Delicious and Google Reader

Last week I added things my delicious account and subscribed to new blogs in my Google Reader. I now remember why I limited the number of blogs on my Google Reader! It can be overwhelming when you don't have time to check them on a daily basis. I used to subscribe to a major news organization and quickly eliminated it because I was getting about 50 new entries a day and I did not have time to look through all of them. I love having the library related blogs in one place. It is easier to look through my reader then each individual blog to see whats new.

As for my delicious account, I went in and added tags which I have been planning on doing. I keep changing them because I don't like them, they or too general or too specific. I added a few new sites to my account once I learned that I could see what other people who had bookmarked the site also had bookmarked. I still choose to keep my account private because it is not ready for public viewing. I am working on creating an account for my department since we use different computers and need the same information handy. This is so much easier than bookmarking the sites on all of the computers!

As for Social Mention and Addictomatic, I had very little luck for my library. I went in and added a larger library system in the area and was able to see the two as they were designed to operate.

Slow to Take on New Technologies

I am not one to jump in with both feet when it comes to technology. I instead take it slowly and wait until it pertains to my job before I explore the possibilities. I canter into technology, not gallop or run. I am trying to change that and hoping that this class will help me to do that. I am encouraged by the fact that some of the things that we are going to be doing I am familiar with. It makes this journey a little easier!

Having said that, I purchased an e-reader a few months ago with great trepidation. This was not easy for me because I love to have an actual book in my hands. I love to go back and re-read my favorites and love that they are not in perfect condition. My decision was not made because I have to have the latest in technology but because I am running out of room for books. I researched the available devices and choose the NOOK from Barnes and Noble. It helped that I could experiment with the device before I purchased it.

I was nervous when they handed me my purchase and I asked if the instruction manual was in the box and they said that it did not have one. I was told that is was so easy that it walks you through the steps that are necessary and the manual was available online if I really needed it. It was so shockingly simple to set up that I had to laugh at my first reaction. There were four books that were included free, classics but some of my favorites to get me started.

Once I started reading and experimenting with the different features, I was hooked on my NOOK within a day. It is easy to use, to read and portable. When I went on vacation, I took over 50 books with me and I did not need extra luggage to carry them! It is even compatible with OverDrive.

I see advantages to e-reader technology and the possibilities that they will provide in the future for libraries. Now we just need others to see those possibilities.