Network Technologies

Communication is an important aspect of human life.  Effective communications are facilitated around the globe through the means of computers.  Among tasks that computers made possible are: interconnections of libraries and numerous services e.g. e-mail, scanning, and other opportunities that can reach far to the remote parts of the world.

                                                        Report on Sources for Monitoring
 ResourceBlog: http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/
EBSCO Releases 64 New eBook Subject Sets: From the press release, key collection areas increased are: Arts & Humanities, Business, Information Technology, Medical, Personal Growth & General Education, Science & Technology, Social & Cultural Issues, Social Sciences and Vocational Education.  The new subject sets provide an extensive array of subject matter including: American History, leadership & management, LGBT, social networking, nursing and teacher resources.  A full list of the latest subject sets are available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/ebooks/subject-sets.

LISNews: http://lisnews.org/
County of Los Angeles Public Library: The county of Los Angeles Public Library announces that it will add an additional 10,000 eBooks to its digital collections.  These eBooks will be available free of charge for County Library card holders at http://colapublib.org/eBooks.
Amazon.com announced that "kindle and kindle app customers can borrow kindle books from more than 11,000 libraries in the United States."
Support for the kindle platform means that even more County Library customers can take advantage of the County's growing digital collection.  Other support devices include the Nook by Barnes & Noble, the Sony Reader, the iPad and smartphones including the iPhone, Blackberry and Android.
County Librarian Margaret Donnelian Todd says, "We are a library for the 21st century.  Our mission is to support reading and the love of books.  For a hundred years, this Library has made the printed word accessible to all  Los Angeles County residents.  For the next hundred years and beyond, we will continue this important mission.  Our investment in eBooks and digital technology ensures that we provide continued access to books regardless of format."

Social Bookmarking: New Tag -  Libr201 added, monitoring resources Web cites added, Sandra and a couple of other colleagues' blogs added to Libr105 Tag.
 
 

Storage Devices in Libraries: Why Store Information?

It's amazing to see many of medieval and renaissance documents being kept intact in library archives.  How is this possible?  Libraries have the good reputation of preserving and sharing materials or information.  Originals or copies of both old and new materials are stored and preserved for future reference in libraries.  I came across some old pictures of past American Presidents and many important documents like the constitution while I was searching the Flickr Creative Commons.  Take a look at these:

                                     One-hundred Fiftieth Anniversary of the Constitution, 1941 - 1945.
                                   
                                    Photo belongs to the U.S. National Archives' photostreams (8,042). 
                                     Rights: No known restrictions on publication.
                                     Photo was taken on September 17, 1937.
                              
  

For president, Abraham Lincoln.  For vice president, Hannibal Hamlin (LOC)

Photo belongs to Library of Congress' photostream (14,055)

                                         Rights: No known restrictions on publication.
                                         The photo was taken some time in 1860.
Notes: Prints shows a large campaign banner for Republican presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln, 1809-1865. and running mate Hannibal Hamlin. Lincoln's first name is writen here as "Abram." The banner consists of a thirty-three star American flag pattern printed on cloth. A bust portrait of Lincoln is encircled by stars, in the corner of the banner.

Information sharing and safeguiding are the major tasks of libraries; from oral history, down to writing in paper, sound recordings, films, hypertext documents, etc.  Sometimes, I ponder in my heart how numerous full text of articles, journals, and periodicals in general are made possible on the Internet.  Thanks to the invention of magnetic media which serves as a storage system.  It makes digital devices like videos and thousands of other formats possible to access and distribute by placing them on hard drives from where we can download files (transfer directly) to our computers' hard drive or back up in other portable forms of magnetic media.  A practical example is the Respondus LockDown Browser
that was required to be downloaded on our computers in order for us to access Session 1, Term 1 quiz.

                                                        Sources for Monitoring
From ResourceBlog: http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/
An exiting new initiative about the World Wide Web Index was announced by the World Wide Web Fountain on September 18, 2011.  This will be the world's first multi-dimentional measure of the Web and its impact on people in a large number of countries.  According to the news, it will be a composite index, incorporating political, economic, social, and developmental indicators as well as indicators of Web connectivity and infrastructure. 

From Lisnews:  http://lisnews.org/
 Do Book Ratings Belong in Library Catalogs?  Blakes expressed his concern over this question.  He said, "to me, it feels like a violation of public library philosophy."  He said further that it is less of a problem to him when rating is average or high because it would encourage patrons to check out books they are already considering.  But when patrons see a low rating on a book in catalogs, especially a rating not attributed to an individual patrons, it seems that the library is bad-mouthing the book.  This of course, he said, discourages rather than promotes literacy.   
     

Creative Common (CC): America

                                

   Photo by Mark Skrobola - MCS@flick'sphotostream(243)  http://www.flickr.com/photos/skrobola/4571498936/

 

Photo has a Creative Commons Attribute Licence 2.0 generic (CC By 2.0)  http://creativecommons.org/licences/by/2.0/deed.en

Sound: America - The Star Sprangled Banner (Instrumental) by U.S. Marine Band. 

<embed height="50" width="250" src="http://www.yoursoundfile.wav" autostart="true"></embed>

Fellow Members: Sandra's blog photo "Forest" was beautiful.  The sound too was alright even though I could not hear the words.  Other folks' blogs that I viewed include the following: Brandi, Patricia, Crystal, and Rachel.  

                                                                                                                                                  

Computers in Libraries: Smart Phones and other Devices

Mobile devices like Smart Phones and Netbooks are handy and could fit into library use to enable librarians and other library staff to communicate with one another or to provide access to cataloging systems and Web-based resources when working on projects in the stack.  It could also be used to assist patrons wherever the staff member is located.  It is interesting to learn that electronic books (e-books) are available through these devices.  Moreover, some libraries have their public catalogs set up to allow patrons to text call numbers to their cell phones as well.
Thus, library makes use of computers in many ways.  Technology provides for exclusive and primary use of computers for library staff and their patrons.  Primarily, library uses computers for Collection Organization and Control, particularly in the area of cataloging, acquisition, and circulation.    Computers are also used for Interlibrary Loan which is more convenient than paper files, and also for Electronic Reference Resources in databases and periodicals. 
 Furthermore, Internet AccessTool is an important information resource for both library staff and patrons.  Management/Office Tool such as word processing applications e.g. spreadsheet software is used in budgets and schedules, while Instructional Tool such as powerpoint presentations, and other miscellaneous library tasks like Web design are made avaible through the use of computers. 

  

RSS - Google Reader

I have seen that little orange triangle-like object several times without knowing the significance until last semester when I read about it in one of the courses I offered.  Even then, I could not fully comprehend its message.  I am beginning to know the usefulness now.  RSS stands for "Really Simple Syndication," Wonderful!
Moreover, our class session for this week is an eye-opener to better understand what RSS indicates.  I created an account with Google Reader and subscribed to a few of my colleagues' blogs.  The Wiki Orientation, RSS in Plain English was simple and explanatory enough to make people like me add more understanding to my knowledge of RSS.
Concerning the sources we are suppose to monitor, it has become necessary for me to follow my instructor's advice and guide.  For this reason, I have changed the sources to the following:
http://lisnews.com
http://web.resourceshelf.com/go/resourceblog/
Back to RSS, I chose Google Reader for its benefits: It works in modern browsers without any software to install, it has built-in public page which connects folks and helps them share interesting items with friends and families, it constantly checks favorite news sites and blogs for new contents, and guess what?  it's all free!    

Library Technology

Are you a librarian or a library technician or support staff?  Web 2.0 provides you with tags that helps you organize Web contents and share information with friends.  Create a social book marking today to enable you flow along with other colleagues.

Your library could appeal to your patrons if you make use of the connections you have now.  Web 2.0 connects you with the latest information on:

• Locating vendors and getting the best bidding.
• Buying and guide tips.
• WebJunctions where library staff could come together to connect, create, and learn.
• Installing products and configuring how they will work in your library.
• Continuing education - participating in online conferences and workshops (you don't have to travel for this, just click on the right tag).
• Subscribing to e-books and getting the best books for your collection development.
• Getting rid of all the non-essential stuff on your shelves through logical weeding.
• Updating your readers through book reviews, music, videos/DVDs, audio,gaming, and the like.

The world of technology is vast.  It is also true that technology changes but right decisions must be made to update the information you provide your patrons; otherwise, one might wait for ever.
Let people enjoy visiting your library.  Go ahead and click on this link for further information.
http://www.libraryjournal.com/

Information Technology

Information technology intimate people with ways and methods of disseminating knowledge. Library staff especially have the main duty of providing people with and assisting them in getting information.  The various ways in which people can receive, store, preserve, and share information include mediums such as press release, books, catalogs, databases, computers, media productions like DVDs, Videocassettes, Compact discs, Internet, and many others.

Consider the link below and comment on this YouTube produced by me during a story telling session with a group of children at the Gary Main Public Library.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K9n94vEq02k