Talk:June 30
From LIS 460 Summer 2007
Technology questions
RFID would potentially save time for librarians by allowing users to check out their own books and materials. There wouldn't be a need for librarians to man the circulation desk. But isn't that a lost opportunity for interaction? Don't you want to encourage people to talk to the librarians? In this day and age, lots of people already feel like they don't need libraries or librarians since so much information is available online. If you implement RFID and take away one of the few times a patron HAS to talk to a librarian, what implications are there for patrons' perceptions of customer service and the need for libraries in general? (posted by Elisabeth)
I agree, Elisabeth. I think it will be a cold day when RFID takes over the friendly face at the other side of the counter. I avoid automated check-outs at all costs- no matter where it's implemented. I shiver to think that the future could include more of this- especially in the library setting. We need all the help we can get to keep libraries relevant (at least according to public perception), and RFID is not our friend in this respect. (posted by Tina)
Linda on cold days
But if librarians aren't tied to the desk for checking stuff in and out then they can actually mingle with their customers more successfully. What about roving librarians on the floor of the library that aren't tethered to a circulation computer? What about not having the chance to talk with someone because there are more people waiting in line to checkin or out? Doesn't self circ. actually give the library teacher more time to mingle and collaborate? Hmmmmm?
I agree with this. I think that if the only time a librarian has time to communicate with their patrons is at the checkout desk then they are missing out on the most important communication times. At the point of checkout, even for me personally, the patron is done searching. If they have had difficulty finding what they need (and haven't sought the librarian's help, or have been unable to find said librarian) then by the time they have decided that they have all that they need odds are they don't want to reenter the stacks to find other things. A librarian wandering around making themselves available to the students or patrons seems to be a more helpful aid than one stationed behind a desk. I think that at least the option of RFID would be helpful in the library. (posted by Sara)
I had the same thoughts as Linda on this, and I like Sara's point that patrons are pretty much already done searching when they reach the checkout point. Thinking on my own library checkout experiences as a patron, apart from pleasantries and small talk, I don't think I've said very much else to the person checking out my books. Usually there really isn't time for anything else... but perhaps this would be different in a school library where librarian-teachers know their students more. In any case, I think if technology like RFID frees librarians from checkout duties, it's important to come up with effective ways to make sure that librarians are still able to get to know their patrons, interact with them, and find out about their information needs. (posted by Anna)
Other RFID considerations
I love the theory of RFID. It's got a lot of great potential, especially when it comes to locating materials and roaming the room, as Linda mentioned. I feel like I spend far too much time tethered to the circ desk when I could be out on the floor answering questions and helping people find the right information for their needs (as opposed to something adequate but not great). On the other hand, RFID poses a lot of privacy issues that make me nervous. -Amanda
Agreeing with both sides of that
RFID sure makes going through toll booths easier for people. I certainly see how self-check-out at the library could expedite the check-out process for patrons, reduce repetative motion injuries in circ workers, and leave circ staff free to roam and talk to patrons out in the library instead of just at the desk. But I worry that it will cause libraries to cut staff budgets in favor of paying for this and other technologies. And would we really talk to more patrons? Or would everyone just become more and more isolated? I guess if there were fewer staff people, but they interacted with patrons more we wouldn't be losing so much. I don't like that feeling Amanda described of being "tethered" to the circ desk. The privacy issues of RFID do sound a bit Big Brother, so if we are to get on an implementation bandwagon, we need to ask a lot of questions about range, and what information would be accessible.
-Erin
RFID & people
The idea of RFID-ing people makes me most nervous. Yet isn't it even used on passports now? I read one article about how easy it is for hackers to overwrite information in most libraries, because the information isn't locked, (deliberately, so that the library can overwrite it later.) Hopefully the passport information is more secure...
Some schools are using it to identify kids, and they buy food and check out library books with it. But there’s opposition to it out there, too.
-Maryrose
Technical Difficulties and RFID
I am all for releasing the librarian from the desk. I definitely see the benefits of it. Unfortunately, in the school library - my concern is that what if there are technical difficulties? I have had a problem with our gate and our inventory system for the entire year. Who would maintain this system and/or pay for it?
-Kris
Good point, Kris. There are automated checkout machines as well as in-person checkout at our downtown library. If there is a long lineup, I usually choose the automated checkout machine since the line up for the machines is usually shorter. If the machines aren't working properly, it's nice to be able to still check out books in person and not be frustrated that I can't borrow the material. In terms of maintenance and funds for maintenance, this is an important factor to consider when making the decision to implement new technology. (posted by Anna)
Streaming Video questions
1) In the article on Streaming Video, Jan Ross describes her workaround to bandwith problems (start/stop, freezing up). She burned the videos to disc,and then put them on her local network. How do you burn a streaming video to a disc? I thought the main point about streaming video is that it didn't actually result in a copy of the video on the local computer.
2) Is there a way, short of playing it, to determine if you have enough bandwidth to stream a particular video?
--Maryrosl 00:31, 1 July 2007 (EDT)
Streaming Video Bandwidth from Linda
Before signing up with a streaming video service you can talk to an account rep. or access a FAQ file that provides info. on what's required in order to use the service. (For example info. at the United Streaming web site.) Most of the schools I've worked with lately have no problem with the bandwidth - as long as you aren't using dial-up you should be OK.
In terms of the saving to CD question. Yes, that pretty much defeats the purpose of video streaming. It's on demand. I think that that isn't something one would have to do at this point in time.
FTP
In light of my recent disovery of Google Docs, I'm thinking that FTP is going the way of the dinosaurs. First of all, it's not very convenient when you're at a computer (like at a library) that doesn't have the software downloaded. Memory sticks take care of that problem nicely. Now that we have the ability to actually store word-like documents online, I'm thinking that really, it's time for FTP to bow out gracefully from the technology game! Any defenders of FTP out there???!!! (posted by Tina)
re: FTP
The only thing I’ve used FTP for in recent history is to upload web pages to a server, which is located somewhere far away from me (as in, a memory stick wouldn’t work too well.... )
I’m guessing at this, but I imagine Google Docs works this way: Google provides a place on a server to store your document, plus it provides the software that lets you write/edit/publish your document. In other words, Google is giving us the tools *and* the disk space (out there in cyberspace, not locally) to do our work. I don’t think they would be willing/able to do this for every software application out there, though.
I agree with you that the traditional interface to FTP leaves a lot to be desired. A lot of applications use FTP behind the scenes, I think, but put a nicer “drag and drop” or “sync” face on it (Dreamweaver comes to mind). I suspect that’s the way FTP will “disappear”. What do you think?
Maryrose
really not getting FTP
I am having a hard time understanding the function of FTP. After having read the definition, and discussed with my husband how he uses it in his software business, could anyone help explain how a school librarian might be trasfering files to the server? I am feeling very confused with this one, mental block! Amy
FTP from Linda
As mentioned above, these days FTP is used mostly to transfer files from your local computer to a web server in order to update web site content. For example, I might make changes in the HTML code for the web site for my business. In order for others to see those changes I have to transfer the files from my computer to the web server that the files live on. I use a FTP program to do that.
In the early days of the Internet and the web, knowing about FTP was much more necessary and more complicated. In many cases now there are web-based tools that make it possible to transfer files without even realizing that you are uploading to a server. When you upload your podcast to Pod-O-Matic you will be using a web-based FTP program but you don't even need to know that because it is all setup for you by Pod-O-Matic.
Does this make more muddy or less muddy?
Ah Ha moment
Okay, that makes it clear. So is it likely that FTP will remain, but that like with the Pod-O Matic we the users will have little involvement? Amy
Realistic Use
As I find myself reviewing all the different technology vocabulary, specifically things that deal with websites and storing data, like RAID, I can't help but feel pretty overwhelmed. How many School Librarians/Media Specialists realistically need to be familiar with all this information? After reading about and exploring technologies like PBwiki, it seems that such a program would be much easier to set up, use, and update. Also, when I was reading about routers, i wondered do many high schools take advantage of wireless routers? or is that a little too advanced/expensive for high schools? -paul
Response to Realistic Use
Realistically I don't think that we NEED to be familiar with this any more than most of us are familiar with everything under the hoods of our cars. There are specialists who know how this technology works and how to fix it just as there are specialists who can build us functioning cars and others who know how to fix them. I do think that as consumers of this technology we should at least be familiar enough with the vocabulary to speak intelligently with those specialists. If you go to an auto mechanic and he tells you that you need something fixed but you don't know what it is, he could be selling you a lot more than what you need. If you are looking to purchase a new ILS, Wiki service, router, or RFID system for your school library and the salespeople speak in a language you cannot comprehend, who knows how closely what they sell you will match your needs? As long as we use and insist on others in our schools using this technology, I think it is our responsibility to have at least a basic understanding. And as some school libraries tend toward hiring combined library/technology teachers, it makes us more marketable.
-Becky
Re: Realistic Use
Even though my school lacks a tremendous amount of technology, the one thing we do have is a wireless router.... Interesting because we have one laptop in the school, and nothing else that would require wireless access. So, I guess routers are not that expensive. Or my school is just very bad at managing resources. Regardless, when you have a network of computers connected to the internet, they are going to need to be directed through a router. I would think that if the library has a set of computers hooked up to a router, and the router goes down (which is not uncommon), it would be beneficial for the librarian to know how to repair the connection and not have to call the tech person everytime. That is not to say I think we will need to know all of this information as soon as we step foot into our first library, but I think it's information that it's good to have a base understanding of, so you can build on that. It never hurts to be tech savvy, right?
- Erica
Linda on Realistic Use
Really, this is the key, that library teachers have a sense of the vocabulary so they know what is possible within the school environment in order to make sure the "right" technology is being made available. It's not good to not have any idea what the technology is that makes the library's technology work. If the basic concepts aren't understood library catalog vendors, database vendors, and school IT staff have an opportunity to pull something over on the library teacher.
Also, doesn't the library teacher want to be able to articulate to peers and colleagues what technology is and how it works in the school library. You don't want to sound too over the top, but you do want to be able to tell people why technology is important in the school library. It helps to have the vocabulary to do that.
The Hip Bone's Connected to the Leg Bone
Trying to get a visual or at least a sense of how these things work together. Perhaps my thinking out loud will be of use to some, or maybe you guys can confirm or correct my thoughts.
The server is the computer in charge of the network, it has security, holds all of the information accessible by the network and responds to requests for information from clients- computers that are part of the network. Clients can also be other things like applications that are receiving information from servers.
A router looks for where information is coming from and takes incoming information and directs it. The router in your home looks for the internet and then directs information from the internet to your computer.
A hub is a place where many things come to connect, for example an ethernet hub with four ports can provide ethernet to four computers. What is a port? What does a hub have to do with a port? This is an issue at work where there are not always enough ports for employees to use our circulation program. Does a hub regulates this? Does a server connect to its clients through a hub? Is the hub at the end of a router? Is the thing that everyone in the house can plug their internet cables into a hub?
-Erin
Linda Responds to Erin's Out Loud Thinking
Erin, thanks for thinking out loud. It's really helpful I think - for you and for your classmates. (If I can speak for all of you.)
I'm going to start expanding on what you wrote with the hub. I think of a hub as a way that you extend what the capabilities are of a piece of technology. For example, on my Mac I have two USB "ports." (Ports are really just connectors for hooking stuff up.) But, sometimes I might want to connect more than two USB devices to my computer. I can use a hub to add devices. I plug the hub into the computer USB port and then plug the USB devices into it. How's that? Check out How Stuff Works for some more info. on this.
Your explanation of a router makes a lot of sense. The one thing that I'd add is that a router can also include a hub. For example, my Wireless router at home has several ports so that more than one device can be hooked up to the router. So, the router directs information and expands the number of devices that can access that information. Does that help? The router article at How Stuff Works is also pretty good.
I think you do have the idea of a server. It's really like a waiter that serves stuff to the customer sitting at a lunch table in the restaurant. A server can connect to clients via a hub. One of the things to be aware of in a library setting is that you might need a server for the library catalog - a computer that serves up the catalog to computers inside and outside the building as well as a server for serving up files and such to students, teachers, etc. A web server connects computers to content on the web. If you are going to have the library catalog available on the web it has to be available on a web server. If it's just going to be available locally within the school campus then it doesn't have to be on a web server. Does that make sense?
Sounds Good
Yes that helped a lot. Also this little animation on How Stuff Works about the router was very helpful. -Erin
More Server Questions
I always speak of servers with only the vaguest sense of what they are/what they do. Obviously, this class is helping. But here's where it still seems unclear to me: why are there different servers? Does a circ/cat application need it's own server? At my new work site, I asked about servers to the outgoing librarian--wondering if there was just one and also wondering how much I would be interacting with it, and she told me there were servers all over the place and which one did I want to know about?
Actually, I think the new circ/cat system has its own computer -- not it's own server. But I still have that clunky question--should I expect to find more than one server on the job?
--Parks 13:20, 5 July 2007 (EDT)
Servers Servers Everywhere Says Linda
There are a couple of reasons to have more than one server running things. One is simply that the amount of space on a server can be maxed out and that's not a good thing. Since a server stores programs and files it's often required to have more than one server in order to hold everything that needs to be held. Also, there's an issue of safety. By that I mean it's often important to have a system - perhaps a server - in place that acts as a backup for when things go kerfluy with the main server(s.) Then, there's the need to have different kinds of servers - for example servers that host web content, servers that host applications, and so on.
One thing I haven't said before is that a regular old computer can act as a server. Remember that a server ultimately is a hard drive that's sends out information, files, applications to other hard drives. I could setup my computer to act as a server for my family and house all of the information, applications, data, etc. that my husband, dog and I need to get to.
How's that?
Similarities and Differences between RAM and the Hard Drive
"Computers use RAM to hold the program code and data during computation. A defining characteristic of RAM is that all memory locations can be accessed at almost the same speed". (Wikipedia entry on Random Access Memory, under Overview)
What's the difference between RAM and the Hard Drive? RAM is something you can easily add more of. Is RAM what does the "thinking" part of computing and the Hard Drive does the storage?
A hard drive stores information even when it is not powered. It records data magnetically on flat circular disks. The hard drive has to spin in order to access information- so it's not "random" like RAM which can access information from any part of it at almost the same speed.
Hard drives allow for large storage capacity and fast access to information.
How am I doing? What am I missing?
-Erin
RAM vs Hard Drive
Erin, good question! And I think you've got it. Hopefully I won’t muddy the waters with what I add.
RAM is a kind of memory, on a chip on the motherboard of the computer. It’s typically volatile –it contains temporary information. I think of RAM as a piece of scrap paper, or a chalkboard to do calculations, which gets erased when the work is done. The CPU (like the “brain”) uses the RAM to hold data and bits of programs, as needed, as it is “thinking” and “working”.
As you said, the hard drive is for storage. The hard drive contains files – data that stays there when you turn off the machine. Functionally, it’s like a big version of a USB travel drive (that stick people carry around on their keychains), or a floppy disk (are you old enough to remember them?) or a CD, although they all use different types of technology to store data.
Your own personal files, the operating system (Windows/Linux – the software that runs the hardware), and application software (Word, Excel, browsers), these are saved on the hard drive. When you turn on the computer, the operating system is read (think "copied") off of the hard drive, into memory, and off you go.
-Maryrose
RAM and Hard Drive from Linda
Good job Erin and Maryrose. The one thing I want to add is about the amount of memory that a computer has. Computers will usually run better with more memory because that means the computer is able to randomly access more files at once. For example, if you have several different programs open at the same time - Firefox, Audacity, Skype, Word, etc. that uses up memory because the computer has to go back and forth to access stuff from those programs. If you have more memory the computer can do more things at once and between those programs. Does that make sense.
One other thing to mention about hard drives. A USB is ultimately a hard drive. It's just one that you can travel with pretty easily.
BTW, I'm waiting for the day when Terabyte hard drives are inexpensive. The more audio and video one works with the more hard drive space a computer needs.
Linux
I was hoping to understand a bit more of the Linux terminology, being that my desktop runs Linux as one of it's operating systems (it has both Windows and Linux), but I really didn't get it as much as maybe I should. What I don't understand is everytime I tell someone that I have Linux on my computer - they ask me what kind of Linux I have. I have since learned that I have SUSE Linux on my computer - but really don't even know what that means (other than that is the kind I have...) I looked up SUSE Linux on Wikipedia, and basically from what I could tell it's the company that distributes that version of Linux. Does anyone understand the different "kinds" of Linux? Or rather, what are the differences between the different types?
I like Linux because I think it's easy to use, there are a ton of options and everything is so accessible - which is one of the benefits of Linux. But, at the same time, not everything is compatible with Linux as an operating system, which is why I have both on my computer.
- Erica
Linda Talks Linux
Starting at the beginning, Linux is an open source operating system for computers. That means that it is an operating system that one can get for free. It also means that there is a community of people who are regularly working on updating, enhancing, and supporting the Linux platform. One of the things people like about open source, beyond that it is free, is that there are lots of people committed to making open source products work well. That's also why there are different flavors of Linx. Different groups of people work on the program and create different versions of it. You have Souse. Others have Ubuntu.
One thing to remember about Linux is that it is an operating system like Windows Vista (or XP) or MAC OS X. It's the software you put on a computer so that programs can work. When you purchase or download software you need to know that you have the operating system that supports it. There are different versions of software for Linux, Windows, and MAC. Some programs work on all some only on one or the other.
Does that help?
Domain Names
Ok, so I understand what a domain name is but I'm a little confused as to how they are all separated. Like the examples that wikipedia gives: http://www.example.com, www.example.com, www.example.net, www.example.org, example.com...will all of these addresses lead to the same site? are they all owned by the same person? or could www.example.com and www.example.net be two completely different sites owned by two different people? I don't know that this is something I'll really need to know in a library but I was left confused by the wikipedia entry...P.S. the spell check on the wiki doesn't recognize wikipedia as a word nor does it recognize wiki, hmmm... (posted by Sara)
Linda on Domain Names
The answer to your question is actually "it depends." Really helpful isn't it. Here's the thing, people have to own domain names. One person could buy example.com, .net, .edu, etc. and then the web sites for those domains would probably all be the same. However, if different people own the .com, .net, .org, versions of the domain names then the content is different. Often people and organizations will scoop up all versions of a domain name if possible so that if someone types in the wrong one the content will be the same no matter what. For example, My Own Cafe a web site from the Southeast MA Regional Library System, uses http://www.myowncafe.org/, http://www.myowncafe.com, and so on. They could have simply used .org since it's a non-profit that owns the site, however, they wanted it to be easily accessible to their audience.
More muddy, less muddy, the same muddy?
Who's back there?
By Breigh Ann
I'd like to know where the little man or woman is who sits behind all the different websites and sorts everything so that it's retrievable for us. I was talking with friends this week and someone asked me how Google retrieves search results (and shame on me, but after cataloging I still can't answer that question confidently). It got me thinking about blogs, and sites like Flickr (or any other site with a search bar, for that matter). What technology behind this technology is responsible for filtering through the data to provide the search results?
I'd also just like to add my apologies for not feeling comfortable enough to answer anyone else's questions. I've been reading people's responses, and even now I feel the same way about computer technology as I do about cars- I can know what each part under the hood does, but I couldn't tell you how they all connect and flow together to get the car to work.
The People Behind the Curtain from Linda
All search engines keep their algorithms secret because if they didn't then it would be too easy to scam the results. However, there is an entire science/industry related to the topic of search engine optimization. (SEO.) This is because it is possible to add content to the code of a web page that helps search engines more easily index that content in the way the creator wants it to be indexed. For example, when I code pages for my business I can make sure that certain terms and phrases are included so that they will be picked up by Google and other search tools.
It is a bit mysterious. The other thing to know about Google is that the results are organized by popularity in terms of the number of sites that link to the site in question.
Helpful? Not? More Questions?
I can understand why search engines keep their algorithms secret, but as a searcher it would be soooo useful to understand their algorithms--that way I could better formulate my query or at least understand why I got certain results. Searching is an iterative process. It's easier to refine your search effectively when you know why you're getting what you're getting. (posted by Anna)
Don't feel bad...
about not knowing how Google works. The company's alogorithm is famously secret. We even have a friend who worked on Google in the early days, and he doesn't even know Google's exact methods. --Parks 15:04, 5 July 2007 (EDT)
