RSS addendum

Well, I've been enjoying my bloglines this week. I like that it added the Bloglines bookmark and Sub with Bloglines buttons to my toolbar so that it is simple to add new feeds and easy to go to my Bloglines page. So far I haven't had to re-sign in, which is good because I have so many logins and passwords...I just can't remember all of them.

I am enjoying the fact that I don't have to waste my time clicking on each bookmark to see if a page has been updated. I can hit refresh on my bloglines a couple of times during the day and see whether my fav sites have been updated or not. Yea bloglines!

RSS continued

Oh, it seems I'm not done with RSS yet!

1. Feedster: the link didn't work (and i really wish the FVRL 2.0 blog would open sites in a NEW window so I don't have to hit back to get to the assignment!) Here's the message I get when I google Feedster: Feedster
Feedster.com. Version 2.1 BETA. Feedster is Changing... We'll be back up soon with exciting news! So, no thoughts on Feedster.

2. Topix: I'm not a fan of the overcrowded home page. It's a bit text-heavy for me. I do like the little interactive graph that comes with the search results, but if I'm looking for news, I'm going to do a Google news search. No question about it.

3. Syndic8.com: Ewwww, I hate the homepage. I didn't realize I had such feelings about graphic design, but these are some unappealing sites! This is definitely uglier than Topix. Reminds me a bit of the old Librarian's Index to the Internet site, though I see they haven't improved much. Hmmm, why on earth would Syndic8 default to chronological order starting with the OLDEST news? That is bizarre. Hmm, it's so ugly I have to move on.

4. Google Blog Search: I've used this many times. It has the familiar Google "brand" logo, familiar search interface, option to create an email alert. Seems solidly Google.

5. Technorati: it definitely has a more eye-pleasing design (to me) than the majority of these sites. The first result that popped up under libraries was from 24 minutes ago and was this: http://oedb.org/blogs/ilibrarian/2008/librar-ify-your-igoogle-start-page/
A google gadget that customizes your igoogle homepage with a new library related image from Flickr every time you log on. Very cool. I may have to reconsider my igoogle homepage....

The wikis were interesting and COMPLETELY OVERWHELMING! My favorite method of finding blogs of interest remains looking at the links from my favorite blogs. It was interesting to see the lengthy list of Public Library blogs...i'd love to see FVRL on that list!

RSS

Here's another example of "new" technology that I tried out a few? couple of? years ago and didn't stick with me. I'm willing to give it another go. For some reason, going through my bookmarks seems easier to me than using bloglines. I'm not a big fan of the interface for starters. I just don't like the way it looks, I get overwhelmed with the number of posts I haven't read and then I just quite reading them all together.

I had some success with a personalized igoogle homepage last year. I liked picking my own background and that I could read the post on my page or open it in a new window. I guess maybe it's just and aesthetics issue for me. Huh. But I don't check my google homepage anymore and I don't even remember my login. I'll try the Bloglines for the next few days and see how it works for me and report back.

I do like the idea of RSS feeds and libraries. I know we send out a monthly newsletter to folks who subscribe, but I'd also love to see the option for little reminders through RSS feeds. Upcoming reading group at Ridgefield? Add it to the blog and let RSS subscribers receive the message in their bloglines. Friends booksale this weekend? Ditto. ALA Newbery and Caldecott winners? Storytime break? Hot new book by popular author in the catalog and ready for holds? I guess the first step is to get some FVRL blogs going and advertise them so that the public can sign up for them. I'd love to see this happen and I'd love to be a part of it!