CPL 2.0: RSS

So. RSS.

I have a tendency to be somewhat ADHD/OCD, qualities that help me be a good reference assistant and researcher. These are also qualities that help me appreciate RSS readers. I have been using Google Reader for awhile. I signed up for a Bloglines account and so far it seems pretty similar to Google Reader.

There are many sites that I visit, fanatically, each and every day. RSS feeds and readers help me get my fill of my daily sites---quickly.

This CPL 2.0 exercise helped me discover that a few of my favorite sites (Roger Ebert's blog, anyone?) have RSS feeds.

CPL 2.0: Google Universe

Oh, and what a universe it is.

I still remember when I began to use the Google search engine soon after its launch. Even in its infancy, it was clear (especially to researchers and library types) that Google was something special. Oh sure, I knew my way around Altavista (and Altavista Canada) and when and why someone might choose the HotBot search engine over Lycos or Dogpile. We, the reference staff on the 3rd Floor, Central (then, the "Internet experts" of the library system), would regularly encourage other staff and customers to always use more than one search engine because of the varied results. Fairly soon after Google search was launched, it became our first choice of search engine. Soon after, we found we rarely ever found we had to use other search engines.

And so began Google's domination of the web.

I use, regularly, many Google products:

• Gmail: I've had Hotmail, Yahoo and Google mail accounts; they all have their own pros and cons. Gmail is one of the best webmail programs in my mind. (caveat: I had a gmail account a few years ago and ended up deleting it. I didn't realize that I'd NEVER be able to get back that username, nor that I'd lose my Google Docs as well---adding up months of my personal writing.)
• Google News: I was so happy when this came out. Weed though Google hits to just get current news? Excellent.
• Google Docs: Documents safe, accessible from any computer and easy to share with others? Brilliant.
• Google Maps: love it. It's my preference for driving directions
• Google Blog Search: Sometimes I only want search results on blogs. I use it often for both personal reasons and to help customers.
• Google Finance: a colleague (thanks Mark Smith) pointed out to us how useful this is for those of us looking for investment information for personal use or to assist customers
• Google Scholar: I use this constantly when trying to track down papers for ResearchPlus customers.
• Google Images: really, isn't this the first source for image searching?
• Google Books: I can't tell you how often we've been able to answer a customer's question from an authoritative source by accessing pages through Google Books.
• Blogger: I have started a blog or two. Perhaps some day I'll keep writing in a blog for more than a few months at at time...

I will say this: Google has no help email or "real person" assistance and I've been frequently ticked off at this. But the Google products are so good, I keep using them.

CPL 2.0: Facebook

Facebook, Facebooking, Facebooked.

It's remarkable how quickly a new technology can become just another integral part of your social life.

I've been a member of Facebook for quite a long time now. I appreciate how it allows me to keep up with friends and relatives more easily than email. I use it and do not consider it a time waster.

My daughter, H., just got a Facebook account a few months ago. We debated whether or not to allow her to have her own account, and eventually gave in when we realized it would be a way for her to keep in contact with old neighbourhood friends that she rarely sees anymore.

We've come to realize that although we are comfortable with how she uses Facebook (and for how long), we need to remember the implications of how quickly she can communicate with her friends.

An example: Recently we had a long discussion with H. about changing schools. This is a big deal for her and for our family and something that we wanted to keep private until we have made our decision. She eventually went to her room to do homework on her computer while my husband and I continued the discussion. After about 30 seconds a lightbulb went off in my head and I ran to her room:

Me: "Make sure not to mention the school issue to any of your friends."

Her: "Oh, I just told K. We're chatting."

Only thirty seconds had gone by and she had already passed on the information. I can't imagine not using Facebook, but I certainly hadn't forseen all of the implications of my children using it.

CPL 2.0: the Wonders of Wikipedia

I spent some time searching Wikipedia on topics on which I consider myself an "expert," and, alas, I could not find any factual (or even grammatical or spelling) errors on those pages. My experience with Wikipedia is that most of it's entries on popular topics are well referenced and edited.

The "Calgary" Wikipedia entry referenced the Mercer Quality of Life survey, but did not have the most up-to-date statistics. I edited the entry to include the 2009 Calgary result, but didn't take the time to figure out how to add an extra reference.

Today I was looking at the Wikipedia entry on "Canada's Top 100 Employers" competition and noted that the organization responsible for the lists--Mediacorp Canada Ltd--is not mentioned. I frequently note that Wikipedia entries contain spelling or grammatical errors, or that there are not proper references for the information. Now that I have a Wikipedia account, I'll likely feel a need to edit more entries like this one.

CPL 2.0: Social bookmarking with Delicious

Q: What are the advantages of storing, sharing, and tagging web content this way? What are the disadvantages?

A: As Delicious is the only social bookmarking site I have used, I'll look at the advantages and disadvantages of it:

Advantages of Delicious:

• Delicious is a relatively easy platform for listing, managing and sharing URLs.
• Creating and updating bookmarks is fast and simple, and Delicious allows users to make up their own, individualized tags and descriptions.
• Sharing a set of Delicious bookmarks is as simple as sending a direct link.

Staff at Third Floor, Central regularly refer customers to the Best Websites link on the E-Library page to look at the sites we most commonly use and recommend.

Disadvantages of Delicious:

• Reference staff often find the Delicious site to be quite slow. In programs and tours or when showing the Best Websites to customers on the desk, I generally open the various bundles in different tabs rather than clicking in and out of the site.
• If a Delicious site can be accessed by numerous people (i.e., CPL staff), there is a possibility that new additions or changes to the bookmarks may not be consistent with the information already created.
• The tags and bundles are created by knowledgable staff but may not always be useful or easy to use for every customer.
• People unfamiliar with the site may find it difficult to navigate.

I don't find the Delicious site to be remotely attractive or terribly user-friendly. As far as I'm concerned, the CPL staff have done a wonderful job of making the best of an imperfect (but necessary) resource.