My blog is going to sleep for a spell. Where I thought I might be using this blog as a tool for organizing information I find on the web or as a place to write reflections about my library internship, I've decided to put the blog to sleep for a while until I can devote regular chunks of time to writing blog posts.
One of the things I've learned is that it's harder to make weekly reflections about my internship than maybe just looking over the internship experience over a larger period of time. I hope this makes sense.
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Tuesday, September 14, 2010
The blog as an organization tool
I've used a journal in the past to record quotes and make lists, to mention a few things. I've started to use this blog to do similar things like paste links to articles I think I might want to review again later. Mostly, I find myself using the blog to capture information I think might be handy for school or for my library career.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Forget What You Know About Good Study Habits
This article challenges the assumptions we have about study habits and how students learn.
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Internship Reflection
I started an internship at a local public library last week and I'm glad library school provides the opportunity of an internship. I'm happy for the opportunity to gain direct work experience in a public library.
The day started with a tour of the library and training with the main library management system. The training on the library system went very well and I was ready to work the circulation desk with supervision. I enjoy training, both as the trainer and student. The training method used was one I call "Talk, Show, Do." The training started with talking about the library system and then a demonstration of the major features. Later, I was given time to work at the circulation desk in order to practice what I've learned. The experience was lovely. I'm looking forward to more time working at the circulation desk because I like working directly with customers.
The circulation desk is at the front of the library near the entrance to the library. The reference desk is further back in the library behind the public computer workstations. The tasks at the circulation desk include checking in and checking out materials for customers. As well, print jobs from the public computers are managed at the circulation desk too. I had an opportunity to help two people with their computer tasks and I felt pretty good that I was able to provide the help they needed. One customer needed help with the computer desktop in order to view some of the windows that were giving her trouble. I showed her how to adjust the zoom and minimize the text size so that the information she wanted to read fit the screen. Another customer needed help printing a photo in the middle of a window that was being cut off because the print area was too small. I realize I know more about computers than I think I know.
I believe first impressions are important. I'm open minded enough to know that it isn't the only thing, but I was very happy to have a great first impression of my workmates, the library, and the community. My workmates were very helpful and made me feel welcome. I also felt great helping the customers that evening. Working in a community gem like a library is a thrill.
The day started with a tour of the library and training with the main library management system. The training on the library system went very well and I was ready to work the circulation desk with supervision. I enjoy training, both as the trainer and student. The training method used was one I call "Talk, Show, Do." The training started with talking about the library system and then a demonstration of the major features. Later, I was given time to work at the circulation desk in order to practice what I've learned. The experience was lovely. I'm looking forward to more time working at the circulation desk because I like working directly with customers.
The circulation desk is at the front of the library near the entrance to the library. The reference desk is further back in the library behind the public computer workstations. The tasks at the circulation desk include checking in and checking out materials for customers. As well, print jobs from the public computers are managed at the circulation desk too. I had an opportunity to help two people with their computer tasks and I felt pretty good that I was able to provide the help they needed. One customer needed help with the computer desktop in order to view some of the windows that were giving her trouble. I showed her how to adjust the zoom and minimize the text size so that the information she wanted to read fit the screen. Another customer needed help printing a photo in the middle of a window that was being cut off because the print area was too small. I realize I know more about computers than I think I know.
I believe first impressions are important. I'm open minded enough to know that it isn't the only thing, but I was very happy to have a great first impression of my workmates, the library, and the community. My workmates were very helpful and made me feel welcome. I also felt great helping the customers that evening. Working in a community gem like a library is a thrill.
Sunday, September 5, 2010
Friday, August 13, 2010
The New Yorker
While reading one of the July issues of The New Yorker magazine, Kuhn's Structure of Scientific Revolutions was mentioned in a letter to the editor and Ars Moriendi was mentioned later in an article. I knew those references because of taking LIS 2000 Understanding Information. I felt pretty good knowing this information.
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Google and Verizon Near Deal on Pay Tiers for the Web
Why shouldn't some content on the web move faster than other content. Is it a good idea that video moves the same speed as an email?
See article below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html
See article below.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/05/technology/05secret.html
Google and Verizon, two leading players in Internet service and content, are nearing an agreement that could allow Verizon to speed some online content to Internet users more quickly if the content’s creators are willing to pay for the privilege.The charges could be paid by companies, like YouTube, owned by Google, for example, to Verizon, one of the nation’s leading Internet service providers, to ensure that its content received priority as it made its way to consumers. The agreement could eventually lead to higher charges for Internet users.
Such an agreement could overthrow a once-sacred tenet of Internet policy known as net neutrality, in which no form of content is favored over another. In its place, consumers could soon see a new, tiered system, which, like cable television, imposes higher costs for premium levels of service.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Monday, August 2, 2010
Saturday, July 24, 2010
My Dinner With Andre re-enacted by bunnies
The 30-Second Bunnies Theatre Library
The term is coming to a close next week. I have 2 lectures and 2 assignments left. I'm happy the term is over. I think I've done about as much as I can do well.
I'm not sure if this blog will have any life left, but I figure this post kind of cleanses the palette, so maybe I'll keep it going. I'm pretty sure I don't have anything original to say, but I'm good with the cut and paste so maybe I can finds things to post here doing that.
The term is coming to a close next week. I have 2 lectures and 2 assignments left. I'm happy the term is over. I think I've done about as much as I can do well.
I'm not sure if this blog will have any life left, but I figure this post kind of cleanses the palette, so maybe I'll keep it going. I'm pretty sure I don't have anything original to say, but I'm good with the cut and paste so maybe I can finds things to post here doing that.
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
Tech People and Content People
Interestingly, Dr Tomer spoke about how librarians of the future need to have technology skills and I had a post idea about the same topic. It seems regular folk who are librarians and have a sense of content areas (etc) will have to develop technology skills in order to best serve libraries. Perhaps this is true. Maybe the hardcore tech folks will need to have an intermediary that speaks with both them and the library folks so things can get done. This is a common role in other industries where tech people have a hard time communicating with regular folk and regular folk have a hard time speaking tech language, so a project manager acts as the go-between.
I'm not advocating for another layer of work, rather that librarians need to be lifelong learners, especially with technology.
Amazon Sells More E-Books Than Hardcovers
I wonder how this will effect gift giving. Hardcovers make nice gifts, but people may be reluctant to give them as gifts if they are not wanted. I'm not sure if an e-book can be given as a gift in the same way. How do you unwrap an e-book? (I know there's a thing called a gift certificate.)
Maybe the look of hardcovers or the features of them will change in order to make them desirable (and marketable.) Maybe there will be extras in the print version. Heck, maybe it will be the other way around - maybe there will be extras in the print version. Or special features. In any event, I think some type of innovation in coming down the pike that takes advantage of this trend. What? I don't know exactly.
Sunday, July 18, 2010
Exchanging Something of Value
Bynamite brings a somewhat different perspective to the privacy market. “Our view is that it’s not about privacy protection but about giving users control over this valuable resource — their information,” Mr. Yoon said.
Both the protection and the value approaches to the privacy market could well pay off, says Randy Komisar, a partner at Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, the venture capital firm. “What’s intriguing about Bynamite,” he said, “is its emphasis on privacy as revolving around choice and ownership of data, and ultimately a notion of an exchange of value.” (Kleiner Perkins is an investor in ReputationDefender but not in Bynamite.)
Although Bynamite is a tiny start-up, it points toward larger issues about privacy transactions and pricing of personal data. “In reality, we constantly make transactions involving our personal information,” said Alessandro Acquisti, an associate professor of information technology and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University.
Every search on Google, Mr. Acquisti notes, is implicitly such a transaction, involving a person “selling” personal information and “buying” search results. But people do not think about, or are unaware of, the notion that typed search requests help determine the ads that Google displays and what its ad network knows about them.
Bynamite, Mr. Acquisti said, is “simply trying to make these kinds of transactions explicit, more transparent to the user.”
Dr Tomer has talked about this issue in LIS 2600 & LIS 2000.
Friday, July 16, 2010
My cat Roberta
I'm surprised I haven't written about my adorable, precocious cat Roberta. I would marry her (if it was socially acceptable.) She's a special cat.
One of the things I've noticed about summer term for me is how fast everything is moving. I'm not seeing the ball, to use a baseball metaphor. Hopefully, I'll finish up the next two weeks without any injuries and the four week break till fall term will help me sort things out.
I hope fall term feels better than summer. I'd like to have a better plan for how I can get the school work completed week to week.
Thursday, July 15, 2010
Skoolwerk
The most interesting things I've learned during my three semesters so far in Library School have been about myself.
- I don't like deadlines. They seem so arbitrary and they unnaturally pace the work differently than my brain would have paced the work.
- 15 (and even 12) week terms are too long.
- It's hard to stay motivated about doing great school work. I like learning, but I don't like many of the assignments (this isn't a particular comment on this term.)
- I like talking to my classmates and instructors. Sadly, there isn't enough of this.
- I've done a lot of work and learning that I'm proud of.
- I've turned in some assignments that I'm not so proud of. This is a positive too because it's been a good thing to recognize that learning is a process, not just something that's turned in as an assignment.
- I like the process more than results. I'm happiest when I'm assessed on the process, rather than simply the end result.
- That's it for now.
Sunday, July 11, 2010
Brazil's Copyright Law Forbids Using DRM to Block Fair Use
- I wouldn't be blogging about Copyright (or any other topic) if working with a blog wasn't an assignment in LIS 2600.
- I wouldn't have any idea what they are talking about in Brazil with copyright if I didn't take LIS 2000.
I can understand a copyright holder wanted to protect her work. But with DRM, it seems they want to limit when I can access something I own. It's almost as if they want to change the idea of ownership to an idea like licensing. I can't own a digital work, rather I agree to some form of licensing so I can access the item. My $0.02 is that I don't like it.
Friday, July 9, 2010
Dreamweaver
I've realized that Dreamweaver isn't something I can teach myself. I'm having a hard time using the W3C tutorials too, so I've given up on learning an HTML Editor. I'll try my best and let the chips fall where they may (grade-wise). I like working with Blogger. I'd prefer to use Blogger to create a webpage.
I do have to admit that I'm happy to have learned whatever it is I have learned with HTML, etc. I just hope I can make it through the remaining coursework without having to learn much more about HTML and HTML editors. Frankly, I don't think I can learn it.
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Stanford Ushers in the Age of Bookless Libraries
The reason for this change is that the engineering discipline is changing rapidly and print items aren't the best way to stay current in that field. Much of the research is best done with online journals and e-books. The library is responding to the needs of the engineering folks who use the library.
I don't think the age of the book-less library will be widespread. However, depending on the need of the user, the specific discipline, or the type of item, moving to e-items may make sense.
By the title of the NPR article, you would think book-less libraries were widespread.
Monday, July 5, 2010
Illinois Budget Crisis | Chicago Public Library Commissioner Reacts to FOX Chicago News' Story
Illinois Budget Crisis | Chicago Public Library Commissioner Reacts to FOX Chicago News' Story
I was happy to read the Chicago Public Library Director's response to a story about whether libraries were a waste of tax money. Someone may conclude that libraries are indeed a waste of tax money, but the story seemed to leave out the pertinent facts. The CPL Director responded and her letter is attached.
Part of the response mentioned how people turn to the library as their free resource for books, information, and entertainment in multiple formats: print, online, and in-person. I think librarians need to remind our communities that the "in-person" format (talking to a librarian) is one of the best resources available. No matter how big and pervasive Google becomes (for example), a conversation with a librarian is something that can add a great deal of value.
I was happy to read the Chicago Public Library Director's response to a story about whether libraries were a waste of tax money. Someone may conclude that libraries are indeed a waste of tax money, but the story seemed to leave out the pertinent facts. The CPL Director responded and her letter is attached.
Part of the response mentioned how people turn to the library as their free resource for books, information, and entertainment in multiple formats: print, online, and in-person. I think librarians need to remind our communities that the "in-person" format (talking to a librarian) is one of the best resources available. No matter how big and pervasive Google becomes (for example), a conversation with a librarian is something that can add a great deal of value.
Thursday, July 1, 2010
RDA Toolkit (Resource Description & Access Toolkit)
The link to the RDA Toolkit (Resource Description & Access Toolkit) is available here. Enjoy free open access through August 31, 2010.
ALA Conference 2010 (Washington, DC)
This year I attended the ALA (American Library Association) Annual Conference in Washington, DC for the first time. I was a student volunteer in the ALA Student-to-Staff Program where I volunteered in exchange for travel awards to help defer the cost of attending the conference.
I was assigned to the PLA (Public Library Association) where Linda Bostrom is the Manager. My role as a student volunteer was to attend PLA Programs and help the speakers with their needs. I provided assistance with the program evaluations that attendees completed at the end of each program. I also acted as a liaison between the speakers and the convention center in case audio/visual problems occurred.
When my volunteer duties were finished, I had an opportunity to tour the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Library.
I was assigned to the PLA (Public Library Association) where Linda Bostrom is the Manager. My role as a student volunteer was to attend PLA Programs and help the speakers with their needs. I provided assistance with the program evaluations that attendees completed at the end of each program. I also acted as a liaison between the speakers and the convention center in case audio/visual problems occurred.
When my volunteer duties were finished, I had an opportunity to tour the National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health Library.
Night of the Living Librarians (a better version)
Congratulations to my friends and library classmates at the University of Pittsburgh for bringing home the gold book cart and first place in the 6th Annual ALA Book Cart Drill Team Competition. Special thanks to Sherri Griscavage for organizing the routine. Hail Pitt!
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
March of the Librarians
The annual conference of the American Library Association (ALA) is in Washington, DC this weekend. I'm attending from Thursday to Tuesday and will spend most of my time with the Public Library Association (PLA). I'm looking forward to meeting new people and observing the conference in general.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Social Media
The lecture and discussion about social media today in LIS 2600 was pretty good. The idea that these are tools a library can use to invite people into the community is a useful way to frame the topic. Many people use these tools, so the library ought to use them too. The result may be more people playing a role and being involved in the library community.
One of the examples that speaks to the success of building a community is the open source movement. The article "The Cathedral & the Bazaar" that we read in LIS 2000 describes why open source works and how the process incorporates the best in people when they are collaborating on topics they feel passionate about.
One of the examples that speaks to the success of building a community is the open source movement. The article "The Cathedral & the Bazaar" that we read in LIS 2000 describes why open source works and how the process incorporates the best in people when they are collaborating on topics they feel passionate about.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Pierogi Mascot Fired
This post is weakly related to libraries or technology. It is about public relations. The Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team demonstrated how little they understand public relations when they fired a pierogi mascot for writing critical statements about the Pirates on his Facebook status. Earlier in the week, the Pirates admitted to extended the contracts of Manager John Russell and GM Neal Huntington, which had been kept a secret for a year. It's really one public relations disaster after another. Did the Pirates think that no one would pick up on this juxtaposition where the pierogi was fired instead of the GM and/or Manager?
I just think it makes for interesting commentary. I'm not in favor of firing JR or Huntington (yet) but to fire the pierogi the way they did seems like no one in their office has a sense for how a story like this plays out. Not well.
I just think it makes for interesting commentary. I'm not in favor of firing JR or Huntington (yet) but to fire the pierogi the way they did seems like no one in their office has a sense for how a story like this plays out. Not well.
Saturday, June 19, 2010
A Day In My Life
Here's what I did today:
Morning
Morning
- Made iced tea for breakfast.
- Watched my cat Roberta while she was sleeping.
- Went grocery shopping for vegetables.
- Cooked roasted veggies.
- Read a few journal articles for LIS 2000.
- Looked over LIS 2000 small group dicussion board.
- Played tennis.
- Watched knuckle-baller Tim Wakefield pitch for the Red Sox against the Dodgers.
- Looked at some websites I found while reading the World Book Almanac.
- Looked over a few of my classmates blogs for LIS 2600.
- Rendez vous with a friend for dinner somewhere in Pittsburgh.
The Future of Public Libraries: Tending the Garden
Tending to existing customers of libraries should be first and foremost. I understand the need to broaden the base of users and to bring in larger numbers of users. However, I think there is an existing constituency that is being neglected. I would rather have fewer, more passionate advocates for the library over more lukewarm users. I also think the existing needs of patrons may be overlooked when the emphasis isn't on their particular needs and enhancing service to them. The "tending the garden" analogy is that it's easier to get great results from an existing garden or flowerbed over planting from seed. Enthusuastic supporters will advocate for the library and can be considered as a the best tool for success. It's also more likely that they will become lifelong supporters, not simply library users while their children are in school (for example).
Monday, June 14, 2010
Aggregating Web Resources | American Libraries Magazine
Aggregating Web Resources | American Libraries Magazine
Librarians working on digital collections have traditionally focused on the digital library management system that houses the items they select. The items reside deep inside the silos that are created. ORE - The Object Reuse and Exchange specifications provides the opportunity for items from different sets of collections to be aggregated together into one collection.
I think it's true when you hear in the library program that things might start making sense over time. I don't think an article or development like this one would have had any significance for me earlier in the program.
Librarians working on digital collections have traditionally focused on the digital library management system that houses the items they select. The items reside deep inside the silos that are created. ORE - The Object Reuse and Exchange specifications provides the opportunity for items from different sets of collections to be aggregated together into one collection.
I think it's true when you hear in the library program that things might start making sense over time. I don't think an article or development like this one would have had any significance for me earlier in the program.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Wikipedia Founder Jimmy Wales
This video interview of Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales was posted to Bb for LIS 2000. One of the things he said is that the science or understanding behind what outcomes you'll get based on the software features you design is in its infancy. An interesting observation.
Friday, June 11, 2010
Omeka Assignment
Omeka seems to be a good tool for creating collections, even though I haven't used any other similar system. The challenging part is cataloging the item with the Dublin Core metadata scheme. Without having a good understanding of Dublin Core, many of the fields don't make sense to me. I can see that most of the metadata doesn't pertain to the types of items in my collection (documents & websites) so I've left much of the metadata blank.
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
HTML
I had my first experience looking at HTML tags (or code). I had embedded the Jing video in an earlier blog post, and the size of the video was too large. The code from Screencast.com showed the width as 1920 & the height as 1080. I tried a few different dimensions and settled on 425x344. The embedded video fits in the blog, not perfectly, but good enough.
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Sunday, June 6, 2010
Is a National Identification Card Necessary for the Security of the Nation?
This issue was mentioned in the LIS 2600 textbook. There is a Federal initiative underway that calls for a national ID card. Some groups fear that the information contained in the cards would be shared among other government agencies and that would erode civil liberties. One of the examples given would that police power would be increased in an event where a person could not produce their national ID.
Other arguments include whether biometric data should be on the card or whether the information should be tied to a national database.
Many other countries have the sort of thing we're talking about. Each state has a requirement for drivers to have a license and to carry it at all times when driving. States even offer a state ID card for those who do not drive. I generally trust the government when it comes to protecting my information. One example, I believe the census bureau when they say my data is only used for census purposes. I believe we would have the necessary safeguards that would address people's privacy concerns. (Heck, I think we trust companies like Facebook and Google more than we trust our own government. Which is surprising!)
I can appreciate a healthy concern. However, I think a national ID card would be a good idea if it can protect people.
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Other arguments include whether biometric data should be on the card or whether the information should be tied to a national database.
Many other countries have the sort of thing we're talking about. Each state has a requirement for drivers to have a license and to carry it at all times when driving. States even offer a state ID card for those who do not drive. I generally trust the government when it comes to protecting my information. One example, I believe the census bureau when they say my data is only used for census purposes. I believe we would have the necessary safeguards that would address people's privacy concerns. (Heck, I think we trust companies like Facebook and Google more than we trust our own government. Which is surprising!)
I can appreciate a healthy concern. However, I think a national ID card would be a good idea if it can protect people.
Saturday, June 5, 2010
Comments about assignments
LIS 2600 assignments have been a pleasure to complete. I've enjoyed the practicality of the latest Jing assignment and foresee using that technology in the future. I'm a little anxious about the midterm exam because I'm not sure what it might cover. There seems to be quite a bit of information over the past 10 chapters of the textbook and I'm having trouble identifying the most important parts. My hope is that the review this week in class will put me on a good path for success on the midterm exam.
LIS 2000 has been a challenge. Critical thinking and reading large amount of material can be a real challenge. I'm sure the latest essay on scholarly communication is the most difficult assignment I've ever done in my school career. The fact that there were three books to read along with the requirement of an additional six outside sources has made it challenging and I fear not having made decent connections.
I think the reason writing this latest essay in LIS 2000 has been so challenging is that I didn't have a clear road map or outline for the essay before I started. I've also not had to write many essays in school before. In contrast, the Double Fold essay was practically written in my mind before I started. I think I can handle short essays with at most one book and a few outside sources where a thesis can be formed much easier. The biggest challenge I'm having is critically analyzing what I've read and figuring out what the influence is on scholarly communication.
The advice I'm giving myself is that this is the first time I've tried an assignment like this and that going through the process will make it easier the next time.
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LIS 2000 has been a challenge. Critical thinking and reading large amount of material can be a real challenge. I'm sure the latest essay on scholarly communication is the most difficult assignment I've ever done in my school career. The fact that there were three books to read along with the requirement of an additional six outside sources has made it challenging and I fear not having made decent connections.
I think the reason writing this latest essay in LIS 2000 has been so challenging is that I didn't have a clear road map or outline for the essay before I started. I've also not had to write many essays in school before. In contrast, the Double Fold essay was practically written in my mind before I started. I think I can handle short essays with at most one book and a few outside sources where a thesis can be formed much easier. The biggest challenge I'm having is critically analyzing what I've read and figuring out what the influence is on scholarly communication.
The advice I'm giving myself is that this is the first time I've tried an assignment like this and that going through the process will make it easier the next time.
Friday, June 4, 2010
Jing Assignment: Video (with audio narrative) demonstrating how to install and configure the Firefox extension for Zotero
2010-06-04_2010
The link to the video presentation is above and the embedded video below. I used the entire 5 minutes allowed by Jing. I successfully installed Zotero and walked through the preferences. I would have liked to introduce the Zotero interface by clicking on the Zotero name in the lower right hand side of the browser window. In any event, enjoy the presentation. Thank you for watching.
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The link to the video presentation is above and the embedded video below. I used the entire 5 minutes allowed by Jing. I successfully installed Zotero and walked through the preferences. I would have liked to introduce the Zotero interface by clicking on the Zotero name in the lower right hand side of the browser window. In any event, enjoy the presentation. Thank you for watching.
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Benefits of Web 2.0 for Libraries
After reading an article in the online magazine Ariadne, I wanted to share a few of the highlights in my blog. I think one of the ways this blog is developing is like a journal or a place for me to organize my thoughts and discoveries about library science and technology. I still reach for a typical journal to jot down a note, but I can see myself using this blog more and more. It has it's advantages (searching, easy to organize) and it's disadvantages (need to have a computer handy, privacy.)
The link to the full article is below.
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue63/nogueira/
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The link to the full article is below.
http://www.ariadne.ac.uk/issue63/nogueira/
The article focused on libraries (and by extension archives) using Facebook, Flickr, and YouTube. An LIS professional Dongmei Cao listed these benefits:
- increased importance of the library to the user;
- improvement in the library’s image;
- potential of new interactive services to raise the level and quality of the service provided;
- increased involvement of users and improved communication of the library with such users;
- improvement in communication among librarians;
- greater ability to find quick solutions to meet the needs of users;
- improvement in shared knowledge and collaboration.
Other advantages listed in the article include: an increased awareness of the collection; varies access of the collection; diversification of users; improved relationships and links; new dynamic ways to engage; free of charge; contributes to the improved information literacy of users and the general public; the recognition of users as a valid source of information; and the opportunity to enthuse users with the type of contact established and better communication through contact that is simultaneously institutional and informal, professional and personal.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Scopus and Google Scholar
I've had the opportunity to work with the Scopus database and Google Scholar. Google Scholar isn't very good for the following reasons:
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- Exporting to Refworks is tedious. There isn't an option to mark citations and export all at once. Each citation has to be exported one at a time.
- The advanced search feature isn't all that advanced. The facets available to narrow searches are limited. For example, a user can't limit the search by name of journal (like in Scopus).
- A user can't save previous searches.
Net Neutrality: Who's In Charge of the Internet?
A 17 minute interview on Fresh Air about Net Neutrality from May 25, 2010. The link is to the abstract and interview.
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126978125
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uKuyZdgLixxJpO7tUl_b6UQXaSb27kC6yjQPLf2_Je01Ohb_0xyPvnTiQuuora9oj_f_cPPGbcyl2QjKCkKiOJJWvJLZx77riUgFnmg20ZydDe4I8w6-IpTtxLwQJduLfo3oEDhGP_OMmPgCaRBulo=s0-d)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126978125
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Metadata
Working with this blog is giving me some experience with metadata (tags) in some introductory way. I've also created a Flickr to work with tagging there too. I only had a few digital photos to upload from a previous trip to Cuba in 2004. I haven't labeled the photos or given them any tags yet. I was interested in Flickr after reading about it in the book Everything is Miscellaneous.
Follow the link below to view the photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/honestweightssquaredealings/
I plan on taking the Metadata class in the fall, along with Digital Libraries. I think taking those classes together might create some synergy.
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_uqYwXPmthD-uD4BwpbnbeTX5AZhdXwboCTFl2FzOGcmg9Smynkta2R40cAvwb8gDYM9ICk6XF4shmCGaRZ9px_AVcPVEG6IQfwKqj1ketoYwuf8tx23H0ySb63gxqL1CuWjwr9d3CE2jo1csXfDKxu=s0-d)
Follow the link below to view the photos.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/honestweightssquaredealings/
I plan on taking the Metadata class in the fall, along with Digital Libraries. I think taking those classes together might create some synergy.
Sunday, May 23, 2010
The Outlook for Librarians - (from Occupational Outlook Handbook - Bureau of Labor Statistics)
According to the latest Occupational Outlook Handbook, job prospects for librarians is expected to be favorable and growth is expected to be at least as good as the average of all fields. The outlook is based on a large number of librarians retiring in the next decade.
As I read the report, I feel better about my job prospects, but not as confident as I was in job opportunities the last time I was looking for a job in 2004. One adjustment I'll make this time around will be a willingness to volunteer. It seems the library profession offers volunteer opportunities, which will benefit me by putting my skills to use, acquiring new skills, and networking with other professionals.
For now, most of my effort is dedicated to getting the most out of my classwork, rather than job searching.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_sIlIXCp9MDC2Gg8FB5mbt-Hvk4iQicjRlytCo9PQBwqmR1e_AhTuhPFf2tSps9_DQiHNur2rwe-8RjFMqCkORezuFAOItUmJiQxeU_MkWc1BixiAgINOikKgsUXAe28hQiYCyIpQ1cOtUfb4Amk6Bt=s0-d)
As I read the report, I feel better about my job prospects, but not as confident as I was in job opportunities the last time I was looking for a job in 2004. One adjustment I'll make this time around will be a willingness to volunteer. It seems the library profession offers volunteer opportunities, which will benefit me by putting my skills to use, acquiring new skills, and networking with other professionals.
For now, most of my effort is dedicated to getting the most out of my classwork, rather than job searching.
http://www.bls.gov/oco/ocos068.htm
Five Ways to Keep Online Criminals at Bay
The strategies seem so simple, but criminals hacking into people's computers is reported all the time. Two of the ways to keep your computer safe involve software updates. The most vulnerable software according to the article is your browser and Adobe Reader. The other three are to avoid malicious ads, poisoned search results, and antisocial media. Criminals like to entice you to click on their ads found in Facebook, as an example of antisocial media.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/technology/personaltech/20basics.html?src=me&ref=homepage![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/blogger_img_proxy/AEn0k_tC-i8qOZ85KjOvQfJokmukUo8gswkM08f3zWIjuM_gGUMdjYEiPLIUDYdAeGpjTpeywuS4D5JACiZiVx-JnZ0vU-Qhzwv7ysPPODQK9ElxeYfAnfe4dhw3As3nNERcOoW8PXu4fsii3cHH67JJwa25=s0-d)
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/20/technology/personaltech/20basics.html?src=me&ref=homepage
Saturday, May 22, 2010
The Death of the Open Web
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/23/magazine/23FOB-medium-t.html
Reading this article makes me think that rather than the World Wide Web expanding people's viewpoints, it's simply been a way that people can aggregate similar viewpoints to harden their positions, perhaps even become less tolerant. Where the Web was considered a way to connect people, further understanding, and break walls down; rather, it may be a tool for people to build walls around themselves.
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Reading this article makes me think that rather than the World Wide Web expanding people's viewpoints, it's simply been a way that people can aggregate similar viewpoints to harden their positions, perhaps even become less tolerant. Where the Web was considered a way to connect people, further understanding, and break walls down; rather, it may be a tool for people to build walls around themselves.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Loss of electricity causes loss of classwork
Thursday afternoon as I was settling into a post on Bb about Kuhn and SSR for LIS 2000, a tree fell on some wires in my neighborhood and (just like that) I lost my work. I was posting directly into the discussion board and hadn't saved anything. I forgot the lesson I learned during fall term to write posts in a text editor and then cut & paste into the Bb thread.
I felt (sad & angry) like maybe I need to rethink my technological equipment because of the realization that I really depend on my computer, and more importantly, electricity.
So, I'm in the market for a backup power supply appliance so that when the electricity goes out I have a few minutes to save my work and shut down the ole iMac. I'm not interested in continuing my work during a power outage, rather just enough time to avoid what happened the other day.
I have an external hard drive I use to back up my files with Time Machine. I'm also starting to wonder if I need another backup that's not in my home, but rather in the cloud.
I felt (sad & angry) like maybe I need to rethink my technological equipment because of the realization that I really depend on my computer, and more importantly, electricity.
So, I'm in the market for a backup power supply appliance so that when the electricity goes out I have a few minutes to save my work and shut down the ole iMac. I'm not interested in continuing my work during a power outage, rather just enough time to avoid what happened the other day.
I have an external hard drive I use to back up my files with Time Machine. I'm also starting to wonder if I need another backup that's not in my home, but rather in the cloud.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Google Pitches a Web-Centric Future
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/19/google-pitches-a-web-centric-future/?ref=technology
I like the idea of applications living in the cloud or server-side, rather than on my machine. I think it's an accessibility issue, really. I don't have to download an add-on or have any special applications in order to view the web content. From the web content provider, they can reach the widest possible audience in a way that doesn't ask the user to do anything special, or have any special application available on their machine. Plus, all the tinkering on the application can be done without asking users to make updates.Google delivered its vision of a Web-centric future on Wednesday in front of around 5,000 software developers at its annual Google I/O conference.
The presentation was unapologetically geeky, steeped in the language and minutiae of the technical standards that will drive the next wave of innovation on the Internet. For the Google faithful, at least, the meal was hearty.
Google’s vision of the future is starkly different from those laid out by its rivals Apple and Microsoft, and calls for rich multimedia applications that operate within the browser — without the separate applications that people now download to their PC desktops or mobile phones.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
Who Should Look Out for the Safety of Computer Users?
As computers have become more widely used by teens and young adults for communicating and socializing, problems associated with this new means of communication have emerged. The problems include bullying and inappropriate contact between adults and minors.
Our textbook includes some questions and points of view to consider which I've listed below.
There are challenges in monitoring a virtual space that don't exist in a physical location. One challenge might be the large number of computer users engaged in the social platform that would make it difficult to monitor. However, I believe that is the cost of doing business.
I believe the role of government is to provide the proper and reasonable guidelines and legislation that companies can follow in order to provide the services they desire in a safe manner. Might the cost of doing business be increased due to regulations? Yes. But who would argue the elimination of food inspections because of the increased cost to businesses and consumers.
Our textbook includes some questions and points of view to consider which I've listed below.
- Some parents claim that the government should intervene to ensure better monitoring of inappropriate behavior.
- While some private companies have stepped up monitoring, they often claim that they are not responsible for the behavior of individuals, and parents and individuals should be responsible for inappropriate actions.
- Many teens and young adults feel that the problems are simply a matter of personal responsibility and following some simple guidelines, such as the "golden rule."
- Should the companies that provide the service to teens and young adults be required to monitor and stop inappropriate or socially unacceptable behavior?
- What role should parents play in overseeing their child's involvement in computer use?
- Should police or other government authorities be responsible for maintaining order in this situation in the same way they are charged with maintaining order in society in general?
There are challenges in monitoring a virtual space that don't exist in a physical location. One challenge might be the large number of computer users engaged in the social platform that would make it difficult to monitor. However, I believe that is the cost of doing business.
I believe the role of government is to provide the proper and reasonable guidelines and legislation that companies can follow in order to provide the services they desire in a safe manner. Might the cost of doing business be increased due to regulations? Yes. But who would argue the elimination of food inspections because of the increased cost to businesses and consumers.
Monday, May 17, 2010
How to search the web - Find and evaluate websites
In Consumer Health Information class with Ellen, I learned a quick and easy way to evaluate websites. It's even something that can be taught to patrons in a few seconds. It's called a SPAT Test, and this mnemonic tool for evaluating websites was created by Elizabeth LaRue, who graduated from Pitt's Nursing School and Library School (MLIS & PhD). Even though it was created to evaluate consumer health websites, I've found it useful outside that area too.
The link below has tips from the library at Oakton Community College.
The DC text (page 84) also provides guidelines for evaluating the value of a website. Listed below are the evaluation criteria and the characteristics of a reliable website. Since any person, company, or organization can publish a Web page on the Internet, it can't be assumed that the information is reliable.
SPAT = Site, Publisher, Audience, Timeliness
Site = URL, .org, .gov, .edu, .com, .net
Publisher = Is there an author/publisher, Is there contact information
Audience = Who is the page for, Are the sentences simple and clear, Is there a bias in the text
Timeliness = Is the page dated, Is the page updated or outdated
The link below has tips from the library at Oakton Community College.
http://www.oakton.edu/library/more_about/eight_steps/step5_web/index.php
The DC text (page 84) also provides guidelines for evaluating the value of a website. Listed below are the evaluation criteria and the characteristics of a reliable website. Since any person, company, or organization can publish a Web page on the Internet, it can't be assumed that the information is reliable.
Affiliation - A reputable institution should support the Website without bias in the information.
Audience - The Website should be written at an appropriate level.
Authority - The Website should list the author and the appropriate credentials.
Content - The Website should be well organized and the links should work.
Currency - The information on the Web page should be current.
Design - The pages at the Website should download quickly and be easy to navigate and be visually pleasing.
Objectivity - The Website should contain little advertising and be free of preconceptions.
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Building Academic Library 2.0
A thought occurred to me after watching this video and hearing a comment made in class that library catalogs aren't much help. My idea would be to load the library collection records into an open source library catalog that has features that allow users to create tags, write reviews, and rate items. (And other features that users may want.) Offer both to users. It can be an experiment.
Using the Internet safely
The SIS Library was giving away bookmarks with tips for kids, teens, and parents about topics like dealing with cyberbullies, social networking, and safe blogging. I posted the link to the information below.
http://www.ila.org/netsafe/
http://www.ila.org/netsafe/
World's Largest Social Network: The Open Web
The New York Times
An interesting article I found on Chris' blog (New Basement Tapes) which was originally published in the NYTimes.
An interesting article I found on Chris' blog (New Basement Tapes) which was originally published in the NYTimes.
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/16/business/16digi.html?ref=businessON its Web site, Facebook says it’s “giving people the power to share and make the world more open and connected.”
But the online world outside of Facebook is already a very open and connected place, thank you very much. Densely interlinked Web pages, blogs, news articles and Tweets are all visible to anyone and everyone. Instead of contributing to this interconnected, open Web world, the growing popularity of Facebook is draining it of attention, energy and posts that are in public view.
Every link found on the open Web, inviting a user to click and go somewhere else, is in essence a recommendation from the person who authored the page, posted it or broadcast it in a Tweet. It says, “I’ve taken the trouble to insert this link because I believe it will be worth your while to take a look.”
These recommendations are visible to search engines, which do far more than just tally how many recommendations point to this or that item. The engines trace backward to who linked to the recommender, then who linked to the recommender of the recommender, and so on. It’s a lot of computation to derive educated guesses about which recommendations are likely to lead to the best-informed sources of information and then placed at the top of a search results page.
No “friending” is needed to gain access; no company is in sole possession of the interconnections.
The size of the open Web — built without Facebook’s help — is hard to appreciate. In 2008, Google announced that its search engine had “crawled,” that is, collected and indexed material from, one trillion unique URLs, or Web addresses.
“The beauty of the Web is that it is open, and anyone can crawl it,” says Matt Cutts, a software engineer at Google.
But Facebook does not permit Google to reach most categories of information placed on the site, says Mr. Cutts, adding, “Google can only know what it can crawl.”
Susan Herring, professor of information science at Indiana University, sees it this way: “What the statistics point to is a rise in Facebook, a decline in blogging, and before that, a decline in personal Web pages. The trend is clear, she said — Facebook is displacing these other forms of online publication.
Barry Schnitt, a Facebook spokesman, said his company provides Google with access to public profiles of members and status updates for public Facebook pages, formerly called “fan pages.” He said it also has announced plans to work with Microsoft on its Bing search engine, allowing Bing to publish the status updates of individual members whose privacy settings permit display to “everyone.”
The Facebook model of organizing the world’s information involves a mix of personally sensitive information, impersonal information that is potentially widely useful, and information whose sensitivity and usefulness falls in between. It’s a tangle created by Facebook’s origins as the host of unambiguously nonpublic messaging among college students.
The company’s desire now to help out “the world” — an aim that wasn’t mentioned on its “About” page two years ago — has led it to inflict an unending succession of privacy policy changes on its members.
People often talk about the two leading social networking sites in a way that sounds like they’re a single entity: FacebookandTwitter. But the two are fundamentally different. Facebook began with a closed, friends-only model, and today has moved to a private-public hybrid, resetting members’ default privacy settings. By contrast, most Twitter users elect to use the service to address the general public.
Facebook has redefined the way its users go about obtaining information.
“Information is becoming less of a destination that we seek online,” says Anthony J. Rotolo, assistant professor of practice in the School of Information Studies at Syracuse University. “Instead we are expecting it to come to us in a social stream.”
In the Facebook stream, friends, not search engines, are the trusted sources.
“Just because someone belongs to your social network, it doesn’t make them a good source,” Professor Rotolo says. “But there’s a natural inclination to assume that a person possesses reliable information because it’s person-to-person.”
This is what Professor Herring calls a “recommender model” of getting information. And she sees it as replacing the search-engine model. She points to the recent introduction of the Facebook “Like” button at Web sites, which allows Facebook to note recommendations of those sites among one’s friends. The record of who clicks that “Like” button, however, is not part of the open Web; it’s Facebook’s. The public visibility of users’ Likes on Facebook depends on their privacy settings.
DEFENDERS of the Facebook information stream argue that it doesn’t displace the open Web, but that it merely adds a new layer of information to it. Yet there is a cost: more time spent dispensing recommendations among friends on Facebook means less for similar contributions elsewhere. Members now spend more than 500 billion minutes a month on Facebook, a company fact sheet says.
The links on the trillion Web addresses found by Google, and within the billions of Tweets that have followed, form an incomparably vast, truly worldwide, web of recommendations, supplied by fellow humans.
In this sense, the open Web has a strong claim to being more “social” than does Facebook.
Saturday, May 15, 2010
62 Projects to Make with a Dead Computer: (And Other Discarded Electronics)
Tim's lecture about computer hardware had me thinking about projects to re-purpose old computers. One example from the book is to make a trivet out of the old electronic cord. The link below is to the Amazon book description.
http://www.amazon.com/Projects-Make-Dead-Computer-Electronics/dp/0761152431/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273973201&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Projects-Make-Dead-Computer-Electronics/dp/0761152431/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1273973201&sr=8-1
Can the iPad or the Kindle save book publishers?
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126196977
I still see a role for publishers in the future of the book business. They weed out books that should not be published. Publishers also bring their marketing skills to help introduce and sell their books to the public. Their value proposition to authors should be that they can put their books in as many places as possible in order to sell them. I don't know many authors who want to spend the time dealing with retailers and wholesalers in order to have their book on the market.
Publishers are not threatened. Their past level of profits may be threatened, but their role is still necessary. If people start to buy e-books in greater numbers than print versions, and the prices people are willing to pay come down, then publishers will have to figure out ways to deliver their services even though they are making less money. Print marketing campaigns may be replaced with cheaper online campaigns. Different ways of marketing books may also be explored.
With less money to go around because book sales are down overall, publishers need to be innovative if they want to stay in business. Someone is going to fill their role if they fail.
Amazon, Apple, and Google all have a vested interest in selling books. Although I don't believe the existence of those companies depends on how many books they sell. That being said, people are still buying books and none of the companies would turn their backs on the revenue in selling books to readers. The fighting about formats and containers to read the books is hurting everyone. Customers shouldn't be tied to one format or one company in order to buy a book. The iPad seems to take that into account, which is perhaps a strength for Apple and the iPad. I think customers will gravitate toward a device that doesn't make them think about where they need to buy their next e-book.
I think everyone mentioned in the podcast has a role. Publishers help select books worthy of publishing and leverage their brand of professional marketing. The retailers like Amazon and Apple have content to sell. The author alluded to the fact that Google can't depend on advertising dollars as much and may need the book sales as another revenue stream.
One problem I see with Google is that I believe people will have a hard time being charged by Google. People believe Google is free and I think Google will have a hard time convincing customers to pay them for anything. Thus, I think the more successful model is where the publishers continue to price the product where it must be in order to maximize sales.
I wonder if books will be priced by the chapter, like music is priced by the song. Pay for what you read when you read it versus paying for the entire book all at once. I like a pay as you go system.
I still see a role for publishers in the future of the book business. They weed out books that should not be published. Publishers also bring their marketing skills to help introduce and sell their books to the public. Their value proposition to authors should be that they can put their books in as many places as possible in order to sell them. I don't know many authors who want to spend the time dealing with retailers and wholesalers in order to have their book on the market.
Publishers are not threatened. Their past level of profits may be threatened, but their role is still necessary. If people start to buy e-books in greater numbers than print versions, and the prices people are willing to pay come down, then publishers will have to figure out ways to deliver their services even though they are making less money. Print marketing campaigns may be replaced with cheaper online campaigns. Different ways of marketing books may also be explored.
With less money to go around because book sales are down overall, publishers need to be innovative if they want to stay in business. Someone is going to fill their role if they fail.
Amazon, Apple, and Google all have a vested interest in selling books. Although I don't believe the existence of those companies depends on how many books they sell. That being said, people are still buying books and none of the companies would turn their backs on the revenue in selling books to readers. The fighting about formats and containers to read the books is hurting everyone. Customers shouldn't be tied to one format or one company in order to buy a book. The iPad seems to take that into account, which is perhaps a strength for Apple and the iPad. I think customers will gravitate toward a device that doesn't make them think about where they need to buy their next e-book.
I think everyone mentioned in the podcast has a role. Publishers help select books worthy of publishing and leverage their brand of professional marketing. The retailers like Amazon and Apple have content to sell. The author alluded to the fact that Google can't depend on advertising dollars as much and may need the book sales as another revenue stream.
One problem I see with Google is that I believe people will have a hard time being charged by Google. People believe Google is free and I think Google will have a hard time convincing customers to pay them for anything. Thus, I think the more successful model is where the publishers continue to price the product where it must be in order to maximize sales.
I wonder if books will be priced by the chapter, like music is priced by the song. Pay for what you read when you read it versus paying for the entire book all at once. I like a pay as you go system.
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