What to do with my rss feeds now that Google reader is closing down....??

I've known for some time now that I needed to move my rss feed subscriptions from Google Reader to another reader service, but me being me I kept putting it off (procrastination is good for the soul, truly).

Anyway, this week I decided to bite the proverbial bullet and find a new rss reader service. So I checked out a gazillion reviews and reports (okay, I read five) on what to do with my Google Reader stuff, found out how to create an archive of my Google stuff (which I did, and then backed up in about 3 different places). 

After reading this article from The Verge and this one from LifeHacker I decided to check out NewsBlur (even though Feedly came through as more popular, not to mention free) and went with their premium (yes $$ changed hands) account. I've spent the last few days playing with my NewsBlur account and have to say I'm quite pleased with my choice (and at $2/month don't feel too bad for paying the extra freight for it).

A neat little element I discovered today is that as part of my package I get a NewsBlur blog which is automatically embedded with stories I share from my rss feeds. It's pretty bare at the moment (obviously) but it's a feature I can see as being quite useful for me, and has been ridiculous fun to play around with.

Setting up a NewsBlur account was very simple and transferring my Google Reader subscriptions across did not require creating an archive at all (though I am still very glad that I did create an archive as it pulled everything I have on Google not just my Reader stuff). A fun element I have discovered with NewsBlur is that it gives me access to "global shared stories" and from this I can connect to stories my feeds don't normally access which other NewsBlur users have shared from their feeds. This element of connectivity is a huge bonus and perhaps the main feature I have enjoyed, as I don't recall having that sort of connectivity with Google Reader. Even though some/many of the shared stories are complete rubbish (ie, of no interest to me whatsoever) quite a few have been funny and interesting and have seen me discover new people to follow and connect with - and my rss feed has grown as a result.

Yep, today is a good day.

a nice discovery - free social media resources from GCFlearnfree.org

I am currently preparing for a public info session next week in my library on all things Twitter. I'm good at helping people get started and then leaving them to it, but this has meant I've actually had to create a logical presentation and for someone with my particular brand of stream-of-consciousness that isn't necessarily that easy (go ahead Pam, say it out loud). Plus I haven't had to do something like this in quite a while (the last session I ran would have been on eBooks etc last year some time).

Anyway, along the way I have discovered GCFlearnfree.org (Goodwill Community Foundation) and their range of simple, straightforward, and free, social media resources which I will of course be using during my presentation (after all, why recreate the wheel?). 

http://www.gcflearnfree.org/twitter101

Combined with info already out there from the State Library of NSW's learning 2.0 and learning 2.1 for public library staff, and the more recent ANZ 23 mobile things I think I'll probably do okay (now if only I could reign in my stream-of-consciousness.........).

Once I've finished my Powerpoint presentation I'll probably upload it to Slideshare (I'd really like to use Prezi  as it seriously appeals to my visual outlook but I think that may just freak out too many people).

Anyway, GCFlearnfree.org has been a nice discovery this week. :)

Libraries of the Future

The following visualization was adapted from PewInternet.com, of a keynote address for the 2012 State University of New York Librarians Association Annual Conference.

Source:LibraryScienceList.com

Storify from yesterday's #risg2013 seminar at the State Library of NSW

sometimes......

... you need a little bit of this in your day!

via Grow Food Not Lawns

messing with movie maker - and messing with my head

It seems the theme of #ALIA2012 - discovery - has a long tail. After some 6 years or so subscribed to YouTube I finally got around to uploading my own video - will wonders never cease? I don't particularly like YouTube because it eats a lot of band-with and often takes minutes to load the simplest and shortest of videos... so I'm trying something a little different here (not using YouTube) to see if it will work (of course in the midst of tearing my hair out exploring this option, I'm also having loads of fun with Windows Live Movie Maker - another unexpected discovery!)

This video is from my ride to Brisbane earlier today and features images near Bangalow NSW, the soundtrack is "Jet Lag" by Simple Plan.

Adventures in gratitude ....

As 2012 draws to a close it seems an opportune moment to thank a few people for their contributions to my learning - as a Librarian and as a person.
- Pam, whose ready ear and clever wisdom have kept me sane throughout the madness of this past year, everyone should have a friend like this who understands them implicitly and is ever ready to embark on yet another mad hatter scheme (she also has a wonderful line in perfect cards for every occasion).
- Ellen, whose steady advice and inspiration in all things Librarian has led to a friendship which I value enormously, collaborating with Ellen on any number of projects has always been the absolute highlight of my career and I look forward to many more collaborations to come.
- Vassiliki, always quick to offer help and a shoulder when needed, her deeply held love of reading is an example, and a challenge, to all. There is no greater afternoon well spent than one discussing all manner of genres and authors with her.
- the Ref-Ex crew for continuing to work on this project and see it grow bigger and better all the time, taking the responsibility for enhancing the reference skills of public library staff across NSW is a huge thing and I have truly valued working with each and every one of you.
- the NSW Reference and Information Services Group (RISG) for all the hard work that goes into the annual seminars, the blogs, the wiki and the regular meetings; listening to and informing NSW public library staff of developments and innovations in all things to do with providing reference and information services is a  big thing (you're also a really nice bunch of people).
- the NSW Readers Advisory group, well girls what can I say? Working on the twitter reading groups since 2011 has been amazing, first with #readit2011 and now with #nyr12 (love2read2012). We have come leaps and bounds since we all got together in 2005 and I am so looking forward to continuing the twitter reading group phenomenon next year and beyond with #rwpchat (read watch play). Together we have developed new social media skills and as a collaborative group have really shown the value of team involvement. Congratulations on a successful year of blogging and tweeting about all things reading and here's to another year of exploring and immersing ourselves in the different ways in which people read and explore reading.
- the ALIA Biennial social media team - wow, what a learning curve. It has been an absolute pleasure collaborating on this project and working towards a successful conference presence using a multitude of social media tools. I have learnt a lot from each of you and have come away so much richer from this experience. Thank you, it was a blast.!
2012 has certainly been a big year and I am truly grateful for each and every person who has contributed to it - my family, my friends, my work colleagues, and my professional colleagues - I am definitely the richer for it. I hope each and every one of you has a great 2013. Thank you.

A room without books ...

via @PenguinBooksAus

The Blinding Knife - Brent Weeks (a GoodReads review)

The Blinding Knife by Brent Weeks
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Brilliant. Brent Weeks' Night Angel trilogy re-inspired my love of Fantasy fiction but The Black Prism reignited my love of epic world fantasy (and reminded me of my childhood excitement when I first read LOTR). The Blinding Knife continues the love affair with a world I want to know more about and characters I need to see more of. Everything about this world is fresh and new and exciting, the characters (and their journeys) are intriguing and flawed and beautiful and good and monstrous.
I waited patiently for this book after finishing The Black Prism and now I'll have to wait patiently for the next book, but I know the wait will be worth it. Just as Brent Weeks is an author to keep an eye on.

View all my reviews