Screen Capture

Here is the screen capture for the digital exhibit at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery entitled Christopher Pratt: Drawing From Memory:

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November 21, 2010

Link for digital exhibit again

The link does not work in my previous post.  Lets see if I can get it to work now.  I am having some technology troubles today.

http://www.therooms.ca/ic_sites/pratt/splash.htm

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November 21, 2010

Website link for digital exhibit mentioned in previous blog

Here is the link for the digital exhibit entitled Christopher Pratt: Drawing From Memory available through The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery.

http://www.therooms.ca/ic_sites/pratt/splash.htm

I am having difficulty creating a screen capture of this page.  Hopefully I will figure it out and have it posted here soon!

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November 21, 2010

Digitization: A wonderful tool for libraries and archives

Blog Topic #6

The topic for the final blog posting for this course concerns digitization and its benefits to libraries.  Wikipedia contains a listing of digital library projects from accross the globe (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_digital_library_projects). 

Digitization refers to the act of making unique and rare collections of information available to patrons on the Internet.  Libraries use vendors to obtain published electronic materials.  Archival materials such as manuscripts, photographs, personal letters, pamphlets, historical documents and maps are generally only accessible by physcially visiting an archive but there has been a signifcant increase in the past few years to digitize this information in turn making it accessible for years to come.  It is a way of preserving rare and uniqure information before the documents reach a stage of disrepair.  Digital collections are great for foreign researchers who cannot visit the location but can browse freely on the World Wide Web.

I am currently working in a contractual position at The Rooms Provincial Archives so I decided to use The Rooms website (http://www.therooms.ca/) for this blog.  The Rooms houses three organizations: The Provicial Archives, The Provincial Art Gallery, and The Provincial Museum.  Each of these divisions have a section on their homepage for digital exhibits.  For example the The Provincial Art Gallery has two searchable exhibits: The Shepherds: Two Lives in Art and Christopher Pratt: Drawing From Memory.  These digital exhibits are exceptionally well put together and organized with textual documents, photographs, timelines, glossaries, links and a contact section. 

Where I work in the Archives we use an electronic database called Web GenCat to compile all of our files.  Patrons can browse our collections online using this great database. 

In conclusion, I truly believe that digitization is a fascinating tool for libraries to use to preserve and maintain original documents in a safe storage space on the Internet.  Original documents can become very worn out after being handled so often that digitizing materials makes them accessible for generations to come.

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November 19, 2010

An addition to my blog on SmartPhones

Here is the link to the episode I mentioned from Doc Zone:

http://www.cbc.ca/documentaries/doczone/2010/digitaldummies/index.html

Furthermore, I forgot to state my opinions on whether or not libraries should consider adding SmartPhones into the mix of their already growing list of technology they use on a daily basis.

I can see the potential that SmartPhones could have for a library.  The younger generation of patrons (teenagers, university students, and the young working professional) will be in favor for this addition.  Patrons can search the library catalogue, check library hours and cancellations, and browse the library website all on their phone.  Using this device to broswe for materials prior to visiting the library can alleviate some of the stress involved with finding suitable materials in turn making it far more easier to locate the materials once one is amongst the shelves.

If libraries do in fact decide to incorporate SmartPhones into their duties I think it would be a great idea to hold a workshop on the benefits of using these devices so that older patrons who are less tech savvy can learn of some of the fascinating things these phones can do.

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November 19, 2010

SmartPhones: Should libraries consider using them?

Blog Topic #5

The fifth blog topic concerns SmartPhones; should libraries consider encorporating them into their list of technology used on a daily basis?

SmartPhones represent a combination of cell phone and PDA types of technology.  They operate in a third generation (3G) network.  SmartPhones appear to be everywhere in existence in this day and age.  They have skyrocketed in popular among teenagers who will rarely be seen in public without their favorite gadget.  With the invention of texting, more and more people are flocking to stores to acquire the newest and fastest SmartPhone.  Instead of using a telephone to talk to their friends or actually meeting them in person to talk, teenagers are sending high quantities of text messages on a daily basis.  While texting is a great concept, I believe that it is making our society less socially aware.  Just last night CBC aired a special on Doc Zone entitled "Are we digital dummies?"  I thought what a great idea for an episode of this program.  I agree with the fact that as people continue to purchase the hottest technology gadgets; the more people are losing their intellect and ability to perform in society.  Technology is a fabulous addition to our high paced society but it should not overrun it entirely.  People need to learn to think on their own without relying on a gadget to do it for them because it is easier and less time consuming.

Here are a couple of websites regarding SmartPhones:

Stephen's Lighthouse: What Smartphones Should Libraries Support?
http://stephenslighthouse.com/2010/02/16/what-smartphones-should-libraries-support/

CNET Reviews: Smartphones

http://reviews.cnet.com/smartphone-reviews/

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November 19, 2010

Open Source Software (OSS)

Open Source Software (OSS) provides access to electronic reserves (e-reserves).  Open source software's most significant advantage is that it offers an electronic reserve system that contains no capital outlay as well as no ongoing support payments.  I do not have any experience working with Open Source Software nor do I know much about all of it's advantages, features, and disadvantages.  Electronic reserves are very important for a library to have especially in an academic library setting such as a larger university library.

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October 29, 2010

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For (title reference from U2)

I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For: Weighing In On the Benefits of Content Enrichment

Modern libraries have certainly come a very long way since the advent of the library and the old-fashioned card catalog system for organizing bibliographic records.  The card catalog system, while sufficient for its time, was highly time consuming and meticulous.  Everything had to be written up by hand on the cards.  If a patron borrowed more than one book, each title would have to be written on their card to denote that these books are currently out in circulation.  In today's fast-paced society, information transfer is instantaneous.  Electronic databases have replaced card catalogs, in turn relieving a daunting task for librarians. 

Content enrichment in the Integrated Library System (ILS) is significantly useful and helpful for patrons who do not always have time to physically go to the library.  Many patrons are tech savvy and would prefer to use an electronic database to find what they are looking for as opposed to browsing the countless number of book shelves.  Content enrichment services accumulate various information sources concerning a particular resource, in turn making this information directly available within the OPAC to aid patrons in evaluation of sources.  This allows patrons to perform this action using only a computer; making a visit to the library optional and not mandatory.  Content enrichment is a wonderful concept!  Oftentimes, a third party is needed to provide content.  If a patron is looking for a book review, some great third party table of contents providers include Blackwell's or Marcive.  Including a table of contents in the MARC record will make it easy for patrons to see what a certain book or periodical is about and be able to view the various subject headings.

Alas, content enrichment makes it relatively easy to find exactly what you are looking for!

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October 18, 2010

Website Links

Here are the website links to two places I mentioned in my blog about my experiences working in libraries and archives to date:

Gambo Public Library:

http://www.nlpl.ca/index.php?option=com_jumi&fileid=17&Itemid=247&id=gdc

The Rooms Provincial Archives

http://www.therooms.ca/archives/

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My Experiences Working in Libraries and Archives

My Experiences Working in Libraries and Archives - to date

Summer 2008

This is where I first encountered working in a library environment.  I worked as a summer SWASP student at the public library in my hometown of Gambo, Newfoundland and Labrador.  I was responsible for such tasks and duties as book cleaning and organization, reading shelves, checking out books to patrons, making catalog cards for new books and replacing full and damaged cards in some books, answering patron's questions and queries, creating decorations and posters to display in the children's section of the library as well as helping to organize and carry out summer reading programs for children from kindergarten through to grade six.  This is really where my interest in library studies peaked; I thoroughly enjoyed this opportunity to work in the library in the town that I grew up in.  I especially loved creating decorations and posters to give the library a warm and friendly atmosphere for the kids.  I absolutely loved reading picture books to the younger kids and chapter books to the older elementary school aged children.  I just loved watching their facial expressions as I read through the book, making sure to show them the illustrations as I went along.  Children are highly visual; they love to look at the pictures and imagine themselves in the world created by the author of the story.

Winter 2009

I successfully completed a three month MUCEP position in the Preservation Lab at the Queen Elizabeth II Library, Memorial University of Newfoundland.  I was responsible for cleaning books, repairing damaged or torn pages in books and newspapers, encapsulation of documents, and organizing and shelving books that have been repaired (putting them back on the library shelves).  This was a highly beneficial and education MUCEP placement as I learned the techniques used to repair books and periodicals.  It is very important to treat and preserve documents before they reach a stage where they become unsalvageable.

Summer 2009

I worked part-time as a summer student assistant in the Circulation department of the Queen Elizabeth II Library at Memorial University of Newfoundland.  I was responsible for checking out books and reserves to students, professors, and alumni, shelving books alphabetically, reading shelves, aiding students and patrons, checking photo copiers to ensure enough paper is loaded in each print tray, and re-shelving books and periodicals.  This was a great experience!

Summer 2009

I was granted a twelve week Young Canada Works contract for the summer of 2009 at The Rooms Provincial Archives Division.  The Rooms houses the Provincial Museum, Provincial Art Gallery, and The Provincial Archives.  My task was to work on the Guard's Athletic Association collection.  This collection included textual records, framed photographs that were dismounted from their frames and artifacts such as certificates, trophies, and plaques.  I was responsible for arrangement and description work using the online database known as WebGencat, scanning photographs and artifacts, photographing trophies, re-filing correspondence files into new acid-free folders to prevent damage to original records, and creating an administrative history of the organization.  This was such a rewarding and interesting job.

Fall 2009 - Summer 2010

I was once again working at The Rooms Provincial Archives; this time under a ten month contract to work on records in the American Smelting and Refining Company (ASARCO) collection.  This collection includes textual records, maps and diagrams and photographs pertaining to the history of the former Buchans Mining Company in Newfoundland and Labrador.  I was responsible for re-filing correspondence files into new acid-free folders to prevent damage to original records, arrangement and description work using the online database WebGencat, photocopying original photographs, and organizing the collection.  This is a very large collection.

Fall 2010 - Winter 2011

Finishing up work on the ASARCO collection that is mentioned above.  I truly love working in the field of library and archives.

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September 28, 2010

My First Blog: Learning to create a blog.

What is a blog?

"a Web site that contains an online personal journal with reflections, comments, and often hyperlinks provided by the writer; also : the contents of such a site "

Source: Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blog)

Questions:

1. Was it an easy or difficult process to create this blog?
2. What sort of problems, if any, did you encounter when learning how to make a blog?
3. Did you find answers to your problems and/or questions?

Responses:

1. To begin this assignment I consulted the search engine Google to search "how to create a blog."  I explored both WordPress and Blogger and chose to use Blogger as it was more user-friendly and easier to navigate than WordPress.  I found WordPress to be quite confusing.  With Blogger it was relatively stress free; all I had to do was simply create a Google account (I do not have a Gmail account so I used my Hotmail account) and set up a profile with the information that I was willing to provide online.  One of the hardest tasks was to create a username, oftentimes I have no idea what to pick as a username.  But alas, I came up with one and started to create my blog.
2. I did not encounter any major technical problems while attempting to make my blog.  Blogger is an excellent online resource that allows people to write about topics of their choosing.
3. I found that Blogger was the best choice for me personally as I tend to get easily frustrated with complicated and technical websites. 

-> I look forward to writing many more blogs in the future!

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