02 June, 2010

After much procrastination, my first blog entry!

Right then. I have spent the last week trying to figure out how to write about my "23 Things" experiences and have found it really difficult to know where to start. Even though I am a former Myspace addict (2006-2008), and am now a reluctant user of Facebook, I have never really enjoyed the public nature of social media and that is why I am yet to join Twitter and have stubbornly refused to become excited about the possibilities of Tweeting. However as "23 Things" is about opening my mind to the potential of such tools for the library and information community, I'm trying to become a bit more accepting of how the rest of the world now communicates!

Having set up an iGoogle account over a year ago and only having logged in once since (to install the Cambridge Libraries Widget), I had some fun playing around with my page and adding gadgets to it. As a personal tool it's actually fantastic. Great for reminders, organisational tools and getting all my regular newsfeeds at a glance, rather than sifting through lengthy emails. I've added artist and word of the day gadgets to make me feel intellectual, and have personalised it with a hint of zebra print...

We have actively promoted the Libraries Widget to our readers since its launch, however I think when the new term starts I shall encourage using the Widget over the "My account" function on the Newton Catalogue. Far cleaner, more logical and infinitely more attractive.

2 comments:

  1. Hi Jenny,

    having found your blog, I thought I'd make contact to find out how you are getting on with this Cam23 things thing! I have had a lot of trouble with thing4 but have just managed to post something for my blog (even though the screenshot of my igoogle page displays the page from half-way down, which I did not intend to display that way but couldn't find a remedy for that!). Like you, I have particularly liked discovering the possibilities that setting up an igoogle page can offer. RSS feeds: not convinced but then again I have really explored them in depth. Blogs: the jury is still out, I have never used them before apart from as a passive reader.

    Are you guys going to the Drop-session today? I might go this p.m., might see you there if you are going.

    Sonia.

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  2. Hey Sonia!

    Well done for finding me! I was having difficulties locating my own blog at one point, plus I changed the name several times...

    I will check your blog out over the next few days whilst trying to fiddle about with mine even more.

    Similar to you I can't quite make my mind up about most of the "Things". I like them as a concept and can see their appeal, however it's hard to separate the personal from the work-based advantages. Plus I'm starting to feel a little overwhelmed by it all. I think I'm just happy using the small bits of the internet that I'm used to and don't have enough interest unfortunately to delve too much further...

    We'll see if the following "Things" will change my mind!

    I'm not going tonight no, however Thing 5 looks like we'll be scheduling a playdate with our buddies, so I'll see you then :)

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