FIELD TRIP September 26, 2008

          Last September 13, 2008…at last! The ever eluding schedule for field trip has finally taken place for our LIS 26O subject. With a little hassle(traffic rule breaking…) we headed our way to Los Banos, Laguna. The destination would be in the UP Open University. We had a quick stay at the IRRI vicinity and a quick tour of the UP Los Banos campus. At the UP Open University office, we had a tour and a lecture about how the Open University is operating. Its nice to be out for even just one day. And the destination coincides with the idea of a relaxing trip with of course, an added learning.

           I believe that everyone did enjoyed the trip. It was exhausting (due to heat)…, but nevertheless, everyone take pleasure in the inviting views of nature and endless photo sh0ots. And of course, the nonstop pasalubong time. The lunch as well was very countryside. All in all, It was a very fascinating experience. Everyone savor the moment of being away from the city and work for a day.  It was a treasured moment, a good motivation and for me, an excellent welcome for someone who is having her first year at UP. 

           As for the Open University, it is a very helpful program for all who wants to avail education even at a distant phase. Basically, it teaches responsibility and as wellas honesty to student because it imparts independent learning to their students. They have been continously providing open and distance learning for students who cannot comply with the traditional “classroom-based” classes. Students only need an online connection and a completely responsible study habits. Its very interesting to know that there are certain institutions who endlessly contributes to the betterment of education. They reach out beyond expectations and the risk payed off for the benefit of all. However,…I wonder if they also do have a field trip like our class? I do hope so…

INTEGRATED LIBRARY SYSTEM_an evaluation September 19, 2008

Title: An evaluation of an Integrated Library System

Supplementary articles:

1. Musings on the State of the ILS in 2006/ Breeding, Marshall. Computers in Libraries, v26 n3 p26-28 Mar 2006. 3 pp. http://www.infotoday.com/cilmag/–Ebscohost

  

            A Paperless dream… that was the vision for the future of libraries. at present, this dream has become a reality through the rise of the Integrated Library Systems. In libraries today, it is rarely that each doesnt have a library system. From that we can say that the evolution of the ILS has reached its full bloom. It changed the way how libraries has been built. It has transpired from the traditional.

            At work, as a cataloger, we rely best on the ILS because it provides functions that best suits and perform the tasks in cataloging. For instance, the automated way of creating bibliographic records, with the ILS cataloging module, it is now easy to input data with the MARC records ready. We can also export bibliographic data with just one click. It has card production which can be easily printed, thus reduces the time and effort usually given when using a typewriter instead. Most ILS also has Report production where it is now easy to maintain records and help in inventory. Truly, an ILS serve the purpose of convenience and efficiency in library service. As said “it is hard to imagine operating a library today without the assistance of an Integrated Library System…”

             In most circumstances, I also encounter different ILS and I also continously discovering and view comparisons from them. In our institution, we are using Library.Solutions.  In my view, the ILS has competitive functions and as far as Im using it, its ok. But also, I found some functions that is not serving their purpose. Its forgivable because not only does our library system serve the purpose of cataloging but other library functions as well. It is right to conclude , in my view, that it might be that my needs may not be the need of other departments.  Hence, this is also a reality which we should face…”There is no perfect Library System …in general and in our specific needs]…”

WEB-BASED INFORMATION SYSTEM August 15, 2008

TITLE: A critique on Web-based Information Systems

SUPPLEMENTARY ARTICLES:

1. Search Tangles.  PC World, August 2004 — Ebscohost
2. The Search Continues/ Kathy Shrock. School Library Journal, Feb.2003—Ebscohost
3. The Emerging Search Economy/ Steve Smith. EContent, Jan/Feb.2005—Ebscohost

As I was searching for articles to supplement this reading assignment, I barely recognized that I was already in the process of using Web-based information systems. Like everyone else, when researching, the first turn was to search in the Internet. But I think that even in the Internet, we can also choose where we will do our search. My first step was to go to a Journal database, which to my opinion is a reliable source for scholarly articles. I also did use Google and other search engines . The process of choosing where to look and search shows my searching preferences as a user.

 

In supplement to my experience, based from some articles I read, aside from the users preference on the ease of use of the database/search engines and the perusable interfaces, what is always important for them is the credibility and usefulness of the information offered by the online databases and search engines. I do agree with this statement. As a user, we are the best evaluators with the use of the technology as well as the outcomes from it.  The utilization of web-based information systems is one alternative measure aside from using print materials and local databases. We cannot discard the fact that web-based applications can offer more than what we need at a fast rate IF without access constraints. Although, like any other information systems, we encounter limitations as to access, credibility, time, etc.

 

 Truly, the web has been instrumental in making widely accessible a vast range of information. But the thing is, we are still faced with the challenges of information relevancy and credibility and dealing with the immensity and vastness of the information within our reach. The WEB is a big database of everything. Even the databases within it are competing for among themselves to prove who hits the best. We are caught in this revolution because we are the respondents. Therefore, we users are the ones who can best judge the outcomes. We may say that information is useful but there is a much useful one. The challenge now is to filter the best from the best.  We filter not only the information but also the source of the information.

ONLINE & DIGITAL MEDIA July 25, 2008

Title: Critique on the use of Online and Digital Media

 

          In the process of the continuous change in information access and retrieval today, the use of the online and digital media helped a lot in obtaining/ supporting the idea of interactive dissemination of information and more importantly, communication. It has enhanced the way we communicate and make or spread information. It has maximized resources for information retrieval. It enhanced means of communicating.  In education, digital and online media has been a major tool in supporting the learning process. It is being used in presentations and as a medium of instruction. Truly, it wanes down the traditional blackboard and pen teaching method. It keeps students alive for discussion and makes it easier for them to access the information. One instance also that we could associate that will best describe how we utilize online technology is on Distant Learning Education. How fascinating it is now that learning has come out off the classrooms. We could also perceive this on the business side. Isn’t it that Board meetings and presentations could go on digital even if members are miles away from each other. From minor to major ways of living the online and digital media is now being fully utilized. We can now shop and pay online, audio and movies could be downloaded, libraries are being digitized… Living and learning…the digital way.

          Nevertheless, however useful online and digital media are, it still cannot hide from the consequences and some inevitable flaws that goes with its structure. For instance, in music/movie/entertainment industry looses funds because of the free downloads emanating online. And the youth, with the introduction of new medias, might as well turn their full attention in online games, chatting and non-academic stuffs. Also, ordinary people, tends to suit themselves with “excessive” stuffs like cell phones, MP3’s, I mean, it seems like they can’t live without it… Living and spending…the digital way.

          However, if I may say, every change is not easy to meet. We have to pay consequences or endure it. Online and digital media are useful but not free. Utilization comes with resources. Resources, especially nowadays, is not free. Money, Facilities, these are essential. We are very lucky indeed to have been able to utilize these media. And we are also lucky to have been able to continuously study not only how to utilize online and digital media but also how to maintain and make it useful for us and for others.   

July 24, 2008

davao skyline

“Your brain may give birth to any technology, but other brains will decide whether the technology thrives.  The number of possible technologies is infinite, and only a few pass this test of affinity with human nature..”

— Robert Wright,  Nonzero: The Logic of Human Destiny

CRITIQUE–Forum on Strategies in Effective Searching of Information

  Title:   Strategies in Effective Searching of Information

  Speaker: Dr. Angelina P.Resurreccion 

  Date/Venue: July 16, 2008, JRU Mandaluyong

           Last July 16, 2008, our LIS260 class attended the forum entitled “Strategies in Effective Searching of Information” held at JRU, Mandaluyong. The speaker was Dr. Angelina P. Resurreccion.

In the forum, I expected that I would learn new ideas and techniques in searching information which, as the title suggests, will be helpful for the class topic. I looked forward to learning new ideas. I expected because I observe that the speaker was (over) confident and I thought that she knows what she would be discussing and to think, the introduction to her was very enthralling. I supposed maybe her experiences taught her well enough to give us an interesting and useful discussion.

 Moving on, discussions were set on trends, information, information literacy, information literacy programs, internet searching, etc…. There are not much fresh ideas about the discussion. The forum that took place seems like more of an introduction to a topic, more of a review. It’s like a review of the topics that we are now trying to get past out. It’s like, hello? We’re on Web 2.0 already? And what’s also ironic is that the speaker  was trying to promote the internet/web as a useful, productive and effective tool but then suddenly, commented that it is unreliable. Also apparent was that the ideas during the forum were not hers. She was constantly quoting the ideas from other people. Those ideas are good but she is not an authority to further discuss it and that because she wouldn’t be able to answer queries about it.  I think the whole program lacked strategy. They should have anticipated that the participants would not be undergraduate students. They should have expected beyond. Or maybe, more importantly, the speaker should have not discussed a topic that is out of her area of expertise.

  Nevertheless, I also got some vague new ideas like web harvesting and the pathfinder. I like to learn more about it. I’m interested because I think it’s a useful technique now that everything is fast changing.  Important information should be gathered and preserved. In my own conclusion, I think that the strategy in effective searching of information will still be depending on the one who has the need and who finds and make use of the information. It always ends out to how the information you get can satisfy your need. Going back to the forum, I think it was a prospective source of information that has low precision and failed to meet the satisfaction of the patrons

 

WEB 2.0 in LIBRARIES

          As we deal with the changes in technologies today, we find that these changes offers limitless possibilities to enhance our way of life. We are now moving past out of the traditional ways like using notebooks for our diaries, or using heavyweight encyclopedias to define something. With the introduction of web 2.0, we embrace changes. In libraries today, it is also considered and being implemented.  

• Synchronous Messaging—More widely known as instant messaging (IM), it allows real-time text communication between individuals. This is a trend wherein students/ patrons can communicate with the librarians. This is a modern way of reference service. We may induce this on our library websites so that our patrons could comment or give suggesstions or seek reference help. Also through this interactive trend, the traditional library orientation may change to a more interactive way and/or maybe more convenient for users. 
• Blogs–a website usually maintained by an individual, with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events. Today, we move past the notebook diaries or memoirs, with the introduction of blogs/blogging, journal writing has become interactive. I remember during my internship in college that the reference librarian asked us to put our internship experiences in the blog. I realized that it is a useful tool because in that way, we could also share our experiences to future internees. It also helps in promoting librarianship and libraries.
• Streaming Media–is multimedia that is constantly received by, and normally presented to, an end-user  while it is being delivered by a streaming provider . This technique may be used now in library orientation. A presentation of some kind may be incorporated in the library websites and is accessible to the patrons. It is very interactive as well as convenient for patrons. Future developments for libraries maybe is to add interactive quizzes about the library or reference informations then the patrons would answer and then the system responds.

WEB 2.0 July 11, 2008

TITLE: The Terrible Twos: Web 2.0, Library 2.0, and more

AUTHOR: Notess, Greg R.

URL: EBSCOhost

 ABSTRACT of the article:

          The article introduces the concept of Web 2.0.  It also confers how Web 2.0 has shaped the current scene in using the web and how it also converge with the different services in a community. Discussed is how Web 2.0 has included the users in interactivity and in manipulating the information. It shows how useful the Web 2.0 is for users and how it also applies to personalized pages and also in service-oriented community like the library.

 Three things I learned from my Reading Assignment

• Web 2.0 is a conglomeration of technologies, ideas, and approaches that represent a new way of interacting online.
• Web 2.0 represents a new phase of web techniques to create more interactive and easy to use websites using new technologies or using older technologies in a new way.
• Web 2.0 also designs interaction and social networking which shares manipulation of data to its users, thus involving patrons in the process of their activities.

Implications of the new things I learned:

          As said in a book, “We are in a time warp. Technology accelerates trends, be they positive or negative…” . I think that this short remark is very true as we observe our technology today. With the introduction of the Web 2.0, we are suddenly on the big leap to meeting with the new changes that comes. This change also embraces the libraries. Working in a library setting, personally, gives a concrete feedback of the major transition that the Web 2.0 has shared.  We can observe these just on how we librarians process library materials in the library systems, or just look at how many students use the OPAC. Interaction, it is the main ingredient of the Web 2.0 and I think it is very useful in the libraries. Change is not harmful if it is beneficial. And today, it seems that Web 2.0 has proven success in the web or in other service-oriented environments.

HOW COMPUTER WORKS July 4, 2008

Title of the Article: Computers and how they work

 Author: Roderick Hames

Publisher:  Alton C. Crews Middle School, 1998

URL:  http://www.crews.org/curriculum/ex/compsci/articles/howcomput.htm

 Abstract of the article:

 The article demonstrates short lecture on basic information each should know regarding how a computer works. it leaves an open question on why it is important to know how computers work. Discussed are the four basic functions of the computer and some main points about these functions like how they function and its importance.

 Three things I learned from my Reading Assignment:

• The computer has four basic functions: Memory, Processing, Input and Output. 
• Storage devices are very essential in computers and for users because it is their means of maintaining and retrieving programs. 
• Evaluating the computer today, there are so many improvements and additional devices that contribute to the functions of the computer. Computers has gone out from the traditional to more expanded and high technology changes.

 Implications of the new things I learned to my work/ to me as a person:

             Learning the basics of computers is essential to each and everyone especially now that it is one of the necessities in everyday living. Information literacy as they call it is the answer to the future of information retrieval. As a librarian, it is essential because we are imparting information to our library users. It is also important in libraries nowadays because everyone has eyes for digitization. Processing of library materials passes through the brains of the computers. Computers aren’t only a device, it is the material itself. Through computers, we make each task easier and we also help our users utilize our collections efficiently.

BOOLEAN SEARCH AND RETRIEVAL

Title of the Article:  Boolean Search: Current State and Perspectives

Author: Journal of the American Society for Information Science;

Publisher: Wiley

URL: http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?  EBSCOhost –Academic Source Complete

 Abstract of the article:

 The article analyzes the criticisms directed at the Boolean system operation. It also analyzes and points out positive and negative features of the system and also introduces its functional use. Mainly, shortcomings of the Boolean searching was discussed as a form of evaluation to the system.

 Three things I learned from my Reading Assignment:  

• I learned that Boolean searching and retrieval has undergone many criticisms before it has proved itself to be effective. 
• Boolean shortcomings are commonly caused by : 1.) user difficulty in formulation of queries using the Boolean operators of AND, OR, NOT.; 2.)the lack of ranking in Boolean systems; 3.) lack of control over the size of the output produced. 
• Boolean searching continuously strives to obtain the User Satisfaction they tend to get from their users. The problem of inaccuracy and precision is still one of the major problems faced by Information Retrieval Systems.

  Implications of the new things I learned to my work/ to me as a person:

         Criticisms make most of the ideas contributed to the development of effective information retrieval systems. Boolean searching for instance is maybe one of the successful IR systems yet it still suffers inaccuracies. It is not infallible as with other systems as well. I, as a user was able to encounter Boolean operant systems. I came with conclusions in the process. Results vary depending on your research. I think Boolean searching is useful if we are looking for a specific retrieval of information but in practical use, most people, would resort into using natural language searching because it is commonly used. However diverse IR systems are, like Boolean system, it should be introduced and learned so that we may have a choice on what to use and so we can conclude what is effective or not.