Machiavelli got an underserved bad rap for his writing of the _The Prince_.
There is some really good advice in there. And it isn't mean - It's just plain old truth about how things work.
I'll post a few of my favorite quotes.
===
... any one wishing to maintain among men the name of liberal is obliged to avoid no attribute of magnificence; so that a prince thus inclined will consume in such acts all his property, and will be compelled in the end, if he wish to maintain the name of liberal, to unduly weigh down his people, and tax them, and do everything he can to get money. This will soon make him odious to his subjects, and becoming poor he will be little valued by any one ...
===
Read the Whole Thing Here --
http://www.constitution.org/mac/prince00.htm
Download the AudioBook from Librivox
http://librivox.org/the-prince-by-niccolo-machiavelli/
Tuesday, August 26, 2008
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Not a sure Touch
Well, we would have thought that the Olympic Team USA for Women's Sabre would have taken the Gold today.But, we would have been wrong.
http://www.nbcolympics.com/fencing/news/newsid=210893.html#womens+sabre+team+settles+bronze
The Team of Ward, Jacobson and Zagunis were able to sweep the Women's Individual Sabre Medals (Bronze, Silver, Gold respectively) on Saturday. With that kind of history after only a few days it was too easy to believe they were an automatic for the Team Event Gold medal.
But, alas - it was not to be.
They did make a great showing for the Bronze.
I salute these "Ladies of the Blade", thank them for making their country proud, and wish them God's speed back home.
Friday, August 8, 2008
And so it goes ....
What are these people thinking ?
Complaining about a farm ? That they intentionally moved next to, because they like to see the farm ?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_fe_st/odd_car_fence
Hey, this guy did not create this farm as a scenic vista for their enjoyment.
It's a "farm". Where productive "work" goes on. The very reason it is scenic on one day is because it is a place of work on another day. - Cut out one and you also lose the other.
Besides - you shouldn't complain about the activities of a neighbor after you move in - with full knowledge of their activities.
Get a grip you city slickers ......
Complaining about a farm ? That they intentionally moved next to, because they like to see the farm ?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080804/ap_on_fe_st/odd_car_fence
Hey, this guy did not create this farm as a scenic vista for their enjoyment.
It's a "farm". Where productive "work" goes on. The very reason it is scenic on one day is because it is a place of work on another day. - Cut out one and you also lose the other.
Besides - you shouldn't complain about the activities of a neighbor after you move in - with full knowledge of their activities.
Get a grip you city slickers ......
Rita Maria Martinez
Never at a loss for making a shameless plug for my wife's career -- I'd like to point out the Website
http://www.comeonhome.org/ritamartinez
Where we will learn about this fantastic Poet and the publication of her new book.
Jane in the Box
http://www.comeonhome.org/ritamartinez
Where we will learn about this fantastic Poet and the publication of her new book.
Jane in the Box
Tuesday, November 6, 2007
TLC 2.0 - Final Thoughts
Friends,
I have decided that in the spirit of Nec Arrogantia Nec Despero that I will try to keep my comments balanced.
Web 2.0 : The web of Joiners
My first comments shall center around the idea that Web 2.0 is all about "joining".
For each of the services everyone must "join" the service.
Eventually, the Web 2.0 person becomes awash in a sea of Username & Password combinations.
I believe that I have forgotten most of the services that I've joined over the past few weeks - and possibly most of the passwords.
Many of us since "middle school" have considered ourselves to be "not the joining type". For the rest -- there is myspace.
It's no wonder that sites such as FaceBook and MySpace are so loved and used by the young. They feel that they are part of a group. Part of the club. Web 2.0 gives a sense of belonging and connection, even if the connection is over hundreds of miles.
The irony is that so many of the We 2.0 social networks are full of the "non-joiners". The people that are not likely to be in High School student government are still likely to have a MySpace page where they have joined the service and are desperately looking for connection with others.
With other Web 2.0 apps you still the need to join. Flicker, Google Docs, etc. I became quite fatigued with creating an endless amount of user profiles. The reason, of course, is about the $.
Why would so many Web 2.0 services offer their online software for free ?
How do they expect to pay for their programmers and computer servers ?
Where is the money ?
It's your user profile. The hope is that advertisers will be able to target products directly to you through all of your User Accounts.
In the end, Web 2.0 is a trade off - I give you information about myself - you let me use your software.
The super savvy Web 2.0 user would be better off creating an entire fictionalized version of themselves for use in Web 2.0 products (they have very little ability to verify your identity). Fortunate for them they count on us lacking the creativity for such a consistent ruse.
Web 2.0 : The web of non-ownership
Akin to the idea of "joining" is that most of the Web 2.0 services do not belong to the users.
For the most part, the Web 2.0 user is using someone else's property. They leave their pictures, documents, blogging thoughts and personal information on someone else's computer. All of this is for "free". The old saying is that you get what you pay for... The Web 2.0 user needs to go forth with full understanding that any of this stuff could be deleted, blocked, or shut down at anytime and everything they built in Web 2.0 will be gone - without a recourse.
The great strength of Web 2.0 is that it is online and easily connects users to each other. We don't need to be great programmers - we don't need our own high powered computers and expensive software. We can login from any Web connected computer and type away. And anyone we want to can see it.
I see a future where there may be a good middle ground of this...
A time when we will have our own inexpensive Web 2.0 software loaded on our own Home based servers. We will have the flexibility and the connectivity of current Web 2.0 services --- and still have full control of the content and software.
Web 2.0 : TLC are we having fun yet ?
The TLC program is a kind of programed Play time. Which, of course, loses some of the sense of spontaneity that makes play so much fun. Deadlines are a necessary evil of any program and for some people made the TLC program less fun than the usual way that folks learn and discover Web 2.0 applications.
I found that many of the people that have the nature to "play with computers" were the ones that kept up with the TLC program. For most others they started with the first one or two challenges and they faded back into their daily work. Some folks, I am sure, learned many things they may not have otherwise stumbled upon.
Overall, it is a worthwhile program to introduce folks to. It certainly did raise awareness.
Web 2.0 : Use for libraries or Used by librarians
Part of the TLC project was to build awareness and find application in the library environment.
Most Web 2.0 apps are not directly library related.
Our Novcat Catalog can be considered Web 2.0 because users can "log-in" and use special features.
Some of our databases such as MD-Consult, EBSCO, PubMed also have these user account features.
Wow these are great Web 2.0 tools.
But, so many of the other "fun" apps and "social networking" apps are geared to the individual user.
So, a Librarian may find a Web 2.0 app useful to do certain things, but it would not be useful to the Library as a whole.
The most useful Web 2.0 feature for libraries is that it raises bar of possibilities.
It opens the conversation and asks us if some of the features of these programs can be used to serve our work and our patrons better.
Sure - most of the Web 2.0 stuff can be considered "Web Toys". But even the child that plays "house" will eventually put those skills to use when they become a parent.
I don't support "band wagon" approaches. I don't support the idea that we need to participate in every Web 2.0 application, social network, etc so we can remain "relevant librarians".
I do support the idea that we should keep up with current ideas and trends online and pick out the useful jewels that can help us do our jobs better.
--- and that's my final thought.
I have decided that in the spirit of Nec Arrogantia Nec Despero that I will try to keep my comments balanced.
Web 2.0 : The web of Joiners
My first comments shall center around the idea that Web 2.0 is all about "joining".
For each of the services everyone must "join" the service.
Eventually, the Web 2.0 person becomes awash in a sea of Username & Password combinations.
I believe that I have forgotten most of the services that I've joined over the past few weeks - and possibly most of the passwords.
Many of us since "middle school" have considered ourselves to be "not the joining type". For the rest -- there is myspace.
It's no wonder that sites such as FaceBook and MySpace are so loved and used by the young. They feel that they are part of a group. Part of the club. Web 2.0 gives a sense of belonging and connection, even if the connection is over hundreds of miles.
The irony is that so many of the We 2.0 social networks are full of the "non-joiners". The people that are not likely to be in High School student government are still likely to have a MySpace page where they have joined the service and are desperately looking for connection with others.
With other Web 2.0 apps you still the need to join. Flicker, Google Docs, etc. I became quite fatigued with creating an endless amount of user profiles. The reason, of course, is about the $.
Why would so many Web 2.0 services offer their online software for free ?
How do they expect to pay for their programmers and computer servers ?
Where is the money ?
It's your user profile. The hope is that advertisers will be able to target products directly to you through all of your User Accounts.
In the end, Web 2.0 is a trade off - I give you information about myself - you let me use your software.
The super savvy Web 2.0 user would be better off creating an entire fictionalized version of themselves for use in Web 2.0 products (they have very little ability to verify your identity). Fortunate for them they count on us lacking the creativity for such a consistent ruse.
Web 2.0 : The web of non-ownership
Akin to the idea of "joining" is that most of the Web 2.0 services do not belong to the users.
For the most part, the Web 2.0 user is using someone else's property. They leave their pictures, documents, blogging thoughts and personal information on someone else's computer. All of this is for "free". The old saying is that you get what you pay for... The Web 2.0 user needs to go forth with full understanding that any of this stuff could be deleted, blocked, or shut down at anytime and everything they built in Web 2.0 will be gone - without a recourse.
The great strength of Web 2.0 is that it is online and easily connects users to each other. We don't need to be great programmers - we don't need our own high powered computers and expensive software. We can login from any Web connected computer and type away. And anyone we want to can see it.
I see a future where there may be a good middle ground of this...
A time when we will have our own inexpensive Web 2.0 software loaded on our own Home based servers. We will have the flexibility and the connectivity of current Web 2.0 services --- and still have full control of the content and software.
Web 2.0 : TLC are we having fun yet ?
The TLC program is a kind of programed Play time. Which, of course, loses some of the sense of spontaneity that makes play so much fun. Deadlines are a necessary evil of any program and for some people made the TLC program less fun than the usual way that folks learn and discover Web 2.0 applications.
I found that many of the people that have the nature to "play with computers" were the ones that kept up with the TLC program. For most others they started with the first one or two challenges and they faded back into their daily work. Some folks, I am sure, learned many things they may not have otherwise stumbled upon.
Overall, it is a worthwhile program to introduce folks to. It certainly did raise awareness.
Web 2.0 : Use for libraries or Used by librarians
Part of the TLC project was to build awareness and find application in the library environment.
Most Web 2.0 apps are not directly library related.
Our Novcat Catalog can be considered Web 2.0 because users can "log-in" and use special features.
Some of our databases such as MD-Consult, EBSCO, PubMed also have these user account features.
Wow these are great Web 2.0 tools.
But, so many of the other "fun" apps and "social networking" apps are geared to the individual user.
So, a Librarian may find a Web 2.0 app useful to do certain things, but it would not be useful to the Library as a whole.
The most useful Web 2.0 feature for libraries is that it raises bar of possibilities.
It opens the conversation and asks us if some of the features of these programs can be used to serve our work and our patrons better.
Sure - most of the Web 2.0 stuff can be considered "Web Toys". But even the child that plays "house" will eventually put those skills to use when they become a parent.
I don't support "band wagon" approaches. I don't support the idea that we need to participate in every Web 2.0 application, social network, etc so we can remain "relevant librarians".
I do support the idea that we should keep up with current ideas and trends online and pick out the useful jewels that can help us do our jobs better.
--- and that's my final thought.
Friday, November 2, 2007
TLC Web 2.0 - Facebook
Time - Time - Time
There just isn't enough time to play with Face Book.
I'm using it right now to keep in touch with the Catholic Campus Ministry Group.
It is neater and cleaner than MySpace. - but it doesn't seem as much "fun"
The Clean small text look of FaceBook makes it very text and reading intensive.
It does make a lot of sense on Campus for a library to have a presence on FaceBook - or at least some of the librarians.
The announcements features are good. Some of the Apps seem like fun.
Most of Web 2.0 stuff is a collection of Web Toys for Folks that like to play. Online.
Overall I like facebook - but I would agree with the DaisyDog blog that I'm starting to get too old for a Social Networking Site like that.
Honestly, I just don't care that much about keeping up with my friends and them keeping up with me.
I'd use FaceBook as an occassional tool - or a complete life consuming toy. There doesn't seem to be any half-way point.
TJP
There just isn't enough time to play with Face Book.
I'm using it right now to keep in touch with the Catholic Campus Ministry Group.
It is neater and cleaner than MySpace. - but it doesn't seem as much "fun"
The Clean small text look of FaceBook makes it very text and reading intensive.
It does make a lot of sense on Campus for a library to have a presence on FaceBook - or at least some of the librarians.
The announcements features are good. Some of the Apps seem like fun.
Most of Web 2.0 stuff is a collection of Web Toys for Folks that like to play. Online.
Overall I like facebook - but I would agree with the DaisyDog blog that I'm starting to get too old for a Social Networking Site like that.
Honestly, I just don't care that much about keeping up with my friends and them keeping up with me.
I'd use FaceBook as an occassional tool - or a complete life consuming toy. There doesn't seem to be any half-way point.
TJP
TLC Web 2.0 Podcasting
This thing to to cover Podcasting.
Besides pictures I have always been interested in Audio downloading from the Internet.
There once were large FTP depositories of sound clips from movies and TV shows. We could download them and assign them to events on our computers.
Eventually, the web downloading became faster and the formats became more compact.
.MP3 hit the scene and Web music was never the same.
Of course most folks knew that this was mostly for sharing songs...
Napster - mp3.com and other services. But the idea of AudioBooks and serialized Audio programing was not unheard of.
Services such as Audible.com began as a subscriptions service where Audiobooks and a Weekly version of various Audio Magazines could be downloaded.
They even offered the free Audible Otis MP3 player when you singed up. -- Yep all the way back in 2001.
--- The world of Podcasting - exploded when the IPOD was released and associated with ITUNES.
The Idea that ITUNES could offer a way for various serialized audio programs to be registered and found... along with the advent of RSS feeds... really made all the difference.
Also - the availability of inexpensive Audio Hardware and Software on the PC desktop - with high speed Internet access made creating Serialized audio programs an easy and fun thing for folks to do.
I live off of the Audio format.
All my fun book reading is AudioBooks.
The original format of Story Telling .... reading is a true bore to me.
Podcasting is gives me just what I like and need --- and it cane be done while Multi Tasking.
-- Although I'll admit I don't like the word - "podcast" - it's a new lingo for an older idea.
OH - well who am I to argure with a living language like English... ?
Many years ago folks with amature radio stations could broadcast their own "pirate radio shows" - Podcasting is more similar 'power to the people' !
Besides pictures I have always been interested in Audio downloading from the Internet.
There once were large FTP depositories of sound clips from movies and TV shows. We could download them and assign them to events on our computers.
Eventually, the web downloading became faster and the formats became more compact.
.MP3 hit the scene and Web music was never the same.
Of course most folks knew that this was mostly for sharing songs...
Napster - mp3.com and other services. But the idea of AudioBooks and serialized Audio programing was not unheard of.
Services such as Audible.com began as a subscriptions service where Audiobooks and a Weekly version of various Audio Magazines could be downloaded.
They even offered the free Audible Otis MP3 player when you singed up. -- Yep all the way back in 2001.
--- The world of Podcasting - exploded when the IPOD was released and associated with ITUNES.
The Idea that ITUNES could offer a way for various serialized audio programs to be registered and found... along with the advent of RSS feeds... really made all the difference.
Also - the availability of inexpensive Audio Hardware and Software on the PC desktop - with high speed Internet access made creating Serialized audio programs an easy and fun thing for folks to do.
I live off of the Audio format.
All my fun book reading is AudioBooks.
The original format of Story Telling .... reading is a true bore to me.
Podcasting is gives me just what I like and need --- and it cane be done while Multi Tasking.
-- Although I'll admit I don't like the word - "podcast" - it's a new lingo for an older idea.
OH - well who am I to argure with a living language like English... ?
Many years ago folks with amature radio stations could broadcast their own "pirate radio shows" - Podcasting is more similar 'power to the people' !
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
TLC 2.0 - You Tube
I have been using You tube or quite a while now.
Music Videos - and Clips for old TV Shows are great...
There is a big question about copyrights on You Tube.
I think that the Legal world will be wrestling with it for many years.
While I don't have any real video equipment at my home PC - and I don't really want any videos on You Tube of my own - I do like the Video Blog Idea.
This kind of Production really levels the playing field between the amateur and the Film and TV studios.
Many younger folks don't care if the quality on the screen is small and fuzzy -- they would rather see the video for free.
Amateurs can build a resume and find finds all over the world without having to go through the TV or Movie business corporate machines.
Watch this video and look at the special effects.
Compared to a You Tube Video of a real Star Wars movie - it looks just as good.
Hurray --- I wish I had YOU Tube when I was a kind making stupid videos with Mom and Dad's Video 8mm and Video Cameras.
Of Course YOU Tube is not the only Video Hosting site... but it is the most well know.
Here is another one that has my favorite video.
I'll let you guess why ??
TJP
Music Videos - and Clips for old TV Shows are great...
There is a big question about copyrights on You Tube.
I think that the Legal world will be wrestling with it for many years.
While I don't have any real video equipment at my home PC - and I don't really want any videos on You Tube of my own - I do like the Video Blog Idea.
This kind of Production really levels the playing field between the amateur and the Film and TV studios.
Many younger folks don't care if the quality on the screen is small and fuzzy -- they would rather see the video for free.
Amateurs can build a resume and find finds all over the world without having to go through the TV or Movie business corporate machines.
Watch this video and look at the special effects.
Compared to a You Tube Video of a real Star Wars movie - it looks just as good.
Hurray --- I wish I had YOU Tube when I was a kind making stupid videos with Mom and Dad's Video 8mm and Video Cameras.
Of Course YOU Tube is not the only Video Hosting site... but it is the most well know.
Here is another one that has my favorite video.
I'll let you guess why ??
TJP
Wednesday, October 24, 2007
Web 2.0 Awards - Real Estate Maps
I've been viewing lots of Real Estate Mapping Web Apps lately.
http://www.realtor.com
is still the King as it has the most complete listings
http://www.floridamoves.com
is a pretty good one too.
Since I am a guy that likes lots of Maps I have been playing with the Google Maps Home buying featture. MY MAPS - Google Real Estate Search
http://maps.google.com
I Found these two sites at the Web 2.0 Awards that work much the same way.
http://www.housingmaps.com/
http://www.zillow.com/
I really like to get the Mapping features at all of these services.
It helps me with my current job hunting.
Thanks to this TLC project I have found a few more resources.
http://www.realtor.com
is still the King as it has the most complete listings
http://www.floridamoves.com
is a pretty good one too.
Since I am a guy that likes lots of Maps I have been playing with the Google Maps Home buying featture. MY MAPS - Google Real Estate Search
http://maps.google.com
I Found these two sites at the Web 2.0 Awards that work much the same way.
http://www.housingmaps.com/
http://www.zillow.com/
I really like to get the Mapping features at all of these services.
It helps me with my current job hunting.
Thanks to this TLC project I have found a few more resources.
Online Productivity
I has trouble posting from ZOHO to my Blog -
but my thoughts were very positive about the applications.
Well this is my test of ZOHO.
I was also able to setup an account with Google Docs and try out their presentation software.
I would have to try some serious documents to stretch the limits.
They seem to be adaquate for general usage.
I am impressed at how wee developed they are - yet at this point I don't see them replacing Desktop Wordprocessors.
For Temp stuff, and sharing simple Docs online these Web 2.o apps work great.
---
but my thoughts were very positive about the applications.
Well this is my test of ZOHO.
I was also able to setup an account with Google Docs and try out their presentation software.
I would have to try some serious documents to stretch the limits.
They seem to be adaquate for general usage.
I am impressed at how wee developed they are - yet at this point I don't see them replacing Desktop Wordprocessors.
For Temp stuff, and sharing simple Docs online these Web 2.o apps work great.
---
Thursday, October 18, 2007
You have two Cows - Distributism
In the tradition of the
"You have Two Cows" series of jokes, and political metaphor.
Others found at
http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/You_have_two_cows/17
I Shall submit the one for the missing "ism"
Distributism
You Have Two Cows
You use one Cow's milk for your family's daily needs. 90% of the rest is sold for profit. 10% of the rest is given to the poor.
You use the second cow to slaughter for meat, leather, gelatin, and every useful byproduct for your family's daily needs. 90% of the rest is sold for profit. 10% of the rest is given to the poor.
You use the manure to fertilize your garden.
Need more on Distributism ?
Read the ChesterBelloc Mandate
http://www.distributist.blogspot.com/
"You have Two Cows" series of jokes, and political metaphor.
Others found at
http://uncyclopedia.org/wiki/You_have_two_cows/17
I Shall submit the one for the missing "ism"
Distributism
You Have Two Cows
You use one Cow's milk for your family's daily needs. 90% of the rest is sold for profit. 10% of the rest is given to the poor.
You use the second cow to slaughter for meat, leather, gelatin, and every useful byproduct for your family's daily needs. 90% of the rest is sold for profit. 10% of the rest is given to the poor.
You use the manure to fertilize your garden.
Need more on Distributism ?
Read the ChesterBelloc Mandate
http://www.distributist.blogspot.com/
TLC Wikis Part 2
I fell a little behind this week - but I think I made up for it.
I played in the NSU LIBs Wiki sandbox.
http://nsulibs.pbwiki.com/Favorite+Books?l=S
http://nsulibs.pbwiki.com/Favorite+Restaurants?l=S
http://nsulibs.pbwiki.com/Favorite+Vacation+Spots+?l=S
This was Fun -
I played in the NSU LIBs Wiki sandbox.
http://nsulibs.pbwiki.com/Favorite+Books?l=S
http://nsulibs.pbwiki.com/Favorite+Restaurants?l=S
http://nsulibs.pbwiki.com/Favorite+Vacation+Spots+?l=S
This was Fun -
Monday, October 15, 2007
TLC Wikis
I believe Wikis are a great development in using the Web for exactly what it was designed for.
The old days of ARPAnet - and the original academic Internet were a time of collaboration.
The true purpose of the Internet.
Wiki's are finally that dream completely realized.
For Libraries the Wiki holds a great possibility for the staff to collaborate and add things to a Website without having to rewrite and FTP a web page.
It is easy web page writing.
The HPD Library has started it's own Wiki for Health Related pathfinders.
Alex & I have been working on it for the past few weeks.
Here you can take a sneak peek
http://aawachsler.pbwiki.com
TJP
The old days of ARPAnet - and the original academic Internet were a time of collaboration.
The true purpose of the Internet.
Wiki's are finally that dream completely realized.
For Libraries the Wiki holds a great possibility for the staff to collaborate and add things to a Website without having to rewrite and FTP a web page.
It is easy web page writing.
The HPD Library has started it's own Wiki for Health Related pathfinders.
Alex & I have been working on it for the past few weeks.
Here you can take a sneak peek
http://aawachsler.pbwiki.com
TJP
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
Future of Libraries and Web 2.0
Well- I may change my mind in the future - but here is my take on the whole Web 2.0 in Libraries so far......
There seems to be a great deal of hand ringing about our changing profession. There also seems to be a great deal of job protectionism and grasping for a need to be "relevant" to our patrons.
Academics, library school students, and librarians with too much time on their hands seem to have a very ethereal idea of Librarianship. And discuss it as if Librarianship is now and has always been about bibliographic control and access to all information, everywhere, at any time, for everyone.
Yet, in reality Librarianship has always been like any other profession; doing a specific job, with a specific collection, for a specific patron base, during specific hours.
Furthermore, just like any other job - it will change. If I am no longer needed by my University to do technical services - then I will need to go find another job.
It is as simple as that.
If a small city no longer wishes to support a community library - then those librarians need to hit the pavement.
How often do we see Doctors and Lawyers pleading with local governments trying to convince them and all people how important they are ? Not often.
Carburetor manufacturers didn't stand in the streets trying the convince the world they are still important once fuel injectors were introduced. Blacksmiths reduced in numbers and found a small niche in a world without horses as common transportation.
If we need to convince people they need us, then maybe they don't ?
Eventually, some of them will fall into chaos in a glut of information resources and cry for help,
"Won't someone please be an information professional for us !"
And thus the cycle will continue. And we can make them "pay through the nose" for our expertise.
Web 2.0 does not threaten libraries or librarians. Nor do I think Libraries should be involved much with Web 2.0 beyond very practical applications.
Such as:
Using a Blog for Newsletters.
Making funny Patron Signs with Image Generators
Using a Wiki for committee meetings
Many of the other tools of Web 2.0 (Technorati, del.icio.us, etc) could be used as web tools for the individual librarian in their daily work.
Web 2.0 applications could be shown to library patrons as part of computer training classes.
But, this is better for a Community center to tackle. I have never felt that the Library and Librarians are best suited to do "computer training" for the community.
Local Governments should rather set up large computer centers and hire computer trainers and technicians to man them.
There should be a "City Computer Lab" that is _not_ the Local Library. (Although they could be in the same building.)
Leave the Libraries to only have access to "specifically selected" resources. Leave the Librarians to do what they do best - provide access to a collection of materials - take care and preserve a collection materials - provide assistance and training for research and patron selection of materials.
In general, Web 2.0 is not "part of the collection" it is only a set of web tools.
Web 2.0 tools need to be used under the criteria of serving the needs of the librarian's job.
Who is my patron ?
What is my collection ?
What is my job in relation to each of these ?
What tools are at my disposal to do my job better ?
Without a clear understanding of these things it is understandable that there may be much anxiety.
I really like a recently published article that has the most well thought out discussion of this topic. I also believe that the author's recommendations are very appropriate.
In short, he thinks Libraries should stick to what they do best - managing a small and specific collection of Books and a limited collection of "specifically selected resources".
Stop trying to control the web - stop trying to be all things to all people.
Unfortunately, the Library Community may not want to hear it.
Please read:
"The Peloponnesian War and the Future of Reference, Cataloging, and Scholarship in Research Libraries" prepared for AFSCME 2910 by Thoams Mann, June 13, 2007.
http://www.guild2910.org/Peloponnesian%20War%20June%2013%202007.pdf
Now, if you'll excuse me I have a job to do.
I am a Professional Librarian with a collection to care for.
TJP
There seems to be a great deal of hand ringing about our changing profession. There also seems to be a great deal of job protectionism and grasping for a need to be "relevant" to our patrons.
Academics, library school students, and librarians with too much time on their hands seem to have a very ethereal idea of Librarianship. And discuss it as if Librarianship is now and has always been about bibliographic control and access to all information, everywhere, at any time, for everyone.
Yet, in reality Librarianship has always been like any other profession; doing a specific job, with a specific collection, for a specific patron base, during specific hours.
Furthermore, just like any other job - it will change. If I am no longer needed by my University to do technical services - then I will need to go find another job.
It is as simple as that.
If a small city no longer wishes to support a community library - then those librarians need to hit the pavement.
How often do we see Doctors and Lawyers pleading with local governments trying to convince them and all people how important they are ? Not often.
Carburetor manufacturers didn't stand in the streets trying the convince the world they are still important once fuel injectors were introduced. Blacksmiths reduced in numbers and found a small niche in a world without horses as common transportation.
If we need to convince people they need us, then maybe they don't ?
Eventually, some of them will fall into chaos in a glut of information resources and cry for help,
"Won't someone please be an information professional for us !"
And thus the cycle will continue. And we can make them "pay through the nose" for our expertise.
Web 2.0 does not threaten libraries or librarians. Nor do I think Libraries should be involved much with Web 2.0 beyond very practical applications.
Such as:
Using a Blog for Newsletters.
Making funny Patron Signs with Image Generators
Using a Wiki for committee meetings
Many of the other tools of Web 2.0 (Technorati, del.icio.us, etc) could be used as web tools for the individual librarian in their daily work.
Web 2.0 applications could be shown to library patrons as part of computer training classes.
But, this is better for a Community center to tackle. I have never felt that the Library and Librarians are best suited to do "computer training" for the community.
Local Governments should rather set up large computer centers and hire computer trainers and technicians to man them.
There should be a "City Computer Lab" that is _not_ the Local Library. (Although they could be in the same building.)
Leave the Libraries to only have access to "specifically selected" resources. Leave the Librarians to do what they do best - provide access to a collection of materials - take care and preserve a collection materials - provide assistance and training for research and patron selection of materials.
In general, Web 2.0 is not "part of the collection" it is only a set of web tools.
Web 2.0 tools need to be used under the criteria of serving the needs of the librarian's job.
Who is my patron ?
What is my collection ?
What is my job in relation to each of these ?
What tools are at my disposal to do my job better ?
Without a clear understanding of these things it is understandable that there may be much anxiety.
I really like a recently published article that has the most well thought out discussion of this topic. I also believe that the author's recommendations are very appropriate.
In short, he thinks Libraries should stick to what they do best - managing a small and specific collection of Books and a limited collection of "specifically selected resources".
Stop trying to control the web - stop trying to be all things to all people.
Unfortunately, the Library Community may not want to hear it.
Please read:
"The Peloponnesian War and the Future of Reference, Cataloging, and Scholarship in Research Libraries" prepared for AFSCME 2910 by Thoams Mann, June 13, 2007.
http://www.guild2910.org/Peloponnesian%20War%20June%2013%202007.pdf
Now, if you'll excuse me I have a job to do.
I am a Professional Librarian with a collection to care for.
TJP
Tuesday, October 9, 2007
Technorati
Hey - well this is a useful tool.
It is Blog search of Blogs !
I like it !
I think that this is one of the first "Things" we should have done - even before we created our own Blogs.
It is a middle of the road tool ---
It works much like a Web 1.0 search engine and a Web 2.0 Blog and links to other Blogs.
Wow it's a big universe out there.
It is Blog search of Blogs !
I like it !
I think that this is one of the first "Things" we should have done - even before we created our own Blogs.
It is a middle of the road tool ---
It works much like a Web 1.0 search engine and a Web 2.0 Blog and links to other Blogs.
Wow it's a big universe out there.
Del.icio.us
This weeks Thing is to exploer social bookmarking.
I started my account with Del.icio.us and successfully imported all of my MS-Exploer Bookmarks into it.
http://del.icio.us/tjpaladin
I feel that it will be a bit of a time waster to go through them all and add tags.
The look and feel of Del.icio.us is a bit --- er uhm --- boring.
The idea of having our favorite books marks on the web is a good one.
Tagging them and being able to sort them out is good.
I'm not very thrilled with the Social aspect of the service. I do like the serendipty of finding new and interesting things from those people that are taking the time to do tagging and social interaction.
I'll force myself to use it a bit more.
I started my account with Del.icio.us and successfully imported all of my MS-Exploer Bookmarks into it.
http://del.icio.us/tjpaladin
I feel that it will be a bit of a time waster to go through them all and add tags.
The look and feel of Del.icio.us is a bit --- er uhm --- boring.
The idea of having our favorite books marks on the web is a good one.
Tagging them and being able to sort them out is good.
I'm not very thrilled with the Social aspect of the service. I do like the serendipty of finding new and interesting things from those people that are taking the time to do tagging and social interaction.
I'll force myself to use it a bit more.
Wednesday, October 3, 2007
Rollyo
Today's "Thing" exercise was to create your own
Rollyo "federated" search.
It is not clear about the reference of Rollyo as a "roll your own" tool being related to:
tobacco cigarettes ?
or
spliff, doobie, joint, ace, blunt, or pinhead ?
or
sushi ?
But the idea is a good one.
It wasn't very difficult to set this up at all.
I enjoyed the process of choosing my favorite websites and adding them to a list so that they could be search together.
Adding the widget to my Favorites/Links Bar was an interesting - {but it stops working if I clear my Cookies}
Adding the Widget to my Blog worked very well....
Look to the lower Right corner of my Blog
The Downside:
Unfortunately, the searches start at the "domain" level and can't specify a sub-directory.
This doesn't work well for my intended purposes. Often I find sites of Online Books. Each of them has a sub-directory for a specific Author. -- But the Rollyo search engine can't be directed to only the sub-directory of that author.
The result is that all of the authors end up in the search.
This make the searching less than ideal.
--- Thus making my "G K Chesterton" search into "GKC and Friends"
Also it is a little slow.
Additionally - with only a few specified sites one would miss the serendipity that an engine like Google could help with.
In short - The federated aspect of this product is not comprehensive enough to replace Google - nor is it precise enough to replace Google.
I would much rather use the Cluster by URL feature of Clusty - to distinguish specific websites.
This offers the same multi site searching that Google does - along with a visual Clustering of the Keywords or the Key Websites that the results were found in.
I'll play with Rollyo a little more to see how it goes - but for the long term I'll probably stick with Clusty
With Clusty I Made this Cloud for my Blog
Loading Clusty Cloud ...
Rollyo "federated" search.
It is not clear about the reference of Rollyo as a "roll your own" tool being related to:
tobacco cigarettes ?
or
spliff, doobie, joint, ace, blunt, or pinhead ?
or
sushi ?
But the idea is a good one.
It wasn't very difficult to set this up at all.
I enjoyed the process of choosing my favorite websites and adding them to a list so that they could be search together.
Adding the widget to my Favorites/Links Bar was an interesting - {but it stops working if I clear my Cookies}
Adding the Widget to my Blog worked very well....
Look to the lower Right corner of my Blog
The Downside:
Unfortunately, the searches start at the "domain" level and can't specify a sub-directory.
This doesn't work well for my intended purposes. Often I find sites of Online Books. Each of them has a sub-directory for a specific Author. -- But the Rollyo search engine can't be directed to only the sub-directory of that author.
The result is that all of the authors end up in the search.
This make the searching less than ideal.
--- Thus making my "G K Chesterton" search into "GKC and Friends"
Also it is a little slow.
Additionally - with only a few specified sites one would miss the serendipity that an engine like Google could help with.
In short - The federated aspect of this product is not comprehensive enough to replace Google - nor is it precise enough to replace Google.
I would much rather use the Cluster by URL feature of Clusty - to distinguish specific websites.
This offers the same multi site searching that Google does - along with a visual Clustering of the Keywords or the Key Websites that the results were found in.
I'll play with Rollyo a little more to see how it goes - but for the long term I'll probably stick with Clusty
With Clusty I Made this Cloud for my Blog
Loading Clusty Cloud ...
Monday, October 1, 2007
Library Thing
Heh - here is my Library Thing entry.
It is an easy way to catalog - but certainly not up to Professional Cataloger standards
-- {he says smuggly}
It is an easy way to catalog - but certainly not up to Professional Cataloger standards
-- {he says smuggly}
Thursday, September 27, 2007
Fun with Generators !!!
Here are a few images and stuff from image generators ---
Don't forget to play my Bob Dylan Video on the Bottom
Bob Dylan Video
Monday, September 24, 2007
TLC 2.0 Week 4 1/2 part 3
Hooray !
I did finally get my BLogLines Confirmation the next morning.
I have been checking Bloglines every morning.
I do have to admit that it is very convienent to have so much news together in one place.
Yet - I do feel a bit overwhelmed. And it does suck up a lot of time sifting through the stories.
I think a tool such as Bloglines will force me to change my habits or else I'll spend an entire morning reading web news.
I did finally get my BLogLines Confirmation the next morning.
I have been checking Bloglines every morning.
I do have to admit that it is very convienent to have so much news together in one place.
Yet - I do feel a bit overwhelmed. And it does suck up a lot of time sifting through the stories.
I think a tool such as Bloglines will force me to change my habits or else I'll spend an entire morning reading web news.
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