Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Friday, September 26, 2008
Week 5 Muddies Point
How long does it take for an organization to endorse a new format - say archival photo format? I'm sure the answer includes some variation of "it depends" but am asking nonetheless ...
Week 6 Readings - Computer Networks
1. LAN
Not really sure how much there is for me to say here … LANs have proven useful for me since the days of playing Doom co-op (stop laughing), through my nearly daily use of VPN to access library materials. A little more of an abstract thought: learning about the history of these technologies has been interesting, especially when there seems to be a big gap between when the technology is developed and when it becomes more ubiquitous. What else is down the pike for us “normal” users that’s already been used in some tech school or company?
2. Computer Network
Again, a good discussion of the nuts and bolts of networking … Here I’m most interested in the expanse of GANs and how we may be already using them. Any thoughts or suggestions here?
3. Frank Klein tells us about the common types of networks
Thanks, Frank.
4. Coyle, K. (2005). Management of RFID in libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 31(5), 486-489
Coyle raises some good points in her analysis of RFID use. ROI is always the a good starting point when considering a new technology – even in the library with all of its inherent difficulties determining ROI (including the “public good” aspect of the institution). The other detail I enjoyed was the mention of how to adapt the tag system for items such as musical scores or childrens' books. Sometimes details like these are much bigger nuisance than they originally seem to be.
Not really sure how much there is for me to say here … LANs have proven useful for me since the days of playing Doom co-op (stop laughing), through my nearly daily use of VPN to access library materials. A little more of an abstract thought: learning about the history of these technologies has been interesting, especially when there seems to be a big gap between when the technology is developed and when it becomes more ubiquitous. What else is down the pike for us “normal” users that’s already been used in some tech school or company?
2. Computer Network
Again, a good discussion of the nuts and bolts of networking … Here I’m most interested in the expanse of GANs and how we may be already using them. Any thoughts or suggestions here?
3. Frank Klein tells us about the common types of networks
Thanks, Frank.
4. Coyle, K. (2005). Management of RFID in libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 31(5), 486-489
Coyle raises some good points in her analysis of RFID use. ROI is always the a good starting point when considering a new technology – even in the library with all of its inherent difficulties determining ROI (including the “public good” aspect of the institution). The other detail I enjoyed was the mention of how to adapt the tag system for items such as musical scores or childrens' books. Sometimes details like these are much bigger nuisance than they originally seem to be.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Friday, September 12, 2008
Week 3 - Muddiest Point
Regarding our discussion of open source software, I am wondering if government-funded institutes would run into any resistance in wanting to use an open source integrated library system?
Week 4 Readings - Information Organization
1) Defining "Database" on wikipedia
Admittedly I found it difficult to weed through the jargon here, but think I grasped the big picture. I can't help but consider the fragility of any database, but at the same time don't think that's an appropriate characterization. Given the immense nature of databases, I'm interested in how we negotiate an appropriate amount of error. Do any institutional recommendations for margin of error exist - or, maybe first, what auditing strategies exist for this purpose?
2) Introduction to Metadata by Anne J. Gilliland
In the conclusion her article, Gilliland emphasizes "carefully designed" metadata as being the important building block of information before offering suggestions for how to develop a good metadata base. Aside from the issue of time and resources, I wonder what other perils might result from over doing data tagging? In other words, does "careful design" imply a necessary balance needed between the amount of metadata for an object and the quality or precision of that metadata?
On a side note, do any international metadata standards exist?
3) An overview of the Dublin Core Data Model by Eric J. Miller
Well, I should look into completing all the reading before posting ... That said, I appreciate this article for giving an overview of the difficulties arriving at One True Standard - which, of course, does not and will never exist. This writing dates back to 1999, I'm curious how effective it has been worldwide.
Admittedly I found it difficult to weed through the jargon here, but think I grasped the big picture. I can't help but consider the fragility of any database, but at the same time don't think that's an appropriate characterization. Given the immense nature of databases, I'm interested in how we negotiate an appropriate amount of error. Do any institutional recommendations for margin of error exist - or, maybe first, what auditing strategies exist for this purpose?
2) Introduction to Metadata by Anne J. Gilliland
In the conclusion her article, Gilliland emphasizes "carefully designed" metadata as being the important building block of information before offering suggestions for how to develop a good metadata base. Aside from the issue of time and resources, I wonder what other perils might result from over doing data tagging? In other words, does "careful design" imply a necessary balance needed between the amount of metadata for an object and the quality or precision of that metadata?
3) An overview of the Dublin Core Data Model by Eric J. Miller
Well, I should look into completing all the reading before posting ... That said, I appreciate this article for giving an overview of the difficulties arriving at One True Standard - which, of course, does not and will never exist. This writing dates back to 1999, I'm curious how effective it has been worldwide.
Friday, September 5, 2008
Week 3 - Computer Software
Notes for this week's primary readings:
1) Linux History
This article elaborated on some basic Linux background, while simultaneously promoting the platform. For me, the most important aspect of this article is the importance of the user - in this case the user represented by the market. While I appreciate and get behind the ideals underpinning the Linux community, it will ultimately have to appeal to the desktop user. What will happen when a free software obtains a bigger portion of a commercial market?
2) Mac OS X
What I find most interesting about the History of Mac's OSes is how Apple has played with Unix platforms, Intel chips, and such. Though sexy, I am interested to see how much of the computer market Macs occupy ...
3) Windows
As a Windows user currently straddling the line between XP and Vista-64 (one on a desktop, the other on a laptop), I feel as though I understand and sympathize with the woes of transition. It's often a pain the ass to be frank. Yet, as I continue to hammer the point of market-value vs. technical value, I am curious as to how long Windows popularity will sustain? To use a car analogy (for better or worse), I think of this past quarter where Toyota finally outsold GM in the United States.
All for now ... please feel free to comment:
1) Linux History
This article elaborated on some basic Linux background, while simultaneously promoting the platform. For me, the most important aspect of this article is the importance of the user - in this case the user represented by the market. While I appreciate and get behind the ideals underpinning the Linux community, it will ultimately have to appeal to the desktop user. What will happen when a free software obtains a bigger portion of a commercial market?
2) Mac OS X
What I find most interesting about the History of Mac's OSes is how Apple has played with Unix platforms, Intel chips, and such. Though sexy, I am interested to see how much of the computer market Macs occupy ...
3) Windows
As a Windows user currently straddling the line between XP and Vista-64 (one on a desktop, the other on a laptop), I feel as though I understand and sympathize with the woes of transition. It's often a pain the ass to be frank. Yet, as I continue to hammer the point of market-value vs. technical value, I am curious as to how long Windows popularity will sustain? To use a car analogy (for better or worse), I think of this past quarter where Toyota finally outsold GM in the United States.
All for now ... please feel free to comment:
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Week 1 Readings
I'm a bit stuck trying to communicate one distinct theme for this week's readings. The best I can come up with is "flux" as I think each of the authors make the point that nothing is static in the library field due to its ubiquitous reliance on technology. An ability to adapt and run with technological development, even to the point of projecting trends, is paramount to a library maintaining its relevance. It's a message that seem quaint, given even the few years since these specific subjects were written about. I guess having that feeling simply reinforces the point.
Some notes and thoughts:
1) "OCLC 2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers"
On the continuum spanning from "Theory" to "Practice," this article sits between the other two required readings. I think the argument that being technologically adept is crucial to library relevance is presented in the foreground here as the OCLC speaks directly to librarians and information professionals and challenges them to consider ways to implement technology and technological uses found in the consumer sector.
I am especially interested in the emphasis that technology cannot be determined by its producers. The argument that users are empowered to appropriate technology for the needs that they deem necessary, through the consumer sector, is one that one that I believe information professionals must consider (even if to deny or disagree with their significance). We see in this week's other readings suggestions on how to respond to user needs.
One more point I'd like to discuss about this report concerns the importance of evaluation and how librarians have shifted (and will continue to shift) into roles as educators. The glut of "nonauthoritative" publishing and user-generated information, on top of the vastly expanding amount of more "legitimate" sources, requires education on the value of sources. Certainly, this isn't easy and I'm curious as to what you have to say about different types of information in different settings: when are wikis and blogs useful? In a general setting? In an academic setting? What about non-peer-reviewed academic work such as FlowTV where primarily professors and graduate students discuss in an online forum based on short articles? What information is useful to get a user started in the right direction, but not much else?
2) "Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture" by Clifford Lynch
Lynch's remarks also speak to the need for education, as he discusses the symbiotic relationship of Information Literacy (understanding structures of content) and Information Technology Literacy (understanding structures of technology). His position is, of course, useful and I want to single out his point that education in both of these sectors requires a macro and micro perspective. I know it was not his intent to offer a detailed agenda or rigorous statistics concerning the subject, but I nonetheless wanted to interject and position the necessity for education into practical constraints - mostly just that fact of having limited resources.
I came to consider another big symbiotic relationship: theory and practice as I continued to Jason Vaughan's case study ...
3) "Lied Library @ Four Years: Technology Never Stands Still" by Jason Vaughan
Much like the discussed nature of technology, when reading Vaughan's update on the technological developments of UNLV's library system, I couldn't help but wonder how long is an article like this useful? How long does it take for technology to become standard in something as specific as academic libraries? Also, on the idea of standards, I am curious to explore what are standard methods to track usage in a library. Vaughan occasionally references the potential limits of the facility along with statistics such as print usage and measurements of how many users hit the library web site - I'm curious if any of the professional organizations have offered a recommended rubric of data that best reflects user preferences or a general understanding of how many people use library services. If anyone knows of a resource for this, please let me know.
All for now ... I appreciate your comments.
Some notes and thoughts:
1) "OCLC 2004 Information Format Trends: Content, Not Containers"
On the continuum spanning from "Theory" to "Practice," this article sits between the other two required readings. I think the argument that being technologically adept is crucial to library relevance is presented in the foreground here as the OCLC speaks directly to librarians and information professionals and challenges them to consider ways to implement technology and technological uses found in the consumer sector.
I am especially interested in the emphasis that technology cannot be determined by its producers. The argument that users are empowered to appropriate technology for the needs that they deem necessary, through the consumer sector, is one that one that I believe information professionals must consider (even if to deny or disagree with their significance). We see in this week's other readings suggestions on how to respond to user needs.
One more point I'd like to discuss about this report concerns the importance of evaluation and how librarians have shifted (and will continue to shift) into roles as educators. The glut of "nonauthoritative" publishing and user-generated information, on top of the vastly expanding amount of more "legitimate" sources, requires education on the value of sources. Certainly, this isn't easy and I'm curious as to what you have to say about different types of information in different settings: when are wikis and blogs useful? In a general setting? In an academic setting? What about non-peer-reviewed academic work such as FlowTV where primarily professors and graduate students discuss in an online forum based on short articles? What information is useful to get a user started in the right direction, but not much else?
2) "Information Literacy and Information Technology Literacy: New Components in the Curriculum for a Digital Culture" by Clifford Lynch
Lynch's remarks also speak to the need for education, as he discusses the symbiotic relationship of Information Literacy (understanding structures of content) and Information Technology Literacy (understanding structures of technology). His position is, of course, useful and I want to single out his point that education in both of these sectors requires a macro and micro perspective. I know it was not his intent to offer a detailed agenda or rigorous statistics concerning the subject, but I nonetheless wanted to interject and position the necessity for education into practical constraints - mostly just that fact of having limited resources.
I came to consider another big symbiotic relationship: theory and practice as I continued to Jason Vaughan's case study ...
3) "Lied Library @ Four Years: Technology Never Stands Still" by Jason Vaughan
Much like the discussed nature of technology, when reading Vaughan's update on the technological developments of UNLV's library system, I couldn't help but wonder how long is an article like this useful? How long does it take for technology to become standard in something as specific as academic libraries? Also, on the idea of standards, I am curious to explore what are standard methods to track usage in a library. Vaughan occasionally references the potential limits of the facility along with statistics such as print usage and measurements of how many users hit the library web site - I'm curious if any of the professional organizations have offered a recommended rubric of data that best reflects user preferences or a general understanding of how many people use library services. If anyone knows of a resource for this, please let me know.
All for now ... I appreciate your comments.
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