Thing #2: RSS

Our assignment for this week is to set up an account with an RSS reader. I currently use Google Reader to keep track of the blogs I read. Google Reader saves me a lot of time, because I subscribe to over 75 blogs. And, no, I don't read everything on those blogs. I do lots of skimming! I have the feeds organized into folders: book review blogs, family and friends, libraries and technology, and quilting/crafting.

Google Reader keeps a count of how many unread posts you have in your Google Reader, and mine's currently at 406. Hmmm, it may be time to do some cleaning out. :) I've found that when I find a new blog that interests me, I subscribe to it, read the next few posts, then either it becomes a favorite that I always read or I start to ignore it in my reader so that unread posts pile up. Eventually it becomes obvious that I'm not going to get anything out of this blog and I unsubscribe. There's so much content out there, if one blog doesn't do it for me there's always another to take its place!

Thing #1: Blogging

Belk Library is doing "23 Things" as a staff development program. I'm so in, because playing with technology is fun. Plus I want to win an iPad. Really want an iPad.

So here is my 23 Things blog. Our first task was to make this blog. This was not too hard for me, as I've actually been blogging (on and off) for about 5 years. I talk about books at jennie's b[ook]log and my favorite author at the Mary Stewart blog.

Our other task for this "thing" was to give an example of a blog we like. I read waaay too many blogs. I can't choose just one. So here are a few.

Libraries:

ALA Techsource -- Lots of interesting technology-in-libraries stuff.

info-mational -- Very thoughtful posts about information literacy.

ACRLog -- All about academic libraries.

Web Design:

A List Apart -- "For people who make websites."

Design Reviver -- Tutorials, downloads, and inspiration for web designers.

Quilting/Crafts:

Film in the Fridge -- Prolific maker of beautiful quilts.

Posie Gets Cozy -- All kinds of cozy crafts.