Thing # 11

I had always read or heard about LibraryThing, but I really never looked into it. I 'm glad because this will be a good way to keep up with books I want to read, or have read. I was using my Amazon wish list as a way to do this, so LibraryThing is MUCH better.

Here's my account: http://www.librarything.com/catalog/0067. I'm going to try to add more tags later. I've just been adding books that I recently read or want to read.

I can't remember where I read it, but there's a new article on libraries incorporating LibraryThing in their OPAC. Patrons are able to search by tags and read reviews from other patrons.

Thing # 10

I found this off the Generator Blog, here's the direct link: http://brainscannr.com/.

I'm not sure what this says about my brain.

Thing # 9

The bloglines search tool was easy to use, and I found a few library related blogs that I added. I did find that there are a ton of librarian blogs, where they talk about their experiences working behind the desk.

Feedster was down, but I did use the other search tools. I used Topix to add a news feed for items containing Linebaugh Library. I found a few more blogs that looked useful through Syndic8 and Technorati. I found that using the advanced search in most of these tools was necessary to narrow my results down. I found so many library blogs started by libraries as a way to update their patrons on news and resources. This is just one of the many ways libraries can use web 2.0 to their advantage.

Thing # 8

http://www.bloglines.com/public/0067

I've really enjoyed using bloglines so far. I set up a personal account last week, and it's made it so much easier to check websites and newsites. I like that there are no pop-up ads and that I only need to go to one website, instead of a whole bunch.

As for work, I started adding some library-related news blogs that will make it easier to stay up to date on new resources and technology. I also started adding blogs by the staff as well.

RSS feeds could be very useful for libraries by integrating the technology into their OPACs. Alerting patrons of new books by their favorite author, series, genre, or subject through RSS feeds would be great for libraries.

Thing # 7 - Digital Libraries

I really enjoyed searching through TEVA and the NPL digital collections. The above photo is a mountain string band from Gatlinburg in 1939. I chose this photo mainly because I enjoy old hillbilly music.

The TEVA site reminded me of some of the collections in American Memory from the Library of Congress. One in particular is the Farm Security Administration - Office of War Information collection, which is an excellent source for photos from the great depression. Here's a direct link to the site http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/fsowhome.html. American Memory is very useful for researchers and it's free.

Thing # 6 - Warholizer!

For thing number six, I decided to use the Andy Warhol designed mashup. I've used a photo of me taken during the summer reading program. It was going to be part of a display of all the library staff called "Wanted Readers."

Thing # 5

The Springville Road Library is a branch of the Birmingham Public Library in Alabama. It's in the neighborhood where I grew up and it's the library that I went to when I was a little kid.

I found this picture on Birmingham Public Library's Flickr account and I thought I'd share it for thing # 5.