to learn and explore new technologies that will help us better serve our patrons, or at least better understand what they are talking about when they mention blogs and wikis.

The first blog I ever created was a year ago for an assignment in my Instructional Services class: Professional Development - Keep On Keeping On

This is my second blog, which I am creating for a work assignment (which I am doing for prizes rather than a grade - and oh yeah, for my own personal growth).

There are several blogs I enjoy reading and have often pondered creating my own blog. I think "What would I write about?" (Books, movies, family, knitting) and "Who would want to read it?" (My mother and maybe not even her) So I'm not really sure how this will go but am willing to embark on the adventure.

So here I dip my toe into the blogging pool.