Week 3- "RSS" Feeds

I have to admit "RSS" and it's image has intimidated me. I'm supposed to be "hip" to the times, and although I understood the concept of RSS, I didn't realize how EASY it could be!

The videos provided through the this week's course documents were extremely helpful. I must, however, give extra kudos to my favorite video: RSS in Plain English

Here are my answers to the class discussion questions:
1. What do you like about RSS and newsreaders?
Quite simply--it brings the information I want to me instantly! I don't have to check
hundreds of my favorite webpages anymore...my newsreader does the work for me!

2. How do you think you might be able to use this technology in your work or personal life?
RSS in my professional life would help me track professional webpages, book reviews,
specific news and media results. In my personal life, I will be able to use my Bloglines
account to track my blog updates on my friends' blog pages as well as newly added pictures
on their Flickr sites. Not to mention, I'll be able to track any newly posted podcasts on my
favorite musicians websites! (YEAH!)

3. How can libraries use RSS to take advantage of this technology?
First, I think it would be GREAT if our users could track new books being added to the
collection. (I'm thinking of how useful this would have been last week during the Harry
Potter release!)

This was a great lesson...I'm not so intimidated anymore!

And also, here's my Bloglines URL: http://www.bloglines.com/public/abrewer

Until next post,
Amanda

Favorite Books I've read this Summer

Here's a list of the favorite books I've read this Summer:

The Road to Eden's Ridge by M.L. Rose
Musician/singer Lindsey Briggs heads to Nashville after leaving her fiancee stranded at the altar on her wedding day. In Nashville, Lindsey learns secrets from her family history linking her to the greatest country singer of the decade, Ben McBride. Will she make it the music world? Will she uncover the truth of her family? Will she find love again?

Sanctuary Hill by Kathryn Wall
Bay Tanner strikes out on a mystical adventure in the 7th book of the Bay Tanner Mystery series. In the same genre as Agatha Christie, Kathryn Wall spins her mysterious tale once again set in Beaufort, SC. This time the murder involves the local witch doctor and historical magic and spells passed down from the island's earliest existence.

I'm currently reading:
The Guy Not Taken by Jennifer Weiner
This collection of short stories were written long before Jennifer Weiner experienced success with "In Her Shoes" and "Good in Bed". So far, I've found them interesting although not her best work. However, these stories will keep me anxious for Weiner's new full length novel due out this October!

I can't wait to read:
The Last Summer (of you and me) by Ann Brashares
The author of "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" has created her first adult novel and I can't wait to read it. And according to the holds list at the library, I'm not the only one!

Until next post,
Amanda

About Me

Here a few things about me:

• I have a lot of musical instruments: 3 guitars, 1 drum set, a mandolin, and an African thumb piano (kalimba).




• I am an only child (poor me!)



• I have an MLIS degree from USC and an undergraduate degree from Charleston Southern University in Charleston, SC



• I like history and am enjoying learning about Beaufort



• I love books about fiction books about musicians and also frequently read musician biographies.
  
  
• I am still a fan of the Muppets! (and hope to see the Jim Henson traveling exhibit at a museum in Atlanta this upcoming January!)

Until next post,

Amanda

Week 2- Blogs

This week's discussion/learning was centered on "blogs". Having many friends who operate their own blogs, I have become familiar with the blogging world on the web. I personally think blogs are great (and super simple) ways for people to journal, share photos, track events, and socialize over the Internet. At the present time, a friend of mine is posting details regarding her upcoming wedding so that guests can print out directions to the church and participants can see the itinerary for the wedding weekend.

While using the blog search, I came across a blog specifically dedicated to Library 2.0 and thought I would set up an RSS feed so I can read the content as it gets posted. In case any one is interested here is the link: http://library20.ning.com/ . I joined up and even found a discussion/social group of librarians talking about planning and creating adult programs (which is my job at Beaufort Branch)! It was exciting to find other people with shared professional interests and responsibilities. Not to mention, a few who share my hobbies and music interests!

Until next post,
Amanda

Week 1- 7 1/2 Habits Response

Out of the 7 1/2 Habits of Highly Successful Lifelong Learners, I found Habit #1 (Begin with the End in Mind) and Habit #7 1/2 (Play!) to be the easiest for me to do. I've always been an "end result" thinker rather than one prone to "live in the moment". I'm always thinking about what I will accomplish if I do a certain task, take specific class, or talk to a specific person. The upside to this is that I have always been the type of person to find the fun side of a given situation (Habit 7 1/2). I always found a way to make studying enjoyable and am always looking for things to do that are out of the norm (or at least for not the norm for me!)

On the flip side, I found Habit #3 ("Viewing problems as challenges) and Habit #4 (Have confidence in yourself) to be the hardest for me to undertake. Often, I find myself seeing problems as impassable obstacles instead of opportunities for growth and progress. Similarly, I have never been one to mentally boost my confidence. My confidence grows as I see results. For example, if I make 8 out of 10 free throws, then I can justify telling myself I'm a good basketball player.

After watching the presentation, I'm happy to say that as a musician, reader, and technology user I fall in the "lifelong learner" category.

Until the next posting,

-Amanda