RSS revisited

I'm thinking I just don't get RSS. I've recently joined Google Reader and it is a easier to look at program compared to Bloglines, but I'm still having issues. I have blogs I'd like to add to my list, they have RSS tags (little orange icons) for both entries and comments yet can do I find the URL for feeds? All I get is code for that page, what's the bit I need to give my reader so it knows where to check?

Any ideas?

*Frustrated and embittered*

Week 6: Video

Hmmm...

I'm sure that video online is wonderful. I'm sure the 2min clip of 'Laughing Jack' is hilarious and adorable. I'm sure the videos on the library building projects, staff orientations, book reviews or '10 ways how to ride a shopping trolley' are all very informative and add depth to any discussion on the above topics.

But I can't look at them and therefore no matter how wonderful, YouTube or Google video are not useful. Even the embedded video in the the Libraries Learning 2.0 blog didn't come up, I'm sitting here looking at a blank stretch of blog.

There are three reasons why I am unable to view any clips and at least two of them are going to be an issue to my customers.

Webmarshal: Pretty much any YouTube or My Space site is blocked by Webmarshal here at work. Now this would not be an issue for most customers at home but how many of them have nanny programs that would do the same thing as Webmarshal?

Loading speed: Theoretically, broadband Internet is cheap and available to everyone. But in real life Broadband is still a lot of money and not all areas have access. As a dial up user I can tell you you CAN NOT use these sites with any ease. Until the government comes good with cheap broadband for all, loading speeds will always be an issue.

Out of date software: This is a biggie here at work and I'm thinking could be a real issue for people not confident computer users. Certain versions of windows, and video viewing programs will not work on these sites. Though many of the viewing programs are free and can be downloaded, will an unconfident user bother going to the trouble and often frustration of downloading a new version of the viewing program just to look at the library's clip.

So, no matter how wonderful it maybe to be able to communicate with your users by video on these sites I think we need to be prepared that sometimes they're not going to be able to access the video links. So by all means use video hosted on YouTube or Google video, but remember to provide the information in some other form as well.

Hey! I'm on TV ma!

Well Googlemaps at least.
http://maps.google.com/maps?t=k&q=-33.915258,151.036433&ie=UTF8&ll=-33.915265,151.036434&spn=0.007247,0.013883&z=16&iwloc=addr

This is a satalite picture of Bankstowns CBD. The large sprawling mess near the railway line is Centro Bankstown, affectionately remembered as Bankstown Square by the locals.

The dying grassy coloured patch west of Centro is a dying grassy patch called Paul Keating Park. Originally the council offices were there until June 1996 but a fire in the airconditioning ducts turned the whole building into slag.

Just south of the park is a nondescript fat 'L' shaped building. That would be the Bankstown Branch (Central) of Bankstown City Library and Information Service.

And now you know where I am.

Week 5 : Wikis

I see salvation! Salvation from hard copy procedures that are out of date an unchangeable. I see salvation from the difficulties of sharing children programs and training packages quickly and easily. I see the salvation to easy updating and disseminating of vital information.

And salvation's name is Wiki. Hallelujah! I have seen the light!

Now here is something I can get behind. For all the reasons above I would love work to use wiki's on our Intranet. Imagine a procedure issue where the solution was only one search away instead of wading though two folders of out of date hardcopies. Imagine using others work in programming or training, pulling out what you need and creating a whole new work simply and without causing injury to the original creator. What's more sharing your ideas instantly! Imagine Premier's Reading lists in one location that everyone can help update.

What's more we can get customer involved! I personally loved the open catalogue where customers were asked for recomendations. SO COOL! I know, instead of scribbling obscene notes in the jacket of the book, they'll add them to the record, but that's what nanny programs are for and if Wikipedia can do it, why couldn't we?

Where do I sign up for the Church of Wiki.

Week 3: RSS

Hmmm... not quite sure what I think of RSS. Let's go through the questions and see if a definite opinion shakes loose.

What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
I guess having one place to go to for all the things I want keep up to date with. The ability to not have think "Now what else do I need to check" is nice. I can't say I have an issue with keeping up with the things I personally want to check and don't have an issue unsubscribing to emails I no longer want.

What sites did you select for your RSS reader?
Newspapers mostly, and I think this is where it would be good. Having never played with a digital book I'm not sure of their programs, but I could see a tablet connected to an RSS full of newspapers that is updated constantly through a wireless network would be a really great thing.

How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work?
Besides the above idea I guess it could be good for keeping all the online subscriptions organised and easy to view. I don't know about in other libraries, but online subscriptions don't seem to get a lot of use because their organisation is clumsy and requires several steps to get to the information. With RSS you'd just click the title and you'd be on the top page for that database.

How can libraries use RSS or take advantage of this new technology?
Well again, other than organising the multiple websites libraries collect on a regular basis I'm not quite sure. I guess I'll have to check other peoples ideas for this one.

I personally am a bit ambivalent about RSS, it just seems to be another techy toy that I have to join. I do think though, with a good reader program, a RSS could be a very useful tool for organising sites that often disappear or move. I will see what others have to say, maybe I just haven't seen RSS's full potential.