RSS Feeds: The "New" Current Awareness Service" (1 hour session)

We'll answer the question "What are RSS feeds?" as well as covering various types of news readers, sources for discovering feeds, ideas for promoting RSS as a current awareness service to patrons, and using PubMed customized feeds. We'll also take a brief look at what an RSS feed file looks like behind the scenes and simple ways to add RSS feeds to your library web site. No experience with RSS is necessary to attend, but if you have some favorite feeds you like to read regularly or have promoted an RSS service in your library, please plan to share your experiences with the group.

Watch the recording of a session held September 10, 2007

RSS: Ready for Some Stories? (1 hour 15 min session)

View this 1 hour and 15 minute archived recording of RSS: Ready for Some Stories? Participants will: learn the definition of RSS, learn how to get started with RSS, view an RSS Reader showcase, learn where to look for Feeds, learn about creating a Web 2.0 Mashup using social bookmarking and RSS, and view a demonstration of dressing up a Feed and placing it on your library's web site. Watch the recording of a session held on September 30, 2008.

Personalized Google (iGoogle) (1 hour session)

Participants will learn: how to set up a personalized home page using iGoogle; how to search for and add Google Gadgets and news feeds (including custom PubMed searches) to a personalized iGoogle home page; how to add Google Gadgets to a regular web page or blog; the basics of creating a custom Google Gadget, with or without the help of a programmer.

Watch the recording of a session held April 14, 2008

"Microblogging" Using Twitter and FriendFeed (1 hour session)

Participants will: learn how to send and receive "Tweets" using Twitter clients; learn how to set up a FriendFeed page to push out information from a variety of services; view and discuss examples of how library and other organizations are using microblogging.

Watch the recording of a session held September 18, 2008; or down load the slides.

Geeks Bearing Gifts: Unwrapping New Technology Trends

MLA CE 4 hours

Description: This class is intended to provide a fun, fast-paced, and informative introduction to and update on today's hottest technology trends. Program participants will be able to identify technology trends and they will understand how these trends will impact or can be integrated into traditional library services. Content will be presented in with a "can-do" focus intended to encourage participants to investigate at least one technology for implementation in their institution. Course structure will include brief vignettes and demonstrations of a wide variety of technologies. Some of the topics to be covered include instant messaging, podcasting, open source software, spyware and other malware, developments in mobile computing, blogs and wikis, radio-frequency identification, and more.

Introduction to Blogs and Wikis

MLA CE 4 hours

Description: By the end of the class participants will be well equipped to create a blog for communicating with patrons and to use a wiki in a collaborative setting. Participants will learn basic blog and wiki technology, the important differences and appropriate usages for blogs and wikis, and potential uses within a health sciences library setting. Participants will gain hands-on experience creating and editing a blog using blogger.com as well as editing a wiki using MediaWiki. The class will include lecture / demonstration, group discussion and brainstorming, and hands-on computer exercises.

"13 Things" Learning 2.0 Self-Discovery Class

Description: Have you wanted the chance to learn more about Web 2.0 technologies such as wikis, blogs, social bookmarking, podcasting, and video sharing? The MCR will be offering a 10-week online class using a self-discovery format called "Learning 2.0." MCR’s implementation of the Learning 2.0 program is based on the popular Learning 2.0 "23 Things" class originally created by Helene Blowers at the Public Library of Charlotte and Mecklenberg County and recently adapted for health sciences libraries by Becker Library at Washington University. Our implementation has reduced "23 Things" to "13 Things," but we think you will still find the class interesting and enjoyable! Visit the class blog at to see the content. The class is offered at regular intervals; contact Sharon Dennis or Rebecca Brown to learn more.