Hello Everyone!
I've added a Subscribe gadget to the right side of the blog. This should help people make it easy to know when new posts are made or when there is something new. I'll have my grandkids try it out! 😃
Stay safe!
Vivian Sanchez
BYOD (Bring your own device)
Vivian Sanchez
Hi Everyone! I hope you’re reading this from a comfy cozy place, safe and sound. I heard a talk show host commenting the other day that (because of the pandemic) having to work from home is so crazy, she’s considering just moving the camera and computer over to the bedroom. Why bother getting all dressed up when I could probably do the show while in bed.
This pandemic has a lot of people using electronic devices as if they were the last thing on earth. If we were talking moderation in using electronic devices before, well that’s all gone out the window. And our libraries are closed. Every day, friends, family, and neighbors ask, “When are the libraries going to open?” Soon I hope. However, there are so many people reading eBooks now. It makes you wonder if this will change the use of the stacks. I have a group of friends who have tablets and read eBooks, and they love them. They love that connection no matter where they are. Does this make things better for libraries or worse?
In my opinion, it’s an asset. See I’m a little bit of a tech nerd. Yes, I confess, I love all the electronic gadgets. In a prior job, I remember my first palm pilot (dream sequence music playing). We thought we were so cool downloading the employee phone directory on to our palm pilot. Yes, I was that bad. Technology changes so frequently, I say it’s kinda like dog years, for every year, seven years of technology has gone by. When we did have patrons in the library; I loved it when they would ask questions on how to connect to the Wi-Fi or how to check out eBooks.
I also love books. How much you ask, well I’m halfway through my fourth book (880 pages) in the Outland series.
I believe it’s all about balance.
Okay, now I have to intermingle this discussion with an interesting study I found published in an academic, peer-reviewed study the Higher Education Journal, Sociomaterial Texts, Spaces and Devices: Questioning ‘Digital Dualism’ in Library and Study Practices, 2015. In short they wanted to see how people used technology; how, where, and when and there was a lot more. The great part I liked about the study were some interesting mapping they did and demonstrating how students used technology, the text, the digital, etc. The students were given gadgets to document study habits, using both paper and digital.
Of course this was 2015. Remember the dog years? I really like this mapping of Juan’s writing process. There’s a mixture of using several digital and non-digital tools to work his process.
Here’s another mapping example. It’s a little hard to read and you may have to zoom in. It’s a good insight into how people study. It’s not always about the devices. It’s about how, where, and why.
Here’s an excerpt from the “Findings” of this study,
The data suggest then that for these students ‘learning landscapes’ are not just about physical spaces, but are complicated social networks of people, analog and digital resources, and nonhuman actors. These distributed, diverse networks of practice are to some extent ‘visible’, and map-able as physical places, their distributed nature made possible to a large extent as a result of digital mediation.
Like I said it was a good study, check it out and apologies for the lengthy post. I’m just very glad to see the Library is still part of the process.
Stay safe everyone!
Works Cited
Gourlay, L., Lanclos, D. M., & Oliver, M. (2015). Sociomaterial Texts, Spaces and Devices: Questioning “Digital Dualism” in Library and Study Practices.
Higher Education Quarterly,
69(3), 263–278.
https://web-b-ebscohost-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/ehost/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=ad0eade1-15d9-40f0-802b-96a6ce0b5e03%40pdc-v-sessmgr04&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=eric&AN=EJ1067510
Makerspaces
Vivian Sanchez
LT130
So where do I find myself? In the Makerspace at the Central Library. My normal workspace is the sort room. Then we were offered the task of making masks. As you all know we are required to wear them whenever we are, near or close; within 6 ft. of people. As I re-familiarize myself with the sewing machines, it all starts to come back.
I went to Junior High School in the early 70’s. It wasn’t called Middle School and we had 3 years to finish instead of just two. Regardless, we had these great classes called Home Economics. Some of you may remember.
I remember Miss Ennis. I loved her for her patience. After all we were a bunch of 7th, 8th and 9th graders. We had the greatest opportunity to learn how to sew and cook. My other favorite class was Graphic Arts.
“... a destination of thinking, learning, doing, creating, and producing; where students are makers who think, create, share, and grow” (2013). A makerspace is not simply a space for constructing things; it encourages students to think, learn something new, be creative in accomplishing tasks, share their accomplishments with others, and grow as they do so. With each activity, they can move onto a higher level of thinking, doing, and creating.
And yes it did all that for me. I did things I normally would not have done. My Mom used to make and decorate cakes, and in graphic arts, I made her business cards. Making those cards was a lot more tedious than it is now. No computers in schools at that time.
In my opinion, makerspaces used to be home ec., graphic arts, auto, and metal shop. And it was part of your school curriculum. In current times they are called culinary classes and I think auto shops are still a part of the curriculum. One part of the definition I can attest to is the “sharing their accomplishments with others”. Since all my friends took the same classes, we shared our sewing craft with each other. My best friend Norma (and next-door neighbor) was great at working on collars. I was good at cuffs. So we would work on our projects together. Here are a few snapshots I found of what those classes looked like.
Works Cited
Lofton, J. (2017). Students Are Makers! Building Information Literacy Skills Through Makerspace Programs.
CSLA Journal, 40(2), 18–16.
In my opinion, makerspaces used to be home ec., graphic arts, auto, and metal shop. And it was part of your school curriculum. In current times they are called culinary classes and I think auto shops are still a part of the curriculum. One part of the definition I can attest to is the “sharing their accomplishments with others”. Since all my friends took the same classes, we shared our sewing craft with each other. My best friend Norma (and next-door neighbor) was great at working on collars. I was good at cuffs. So we would work on our projects together. Here are a few snapshots I found of what those classes looked like.
Now that I have made several masks. It was really not that hard. If I had never sewn, I may have passed up the opportunity. I had confidence that I could sew a mask, since I had sewn it in the past. I’m really thankful for those classes and how the current makerspaces in our libraries are continuing to encourage others to learn a craft, or experiment with all the current technology we have. Our Home Ec classes were great and I learned a craft, a skill, that someday would help me to make masks during a global pandemic.
Stay Safe Everyone!
Works Cited
Lofton, J. (2017). Students Are Makers! Building Information Literacy Skills Through Makerspace Programs.
CSLA Journal, 40(2), 18–16.
Hello!
This is Jessica Tracy with my blog gadget update. I've added the Page Views gadget to the bottom of the list of gadgets. I opted for the lifetime count as our little blog would see very little traffic in just 7-30 days. I think it would be beneficial to see the number of people who have found our blog.
This is Jessica Tracy with my blog gadget update. I've added the Page Views gadget to the bottom of the list of gadgets. I opted for the lifetime count as our little blog would see very little traffic in just 7-30 days. I think it would be beneficial to see the number of people who have found our blog.
Added Search Box
Hello! This is Jeanne Marie. I added a Search box to the sidebar. It is right at the top (for now), which is where most folks would look for a search box. There are so many posts now, I thought this would be handy for people to find a particular topic or blogger on the blog.
Combating the Demise of School Libraries
For some time, school libraries have felt the sting of budget and staff cuts. Some districts have done away with school libraries completely, much to the detriment of both students and staff. In order to combat these budget cuts, Nancy Everhart, former AASL President, decided to tour school libraries throughout the country in order to showcase their programs. This "Vision Tour", as she deemed it, helped put the hard work and student-based results of school librarians into the forefront. While school librarians protested budget cuts, Ms. Everhart brought government officials and school superintendents into the library to see just what goes on in the space. These were the people who were making the decisions to cut funding and programs. Some of the librarians noted that it was the first time the superintendent has ever visited their library. This information begs the question, how can anyone make an informed decision without even basic knowledge about the support and programs these libraries provide?
While on this Vision Tour, Nancy Everhart spoke with the students about their school libraries. There are no greater experts than those who utilize these spaces every day. The phrases most often heard by Nancy were that the students go to the library to "solve problems", "have fun", and "use their imagination". Without these spaces and the knowledgeable people who run them, students will miss out on opportunities to problem-solve and use their imaginations in a different and sometimes freer environment than classrooms allow.
By the time she was finished touring the country and showcasing examples of innovative and resourceful school library programs, Nancy Everhart had made a list of 100 things students would miss out on if all school libraries were no longer a priority. This was then turned into a poster and marketed in schools and across districts who were seeing a decline in school libraries. Highlights of the list pictured below include sharing information with others, a safe haven, confidentiality, and the ability to construct and defend arguments using correct sources. This, along with evidence of how librarians help students in the areas of reading and technology, was very eye opening. Schools should support their libraries and school librarians.They should give students every opportunity to fall in love with learning and reading and encourage different forms of media and technology usage if they want to give them the best chance to succeed.
While on this Vision Tour, Nancy Everhart spoke with the students about their school libraries. There are no greater experts than those who utilize these spaces every day. The phrases most often heard by Nancy were that the students go to the library to "solve problems", "have fun", and "use their imagination". Without these spaces and the knowledgeable people who run them, students will miss out on opportunities to problem-solve and use their imaginations in a different and sometimes freer environment than classrooms allow.
By the time she was finished touring the country and showcasing examples of innovative and resourceful school library programs, Nancy Everhart had made a list of 100 things students would miss out on if all school libraries were no longer a priority. This was then turned into a poster and marketed in schools and across districts who were seeing a decline in school libraries. Highlights of the list pictured below include sharing information with others, a safe haven, confidentiality, and the ability to construct and defend arguments using correct sources. This, along with evidence of how librarians help students in the areas of reading and technology, was very eye opening. Schools should support their libraries and school librarians.They should give students every opportunity to fall in love with learning and reading and encourage different forms of media and technology usage if they want to give them the best chance to succeed.
Everhart, Nancy. "Responding to School Library Cuts". Knowledge Quest.
Sep/Oct2016, Vol. 45 Issue 1, p16-19.
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Popular Posts
Hey all,
I added the popular posts gadget to the sidebar. I think this could increase read blog traffic and readership. Popular posts may provide the most interest to a wider range of visitors, and providing them all upfront allows for easier readability. If visitors spend more time, initially, on our site because of the popular posts, they might be more likely to follow links in those posts or return to view more later, and our traffic and readership may increase.
Here's hoping!
Jonathan
I added the popular posts gadget to the sidebar. I think this could increase read blog traffic and readership. Popular posts may provide the most interest to a wider range of visitors, and providing them all upfront allows for easier readability. If visitors spend more time, initially, on our site because of the popular posts, they might be more likely to follow links in those posts or return to view more later, and our traffic and readership may increase.
Here's hoping!
Jonathan
Added "Blog Search!" Gadget
Hi everyone, I added a new gadget for searching our blog and titled it Blog Search! You can find it on the right-hand sidebar. Hope everyone has a great rest of the semester.
Carly
Carly
Added Gadget
Hi Library Techagogy Team,
I added an additional Gadget that listed our Archive posts.
I DID NOT remove the previous Gadget that was in place,
I just added another one that would count the posts/postings.
Be Safe,
BarneyMont
I added an additional Gadget that listed our Archive posts.
I DID NOT remove the previous Gadget that was in place,
I just added another one that would count the posts/postings.
Be Safe,
BarneyMont
Added Gadget
Hello Everyone,
I added a new Gadget to our Blog" Translate" I thought this Gadget would be useful for anyone who preferred a different language to view our blog in.
~Keli Ingrande
I added a new Gadget to our Blog" Translate" I thought this Gadget would be useful for anyone who preferred a different language to view our blog in.
~Keli Ingrande
The Demise of School Libraries . . . or Not!
Hello all, Vivian Sanchez here! When I think about school libraries I think back when I was in elementary school, at the beginning of the year, we made the first visit to the library. Oh, happy days for me. It’s a special place for little kids who have inquisitive minds embarking on the new excitement of learning to read and explore. How could anyone think about closing or eliminating the school library?
Well as the adults know, in most cases, money is a core issue. I reviewed several articles and studies that were done over a decade ago, and they discuss the trends of funding. In this one study by the American Association of School Librarians, School Libraries Count!, you can see that funding increased and decreased every other year from 2008 to 2012.
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| http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/research/docs/AASL-SLC-2012-WEB.pdf |
Did they eliminate school libraries all together? No. In my opinion, they never will. Budgets go up and down. Will this budget trend continue? Yes, it will, however, in our current time, school libraries are more essential now than ever. As Stephanie Rosalia states in this YouTube video, she is a “multi-faceted information specialist who will guide students through the flood of digital information”.
https://youtu.be/idjmD04IpDI
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| https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/08/30/most-americans-especially-millennials-say-libraries-can-help-them-find-reliable-trustworthy-information/ |
According to the key findings in a compendium, School Libraries Work! (2016) from the National Center for Literacy Education, along with the School Library Journal’s (SLJ) who did a national analysis of the relationship between librarian staffing and the National Assessments of Educational Progress (NAEP) fourth-grade reading scores; they have a plan or what they call a “road map." The graphic below shows the framework for bringing the “Place, Professional, and Program” together for student success. Technology is now a big benefit to school libraries. Maintaining professional training and providing a road map for a successful program is a win-win in my book. No pun intended. 😃
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Scholastic, Inc. (2015) School Libraries Work! A Compendium of
Research Supporting the Effectiveness of School Libraries (2016 Edition).
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The Benefits of Makerspaces in School Libraries
As libraries continue to evolve with their communities, many have found the need for a space and resources dedicated to science and artistic creativity. These makerspaces provide library patrons with the materials and the knowledge to support the development of STEAM skills while also allowing them the freedom of expression. While these makerspaces are invaluable in many library settings, school libraries are especially attuned to the need for a creative outlet. Why is it important for schools to offer a makerspace for their students? The answer is much more complex than being creative and having fun.
In the article, “Real Makerspaces in School Libraries”, Stephen Abram suggests that one of the biggest benefits to having a makerspace is supporting a wide-range of learning styles. Some students are voracious readers and some are not. Some students are more fulfilled with a hands-on approach. A makerspace provides a place for students to be creative without defining their successes through the traditional process. That means that a makerspace can vary from site to site depending on the needs of your school community. These spaces can focus on art, computers and coding, robotics, engineering, knitting and or cooking. Students are only hindered by their own imaginations.
Another added benefit to school makerspaces is the STEAM and engineering opportunities that are provided for females in higher education. Females are underrepresented in these fields. School makerspaces provide a space for females to learn and hone skills based in areas such as technology, science, math and robotics. This gives them a chance to learn about their talents and preferences without competing in a classroom setting. Males benefit from a makerspace as well, though often for different reasons. Abram found that males who are reluctant readers in the classroom are more likely to enjoy reading about the things they enjoy and in which they are interested. This creates a cycle for both makes and females to build their confidence and continue to seek out that which interests them.
It is really interesting how a makerspace can evolve and adapt over time. A school librarian need not provide a perfect space with every material. What might start out as a space with arts and crafts supplies can change into a gathering space for learning to sew and work on cosplay costumes. The beauty of a makerspace is that students are given the opportunity to be creative without the pressure of doing things “the correct way”. This not only boosts their confidence but encourages learning for the love of learning as well.
Works Cited
Abram, Stephen. "Real Makerspaces in School Libraries." Internet@Schools.
Jan/Feb2015, Vol. 22 Issue 1, p10-11. 2p.
The Makerspace by Keli Ingrande
My first major Makerspace I encountered while exploring a library for an assignment was at the Central Library in Downtown San Diego: a 3-D printing lab. I was awestruck and I could not believe our San Diego Library had a 3-D printing lab. I had only seen these printers on T.V. The library actually calls this makerspace an “Innovative Lab” so I did not automatically go “Oh, a Makerspace!” With that said, it was pretty interesting to read and learn more about Makerspaces.
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| San Diego Central Library Innovation Lab Photos by Keli Ingrande |
What is a Makerspace?
Every article had their own definitions and or descriptions of Makerspaces. These are just a few that stood out to me:
1. “A Makerspace is a physical place in a library where informal and collaborative learning happens with hands on creation using a combination of technology, industrial and fine arts that you would not normally find at home”(Bowler 59)
2. These “Makerspaces "invite users to explore traditional and digital media, interaction with mentors and peers and engage in creative projects”(Koh and Abbas 114)
3. “Makerspaces are informal sites for creative production in art, science and engineering where people of all ages blend digital and physical technologies to explore ideas learn technical skills and create new products” (Halverson et al. 5)
Have no fear when it comes to engaging in a Makerspace
I know from experience that learning and trying new things can be nerve wrecking and even though I love learning new technology and trying out new gadgets and machines, I was a bit intimidated by those 3-D printers. In encountering these technologies within Makerspaces, it can seem a bit scary at first because there is a possibility of being susceptible to failure, and working with new tools and/or technologies that you may not be familiar with, but in the end it can be very exciting and rewarding.(Moorefield-Lang 108)
Libraries and Makerspaces
Makerspaces, involve hands on creation using a combination of technology and arts, have become a popular faucet in libraries(Bowler 59) and have been offering patrons a more engaging way of learning throughout their use and is usually low cost or free of charge.
Libraries and their staff are asked to look to the newest technology and keep up with the latest trends, so who better to showcase a Makerspace than a library.(Moorefield-Lang 108) .
School libraries and Academic libraries have also been embracing the Makerspace movement. Schools encourage students to creatively explore different resources while making connections between making and literacy by question asking, digging for answers and working through solutions. (Blakemore 67) A familiar type of hands on learning most parents, like myself are more familiar with is STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math based) or STEAM(Art). Academic libraries incorporate Makerspaces, elevating hands on learning at a collegiate level that provides a type of bridge from the academic world to the outside workplace(Julian and Parrott 13, 18) utilizing space and resources to address "emerging challenges and opportunities".(Julian and Parrott 18)
While there are many benefits of having Makerspaces in Libraries these are the ones that I stuck out to me:
v Enhances creativity, innovation, media navigation, visual literacy, and computational thinking skills(Bowler 59)
v Provides a safe and supportive environment to patrons by cultivating, connecting and exposing them to current or new interests(Koh and Abbas 114)
v Offering access to equipment and technologies that are cutting edge(Koh and Abbas 115)
v Offering access to equipment and technologies that are cutting edge
These Makerspaces sound pretty amazing and could be an amazing experience.
I will eventually get back to those 3-D Printers and try them out but if you ever encounter a Makerspace, I highly encourage you to put any hesitation or fears on the back burner and give them a try.
Here are a few articles I felt would be of interest to those who want to read more on Makerspaces:
- Promoting Positive Technological Development in a Kindergarten Makerspace: A Qualitative Case Study
- Creativity through "Maker" Experiences and Design Thinking in the Education of Librarians
- Materials-to-develop-with: The making of a makerspace
Works Cited
Blakemore, Megan. “Problem Scoping: Design Thinking & Close Reading Makerspaces in the School Library.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 46, no. 4, Mar. 2018, pp. 66–69. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=128199635&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Bowler, Leanne. “Creativity through ‘Maker’ Experiences and Design Thinking in the Education of Librarians.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 42, no. 5, May 2014, pp. 58–61. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=95795522&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Halverson, Rich, et al. “Participatory Culture as a Model for How New Media Technologies Can Change Public Schools. WCER Working Paper No. 2016-7.” Wisconsin Center for Education Research, Wisconsin Center for Education Research, 1 Oct. 2016. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=ED580880&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Julian, Kristi D., and Deborah J. Parrott. “Makerspaces in the Library: Science in a Student’s Hands.” Journal of Learning Spaces, vol. 6, no. 2, Jan. 2017, pp. 13–21. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1152687&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Koh, Kyungwon, and June Abbas. “Competencies for Information Professionals in Learning Labs and Makerspaces.” Journal of Education for Library and Information Science, vol. 56, no. 2, Jan. 2015, pp. 114–129. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1073572&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Moorefield-Lang, Heather. “Change in the Making: Makerspaces and the Ever-Changing Landscape of Libraries.” TechTrends: Linking Research and Practice to Improve Learning, vol. 59, no. 3, May 2015, pp. 107–112. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1059140&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
National Science Federation. "Science of Innovation: 3-D Printing". Online video Clip .NBC Learn, Youtube, 13 Dec. 2013,
The Demise of School Libraries: What Libraries are doing to stay away from Demise by Keli Ingrande
As a mother of three children, hearing the word demise and school libraries in one sentence is pretty frightening. I want what is best for my children and I am glad my children’s school does encourage use of their School Library. I wanted to focus on what School librarians and the AASL are trying to do to keep the demise away. Below I posted a video that showcases the importance of School Libraries
Over the years, School Libraries have been through quite an ordeal with limited staff, budget cuts, and emerging digital challenges(Mantel 625) . It really does sound like demise but school libraries along with the AASL keep on fighting to stay current and relevant by embracing new technologies and resources.
Some ideas I saw in Librarians on the Loose was to “break the virtual wall” and start reaching out to the children in the form of web communication. A majority of children are digitally connected and it really does sound like a great idea to get the children excited about the library. The Author mentions an idea of videos linked with QR codes that are inside the physical books that the kids can access by just scanning with their mobile device. (Lawrence 67) Keeping the kids excited and excelling in growth and learning helps the School library remain a vital part of the school community (Lawrence 70)
The American Association of School Librarians is promoting a Parent Advocate Toolkit to rally parents to get involved with their children’s school library and to keep promoting their School Library’s importance. They even provide examples of questions parents or others may ask. Along with a few other toolkits, I saw they provide a Toolkit for School Library Media Programs to help Librarians boost their library's programs
The Month of April is School Library Month, with all of the terrible news regarding COVID-19 and the schools adjusting to distance learning they provided graphics still promoting the importance of School Libraries.
In statewide studies, they show that strong libraries equal “stronger academic learning and lifelong learning” as per the Infographic Resources on the AAL site.
It’s important that Libraries, Parents and Librarians keep promoting the importance of School Libraries to discourage any more talk of their demise.
Works Cited
Capstone Publishers. “School Libraries Matter: The Changing Role of the School Librarian”. Online video Clip. Youtube, 22 Oct. 2014, https://youtu.be/6eilZJp3_h8
Lawrence, Ellen. “Librarians on the Loose: Breaking out of the Library to Create a Culture of Literacy.” Knowledge Quest, vol. 42, no. 4, Jan. 2014, pp. 64–70. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1041599&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Mantel, Barbara. "Future of Libraries." CQ Researcher, 29 July 2011, pp. 625-52, library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2011072900.
"Parent Advocate Toolkit", American Library Association, August 14, 2009. http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/tools/toolkits/parent-advocate (Accessed April 30, 2020) Document ID: a368a521-17d6-4484-8988-7d26235b7fee
“Resources”, American Library Association, April 2, 2013.
http://www.ala.org/aasl/advocacy/resources (Accessed April 30, 2020) Document ID: d3f5acf0-28ed-7144-612e-4fae58e97ccd
Cloud Computing in Libraries by Keli Ingrande
Even after reading several articles on Cloud Computing the information still tends to cloud in my head. We all use some form of Cloud computing. Even right now reading this blog in Blogger you are utilizing cloud computing. I utilize iCloud by Apple, Google Apps (This Blog is utilizing Blogger that is part of Google apps), and Microsoft Office online. Reading about cloud computing is a lot to take in. I have tried to break it down the best I could and posted some useful information from the articles that I read in hopes that it can make Cloud Computing look a little less cloudy and how it is used in Libraries.
Definitions of Cloud Computing
I came across several but these were the ones that made the most sense:
v “Cloud Computing involves a diffuse, distributed computing infrastructure provided through the internet in an abstract way, where neither the programmers who create the service nor the end users of that service need to be involved with the specific hardware components”(Breeding 24)
v “Cloud computing is the availability of IT-type needs offered as services, often through a third- party vendor”(Buck 6)
v This is a table by Matt Goldner that breaks down the structures with examples(Goldner 5) :
There are 3 basic structures in Cloud Computing: IaaS, PaaS, and SaaS
IaaS
Infrastructure as a Service provides an environment to deploy the managed virtual machine.(Feng et al. e0216067) If you look at the chart above, it is basically just renting a space and time, to store your data that you can access from anywhere
PaaS
Platform as a Service provides a platform for developing other applications on top of it.(Feng et al. e0216067) Examples of this service: Google and Facebook
SaaS
While I like to think of this term as what my daughter throws my way, this abbreviated term means “Software as a Service”. This is a more widely used Cloud Computing structure. Instead of loading the software onto our computers from a floppy or CD then hoping for the best, businesses can start utilizing or “renting” the software over the web without any downloading, inconvenient discs, instructions, licensing, and updating by the end user(Buck 8) . The upfront purchasing costs are reduced by using their subscription pay as you go method and when it comes to maintenance, updates and support issues, it’s all handled automatically as part of the service(Buck 3) .
Are there any Privacy and Security Issues with Cloud Computing?
That is a good question and one I think of before putting anything on the cloud. Putting any data on the cloud always has its risks but as Buck states in her article “it is important to read the fine print when looking into cloud computing “ and to “understand the privacy and security policies of the vendor you use as well as the backup plans in case of service disruptions”(Buck 9,10) Another good idea that is mentioned in “How Sound is the Cloud” encrypt your data if you are only using it for storage before saving on the cloud especially if its sensitive material(Goldsborough 68)
Libraries and Cloud Computing
So, now that we hopefully cleared the clouds on the basics of Cloud Computing, let’s talk about Cloud Computing in Libraries.
Libraries started to go down the path towards cloud computing with the first example being the OCLC where data has been aggregated into common pools to share.(Goldner 9)
Cloud Computing is beneficial to libraries by freeing up a lot of their time that it took the libraries to maintain databases, equipment buying, software installing and a lot of software updates(Goldner 13) .
SaaS cloud computing technologies have been a popular form of cloud computing for librarians, especially to the libraries that have limited resources. Google Docs and Dropbox are good examples of these technologies(Tritt and Davis Kendrick 2) .
Cloud Computing benefits patrons as well, especially in Public Libraries where large files such as digital collections could stress a server. By utilizing cloud services, it could free up bandwidth speeding up retrieval of materials for the patron(Buck 10) .
I hope this post helps with clears the clouds on the basics of Cloud Computing and how it is used in our Libraries.
I have included a few links to some interesting articles on Cloud Computing in Libraries
Works Cited
Breeding, Marshall. “The Advance of Computing from the Ground to the Cloud.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 29, no. 10, Jan. 2009, pp. 22–25. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ861520&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Buck, Stephanie. “Libraries in the Cloud: Making a Case for Google and Amazon.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 29, no. 8, Sept. 2009, pp. 6–10. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ858674&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Feng, Danqing, et al. "ERP: An elastic resource provisioning approach for cloud applications." PLoS ONE, vol. 14, no. 4, 2019, p. e0216067. Gale In Context: Opposing Viewpoints, https://link-gale-com.ezproxy.palomar.edu/apps/doc/A583658110/OVIC?u=cclc_palomar&sid=OVIC&xid=9a94d977. Accessed 30 Apr. 2020.
Goldner, Matthew R. “Winds of Change: Libraries and Cloud Computing.” Bibliothek Forschung Und Praxis, vol. 34, no. 3, Dec. 2010, pp. 270–275. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1515/bfup.2010.042.
Goldsborough, Reid. “How Sound Is the Cloud?” Teacher Librarian, vol. 40, no. 3, Feb. 2013, p. 68. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=85445405&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Tritt, Deborah, and Kaetrena Davis Kendrick. “Impact of Cloud Computing on Librarians at Small and Rural Academic Libraries.” Southeastern Librarian, vol. 62, no. 3, Fall 2014, pp. 2–11. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=lxh&AN=99265537&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Bring your Own Device by Keli Ingrande
From the time I was young, I always remember having some form of portable device. From my walkman, tape recorder, my disc-man, my pager, my Nokia phone, my series of iPods, smartphones and iPad. At some point I even had a Dell Laptop and I am pretty sure I will be getting a MacBook soon so I can work outside and away from my children.
I fully embrace portable technology and love these wonderful devices like they a part of my family. I know, a bit over exaggerated, but I love the freedom and independence that these devices offer and make everyday tasks a little bit easier.
I am happy that libraries have chosen to start embracing the BYOD movement whether it be for patrons and or Library staff. I have chosen to list some positive outlooks/examples on the BYOD movement.
Coming from a Patron Stand Point of View
While at the library, one option I can access from my device is the Library’s App and accessing their catalog to find material rather than take up a computer space when someone else needs it or having to wait on a computer. It is a faster option for me when I am in a hurry to get what I need. As Krishnan mentions in her article sometimes a person requires information quickly and having the device within easy reach allows that to happen.(Krishnan 8)
Another portable technology option is my library card barcode on my iPhone. This is a recently added feature for the San Diego Public Library and I love it. I can’t even count the number of times where I have had to hunt down my library card in my purse or on my keychains, it drove me crazy. Mobile devices are more personal than desktop pc’s and having a mobile friendly “Library in your pocket” is a great way for libraries to “reach out to patrons in a more personal way”(Johnson and Gutmann 31).
Another fabulous option on the San Diego Library’s App is being able to check your account to see if you have any items checked out or past due. Half the time I forget what I checked out and even more so what and how many items my kids have checked out. Having these options available is showing how the library is embracing the BYOD movement by developing services that can be used on mobile devices (Krishnan 8)
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| Cell Phone Photos of SD Public Library App by Keli Ingrande |
From a Library Point of View
Library staff help patrons out a lot when technology is concerned anything from downloading apps to navigating through the library’s website or mobile site(Lyttle and Walsh 2) , it definitely helps if the library staff member to have their own device so they can show the patron how to operate or do a certain function on their own devices rather than the patrons. I, in particular do not like someone else handling my gadgets, so if a library staff member could help me by demonstrating on their phone instead of mine let the happy dance commence!
Librarians can learn new technology from experimentation such as navigating new apps, sites, and new devices . Having staff members utilize BYOD may save the libraries time and money when it comes time to evaluating what devices to bring into the library by observing staff members use their own devices(Lyttle and Walsh 2) .
Portable Devices, such as Library Staffs personal smart phones could help reduce delay when helping out a patron in case of an emergency, a server going down, or power outage by being able to pull up information, material or even calling emergency responders if required.(Lyttle and Walsh 2)
Even though I do not work at a library, I have had a computers go down and I was able to help out one of our golf patrons navigate how to use the program because I was able to pull up the program app on my phone.
I do not think I will ever stop loving my portable devices and I hope that Libraries continue to embrace the BYOD movement.
I have attached Links below to the some other articles BYOD for you to read:
Works Cited
Johnson, Bob, and Ted Gutmann. “IPhone, Android, or Kindle: The Emma S. Clark Memorial Library Has an App for That and So Can You.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 33, no. 1, Jan. 2013, pp. 6–8. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ1008708&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Krishnan, Yvonne. “Libraries and the Mobile Revolution.” Computers in Libraries, vol. 31, no. 3, Apr. 2011, pp. 6–9. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eric&AN=EJ926255&site=ehost-live&scope=site.
Lyttle, Melanie A., and Shawn D. Walsh. "Is Your Library Ready for BYOD?" Public Libraries Online., 2013. Web. Apr 29, 2020.
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