Online Applications and Tools (#20, 21, 22) - Week 10

(#20 - Online Software)
Google Doc's and Zoho's productivity software packages are a wonderful addition to Web services! No more compatibility issues. Access documents from any computer with an Internet connection. And people with permission can share programs online and work "together" on projects with relative ease. Sure, they're not as powerful as some of the other programs (Microsoft, anyone?), however, they have a lot going for them and are definitely worth a try!

Google Docs: https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=writely&passive=true&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fdocs.google.com%2F&ltmpl=homepage&nui=1

Zoho: http://zoho.com/

I actually prefer Google docs for easy of use. However Zoho seems to have more powerful programs available.

KCLS Post: Friday, April 20, 2007
#20 - Online Software
This week we'll spend our first two lessons with at least one familiar friend - Google. Today we look at online software (specifically 'productivity software' - word processing, spreadsheets, etc.) and tomorrow the Google development lab.But don't worry, we aren't on the Google payroll - we'll also be looking at another productivity software option today, Zoho.Productivity softwareWord processing, spreadsheets, calendars, you name it - thanks to our very local company (hello Microsoft), much of the world uses productivity software loaded on individual computers or, as is the case with KCLS thin clients, a shared server.Online versions of productivity software offer many of the same features yet are quite different from what is installed on your computer. How so?PriceThe online software we're looking at today is quite inexpensive - it's free. And there's a reason for this - it doesn't do nearly as much as the software installed on your computer. But how many of you use the power features in Excel (say, complex graphing) or Word (say, mail merge)? The core features you see in Google Docs and Zoho Writer match up surprisingly well.Software InstallationThere is none - all you need is a web browser and an internet connection. Working on a computer that doesn't have Excel? No problem.CollaborationIt's much easier to work on projects with others - colleagues, community group members, family, friends, whomever. Say, for example, you are working with your neighborhood community council to secure city funding for a project. You post the first draft of a letter, your neighbors make edits or add text to the document, and you bring the completed letter to your next meeting. Much like using a Wiki, the 'shared workspace' means noone is accidentally looking at out-of-date content. Freedom From File FormatsHave you ever helped a patron who can't open the resume they created on a friend's computer? Very often it's a file format problem - a document created in the word processing software that came pre-installed on the computer, for example, may not open in Microsoft Word. Online productivity software offers another way to solve this problem - you can open a wider range of file formats.Even Better Than The P: DriveThe documents you create with Google Docs and Zoho are saved to an online account and can be accessed from any computer with internet access - disks and/or flash drives are not required.Discovery ExcerciseBest, though, to see for yourself - try out Google Docs and Zoho and see if they work for you.Part 1: Google Docs
Take their quick tour to learn more.
At the end of the tour, click on 'try it out.'
Login with the Google account you've used for previous Learning 2.0 exercises (or, if you are already logged in, skip to the next step)
You choose - create a new document (for word processing) or spreadsheet
Add some quick text and save your document (there's a big 'save' button in the top right corner of the screen).
Take a look at the collaborate options (notice the 'View RSS feed of document changes' link?) and whatever else interests you.
Take a deep breath and move on to Part 2.Part 2: Zoho
Head over to Zoho and take note of the wider range of software they offer.
Try the same type of software you used in Google Docs - click on the 'Try Now' link.
Sign up for an account (and don't worry about the email confirmation unless you want to keep the account up - if you don't respond your account will be deleted in 7 days)
Add some quick text and save your document (there's a 'save' button similar to what you see in MS Word)
Take a look at some of the options (share, history, etc) located just above your text.Part 3: What do you think?
Let us know in your blogNext up: Google Labs...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 12:39 PM 2 comments
Tags: Collaboration, google, Online Software, Zoho




(#21 - the Labs of Google)
http://labs.google.com/

Apparently Beta testing can be fun! I played with
Google Reader https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?nui=1&service=reader&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Freader%2F

Google Notebook https://www.google.com/accounts/ServiceLogin?service=notebook&passive=true&nui=1&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fnotebook%2Fdownload%3Fcontinue%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Fnotebook%252F%26hl%3Den&followup=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fnotebook%2Fdownload%3Fcontinue%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.google.com%252Fnotebook%252F%26hl%3Den&hl=en
Google Video http://video.google.com/
Google Mars http://www.google.com/mars/
Google Suggest http://www.google.com/webhp?complete=1&hl=en
and my favorite Google Trends (loved that one) http://www.google.com/trends It was interesting to note the popular searches and to see the stories that might have inspired them.
I'll go back to Google Labs whenever I get the chance to see whats new.

KCLS Posts: Monday, April 23, 2007
#21 - The labs of Google
You may have noticed that some of the web 2.0 services we've looked at are more complete than others. In the case of the later, most of the expected service features work but the overall service has yet to be perfected. Welcome to perpetual beta, a frequent occurance in the world of Web 2.0 where services are in a constant state of improvement.Perpetual BetaTim O'Reilly, originator of the 'web 2.0' moniker, describes it this way:
the product is developed in the open, with new features slipstreamed in on a monthly, weekly, or even daily basis. It's no accident that services such as Gmail, Google Maps, Flickr, del.icio.us, and the like may be expected to bear a "Beta" logo for years at a time.
(the relevant section of this article is great, though long and technical)Google and BetaToday we look at the officially sanctioned world of Google beta products. Why Google? They're doing some wonderfully interesting things and most of the customization functions will work with the Google ID you set up for your Learning 2.0 blog.Yes, I'm finally learning - we're trying to save you from password fatigue.Google's beta world is officially labeled Google Labs.This is where you can go to see their new ideas, some old ideas that were never-quite-completed, and a list of 'graduates' that are now in wider use.Though some of the products you'll see in Google Labs are quite complex, today's lesson and Discovery Exercise are nice and simple.
Head over to Google Labs
Play around with 2 or 3 of the services listed - I highly recommend Google Trends which analyzes (instead of searching) occurances of your search terms
Blog about your experiences, what worked, what didn't work, what was potentially usefulAnd then give yourself some silent applause - you are halfway through the third to last week of Learning 2.0.Next up: Web 2.0 Award Winners...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 1:30 PM 2 comments
Tags: beta, google

(#22 - Choose Your Own Adventure)

Web 2.0 Awards http://www.seomoz.org/web2.0/
In this site I checked out http://odeo.com/ which lists podcasts and compared it with http://www.podshow.com/

Webware http://www.webware.com/8300-1_109-2.html

I much preferred using Web 2.0 Awards. I found it much easier to navigate with many wonderful web options. I will visit this site often.

KCLS Post:Tuesday, April 24, 2007
#22 - Choose Your Own Adventure
We're getting closer and closer to the conclusion of our Learning 2.0 program - this is the 22nd of 27 things we'll be looking at.But what if we were going to do 28? Or 37? Or 239?Okay, there's no way we'd do 239. But 28 or 37? That wouldn't be a problem - there's lots out there that we simply don't have time to explore in great detail.Today you get to choose - pick a web 2.0 service that is new to you and give it a try.But from where?Lists and Lists of Web 2.0The first place to consider is the 2007 Web 2.0 Awards (this is an update as of 5/9/2007 - this lesson originally pointed to the 2006 awards). These were choosen from an extensive list of category-arranged nominees. You'll see familiar services listed (ie Flickr, Technorati) but many more we've not looked at yet - try something that is new to you.You might also take a look at Webware. Webware documents newly released and newly updated web 2.0 services - postings focus on individual services, service categories, and/or related news of the day.And the Discovery Exercise?
Pick one of the sources mentioned above - the Web 2.0 Awards or Webware
Did you choose the Web 2.0 Award nominees? Select a category that interests you (ie 'Books' or 'Personal Organization') and take a look at one of the listed nominees. If your first choice isn't interesting, head back and try another.
Did you choose Webware? Select a category that interest you (ie 'Education and Reference' or 'Productivity and Business') from the category list on the right side of the screen. Investigate one of the web 2.0 tools mentioned in this category. If your first choice isn't interesting, head back and try another.
Blog about your experiences - tell us what you looked at and what you thought. Is this something that might prove useful at KCLS? Please make sure you include the service name and URL in your blog entry.That's all for today. Two more weeks to go...Next up: video...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 3:23 PM 1 comments
Tags: Web 2.0

Library 2.0 (#19)

http://www.oclc.org/nextspace/002/1.htm

New styles of libraries and new ways for libraries to reach patrons are on the horizon (and in some cases are here), as exemplified in the readings attached to the previous link.

Libraries are changing. With the proliferation of Web services, our patrons expect more and more of library staff. Not only are we expected to maintain and expand our present extensive collections, we are also expected to be the ultimate purveyors of information of all types, and to be able to teach our patrons how to use all the technology that we "must" provide for them so that they may access that information. We must also be prepared to help our patrons when things don't go exactly as they planned. And, heaven forbid, what to do if the computers go down and the patrons panic? We must also have basic troubleshooting and repair skills. Staff has to constantly evolve to keep pace.

As a whole, our staff is exceptionally well prepared. And I am pleased that our library system is venturing into addressing the needs of the "new" patron in our Web-conscious society.

That said, I hope we don't forget those patrons who are not as comfortable with many of the Web services as exemplified in many of these Web 2.0 lessons. We have a large senior population by our branch, and many of them are struggling with basic technology issues, let alone trying to understand the various opportunities now available on the Web. In addition there are the many people that depend on our library for many of the services that they cannot otherwise afford and are just trying to learn basic computer and traditional library skills.

As we strive to address the future of libraries, let's also remember to maintain what's the best of our past.


KCLS Post:
Monday, April 16, 2007
#19 - Library 2.0
Today we focus on the 2.0 part of Learning 2.0. The 2.0 is, you may have guessed, what links our program to the broader entity known as Web 2.0. The 2.0 also links our program to what many in the library world are calling Library 2.0.A popular definition of Library 2.0 is provided by Sarah Houghton:
Library 2.0 simply means making your library’s space (virtual and physical) more interactive, collaborative, and driven by community needs. Examples of where to start include blogs, gaming nights for teens, and collaborative photo sites. The basic drive is to get people back into the library by making the library relevant to what they want and need in their daily lives…to make the library a destination and not an afterthought.Library 2.0 is also big on offering customization - new services and/or reworked existing services should meet our patrons in their spaces (aka their computers, their cell phones, their blackberries, etc.) as well as in our spaces (aka our library buildings and websites).Some argue that Library 2.0 is nothing more than a convenient catch phrase for new technology. Others say it's a semantic waste of time - libraries have always been about collaboration and customer service.There's been lots (and lots) written about Library 2.0 in Library Journals and the blogsphere. So much that we're going to ask you to read from just 1 source - the OCLC Next Space Newsletter. They recently published a collection of short articles under the banner "Where will the next generation Web take libraries?"And now, more formally, today's Discovery Exercise.
Read the introduction
Read at least 3 of the 5 articles (or all 5) - these are:- Away from Icebergs- Into a new world of librarianship- To more powerful ways to cooperate- To better bibliographic services- To a temporary place in time
Let us know what you think - blog a bit about Library 2.0That's all for this week - thanks for keeping at it.Next up: Online applications and tools...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 6:55 PM 2 comments
Tags: Library 2.0, Web 2.0

Custom Search Engines (#18)

I found the Google Custom Search Engine much easier to use and understand than Rollyo Search Roll. Didn't have time to play around with them too much (although I did a little). I decided to go right into creating my own custom engine with Google. This was much more difficult for me than I anticipated from the instructions. Part of my problem was trying to figure out which URL's to include in my search engine. I didn't want to include many of the larger ones as I thought that might defeat the purpose. And I had a difficult time with search engine key words (I plan to add more later). So this is what I came up with:

Places to Nosh in Seattle (courtesy of Google)
http://www.google.com/coop/cse?cx=016727378492053632594%3Anolxlfcpkam&hl=en

I tried searching the name of a particular restaurant and it worked!



KCLS Post:
Friday, April 13, 2007
#18 - Search What You Like
This week's lessons are not linked very well thematically - we look at custom search engines today and at the broader themes of 2.0 tomorrow. It is with this in mind that we've decided to skip our regularly scheduled weekly podcast and head straight to the lesson-at-hand.Today's lesson: search what you likeDo you have a group of websites that are your favorites? Or a set of online resources that are similar in scope, that you frequently use to answer homework or reference questions? If you answered yes to either question, a custom search engine may be the tool for you - they search the websites you tell them to search. Nothing more.In today's lesson we'll be looking at two services - Rollyo and Google Custom Search Engine.RollyoFirst off, the originator - Rollyo.It's easy to use - you go to their website, you set up a profile, you add the websites you want to search, you get a permanent URL for your new search engine (these are called 'search rolls'). You can even invite friends or colleagues to add sites to the search engine. Or add a search box to your blog.The drawback? Rollyo is funded by sponsored search results - you'll see these in your results. There are hundreds of interesting Rollyo search rolls out there already. These range from the library-centric (Library Organizations, Public Domain eBooks), to the politically-charged (the left and the right), to the utterly obsessive (Everything Star Wars), to just about anything else.Google Custom Search EngineAnd then there's this little software company in California - it's called Google. Google has a relatively new service they're calling the Google Custom Search Engine. The concept is the same - you set up an account, create a custom search, add sites to it, and receive a permanent URL for easy access. Their service carries a pleasant benefit for we Learning 2.0 participants - you can use the same Google ID you've already set up for blogging.Some existing search site examples include an Independent Film Search, a Wine Search Engine and quite a few others.But which one should you use? That's what today's Discovery Exercise is all about - it's a custom search engine show-down...Part 1: Compare the resultsWe've created a 'KCLS & Neighbors' search in Rollyo and Google - both search the KCLS website as well as those of neighboring library systems (SPL, Sno-Isle, and Tacoma Public).
Head over to our Rollyo Search Roll (this will open in a separate window) and try a few searches. On what? How about library card applications or branch locations or gaming programs.
Head over to our Google Custom Search Engine (this will open in a separate window) and run the same searches.
Which did you like better?Part 2: Make Your OwnChoose the custom search tool you like best and create your own.If you choose Rollyo:
Register
Create a search roll for any subject you like.If you choose Google Custom Search Engine:
Sign in with your Google ID and set things upIn both cases:Create a post in your blog about your experience and link to your search roll. Can you see a potential use for tools like this?And that, everyone, is all for today - have fun searching.Next up: More 2.0 than you ever imagined...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 2:53 PM 0 comments
Tags: custom search engines, google, rollyo, search

Play . . . Generators (#17)

Music please . . .


"You make me feel like dancin' - Dancin' the night away . . ."



I had a great time playing with some of the Generators! However, saving my creations to my blog was another thing. If I ever have some more time to "play" I do plan on going back to http://generatorblog.blogspot.com/ to try some more sites (and to share these with my kids). What fun!

KCLS Post:

Friday, April 6, 2007
#17 - Play, then catch up or take a break
This week we slow things down a bit - we've got just one lesson, a fast and fun one at that, and then time for you to take a break and/or catch up on previous lessons.But first an update on the state of Learning 2.0 - David and Bruce Schauer fill you in on a few of the details in this week's podcast.
Click the Play button aboveto hear this week's Podcast (1:42)Now on to this week's lesson - we'd like you to take a look at some image and text generators. These are minor feats of programming that have resulted in fun, sometimes silly, ways to spend a few minutes.And how do these affect libraries?Well, I'll be honest, my answer is going to be something of a stretch. Libraries and these image generators, broadly speaking, encourage you to keep an open mind...So, with an open mind, let's get to today's Discovery Exercise.
Take a look at some generator-themed sites:The Generator Blog lists many. Take a look at the descriptions and see if something interests you. Me, I'm a big fan of the Nietzsche Family Circus Generator.FD Toys works with Flickr or other photos you may have saved on your computer to create faux posters, magazine covers, and (some of you may have even looked at these during our Mashups lesson).You as a South Park Character - join me, take the plunge:(be warned - these are a bit difficult to save)You as a Simpsons Character(clearly, I need to stay away from Springfield)
Create an image from any of the above and, if possible, save a copy to your blog (first save the image to your computer, then use the blogger 'add image' button) or link the image to your blog.And that's all for the week. Enjoy your break (or catch-up) and we'll be back with a full week of Learning 2.0 next Monday.PostscriptMany of you have braved the complex maneuver of saving your South Park and Simpsons images. If you are still having problems, here's one way to do it:
Open up the 'Paint' program (Start Menu > Programs > Accessories > Paint)
Go back to the webpage with your finished character
Press the PrtSc button on your keyboard
Go back to Paint
Go under the 'Edit' menu and choose 'Paste.' This will paste the entire screen
Crop the image down (to show just your character), click on the box icon in the top left corner of your screen (it looks like a square with dotted lines)
Drag a box around the part of the screen you want to KEEP
Go under the 'Edit' menu and select 'Copy to...'
From the resulting menu, save it to your computer's desktop
The image is now ready for uploading via your blogger 'Add Image' button Next up: searching and more 2.0 concepts...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 2:50 PM 5 comments
Tags: Image Generators, Mashups

Join the Wiki Collective (#16)

I found joining the Wiki fairly easy given the detailed instructions provided.

KCLS Post:
Monday, April 2, 2007
#16 - Join the Wiki collective
In today's lesson you'll get to join the collective.Okay, not the collective (that's the last Borg joke I'll make, promise), but the Learning 2.0 collective - you'll get to add content to the Learning 2.0 Wiki.Wikis, as we've already discussed, come in many shapes and sizes. Still another variation in the world of wikis is where your wiki lives - you can install wiki software on a server at your institution (like what we do with our website and email) or you can use a service that hosts the wiki for you. For today's exercise, we'll be doing the later - our Learning 2.0 wiki was set up with a service called PB Wiki.Which is why you should take their quick quick PB Wiki Tour (this will open in a separate window). They'll detail the service and fill you in on a number of intersting ways to use wikis - keep clicking on the 'next' button to get to the next screen. Once you run out of 'next' buttons, you've come to the end of the tour.We're moving quickly today - we're already up to today's Discovery Exercise where you'll become a contributer to the Learning 2.0 Wiki.
Head over to the Learning 2.0 Wiki (link will open in a separate window).
Read the main page and follow instructions for making your way to the 'best blogs ever' wiki page.
Add your blog to the 'best blogs ever' wiki page - instructions will be at the top of the page. Make sure you include your blogging name in the appropriate space so that we know it was youAnd you're done - thanks for becoming a Learning 2.0 wiki contributor.Up next: play and catch up...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 11:37 AM 7 comments
Tags: pbwiki, wikis



KCLS Post:
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
an Update on MySpace Friends and Email Verification
A number of you have reported problems with the MySpace friending process. You'll be asked to verify your email, you try, but it doesn't work.The problem, I fear, lies with MySpace - you are doing nothing wrong.If this is happening to you, please don't worry about it. Give it another try later in the week but, should you continue to get the cold shoulder from MySpace, consider lesson #11 complete. Just make sure you do two things when you submit your Week #5 progress log: leave a checkmark next to the 'friend' box (#11) and enter your MySpace URL in the appropriate slot (so that we know you really are our 'friend').
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 1:48 PM 1 comments

Wikis (#15)

Wikis are a phenomenal way to allow patrons to add comments and reviews about library materials. It's like peer-to-peer suggestion sharing for readers. And what a great "advertising gimmick" for libraries! "Look what we have to offer!" "We care about your comments and opinions" "We are here to help YOU" "Here's what's going on at YOUR library!"

I am looking forward to seeing a Wiki from KCLS.

KCLS Post:
Friday, March 30, 2007
#15 - Wikis you'll know and love
Before we get rolling today, I wanted to congratulate you (yes, you) for making it more than half way through our 27 things. Outstanding work, seriously - thanks for participating.Today, make that this week, we continue onward - we'll be focusing on Wikis.Simply put, a wiki is website that lets multiple users add, remove and edit content. You don't need to understand HTML (the stuff you see when you view the source of a webpage) and you don't need to know how to use webpage building software. Adding content on a wiki is, with just a few variations, just like using word processing software.And, even better, you don't need to worry about messing something up - a wiki allows you (or anyone else) to revert to a previously saved version of your webpage. But what if someone changes your entry, one you thought was perfect? A wiki also offers tracking tools that tell you who makes each contribution (the add, the edit, the deletion) and when they made it - you can either revert that page to its previous version or get in touch with the person who made the change.The collectiveWikis are built by their contributors - readers who add, remove and edit content. And this typically goes one of two ways - an open model where anyone (and I mean anyone) is invited to contribute or a closed model where a select group (say, at KCLS, only LTAs) are invited to contribute. Either way, it is an exercise in trust -whomever contributes is expected to meet certain standards of quality and should expect, should they not reach these standards, that another participant will remove their contributions.Wikipedia is the best known example of the first model - anyone can participate. Wikipedia does, however, employ staff who will freeze an topic if foul play is reported by readers. Errors and obvious fakeries are often (though, not always) corrected very quickly.Citizendium is another example of the open model but with increased oversight. The site is including "gentle expert oversight" (staff who check for accuracy) and does not allow for contributor anonymity - contributors must use their real names.An example of the controlled model? The St. Joseph County Public Library has a limited number of staff members contributing to their version of our Web Links page -'SJCPL Subject Guides.'More locally? David talks to Sarah Hunt about her Wiki experiences and the two do a bit of futurecasting together in this week's podcast.
Click the Play button aboveto hear this week's Podcast (3:35)More to readMeredith Farkas has been writing about wikis for years now, and using them for even longer. Take a look at her Wiki’s: A Beginner’s Look. This is an excellent (and short) slide presentation with terrific visuals. You may also want to read her article, Using Wikis to Create Online Communities, on WebJunction.And, finally, there's Library Success: A Best Practices Wiki. Take a look at their What is a Wiki? presentation. Yes, it's a wiki talking about wikis...Once you've finished reading up on wikis, it's time to tackle today's Discovery Exercise.
Take a look at at least 3 of the below:- that SJCPL Subject Guides wiki- the full Library Success: A best practices wiki- ALA MidWinter 2007 Wiki- Book Lovers Wiki at the Princeton Public Library- or some of these library wiki examples
Create a blog post about your findings. What did you find interesting? What types of applications within libraries might work well with a wiki?And that, everyone, is all for today.Up next: become part of the collective...
Posted by KCLS Learning 2.0 at 9:00 AM 2 comments
Tags: wikis

LibraryThing (#14)

I love LibraryThing! http://www.librarything.com

But who has time to enter all items? Even my favorites would require me to sign up for many accounts given the limit. I have started with my five items and plan to add many more.

If only I had a barcode reader to enter items by ISBN !!! Then life would truly be good (I guess I'm lucky if that's all it takes!).

Tagging is Del.icio.us (#12); Technorati (#13)

I am very excited about the Del.icio.us tool! Since I am constantly moving from computer to computer, this is an excellent way to be able to access information without having to remember all the websites applicable to my task. Great for library employees, and certainly good for me!

Technorati in interesting. I decided not to claim by blog, although I'm sure it's already in there. And what's with the "spiders"? Couldn't we call it something else?

MySpace (#9,10,11)

My MySpace page is now up - it was fairly easy to do.

I can certainly understand the social networking value to those people lucky enough to have a quite a bit of time available to them on a computer with a fairly fast Internet connection. My adult children all have pages of some kind (MySpace, Facebook, etc.), as do their friends. And my one son has used his as a place to showcase his culinary skills for employment opportunities. I do find it somewhat intimidating and am very reluctant to have any kind of personal information floating around out there. I did set my full profile privacy setting to "My Friends Only" for now. I do look forward to playing with MySpace and becoming more comfortable with the whole "social networking" thing.

Finding some RSS Feeds (#8)

Once I started to explore RSS feeds, I found out how easily I could become sidetracked - I wanted to subscribe to almost everything I found. Either I have too many interests or I'm just fascinated by all the possibilities.

I found Google Blog Search search tool to be the easiest to use, however, I also like Feedster. There are a plethora of culinary and gardening feeds and some very interesting joke feeds!
And let's not forget all those library-related items.

Now I could just find more time in the day to play . . .


#8 Find Some Feeds

RSS (#7 - Less Stress with RSS . . .)

What a great way to get subject specific info delivered right to you! I do believe this is a good way to keep up to date on subjects related to my job (and of course to my personal interests). Now if I just had time to read all of this fabulous stuff.

I can imagine the library using RSS to keep in touch with patrons. Program information, open hours/closure information, favorite new materials to request, etc. - all can be pushed out to the patron when they subscribe to the library feed.