Reading and Activity #3

In Jennifer Howard’s article, “Maybe Even Some Books” (published in the Chronicle of Higher Education in 2011), traditional roles of librarians and physical library spaces are being pushed into the spotlight as budget cuts rise. She references the libraries at Drexel University and John Hopkins University- two universities that are evolving their library systems. She examines Drexel’s Library Learning Terrace and Hopkins’s informationist program. Drexel University’s library is booming, so much that there is not enough space to house all the students. Like many other schools, students have redefined what libraries are for. Gone are the days that students used this resource to find books. Rather, libraries are used as a “space and [a place for] company”.  Drexel’s answer to the space crunch is the Library Learning Terrance or a “bookless learning center”. In John Hopkins’s case, “informationist” are used in attempt to replace the traditional librarian. The informationist concept is simple. Instead of “embedding” a librarian to one place, the librarian works out of classrooms, labs, and wherever there is need.  They are assigned to jobs and are able to educate many students about information literacy based on their vast reach of students.

            However, there is nothing like being able to step foot into a building with full knowledge that someone with a Masters will be at your service in helping your research. Maria Steward’s advice column on Inside Higher Ed’s website, praises librarian and library personnel on their patience, knowledge, organization, and intellectual curiosity. Her emphasis was on urging readers to spend more time in the library because it is one of the “kindest” places on campus.

            If I were to transform Randall Library into the ideal academic library, I would first start on the physical space. I would extend floorspace and add bright colors along with large windows so it wouldn’t feel as claustrophobic. Randall should mimic Drexel’s “more space” philosophy because students can’t focus if everyone is sandwiched together (don’t get me started on the squeaky chairs). As Howard’s article had stated, most students now use the library as a space more than a resource. I would then add a better coffee bar. The lines at Java City is ridiculous considering how limited the menu is. Randall should consider the financial gain of offering a better, more efficient coffee station that sells more than just cold sandwiches and chips. As for changing personnel, I can’t help but agree with Steward’s column. Although having traveling “informationists” is beneficial, a library is not complete without its personnel. Librarians are not given enough respect for the knowledge they obtain and the work they do for the community/university. A library, the complete package with librarians and books, is a timeless symbol of education, hope, and the commitment to achieving better. Besides improving the library’s aesthetic qualities and expanding, I don’t think we need to change a thing. 

News Report #3

“Little Free Libraries popping up in Topeka”

Ann Marie Bush, Topeka Capital-Journal

9/25/2012

http://cjonline.com/news/2012-09-25/little-free-libraries-popping-topeka

            The Little Free Library is a national project whose mission is to promote literacy and the love of reading. Established in 2009, this project houses out of small boxes that are installed in to yards, each costing around $150 to build. Neighbors are able to check out books and return them to the box when they are finished. In the “libraries” are many genres of books ranging from fiction, nonfiction adult to children’s bedtime stories. Although small, residents claim that it is a huge success. Neighbors converse about books and a sense of unity is evident in the community. The family who brought the Little Free Library to Topeka, Kansas is the Daughertys’, who joined forces with Women Empowerment and Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in hopes of expanding. They strive to have a Little Free Library in every zip code in Topeka.

            I LOVE this idea! The notion that families are working together to create a more unified community seems to be a lost art in today’s modern lives. The Little Free Library is a great idea, and is something that inspires me to know that there is hope for the “lost generation”. Growing up with the ever-changing terrain of technology, my generation is constantly under scrutiny of how we don’t appreciate the value of a book and don’t take the time to read them.  However, I can’t help but feel like this article seems to be missing many pieces and I am unimpressed with how Ann Bush approached this topic. I wish she included facts such as where the books came from, and who funded the project. She included the link, www.littlefreelibrary.com, but did not go into any more detail. The topic is a good one, but the article was poorly written and did not include enough detail to push me to look into it.

News Report #2

News Report #2

“Internet Explorer Zero-Day Flaw Exploited by Same Java Gang”

Fahmida Y. Rashid, PC Magazine

September 17, 2012

http://securitywatch.pcmag.com/none/302765-internet-explorer-zero-day-flaw-exploited-by-same-java-gang

Thousands of users use Internet Explorer everyday. The most recent virus outbreak lately is a virus called, “sinn3r” by Rapid7. Visiting a bad Website, which “gives the attackers the same privileges on the machine as the current user”, compromises victims. This is a flaw in Internet Explorer (IE) 7, 8, and 9 and the virus seems to target IE 7 and IE 8 on Windows XP systems. According to a computer expert, the way the virus attacks your computer is, “first HTML file loads the Flash file, which when decompressed in memory, uses a technique called a heap spray to launch an iframe attack to trigger the use-after-free flaw that drops the executable on to the compromised computer”. Fahmida claims that the virus has infected 41% of Internet users in North America. Currently, Microsoft still is in the process of finding a cure and has advised all Internet users to switch to other browsers.

The main point the writer is trying to stress is how vulnerable we all are to software that can instantaneously take all our personal information.  This attack was on a “fully patched Windows XP system with an up-to-date version of Flash”. Basically, we all need to be weary in where we go on the Internet and be alert to foreign downloads. It’s an arms race between the “good” guys and the “bad” guys when it comes to computer technology, and this fact is quite terrifying considering how reliant we are to our smart phones and laptops. My computer not only holds personal information such as videos and pictures but it stores valuable information such as my credit card, banking passwords, and social security number. Computers, specifically with the Internet, has made “doing” things much more convenient, there is that overwhelming fact that someone can easily take everything in an instant. The article says that 41% of Internet users in NORTH AMERICA have been compromised. That’s millions of people’s information being put out there! Also, most UNCW computers are Windows XP that have the Internet Explorer browser downloaded on it. This is especially concerning because it means everyone on campus has a vulnerability to these types of viruses.

Reading and Activity #2

When evaluating information, I immediately look at a couple things.

1) Are there other cited sources within the article or paper?

2) Does the author have any biases based on his/her background?

3) (If applicable) Does the website look credible? How is the design?

I evaluate information based on the severity of the topic. For example, anything regarding to schoolwork I will take seriously and consider double checking the article and its sources. For situations like everyday news, I tend to trust big names such as CNN or NyTimes but I wont really look into seeing how true it is. 

After reading both Bauerlein’s and Foster’s articles on information literacy, I was a little in shock. One was written in 2007 but the second one was written in 2012 and yet both claimed the same things. The first thought that came to my head was that it would be impossible for students to solely rely on articles such as Wikipedia. Professors are constantly demanding credible sources and I know that all my professors would have failed me if I quoted or used a source from Wikipedia.

According to Bauerlein, Britannica’s transition from paper to digital is a “tricky course in the future”. Obviously, Britannica has been credited as a reliable source with expert knowledge, but Bauerlein questions if this will remain as it goes to the Internet. Foster labels my generation as a “Net generation” that seems to be “Oblivious to peer-reviewed scholarship”. If Britannica is moving from paper to online information, doesn’t that contradict what Foster is saying? I’m strongly disagree with both authors. Bauerlein questions whether Britannica will be credible and Foster says that college students today do not know how to find credible sources. Both are ignorant to the fact that in today’s world there is a way to be efficient, up to date, and still obtain good research.