Swishing of the wind as the students walk by.
Keyboards clicking, space bars gliding across the page with quick thuds.
Wooden chairs knocking against the desks.
Spurts of audio streaming from headphones set to loud.
Electric pencil sharpener roaring on and off again.
Clanking and rumbling of the photocopier, drilling shrills of the electronic hole punch.
Students lamenting about their day, backpacks plopping against the floor.
Office phones alerting tones, cellphones disturbing moans.
Squealing from book cart wheels, metal rattling as heels are dragging.
Book covers crackling while being pushed and pulled on the shelves.
Beeping from scanners devouring the data.
Thanks you from patrons as they collect their newly borrowed items.
These are the sounds of the library.
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Libraries
Check out this SlideShare Presentation:
Libraries
View more presentations from kati.gordon.
Transition in light of Moore's Law
I'm not sure if people always felt they were living in transition or not but coming at the tail end of Generation X, transition in technology marks my upbringing. My first experience with computers was at home. My father seriously felt the effects of Moore's Law while studying engineering physics in the late 70's. Upon completion of his master's he took a job with Boeing doing validation testing of the computer systems in 757s and 767 s. Next it was an oil company where he did a myriad of things with computers including developing a geo-science workstation that changed he way geologists and geophysicists mapped the data. Later on it was purchasing and implementing software, and administering network systems. Bottom line he's been around computers since they were huge room sized monsters that ate punch cards. Nowadays he's still my go to guy if I have a question about software or hardware.
Because of my father's vocation I always had access to computers and can remember playing math games and using the word processor back before Microsoft. I also remember the two foot square "laptop" that weighed more than a small refrigerator.
Since first grade I was using computers in school. At that time we went to a lab and played on the black and green screens spelling and typing games. Always in school I opted for the keyboarding class when there was an option which I am now very glad I did.
In 1994 when AOL hit the mailboxes I was 12 years old exploring the new land of chat rooms. I was smart and didn't peruse the predator areas but still experienced the creation of screen names and incessant conversation to persons unknown. As a teenager my Internet usage was less consistent and mainly resulted from begrudged adolescent angst in which I sought out distant boardinghouses. Around high school graduation time college websites increased in importance and soon everyone was accepting applications online. Computers dominated the process of my academic career as course management sites became commonplace and library research and word processing relied upon the personal computer. Again in college I opted for computer classes to fulfill my math and science credits.
Now we wait for the wave of web 2.0 to crest. Everyday I discover new endeavors to open up the way we interact and exchange information. Buddhist concepts of everything being connected are reflected in moments of globalized galvanization. The possibility of "linked data" strengthens notions of connectivity as information availability ceases to be an issue.
Previously the duration between the introduction of a new life changing technology such as the wheel to the printing press was extensive. Transition was slow and clunky. In a era of Moore's Law transition is now characterized by rapid introductions of a more powerful faster version and implementations that seemingly take place overnight are not uncommon.
As a person growing up at the end of generation X, I have an interesting opportunity to see the old guard be overwhelmed by advancing technology. As a result I am encouraged to seek out new technology and will be charged with its implementation in the near future. This makes for interesting workdays as we demonstrate aspects of virtual reference and online environments like "Second Life" to librarians on the verge of retirement who took their comps exams on typewriters. I feel fortunate to be a part of this transition but I am well aware that the generation coming after me will prove even more advanced in their computing skills.
Because of my father's vocation I always had access to computers and can remember playing math games and using the word processor back before Microsoft. I also remember the two foot square "laptop" that weighed more than a small refrigerator.
Since first grade I was using computers in school. At that time we went to a lab and played on the black and green screens spelling and typing games. Always in school I opted for the keyboarding class when there was an option which I am now very glad I did.
In 1994 when AOL hit the mailboxes I was 12 years old exploring the new land of chat rooms. I was smart and didn't peruse the predator areas but still experienced the creation of screen names and incessant conversation to persons unknown. As a teenager my Internet usage was less consistent and mainly resulted from begrudged adolescent angst in which I sought out distant boardinghouses. Around high school graduation time college websites increased in importance and soon everyone was accepting applications online. Computers dominated the process of my academic career as course management sites became commonplace and library research and word processing relied upon the personal computer. Again in college I opted for computer classes to fulfill my math and science credits.
Now we wait for the wave of web 2.0 to crest. Everyday I discover new endeavors to open up the way we interact and exchange information. Buddhist concepts of everything being connected are reflected in moments of globalized galvanization. The possibility of "linked data" strengthens notions of connectivity as information availability ceases to be an issue.
Previously the duration between the introduction of a new life changing technology such as the wheel to the printing press was extensive. Transition was slow and clunky. In a era of Moore's Law transition is now characterized by rapid introductions of a more powerful faster version and implementations that seemingly take place overnight are not uncommon.
As a person growing up at the end of generation X, I have an interesting opportunity to see the old guard be overwhelmed by advancing technology. As a result I am encouraged to seek out new technology and will be charged with its implementation in the near future. This makes for interesting workdays as we demonstrate aspects of virtual reference and online environments like "Second Life" to librarians on the verge of retirement who took their comps exams on typewriters. I feel fortunate to be a part of this transition but I am well aware that the generation coming after me will prove even more advanced in their computing skills.
Friday, March 13, 2009
Becoming A Cyborg
Studying information science creates the allure of being a meta-science Scientist. During my first degree I'd come to this conclusion about Political Science, believing everything boiled down to the political...now I realize all of that and everything else is dependent upon information.
While I have always worked during my adult life it has always been a secondary endeavor next to my schooling (which I was never quite sure how it would lead to a career). Now I am actually doing a job for which I am going to school. Work and school are fusing into this metallic stream of experience and theory. I see my readings and discussions reflecting the daily chores of the office. At times the convergence of knowledge and action are so in sync my body buzzes with synoptic energy. I feel myself transforming into a Cyborg Librarian, and I'm okay with that.
While I have always worked during my adult life it has always been a secondary endeavor next to my schooling (which I was never quite sure how it would lead to a career). Now I am actually doing a job for which I am going to school. Work and school are fusing into this metallic stream of experience and theory. I see my readings and discussions reflecting the daily chores of the office. At times the convergence of knowledge and action are so in sync my body buzzes with synoptic energy. I feel myself transforming into a Cyborg Librarian, and I'm okay with that.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)