LIS510 lecture 5 Thomas Krichel

Historical part Technological progress is not new. Rubin starts with a useful historical overview. –he looks at the development of computers and networks in libraries –he looks at the development of the Internet, which largely happened outside libraries.

early technical advances Microphotography in the early 20 th century. –It allowed to photograph sheets of paper and allow to read them with a special device tremendous savings of storage cost hard to read photocopier, invented in the 1960s, was a great advance in libraries, but brought attacks from copyright holders.

computers in libraries most important application was in bibliographic data, with the development of the MARC record. OCLC became a significant organization that allowed libraries –to share MARC records –print catalog cards –interlibrary loan facilities –acquisition support.

networks in libraries also appeared in the 60s. this allowed for online information retrieval, eventually in 1964 Lockheed developed the DIALOG system, offering online access to database –this system collects databases –it makes them away collectively or individually through a search interface access to DIALOG was limited to specialized staff.

CD-ROM This came along in the It could hold a lot of information. It did not need network to use, theoretically. In practice it was hard for two users to use the same CD-ROM without some kind of a network. It certainly did not need a remote network, that was where all the cost was.

integrated library system this is a local computer and network application that integrates –acquisition –serials –catalog maintenance –catalog access –circulation records –collection management these systems took a while to mature.

linked OPACs As more and more OPACs became open access from outside, there was more demand to search many of them at once. A special distributed searching protocol, Z39.50 was developed over many years. It is very complicated. There is no public domain software implementing it.

OPAC an OPAC is an online public access catalog. it allowed a user access to the library catalog via a computer terminal no need to buy catalog cards and no need to file them.

Internet Internet is not a physical network. It is as abstraction that allows different physical networks to work together and appear as one. Main facilities – –remote use of computers –file transfer –World Wide Web

Internet technology There are two basic standards –Internet protocol (IP) transfers packets of data between hosts. –Transmission control protocol (TCP) allows for a stream of communication to appear as if there was a connection. The basic theory of the Internet goes back to Paul Baran. Al Gore did not invent it. All the Internet boils down to is a set of technical standards.

it is the oldest Internet application also one of the most complex these days because –old protocols –never designed to deal with spam not likely that you will get much involved with running an system

lists they are not called Listservs, as Rubin thinks lists are very important information sources that are not readily found on the Web. Knowledge and expert usage of lists make a librarian shine. Unfortunately we don’t have time or mission to go through this here.

remote computer use & file transfer There are two common protocol –telnet for remote login and use –ftpfor file transfer some older OPACs may be accessed with telnet but telnet and ftp are no longer used in private transaction because they are not secure ssh (aka secure shell) is a successor to ftp and telnet.

the Web The web is a medium that uses three standards –URI for addressing objects “on the web” –httpfor transferring these objects –HTML to build a hypertext system to build and navigate resources. Since we define the web as using this, some things may only use part of these standards, thus be “less webby”.

Web and libraries Libraries have become heavily involved in –building web site –buying access to toll-gated web sites –building resources that are indirectly available on the Web Web OPACs archives with machine interfaces it is important to know how the web works take LIS650 and LIS651 ;-)

word wide web consortium The W3C is the standards making body of the Web, run by its inventor Tim Berners Lee. Some standards they have developed are good –HTML –XML Many others are over-engineered.

Digital libraries Nobody really knows what they are. Much of the LIS literature discussing digital libraries in fact addresses web sites. I like Bill Arms’ definition best. Digital libraries share the fact that –organized on computers –available over a network –maintain procedures to select∙ make available organize∙ archive

Web portal A portal can be understood as an interface on the web, that allows you to use a digital library. Portals can sometimes be personalized. Portals may be used as an intermediary for online reference services.

Internet2 This is not a new version of the Internet. It is set of technological devices that allow higher Internet speed. Currently available to privileged US institutions and some foreign partners.

technology and next generation libraries Rutenbeck has five challenges –malleability (information changes) –selectivity (people abandon print-only) –exclusivity (not everyone has access) –vulnerability (print assets are more vulnerable) see –superficiality (some rubbish is on the Internet)

libraries adapt libraries get wired they offer electronic access –even to the home user shift from information access to community center adopt digital reference with 24/7 asynchronous help get involved in digital archiving of institutional assets.

digital library cost digital library material will cost more initially because publishers want to see a return in the extra functionality they have developed. in the longer run, digital library costs may be longer than in print –lower storage cost –less risk to the items –fewer staff requirements

roles for the library with digital material investigation what to buy negotiation of the purchase acquisition of access to a service installation of access devices training of users maintenance: update, migrate, replace and in the future, maybe: archiving.

digital preservation this is hugely complicated area keeping files is not a big deal as long as one avoids –proprietary formats –removable media but this issue of what to preserve is tough when the contents shows lack of fixity.

impact of technology on staff information professionals that are technologically savvy will thrive better than those who are not. fortunately the Palmer School offers LIS508, LIS650, soon LIS651. it still does not have a system administration class, but that may come as well.

impact of technology on staff constant computer use can cause serious health problems Problem areas are –bad posture problems at the desk –eye strain use of mouse is particularly bad. learn how to avoid using it. injuries take a long time to heal

impact on the mission none. libraries are still there to disseminate quality information to the largest number of people

Please shut down the computers now. Thank you for your attention!