library instruction using del.icio.us

Am still getting used to blogging...must admit I am feeling a little shy about posting my words for all to read. But am determined to get over this! Also just trying to get a handle on all this information we are processing each week - there are so many new words floating around in my head and I just keep trying to remind myself that someday all this new vocab won't be so new, it will just be a part of my life!

But anyways, am really excited about the possibilities of RSS and its use in the library. So many of you in the class have been posting wonderful ideas about how to use RSS feeds and I can't wait to discuss all these possibilities with my co-workers here. I have also been wondering how I can spread the word about del.icio.us and Bloglines to my students here in the library - I am so thrilled with it that I want everyone to know about it! I am thinking it would be fun to incorporate learning about these services into our instructions sessions here in the library - have students set up an account with either del.icio.us and/or bloglines and then find blogs/websites the relate to their research topic. Also have them sign up for the library blog here (which is yet to be created!). It would be cool also to have a set of links already set up for them to look at (maybe use it as a way to help them learn about good websites and bad websites). I think students could really relate to the social nature of these tools, and it would make the learning experience stick even more if they are shown tools that they can use in every aspect of their lives.

Can't wait to read more this week about wikis, as we are hoping to set up a wiki for our staff here to keep in touch and communicate better about what is going on in the library. I am anxious to read about how wikis could be useful for our patrons as well. And was thrilled to see the Davis wiki mentioned this week - UC Davis is where I went to school and it is one of the coolest cities I have every experienced!