https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4736393327020365268&postID=7012994151596078296&page=1
https://www.blogger.com/comment.g?blogID=4487027148249158402&postID=4988524405358940109&page=1
Monday, December 8, 2008
Friday, December 5, 2008
Week 14 Readings and Muddiest Point
1) Galen Gruman. “What cloud computing really means” InfoWorld, April 2008.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/04/07/15FE-cloud-computing-reality_1.html
Cloud computing seems like the more economically viable future of internet servers. I definitely see the benefits and think the IT world will continue to progress in such a direction. it particularly seems useful in a library because of problems dealing with a magnitude of interested parties. I never knew how much I already depended on it in daily life (SAAS).
2) Explaining Cloud Computing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hplXnFUlPmg&NR=1
This video is a much better explanation. I understand the different divisions and types much better and see how it is so much more conveneiet for the person managing "gogle maps" for instance. Companies such as the aforementioned need such capabilites or they would require a much larger evaluative/tracking client staff.
3) Thomas Frey. The Future of Libraries: Beginning the Great Transformation
http://www.davinciinstitute.com/page.php?ID=120
This article summarizes the ways in wich libraries are percieved as "no longer useful" or "obsolete". These are the same beliefs I have been trained during the school year to combat. it is apparent that liraries are no longer repositories of informaiton, but filters and qualit inspectors of that information. I feel that libraries are adequately prepared for a shift that is already well underway.
Muddiest Point: Regarding concepts such as ones in the "nowhere to hide" literature and class discussion, what is a souce that provides some "dos and don'ts" for protecting private information. This should have a definitive guide. it would easily be a "most accesed" document if it were tracked.
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/04/07/15FE-cloud-computing-reality_1.html
Cloud computing seems like the more economically viable future of internet servers. I definitely see the benefits and think the IT world will continue to progress in such a direction. it particularly seems useful in a library because of problems dealing with a magnitude of interested parties. I never knew how much I already depended on it in daily life (SAAS).
2) Explaining Cloud Computing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hplXnFUlPmg&NR=1
This video is a much better explanation. I understand the different divisions and types much better and see how it is so much more conveneiet for the person managing "gogle maps" for instance. Companies such as the aforementioned need such capabilites or they would require a much larger evaluative/tracking client staff.
3) Thomas Frey. The Future of Libraries: Beginning the Great Transformation
http://www.davinciinstitute.com/page.php?ID=120
This article summarizes the ways in wich libraries are percieved as "no longer useful" or "obsolete". These are the same beliefs I have been trained during the school year to combat. it is apparent that liraries are no longer repositories of informaiton, but filters and qualit inspectors of that information. I feel that libraries are adequately prepared for a shift that is already well underway.
Muddiest Point: Regarding concepts such as ones in the "nowhere to hide" literature and class discussion, what is a souce that provides some "dos and don'ts" for protecting private information. This should have a definitive guide. it would easily be a "most accesed" document if it were tracked.
Monday, December 1, 2008
Week 13 Readings and Muddiest Point
No Place to Hide: I am pleasantly surprised to see that such a group exists. I often wonder exactly how mch of my personal information is visible to "the powers that be". Due to all the activities I pursue that require personal information, i am sure that there are extensive records of everything I do. It is clear to me that, under conditions such as those instated by the patriot act, my privacy has been weighed against national security interests.
http://www.epic.org/privacy/profiling/tia/: This website furthers the beliefs articulated by "no place to hide". It seems as though everyone feels safer under such restrictions. I have, however, been asking myself how often someone is falsely accused of terrorist or other harmful activities. Is there any way to document an accuracy rate?
Youtube video: Unable to access due to copyright restrictions.
Muddiest Point:
Of late, I have understood the content of our classes completely. Accordingly, I have used my "muddiest point" as an opportunity to ask topical questions. i am wondering if there is an "anti-weblog" movement in the library community. IS there a group of librarians strongly opposed to their use? This is interesting to me because I cannot se any visible "cons".
http://www.epic.org/privacy/profiling/tia/: This website furthers the beliefs articulated by "no place to hide". It seems as though everyone feels safer under such restrictions. I have, however, been asking myself how often someone is falsely accused of terrorist or other harmful activities. Is there any way to document an accuracy rate?
Youtube video: Unable to access due to copyright restrictions.
Muddiest Point:
Of late, I have understood the content of our classes completely. Accordingly, I have used my "muddiest point" as an opportunity to ask topical questions. i am wondering if there is an "anti-weblog" movement in the library community. IS there a group of librarians strongly opposed to their use? This is interesting to me because I cannot se any visible "cons".
Monday, November 24, 2008
Friday, November 21, 2008
Muddiest Point
Although this post does not pertain to a point of class that was unclear (class was very understandable!! ), I am wondering where I can find more information about resistance to digitization and the apparent downsides of digital libraries. Any ideas?
Week 12 Readings
Reichardt, R., & Harder, G. (2005). Weblogs: their use and application in science and technology libraries.
Science & Technology Libraries, 25(3), 105-116.
This article has provided me with several instances in which weblogs have been helpful yo my discipline as well as the hard sciences. In fields that emphasize empirical observation, weblogs aggregate information from several sources that have been approved for their quality of observation and field expertise. It also serves as an excellent means of communication between parties.
Charles Allan, "Using a wiki to manage a library instruction program: Sharing knowledge to better serve patrons"
C&RL News, April 2007 Vol. 68, No. 4 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/crlnews/2007/apr/usingawiki.cfm
I recently engaged in lirbary isntruction as part of my appointment at Point Park University and have reached many of the same conclusions as the author of this piece. Personally, I view instruction as a natural extension of reference and believe that questions can be answered much mroe efficiently using a wiki. In librayr school, I have used several wikis to undertake projects and find that the services they offer are primarily responsible for keeping me educated and informed. I also see that instruction sessions can be very tiresome for many students. This is an excellent alternative medium!!!
Xan Arch, "Creating the academic library folksonomy: Put social tagging to work at your institution" C&RL News,
February 2007 Vol. 68, No. 2 http://www.ftrf.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/crlnews/2007/feb/libraryfolksonomy.cfm
Once again, I am reminded of my duties behind the reference desk. Social tagging could potentially take away a lot of my work, but it would also allow questiosn to be answered much mroe efficiently. In our current age, a librarian primarily functions on the customer service level as a means opf validating the quality of a source. On the other hand, social tagging might also just change the fucntion of my vocation as a manager of such tags in which I would be performing the same task through a different method. Overall, I am in favor of implementing social tagging.
Jimmy Wales: “How a ragtag band created Wikipedia”
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jimmy_wales_on_the_birth_of_wikipedia.html
Wikipedia has always been a subject of great interest for me. I personally believe that it is one of the greatest creations in the past ten years. Although many articles contain profanity and information that is generally unreliable, one can always check the cited sources for comfort and as a means of beginning research. The creation of "The Free Encyclopedia" is definitely the most egalitarian undertaking I've ever encountered.
Science & Technology Libraries, 25(3), 105-116.
This article has provided me with several instances in which weblogs have been helpful yo my discipline as well as the hard sciences. In fields that emphasize empirical observation, weblogs aggregate information from several sources that have been approved for their quality of observation and field expertise. It also serves as an excellent means of communication between parties.
Charles Allan, "Using a wiki to manage a library instruction program: Sharing knowledge to better serve patrons"
C&RL News, April 2007 Vol. 68, No. 4 http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/crlnews/2007/apr/usingawiki.cfm
I recently engaged in lirbary isntruction as part of my appointment at Point Park University and have reached many of the same conclusions as the author of this piece. Personally, I view instruction as a natural extension of reference and believe that questions can be answered much mroe efficiently using a wiki. In librayr school, I have used several wikis to undertake projects and find that the services they offer are primarily responsible for keeping me educated and informed. I also see that instruction sessions can be very tiresome for many students. This is an excellent alternative medium!!!
Xan Arch, "Creating the academic library folksonomy: Put social tagging to work at your institution" C&RL News,
February 2007 Vol. 68, No. 2 http://www.ftrf.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/publications/crlnews/2007/feb/libraryfolksonomy.cfm
Once again, I am reminded of my duties behind the reference desk. Social tagging could potentially take away a lot of my work, but it would also allow questiosn to be answered much mroe efficiently. In our current age, a librarian primarily functions on the customer service level as a means opf validating the quality of a source. On the other hand, social tagging might also just change the fucntion of my vocation as a manager of such tags in which I would be performing the same task through a different method. Overall, I am in favor of implementing social tagging.
Jimmy Wales: “How a ragtag band created Wikipedia”
http://www.ted.com/index.php/talks/jimmy_wales_on_the_birth_of_wikipedia.html
Wikipedia has always been a subject of great interest for me. I personally believe that it is one of the greatest creations in the past ten years. Although many articles contain profanity and information that is generally unreliable, one can always check the cited sources for comfort and as a means of beginning research. The creation of "The Free Encyclopedia" is definitely the most egalitarian undertaking I've ever encountered.
Monday, November 17, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Week 11 Readings and Muddiest Point
1. Mischo, W. (July/August 2005). Digital Libraries: challenges and influential work. D-Lib Magazine. 11(7/8). http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july05/mischo/07mischo.html
I have often found myself extremely frustrated at the prospect of retrieving esoteric information because of how widely distributed I have found scholarly information to be. I do, despite my frustration, also share the belief that "seamless federation across distributed heterogeneous resources remains the holy grail of digital library work". In other words, this article has revealed to me the extent to which I am able to overlook the drawbacks of concepts such as open access and widely available information for everyone because of how much I enjoy the benefits. I also have new-found respect and the desire to adulate the NSF.
2. Paepcke, A. et al. (July/August 2005). Dewey meets Turing: librarians, computer scientists and the digital libraries initiative. D-Lib Magazine. 11(7/8). http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july05/paepcke/07paepcke.html
I wonder how Melville Dewey would have actually reacted upon encountering a Turing Machine. This article traces an interesting history of the WWW as well as google and other search engines. It does, however, surprise me that library dependency on all things IT is not a more widely understood dependency. The librarians I have known in the past (and read about, my current employment is a huge exception to the following statement) have been at odds with technology people. As a future librarian, I understand that it is my task to utilize the benefits of IT in order to advance my own field.
3. Lynch, Clifford A. "Institutional Repositories: Essential Infrastructure for Scholarship in the Digital Age" ARL, no. 226 (February 2003): 1-7. http://www.arl.org/resources/pubs/br/br226/br226ir.shtml
I like to think that I currently attend an institutional repository because suich is definitely the place I would like to be. I think that the ideas expressed in this article show how academic institutions have not been utilized to their full potential. It seems as though they are performing tasks that may have been very well suited for libraries. It is the obli9gation of such universitities as the ones mentioned in the article to advance scholarly communication in any way technologically possible.
Muddiest Point
What is still difficult for me to understand regarding the latest "hand on point" is, firstly, how am I to record the outcome of my search for futurte discussion? Secondly (and MKUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY) I am interested to know how I can see the process of adding more terms lessens the number of retrieved documents in a search. I would actually like to see the number of documents decrease as I enter terms. Of course, I am just curious. Is there any way (technologically) that I can see this in action?
I have often found myself extremely frustrated at the prospect of retrieving esoteric information because of how widely distributed I have found scholarly information to be. I do, despite my frustration, also share the belief that "seamless federation across distributed heterogeneous resources remains the holy grail of digital library work". In other words, this article has revealed to me the extent to which I am able to overlook the drawbacks of concepts such as open access and widely available information for everyone because of how much I enjoy the benefits. I also have new-found respect and the desire to adulate the NSF.
2. Paepcke, A. et al. (July/August 2005). Dewey meets Turing: librarians, computer scientists and the digital libraries initiative. D-Lib Magazine. 11(7/8). http://www.dlib.org/dlib/july05/paepcke/07paepcke.html
I wonder how Melville Dewey would have actually reacted upon encountering a Turing Machine. This article traces an interesting history of the WWW as well as google and other search engines. It does, however, surprise me that library dependency on all things IT is not a more widely understood dependency. The librarians I have known in the past (and read about, my current employment is a huge exception to the following statement) have been at odds with technology people. As a future librarian, I understand that it is my task to utilize the benefits of IT in order to advance my own field.
3. Lynch, Clifford A. "Institutional Repositories: Essential Infrastructure for Scholarship in the Digital Age" ARL, no. 226 (February 2003): 1-7. http://www.arl.org/resources/pubs/br/br226/br226ir.shtml
I like to think that I currently attend an institutional repository because suich is definitely the place I would like to be. I think that the ideas expressed in this article show how academic institutions have not been utilized to their full potential. It seems as though they are performing tasks that may have been very well suited for libraries. It is the obli9gation of such universitities as the ones mentioned in the article to advance scholarly communication in any way technologically possible.
Muddiest Point
What is still difficult for me to understand regarding the latest "hand on point" is, firstly, how am I to record the outcome of my search for futurte discussion? Secondly (and MKUCH MORE IMPORTANTLY) I am interested to know how I can see the process of adding more terms lessens the number of retrieved documents in a search. I would actually like to see the number of documents decrease as I enter terms. Of course, I am just curious. Is there any way (technologically) that I can see this in action?
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Monday, November 10, 2008
Friday, November 7, 2008
Week 10 Readings
Web search engines: This p[roved to be an enlightening article. It basically describes the process behind entering a url and the behind-the scenes of summoning up documents based on your search terms. For the most part, I did not realize that much work was dopne on the other end of a search. I( merely thought that the search results were purely generated by the terms I entered and not bu ID numbers. This article has proven to me that the ease of using a search engine actually involves a much greater process at hand. There are methods for imporvement in constant development.
OAI archives: This article proves to me that my taks as a librarian will never be complete and, accordingly, I will always have work to do (good thing). I've hear the argument that search engines have eliminated the need for librarians, but the amount of push for complete archiving of intertnet data has shown me that there will never be a point where thigns become complteely manageable for the common user.
Deep Web: The existence of the deep web has been a subject of great interest to mke. When you enter a term into google, you are bound to come up with resaults that several peiople have come up with before. In other words, retreigving a rare and desired piece of information seems more and more like an art. The amount of content and "bots" in the deep web shoiws how such information is much harder and potentiaslly more dangerous to retreive.
OAI archives: This article proves to me that my taks as a librarian will never be complete and, accordingly, I will always have work to do (good thing). I've hear the argument that search engines have eliminated the need for librarians, but the amount of push for complete archiving of intertnet data has shown me that there will never be a point where thigns become complteely manageable for the common user.
Deep Web: The existence of the deep web has been a subject of great interest to mke. When you enter a term into google, you are bound to come up with resaults that several peiople have come up with before. In other words, retreigving a rare and desired piece of information seems more and more like an art. The amount of content and "bots" in the deep web shoiws how such information is much harder and potentiaslly more dangerous to retreive.
Week 10 Muddiest Point
HTML and XML
Although we have covered this material extensively, I still have trouble understanding the level at which XML oversees HTML. In other words, when i am creating my own website and using code, how do I know when it is time to employ html (in the visual sense). I know thatr it serves the purpose of managing html, but I do not see why a person would need it unless they are managing a very large website will lots of html content. In other words (for our last assignment), do you think ti would be worthwhile to learn xml just to manage a small personal webpage?
Although we have covered this material extensively, I still have trouble understanding the level at which XML oversees HTML. In other words, when i am creating my own website and using code, how do I know when it is time to employ html (in the visual sense). I know thatr it serves the purpose of managing html, but I do not see why a person would need it unless they are managing a very large website will lots of html content. In other words (for our last assignment), do you think ti would be worthwhile to learn xml just to manage a small personal webpage?
Monday, November 3, 2008
Thursday, October 9, 2008
Muddiest Point about Internet History
The most confusing bit of information for me was the fact that the idea for a network sch as the WWW existed as early as the 1950s as a means for communication between major cities. If such an idea has been in development since that early on, why did Bill Gates originally think that the public would not strive towards the internet? Unfortunately, I do not have the citation for his claim. It seems as though our social emphasis on the WWW was visible even from an early point. (The next sentence is my muddiest point condensed) To summarize it all, why didn't everyone see the rise of internet usage coming from a long way away?
Week 8 Readings
1.W3schools HTML Tutorial: http://www.w3schools.com/HTML/:
I have often toyed with the idea of learning HTML. Based on this tutorial, it seems t me that HTML serves as the basis for many or (possibly) all web design programs. In other words, it seems like the ancestor of all the languages used to make websites today. This tutorial also makes me wonder abut the extent to which it is used today. Having many computer-savy friends, I have heard several people namedrop with web languages. These conversations make me worry that HTML has become obsolete and seems like "kindergarten" to professional website designers. Overall, I look forward to the opportunity to create my own basic webpage.
2.HTML Cheatsheet http://www.webmonkey.com/reference/HTML_Cheatsheet/:
I am very grateful for the existence of this website. I now have an easy reference source for all the basic commands of HTML and now feel confident about creating a site. I will, however, have to keep the cheatsheet constantly open in order for me to effectivly manage the space the way I want. This cheatsheet proves my point that HTML has become such basic knowledge that it might very well be obsolete for people in the profession. The main functin that this website serves is to allow non-professional people to communicate in a way that naturally follows technological advancement while still keeping more advanced web languages esoteric.
3.W3 School Cascading Style Sheet Tutorial: http://www.w3schools.com/css/
This tutorial once again confirms my suspicions that tml has become a languageconsidered very basic by many. This CSS program seems to primarily serve the function of managing lots of HTML creations at once. On the other hand, should I be made to think that CSS is actually just the appearance of html? I hav read the explanations on the tutorial, but I dont quite understand the relationship between the two. I can, however, understand that CSS makes HTML much easier to manage on a larger level.
4.Beyond HTML: Developing and re-imagining library web guides in a content management system.
This article addresses an issue about which I am particularly passionate. I currently work in a library through the Pitt Partner's Program and constantly encounter patrons who cannot access the information they need on our website. It is clear to me that such is a problem of content management. Web designers and patrons seem to have becme more sophisticated in even proportion to each other. I definiely agree that drastic measures have to be taken to make library web guides more user-friendly and outreaching. Otherwise, the new capabilities of web designers and web pages come as no surprise to me.
I have often toyed with the idea of learning HTML. Based on this tutorial, it seems t me that HTML serves as the basis for many or (possibly) all web design programs. In other words, it seems like the ancestor of all the languages used to make websites today. This tutorial also makes me wonder abut the extent to which it is used today. Having many computer-savy friends, I have heard several people namedrop with web languages. These conversations make me worry that HTML has become obsolete and seems like "kindergarten" to professional website designers. Overall, I look forward to the opportunity to create my own basic webpage.
2.HTML Cheatsheet http://www.webmonkey.com/reference/HTML_Cheatsheet/:
I am very grateful for the existence of this website. I now have an easy reference source for all the basic commands of HTML and now feel confident about creating a site. I will, however, have to keep the cheatsheet constantly open in order for me to effectivly manage the space the way I want. This cheatsheet proves my point that HTML has become such basic knowledge that it might very well be obsolete for people in the profession. The main functin that this website serves is to allow non-professional people to communicate in a way that naturally follows technological advancement while still keeping more advanced web languages esoteric.
3.W3 School Cascading Style Sheet Tutorial: http://www.w3schools.com/css/
This tutorial once again confirms my suspicions that tml has become a languageconsidered very basic by many. This CSS program seems to primarily serve the function of managing lots of HTML creations at once. On the other hand, should I be made to think that CSS is actually just the appearance of html? I hav read the explanations on the tutorial, but I dont quite understand the relationship between the two. I can, however, understand that CSS makes HTML much easier to manage on a larger level.
4.Beyond HTML: Developing and re-imagining library web guides in a content management system.
This article addresses an issue about which I am particularly passionate. I currently work in a library through the Pitt Partner's Program and constantly encounter patrons who cannot access the information they need on our website. It is clear to me that such is a problem of content management. Web designers and patrons seem to have becme more sophisticated in even proportion to each other. I definiely agree that drastic measures have to be taken to make library web guides more user-friendly and outreaching. Otherwise, the new capabilities of web designers and web pages come as no surprise to me.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
my citeulike reposted
Due to a previous posting and assignment error, here is the url for my citeulike library:
http://www.citeulike.org/user/ojb6/library
http://www.citeulike.org/user/ojb6/library
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Week 7 Reading Responses and Muddiest Point
http://computer.howstuffworks.com/internet-infrastructure.htm/printable
This document offers a pretty clear explanation of some material recently covered in class. What interests me the most is how inevitably connected an internet user is and the process of routing information sent from one computer to another. it would be especially interesting to find out how many different computers information travels through when I click on a link from ne of my most frequently visited websites (my favorite placs to go online). I would like a tool to cont how many places throgh which the information is directed before it reaches me. Overall, it seems as though there is no way to use the internet "off the gird" or without being tracked.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
Much like any system of information, it naturally follows that library resources tend to follow undr the same operational guidelines. ILS does, however, seem like a very controlling network. I agree with the article of this paper because I openly recognize the need for different informaton repositories to operate under their own organizational guidelines and not be confined by a seemingly oppresive model. In a way, a library sstem sems like a microcosm of the World Wide Web. "Dismantling" ILS, based on the evidence presented by the author, appears to be the most sensible form of constructing a new system unique to an institution.
Inside the Google Machine
I was first introduced to Google early in my career as an undergraduate. This video in particular holds my interests because I am now able to understand many of the processes behind the simple act of using a search term. It is no wnder to me that Google has become so valuable. Google has become the first place to turn to when seeking information. I can also see how the search engine itself, while requiring an enormous staff, also operats by itself in some ways. For this reason, to paraphrase Buckminster Fuller, I view seach engines as processes rather than as corporal objects and companies.
Muddiest Point
The most unclear aspect of class this week for me was the relationship between server and client. Although it is obvious to me what the role of each entails, I began to wonder about the extent of the role of each one. Not to sound like a luddite or, more appropriately, a "technological airhead", but I wonder if a server computer can become a client of the computer that was once its client. Can computers form a symbiotic relationship as users and clients of each other? I suppose server computers must not be frequently used for personal purposes. Overall, this idea was one that kept occurring to me after class.
This document offers a pretty clear explanation of some material recently covered in class. What interests me the most is how inevitably connected an internet user is and the process of routing information sent from one computer to another. it would be especially interesting to find out how many different computers information travels through when I click on a link from ne of my most frequently visited websites (my favorite placs to go online). I would like a tool to cont how many places throgh which the information is directed before it reaches me. Overall, it seems as though there is no way to use the internet "off the gird" or without being tracked.
Dismantling Integrated Library Systems
Much like any system of information, it naturally follows that library resources tend to follow undr the same operational guidelines. ILS does, however, seem like a very controlling network. I agree with the article of this paper because I openly recognize the need for different informaton repositories to operate under their own organizational guidelines and not be confined by a seemingly oppresive model. In a way, a library sstem sems like a microcosm of the World Wide Web. "Dismantling" ILS, based on the evidence presented by the author, appears to be the most sensible form of constructing a new system unique to an institution.
Inside the Google Machine
I was first introduced to Google early in my career as an undergraduate. This video in particular holds my interests because I am now able to understand many of the processes behind the simple act of using a search term. It is no wnder to me that Google has become so valuable. Google has become the first place to turn to when seeking information. I can also see how the search engine itself, while requiring an enormous staff, also operats by itself in some ways. For this reason, to paraphrase Buckminster Fuller, I view seach engines as processes rather than as corporal objects and companies.
Muddiest Point
The most unclear aspect of class this week for me was the relationship between server and client. Although it is obvious to me what the role of each entails, I began to wonder about the extent of the role of each one. Not to sound like a luddite or, more appropriately, a "technological airhead", but I wonder if a server computer can become a client of the computer that was once its client. Can computers form a symbiotic relationship as users and clients of each other? I suppose server computers must not be frequently used for personal purposes. Overall, this idea was one that kept occurring to me after class.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)