Thing 3: RSS Feeds

Thing 3 was RSS feeds. This tool seems especially valuable to many professionals. What an efficient way to keep up-to-date on the latest medical news, research and policy analysis. No longer do you have to visit your favorite blogs to see if they have been updated recently. With goggle reader or igoogle, you automatically receive the updates as they are available. However, as lovely as it all sounds – I did have a few technical problems. I had no trouble finding blogs and other news feeds that I was interested in being notified of new posts. However, the subscription process or signing up for the RSS feeds didn’t always work as I thought it should. A couple of the blogs that I signed up for with my iGoogle account always give the message ‘information is temporarily unavailable’.

I really like this tool and will continue to refine my skills in using these tools to streamline the information I receive. One problem will be finding the time to read the posts…there are so many interesting blogs these days.

Thing 2: What is Library 2.0? Public Health 2.0?

The second thing in the ’23 things on a stick’ program involved reading opinions and projections about Libraries 2.0. Libraries 2.0 refers to the notion of using the social web or Web 2.0 concepts of user feedback, constant change, and participatory processes - both on- and off-line- to inform programming and activities. Because I’m working to bridge the fields of library and information science and public health, I also thought about the concept of Public Health 2.0 for Thing 2. I do believe that both the library and information and the public health fields have embraced the notion of consumer-participatory programming, in theory. Unfortunately, in many cases I don’t believe these claims are quite as ‘participatory’ as it necessary to optimally inform programming. A lot more could be done to better define and understand our consumers. Only after this improved understanding is achieved, can we adequately engage our target groups in a participatory process aimed at improving their health.

Web 2.0 tools are likely to be key methods to gain this understanding and engagement in public health. Here are a couple of related articles that discuss public health 2.0:

Crespo, R. 2007. Virtual Community Health Promotion. Preventing Chronic Disease, 4(3) : 75. Available from http://www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2007/jul/07_0043.htm

Navarro A, Voetsch K, Liburd L, Bezold C, Rhea M. 2006. Recommendations for future efforts in community health promotion: report of the National Expert Panel on Community Health Promotion. Atlanta (GA): Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division of Adult and Community Health. Available from: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/pdf/community_health_promotion_expert_panel_report.pdf