Blog Source Update!

Yay - This is a special day, because  my "Librarian in Black" site has got an update!  I have stopped eating my dinner to bring you the news!

Her article concerns changes that Overdrive, a vendor for e-books, is making.  Since my library currently offers Overdrive, this directly affects me.  She is not a happy camper about the changes, and I have to say, I agree.  Here are the 3 changes in a nutshell:

1. They are now going to limit the number of times a Harper Collins ebook can be checked out to  lifetime of 26 times per copy, as opposed to unlimited times. !!!!  As she points out - this will require more work on our part to keep track of this, AND, it's just plain unfair.  Why would we want to pay for titles that can only be used 26 times?
2. Overdrive is concerned about the vast geographical location of users of their product through one library. Just as libraries that belong to Evergreen are automatically members of all members libraries, this is the type of situation it seems Overdrive is trying to address.    They want libraries to provide better authentication of users based on their geographical location.  Consortiums that cover a wide range of area may be at a disadvantage here.  This is not real clear to me the implications, but it does seem that it may be a loophole for downsizing their consortiums.
3. The final change that the Overdrive letter addresses does directly affect consortium purchases:  they are saying that their publishers want to make sure that each library has the proper number of copies of digital as well as print and audio versions.  In other words,  they do not want libraries to keep purchasing digital copies at the expense of adding any print/audio copies.    Apparently, the publishers want to make sure their hard copy markets are still strong.  However, this also implies that the vendor may be requiring consortiums to purchase more or less of a product, rather than allowing the consortium to make their own selections.

Yes, this was definitely a good blog because this is totally new to me!  I will be sure and discuss this with our Collection Management head to see how this will affect us!  

This was a most busy week for this class!  Whew - I am a bit tired from all the reading and typing, but all in all it was quite interesting.  I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend!  I will be working! 

P.S.  I am well aware that that running water keeps playing in the background no matter which blog entry you are reading!  My apologies to your bladder, but I will take it down as soon as it is graded!  Shall I put the sound of popcorn popping, or a crackling fire?  Wouldn't it be awesome if there could be a scent embeded just like a sound?  I guess that could be both good and bad! ;-)

My Search Incompetencies

In reading through the "Search competencies" paper, I am struck by my inconsistencies when it comes to searching.  I took LIBR 202 so I would become an expert searcher, and yet even today after that class, I am ashamed to admit I forget to utilize simple Boolean search methods, such as using a wild card*, truncation and limiters!  So, I must begin this evaluation with the confession that I am still "a work in progress" and not nearly as good at searching today as I will be next year, and so on, and so forth.  That being said, I feel that I have become fairly proficient at not wasting my time with non-relevant search results when using search engines.  I have collected a wonderful collection of websites that I can trust to not waste my time when I need certain information, such as series names, similar authors, government specifics, etc.  I have learned to view search results with a critical eye - noting who the website represents (special interests, specific professions that have an interest or financial stake in the subject) 

When it comes to doing searches on our library catalog, I am proficient in the following:

• Logging on/logging off the staff side of the computer
• Printing/downloading/emailing complete and partial search results
• Giving directions for library access over the phone
• Accessing our catalog via staff interface, and OPAC
• Able to conduct simple/advanced searches
• Am able to explain how to do a search and how to access our electronic resources
• Am able to read item records to determine order status, item status etc.  Can tell the difference between the bibliographic record,  and item record. 
• Am able to read patron records to explain what is overdue, or on order, or late
• Can tell the difference between volumes and series,
• Can identify location codes - although this is an ever expanding area! 
• Am able to edit patron records (address/phone change, adding notes, expiration date change, adding/deleting passwords.)
• Am able to edit item records (changing status and location)

Ok, I think this is what you had in mind for my search competency skills....if not, you'll hear from me again!  Just so this post is not entirely boring, I've included some recent pictures of my granddaughters, Ellie and Annie from their visit to Thailand.  While it was freezing rain and snowing buckets here, my babies were sunbathing!  Wish I was with 'em!

Thursday's Thaw

Wow - I cannot believe I can actually see the lawn, and my driveway, and even our street outside!  It's amazing that just a week ago we were feeling below zero temperatures.  It is quite beautiful outside, and although I am not anxious for spring (that means weeds, and gardening chores!) I am enjoying the warmth and the sunshine!  I haven't yet seen the emerging crocus, but I know they will be out soon!

What a week this has been!  I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day.  I'm thankful everyday for my Valentine  of 33 years! 

I was a bit overwhelmed with the material this week.  I am not sure I really want to know about connectors....I admit, I use them both at work and at home, but I avoid taking responsibility for them whenever possible.  ;-)  I have enjoyed learning about computer networks - and I think it is a funny coincidence that in my other class (Political Science) I have to view the movie Network this week!  Do you hear the Twilight Zone theme? I do!  Anyway, I have had fun exploring the library for access points, and found them to be hidden in the ceiling.  When they remodeled the library, they were able to gut the inside of the building, and so they set up little openings in the ceiling for the machinery to be hidden, yet accessible.  Pretty nice.    This is not an actual picture of our library - I found it on the net, but it gives you an idea of how they are hidden in the ceiling. 

I completed my survey for "most asked computer questions" and I wasn't surprised to find out people were most confused about using the printer/copier, with a distant second being searching websites.  Word processing questions, searching the catalog and  "what is my password" rounded out the top five.  One person asked "how do I access porn sites," but I'm pretty sure I'm not going to write an instruction sheet for that one. ;-) 

 

 Oh, and the other good news is that I received an answer back to my question about setting up a Wiki for our department.  Not only was the answer "yes" but our webmaster  opened one for us, and I have been tasked with setting it up with all the information.  We are all pretty excited about this, and I would never have pursued this had it not been for this class!  It will not be open to the public - just our department.  But it will give me the practice in wikis so that I can set up another one for our class project.

As for technical blog updates......
Librarian in Black presented a survey about how often we experience censorship in the library. Not technical enough for me to comment on here.    Educause didn't have a new post this week, so I went to ALA Techsource, one of my alternates, and I found an article from Valentine's Day which really blew me away.  It was on 3D Printers - and how this technology is growing and will soon become readily available in homes, like regular printers.   The author of this blog post linked an article which gave more information about what 3D printers can actually do, and that was where I had visions of Star Trek in my head!  3D printers are able to copy the entire structure of the object and produce actual 3D replicas.  Hello Star Trek!  I mean, this is incredible to me.  The bulk of the article focussed on the patent and copyright infringement issues that are sure to develop, but to me, I couldn't get past the idea that there is a technology that can replicate objects in 3D objects.  Here is the link, in case you don't believe it....
http://www.alatechsource.org/blog/2011/02/3d-printing-fabrication.html
Be sure and check out the "It Will Be Awesome if they Don't Screw it Up" article!    I am...in awe.

Ok, I am going to go work on the study questions.  I really do appreciate that option for studying, although this week's terms are a bit harder for me to "get."  I hope you all have a wonderful President's Day, and I look forward to reading your blogs!

Blog Blog Blog Blahg

I guess I picked a couple resources who do not post on a regular basis, because both Librarian in Black and Educause did not have new posts this week!  (Except that the Librarian in Black did  replace her previous slideshow presentation with an updated one, but I've already covered  the content in an earlier post....)  So, I decided I would post about a headline that was in our local paper last Sunday.  By the way, Yay Packers!      Sorry, just had to say it!  (I would have been rooting for the Colts, but they didn't make it!  - and I have family in Wisconsin....plus, I admit.....I love cheese!

Anyway, there was a front page article in our newspaper about how politicians are now using the social networking sites as ways to keep connected with their constituents!  It's a total confirmation to me that I'm in the right class - because this technology is essential to learn!  If you want to check the article out, here's the link:

http://kokomotribune.com/local/x2072622719/Bridging-the-gap

This week we learned about all the different methods of storing information, such as CDs, DVDs, CD-roms, DVD-Roms, magnetic tape, paper, flash drives, hard drives, and MP3.  I'm proud that I can actually now identfy the difference between all of these!  I know I am not alone at getting confused, because people are always asking me for a "tape" of a movie, when what they really want, is the DVD.  I will ask, did you want a VHS or DVD?  and they'll look at me with a "deer in the headlights" look.  ;-)  At least I knew the difference between these formats before, but this week I learned many more things about all the other formats!

I also enjoyed the lesson on Creative Commons.  This was totally new to me - and if I had ever seen a cc before, I probably thought it was a liquid measurement!  This is a logical step in sharing materials, and I'm glad to see it is available.  I was challenged in embedding the audio and picture in the blog.  I will tell you my first choice for a sound was called "stream flowing" which probably would have been a little less "bladder stimulating" but for some reason, it did not play.  So, I had to settle for "Stream Noise" and now if you'll excuse me, nature calls! ;-)

Spring Has Sprung

I just got this link from a friend, and it sure brightened up my day!  Open it, and then click and drag the mouse around the black box, and spring will arrive!  Enjoy!

http://www.procreo.jp/labo/flower_garden.swf

www.procreo.jp

Babbling Bridge CC

I chose this picture, because I'm a big fan of artist, Thomas Kinkade, and as soon as I saw it, it reminded me of something he would paint. 

 

To The Bridge by Flickr user Xelcise 

This photo has an Attribution Creative Commons license

                                                    Stream Noise by SoundBible user Caroline Ford

This audio has an Attribution 3.0 Creative Commons License.

Cloudy Computing

I checked out my resources and came upon a couple of new technology articles of interest.  The Librarian in Black had two interesting slide presentations she made to an Australian audience.  The one I will share with you was entitled "3.0 tools without 3.0 million dollars."  In this presentation, she lists out many different free options which libraries and businesses can access and use when money is not in the budget for commercially purchased technology.  Google docs was mentioned for software, free blogs were mentioned for setting up social networking and marketing purposes, and free ebook sites, such as Project Gutenberg were also cited.  All in all, a good reminder that there is technology out there that does not cost anything - and we are wise to take advantage of it!

My other website, Educause, had an archived presentation of "Seven Things You Should Know About Cloud Security."  Since we were learning about cloud computing this week, I felt it would be worthwhile to check this post out.  The thrust of the article focused on how colleges and universities are using cloud computing, and how this poses a security risk for the educators.  Educause is a site dedicated to educational issues - but the security issues posed by choosing cloud computing affects anyone, educational institutions, businesses or individuals who select it as a technological option.  I was sharing what I learned with my husband, who works for a major automotive parts supplier, and he shared how their company wide email was recently contracted out to a third party.   The emails they send  could contain company secrets which could potentially threaten the profitability of the company, if their emails are not properly encrypted and protected. The fact that their emails are now stored at an external location was very controversial within the company.  This is a perfect example of how important the issue cloud security is.   This article explained that  many times in the course of protecting the information available, the availability of the information becomes limited.   So, IT personnel must consider not only the security factors, but the availability of material and weigh that against any cost savings contracting with a third party company would cause.  Is the cost savings worth the lack of flexibility?  Is the company a reputable, long term business partner?  As the article stated, "cloud security is at least as much about policy as about technology." 

Cloudy, with a chance of Iceballs

   Couldn't resist that little homage to a classical children's book, considering the information we covered this week, as well as the crazy weather we have endured!  What a week!  I'm so thankful for the Internet, and for the concept of "cloud computing" so that I could actually accomplish some work today from home - since the library was closed due to the weather. 
   I was really impressed this week with the technology terms we uncovered - or at least I uncovered! It may have been common knowledge to you all.   I enjoyed "subscribing" to various Internet feeds.  I discovered when I went to set up my account with Google Reader, that I already had been populating it by becoming followers of your blogs!  Imagine my joy (;-)  when I went to Google Reader, and saw that I had already 8 links to follow!  I went to the Public Library Association and ALA websites and signed up for their feeds as well.  This is yet another new function of technology I never new existed.  I have already experienced the benefit of it without realizing it:  I was able to determine immediately when there was a new post on your blogs.  I just didn't realize it was RSS that made that possible!  I chose Google Reader so that I could use the same email and password for log on- and thought it would be more consistent to stick with Google, since I used it to access Delicious.
    I will say that a part of me felt that tagging bookmarks with Delicious, and subscribing to feeds for RSS was a bit redundant, although once I thought it through,  I understand there is a big  difference between Delicious (direct website links) and RSS ( updated posts to certain websites). 

    As for the rest of the week, I was a week late in signing up for the Wiki Assignment - but I hope it is not too late.  I asked my head IT person about the possibility of setting up a Wiki - and I have yet to hear back from her.  (some things never change.)  However, I thought I could set up my own "reference information wiki" as a project, and if I can later use it for our department, it will be done!  As for the Tech Project, I thought I would do 4.2 - and first do a survey of most commonly asked questions, and then set up a written answer sheet for them.  Sorry guys, no audio or visual of me for this.  I'm much better with writing than I am talking! ;-)  When I had to make a video of myself reading a children's book for my last LIBR 203 class, I messed up so many times on video - until I finally took all the stuffed animals in the house and put them in a semi-circle and I read to them!  I was able to finally read with confidence, but the view of moose ears, bunny tails and bear butts was pretty silly indeed!

   Anyway, one benefit of the RSS feeds is it will help me to know right away when one of the resources I'm monitoring (Educause and Librarian in Black) have a new posting.  I'll blog about that later in the week.  I will say I thoroughly enjoyed the Studymate link.  I think I will look at that each day and try a new method of studying.  So far I've done the flash cards and some of Wheel of Fortune.  ;-)  I hope you all have a wonderful first week of February - and stay warm and safe if you are driving!  God bless you!