Assignment 5: Koha ILS

Below is the link to my Koha list:

http://upitt01-staff.kwc.kohalibrary.com/cgi-bin/koha/virtualshelves/shelves.pl?viewshelf=51

My username is JRM170 and the virtual bookshelf's name is "jrm170-digital copyright."

10/25 Class Muddiest Point

Regarding the size of the Internet, I was wondering approximately how much Internet content is contained within the largest search engines (e.g. Google and Yahoo), and how much Internet content is contained within the smaller/smallest Internet search engines (e.g. Ask, Lycos). 

11/1 Comments

http://rjs2600.blogspot.com/2010/10/readings-for-11-1-11-7.html?showComment=1288225086393#c7943549024496494383

http://sarahwithtechnologyblog.blogspot.com/2010/10/week-8-reading-notes.html?showComment=1288226788273#c8595631949494539141

11/1 Reading Responses

W3schools HTML Tutorial

Before reading this article, I was aware of some of the most basic elements of HTML, although I was not aware of how HTML is actually applied to web pages.  I think that this article describes the basic aspects of HTML very well for beginners, and does not describe the information using unfamiliar terminology.  The one aspect about this article that I thought was interesting was that the website allows one to actually create examples of HTML for themselves, which is very helpful.  Generally, I thought that this article was interesting and helpful for HTML novices, because it allows any to create their own examples of HTML.

HTML Cheatsheet

After reading the HTML Tutorial article, this website provided a more concise description of HTML tags, albeit less descriptive.  Although this site could be useful for quick HTML references, a site such as this should probably be consulted after becoming more familiar with the basic elements of HTML and HTML tags.  I think that this website provide a great amount of information for those with at least a basic understanding of HTML, and can be very helpful to anyone needing assistance with creating a web page.  

W3 School Cascading Style Sheet Tutorial

This article is informative and interesting, because it provides enough images and descriptions of what CSS is.  Although I had heard of CSS before reading this article, I was never sure as to what exactly the functions and elements of CSS were.  Like the other W3 article, the article has enough basic information for beginners, as well as more advanced information about CSS, which I thought sufficiently described CSS.  The inclusion of the “try it yourself” option was a good addition to the site, and I thought that the section about what technologies to avoid while using CSS was important. 

Beyond HTML: Developing and re-imagining library web guides in a content management system

After reading this article, it seems that CMSs could gain more credibility if their application and efficiency were made more recognized universally.  The section discussing template development by liaisons was one section that I found interesting, because template development can assist anyone outside of any particular library staff.  Template development could allow for easier access and navigation for patrons, with the addition of sidebars and resource lists for descriptive purposes, and can provide more options for anyone unfamiliar with the resources of a specific library’s catalog.  CMSs may become more popular and credible as technology develops, and if more libraries and librarians are willing to collaborate with other users of CMSs, then it seems that libraries could benefit universally as a result of such collaboration. 

10/15 Class Muddiest Point

Regarding the class discussion of Internet connections, I was wondering how prevalent fiber-optic cable connections currently are, and if more ISPs are considering using fiber-optics in the future. 

10/25 Comments

http://christyfic.blogspot.com/2010/10/reading-notes-week-7-oct-25-2010.html?showComment=1287519428629#c2274467240727970103

http://jonas4444.blogspot.com/2010/10/reading-notes-for-week-7.html?showComment=1287520035447#c3782118300490223621

10/25 Reading Notes

How Internet Infrastructure Works

The discussion of how computers are connected simultaneously to the Internet was basic information, although some of the terminology, such as Point of Presence (POP), Network Access Points (NAP), and the functions of backbones were subjects with which I was not completely familiar.  I was not aware that the first high-speed backbone, known as NSFNET, was created in 1987.  I thought that the section about the IP addresses was a good addition to the material discussed in class about IP addresses.  I also found the section that discussed how DNSs work to be particularly informative, since I was only familiar with some of the functions of DNSs before reading this article.  

Dismantling Integrated Library Systems

It appears that one of the reasons that libraries are not as socially recognized as they once were is because of the lack of technological development within the library systems described in this article.  Even though libraries are capable of providing access to an amalgam of scholarly information to patrons, the technology that is used within the library systems is not as efficient as other sources of scholarly information to many people.  As a result of the amount of scholarly information that has accumulated over the last decade, libraries have had to find new ways to provide information to patrons, while maintaining a budget for the cost of materials and technology.  If libraries are to provide one of the best options for information retrieval in the future, they must find new ways to improve their integration systems.

Sergey Brin and Larry Page on Google

I was aware of the influence of Google upon the world, although actually seeing what Google is capable of accomplishing was interesting.  Even though this video is almost seven years old, it discussed some important information about the capabilities of Google, such as The Google Foundation, the development of Orkut, and the Google Toolbar.  The development of other variations of Google, such as Google Chrome, Google Desktop and Google Maps have also provided a myriad of services to Internet users that have made searching the Internet easier.  Even though the video was basically a promotion of Google, it was still informative and rather interesting, in my opinion.       

Assignment 3 Description

For this assignment, I decided to give instructions on how to copy an object or image using Dell Printer Software and Microsoft Paint.  First, just select the Dell All-In-One icon located in the start icon at the bottom left corner of the screen, and select which copier and/or printer to use.  After that, remember to adjust the settings for the copier to provide the best resolution for the image, and after the copying process is complete, the image will be automatically sent to Microsoft Paint, or whichever other software the user chooses. 

Assignment 4

My Library URL from CiteULike:

http://www.citeulike.org/user/MGS86

10/4 Class Muddiest Point

Regarding the Fast-Track weekend, I was just curious as to how much different the class session will be from a regular class session. 

10/12 Comments

http://christyfic.blogspot.com/2010/10/reading-notes-week-6-oct-12-2010.html?showComment=1286408997537#c1713286287370524321

http://jonas4444.blogspot.com/2010/10/reading-notes-for-week-6.html?showComment=1286409663930#c7330708235564657825

10/12 Reading Notes

Local Area Network

Before reading this article, I was familiar with LANs because I have worked with them even before working in a library.  However, I was not very familiar with the general history of LANs and how they have developed over the years.  Some things of which I was not aware contained within the article were that the cable used in telephone networks set the standard for the structured cabling of LANs today.  I was also not aware that LANs could be classified as metropolitan  area networks (MANs), even though I have heard LANs referred to as WANs (wide area networks). 

Computer Network

This article efficiently expounded on the LAN article from Wikipedia in my opinion.  It provided essential information about computer networks for people not familiar with them, as well as discussing the elements of computer networks such as hubs, bridges, and routers.  The section of this article that I considered to be most informative was the section discussing overlay networks, because I was not very familiar with overlay networks before reading this article.  It seems that overlay networks are one of the many computer networks that continue to be improved, and also contribute to the improvement of other computer networks.    

Common Types of Computer Networks

This video was narrated well, although it did not really add any significant information that was not discussed or linked within the Wikipedia articles.  This video and others similar to it could be useful to someone that would prefer to hear someone discussing the various types of computer networks for beginners.  Even though much of the information that was discussed by Mr. Klein in the video was mentioned in the Wikipedia articles, it can be helpful to hear someone describing the information that is being discussed, especially if it is described cogently and succinctly.     

Management of RFID in Libraries

This article does provide some good insight into the development of RFID, although the article could have discussed the privacy issues regarding RFID to a greater extent.  As well as the privacy issues concerning RFID, the costs of the implementation of RFID in libraries is another issue that should be examined.  Even though libraries could experience more convenience as a result of using RFID in materials, libraries must consider whether or not the results of RFID are truly worth the purchase.  Despite the controversies concerning RFID presently, in the future RFID may be improved to mollify the privacy and cost issues, so to make RFID an ultimately efficient means of tracking and identifying materials.  If improved, RFID may also lead to other more efficient means of product identification.