Posting #5
Reading about mobile trends is interesting for me because I am one of the few remaining without a smartphone (mostly because I can’t justify the cost right now). There’s been a lot of talk about whether these devices are just making us lazier etc. While that’s a valid point, I think it’s something you have to consider personally. There comes a certain point where technology cannot be resisted. Libraries shouldn’t hold back at the risk of losing their users where they are. Google is on smartphones, but most databases are not. The new generation of users is not going to be able to remember a time when their phones couldn’t do everything, and if they can’t use their phone to access the library then there’s a problem. I’ve been seeing a lot of disheartening articles about the relevance of libraries and it’s in areas like this that they could lose out. Also, designing a mobile site for your library’s website seems like it would be a good exercise in simplicity of design. What features are absolutely necessary?

I am fascinated by the idea of QR codes (though again, no smartphone with which to try them out). It seems like they have a lot of potential in libraries, particularly in the interaction between physical and virtual space. My library is having to downsize our print collection quite drastically so I’ve been toying with the idea of putting QR codes on the shelves where a journal should be to link to our online holdings. It could have interesting implications for RA as well, a code that links to similar works. Obviously implementation will depend on your users – I work at a medical library and I can safely assume a lot users have a smartphone and comfort with technology.

The benefit of being late to the game with this post is that I can get a sense of everyone else’s opinions on cloud computing. It really seems to be a love/hate relationship. I love Google Docs because I can access a paper at home, at work, and at school without having to make sure I’m carrying the file around with me. But I totally panicked when I thought Delicious was going away and I get annoyed at not being able to easily access my Twitter archives. I can’t even argue that paper is better because I lose things that way too. You can throw away things on accident just as easily as you can delete a file on accident. It seems to me that the best method to follow is LOCKSS – Lots of Copies Keeps Stuff Safe. Cloud computing is great, but don’t throw out your files and your hard drive. Digital chores can be just as important as household ones.

Saving my links for the end:
Recent article on QR codes/moble app: http://journal.code4lib.org/articles/5014
LOCKSS: http://lockss.stanford.edu/lockss/Home

Posting #4

Like others, I was also struck by the “Disconnects Between Library Culture and Millenial Generation Values” article. I can definitely see ways in which libraries may not be meeting the expectations of users. I find myself getting frustated with little things like catalogs timing out. But with this article I also wondered how much had changed in five years. I definitely think libraries have made strides in integrating themselves into the Web 2.0 arena. The authors also mentioned instant messaging as a service point. Although I feel like I’ve read plenty of articles on chat reference, my library only just started it using it last week and we’ve already had dozens of questions. And while I shouldn’t lay on too much criticism, I wonder about the popularity of LibGuides because to me they are forcing students to learn another interface when they have enough trouble with library and database webpages. I know that they are supposed to be imitating the wikis that students are already used to, but they can be so clunky. But I digress.

I have few doubts in the future of semantic web. When I was looking for jobs, I saw a lot of positions for SEO (search engine optimization). I think organizations understand the importance of being found on the web, just as search engines understand the importance of finding the right thing. Both sides are working toward a similar goal, and since traditional advertising seems to be declining, it would not surprise me if a lot of effort is placed into making products/information/etc as easy to find as possible. But there is always the danger of certain sites getting preferential treatment. Although I love Google products, their searching has started to frustrate me. Too often it gives me results for sites I’ve already visited which is not what I want!

I am also excited by HTML5 (and CSS3 for that matter, I kept trying to use it during my exercises and had to backtrack). If folks are interested in learning more, I found this link recently: http://diveintohtml5.org/ I agree with others’ comments that it seems much more logical. Check out chapter 4 on the canvas element!

Posting #3

I was interested by this week’s reading primarily because I don’t often think about the infrastructure behind the internet. It’s so easy to access (well if you don’t count dealing with Comcast) that I forget how much is involved in its creation and maintenance. Although it’s widely touted as a way to connect people across the globe, it is still easy to get caught in your own corner of internet and not realize all the good (and bad) that can come out of it. I’m glad there are huge global initiatives like the World Summit on the Information Society and the Internet Society. It was kind of amazing to me to hear that we were running out of IP addresses. Because I have never known a time when the internet was not widespread, it is hard for me to fathom it having limits.

Since it’s taken so long for me to get this post finished (sorry!) there have been a lot of political world developments that have changed what I want to say. While I agree that the internet/broadband access might not be the sole solution to the world’s problems, I think it’s going to play a very important role nonetheless, even in countries where basic needs haven’t been met. Look at the revolutions in Africa that have been facilitated largely through social networking and cell phones. I honestly did not know that that that much technology existed in those countries, just as I didn’t realize how the US was falling behind in broadband access. Internet access is not just going to be the result of change, it is the means to change itself.

Posting #2

I have to say, I am glad to see that there are so many more web/tech orientated jobs for librarians now. It is nice to see that libraries are realizing how necessary it is to have a dedicated person to maintain their web presence etc instead of expecting a reference librarian to write blog posts or update the website amidst their other duties. Or to expect the IT person maintain the website while assisting with every computer problem that arises. Although it means a new skill set for librarians, I am glad there’s recognition that this area is rapidly growing in importance.

That being said, this module has added to my increasing awareness of all the things I don’t know yet. I’ve been very appreciative of my LIS classes that go beyond using Blackboard or handouts. I really like the use of Twitter in classes. I may not take the time to post a link on Blackboard, but it’s easy to share it on Twitter since I’m already there anyway. After learning Google Sites in 704, I’ve used it in other classes to great effect. Even though the point of the class wasn’t to learn how to use it, taking that hour to figure out how everything works is so beneficial. Many of my classmates in Digital Libraries have expressed an interest in learning the practical/technical aspects of digital projects, not just the theory. Thankfully our professor has an IT background and can provide a lot of the nitty gritty for us to learn. Even if I don’t know about all the content management systems out there, at least I have a foundation, much like this class and HTML etc. But I agree with Michael’s Office Hours columns, it doesn’t always seem like it goes far enough. I didn’t have room in my schedule for the RDA seminar, but I would have liked to spend more than 5 minutes on it in class. Sometimes I wonder if operating on quarters would allow for a wider intake of knowledge. Again, I don’t have room in my schedule for a class devoted entirely to serials management or library automation, but having some background in them would be beneficial before hitting the job market. Sorry about the “they don’t teach you this in library school” rant, but as I near the end of my time in school, I start to worry about having learned enough with the opportunities that school provides.

I actually read Remix as my context book choice for 701 back in 2009, so it was nice to listen to the interview with Lawrence Lessig to refresh my memory. I found it interesting that he has moved from studying the internet to fighting corruption, I think it really speaks to the copyright dilemma that he is moving the battle closer to the source. Copyright law is so complex, especially now, that it often seems impossible to operate legally within its confines. For all the sinister or unethical things one can do because of technology, it is harder to deal with the seemingly beneficial or creative things that do actually toe the copyright line. I think a lot of people understand that it’s wrong to share movies and music, but what about chapters from a book or a .pdf (like knitting patterns that you can buy and download from creators).
Coincidentally, I just read a blog post (link at the bottom of this post) that was listed in American Libraries Direct and was about to discuss it in this post thinking it was from our readings. The author, Nancy Sims, relates a story about how a faculty member thought librarians weren’t qualified enough to speak on copyright. I can’t say I’m surprised by this, but it does make me a little sad. If librarians are worried about their place in the future, I think being able to successfully navigate through the troublesome waters of copyright should be a priority. Sims points out that a lot of lawyers don’t actually know that much about copyright law anyway. Librarians are the ones who can serve as the mediators between the patron, the media, and the copyright law, more so than lawyers. It seems, and is, rather daunting but librarians really need to be able to handle it since the ripping of cds or the copying of books can easily happen on their computers (I’m not trying to say that they’re responsible, but that they’re in a good position for prevention and education).
Copyright and web design is such a gray area, as demonstrated by the Kennedy article and a dose of common sense. It is a lot like writing a paper, in that you have to regurgitate information in a different form than how you consumed it. But it’s especially important for librarians to be completely ethical and transparent when designing their websites because of the established level of trust with their patrons. If you are caught borrowing images from someone else, how will the patron believe you when you tell them not to rip those cds they just checked out to their computer?
Lessig’s book also made me realize how many things that I may have thought were okay to do in web design were actually violating copyright. It seems that my 14 year old self operated under Lessig’s remix ideas before I knew they existed. When I went back to look at my webpages, I realized that practically all of my images came from edited movie stills. Although I was not always concerned about giving credit to the source, it seems I was concerned about other 14 year olds stealing my design. Although it’s unfortunate when family photos get spread across the internet or tv without the creator’s permission, it does help to increase awareness of copyright law and its problems. Having something stolen from you helps you realize the effect it has when you steal something from someone else. Lessig’s ideas seem like they could solve a lot of problems, especially with the support of librarians. Not only could they promote Creative Commons, but they could assist in making “getting permission” an actual option.

http://blog.lib.umn.edu/copyrightlibn/2011/01/why-you-should-listen-to-librarians-about-copyright.html

My first internet experience would have been in 1996, when we first got dial-up at home. We had AOL for a few years until DSL came to the area. Although AOL is often the butt of jokes, having used it as a 8 year old, I remember it fondly. The interface was colorful and friendly. My internet addiction was well-formed by the age of 14 when we moved to a new town that did not offer DSL or cable. I was fairly outraged that I had to endure an entire year of dial-up after being used to faster speeds. Like others, I definitely spent a lot of time on AIM, but also on Neopets, building my own webpages, and reading novel-length Harry Potter fanfiction.