Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Week 8 Notes

W3 School Cascading Style Sheet

 w3schools.com has a lot of helpful tutorials. I can definitely see how this site would be useful for anyone who wants to learn programming languages.

The tutorial says that CSS is used to solve a problem. What problem? It never specifies.


CSS Tutorial Starting with HTML + CSS

This site is really helpful in that it gives a practical example of using HTML and CSS. The tutorial was very helpful.

If I understand this correctly, HTML and CSS work together to create interesting web pages, with colors, styles, navigation bars, etc. Can you create a web page only using CSS? Or do you need to use them together?


Chapter 2 of Cascading Style Sheets: Designing for the Web y Hakon Wium Lie and Bert Bos

This chapter answered my previous question. I definitely think in future classes that this reading should come before the tutorials. It helps explain how HTML and CSS work together to create a formatted web page.

Why do the curly braces appear on separate lines from the declaration?

This tutorial seems rather old, mentioning IE4 and Netscape. Netscape is long gone, and Mac no longer supports IE. Is the theory still the same despite the changes in browsers?

The chapter includes a lot of details that the other tutorials didn't, which makes it extremely helpful. I like all the details because it can act as a troubleshooting guide when I use HTML and CSS.

Friday, February 17, 2012

Week 7 Notes

HTML Tutorial:

This seems like a very helpful site. I will definitely bookmark it to use in the future.

I really like the box that lets you try different HTML tags and then see the results. It's fun to play with and rather helpful to learn the language.


HTML Cheat Sheet:

Yay! Another helpful HTML guide. Combined with the first site, this cheat sheet will make HTML tagging a lot easier. The monkey logo is cool, too.

I'll definitely use this in the future.


Beyond HTML: Developing and re-imagining library web guides in a content management system
by Doug Goans, Guy Leach, and Terri M. Vogel


What is the role of a web development librarian? Is this person solely responsible for the developing the online presence of the library? If so, does the title "librarian" really apply here?

It's nice to see a practical application of what we're learning in class. We've seen how individual pieces can work separately, but this article shows how a number of the topics we've discussed can work together to create a cohesive, useful product.

I like how librarians are resourceful, as shown by the web development librarian reusing parts of projects for his/her new project. The fact the librarian was able to lessen the complexity of the product from the users' and creators' ends was also a nice touch. This fact shows the importance of organization and the necessity for all librarians to have a better understanding of technology. The disorganization highlights the importance of communication between professionals in the workplace. Sometimes in order to streamline a process, it really is necessary to eliminate some jobs.

What other libraries (and not just academic ones) use this type of system? How could public libraries benefit from this as well?

Thursday, February 9, 2012

Week 6 Notes

How Stuff Works: Computer Infrastructure by Jeff Tyson

It's nice to know how a resource I use every day, like the Internet, works. The Internet has always been this big, abstract thing that does what I tell it to do. Routers were the same way for me. When a page wouldn't load, I knew I had to check my Internet connection and/or restart my router. I didn't really know what I was doing except that the Internet would then start to work. It's nice to know what exactly I was doing and how it connects to the rest of the world.


Dismantling Integrated Library Systems by Andrew K. Pace

 I didn't really understand this article from the very beginning. I don't know what an Integrated Library System is, but thanks to some Googling, that was resolved. I also don't have much experience working with ILS, so I didn't understand some of the terms or even potential problems that the author identified.


Inside the Google Machine

Larry Page and Sergey Brin talk a lot about the importance of innovation and how it can revolutionize a company. While that's not directly related to this week's lesson, it's an important point. You can't be afraid to take risks and try new things. If you don't, you become stagnant, and frankly, somewhat boring. Google's success is partly based on their innovations.

Their algorithm is also being constantly updated in order to get the most relevant results. Page and Brin also have worldwide appeal in Google, as people all over the world are connected to the Internet via Google. 


A Few Thoughts on the Google Books Library Project


I like that the author believes the project will not make books obsolete, just more accessible. I've found with my own experiences that I can view snippets of relevant books and use them for a project. Local libraries (even Pitt) don't always have the books I'm looking for, but-voila-Google does.


However, I also agree with his assertion that people are relying on the Internet way too much. If it's not online, it might as well not exist. This way of thinking causes a problem for librarians. What happens when you provide too much access? Does such a thing exist? Can librarians make themselves obsolete?

Thursday, February 2, 2012

Week 4 Lab

Task 1:
SELECT * FROM isi_jcr_report_isls
WHERE j_abbr='ANNU REV INFORM SCI'
AND jcr_year=2007

Screenshot of Task 1 

Task 2:
SELECT j_abbr, j_if
FROM isi_jcr_report_isls
WHERE jcr_year=2007
AND j_if<1

Screenshot of Task 2

Wednesday, February 1, 2012

Week 5 Notes

Wikipedia: Local Area Network

Local Area Networks allow computers in a small, contained space to connect to each other. These networks allow computers to connect to the Internet. How do Ethernet cables work? What is ARCNET?

What is the benefit of using a LAN rather than a WAN?

I've heard my gaming friends talk about LAN parties. What are they doing, and how does that work?

What sort of security risks are involved in connecting to a LAN? How do prevent hacking?


Wikipedia: Computer Network

How would life be different if we different have computer networks? I imagine life would be completely different. Even in the past few years, we have made tremendous progress with technology. Studies show that we're using technology and consuming media on technological devices more often than ever before. Without the invention of computer networks, we would be more sociable and personable. We would spend less time in front of screens and more time interacting with families and friends. Of course, it would be harder to stay in touch with people spread out across the globe, but it would also mean that people would have smaller, tighter, more local groups of friends.

How are MAC addresses assigned? How do they ensure there will be no repeats? What happens to a MAC address once the device no longer works? Can the numbers be reused?


Management of RFID in Libraries

How expensive would it be to implement RFID in libraries?
How receptive would the public be to the change from barcode to RFID?

Coyle talks about ways to bypass the RFID system. Do libraries really need to be concerned with people intentionally stealing books? Sure, libraries don't have a lot of money to spend and a limited number of materials. However, libraries are based on a lending principle that requires people to be honest. There will always be people who return books late or misplace a book. But do enough people intentionally steal books to make thwarting security a huge issue?

Coyle also talks about the ROI for librarians. However, the procedures that she claims will save time and money actually cost money. Installing automated checkout booths costs money and a lot of it. It also involves space. Small libraries won't have the space. What about jobs, too? If we help usher in automated services, are we willingly eliminating our own jobs? I'd like to have and keep a job in libraries, no matter how technologically developed we get.