RSS Feeds

This will be useful - I had never thought to set up alerts for searches. I think saving searches in databases will be the most use, as you can go back to what you have seen before and revisit or review it.
I wasn't so sure about using bloglines and Gmail- mostly because you can't click the link they send and go directly to the article because of the login issues with going through a library subscription. The search itself was mostly successful using Proquest, although the first subject I put was orangutans and found the results were all from the 1990s. I decided this was not a good topic to use as an RSS feed as it doesn't seem to be topical right now. Instead I used tsunami, and set up a feed (thanks for tip about deleting elgar bit...). The features I liked in setting up the feed were that the feed expires if unused for 3 months, and a confirmation email was sent to me which I think is a good security aspect.

The Gmail alert was easy to set up and the ability to specify how long to set up the alert for is sensible - good if you are studying something specific and will not need info later on.

Twitter and Libraries

1)I like the idea of using Twitter for library updates - it will reach a different audience from those we contact the traditional way.

Of the libraries I looked at, I liked our neighbours Rodney best for their chatty style and clean looking page. Central Hawkes Bay was good and lively too. New York's was just a bit too serious and the page background (old maps) gave it an old-fashioned look I thought.

There didn't seem to be a lot of interaction with patrons on any that I viewed but I found good links like a link to Bookman Beattie's twitters and Boorondara (Melbourne) Libraries' various blogs including a reading advisory one. Rodney Libraries did have additional tweets from another librarian (I'm guessing a CYA one from the comments) - this was good as it looked like there was a bit more interaction going on. Red Deer Public Library (neat name!) do this too.

Having service upgrade notices and opening hours information as tweets to library users is a good service aspect, especially for those who have added themselves as followers.

I reckon us kiwis are up there with this Twitter for libraries thing!

2)

Here's my tweet...

We're moving! Birkenhead Library's last day at Leisure Centre in Mahara Ave is Fri 11 Dec. Reopening @ the brand new library Rawene & Hinemoa corner on Thu 17 Dec. C U there!

Yeehaa!!!! .....that's just my response to my tweet:)

Searching Twitter

I looked at a few of the search choices.
It seems to depend on what you are searching for as to how good the results are. My first search was for comedian Dai Henwood which I found easily on both Tweep Sweep and Twitter Search.
When I searched for Rove the result was good in Tweet Sweep as Rove has a profile set up, but in Twitter I needed to put his full name otherwise there were too many results. (It was looking in the content of people's tweets rather than profiles).
I didn't like the look of the grid in Tweet Grid when I looked at Trending Topics - I found it too busy. Monniter was a bit strange to look at too.
Searching for a topic worked well in all the searches I attempted to find 'The Lovely Bones'.
I think I'd stick to Twitter's own search.

Twitter introduction

I have heard lots about Twitter, especially from different media sources, but haven't actually got round to having a look myself.
I viewed NZ author Nicky Pelligrino's tweets and found who had replied to her just as interesting as her tweets (Suzanne Paul , Wendyl Nissen) Seemed to be mostly about her day-to-day life, but I loved the comment about Witi Ihimaera - "Only just noticed The Trowenna Sea at number 1. Must get The Listener to cook up a literary scandal for me too when next book out... "

Jennifer Weiner's comments made me laugh - she seems like a fun person. Might even read one of her books one day!

NZ History online is quite good. I subscribe to their emails but Twitter is a quick way to see their 'day in history entries' and updated site content. It has an administrator rather than being a personal communication. Had quick look at the All Blacks but too much tactical and technical stuff for me. The up-to-date scores could be useful if you couldn't get to a TV tho'.

I might have to investigate further, although I'm worried I could become a Twitter Twerp!

Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland

Baltimore, West Cork, Ireland
Originally uploaded by pallotron

My creative commons example that I couldn't add to the last blog post. I love the colours and textures of this photo.

Creative Commons

a) The Creative Commons licence for our 'Get With It' site is an Attribution- Noncommercial 3.0 New Zealand licence.
As I understand it, this means the content can be shared or adapted (remixed) with some conditions.
The conditions are -

• it can't be used for commercial purposes,
• the work must be attributed to the author as they request, and that the work that is adapted is not necessarily endorsed by the original authors.

b) I searched Flickr and found this image - http://www.flickr.com/photos/pallotron/2341871452/

The Creative Commons licence is a Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 2.0 Generic, which means you can share or remix the work with the conditions it must be attributed to the photographer with the link provided, and it must not be used commercially. An additional condition is that if you alter the work, your creation must be licenced under the same or similar type of licence.

Open ID

I like the idea of Open ID and will use it where I can (of course, not on accounts I want private and secure).
Having done the 23 things last year means I do have some open ID accounts , although I had forgotten this and sometimes get a surprise when I am automatically logged on if I am signed in on my Gmail already.
I watched a video interview with the president of Vidoop, Luke Sontag, and found it interesting that he said Bill Gates has stated that Microsoft will be getting behind OpenID . Because Gates and Microsoft are so well-known, I think this will make OpenID more acceptable.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wuOuvgSIw0E