rss feeding frenzy

Ok rss feeds. Access to too much information is now easily with reach. By establishing connections to live feeds, your own email or blog can be the host of streamed info on your chosen subject. This is particularly useful for information that is regularly and rapidly updated like news, weather or stock market movements. It is also a time saving mechanism - making you the centre of your own information universe. Moo ha ha...(evil laugh)

'Wookiepeedia'

The idea of wikies is very powerful. Empowering the individual to edit and contribute information to a shared encyclopedia. 'Two heads are better than one' as they say. I have used Wikipedia for years and perhaps erroneously, accepted most of what is posted to be factual truth. But who is to say? Im guessing people dedicated enough to register and contribute have something worth sharing. Of course they may be just professional propogandists disseminating mis-information. I checked out 'Wookiepedia', a shared knowledge bank for 'Star Wars' fans, and it's cool that nerds have there own space to impress each other with their esoteric knowledge. I suppose there are applications for the library community - for those so inclined to contribute to the professions knowledge in this way.

Pondering Flickr

Its not all beer and skittles on Flickr. I have a friend who created her own space on Flickr and uploaded hundreds of photographs. But she said it was a lot of work to maintain and last time I looked her images were gone. I guess its all about the gratification of sharing images you have created and getting recognition and feedback on them. But I have doubts about the whole pseudomyn thing - and virtual relationships through these shared sites. Its a bit like the 15 seconds of fame thing. Is it real? Is it worth it?

Flickr

Flickr is really interesting, a great pictorial resource harnessing the photographic power of the people. This is more than voyeurism and exhibitionism. It provides searchable images that can satisfy very particular reference inquiries. For example, I was interested in images of an old childhood holiday location, and easily found shots of the exact location. Its '6 degrees of seperation' kind of stuff. But obviously Libraries have seen the potential of the Flickr platform to generate collections sourced directly from the public. This is collaborative collecting, and builds upon the spirit of donation that has made our own collection so strong and representative.

1st post

I guess you gotta start somewhere...more to come (hopefully)
c~