Thing 3: Set up an RSS account

Today I learned about RSS accounts. The concept seems very useful. I set up an account in Google Reader and set up 3 subscriptions. I think I'll have to refine my choices, though because when I returned to Google Reader this afternoon, I had @40 articles in my account--far more than I have time for or interest in. Now I know what to look for on a website to add it to my RSS account. I need to learn how to add other 23 Things blogs to my RSS, though. I'd like to see how other 23 Things students are doing and learn from their comments and progress. I can see how this tool could be useful both at work and personally once I become more comfortable with it.

Thing 2: What is Library 2.0

It's news to me. Seems there's been a lot going on in library land while I've been busy checking books out and in, learning a new ILS, assisting patrons with reference questions, maintaining and supervising public access computers, proctoring college exams, networking with peers, developing and implementing programs, organizing story times, supervising library staff, etc. The news is that to stay relevant, I must learn "Library 2.0". No doubt, there is some truth to that, but to date, most of my patrons seem not to have noticed the void. No doubt, there are also patrons that will notice and appreciate the "addition" of Library 2.0, which I've learned is not only a technology, but an attitude.

Stephen Abram suggests that if the desire to learn Web 2.0 is strong enough, that I will find the time. So far that has proven true, although the 15 minutes/day he suggests is hardly enough time. My participation in 23 Things is partly due to curiousity piqued during my participation in the Small and Rural Library Conference held in Columbus, Ohio in September, 2007. Web 2.0 was talked about a lot there. Stephen Abram was a conference speaker.

The information I've read and listened to in Thing 2 is thought-provoking, but a bit of a mystery to me. I hope to solve some of that mystery in the weeks ahead.

Thing 1: Create a blog

Well, I'm on my way. My first thing took about an hour to complete. Presumably, things will get easier and more comfortable as I progress. I'm excited about learning this new technology...I'm taking a deep breath as I dive in.