Reflecting on LBS 708

As the curtains come down on LBS 708 for 2013, I'd like to to reflect on what the course has meant to me.
To say that I've learnt a lot during this course would be an understatement - and here I'm not just referring to the theoretical knowledge that's been imparted or the practical applications of the ICT module. It's been a journey of self-development / discovery for me - I've put myself in cyberspace (coerced more likely) - no mean feat for someone who is extremely private (hard to believe I know). Tiptoeing at first on the day I've posted my first blog, but now firmly entrenched -  I've discovered that it's not such a bad place after all.
As a librarian I've realised the importance of having a web presence in this age of information overload (also known as infobesity).  It is an ideal platform for learning, the sharing of information and to stay abreast of library advances across the world (as well as having our voices heard).  Whether or not I'll remain in the realm of the blogosphere remains to be seen - it's under consideration. I'll definitely be continuing my stay with the birds, tweeting happily (ever) after. I love it!  To my fellow tweeters, please keep tweeting - I am following you. To the non-tweeters - do join us!!   
Currently, the struggle with my wiki is ongoing - probably until the last minute. 
Sandy, thank you for introducing me to so many new terms and experiences.  Thank you for always responding to my questions (and e-mails) so quickly and wherever you were.  To quote Bernie, 'isn't technology wonderful?...' - this while she's in a pharmacy responding (via e-mail) to a mail I've sent.

Au revoir (courtesy of Francoise who's been teaching me some French words - merci!)

Wiki...litis?

Tonsillitis, laryngitis, ..... I think I'm coming down with wikilitis ... if I don't do something about my wiki woes urgently.  It is definitely the most frustratingly challenging assignment to date in this module.  As if I had not been stretched already with blogging (chore) and tweeting (which I'm now enjoying by the way).
My wiki woes are as follows - I type on my newly created page and preview - all looks well.  But when I save, the font sizes are different for my headings and I found that my text 'moved' around (I know that sounds silly). I have been struggling with this for hours on end.  My next step was googling  'wiki -help' for dummies for even the help icon on the wiki is really no help at all.  To decipher what I've come across one needs to be an IT expert, not a struggling student trying to create an uncomplicated wiki - CSS codes and the works are mentioned.  Does anyone else have the same problems (with solutions, please)? Well, Sandy did mention that she'll be dragging us into the 21st century (kicking and screaming) - I am at that point now - doing what the librarian-in-black does best (in my mind!).

Aluta continua!! 

Google / Wikipedia - a teacher's friend or foe?

Teachers are always complaining that students use the Google and Wikipedia search engines too much too often, but it turns out that teachers consult it just as much!
A recent study by the Pew Research Centre on how teens conduct research in the digital world indicates that 76% of the high school teachers surveyed agree that the two search engines have conditioned students to expect to find information quickly and easily.  Teachers are also of the opinion that students often equate research with Googling.  Yet 87% of the teachers interviewed admit to consulting Wikipedia when planning lessons.  Virtually all of the teachers(99%) admitted to using search engines to find information online. 

So what makes a search engine such as Wikipedia so popular amongst students (and teachers)? 
Have a look!

How do libraries stay relevant?

The traditional role of libraries as the providers of books to users has been challenged in recent years with the increased market for e-Books.  As the director of Berkley Public Library, Donna Corbeil, rightfully said 'library spaces have moved far beyond the traditional hushed reading rooms ... we strive to be a central part of our community by meeting expectations and changing needs of the people we serve, embracing new technologies and innovating along the way'. 
In other words, we have to stay relevant to the needs of the communities we serve.  Librarians worldwide have come up with some pretty innovative ideas in their quest to stay relevant.  From hog-butchering demonstrations, dance classes,  virtual bowling alleys to name but a few - have a look and see!  Make no mistake - libraries are experiencing a paradigm shift.

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'Computers in libraries'

When the 'Computers in libraries conference' was recently held in Washington DC, I had the opportunity to follow many of the techno geeks (too many to mention) in the industry.  This year's theme focussed on mobile devices and electronic collections and how their use is changing the spaces and services in libraries.  Topics covered included 'Evolving libraries', 'Creating a culture of Usability', and many, many more!  If you would like to know more, please scan the code - go ahead, I dare you!!  It's quite interesting.

PS!!  Don't forget those technical caps for Wednesday - as Sandy says

'Progress'

Progress thus far:
Essay ✔
Presentation ✔
Some really good presentations were shown by classmates.  My topic dealt with mobile technologies in academic libraries.  I felt a bit ill at ease with the topic because of my apprehension with all things technical and the fact that I am not familiar with academic libraries - apart from making use of the UWC library occassionally. 
Blog - work in progress
Twitter - work in progress (proving to be more arduous than I had initially anticipated)
Wiki ?????   See   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wiki to find out what it is before we can  progress to creating one.  I'll certainly be doing that!!

Here's to progress!!

Internet in Africa

Interesting class about internet filtering otherwise known as internet censorship.  It was quite interesting to note the types of censorship and how internet filtering is done.  In the library the time allowed on the internet is limited to 45min. per day to allow everyone an opportunity to use it.  We also do not allow access to social media websites after 2pm (physical police work involved) in the afternoon to allow the learners to do their assignments.  It was also interesting to learn which countries have greater censorship than others.  Sadly, most African countries do not feature as they simply do not have the infrastructure neccesary for internet access. Being proudly African, this prompted my interest to do some research and the results were hardly surprising. 

Africa has 15.3% of the world's population, yet only 7% of its internet usage.  Of the African countries Nigeria (48.4%) heads the pack when it comes to internet usage, followed by Egypt (29.8%), Morocco (16.5%), Kenya (12%) and South Africa fifth at 8.5%. One would've thought that we'd be higher in the ranks, but we are clearly not as progressive as we'd like to believe.    

Dare I ask - what happened to the much talked about African Renaissance during Mbeki's tenure? Has it all been forgotten?

Since we'll be doing our presentations in less than a week, I thought I'll add a useful link I've come across to help us along: http://blog.hubspot.com/blog/tabid/6307/bid/34274/7-Lessons-From-the-World-s-Most-Captivating-Presenters-SlideShare.aspx. 

One can certainly try!

Open access

   



Open access, I've learnt, is the practise of having unrestricted access to peer-reviewed scholarly journals via the internet.  Studies indicate that open access articles are more likely to be viewed (and cited) than those articles bound by subscriptions.   This is particularly useful to researchers in developing countries where many institutions simply cannot afford subscriptions to recent journals. Peter Suber,  an expert in the field, provides an overview on the subject: http://legacy.earlham.edu/~peters/fos/overview.htm

DOAJ (Directory of Open Access Journals) / www.doaj.org is a well-known website used to list journals while African Journal online/ www.ajol.info hosts journal articles by African authors.  The Directory of Open Access Books - www.doab.org - strives to increase the discoverability of open access books.  Yes, open access books are also available.  It makes one wonder what type of services libraries would be offering 10-20 years from now - are they going to house books at all?  

'Libraries (and librarians) will survive'

Our challenge this week was to add a link to our blogs.  I took up the challenge and started surfing in earnest - for something quirky, but relevant to libraries.  So I came across this video put together by the staff of some regional libraries in Virginia (USA).  It deals with a worldwide phenomenon - dwindling budgets.  Sound familiar?
Staff at the Central Rappahannock Regional Library rewrote the lyrics to a popular 1978 disco hit 'I will survive' originally sang by Gloria Gaynor.  The rewritten one describes a typical day in the life of library staff - we can all relate!! Enjoy!

 

 

It's all in a day's work!

'Sandy says'

So 'Sandy says' that we should download the app for QR codes onto our smartphones as it was quite useful.  I thought that sounded quite doable.  I'll let you know that I'm no stranger to the 'Idiot's guides..' in our library's collection - so to download the app for the QR codes I consulted the online version in the form of 'Google'.  After deciphering some step-by-step instructions, I eventually managed to download the app onto 'that computer in one's pocket' - as 'Sandy says'. 

Since starting my studies in 2012 my colleagues have always been intrigued (and involved) with whatever I was doing at the library school - bearing in mind that they studied librarianship some 20 odd years ago.  It was no exception when I told them about the QR codes.  Soon we were scanning every QR code we could lay our hands on - as 'Sandy says' - from magazines to newspapers.  We were gleaming with excitement as we witnessed QR codes being translated into webpages - very much like kids in a candy store. So my QR code app proved to be quite a hit - thank you, Sandy!!

... and so I continue my  arduous yet fascinating journey in cyberspace.  I am yet to join the 'birds' (Bernie's words) in Twitter ... baby steps for me, thank you!

One step at a time 

Wednesday 'woes'

The role of 'blogger' was undertaken with much trepidation as I confess to being technologically incapacitated.  I was labelled this on numerous occasions by various people in my social scene.  In creating this blog I have surpassed my own expectations (and theirs).  I am almost afraid to acknowledge that I am looking forward to my next adventure in cyberspace.  I see that it involves twitter, podcasting and QR codes -all only 'heard about' terms to me, but I am sure that Sandy will shed some light on that. 

To all my cyberspace classmates: If I can do it, so can you!! With only one week to go before the deadline for our research essays, I am sure that most of us are 'burning the midnight oil'. 

There's light at the end of the tunnel

Welcome to my 'blogarithms'

Well, well! My first experience at blogging - nervous moments.  In my 'not too distant past' my experience with logarithms was somewhat perplexed.  Let's hope that my experience with 'blogarithms' will be smooth sailing.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained!!