Task 11 - Google Books

I love Google Books. I can access full text of classics - I don't waste time on the preview titles - and ramp up the font size to it's easier on the eyes.

It's like having a whole catalogue of large print books.

Anyone like me who favours large print for recreational reading can benefit from this.

I don't mind at all that this limits me to public domain titles.

It'll take me a long time to read all the classics I'd like to, so I don't think I'll be running out of reading matter any time soon.

Task 10 - LibraryThing

LibraryThing is a good resource for anyone into reading for pleasure. To find a book you really like, then go to this site and see that a lot of other people have enjoyed it is a good feeling. But also, to be able to use this site to find similar titles for your further reading is really useful.

Some public library online catalogues have a "similar reads" function, too, and this is often how I decide what to read next.

I will probably keep using this, but not more often that once or twice a month.

23 Things - Tasks 8&9 - RSS

Set up a Bloglines account okay, after a little messing around as a result of forgotten passwords. A lot of the categories are of interest to me, but I see myself neglecting to view my feeds before too long. Just too much to do and too little time.

I have a Google Reader account too, and the feeds I really want to see are embedded in my iGoogle home page so I see them whenever I'm at my computer. That works really well and is a function I'd recommend to staff or students.

The key is to be realistic in which feeds you want to see - don't bother with stuff you don't really need to know about all the time. If you signed up for everything that took your fancy, your page would be far too busy, and you wouldn't get to see anything.

23 Things - Task 7 - anything

As far as the technology I've tried so far goes, I think there are more personal uses than professional. The photo album sites are great for sharing photos among families etc.,and I will be using them more for this.

Workwise, though, while it's nice to post and view interesting photos of library events and news, I don't see it facilitating any vital functions.

As a promotional tool, too, it's message could be hindered by the sheer volume of stuff being posted.

But it still won't stop me decorating my posts now that I know how!

23 Things - libraries

Came across a site full of pictures of the most amazing libraries in the world.
Hard to believe there are so many. It shows that libraries are a highly regarded institution in our world.

23 Things - Task 6 Picasa

This was much easier to start up with than Flickr as I already had a Google account. Love the look of the slide show, and will be using this to store family photos and share them around. Also like the security levels. You can lock out the general public from seeing your family photos and make them invitation only - essential if you are storing pictures of your children here.

I wouldn't use the community photos, though. Most pictures are of interest only to those directly involved, and I don't really get the motivation of anyone who wants to share their snaps with the whole world, especially if they are not especially good photos. I certainly lost interest pretty quickly when I started wading through the morass of badly centred snaps of bored looking people, unexplained pictures of plates of food, pictures of trees, flowers, cardboard boxes, items of clothing (no one wearing them - just a picture of a shoe, a shirt, a pair of pants), and plenty of things that are blurry and out of focus and you really can't tell what they are.

Had a hard time finding a picture I really wanted to blog about. However, Tibbles, the churchyard cat, got my attention.

Dom and Kitty

Dom and Kitty
Originally uploaded by Mrs Columbo1

My son Dominic having a happy moment with our cat, ingeniously named Kitty.