Friday, December 5, 2008
Week 14 Post
Am I off on my numerical postings? Are we at Wk 13? I think I've lost track....
Cloud Computing and the Future of Libraries
I think that these type of services will become incredibly popular in the future. Haas and Saas seem a cost-saving alternative to the costly hardware and software that libraries, and most other institutions, implement today. A centralized locale for hardware and software frees the user from place constraints, allowing them to access information from anywhere. Because of this, I agree with Thomas Frey that libraries must transform themselves into institutions which preserve culture, instead of just being repositories for information.
I don't agree with the dramatic changes Frey suggests. I don't think changes will be as profound, or take place as fast as Frey proports, and I definitely don't think 'literacy will be dead' by 2050.
Cloud Computing and the Future of Libraries
I think that these type of services will become incredibly popular in the future. Haas and Saas seem a cost-saving alternative to the costly hardware and software that libraries, and most other institutions, implement today. A centralized locale for hardware and software frees the user from place constraints, allowing them to access information from anywhere. Because of this, I agree with Thomas Frey that libraries must transform themselves into institutions which preserve culture, instead of just being repositories for information.
I don't agree with the dramatic changes Frey suggests. I don't think changes will be as profound, or take place as fast as Frey proports, and I definitely don't think 'literacy will be dead' by 2050.
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Muddiest Point 13
Open Source format is incredibly popular and gaining momentum as more and more people create digital tools to help the masses. Is the creation of a centralized Open Source Digital Library possible?-or will strict copyright laws and international boundaries forever prevent it from being created?
Week 13 Post
Weblogs: their Use and Applications in Science and Technology Libraries
Weblogs are used to streamline channels of communication. Weblogs integrate the activities of face to face interaction, e-mails, scheduling, training, other ways of communication; into one centralized location. Not only do these sites make communication more effective, they also build community.
Using a Wiki to Manage a Library Instruction Program: Sharing Knowledge to Better Serve Patrons
Wikis expand upon the concept of the Blog, allowing for asynchronous interaction of individuals who might not be able to meet, exchange ideas, otherwise. Although this article is focused on the use of Wikis in Library instruction programs, my brain kept jumping to my workplace, where many of us work opposite schedules, and communicate via emails, phone calls, face-to-face interactions, monthly meetings...what if all this information were to be condensed into a Wiki?!It would save so much time and confusion, and I wouldn't have to call the library all the time in order to verify my ever-changing schedule!
Creating the Academic Library Folksonomy: Put Social Tagging to Work at Your Institution
Basically-organizing information by way of tagging valuable and relevant websites. You can organize sites by subject...using sites like del.icio.us . This would be a great resource for libraries... It would be like organizing a virtual library from the ground up.
How a Ragtag Band Created Wikipedia
This was an inspiring talk--this web encyclopedia created from peoples' willingness to contribute something good to the world...without being paid. Wikibooks Projects is an ambitious and incredible idea.
Weblogs are used to streamline channels of communication. Weblogs integrate the activities of face to face interaction, e-mails, scheduling, training, other ways of communication; into one centralized location. Not only do these sites make communication more effective, they also build community.
Using a Wiki to Manage a Library Instruction Program: Sharing Knowledge to Better Serve Patrons
Wikis expand upon the concept of the Blog, allowing for asynchronous interaction of individuals who might not be able to meet, exchange ideas, otherwise. Although this article is focused on the use of Wikis in Library instruction programs, my brain kept jumping to my workplace, where many of us work opposite schedules, and communicate via emails, phone calls, face-to-face interactions, monthly meetings...what if all this information were to be condensed into a Wiki?!It would save so much time and confusion, and I wouldn't have to call the library all the time in order to verify my ever-changing schedule!
Creating the Academic Library Folksonomy: Put Social Tagging to Work at Your Institution
Basically-organizing information by way of tagging valuable and relevant websites. You can organize sites by subject...using sites like del.icio.us . This would be a great resource for libraries... It would be like organizing a virtual library from the ground up.
How a Ragtag Band Created Wikipedia
This was an inspiring talk--this web encyclopedia created from peoples' willingness to contribute something good to the world...without being paid. Wikibooks Projects is an ambitious and incredible idea.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Muddiest Point 11
I keep wondering about the spaces in HTML and XML--Why is it that some spaces between words can remain blank, while others must be occupied by an underscore, or other type of symbol?
Week 11 Notes
The Deep Web has about 500 times the amount of info as the surface web. This is so interesting, as most people are unaware of this, operating strictly on the surface level. Most search engines 'crawl' over the surface of the web picking out and ranking the most popular pages. Pages under the surface are virtually invisible to the web crawlers, as they do not have the requisite links that would ensure their popularity.
Crawler algorithms have a 'politeness delay' so that websites/pages aren't bombarded .
Friday, October 24, 2008
Muddiest Point 10
Is there a limit to the number of meta tags that can be applied to a website? And, can the number of meta tags influence how a web page is ranked on Google?
Monday, October 20, 2008
Friday, October 17, 2008
Week 9 Muddiest Point
Is it easier for people to hack into "secure" wireless networks--as opposed to networks connected by physical Ethernet cables? And, does the method of transmission influence how a firewall is constructed?
Week 9 Reading Notes
XML markup language is a lot more flexible than HTML . It enables you to create structured documents, which can be interchanged over the internet. The language allows for interoperability, as data transfer is not limited to specific hardware or software.
I like the fact that you can integrate graphics, links, etc. in to documents using this language. By doing this, it makes it easier to distinguish documents, adding to cross-referencing capabilities, complimenting doc 'tags.'
XML is highly structured, though it can be altered through different applications. Canonical XML allows for the re-ordering of information. The contents of the doc remain the same. However, the internal structure may be different.
XML "malleability" allows for more ways that data (content) may be shared, and ensures that a docs 'quality' is not compromised.
--The tutorials are interesting-though time consuming. In the future, I would like to try and tackle the language.
I like the fact that you can integrate graphics, links, etc. in to documents using this language. By doing this, it makes it easier to distinguish documents, adding to cross-referencing capabilities, complimenting doc 'tags.'
XML is highly structured, though it can be altered through different applications. Canonical XML allows for the re-ordering of information. The contents of the doc remain the same. However, the internal structure may be different.
XML "malleability" allows for more ways that data (content) may be shared, and ensures that a docs 'quality' is not compromised.
--The tutorials are interesting-though time consuming. In the future, I would like to try and tackle the language.
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
Assignment 4
Jing Video:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/e18f5108-e4a2-4365-909c-a3b1275c4df6
Screen Capture 1:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/c6ed9ce0-fdb2-4d25-b75f-659021e81368
Screen Capture 2:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/7b1b8e42-4d32-40f1-a589-f817fe46884f
Screen Capture 3:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/ce15d5fc-ef11-4e11-a8f8-21c4b13463e2
Screen Capture 4:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/77ce6b99-0d80-4e02-b120-345653aacee7
Screen Capture 5:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/a95486d3-d447-4700-9070-7923195c376b
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/e18f5108-e4a2-4365-909c-a3b1275c4df6
Screen Capture 1:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/c6ed9ce0-fdb2-4d25-b75f-659021e81368
Screen Capture 2:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/7b1b8e42-4d32-40f1-a589-f817fe46884f
Screen Capture 3:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/ce15d5fc-ef11-4e11-a8f8-21c4b13463e2
Screen Capture 4:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/77ce6b99-0d80-4e02-b120-345653aacee7
Screen Capture 5:
http://www.screencast.com/users/amh143/folders/Jing/media/a95486d3-d447-4700-9070-7923195c376b
Monday, October 6, 2008
Friday, October 3, 2008
Muddiest Point
LAN's seem messy to me. Wires must be taped down, hidden, etc. There always seems to be a tangle of wires in a back room somewhere. In the future, do you think routers, modems, etc will be hardwired into the computers themselves, allowing systems to become completely wireless?
Week 7 Reading Notes
Internet Infrastructure-
The Internet Society, point of presence, routers.
Routers ensure taht info doesn't go where its not needed. Provides a pathway for large volumes of data, preventing them from clogging the system. Keeps info flowing smoothly.
Info gets where it needs to go.
It also protects networks from one another.
Massive amounts of information can be transmitted through 'backbones,' or fiber optic trunk lines. Many companies operate their own backbone.
NAP, IP Address
Network Access Points
NAP's are intersections/hubs where one connects to the internet. By tapping into these, high-capacity backbones are able to form a web of communication around the world.
An IP Address is usually expressed in decimal format. Net-identifies the network that a computer belongs to. Host-identifies tha actual computer in the network.
DNS, URL, HTTP
Caching-remembers IP addresses already searched for.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
An interesting concept. Faced with budget cuts, the library I work at is no longer able to afford a new ISL system (I think we had chosen to go with Polaris).
Possibly dismantling our current system/ finding better solutions would be an alternative?
Maybe we can slowly replace bits and pieces, integrating the old with the new...
Google Video
This was entertaining and educational. Google encourages its employees to take on small projects, Googlettes, on their own. Examples: Google Answers, Orkut.
Seeing how information is transmitted around the world at any given time is amazing. I like that the guys seem humble, and that they truly believe in what they are doing.
The Internet Society, point of presence, routers.
Routers ensure taht info doesn't go where its not needed. Provides a pathway for large volumes of data, preventing them from clogging the system. Keeps info flowing smoothly.
Info gets where it needs to go.
It also protects networks from one another.
Massive amounts of information can be transmitted through 'backbones,' or fiber optic trunk lines. Many companies operate their own backbone.
NAP, IP Address
Network Access Points
NAP's are intersections/hubs where one connects to the internet. By tapping into these, high-capacity backbones are able to form a web of communication around the world.
An IP Address is usually expressed in decimal format. Net-identifies the network that a computer belongs to. Host-identifies tha actual computer in the network.
DNS, URL, HTTP
Caching-remembers IP addresses already searched for.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
An interesting concept. Faced with budget cuts, the library I work at is no longer able to afford a new ISL system (I think we had chosen to go with Polaris).
Possibly dismantling our current system/ finding better solutions would be an alternative?
Maybe we can slowly replace bits and pieces, integrating the old with the new...
Google Video
This was entertaining and educational. Google encourages its employees to take on small projects, Googlettes, on their own. Examples: Google Answers, Orkut.
Seeing how information is transmitted around the world at any given time is amazing. I like that the guys seem humble, and that they truly believe in what they are doing.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Week 6 Reading Notes
This unit covered a variety of computer networks.
PAN, LAN, WAN, CAN, MAN, WLAN
The Wikipedia definition of LAN-A computer network covering a small physical area, like a home, office, or small group of buildings, such as a school.
Common technologies associated with a LAN include:
Ethernet over unshielded twisted pair cabling
Wi-Fi
The Computer Network reading was interesting because it explained how different types of networks were connected, and it also went into detail about the hardware used to connect the networks.
Library Local Area Networks are complex in that all users are not all granted the same access---Employees are granted different access to the network than patrons--
A patron might have access to the internet and library catalog, while a library employee might have access to the color printer, internet, database, etc.
Devices in a network are connected logically. Their connections are independent of the physical layout of the network.
The YouTube video basically reiterated the different types of networks.
The RFID article covered Radio Frequency Identifiers and their emerging presence in libraries.
This article was disturbing to me because I work in Circ. and basically if RFID was implemented in my library, my job would be eliminated. I do think, though, that patrons would miss the customer service the circulation staff provides. The technology of RFID is incredible and can have many applications. I just wouldn't want to go overboard. Also, there are costs to consider, such as having to purchase durable tags; pretty spendy.
PAN, LAN, WAN, CAN, MAN, WLAN
The Wikipedia definition of LAN-A computer network covering a small physical area, like a home, office, or small group of buildings, such as a school.
Common technologies associated with a LAN include:
Ethernet over unshielded twisted pair cabling
Wi-Fi
The Computer Network reading was interesting because it explained how different types of networks were connected, and it also went into detail about the hardware used to connect the networks.
Library Local Area Networks are complex in that all users are not all granted the same access---Employees are granted different access to the network than patrons--
A patron might have access to the internet and library catalog, while a library employee might have access to the color printer, internet, database, etc.
Devices in a network are connected logically. Their connections are independent of the physical layout of the network.
The YouTube video basically reiterated the different types of networks.
The RFID article covered Radio Frequency Identifiers and their emerging presence in libraries.
This article was disturbing to me because I work in Circ. and basically if RFID was implemented in my library, my job would be eliminated. I do think, though, that patrons would miss the customer service the circulation staff provides. The technology of RFID is incredible and can have many applications. I just wouldn't want to go overboard. Also, there are costs to consider, such as having to purchase durable tags; pretty spendy.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Friday, September 19, 2008
Muddiest Point
I am a little confused about Color Space and RGB, regarding lossy data compression. Can you elaborate on this further?
Week 5 Reading Notes
Wikipedia: Data Compression
Data Compression Basics
Out of the two reading selections, I found the Data Compression Basics the most interesting to read. The information outlined in the article was for the most part easy to conceptualize.
The articles covered lossy and lossless forms of data compression.
Lossless compression-the info is guaranteed to be exactly identical to the original.
Lossy compression- the info is not guaranteed to be exactly identical/ loss of fidelity.
The Data Compression Basics article went on to cover Data, Stills, Audio and video compression.
I was interested to note that the difference between two sets of numbers can be recorded as a compressed version of an image or sound.
Also, knowing which colors/ brightness ranges are most sensitive to the eye allows for lossy data compression in images.
Imaging Pittsburgh...by Edward A. Galloway
This seemed a monster of a digitizing/archiving project taken on by University of Pittsburgh’s Digital Research Library. Assembling a collection of this size faced many challenges.
Selecting photographs to be included in the collection proved to be a challenge. In assembling photographs from split collections, members of different departments had to collaborate in selecting photographs.
On top of that, Metadata had to be created for the entire collection...and these were just a few of the challenges faced. The amount of work involved makes me think twice about the costs vs. benefits aspect of digitization.
YouTube and Libraries...by Paula L. Webb
This was an entertaining and informative article about how libraries can use Youtube as a way to reach out to patrons. I enjoyed watching 'The Library Mystery Tour." It made me want to go out and make a YouTube video about the library where I work. Also, the fact that you can attach a video to a blog, and have an RSS feed, makes this a creative way to market a library.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Week 4 Reading Notes
This week's readings covered databases, metadata and the Dublin Core Metadata Initiative.
Database Models:
Hierarchical
Network
Relational
Post-Relational
The Relational Model is the most commonly used. Information is organized in columns and rows. Values which are repeated can suggest a connection between values. In this way you can connect records which contain these values. Numbers that relate to one another are called "Primary Keys."
Indexing, Database Transactions (ACID), Replication, Locking and Concurrency Control were also discussed.
I enjoyed reading about the logic involved in forming connections between various pieces of information.
Metadata:
I think the use of Metadata by libraries will be crucial in the future vetting and classification of information. Metadata takes context, content and structure into account when organizing information. Descriptors relating to the content, context or structure can be attached to a piece of information.
Metadata can be used to develop a hierarchy relating to quality of information, or form complex relationships between different pieces of contextually related information.
Dublin Core Metadata Initiative:
Search out and describe the diverse resources available on the web. Reading through the programming language was interesting. The logic involved in programming seems both
simple and incredibly complex at the same time.
Muddiest Point:
What is Replication used for?
Posts:
Lauren Menges's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7036399065753048748&postID=914671250983336515&page=1
Brandon Baker's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=84548656281186042&postID=107728577542712375
Database Models:
Hierarchical
Network
Relational
Post-Relational
The Relational Model is the most commonly used. Information is organized in columns and rows. Values which are repeated can suggest a connection between values. In this way you can connect records which contain these values. Numbers that relate to one another are called "Primary Keys."
Indexing, Database Transactions (ACID), Replication, Locking and Concurrency Control were also discussed.
I enjoyed reading about the logic involved in forming connections between various pieces of information.
Metadata:
I think the use of Metadata by libraries will be crucial in the future vetting and classification of information. Metadata takes context, content and structure into account when organizing information. Descriptors relating to the content, context or structure can be attached to a piece of information.
Metadata can be used to develop a hierarchy relating to quality of information, or form complex relationships between different pieces of contextually related information.
Dublin Core Metadata Initiative:
Search out and describe the diverse resources available on the web. Reading through the programming language was interesting. The logic involved in programming seems both
simple and incredibly complex at the same time.
Muddiest Point:
What is Replication used for?
Posts:
Lauren Menges's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=7036399065753048748&postID=914671250983336515&page=1
Brandon Baker's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=84548656281186042&postID=107728577542712375
Friday, September 5, 2008
Week 3 Reading Notes
The week 3 readings covered many major OS: Mac OS X, Linux, Windows Vista, Windows XP, and NEXTSTEP, among others.
In reading about the different systems, my perceptions regarding the pros and cons about these different systems has changed dramatically.
Bill Veghte's letter to Microsoft customers on the delivery of Windows 7 talks about how the new Windows will be based upon Vista technology. Currently with Vista you can sign up for "downgrade rights," which enables you to access XP, a more compatible, user friendly OS. It also states in the letter that XP will be supported until 2014.
Even though Vista has many benefits, such as enhanced security, lower cost of ownership to support for the next generation of hardware, better audio and video experiences, and improvements making it easier to find data and info content, the question remains; why purchase Windows Vista, when Windows 7's release date is scheduled for next year? I enjoyed reading the comments below the letter, analyzing the "cost" of implementing Vista now rather than waiting for Windows 7 to be released.
Mac OS X seems to be based on the NEXTSTEP technology Steve Jobs unveiled after he left Apple and joined a new startup; NeXT. It is interesting to note the similarities between Linux, which is written in the C programming language, and which is an implementation of Unix, and NEXTSTEP "an open platform that anybody could use to create their own implementation of STEP." (kernelthread.com, 2) That Mac OS X is the same in many respects to NEXSTEP, then, makes it very simlar to Linux, though it seems less compatible.
Mac OS X has gone through many evolutions. One of the major changes came in 2006, when Mac released its first Intel-based operating systems. With the release of these new systems, support was dropped for the Classic environment, thus limiting the systems' backward compatability. The features of Mac OS X include- Aqua GUI, which provides a 'graphical user interface with water-like elements, Expose, which helps with accessibility between windows and desktop, and Time Machine, which is 'automatic backup technology that allows users to view and Restore previous versions of files and application data.' (Wikipedia, Mac OS X, 10)
I like the idea of Linux, with its seemingly universal compatibility, free access, endless options, and constant evolution. Linux seems very similar to Steve Jobs' NEXSTEP in both structure, and compatibility. Both are implemented in Unix and written in the C programming language. Linux, being a 'open source product,' is going through constant transformations. Some of its cons include: far too many distributions (too many choices); it's not very user friendly; and because it is an Open Source Product, one might question the quality of the system.
Muddiest Point
We talked about binary code in class. What are the multi-architecture "fat binaries" that were introduced by NeXT, and how are they different from traditional binaries?
Posts:
Olly's Folly's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5436312546768380859&postID=9181091209151668001
In reading about the different systems, my perceptions regarding the pros and cons about these different systems has changed dramatically.
Bill Veghte's letter to Microsoft customers on the delivery of Windows 7 talks about how the new Windows will be based upon Vista technology. Currently with Vista you can sign up for "downgrade rights," which enables you to access XP, a more compatible, user friendly OS. It also states in the letter that XP will be supported until 2014.
Even though Vista has many benefits, such as enhanced security, lower cost of ownership to support for the next generation of hardware, better audio and video experiences, and improvements making it easier to find data and info content, the question remains; why purchase Windows Vista, when Windows 7's release date is scheduled for next year? I enjoyed reading the comments below the letter, analyzing the "cost" of implementing Vista now rather than waiting for Windows 7 to be released.
Mac OS X seems to be based on the NEXTSTEP technology Steve Jobs unveiled after he left Apple and joined a new startup; NeXT. It is interesting to note the similarities between Linux, which is written in the C programming language, and which is an implementation of Unix, and NEXTSTEP "an open platform that anybody could use to create their own implementation of STEP." (kernelthread.com, 2) That Mac OS X is the same in many respects to NEXSTEP, then, makes it very simlar to Linux, though it seems less compatible.
Mac OS X has gone through many evolutions. One of the major changes came in 2006, when Mac released its first Intel-based operating systems. With the release of these new systems, support was dropped for the Classic environment, thus limiting the systems' backward compatability. The features of Mac OS X include- Aqua GUI, which provides a 'graphical user interface with water-like elements, Expose, which helps with accessibility between windows and desktop, and Time Machine, which is 'automatic backup technology that allows users to view and Restore previous versions of files and application data.' (Wikipedia, Mac OS X, 10)
I like the idea of Linux, with its seemingly universal compatibility, free access, endless options, and constant evolution. Linux seems very similar to Steve Jobs' NEXSTEP in both structure, and compatibility. Both are implemented in Unix and written in the C programming language. Linux, being a 'open source product,' is going through constant transformations. Some of its cons include: far too many distributions (too many choices); it's not very user friendly; and because it is an Open Source Product, one might question the quality of the system.
Muddiest Point
We talked about binary code in class. What are the multi-architecture "fat binaries" that were introduced by NeXT, and how are they different from traditional binaries?
Posts:
Olly's Folly's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=5436312546768380859&postID=9181091209151668001
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Assignment #1 -Week 1 Readings
Feeding The Beast
Lied Library @ Four Years: Technology Never Stands Still
2004 Information Format Trends: Content, not Containers
Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture
The Lied Library has experienced a number of challenges in maintaining, storing, servicing and installing its technology. For the amount of resources it takes to maintain state-of-the-art technology in UNLV’s leading academic library, ‘feeding the beast’ (39) is an apt term. Needing constant attention, patches, maintenance, hardware replacement, tech support, space, and money, keeping up with ever-evolving technology lands a hefty price tag.
And although access to this type of technology yields great benefits in information retrieval to both to the library and to the end users, the fundamental aspect of a library being a place where all can access information freely seems jeopardized:
“As has oftentimes been experienced in public libraries, community users are not in an academic program and come to surf the web, check their e-mail, and play games, as opposed to “academic” work. Certainly, students pursue such leisure activities as well. In contrast, whereas students often have classes to go to, friends to meet, or a part time job, community users may stay on computers for hours on end, and this is somewhat disheartening when students with legitimate needs are searching for a computer.” (Vaughan 41)
Libraries stand for intellectual freedom and for free access to information for all citizens. To imply that one citizen has legitimate needs over another implies that there is a definite hierarchical system in place. Further illustrating this point, Vaughan states that “In 2005, the [Lied] library plans to limit what internet resources community users can access.” (42)
Clifford Lynch elucidates in his article Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the curriculum for a Digital Culture, when he states that the “legal, social, economic, and ethical issues surrounding the ownership and use of intellectual property,” are areas which should constitute information literacy. It begs the question: along with mastering the operation of the latest technology, shouldn’t we also master the rules by which information is transmitted, organized, authored, etc., and the impact it has in a commerce driven environment?
As print publications become more a notion of our past (2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers) and digital publication becomes the status quo, it is essential that these issues be examined. Especially now, when the boundaries of intellectual property rights, and the rights of the individual to access information freely, are being tested.
Muddiest Point
As information grows as a viable commodity, is it going to be the power of the consumer that dictates what direction libraries will take in the future?
Week 1 Posts:
Nicole Plana's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=1491308052360981630&postID=1296373416004838718
Lied Library @ Four Years: Technology Never Stands Still
2004 Information Format Trends: Content, not Containers
Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture
The Lied Library has experienced a number of challenges in maintaining, storing, servicing and installing its technology. For the amount of resources it takes to maintain state-of-the-art technology in UNLV’s leading academic library, ‘feeding the beast’ (39) is an apt term. Needing constant attention, patches, maintenance, hardware replacement, tech support, space, and money, keeping up with ever-evolving technology lands a hefty price tag.
And although access to this type of technology yields great benefits in information retrieval to both to the library and to the end users, the fundamental aspect of a library being a place where all can access information freely seems jeopardized:
“As has oftentimes been experienced in public libraries, community users are not in an academic program and come to surf the web, check their e-mail, and play games, as opposed to “academic” work. Certainly, students pursue such leisure activities as well. In contrast, whereas students often have classes to go to, friends to meet, or a part time job, community users may stay on computers for hours on end, and this is somewhat disheartening when students with legitimate needs are searching for a computer.” (Vaughan 41)
Libraries stand for intellectual freedom and for free access to information for all citizens. To imply that one citizen has legitimate needs over another implies that there is a definite hierarchical system in place. Further illustrating this point, Vaughan states that “In 2005, the [Lied] library plans to limit what internet resources community users can access.” (42)
Clifford Lynch elucidates in his article Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the curriculum for a Digital Culture, when he states that the “legal, social, economic, and ethical issues surrounding the ownership and use of intellectual property,” are areas which should constitute information literacy. It begs the question: along with mastering the operation of the latest technology, shouldn’t we also master the rules by which information is transmitted, organized, authored, etc., and the impact it has in a commerce driven environment?
As print publications become more a notion of our past (2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers) and digital publication becomes the status quo, it is essential that these issues be examined. Especially now, when the boundaries of intellectual property rights, and the rights of the individual to access information freely, are being tested.
Muddiest Point
As information grows as a viable commodity, is it going to be the power of the consumer that dictates what direction libraries will take in the future?
Week 1 Posts:
Nicole Plana's Blog
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=1491308052360981630&postID=1296373416004838718
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Reading Assignment Week 2
Moore's Law-Wikipedia and SA Podcast
Moore's Law, as the 'driving force of technological and social change,' (2) the self-fulfilling prophecy of the information age, is something of which I had been completely unaware. The rate at which transistors are constantly doubled and scaled down, has given me a mental picture as to how technology has advanced. Being able to visualize chips as small as 32 nm (6) has helped me to understand how and why technological devices are getting smaller and smaller; why the brick-sized cell-phones of the eighties have transmogrified into the lipstick tube-sized bluetooths we see all around us today.
The speed at which information is transmitted seems to be of utmost importance to today's user; "It now makes sense in many cases to trade space for time [...] at the cost of using more disk and memory space: space is getting cheaper relative to time." (8) People want information at their fingertips. They are willing to pay for this instant accessability. And it makes me wonder: is the vetted information available in libraries a commodity which has lost value simply because much of it cannot be accessed instantaneously? What is the the cost/value ratio to information which takes more time to retrieve, that is, if time is an increasingly precious commodity?
This reading has been very informative and thought provoking. I had no idea people were making predictions about computers in 1950!
Computer Hardware-
I know little about PC's. I know how to save documents on to my USB, how to unplug and re-plug the transmitter to my wireless mouse when it is not working, how to send email, set up facebook, and operate a few computer programs.
This reading has familiarized me with the components of my computer; the difference between Hardware, Software and Firmware; typical PC Hardware vs. Removable Media Devices. Though I am just learning about computers, I find it interesting to note the outdated devices, and how quickly some of them (HD DVD for example) have become obsolete. It is also interesting to know how everything is connected.
Computer History Museum-
History of the Internet-
The history of the internet is both fascinating and inspiring. From the first drawings on napkins depicting circles and squares connected by lines, to the internet 'cloud' we saw in our first class, the progression is truly amazing.
The Muddiest Point:
I am a remote viewer, and I found it hard to hear students' questions/comments during the lecture. Would it be possible to add another microphone in the room?
We had discussed in lecture how books are a container associated with the library. Is it possible to separate the container from the information, and still fully experience the content? In some ways, I think the container, the book, provides a tactile experience which is fundamentally tied to the pleasure of reading.
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