Playing catch-up

I haven’t been able to blog as much as I’d like to lately. Between trying to get a million things done at work before the students come back — wasn’t it just May yesterday? — getting ready for my talk this weekend at Wikimania, and actually enjoying summer in Vermont, I’ve been wicked busy. Since my “toblog” pile in Blinklist is getting a bit huge, I thought I’d point out some of the interesting things I’ve found lately without going into as much detail as I usually do:

• LibVibe – a new daily(?) library news podcast. I always thought LISNews would be good as a podcast to listen to in the car on the way to/from work, so I’ll definitely be listening to this (very similar in content) show regularly. Marv has a background in broadcasting and definitely has a perfect voice for podcasting. [from Greg Schwartz]
• Stephen Colbert on “Wikiality” – that guy just makes me love him more and more everyday. [from David Rothman]
• Making RSS as “pushy” as email – In spite of what most people have written on the subject, I have always thought of RSS as more of a “push” technology. So I was happy to see that David Rothman feels the same way and has some useful tips for making RSS even more pushy.
• Big Tech for Every Library – Sarah Houghton has a terrific article in LJ about EngagedPatrons.org and their goal of leveling the tech playing field a bit for smaller libraries. I think Glenn Peterson’s project is really inspiring and I’m happy to see it getting the attention it deserves. Go Sarah and Glenn!
• Best of Apophenia – Danah Boyd is one of my favorite people to read on the subject of social software, so I’m really excited that she compiled this collection of her most thoughtful and most popular posts. Lots of great writing on social networking software, identity politics, and blogging.
• The Library as Social Centre – with some minor exceptions, this talk, given at 1905 Minnesota Library Association conference, could have been written today.
  

  If there is need of a home for social intercourse and amusement, the library may legitimately attempt to furnish such a home within its walls. If there are social or study clubs, organized labor guilds or missionary societies, or any other organizations, encourage them to meet at the library, find out what they need, let them find out that the library is their cooperative partner. And so with the schools and industries, of which I have not time to speak. The whole building at all times should be managed in the broadest spirit of hospitality; the atmosphere should be as gracious, kindly and sympathetic as one’s own home. Then do away with all unnecessary restrictions, take down all the bars, and try to put face to face our friends the books and our friends the people.

  We librarians have been 2.0 for over 100 years! Rock on! [from Aaron Schmidt]

If any of you are going to be at Wikimania this weekend, let me know.